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+{"content": "Layoffs cost £28.6bn in Britain\n\nAlmost 2.7m people have been made redundant in Britain over the last four years, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. The layoffs have cost employers a total of £28.6bn, the report estimates, while the loss of output to the economy amounts to between £87bn and £135bn.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9350600242614746}
+{"content": "Moving to SAP SuccessFactors… it’s all about the process, right?\n\n  • September 26, 2016\n\n\nHR technology systems are designed to enable your HR and people-related business processes. However, when implementing SAP SuccessFactors HCM suite just how important is process knowledge versus experience in the technology?\n\nSAP SuccessFactors - SFSF\n\nExperience != Experience\nUnderstanding business process is important, but experience in technology is equally important and just having 20 years’ experience in SAP HCM doesn’t mean that someone can be a good SAP SuccessFactors consultant straight off. Without a deep understanding of the technology, how can a consultant design a process? And when you consider that business processes have changed and SAP SuccessFactors is designed to support modern processes, is that SAP HCM process experience really an advantage or could it be a hindrance? Just because a consultant has 20 years process experience doesn’t mean that they can instantly understand how the technology can support modern HR processes without experience of that technology. There’s no bigger waste of your HR technology budget than re-building your on-premise processes and design into a next generation HR system.\n\nNow, that’s not to say that 20 years of experience would be a waste. There are some things only experience can teach. But for those things to be effective, there has to be the modern cloud mindset and understanding of the technological changes that have taken place in the HR world.\n\nBusiness transformation and skills transformation\nMuch of the move to a cloud HR system is a move to business transformation and often a larger digital transformation program. Getting the process design right is critical, and design is a lot more than just filling out the configuration workbooks that SAP SuccessFactors provide for their software. Consultants should be guiding customers and documenting requirements; understanding processes and the underlying technology – as well as knowing common practices and having experience from numerous customers – are essential for being able to build out a robust design.\n\n\nHead in the clouds\nLegacy thinkers can be dangerous. Consultants need to think with a new cloud mindset. But it’s not just consultants: customers also need to think with a new mindset and understand how cloud works and what it can offer. The best path to success on your project is for both the consultants and the project team to be thinking about the new possibilities that the cloud brings, the way in which processes can be simplified, and how multi-national and fragmented businesses can standardize.\n\nThis new mindset is where much of the value is. Re-thinking processes, understanding how to best design a solution using highly configurable software, and understanding integration scenarios just touch on the iceberg of this mindset. But you as a customer must also be ready to think this way. How can you standardize? How can you simplify? How can you manage a self-services roll out? How can you best take advantage of the latest and greatest, now and in the future?\n\nYou should have your cake and eat it\nUltimately, for a SAP SuccessFactors implementation to not only be successful but also optimal and high value, the consultants implementing the solution need to be well versed in business process and the SAP SuccessFactors technology they are implementing. These go hand-in-hand and a consultant simply cannot be qualified to create a winning HR solution without having both. How can a consultant talk about common practices if they’ve only done 1 or 2 projects?\n\nAnd then there are the quarterly releases. Consultants need to stay up-to-date, period. In the on-premise world, there was an enhancement package release roughly every 12 to 18 months. Even then, many customers wouldn’t implement the new enhancement package for several months or would wait for the next enhancement package to be released. But with the SAP SuccessFactors, there’s a new release every 3 months. Every new release adds new capabilities and features that make a difference to what you’re doing. If a consultant isn’t tracking these, how can they offer optimal value? It’s the deep expertise that sets the best consultants apart from the rest.\n\n\nTaking ownership for your success\nAs discussed by Jarret Pazahanick and myself in this episode of Firing Line with Bill Kutik before, it’s up to customers to do their homework and due diligence on consultants. Your consulting partner might not be so honest about how experienced their consultants really are when their core focus is to win your business. Sadly, many consulting partners who aren’t trying to pull the wool over your eyes might just have no idea about how capable consultants in the marketplace can be. No matter you might be told, there are plenty of experienced consultants available to help your implementation be a success.\n\nAuthor: Luke Marson, CEO Americas and Principal Architect, iXerv\n\nIf you would like to hear about SAP SuccessFactors work opportunities in Europe and further your SAP career, please take a moment to register your CV with Eursap.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5824628472328186}
+{"content": "Blog - All Posts\n\niSALUS Healthcare Blog\n\n\nRenae Rossow\nRenae Rossow\nTelemedicine Statistics That Will get the Attention of Your Practice\n\nTelemedicine Statistics That Will get the Attention of Your Practice\n\nTelemedicine Statistics That Will get the Attention of Your Practice\n\nTelemedicine enables providers to extend their reach, and improve their efficiency and effectiveness, while still maintaining high quality care and attention to patient safety. While it’s been around for longer than you may think, telemedicine is impacting today’s healthcare scene more than ever before. On October 11th, 2016, Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest integrated health systems in the United States, announced that 52% of the California-based health system’s patient visits occurred through online portals, virtual visits or the health system’s apps. That number speaks for approximately 59 million of their 110 million encounters in 2015. This announcement serves as the first time a large health system has reported more virtual encounters than in-person encounters. Impressive.\n\nNot only does this indicate a major turnaround for the way we deliver and receive healthcare, but evidence shows it may actually become the preferred method of care – especially for those patients located in remote areas where access to timely healthcare can be a challenge. In a recent study by the University of Missouri School of Medicine, they specifically wanted to understand the satisfaction level of all telehealth users, including the providers, based on the idea that for telemedicine to be truly effective, it also must be beneficial to those who provide care.\n\nThe survey featured three questionnaires, designed for patients, physicians and on-site coordinators involved with the Missouri Telehealth Network, which serves 29 clinical specialties at 202 sites around the state. Here are some of the more notable statistics:\n\n  • 86% of physicians said they were satisfied with the quality of care provided\n  • 83% of patients felt they’d received quality care\n  • 78% said they’d use the platform again.\n  • Approximately 2/3 of on-site coordinators stated the system was easy to set up.\n\nResearchers involved in the study stated that it both confirmed and validated the use of telehealth for rural patients. In a separate study performed by the Richard A. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, they found that the veteran population would also benefit from using a telehealth platform. It’s no secret that traveling to and from the nearest VA hospital can create an incredible hardship for veterans. In their 2014 study that spanned over 2 years, they found, again, that it was beneficial to both the provider and the patient. In fact, the center’s telemedicine platform saved the hospital more than $330,000 in reimbursements by cutting more than 770,000 travel miles by veterans. Even more incredible was the fact that the overall satisfaction rate was at 96% for the veterans.\n\nWith such overwhelming data, many providers have looked into adding a telehealth platform to their practices. However there are a few things you need to consider before taking the dive.\n\nConsider Geographic Location:\n\nSome concern has been expressed over regulatory and licensure requirements. At this point in time, providers must follow federal, state and local regulatory and licensure requirements related to the scope of their practice. Additionally, providers must ensure that the patient is physically located in a jurisdiction in which the provider is duly licensed and credentialed. Finally, providers must practice within the scope of their licensure and observe all applicable state and federal legal and regulatory requirements. This could present a problem for providers who are located in an area that is near state lines and have patients who visit their office but live in a different state. Presently, the patient must be located in the state in which the physician or provider is licensed. If they are at home, in a state where you are not credentialed, you cannot provide a telehealth consultation to them.\n\nConsider Patient Education, Consent and Documentation:\n\nOnce you’ve researched your state’s requirements, you’ll need to initiate the telehealth encounter with the patient. This not only requires notifying and educating the patient with regards to a variety of measures related to telemedicine that include setting the appropriate expectations regarding the telemedicine encounter, including prescription policies, communication, follow-up, etc. Most states also require written consent. The consent form you would use varies by state but should contain information such as the patient name and medical record number. It will affirm that the patient understands you are going to engage in a telemedicine consultation and that the provider has explained the process and technology necessary to complete such a consultation. It will also affirm that the patient understands risks associated with technology and security. Additionally, the form should put forth that the patient has received alternatives to the telemedicine consultation and is choosing to participate in the telemedicine consultation. It will affirm that the patient has received an explanation of who has access to this record for the purposes of billing, etc., and that they’ve had the opportunity to ask questions if they have any. So that covers the education and consent but then you must consider the documentation. You will absolutely need to document a telehealth visit with the same detail you document an in-person encounter. In some cases, you may need to provide better documentation to explain rationale, etc. The bare minimum will include the identifying information, source of history, chief complaints, history of present illness, associated signs and symptoms, past medical history, family history, and all the other usual pieces of information.\n\nEthical Considerations:\n\nThere are also some ethical considerations to be made when it comes to adding telehealth to your practice. Though you are technically practicing at a distance, you are still required to provide the same attention and adherence to professional ethical principles as you would at an in-person encounter. Basically, you are expected to uphold the same code of ethics, continue to abide by all federal, state and jurisdictional laws and regulations and institutional policies. Additionally, you are expected to not use telemedicine as a way to provide preferential treatment. In other words, don’t avoid certain patients by only offering telemedicine consultations to them based on their location, economic status, disease or disability, gender or sexual orientation, behavioral factors, ethnicity, religion, etc. The only exception would be in the case of pandemics.\n\n\nWhile there are a lot of considerations and steps to implementing a telehealth platform into your practice, the statistics described above make it more than obvious that it could contribute to increased efficiency, increased patient engagement and even an increase in overall patient satisfaction. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for an announcement from iSALUS Healthcare relating to telehealth before the end of the year!\n\nComments are closed.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9793217182159424}
+{"content": "Life Lessons To Live a Better Life\n\nAs we go through life, we’re going to experience things that change us and teach us lessons about life. I wish I would have learned these life lessons earlier on so I could prepare myself better and healthier. Had I known what I know now when I was a teenager or young adult, I would have saved a lot of time that I could have used for memories and moments with people I cherish.\n\n1. Change is always possible\n\nAs long as you’re alive, the ability to change is always an option. If you don’t like something, change it.\n\n2. Don’t let emotions dictate your daily actions\n\nMake decisions rationally and logically. Don’t base everything off of emotion. If you do, you’ll find yourself isolated and feeling quite alone.\n\n3. Your mindset affects your mood\n\nIf you’re constantly in a state of mind that’s negative, you’ll find yourself having more bad days. People can feel your vibe and energy so make sure to approach each day with a positive mindset.\n\n4. You cannot change others\n\nYou can’t and you never will. At times it may seem like you can, but people have to want to change and believe they can.\n\n5. Daily gratitude helps you stay balanced\n\nDaily gratitude lists can help bring you to acceptance and appreciation for the little things in life.\n\n6. You cannot control how other people feel\n\nPeople are going to judge you. There will be people that like you and do not like you for whatever reason. You can’t change the way they feel so focus on the things you can control.\n\n7. Enjoy life\n\nLife is hard. Life gets harder. There will be instances where you don’t think you can go on living a certain way. We often forget to just stop and do something fun and something we enjoy. Don’t get too caught up in the petty things in life and don’t forget to set time aside to have fun and enjoy your life. You only get one.\n\n8. Share your story no matter how scary it is or your fear of judgment\n\nYour story needs to be heard. There is someone in the world who has felt a certain way or had something similar happen to them. Don’t be ashamed because you are helping someone by sharing.\n\n9. Accept that you’re going to make mistakes\n\nYou’ll make mistakes. You may even make the same mistake twice. As long as you are able to come to this realization, you’ll be able to cope with making mistakes and move on.\n\n10. Love deeply\n\nJust like someone who hurts you is a lesson, you will be someone’s lesson. But just because you experience pain doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love. Love fearlessly.\n\n11. Learn from your mistakes\n\nWhat’s the point in going through experiences if we never learn from them? There would be no purpose. Make sure you find your part in the situation and identify things you would change and things you wouldn’t change. Remember, you are the only person you can change.\n\n12. You’re going to get hurt and you’re going to hurt people\n\nIt’s inevitable and it’s a part of life. You’ll be able to cope with the pain of hurting someone and someone hurting you better once you come to the realization that this is just a part of life and it happens to teach you something.\n\n13. You attract what we believe and value\n\nWe tend to attract people who share similar beliefs and values. Make sure you have evaluated what you believe in and value so you attract good people in your life.\n\n14. Do not compare yourself to others\n\nWe all do it. It’s not worth it. What is the point in comparing yourself to someone else when it won’t change a thing? It’s not worth it, so don’t waste precious time on something or someone out of your control.\n\n15. Define your worth\n\nThis is critical if you want to live a happy and healthy life. You are worth more than you give yourself credit for. Define that worth. Do not settle for anything less than what you deserve.\n\nThese are a handful of lessons that I’ve learned over the years. These are things I wish I had known when I was younger because I think I would have been better equipped to deal with life and all it brings. I also don’t think I would have spent so much time on things that were out of my control.\n\nFocus on what you can control and get rid of anything toxic standing in your way. You get one life…now is your one and only chance to live it. You never know what may happen tomorrow so live life for today.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.673206090927124}
+{"content": "Watch the I bVII IV I Progression in C online guitar lesson by Brad Carlton from Guitar Lab: Vertical Soloing\n\nThis progression is an example of how your street key can be different than the theoretical key. The chords are C Bb F C, so the C is home base (the street key) but the chord progression is a V IV I V in F major. I'll also show you how to blend a blues approach with the diatonic arp, pentatonic and mode approach.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9995759725570679}
+{"content": "Creating Projects in Adobe Dimension CC 1.0\n\n\nCreating Projects in Adobe Dimension CC 1.0\n\n\nLesson Info\n\nMatching Scenes with Perspective, Lighting, and Reflections\n\nNow let's dive into some more complex situations. We're matching the perspective, as well as adding reflections, and even depth of field. How can you match that content to come up with something interesting? In fact, if I take a look, I will actually open up Photoshop because I happen to have a couple images. This obviously has shallow depth of field. So, in my project, you can see it's just this background. If I take a look at even this one right here, this table, look at this, look at this reflection. Let's take a look at those scenarios and tackle them right now. In fact, you can see them right over here in my project. Starting with the reflection. Grab this background, let's drop it right in there, saying hey, you know what, I'll try to match the perspective. It might not, 'cause it might not be a solid line there. It's gonna try to, ready? Click okay. Great with the light. Hey, that actually worked out pretty, pretty well. I'm gonna adjust this. Panning down, but really, the big i...\n\nssue here, as I move this, I wanna actually put this right on the table. And this is the situation I'm dealing with. And I can kind of angle it, tweak it a little bit because you are tricking the eye, ultimately. So, it might not be truly in perspective, but you might need to exaggerate that a little bit, which is why I adjusted the perspective. So, the big issue is the reflection right down here. I can select Environment, and off to the side, I can see the Environment Light and some of those other things that have been added. But let's take a look at the Ground Plane right in here. Sure enough, there is the shadow being cast, so that's what the Ground Plane is. If I turn that off, I eliminate the shadow. I wanna increase the reflection, so I'll crank that up, and you'll notice nothing is really happening at this point, but my goal is to make it match this vase right here. So, I'm not gonna worry about the roughness, but I'm gonna increase the opacity up about three quarters of the way. You're not necessarily seeing this, but I will when I render it. In fact, I'll even just do a render preview right now. And that might happen sometimes. When it's coming to 3D, it's trying to simulate everything happening, but it doesn't wanna slow up your workflow, so when it comes to these reflections, you will have to render it. So, as that comes through, the lighting is matched, perspective looks pretty good, and we'll start to see those reflections as well. So you can see, in just this render preview alone, you can already see the reflection. And this is what you'd wanna do is do your render previews, adjust any of the setting that you need to. In fact, I can increase the opacity of this 'cause this actually looks more like 100% opaque, so I could always minimize that. That will render. Coming back down here, I can increase that accordingly, and always preview that as well. But I'm gonna go beyond that. I like how you're able to add reflections. Obviously, I can add more light to this. Let's take another scenario into account. Even if I wanted to add a different background, dropping in that different background. You'll have these backgrounds that might be offset. Notice how this is kind of a little wonky, right? It's kind of shifted a little bit. I'd wanna make sure that matches as well, so with that done, clicking okay, it's gonna match it. And the angle of that table is really the big thing that needs help. So, that being said, right up here, selecting this, you guessed it, this horizon line, as soon as I actually, let me actually adjust this a little more. Move this up. And make it a little larger, like that. Selecting the horizon line, I can match that angle like so if I happen to have a tilted case right here. Going beyond that, right down here, this tabletop counter, I'm gonna drop this in now, and this is dealing with depth of field. Of course, it's gonna be really blurry in the background. There's still a little bit of blur on the table as well. So, I'm gonna match the perspective and everything. It's gonna adjust accordingly, and now I'm gonna take a look at what we have going on here, which again, this scenario, even if this bag is technically, it might be back a little bit further, and this bag right here might be up a little bit closer to the camera. And notice how it starts to get blurry right down here. Well, I want to account for that, and let's just tilt this. So we have this scenario where we really wanna just focus on this coffee cup, okay, and simulate this situation where we have this depth of field. So, selecting Environment, just kind of closing Canvas, Environment Light, and Ground Plane, which I've already talked about, right down here is Depth of Field. So, we can actually turn this on. This gives me a focus range and then a blur amount. And honestly, I have no idea what 40 is. What is 40? I have no idea. Guess what, I don't need to worry about that because I can literally just set the focus point. As I click on that, let's focus right here on this coffee cup, and now that focus range is 53.2. In fact, as I roll over that, you can see it's telling me what I can do. I can increase this blurriness a little bit more just to make it a little bit more drastic for our preview as we take a look. And all I need in this case is a render preview. It's not the full render, so it might be a little pixelated, but this is the idea I'm going for, simulating that depth. 'Cause otherwise, what I'd have to do is, you know, simulate this in Photoshop by adding my own blurs. So here it is, this is the render preview. You can see it looks pretty good. You can already see that depth right here. See how it's sharp on this side and then blurs out definitely that background right there? Might have it a little high, but that's the whole idea with the render previews. I can adjust that accordingly. Same thing with the reflection. I have that cranked way up. But that gives me all the information I need, which is fantastic, taking this blur down, going into the ground plane, and just lowering that reflection opacity. I'll get that little preview right there. You can already tell that it's looking much cleaner in terms of that depth of field. With that said, I'll just go over to Render, and it's gonna render out this particular scene, and we'll see it with that depth of field and the reflections matching that environment. All right, looks like the render is done. It's actually saved to my desktop. You can see it there. In fact, here it is. You can open this up. You can see that depth of field. Again, I can always check that out on its own layer and then see the additional layers, which are really for selection purposes only. That's really the short of how to basically match perspectives, as well as lighting, add reflections, and even deal with depth of field to really match any scenario you're dealing with. And really, next up is to kinda tackle some more creative use of Adobe Dimension.\n\nClass Description\n\nIn this course, Paul Trani, Adobe Senior Evangelist, will share how to design 3D and 2D assets without a steep learning curve or complex workflow in Adobe’s newest application, Adobe Dimension. You’ll learn the fundamentals of Adobe Dimension CC 1.0 in the context of two projects.\n\nThe first project centers around package design where you’ll learn how to use models and composite with a background, then apply your own package design to your product and render as a PSD for further touch-ups.\n\nThe second project pushes the boundaries of Dimension focusing on the creative use of compositing multiple 3D models together, complete with lights and materials for fun effects and designs that really stand out.\n\nThis course is for any creative or designer needing to learn the basics of 3D design.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6796624064445496}
+{"content": "Facebook Pixel\n\nLatinas' Health: Stroke\n\nRate This\n\nStroke is a major cause of death and disability. A stroke occurs when part of your brain doesn't get the blood that it needs. Depending on the parts of the brain damaged by a stroke, people who survive a stroke can have problems with:\n\n- Movement\n\n- Sensations\n\n- Language\n\n- Thinking and memory\n\n- Emotions\n\nA stroke happens fast. The most common signs of stroke are sudden:\n\n- Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (mainly on one side of the body)\n\n- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes\n\n- Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance\n\n- Confusion or trouble talking or understanding speech\n\n- Very bad headache with no known cause\n\nWomen may also have other sudden symptoms, such as feeling sick to your stomach, face and arm or leg pain, hiccups, feeling very tired, chest pain, shortness of breath, or a racing heartbeat.\n\nIf you have any of these symptoms, call 911. Getting treatment within three hours from the start of symptoms increases your chances of walking away from a stroke with few or no disabilities.\n\nStroke kills 1 in 3 Latinas. Many factors contribute to Latinas' high stroke risk, as well as high risk of death from stroke. Latinas may not know the signs of stroke or the importance of seeking treatment right away.\n\nLack of insurance or access to care keep many Latinas from seeking help for symptoms or getting care that can help to prevent stroke. Latinas also have high rates of some risk factors that make stroke more likely, such as:\n\n- High blood pressure\n\n- Diabetes\n\n- Obesity\n\n- Lack of physical activity\n\nLatinos tend to have strokes at younger ages. Hemorrhagic (hem-ur-RAJ-ihk) stroke also appears to be more common among Latinos than non-Hispanic whites. This type of stroke happens when a blood vessel breaks and bleeds into the brain.\n\nTogether, all these factors put Latinos at high risk of stroke. The good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk of stroke:\n\n- Keep a healthy weight.\n\n\n-- 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity\n\n\nAdd a CommentComments\n\n\nEnter the characters shown in the image.\n\n\n\nGet Email Updates\n\nStroke Guide\n\n\n\nHealth Newsletter\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9896988272666931}
+{"content": "Going After Cacciato\n\n\nGoing After Cacciato is an anti-war novel written by Tim O'Brien and first published by Delacorte Press in 1978. It won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.[1] O'Brien himself says that \"Going After Cacciato is called a war novel. It is not. It is a peace novel.\" [2]\n\nThis complex novel is set during the Vietnam War and is told from the third person limited point of view of the protagonist, Paul Berlin. The story traces the events that ensue after Cacciato, a member of Berlin's squad, decides to go AWOL by walking from Vietnam to France, through Asia. Cacciato means \"hunted\"/\"caught\" in Italian.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9760357737541199}
+{"content": "Tax on personal income\n\nTax on personal income is defined as the taxes levied on the net income (gross income minus allowable tax reliefs) and capital gains of individuals. This indicator relates to government as a whole (all government levels) and is measured in percentage both of GDP and of total taxation.\n\nEnglish French\n\nKeywords: individual income taxes, tax on wage, personal income tax, net income tax, individual taxes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000076293945312}
+{"content": "Puppet Soccer Champions\n\nDo you like this game?\nRating: 24 percent based on 6 votes.\nPuppet Soccer Champions\n\nGenres : Sports\nDescription: Lace up your cleats and step into the soccer stadium and try and become the next Messi or Ronaldo. Use your soccer skills to dribble past your opponent and try and score as many goals as you can.\nGame Controls:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5787687301635742}
+{"content": "Возбудитель для женщин своими руками рецепт - Контроль Качества!\n\nженщин своими руками Возбудитель рецепт для\nАсель - Пекарь\nЛучшая публикация от автора:\n\nСалат из моркови свежей\n\nSteve, I agree that NOT all games are winnable in principle. In the recreation of 649, considered as reduced amounts would range from 1-25 as well as the remaining quantities up to 49 are the half high. If you are tracing a domestic cell phone number then you will need to enter the full telephone number without the country code. You are mostly absorbed with managing your little vegetable business. As I struggled to chase away the cobwebs due to the early morning appointment time he gently plopped his wiry little body into the chair next to me.\n\nI shared this hub with Oscar Mayer so time will tell if they'll appreciate the jingle news. It's a story that follows in the epic tradition of the Greek classics with the sheer cast of characters, plots and subplots, and time frame.\n\nStreaming. site. CPL. T20. Live. IPL. CRICKET. South. Africa. England. Test.\n\nHowever, since the product is banned in the US due to environmental concerns, all MTBE produced in this country is either directly exported or blended at a load port to achieve a specific grade of gasoline. Well that's a good start then, are you going to cash them in.\n\nTherefore everyone secure a good jackpot reward it's break with most of participants within the syndicate, howeverit's mainly truthful given that lottery syndicates facilitates any competitors to use a substantially bigger prospect of outstanding revenue over the lottery.\n\nScatter symbols appear in most games. Some including Word Mojo and Hangmania are merely as popular as well.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5540149807929993}
+{"content": "July 31, 2015\n\nDespite recent claims, the EmDrive remains long on speculation, short on proof\n\nM31 Andromeda GalaxyA new report from German researchers has made waves by claiming to validate the performance of the controversial EmDrive, but many articles on the topic have vastly oversold the results. Let’s see if we can find some clarity here. To begin with, the EmDrive is what’s known as a resonant cavity thruster. It relies on a magnetron to produce microwaves and is designed to produce thrust towards the narrow end of the cavity.\n\nThe problem with the EmDrive (and with all reactionless drives) is that they seem to violate the law of conservation of momentum. That law says that the total linear momentum of a closed system remains constant, regardless of other changes within the system. This is the origin of the phrase “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” When you take the “reaction” out of one end of the system, it’s difficult to explain how an “opposite” reaction actually gets started.\nIn the case of the EmDrive, the inventor claims more microwaves push against one side of the resonant cavity than the other, thereby generating slightly (very slightly) more force in one particular direction. There is no known way for this to be true. All validated space engines, whether they are ion thrusters, nuclear thermal drives like NERVA, or conventional chemical rockets, fire a propellant in one direction in order to move the spacecraft along its desired trajectory. The total momentum of the rocket is balanced once factors like air density are accounted for. The EmDrive claims that microwaves can be used to “push” against one particular side of a spacecraft without exerting an identical force on the opposite side.\nA few days ago, a pair of German scientists published a paper in which they claim to substantiate the EmDrive’s performance. The scientists claim to have measured thrusts of roughly 20 micro-Newtons, which is in line with what NASA measured last year. There are significant problems with this analysis, however. Eric W. Davis, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Austin said to io9: “I noted in [the study’s] conclusion paragraphs that [Tajmar’s] apparatus was producing hundreds of micro-Newtons of thrust when it got very hot, and that his measuring instrumentation is not very accurate when the apparatus becomes hot,” Davis told io9. “He also stated that he was still recording thrust signals even after the electrical power was turned off, which is a huge key clue that his thrust measurements are all systematic artifact false positive thrust signals.”\nIf the EmDrive is still generating thrust even when the power is turned off, it strongly implies that the measured energy was thermal, and therefore indicative of a false positive reading. This latest project is just one of many that has attempted to determine whether EmDrives or the closely related Cannae Drive can actually function. None of the experiments yet performed have been subjected to rigorous peer review, and many of them were publicized and interpreted by the developers of the drives — not independent scientists.\nProponents of these drives and concepts have argued for various quantum mechanical phenomena that could explain the thrust, including the idea that the microwaves somehow produce thrust by interacting with virtual particles. Most of the proposed explanations have additional problems with the laws of physics, but conservation of momentum is the major sticking point. No theoretical explanation for how the drive works while still conserving momentum has been found to be satisfactory.\nIt’s easy to see why science journalists and the public want to believe in the possibility of an EmDrive. In theory, this type of engine could cut travel time to Pluto from nine years to 18 months, using an acceleration of 0.4N/kg. That same acceleration would allow us to travel to Mars in less than three months. Such speeds wouldn’t allow for interstellar travel — at 0.00034% of light speed, it would still take 12,852 years to reach Alpha Centauri (give or take), but it would make colonizing the planets in our system much, much easier.\nUnfortunately for all involved, wishing really, really hard for a thing to be true doesn’t make it so. Until the EmDrive has undergone rigorous experimental validation from a neutral independent team of scientists with no ties to the inventors, it’s impossible to claim the drive works. The equipment needed to measure the amount of thrust and the experimental controls required to validate it are extensive enough as to be daunting to even well-funded labs. As great as the EmDrive looks on paper, we don’t recommend anyone start packing for their 12-hour Moon excursion anytime soon.\n\nNo comments:\n\nPost a Comment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9478752017021179}
+{"content": "The Future of European Political Integration\n\nSince its formation, the European Union has undergone a substantial transformation into the supranational organization it is today. While enlargement, particularly over the past decade, has led many to speculate on when, not if, Europe will turn into a full-fledged political union, significant obstacles that must first be overcome prior to the completion of a union remain. These obstacles include cultural discrepancies among former Soviet-controlled regions as well as massive bureaucratic inefficiencies that have stymied democratic progress thus far.\n\nThe crux of the issue, however, is perhaps more philosophical than institutional—Europe must come to terms with its identity in a post-Cold War world. This reason alone may in fact be the reason why the EU will not become a true political union any time soon. However, it is highly plausible that it will continue to strengthen as an economic union due to the increasing competitiveness of the euro in global markets and institutional reforms triggered by accessions of sovereignty from its various member states.\n\nTo better understand the European Union in its current state, it is important to first consider how its founders initially envisaged its finality, as embodying both political and economic unity. According to scholar Gillian Wylie, the original model for the EU did not account for future potential developments; its design was restrained by the politics of the day. Wylie uses the acceptance of Gaullism during the 1960s as a case in point to illustrate how political integration was an arduous, if not downright impossible, endeavor given the prevailing philosophy of the time.\n\nIn this sense, it is wrong for us to project a modern definition of “political union” onto an era during which such a concept was unprecedented—at least in the matter of the European Union’s origination. The European Community, as it was then known under the 1957 Treaty of Rome, was formed as a means to establish a common market among its six original member states. Given that today’s EU is arguably the best example of an economic union to date, it seems egregious to claim that political integration—in the modern sense of the word—was the desired result of the Treaty of Rome. Wylie clarifies that upon the EU’s formation, integration was not the end itself, but rather the means to realize certain “transcendent ideals,” such as peace and prosperity.\n\nWylie also maintains that such beliefs provided a positive framework towards which all the EU’s member states could strive, a far cry from the ambiguity that incentivizes geographical expansion in modern times. Though it can be said that the EU has some founding ideals that still hold, they have been obfuscated more recently by the endemic cultural discrepancies among member-states, exacerbated by those recently admitted with Stalinist underpinnings. From this, it could be understood how a cultural component is just as important to political integration as any economic credential. It may be even said that cultural disparities must be ameliorated prior to transitioning from economic to political union; otherwise the latter cannot remain intact. Today, dramatic institutional overhauls are severely encumbered by a lack of societal legitimation, which is rooted in the historical disparity between elites and citizens upon the EU’s formation.\n\nThe idea of societal legitimation seems to support the related issue of “democratic deficit” within the EU. Democratic deficit is defined as: “the reduced public participation in and control over policymaking that resulted from moving political authority from the national to the supranational level.” Though the severity of its democratic deficit is disputable, the EU is in fact experiencing low voter turnout and declining civic knowledge by its citizens, both of which pose significant challenges for political integration going forward. Political theorist Matthew Gabel, who acknowledges the democratic deficit of the EU, writes that such must be remedied for risk of potentially catastrophic consequences if left unresolved. Still, he maintains that the EU has done remarkably well in terms of institutional stability, which leaves open the possibility for future political integration if the immediate problems are resolved.\n\nThe inclusion of economically inefficient nations can stagnate the political process due to their lacking “societal legitimation.” Gabel argues while the EU does well in maintaining governmental stability in its current state, rapid enlargement severely undermines the stability of its consociational political structure. Consociational democracies are those that devolve large amounts of powers to their member states, establishing a culture of collectivism and proportionality that is designed to favor “representation,” perhaps as a short-term tradeoff for governability. Both Wylie and Gabel’s ideas seem to hinge on the general premise that when considering enlargement, the advantages of economic growth override any short-term political instability that may accompany such developments. It is also important to consider how Gabel sought to resolve underlying consociational debasement brought on by massive geographical expansion.\n\nTo reduce perceived democratic deficit within the EU, Gabel maintains that the EU should actively seek out already established consociational systems, as they engender long-term stability for the European Union. However, one must be aware of potentially devastating ramifications that policies such as grand coalition could have on the EU’s long-term sustainability. It would be better off if such powers were in the hands of the European Commission, which initiates the European Parliament’s (EP) policies. Better, the EP can be given greater agenda setting power and develop a symbiotic coalition with transnational interest groups. This would establish a policymaking procedure similar to the tripartite system that political scientist Arnold Lijphart champions.\n\nPolitical integration, particularly for a system encompassing as many independent nations as the EU, is lethargic. When the EP instates artificial policies intended to combat present glitches in its development, it actually has the opposite effect of belaboring the process further. From a theoretical standpoint, this should be expected from any consociational system, regardless of whether or not policies are implemented that compromise its growth. According to Lijphart’s thesis, consociational democracies trade short-term efficiency for long-term equity in the system as a whole. Unlike their majoritarian counterparts, consensus systems hinge on coalition building, which can negatively affect governability. The result of this concession, however, is a generally fairer system that can have important effects on conflict mediation among a supranational organization as culturally diverse as the EU.\n\nCurrent admonitions may be offset by the prevailing view of most economists, who contend free trade betters all parties involved. Since these new countries were not able to fully adopt the euro until 2007, any benefits from integration are still not understood fully. The euro’s increasing competitiveness in global markets, especially following its rocky start by the “post-socialist” countries, have led many countries outside the EU to adopt it as a reserve currency, second only to the US dollar in global markets. Though recent economic recessions such as the Greek government-debt crisis have led some to second guess the long-term economic stability of the EU, the general wellbeing of the EU as anchored by German and French economies has erased some doubt in cynics.\n\nThough it may be difficult to assess the immediate economic benefits of newly integrated nations at this early stage, political scientist Joni Virkkunen takes a decidedly long-term stance that these nations will fully assimilate culturally, in addition to boosting the all-around economic performance of the EU in the years to come. Some might contend that current obstacles, such as widespread economic inequalities and the resistance of some notable nations (the UK, Denmark, and Poland) to adopt the euro, will only exacerbate the progression; Virkkunen believes these current hindrances will correct themselves. He references Portugal, Spain, and Greece as less prosperous countries that have aptly rebounded due to European cohesion policies (it should be noted that these countries’ democratic transitions were well-documented because of their autocratic histories). Turkey, and similar culturally incongruent nations, may follow their lead in due time.\n\nBecause of enlargement over the past decade, as well as promising economic developments made in response to the global financial crisis, it seems that the health of the EU as an economic union is quite strong. However, it will not become a political union within the foreseeable future due to massive bureaucratic insufficiencies, enabled by flawed policies that result in greater stagnation. In order to best overcome present difficulties, political elites should not intervene by artificially increasing the EP’s powers. In doing so, currently prevalent issues such as isolated nationalism—nationalism that is exacerbated by cultural differences—among the European Union’s member states will assuage in the long-term, thus enabling further political integration.\n\nRelated posts", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.740647554397583}
+{"content": "\n\nHow a Differential works ? -\n\n\n\nWorking of a differential is explained in a logical and illustrative manner in this animated video. Differential helps in turning the drive wheels at different rpm while the vehicle takes a turn. The basic parts of a differential is introduced first. After that working of differential at various driving condition is demonstrated.\n\nLike us on FB :", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8417091369628906}
+{"content": "Saturday, April 14, 2018\n\nInfiltrating through the Iron Volley\n\nAfter their backstabbing raid into the Uthuk Y’llan homeland to desecrate the sacred groves, the cowardly Daqan withdrew back to their own lands leaving their peasant archers to defend the border. The Uthuk Y’llan, however, were not about to let this insult go unpunished and mounted a raid of their own to infiltrate the enemy territory and exact revenge.\n\n[Rule note: For the campaign we decided that we would follow the normal scenario set up rules and select one scenario each from a random draw of 3 cards. However, once that scenario card is used, it is removed from the deck thus reducing the future choices and ensuring that each battle is different. In this game, the Uthuk selected \"Power of Infiltration\" (C3) and the Daqan selected \"Iron Volley\" (A2). The choice was interesting as both scenarios required the players to score victory points by killing enemy units.]\n\n\nThe Daqan forces deployed 5 units of Yeoman Archers, supported by 2 units of Greyhaven Mages and a Siege Golem. Their plan was to hold back and defeat the Uthuk through sheer firepower. The Uthuk deployed a mixed force comprising Viper Legion archers, infantry in the form of Berserkers and Blood Harvesters, 3 units of Flesh Rippers, and a Chaos Lord.\n\nThe Daqan scouts must have detected the Uthuk Y’llan preparing to invade, as they reacted quickly and began a Line Advance, moving some archers forward to secure a victory banner and occupying the nearby crystal spire with the siege golem (This allowed any unit that started its move on this hex to use an extra die in combat). Their long range fire killed two of the Uthuk flesh rippers, but was otherwise ineffective. 1VP\nTurn 1 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 1 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk began a battle march. The Chaos Lord moved forward to capture a victory banner and one unit of archers moved forward into the ford. Both left flank archer units then took shots at the forward unit of Daqan archers, killing 2 and forcing them to withdraw. 1VP.\nTurn 1 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 1 Uthuk result\nThe Daqan responded with an attack from the centre. The mages on the right moved in front of the weakened archers and cast an ineffective spell at the injured unit of Fleshrippers. The magical energy did succeed in conjuring a magical shield on the nearby archers to help them in the future. Meanwhile the Siege Golem, infused with magical energy from the crystal spire, fired at the Chaos Lord with no result. The Mages on the left flank, moved forward into some trees and cast a spell at the Fleshrippers in front of them, only forcing them to withdraw. 1VP for a total of 2.\n\nTurn 2 Daqan plan\n\n\nTurn 2 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk commander gave the order to \"darken the skies\" and all three Viper Legion Archer units fired. Despite launching a total of 6 volleys, they only result was that the leading unit of Mages and Archers were poisoned.1 VP for a total of 2.\nTurn 2 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 2 Uthuk result\nThe Daqan forces executed a left echelon manouevre. Two units of archers plus the golem fired at the Uthuk unit of Blood Harvesters in the centre. Only one was injured. 1VP for a total of 3.\nTurn 3 Daqan plan\nTurn 3 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk retaliated with an atack on their left flank. Both units of Fleshrippers advanced with the weakened one moving behind the buildings to use them as cover. One of the archer units supported the advance and fired at the Mages, scoring 1 hit. 1 VP for a total of 3.\nTurn 3 Uthuk plan\nTurn 3 Uthuk result\nThe Daqan, facing an imminent attack on their right by the Uthuk Fleshrippers, called for a \"desperate ploy\" The Mages and the larger unit of archers both fired on the Fleshrippers that had moved into the buildings. However, the buildings shielded the enemy and the only outcome was another magic shield for the archers. 1VP for a total of 4.\nTurn 4 Daqan plan\nTurn 4 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk then launched a cavalry charge. The two units of Fleshrippers on the left surrounded the Daqan Mages and ran them down. The smaller unit then turned on the archers and killed two more of them before forcing them backwards. On the right, the third unit of Fleshrippers advanced ready to support further attacks. 2VP for a total of 5.\nTurn 4 Uthuk plan\nTurn 4 Uthuk result\n\nFearing their right flank was about to be overrun, the Daqan committed the forces in their centre to an attack. The Mages in the woods pulled back to take aim at the Fleshrippers in the town and the Golem backed them up with heavy fire. The lone archer on the hill also fired at the weakened unit of Fleshrippers. The combined firepower drove the enemy away, but did no actual damage. 1VP for a total of 5.\n\nTurn 5 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 5 Daqan result\n\n The Uthuk continued the pressure on their left and ordered the two Fleshripper units to patrol and clean up the remaining Daqan light troops. However, they were obviously exhausted after their earlier charge and rapid retreat and they had no effect on the defending archers and Mages. 1 VP for a total of 6.\n\nTurn 5 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 5 Uthuk result\n\nThe Daqan commander urged her remaining men on the right flank to use the \"clash of steel\" to repel the Fleshrippers. There must have been some whisky in their porridge that morning because the defenders not only held their ground, but managed to kill two of the fleshrippers and drive another one away. 1 VP for a total of 6.\nTurn 6 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 6 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk then began to switch their effort from left to right, using the centre as a wedge. One unit of Fleshrippers was ordered to continue cleaning up the Daqan light infantry, which they did by overrunning the Mages and then charging into the remaining archer. Meanwhile the Chaos Lord moved away from the victory banner freeing it up for a unit of archers to secure it and take a shot at the Golem to poison it as they did so. On the far right the Berserkers were ordered forward ready to charge. 3 VP for a total of 9.\nTurn 6 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 6 Uthuk result\n\nThe Daqan were quick to counterattack, albeit they no longer had any troops on their right flank. The Golem used its lore to treat the poison and fired at the Fleshrippers, missing them. The Mages also attacked the Fleshrippers and did succeed in killing the one on the hill and using their magic to shield some nearby units. The archers straddling the centre and left flanks fired at the Uthuk archers forcing them to withdraw. 2VP for a total of 8.\n\nTurn 7 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 7 Daqan result\n\nThe Uthuk pursued their attack on their right flank. The Fleshrippers swung around the woods and charged a unit of archers, with the aid of the \"fury of Y’llan\" (rolling 5 dice). However, even calling on their chaos magic they did no damage and the archers fought back killing two of the Fleshrippers. The other Uthuk attacks faired no better and the Berserkers were pushed back. 1VP for a total of 10. \nTurn 7 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 7 Uthuk result\n\nThe Daqan responded my ordering a \"battlemarch\" and activating 3 units: the siege golem, the mages and a unit of archers. The mages and archers failed to do any damage to the depleted unit of Fleshrippers, but the siege golem managed to destroy them. 2VP for a total of 10.\nTurn 8 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 8 Daqan result\n\nIn response, the Uthuk could only muster enough units to patrol on the right flank. But it was enough to do the damage. The berserkers attacked one unit of Daqan archers and used their \"thousand cuts\" ability to wound the second unit, but were unable to capture the extra objective location. The Uthuk archers also fired on the mages, but merely succeeded in poisoning them. 3VP for a total of 13.\n\nTurn 8 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 8 Uthuk result\n\nThe Daqan responded by patrolling their left flank, where the mages were the only unit available to attack. They used their magic to remove the poison, advanced to retake the objective and managed to injure one of the Uthuk berserkers. However, the berserkers fought back and also wounded a mage. 1VP for a total of 11.\n\nTurn 9 Daqan plan\n\nTurn 9 Daqan result\nThe Uthuk then launched an \"onslaught\", ordering 3 infantry units into the fray. The archers and berserkers used the fact they were flanking the mages to destroy them and capture the objective. 3Vp for a total of 16 and victory.\nTurn 9 Uthuk plan\n\nTurn 9 Uthuk result\n\nSaturday, March 24, 2018\n\nWho Will Win\n\nI will be seeing my nephew in a few days, so I thought I would line up all my Tyranids for a photo to encourage him to get painting his Space Marines.\n\nTo be fair, not all of these are finished, so I need to get cracking on finishing them off.\n\nThe Battle Wing of 26 Space Marines consists of a Battle Sergeant, a tactical squad armed with stormbolters and power fists, a tactical squad armed with stormbolters and chain fists, a tactical squad armed with stormbolters and lightning claws, an assault squad armed with thunder hammers and storm shields, and a devastator squad (5 centurions) - 2 with lascannons, two with heavy bolters and 1 with grav cannons.\n\nThe tyranids include a hive tyrant, 5 carnifexes, 8 tyrant guard, 8 raveners, 6 lictors, a broodlord, 24 warriors, 128 genestealers, 112 hormagaunts, 144 termagants and various other bits and pieces. Hidden in amongst the horde is one of the original tyranid warriors from \"advanced space crusade\".(given the angle it is pretty hard to make out, but a hint is it is kind of in the middle)\n\nMonday, March 12, 2018\n\nBattlelore - The battle of the Crimson Roots\n\nThe conflict between the peace loving Uthuk Y’llan and the imperialist Daqan Lords has once again flared up after a surprise attack by the evil humans. While the Uthul Y’llan army was quietly resting, the Daqan cavalry, hidden by the \"Barrow Mounds of the Gatesmen\", launched a raid over the border in an attempt to desecrate the sacred \"Crimson Roots\".\n\n(VP are awarded for occupying each of the two marked objective points. Additionally, the Daqan receive one VP if they have at least one unit of Golems on a hill at the end of their turn. The Uthuk receive one extra VP if both of the \"Crimson Roots\" locations are free of enemy.)\n \n\nInitial Setup\n\nThe Daqan army began their attack on the left flank in an attempt to secure the vital ground between two woods.\n\nIn response, the Uthuk Y’llan troops on their own left flank, attacked with 3 units, including two units of archers that occupied the hills dominating that side of the battlefield. The right-most unit of archers fired an withering volley of arrows at the distant enemy archers, causing two hits and severely unsettling the overconfident Daqan princeling. Sadly, the other unit of archers was less accurate and did not complete the task.\n(1 VP for Daqan, 2 for Uthuk)\n\nStart of turn 2\n\nThe Daqan then formed a right echelon and moved their Rune Golems, supported by the cowardly Riverwatch Riders onto the high ground to their right. They attacked the Uthuk archers and wiped them out to occupy the vital ground (securing 3 VP for a total of 4).\n\nThe Uthuk initiated an infantry onslaught to deal with the enemy light cavalry before they could do further damage. However, the gods of lore were with the Daqan and the surprise of their otherwise pitiful battle-cry caused the two units of Uthuk Blood Harvesters to check their charge. Fortunately, the remaining unit of archers, who did not advance, were not phased and took careful aim to force the cavalry off the hill and re-occupy the crest.\n\nEnd of Turn 2\nThe Daqan then launched their famous cavalry charge. The light cavalry on the right charged up the hill into the defending archers, while two units of cavalry on the left advanced to desecrate the sacred Crimson roots. (securing 3 more VP for a total of 7). \nTurn 3 Daqan Plan\n\nEnd of Daqan Turn 3\nThe Uthuk then pursued their attack on the left, launching the unit of Flesh Ripper to swing behind the Daqan cavalry, and advancing one of the units of Blood Harvesters.\nTurn 3 Uthuk Plan\nThe combined assault destroyed the cavalry and the Flesh Rippers occupied the crest again. The archers weer ordered to fire at whatever targets of opportunity arose, and succeeded in clearing away the remaining human archer. (however, this still only achieved 1 VP for a total of 5).\n\nEnd of Uthuk Turn 3\nThe Daqan took a pause and merely patrolled on their right flank.\nTurn 4 Daqan Plan\nBoth units of Golems lobbed rocks at the Uthuk Flesh Rippers, killing one and stunning the unit. (However, they still scored 2 VP, totalling 9).\nEnd of Daqan Turn 4\nThe Uthuk launched a brutal counter attack in the centre, combining infantry, Flesh Rippers and the Doombringer to surround the Daqan cavalry.\nTurn 4 Uthuk Plan\nBoth units of Daqan cavalry were all but destroyed and one of the Crimson Root groves was recovered. The Doombringer attempted to force the mages from their key location, but failed to achieve any useful result.  (this therefore only netted 1 VP for a total of 6).\n\nEnd of Uthuk Turn 4\nThe Daqan chose to go all out and battle marched the Golems, the cavalry and a unit of Mages.\nTurn 5 Daqan Plan\nThe Golems again captured the high ground on their right, and the cavalry on the left tried to push the Doombringer away from their objective. However, they did no damage and it battled back to push them into the forest. (The Daqan again held 3 VP for a total of 12)\n\nEnd of Daqan Turn 5\nThe Uthuk had one last chance to reverse their fortune. They counter-attacked battle marching three of their own units on their right and using their lore to order a unit of Flesh Rippers across the battlefield to try to dislodge the Golems with an \"unrelenting\" attack.\nTurn 5 Uthuk Plan\nDespite surrounding every enemy unit they attacked, they only killed one Mage on the right. The Flesh Rippers managed to kill 2 of the Golems, but it was not enough and they were repulsed. (scoring a mere 1 VP for a total of 7)\n\nEnd of Uthuk Turn 5\nThe Daqan adopted an echelon left manoeuvre.\nTurn 6 Daqan Plan\nThis forced the Uthuk Flesh Rippers to withdraw, but otherwise made no impact. (It didn’t matter as they still held 3 VP for a total of 15 with no way for the Uthuk to prevent them scoring the required last point in the next turn).\n\nEnd of Daqan Turn 6\nThe Uthuk lacked the means to order any activity on their left flank, so opted to clean up the remaining Daqan troops on their right.\nTurn 6 Uthuk Plan\nOnce again they used superior numbers to surround the enemy and overran the Mages. Too late to really affect the outcome, the Chaos Lord finally woke up and used some lore to move into combat. (they scored 2 VP for a total of 9).\nEnd of Uthuk Turn 6\nWith nothing left to lose, the Daqan cavalry tried once more to secure the objective on their left flank.\nTurn 7 Daqan Plan\nHowever, they were unable to overcome the ferocity of the Flesh Rippers, but it didn't matter. The Golems still held the right flank. (2 more VP for a total of 17 and victory)\n\nEnd of Daqan Turn 7\n\nIn a desperate attempt at gaining some honour, the Uthuk feasted on the remaining Daqan cavalry and sent a unit of Flesh Rippers towards the Golems on their left.\nTurn 7 Uthuk Plan\nIt was too little too late. (2 final VP, for a woeful total of 11).\n\nEnd of Uthuk Turn 7\nThe Daqan decision to advance the Golems and occupy the hill that also contained an objective marker rewarded them with a stream of VP almost every turn, and protected the rear unit of Golems from any threat. In contrast, the Uthuk continued to neglect to the option to use lore to move the Chaos Lord forward each turn, so the most powerful unit in the army played no part in the battle. Both sides had their share of good and bad luck with the inability of the Uthuk to cause any wounds (despite better than 50% odds on every attack) on turn 5 making the difference between 3VP that turn and only 1 (and the reverse applied to the Daqan).\n\nNow that war has begun, it will continue until one side is wiped from the realm.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8947035670280457}
+{"content": "Archives of Nethys\n\nPathfinder | Starfinder\n\nWeapons | Armor | Special Materials | Miscellaneous\n\nAdventuring Gear | Alchemical Reagents | Alchemical Remedies | Alchemical Tools | Alchemical Weapons | Animal Gear | Black Market | Channel Foci | Clothing | Concoctions | Dragoncraft | Dungeon Guides | Entertainment | Food/Drink | Fungal Grafts | Herbs | Kits | Lodging/Services | Mounts/Pets | Pathfinder Chronicles | Poisons | Spellbooks | Tinctures | Tools | Torture Implements | Transport, Air | Transport, Land | Transport, Sea | Traps\n\n\nSource Adventurer's Armory 2 pg. 20\nPrice 1 sp–200 gp; Weight 3 lbs.\nCategory Clothing\n\n\nSewn-in boning and laces allow this bodice to adjust your waist size in a way considered alluring by some cultures. The restrictive nature of this garment makes it a poor choice for combat or other athletic exertions, but you can easily conceal a thin knife in the corset’s boning. The price varies greatly depending on the corset’s quality; the cheapest corsets are made of simple cloth and cost mere silver pieces, while the most expensive feature silk brocade and are decorated with pearls or other costly adornments.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5178892612457275}
+{"content": "Assignment on Greenair Automobiles\n\nGreenair Automobiles is an automobile company which is just like its name that through our work we want to spread green air to the polluted city. That mean by doing our work we want to take care of the nature, the environment and overall mass welfare of the society.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9839279651641846}
+{"content": "Teen Stylin' Fashion Show\n\nLast weekend, I headed a few hours south to Richmond, Virginia for a fashion show.  It had been awhile since I'd made a visit, and I was happy to be back.  First, to see the wonderful family that I consider my \"Richmond Family\" or my \"second family.\"  I lived with them over the summer when I was in college, traveled with them and babysat the kids, who were 8, 7 and 1 when I started... they are now 22, 21 and 16! And second, to watch the youngest showcase her creative chops. \n\nIzabela, who is the youngest of the kids and 16, was in a Fashion Show held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, where each participant had to apply and were selected to showcase their design skills.  After choosing a work of art from the museum, each contestant created a costume that best reflected their piece.  Some were wearable and some were completely editorial, but all were created using reusable materials (think dried out, tie-dyed Clorox wipes, chicken coop wire, coffee beans, shells and Q-tips.)\n\nA great concept, highlighted by the creativity of the 60+ middle and high school aged kids who designed and modeled their one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art. High School aged winners in categories such as Most Wearable, Best Representation of their art piece and Best Use of Reusable Materials, won a trip to NYC and those in middle school won items such as markers and other high-end art supplies. \n\nThe innovation was incredible.  Each designer had to also write a statement, explaining how their look reflected the piece of art, and choose a song, to which they walked out on stage and down the red carpet runway.  (We had seats right at the end of the runway and could see first hand how some of the models struggled to walk up the slanted theater aisle. They had to walk down the stairs, from a stage, and up through the middle row of seats in the theater auditorium. Some had massive shoes [think Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes] and the way the runway was positioned, they had to take short, brisk steps to make it up the runway, which made it tough to do a fun, sassy catwalk.)\n\nThe venue was beautiful and the event well organized. The pieces that won awards were highly editorial, even the costume that won \"Most Wearable\" was a pant/skirt ensemble, that only the most progressive of fashionable girls would wear. \n\nCheck out the photos below, for more details on the pieces.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6289492845535278}
+{"content": "Custom Clipless Nazca Fountain Pen - in Tortoise Shell Acrylic.\n\n(Click each photo for larger views)\n\n\nbout the Nazca:\nThe Nazca is named after the flat-top mountains of the Nazca Valley in Peru. Although Nazca is actually the name of the VALLEY rather than the mountains, I thought it an appropriate name for this \"Flat-Top\" style pen. Historical buffs and Sci-Fi fans will know of the famous Nazca \"Lines\" found scattered across the tops of the flat mountains, as well as the many odd shaped skulls found in the regoin with the elongated craniums. So the exceptionally tall finial on this pen is a reference to the famous skulls, while the upgraded rings on the finial pays homage to the lines.\n\nNazca Dimensions:\nThe full size Nazca has an overall length of about 6\", but it can be ordered in a smaller size I call the Nazca JR that can be ordered in lengths as short as 5\", and fitted with a smaller #5 nib. The most prominent feature of the Nazca is the tall finial. As with most other JEB's PENs, the Nazca can be ordered in any of the materials shown or you can choose your own material to make the pen unique. The pen can be ordered clipless or with your choice of clip finishes (nickel, chrome, 24k gold, or gunmetal). The standard Nazca has a Cartridge/Converter (C/C) inking system, or upgrade it to a button or piston filler. If you prefer eyedroppers, it could be ordered with a special rubber o-ring that would seal the section to the barrel so it can be filled directly with ink. It can be ordered with either a #5 or #6 nib. Nib finishes are 2-tone, polished steel, Black Oxide (#6 only), or Ruthenium (#5 only). Current tip sizes are fine, medium, broad, and italic and 1.1 and 1.4 (#5 only) or 1.5 (#6 only).\n\nNazca Options and Upgrades:\nThe Nazca can be ordered with one of two different types of threads. The more typical 3-start threads, or a more coarse looking single start. Both types of threads have their advantages. The advantage of the 3-start threads is that they allow the pen to be capped with less turns, while the single-start threads allow more turns in a shorter length of the threads, so they threads can be much shorter and give the same amount of turns. Upgrades to the pen include metal accent bands at various location. You can add just one to the rear of the section for just a little touch of flash, or add at the end of the barrel (using a threaded blind-cap). The cap posting shown on some pens is also an upgrade, so if you prefer to post your cap, please let me know so this can be added to your pen. The ultimate upgrade is to add a group of three bands to the finial for a pen I call the Nazca LINES.\n\nI also offer a variety of hand-made Pen Props and Pen Buttons. You can order a Pen Prop in a material to match your pen, or any one of the wooden styles made in a variety of stained and dyed colors. The Pen Buttons are available for any of the clipless pens.\n\nAbout this Pen:\nThis pen is made as a CLIPLESS. Since the cap doesn't require a clip, it's made in one piece. It also has a different set of threads than is usually used on a pen. The threads are coarse, and single-start. The advantage of the single start threads is that it allow the pen to be capped with a lesser number of threads allowing the threads to be a shorter length. The pen has a straight style section instead of the standard collared, and uses a #6 nib. Inking system is cartridge/converter (C/C).\n\nAbout this Material:\nThis material is an Acrylic Acetate in a crushed pattern called \"Tortoise Shell\". The Tortoise Shell acrylic is probably one of the most recognizable material used in many products in years past (pens, eye glasses were the most popular), and the pattern is still just as popular today as it in years past. If you haven't guessed already, the blend of black and honey gold chips in the material is made to mimic the shell of a tortoise. Tortoise shells were actually used prior to and in the very early days of acrylics, but the use of actual tortoise shells was eventually banned.\n\nTortoise Shell Clipless Nazca Specifications:\nColor / Material: Tortoise Shell Acrylic Acetate.\nLength - Capped = 6.0\" / Uncapped = 5.125\".\nDiameter - Barrel = .56\" / Cap = .63.\nNib - Two-tone Steel Meister.\nFilling System: C/C.\nIt can also be ordered as a button or piston filler.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7073590755462646}
+{"content": "Expression of Interest\n\nData protection\n\nBy pressing 'Submit' on this form, you are consenting to any information you provide being held and processed by the University of the Highlands and Islands for the purpose of administering your enquiry.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9936981797218323}
+{"content": "How to take list of databases in SQL Server\n\n\n--Stored Procedure EXEC sp_databases\n\n\n\n--SELECT Statement SELECT Name FROM master.dbo.sysdatabases\n\n\n\n--Stored Procedure\nInvoke-SQLCMD \"EXEC sp_databases\"\n\n--SELECT Statement\nInvoke-SQLCMD \"SELECT Name FROM master.dbo.sysdatabases\"\n\n\n\nI want nice output from Mongo Shell\n\n\n\nWho can read this??\n\n\n\nClassic Cryptography\n\nSecret Messages!!\n\nI was always amazed by secret messages and Cryptography is the science applied for this. Modern cryptography has gone to a high standard as it’s bonded with mathematics, computer science and electrical engineering. I thought of giving a basic idea about classic cryptography for a change.\nThere are three methods in classic cryptography.\n\n  • concealed messages (Steganography) – These hidden messages are written in invisible ink,microdots etc.\n  • Codes – Here words or phrases are represented by predetermined words,numbers or symbols which were included in code books.\n  • Ciphers – I feel this as the most challenging method in classic cryptography. In this context individual letters are disguised using various techniques.Basically this is divided in to 2.\n    -> Substitution ciphers\n    ->  Transposition ciphers\n    I’ll give a brief idea about these 2 techniques.\n\n Substitution ciphers\nHere letters in the message can be replaced with numbers,other letters,symbols or combinations of all these.Simple substitution cipher and multiple substitution cipher comes under this.\n\n  • Simple substitution cipher –\n    Can you understand the cipher text above?\n    It’s basically the simplest substitution that can be used. Each number stands for the letters of English alphabet in alphabetical order. We can see that the deciphered text is “HELP“.\n    And also we can have a special cipher alphabet corresponding to the letters in the normal alphabet and encode.\n  • Multiple substitution cipher –\n    Message has to encode using a key word in multiple substitution.\n    If we want to encode the message “Send a rescue team soon” with the key word “five” following steps should be followed.\n    First match up key words with the letters of the message.s-e-n-d-a-r-e-s-c-u-e-t-e-a-m-s-o-o-n\n    f   i  v e  f  i  v e  f  i  v e f   i  v  e  f   i  v\n\n    Then follow the steps below taking the corresponding letters.\n    If we take the first corresponding pair, s-19th letter and f-6th letter ->  s+f=25 -> 25th letter-y\n    When it comes to the 3rd pair it’s a bit different.\n    n-14th letter and v-22nd letter -> n+v=36\n    As 36>26, 36-26=10 take the 10th letter “j”\n    Like that we have to encrypt all the letters in the message.Final cipherd text would be “ynjigaaxidaykjixuxj “\n\n    Transposition ciphers\n    In this method letters in a message are jumbled and arranged in a block according to a secret scheme.Mostly this is done in a geometric design.\n    If we want to encode the message “Meet me in the usual place at 10 tonight” it can be done as below in the simplest way.\n    Transposition cipher when arranged in a rectangle is called a columnar cipher.It can be encoded using a key word.\n    If we want to cipher the message “I need help” following steps should be followed.\n    First arrange the message in a rectangular block.\n\n    Then a key word must be chosen to assign a number to each column in the rectangle.If we select the key word “CAT” each letter is assigned a column of letters as below.\n\n\n    As  C-3rd letter,  A-1st letter, T-20th letter ,\n    the alphabetical order of the key word will be A,C,T.\n    So when encoding we have to take the column under A first, then the column under C,finally the column under T.\n    It’ll give the final output,\n\n    These techniques can be developed in more complex ways too though I gave simple examples. Hope you got a basic idea about the techniques that were used in classic cryptography.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.993583083152771}
+{"content": "Page 27\n\n\nMICROCLIMATE CONTROLLED WITH SLIDING “ECO” PANELS These sliding facade shutters not only provide shade, but also create a microclimate inside the building, forming more pleasant living environment and saving energy. By taking principles, rules and algorithms from nature, and translating them to the design, facade panels are mimicking the leaf structure in order to achieve performance that it has in forming microclimate. Like a leaf, panels control fresh air flow into the building, adapt to the solar exposure thus reducing or maximising insolation if needed, and achieve sufficient structural stiffness with optimal opening ratio and lattice structure. The panels have a slight curvature, with two types: convex and concave, depending on the position and guiding rails. Convex panels are mounted on a rail toward exterior and concave on a rail closer to the windows. All of the panels have sliding mechanism which enables their overlapping, moving, opening and closing. The panel design is inspired by the properties of the leaf: 1. Regulating the airflow and optimising the amount of fresh air 2. Maintaining stiffness and shape 3. Controlling light and temperature by adapting to the environment 4. Changing the interior ambience with adjustable relation between light and shadow Structure of the panel is developed using parametric design, applying natural principles. The algorithm that generates panel’s geometry is a fractal Voronoi diagram which can be found in the structure of the leaf’s cells. Voronoi cells are formed with randomly generated points inside parent geometry. This process is applied in two generations (iterations) with the second one generating cells inside the first one.\n\nVoronoi cells\n\nCell number and size\n\nSecond generation\n\nDamir Alispahic Architecture Portfolio 2015  \nDamir Alispahic Architecture Portfolio 2015", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5603333711624146}
+{"content": "Quick, violin-led jazz waltz. Violin leads with fast, intricate melody line soaring over a bed of laid-back jazz waltz rhythm on double bass, Spanish guitar and percussion. Spanish guitar takes a solo, over the soft, shuffle of acoustic guitar and percussion. Violin returns.Intriguing, mysterious and positive, European jazz for an advert traversing the cobbled streets of a French city in a new Renault, or for a bright-eyed, Woody Allen-style cinematic love letter to Europe.\n\nBed track has no violin or guitar solos, more prominent double bass.\n\n\nSalutations Plains Wanderer\n\nDreamy multi-instrumental track. Gentle, swaying, looped piano motif, joined by bright, pealing keys, hypnotic and cyclical. Moves to a jazz keyboard sound, joined by violin and cello sharing fragments of melody. High register violin and ascending keys drive the melody to an anticipatory hight point. A new section: soft, tender Satie-like chordal piano, joined by breathy sustained strings. A soothing variation on the original motif to finish. Romantic, thoughtful and other-worldly,a sonic dream, astral wanderings with one foot in the 20th century. Would suit a reflective TV scene or a very beautiful documentary.\n\n\n\nMulti-instrumental contemporary folk. Gentle marimba intro, joined by sustained violin and cello fragments. Tinkling piano mimics the strings, leading to a darkening of mood and intense, high register string-lead movement. Resolves to gently swaying, lingering light strings and piano. Next section feels like gentle rocking in an ocean trawler. Harp and strings duel steadily to a choppy finale. Intriguing, dynamic and searching, a curious, undulating, seafaring piece, perfect for mysterious TV/Doc scenes.\n\n\nOnce A Squirrel\n\nMulti-instrumental contemporary jazz/folk. Light-footed marimba intro into a marimba riff with counter melody. Violin and cello join with a brief melody, continue over the marimba. Polyrhythms emerge from multiple layerings and harmonies. Quiet marimba break before a burst of vigorous strings. Dynamic new section with sparse piano, strange rhythms and freely soloing marimba. Slow down and fade to finish. Playful, folky and a bit magical, secret goings on, covert, playful encounters and mysterious but jolly woodland fun. Like the soundtrack to a jaunty but slight dark Enid Blyton tale.\n\n\n\nEmotional slow-paced string track. Melancholy string solo for 1 min, higher violin line joins, sparse, sombre piano chords punctuate the melody. Slowly shifting, the melody is shared, moments of light and bliss emerging through chordal changes. Further string lines join and the piano rings out on the higher register, a walking accompaniment in reminiscent of stately Baroque style. Strings multiply and build, piano gains strength to a powerful emotional effect. Beautiful, lyrical and sad, a sense of deep yearning permeates the track, perfect film music, cutting through a beautiful imagery, lending an air of nostalgia, romance and longing.\n\n\nGround Zero\n\nEpic other-worldly orchestral track. Sustained melancholy orchestral strings, a special FX blast then a searching ancient violin melody rings out, accompanied by intermittent drums beats and a chorus sample. Frantic, dramatic violin section, choppy and fierce with rumbling drums beneath. A key change heightens the anticipation before a dramatic stop and resurgence at the finish. Urgent, powerful and bombastic, a Prince of Persia-style romp over sacred lands in search of danger, passion and hidden treasures.\n\n\nPride and Joy\n\nViolin and guitar led country instrumental. Electric guitar, drums and a country-style violin melody kick off, joined by slide guitar. Strong, rugged violin and effortless slide guitar mingle over the groove. Easy-going, upbeat and fun, with a slight emotional edge, would suit an American-style down-home food or drink advert, or an advert for a country-themed event promising a darn-tootin’ good time.\n\n\nI Still Carry A Torch for You\n\nSentimental country slide guitar track. Emotional electric guitar, gentle slide guitar, easy-going piano and lyrical violin with soft drums. Nostalgic, warm and soothing, suitable for a comforting advert for wholesome American-style goods, or as background music evoking the good ol’ days when times were bad.\n\n\n\nDramatic orchestral track. A flighty melodic phrase on woodwind, mimicked by strings and punctuated by vigorous percussion, joined by countermelody on woodwind before fuller orchestral melody enters. Excited, suspenseful, tense and nervous. Reminiscent of the Animals of Farthing Wood theme, suitable for a dramatic, high stakes film/TV sequence or an advert for a disaster-averting product.\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5213768482208252}
+{"content": "During the World War II the three bigs - Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin - used to meet for mutual consultation in neutral Switzerland. They stayed in the same building for security reasons. On one such occasion in order to stress a point pursuant to overnight discussion, Roosevelt without advance notice barged into the room of Churchill. Churchill was lying stark naked in his bed. Roosevelt shut the door and turned back.  Sir Winston called him in saying \" Come on come on Britain has nothing to hide from her allies\". Several self-contradictory unstatesman-like statements lavishly issued by Asif Ali Zardari showed that either he is confused or he is deviating from the candid course, hiding something unlike Sir Winston Churchill. PPP Co-Chairperson said the other day although PPP did not accept Pervez Musharraf as constitutional head of state yet indeed he was sitting in presidency as a reality. He does not differentiate between despotically deposed judges and those illegally appointed by Musharraf under personal constitutional order.  He said as per charter of democracy no pro-PCO judges could be accepted but the political parties would take decision according to the situation emerging in the country. Zardari said Z.A. Butto preferred to live in the anals of history as a hero rather than living in this world under the label of compromising principles on the pressure of a dictator. He espouses Bhuttoism but at the same time ignores that Z A Bhutto refused to accept Ziaul Haq as de facto ground reality. Had Z A Bhutto fearfully compromised, the history of PPP would have been different.  The electorate, the popular sovereign, had given a positive anti-Musharraf verdict on February 18. Instead of feeling strengthened by popular vote, Zardari harbours fears latently lurking in his mind. This was manifest in his statement that he and Nawaz Sharif would be in Landhi jail in case presidency was not got vacated by Musharraf. Not Zardari but Musharraf should have been afraid for having subverted the constitution more than once. For eight long years Musharraf and his coterie have been trumpeting that their policies had lent political stability to the country and put it on the road to progress. This has been belied by the World Bank. Its recent report has assigned the top position to Pakistan for misgovernance, instability and violence. Pakistan stands twenty-first with regard to corruption control. Beating Zardari and Musharraf a Churchill like candid course was shown by a young student Sammad Khurram. He the other day ignored the extended hand of US ambassador for shaking that of Sammad. On being called for receiving an award at a ceremony in Islamabad Sammad straight went to the mike to turn down the certificate in protest against US attacks on Pakistan territory. \"My refusal to take award from Anne W Patterson was inspired by 'big no' of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chardhary to Pervez Musharraf\", said Sammad in a press statement. He said he was living in USA to complete his studies at Harvard University. He decided to come back to the country when the legal fraternity came out on streets protesting, against Musharraf for freedom of judiciary and reinstatement of illegally deposed judges. The lawyers movement inspired him to stand against injustice. He said he had been arranging several protests against Musharraf imposing emergency on November 3. His university administration and other students encouraged him. With full support from his friends  he was able to constitute an organization namely Students Action Committee (SAC) in Harvard University USA and in other universities located in different areas of Pakistan. He said all of his friends on the platform of SAC have been participating in the judiciary independence movement of the lawyers. He was optimist that it would meet success soon. Candid enough was also the speech of Jan Muhammad Jamali, Deputy Chairman of the Senate on the floor of the Upper House during discussion on the Federal budget.  It is unfortunate that the emotive manner in which Jamali projected the political and economic deprivation of people of Balochistan and resultant frustration prevailing there has not sufficiently stunned the general public. This should have been taken as a wake-up call by the entire nation. Jamali belongs to the family that had most friendly relations with father of the nation. Hence his sense of patriotism and dedication to federalism is beyond question. This was in utter frustration that he referred to the threat to country's integration saying that if prompt and proper remedial measures were not taken, a time might come when Pakistan would need visa for Balochistan. Sometime back Asif Ali Zardari had tendered public apology to people of Balochistan for past negligence. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has sanctioned a grant of Rs three billion to help the province to prepare its budget. The Prime Minister has also set up a committee to look into the gas related issues like settling the royalty. The matter indeed needs to be tackled in its entirety. During Musharraf's misrule two committees had been set up on Balochistan. But none yielded any fruitful result. Chairman of one of the committees Syed Mushahid Hussain is on record to have stated that military hawks (who seek settling issues by use of force) succeeded in scuttling their findings. Mere candid utterances alone may not deliver. There is a need for removing stumbling blocks to pave the way for democracy and political, economic and social justice.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7299518585205078}
+{"content": "How to Lose Wars and Infuriate People\n\n“Unless American leaders begin accepting limits on what pure military force can achieve (without becoming doves), and more fundamentally, inherent limitations on their power to conduct war, then a sound strategy will never be crafted in war. Rather, we will continue to “do stuff.” Action will be conflated with accomplishment. And, threats will never be mitigated. Instead, they will simply multiply–even as we increase our expenditures and commitments to the conflict.”\n\n\nWas Afghanistan the “Good War”?\n\n\nOf Terror and Torture\n\n“Fear drove American policymakers to abandon practices they deemed as too cumbersome for protecting Americans from terrorists. Their assumption was both right and wrong. I do believe that the CIA’s torture program helped to break otherwise implacable terrorists in time to save some American lives (and give other viable intelligence on terror operations and organization).”\n\nSyria is a Successful and Sustainable Model? Don’t Make Me Laugh\n\n“For the United States, it needs to not only temper its expectations (and therefore slow down the tempo of its intervention in the region generally, but specifically in Syria), and start focusing on larger geopolitical concerns. Obviously, the United States cannot (and should not) simply abandon the region, as many on the Far Right insist. But, we must be willing to give greater levels of support–and responsibility–to our local allies. That is our only hope for not breaking the American military in the quicksand of Mideast politics (which we presently are in danger of doing).”\n\nThe New-Old World Order is Here (Part VII)\n\n\nThe Port Authority Attack is a Snapshot of Our Future\n\n“Clearly, the fight against ISIS has shifted away from the Mideast. President Trump’s forthcoming National Security Strategy memo rightly focuses on boosting homeland security. But the president’s national security team should also intensify its support of Asian governments where Islamic extremism is on the rise. Further, the United States should expand its special forces activities in Africa and Asia, in an effort to neutralize the Islamic State’s threat before it becomes a real problem, as it did in northern Iraq and Syria in 2014.”\n\nThe Next Almost War: Iran\n\n“I’d say buy oil stocks now because in the next several months, things are likely to ratchet up in the Middle East. If the Qatari imbroglio is resolved in Saudi Arabia’s favor (it is likely to, especially now that Qatar is reaching out to Israel), then it is quite likely that the Trump Administration will abrogate the former Obama Administration’s nuclear agreement with Iran. Once that happens, it will only be a matter of time before there is greater regional conflict.”\n\nWhat’s Going On? A New Balance of Power in the Mideast\n\nA 15-minute analysis of how the Trump Administration, along with the Sunni Arab states and Israel is attempting to restore a balance of power in the Mideast aimed at 1) containing Iran, 2) countering Islamic extremism, 3) ensuring the flow of oil, and 4) protecting Israel.\n\nIs the U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal the End of Syria As We Know It?\n\nErik Khzmalyan writes, “In the end, it is the proxy countries that pay the price for the mistakes made by external powers. In this case, we might see Syria disappear from the world map in a century that so hopelessly claimed that geopolitics is a thing of the past.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6880992650985718}
+{"content": "Center for World Indigenous Studies\nJoin the movement Donate Amazon Smile\n\nRandom Thoughts on Finding Balance in a Chaotic World\n\nPublished: September 7, 2014, Author: dinagw\n\nOne of the most difficult aspects of doing social justice work of any kind is maintaining a sense of optimism about the world we live in. I struggle with it all the time; as a person of Native descent I know all too much about my family’s history and the larger history of American and European colonization. I agonize about climate change, nuclear contamination, and the catastrophe that is neoliberal fundamentalism. I worry about the world my son is inheriting and wonder how long the earth’s environment will be fit for human habitation.\n\nIt sounds dramatic, I know, but these are dramatic times we live in. As a person of mixed heritage, far from the home of my Native ancestors (on the Colville reservation), my concerns are compounded by my absorption in the dominant culture, having grown up in an urban environment where there are scant traces of indigenous life. Indigeneity is always erased from the landscape in a settler society, save for a few place names or historical markers. This is especially true in densely populated areas. Unless you know the history of a region and you go out of your way to connect with the indigenous folks of the area (and they are always there whether you see them or not), you will be seduced into thinking there are no Indians left.\n\nIn a settler society questions of identity are inextricably bound to all other social justice issues. It always comes down to who was displaced in order for the town or city you live in to exist. What does it mean to be Colville and live in Southern California? How do I live with the cognitive dissonance that comes from driving a car while knowing that fossil fuels are the primary harbingers of global warming, and contributing to the destruction of other indigenous peoples in the world? These and a thousand other questions fog my mind daily in my quest to try to live a conscious, as balanced a life as possible.\n\nAs bleak as things may seem, I strive to bring light into my own little corner of the world. I try to create beauty in what small ways I can, and work to make a difference, to the degree that is possible. I pray in my own ways, giving thanks to the earth and the ocean for the life that sustains me. I remember that being indigenous is a frame of mind–a window onto the world–that honors life in all its forms, regardless of where I live or who my friends are. Because after all, we are all related.\n\nChief George Manuel Memorial Indigenous Library\n\n\naccess here", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7212507128715515}
+{"content": "Congressman Ruben Gallego is the son of Hispanic immigrants, a veteran, and a community leader. He was the first in his family to attend college, graduating from Harvard University with a degree in International Relations. He later joined the Marine Corps, serving in Iraq with the well-known combat unit Lima 3/25.\n\nCongressman Gallego was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010, and served until 2014. He represented District 27, which covers much of Phoenix. He rose quickly in the state legislature, serving as Assistant Minority Leader. Congressman Gallego became known for his tough stand against extreme legislation pushed by Republicans in the state legislature. He led the opposition to the discriminatory SB 1062, which Governor Jan Brewer ultimately vetoed. As a state legislator, Congressman Gallego also led the push for Medicaid expansion and to secure in-state tuition for veterans.\n\nDuring his first term, Congressman Gallego fought tirelessly on issues including education, job creation, access to higher education, veterans’ issues, and immigration reform. Making Arizona a better place to live, work and raise a family is his top priority.\n\nIn his first year in Congress, Congressman Gallego introduced the VETS Act, which would reduce the burden of student loan debt on veterans and has supported legislation to increase the hiring of veterans and provide additional benefits to wounded or deceased veterans and their families.\n\nCongressman Gallego helped lead the effort to strengthen and restore the Voting Rights Act in order to ensure that all Americans have access to the ballot box. He also authored legislation to encourage gun dealers to be stronger community partners in the struggle against gun violence and to crack down on irresponsible gun dealers.\n\nCongressman Gallego serves as a Senior Whip for the Democratic Caucus, the Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Vice Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Vice-Chair of the Equality Caucus.\n\nCongressman Gallego currently serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8854568600654602}
+{"content": "Industrial robot ( Auto industry ) uses , advantages and disadvantages\n\nRobots in the automotive industry\n\nThe industrial robot is the robot system used for manufacturing , The industrial robots are automated , programmable and capable of movement on two or more axes , They are cost efficient & they are safe , They can perform an increasing number of manufacturing tasks & they never feel sick .\n\nThe industrial robot can perform the tasks that the humans often found dangerous or boring , It can do them with consistent speed and precision , The top 5 applications that grabbed our attention such as Robotic Painting , Robotic Vision , Collaborative Robots , Robotic Hand and Collaborative Robotics .\n\nThe robot systems in the auto industry are cost effective because they can do the job quicker than their human counterpart , They are efficient in their jobs , They offer more speed and accuracy than the human workers , The artificial intelligence becomes the most important factor in the modern industrial robot .\n\nThe typical applications of the robots include welding , painting , assembly, pick and place for printed circuit boards , packaging and labeling , palletizing , product inspection and testing , The industrial robots offer high endurance , speed and precision , They can help in the material handing and provide interfaces.\n\nIndustrial robot\n\nIndustrial robot\n\nThe robot factory workers aren’t without their limitations , The industrial robots are mere automatons , The humans program them to perform the simple task , & they repeat that task over and over again , The tasks that require decision-making , creativity , adaptation and on-the-job learning tend to go to the humans .\n\nBut when the job is just right for the robot , The productivity tends to increase dramatically , The most obvious impact of the industrial mechanization is that it eliminates many unskilled job positions .\n\nIndustrial robots fill unwanted factory jobs and they create more technical positions dedicated to their upkeep , In the same way that the computerized office depends on various techies , so , The robotic workers require technical upkeep too , The human labor is simply cheaper .\n\nSome robots are programmed to carry out the specific actions over and over again ( the repetitive actions ) without variation and with the high degree of accuracy , These actions are determined by programmed routines that specify the direction , the acceleration , the velocity , the deceleration , and the distance of the series of coordinated motions .\n\nSome robots are more flexible to the object orientation on which they are operating or the task that have to be performed on the object which the robot may need to identify , The robots contain machine vision sub-systems acting as their visual sensors , linked to the powerful computers or the controllers , \n\nAdvantages of Automating with Industrial Robots\n\nThe industrial automated robots can dramatically improve the product quality , The applications are performed with high precision and repeatability , This level of consistency can be hard to achieve any other way and the robots are being improved .\n\nThe industrial robots increase the production because the automated robot can work at the constant speed without taking the breaks , the vacations & they do not sleep , It has the potential to produce more than the human worker.\n\nThe industrial robots increase the workplace safety , The workers are moved to the supervisory roles where they do not have to perform dangerous applications in the hazardous settings , The light screens or the barriers are available to keep the operator out of harms way .\n\nThe industrial robots reduce savings , The improved worker safety leads to the financial savings with fewer healthcare and the insurance concerns for the employers , Also you can consider the quality and the customer satisfaction which means returning customers and more business .\n\nThe human workers are working alongside the robots now in handling and assembly the applications in the automotive industry , and the robots are performing the monotonous and sometimes dangerous tasks that the humans do not enjoy .\n\nWith the robots doing all the dirty work , They reduce the chance of worker injury or error , This saves the companies money on downtime and sick time , while the robots increase the productivity level overall .\n\nThe automotive industry is well known for its intensive use of the industrial robotics , The production lines need to be more flexible , efficient and precise , Many enhancements have been made on the production lines to help the workers in their daily tasks .\n\nDisadvantages of Industrial Robots\n\nThe industrial robots has much expense as the initial investment to integrate the automated robotics into your business can be significant when the business owners limit their purchases to the new robotic equipment only , The robotic automation cost should be calculated in the business’ financial budget and the regular maintenance needs can increase the financial as well .\n\nThe industrial robots does not guarantee the results , You should devise specific production plan from the beginning to the end as it is absolutely crucial , If the company do not put the work plan to the Industrial robots  , The automation may not help achieve the goals needed .\n\nThe industrial robots need a lot of expertise , The employees will need to train for programming and interacting with the new robotic equipment , It takes the time and the financial output .\n\nAutomation in manufacturing uses , advantages and disadvantages\n\nRobot welding advantages over manual welding\n\nThe advantages and disadvantages of robots in the factories\n\nYou may also like...\n\nLeave a Reply\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.863143801689148}
+{"content": "\n\nKouros Hotel & Suites Questions & Answers\n\nHi, is this place located where the white buildings with blue windows are ? I am just trying to stay in the main part of Mykonos where the layout is as from the pictures of Mykonos.\n\nover a year ago Answer\n\n1 answer\n\nProperty representative\nMykonos Town, Greece\nHelpful answer\nNot as helpful\n\nHello Ms. Tanja!\n\nWe will indeed be very happy to see you here with us!\n\nAll of Mykonos is built in the same 'sugar-cube' architecture and white and blue (or grey) style, as the uniformity of the beauty of our Island is protected by law, and buildings cannot be built otherwise (skyscraping high buildings, red roof-tiles, other wall colors, etc, are all not permitted).\n\nWhat we can add is that our Hotel is indeed located in the Mykonos Town area, where the central part of Mykonos is located in terms of everyday life, shops, restaurants, cafe's, nightlife etc, and where the beautiful Myconian landmarks (the Windmills, Paraporiani church, Little Venice area) are found.\n\nWe would like to thank you for your question and we remain at your disposal for further enquiries that you may have.\n\nThank you!\n\nGeorge D. - Guest relations team\n\nover a year ago\nAdd your answer\nPosting guidelines", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7942732572555542}
+{"content": "venerdì 5 aprile 2013\n\nReview of Matteo Mela: Astor Piazzolla Complete Guitar Works, Stradivarius\n\nTango. A sad thought that is danced. A word. A sensation. An emotion. Music. Atmosphere. A composer. Piazzolla. It’s difficult to find another term that with one word is able to communicate immediately with these concepts, this combination of pathos, history, music, sweat, dance and music, being able simultaneously to cut off from his place of origin and making it a world's cultural heritage. Jazz? Too many genres below. Rock? Which? Pop? Yes, but when there was Andy Warhol. Blues? That's right, the blues is good. But the Tango have a plus, because the blues is the blues, but the Tango has Piazzolla as its poet and heavy champion. Because it takes a genius, a real genius to make a musical genre born in brothels, fuse it with jazz, classical music and klezmer and give it a spirit, a soul strong enough to make it universal and immortal. It takes nerve, muscle, talent and great passion to play at its best this music for dancing or for a guitar. Matteo Mela, Per Arne Glorvigen, Lorenzo Micheli, Ivan Ramaglia and I Solisti di Parma have talent, passion, intuition and they have to sell. This record is a solid, compact monolith, without a single smear, without a single failure, without a single loss of emotional and musical tension. It leaves you breathless, stunned, for its devotion and passion. 74 minutes of pure talent. Here there is no room for smoking, here is just the roast: the Tango Suite for two guitars, the Histoire du Tango for violin and guitar, the Cinco Piezas and Double Concerto \"Hommage a Liege\". All played at their best, with a control on the instruments and a so superlative technique that doesn’t interferes in any way with the emotions, feelings and colors that musicians forward with the simplicity and the skill of someone who has studied and played a lot. Buy this record. Listen to this record. Give this record. Open the doors to tango. Don’t regret it. Matteo Mela and Astor Piazzola Complete Guitar Music, thirteenth Volume of the Stradivarius Guitar Collection will not disappoint you.\n\nPosta un commento", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9653716683387756}
+{"content": "Entre/view & Resisting Definition:\n\nDeconstruction is a term French, post, neo and/or anti-structuralist philosopher, Jacque Derrida, coined in Of Grammatology. Applying Martin Heiddegger’s concept of Destruktion (destruction) to textual reading, Derrida believed that all references--metaphors, derivations, reductions or extensions--used to interpret a text are themselves texts; “there’s nothing outside the text.” By this, he suggests (never commits to meaning) that there is no truly objective, discourse-free reference from which interpretation can begin. Thus, deconstruction is “an effort to understand” a text through its relationships to various contexts.\n\nBut don’t be misled.\n\nDeconstruction is not an analysis.\nDeconstruction is not a critique.\nDeconstruction is not a method.\nDeconstruction is not a theory.\n\nInstead, deconstruction might be closer to a game with its “unenclosable, not wholly formalizable ensemble of rules for reading, interpretation and writing” (Derrida, 7) or perhaps, a performance as Derrida mysteriously infers in his letter to a Japanese friend in 1983: “[d]econstruction takes place, it is an event” (Derrida, 30). Yet it only gains momentary, albeit assymptotic meaning, one might argue in practice, when it is applied con/textually. Then again, perhaps not.\n\nSuch an application might be discernible in Limited, Inc., wherein Derrida de-structures/displaces/re-contextualizes his argument, most notably in Signature Event Context (SEC). Here, the reader (aka misguided interloper) is introduced to another palimpsestual layer of (non)deconstruction, aptly and playfully placed at the end of SEC:\n\n\"Deconstruction cannot be restricted or immediately pass to a neutralization: it must, through a double gesture, a double science, a double writing--put into practice a reversal of the classical opposition and a general displacement of the system. It is on that condition alone that deconstruction will provide the means of intervening in the field of oppositions it criticizes and that is also a field of nondiscursive forces. Every concept, moreover, belongs to a systematic chain and constitutes in itself a system of predicates. There is no concept that is metaphysical in itself. There is a labor--metaphysical or not--performed on conceptual systems. Deconstruction does not consist in moving from one concept to another, but in reversing and displacing a conceptual order as well as the nonconceptual order with which it is articulated\" (Derrida, 21).\n\nHere deconstruction resembles simultaneity, the slash (/) itself devoid of ontological sedimentation, and even a red herring. Or better yet, is deconstruction the McGuffin.\n\nEach attempt to affix a definition, a meaning, defies its signification.\n\nWhile deconstruction involves a “certain attention to structures” and tries to “understand how an ‘ensemble’ was constituted,” (Derrida, 32) it is both (or neither) a structuralist and an anti-structuralist gesture tied up with the “structural problematic” generated by the tension entre what Derrida refers to as genesis--“the essential mode of creation or movement,” such as sensory notions, tacit knowledge--and structure--“systems, or complexes, static configurations,” such as binary oppositions (Derrida, 34). Both are part of the act of description, and yet difficult to reconcile, which creates the ensuing structural problematic, propelling deconstruction forward into an endless “debate that makes new reductions and explications indefinitely necessary.” (Derrida, 35). A task even Sisyphus would renounce.\n\nBut let’s be serious, and not needlessly tarry in the “pleasure of the threshold (limen)” (Derrida, 39).\n\n(Non)Practical Application:\n\nLimited, Inc can be seen as two “statements” or playful illustrations/performances/applications of deconstruction.\n\nSEC begins with a question: does the word or signifier “communication” communicate a determinate content, an identifiable meaning or a describable value? He then proceeds, almost phenomenologically, to maddeningly deconstruct, break apart, and ultimately reverse and reconstruct the act of questioning itself:\n\n\"However, even to articulate and to propose this question I have had to anticipate the meaning of the word communication: I have been constrained to predetermine communication as a vehicle, a means of transport or transitional medium of a meaning, and moreover a unified meaning. If communication possessed several meanings and if this plurality should prove to be irreducible, it would not be justifiable to define communication a priori as the transmission of meaning\" (Derrida, 1).\nDerrida continues on in this vein of archaeological, ontological digging until he finds an example that showcases a nonsemantic modality of communication--a movement, a tremor, or a transmission--which he claims possess neither conceptual content, nor semiotic operations or even linguistic exchange.\n\nHe concludes (as he begins) this “dry discussion” in double-negative fashion by portending that “writing, communication, if we retain the word, is not the means of transference of meaning, the exchange or intentions and meanings, discourse and the communication of consciousness...but rather the increasingly powerful historical expansion of general writing, of which the system of speech, consciousness, meaning, presence, truth, etc, [is] only an effect, and should be analyzed as such. It is the exposure of this effect that I have called elsewhere logocentrism.” (Derrida, 20).\n\nTucked away tellingly in footnote 9 from the Afterword, Derrida admits that “deconstruction (as he has always practiced it) begins with deconstructing logocentrism” (Derrida, 156). By proceeding in this ‘style’, Derrida seeks to propose an entirely “different ‘logic’ and a ‘new articulation’ between concept and metaphor (effect), which is to say between philosophy, science and logic on the one hand, and rhetoric on the other” (Derrida, 156), and thereby disrupt the fear and dogmatism that motivates the various self-installed ideologues of communication to denounce the absence of rules and confusion at “the slightest difficulty, the slightest complication, and slightest transformation of rules” (Derrida, 157).\n\nYet the year Derrida died the legacy of confusion persisted. Every newspaper in the world attempted “to communicate,” to ascribe proximal meaning to this “Rube Goldberg of Philosophers,” as Christopher Orlet of the American Spectator put it, and to crystallize/reduce his practice of deconstruction to an aggregate of meaning paradoxes, overlooking his preferred metaphysical transcendence of logocentrism. However, the iterative propagation of misfires unconsciously catalyzed the Babelian performance of interpretation, to which he might have given a wry smile and a passing wink.\n\nArticulating Disambiguation in the Sciences:\n\nIn Muddling Through: Pursuing Science and Truths in the 21st Century, Mike Fortun and Herbert Bernstein apply the “deconstructive theory” for the purpose of excoriating paradoxes inherent in scientific inquiry.\n\nThe authors observe that PET scan technology is a site for an “articulation within an articulation.” The picture generated from the scan presents a mode of communication that is simultaneously a transmission of data and the meaning that transmission possesses. When “these articulated images and their articulated meanings are assembled within the public or legal spheres of power” (Fortun, 63) and used to confer legitimacy for differing purposes, a paradox emergences between transparency and mediation.\n\nTransparency, they argue is often “accorded an ideal status, against which the qualities of mediation are then defined, making mediation a negative term” (Fortun, 64).\n\nBy interrogating the PET scan through the double lens of Derridian differance, such easy hierarchal binaries are displaced. Unlike the semiologist, de Saussure, who believed that the sign is a discrete unit of meaning, composed of the arbitrary, but transparent relationship between the signifier, and the signified, and that knowledge emerges out of the chain of signifiers, Derrida used the intentionally misspelled differance to imply that language is not only a structured system of signs, and that meanings of individual signs are produced by the difference between that sign and another, but more importantly, that meaning--this web of signification--however, symbiotic, even non-hierarchical, the relationship is, must always be “deferred,” postponed through the ceaseless chain of signifiers. Knowledge is thus never total and complete, except within contingent contexts.\n\nWhereas Derrida is convinced that the sign and signifier are irrevocably severed, the American pragmatist, Charles Sanders Pierce, theorized that by adding a “third” level of articulation, the interpretant, to the sign and signifier system, the two would be reconnected--contextualized through the act of interpretation into a meaningful reality. Isabel Stern calls this third level the category of mediation: “[t]hirdness is the factor of final causation which manifests itself as a ‘gentle force’ bringing together in a certain measure all that which without it must remain an arbitrary and unmediated opposition” (Fortun, 68).\n\nTaken together, Fortun and Bernstein, envision such a “linked up, and spreading disseminating structure” comprised of “densely quilted network of First, Seconds and Thirds,” (Fortun, 68) to resemble a Peircean triad, which relies on the interpreter for sense-making. Thus, reality is recast as realitty to denote that it is “neither discovered or constructed, [but instead...] pursued and performed” (Fortun, 32). Realitty rests entre the /.\n\nAs the author’s conclude in Chapter 4: “[r]ealitty is between a community and its practices, between trained practitioners and their thought-style, between disciplined experimenters and the instruments, which they invented... realitty is a kludge job” (Fortun, 70).\n\nDeconstruction, too, is a kludge job, and when pursued to its end, it might resolve in a /.\n\nRelated Terms:\n\n\nDerrida, Jacques. Limited, Inc.\nFortun, Mike and Herbert Bernstein. Muddling Through: Pursuing Science and Truths in the 21st Century.\nOrlet, Christopher. “Derrida’s Bluff.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8207036256790161}
+{"content": "Curry for Change\n\nChanging the lives of families\nwho suffer from hunger.\n\nChange Lives\n\nChange Lives\n\nOne in nine people around the world suffer from chronic hunger because they don’t have enough to eat. \n\n\nFind Your Feet and Health Poverty Action are the UK charities behind Curry for Change, and we help vulnerable rural families to build a future free from poverty.\n\nBy getting involved in Curry for Change, you have the chance to change the lives of people like Ramsheela, Edward and Anna.\n\n\n\nYour support could help women like Ramsheela to improve their crops and break the cycle of hunger and poverty.\n\n\n- Ramsheela, Sakdukla Village, India.\n\n\nYour support could help people like Edward build skills and knowledge in order to earn an income.\n\n\n- Edward, Saziya Village, Zimbabwe.\n\n\nWe are supporting young mothers like Anna to access vital information on nutrition, breastfeeding and hygiene, so they can provide healthy food for their children.\n\n\n- Anna, Bengvilay Village, Laos", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9982045292854309}
+{"content": "Incenter Locus\n\nACB represents a string of length L pinned at A and B, and used to draw an ellipse.\nD is the center of the incircle of the triangle ABC.\nDrag C and observe the locus of point D.\n\nThis document requires an HTML5-compliant browser.\n\nYou can change the length of the string (L), or the distance AB.\n\nApp generated by Geometry Expressions", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9526208639144897}
+{"content": "2D mesh geometry import issue for large meshes\n\n0 votes\nasked Apr 20, 2017 by m.weber (120 points)\n\nI've been successfully using RiverGIS for mesh creation, but if a mesh includes too many cells the HEC-RAS Geometry import fails. I'm not sure where the threshold is, but it definitely does not work at around 250,000 cells. This is a problem for me, as I often work with large 2D models. \n\nWhat happens is that the cells that were created along the breaklines are absent. Here's an example screenshot where the regular grid imported, but the curvilinear portion within the channel fails. \n\nAnyone else notice this issue? What is going on here?\n\nFYI, I cross-posted this issue to github: https://github.com/erpas/rgis/issues/28 \n\n\ncommented Apr 20, 2017 by rpasiok (3,561 points)\nHi Matt,\n\nThanks for your report. We didn't get into such problems. Would you like to share your dataset? That would help us reproduce the problem and look into it if we had the following layers:\n\n1. FlowAreas2D\n2. BreakLines2D\n3. BreakPoints2D (if any)\n4. DTM (optional)\n\n1 Answer\n\n0 votes\nanswered Apr 23, 2017 by rpasiok (3,561 points)\nHi Matt,\n\nThe size of your model might not be relevant here. The problem is that your breakline endpoints are located outside of the 2d flow area. Modify your breakline to start and end inside of the 2d area - it should not cross the 2d area boundary. Hope that helps.\nWelcome to RiverGIS Q&A, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.\n\nVisit rivergis.com for documentation and general info about the QGIS plugin.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8202755451202393}
+{"content": "Location:Home > Engineering Case\n\nEngineering Case\n\nRenewable energy umbilical\n\nZhoushan island is in the East China Sea of Zhejiang Province. It has more than 1390 islands and has a total area of 22,200 km2, Among which land area is 1371 km2. Guanshan is located in Daishan of the Zhoushan Islands.\n\nNingbo Orient Wires & Cables Co., Ltd. has signed a contract in 2010 with Harbin Engineering University. Orient designed, manufactured and provided 863 plan of guanshan area of tidal power generation project DC 600V 2x400 mm2 cable. The total length is 1km.\n\nHarbin Engineering University, the PLA military engineering Institute was founded in 1953, \"The military \", is now part of the people's Republic of China Ministry of industry and information technology, national defense, the Ministry of education, the Chinese people's Liberation Army Navy, the Heilongjiang provincial government building of the Quartet. It's China's \" three sea a nuclear \" shipbuilding, naval equipment, marine development, application of nuclear energy and other areas important for personnel training and scientific research base.\n\nThe whole cable adopts the Lazy-s linear and connected test power catamaran boat and shore - based variable - pressure energy storage devices. The test power catamaran boat attached to the seabed with four anchor chain. The entire dynamic cabling system bounded by twin test generation ship anchoring device for anchoring, and against bending and harbor the retention fixture.\n\nThe entire system used many accessories to ensure the stability and reliability of the cable during linear maintaining and running. Such as the test power catamaran boat anchored on the platform device; dynamic cable against bending under hull ; submarine fixed clamp ; submarine hit the ground end of bending limit etc.\n\nMost of the accessories of the entire system were designed by us, based on its application characteristics to select specific parameters and targeted development. Be better in tidal power generation system to facilitate such adverse environments as high velocity large waves.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9072718024253845}
+{"content": "Great Artwork of Famous Artists\n\nOver the years, paintings, illustrations and sculptures has amazed the public and costs millions of dollars to buy and acquire. Some artworks by some artists stand out and have become a symbol of their movements.  These paintings have been used in songs, talked about in shows and some have even become slangs or a quote. One thing is common though, these paintings by these artists speak all over the world.\n\nLeonardo Da Vinci\n\nLeonardo Da Vinci’s painting ‘Mona Lisa’ can be termed to be the mother of all paintings. The painting sits in a museum in Paris and is seen by close to a million people every year. The painting is one of the tourist destinations of Paris. The ‘Mona Lisa’ has had movies made about it, songs have been written with catch phrases making reference to the ‘Mona Lisa’ painting. The Mona Lisa painting was done close to the period Leonardo Da Vinci died in 1519.\n\n\n\nRead More", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996267557144165}
+{"content": "\n\nMore Info\n\nFantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers\n\nFantastic Chef 10: Peach Cobbler\nFantastic Chef 6: Pear Pie\nFantastic Chef 5: Chili\nFantastic Chef 7: Chicken &...\nFantastic Chef 3: Oatmeal Raisin...\nFantastic Chef 8: Blueberry...\n\n\nBriefly explain your problem\n\nWrite the text (case insensitive) in the image above.\nYour report successfully sent.\nFantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers\n\nFantastic Chef 1: Stuffed Peppers\n\nCook  Cooking  \n\nIf you like cooking games, you're going to LOVE this one. You're in a big kitchen and there are plenty of ingredients. No worries you've got your recipe book. Come on, now. Let's make some stuffed peppers!\n\nTo Be a Little Chef\nWorld Class Chef: Germany\nFantastic Chef 4: Shrimp Gumbo\nHow to be A Chef\nWorld Class Chef: Japan\nFantastic Sea World", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000056028366089}
+{"content": "Who were the Bee Goddesses and Bee Priestesses of the Ancient World?\n\nBy Krista Holland\n\nTime and again we see priestesses and goddesses of the ancient world referred to as bee priestesses and bee goddesses. Many goddesses of old have their names and titles in someway mythologically or etymologically connected to the words for bees and or honey. As we dig through the remnants of the bee-venerating cultures the world over there is still much to be understood.\n\nThe ancient cultures that honored the bee goddesses may have left precious secrets and ephemeral treasures in their myths, allegories and symbols. There are some who claim there is an unbroken, hidden lineage and shamanic line of bee priestesses that profess their origins to have begun long, long ago in the archaic cultures of ancient times. We do know that there has been a trail of symbols and signs left in the ruins and artifacts of the ancient world that point strongly to the deep ties and tangible relationships that women and honeybees have forged and nurtured in each other over vast periods time.\n\nCrete in particular is resplendent with images of women tending to honey bees and with sacred symbols of hybrid creatures that are half female - ¬ half Hymenoptera. The ancient medallions, coins, jewelry, insignia and art are evocative of the rich attendant gifts and medicine that come along with stewarding the bounty and buzzing beauty of a hive.\n\nIn our time together on Crete during the Eleusinian Mystery Field School, we will be just dipping a finger into the mysteries of the bee priestesses so as to enjoy but a sweet taste of the subtle essence of what these myths and symbols might nourish in us archetypally, metaphorically and culturally. When we apprentice to the awe inspiring depth and breadth of the Divine Feminine it is helpful to remember that She is the “One who Desires to Become Many” and is multifarious by nature. She expresses herself in a multitude of dimensions, expressions and through many different symbolic and embodied manifestations and incarnations.\n\nShe is the maiden of the caves and caverns. The progenitor of the sacred springs, rivers, grottos and all water. She is the mistress of the beasts and snakes. She is the lady of the mountains and Queen of the Honey Bees. She is Rhea, Demeter and Aphrodite, Potnia and Cybele. She is the oracle of Delphi. She is the power of prophecy and ecstasy that animates the mystai, the muses and the melissae. She is the keeper of cyclical time and shamaness of the sacred drum. She is the orchestrator of seasonal rhythms and ceremonial rites. She is the moon, the womb, the circle, the web weaver, the labyrinth walker, the ritualistic dancer, the mead maker and the initiator of the sacred mysteries. She is pure feminine power and manifest energy. She is life giver, sustainer, destroyer, and rebirther. She is the co-creatrix of all Life.\n\nThere is deep territory to discover when approaching any shamanic tradition. We are each encouraged to trust the perfect timing of the Divine Feminine in her guidance and to relax into the flow of transmission with a sense of ease in the unfolding mysteries, by simply opening, to Her grace.\n\nKrista Holland is a yogini, frame drummer, multifaceted teacher and Renaissance woman. Krista’s work and teaching draws from her in-depth practice and studies of yoga, Ayurveda, Tantrik philosophy, sacred drumming and permaculture. Krista was first introduced to Eastern philosophy, mysticism and various practices of meditation at an ashram in India at the age of twelve. Krista is a devoted practitioner and teacher of the essence of non-dual tantra yoga. She is known for her gift of weaving the ancient wisdom of yogic philosophy through the embodied practice of full spectrum yoga and Embodied Life Coaching. Krista is a faculty member of the College of the Melissae - Center for Sacred Beekeeping where she teaches on the Mythology, Symbol Systems and Sacred Drumming connected to the ancient Bee Priestess traditions. She is also the co-founder of Gaia Women Global. The synthesis of her multidisciplinary career and dharma is brought together in her body of work called Yoga and Living Arts, where she offers a rich mandala of teachings and private coaching dedicated to personal and planetary healing, spiritual awakening and the full flowering of embodied life mastery.  kristaholland.com", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9873606562614441}
+{"content": "The Known. The Frustration. The Support\n\nI absolutely love this quote from A Plethora of Technology:\n\n“Psychologists tell us that a student learns only when the task is a little too hard for that student. When a student can do work with little effort, and virtually independently, that student is NOT learning, but rather REHEARSING THE KNOWN. When a student finds a task beyond his or her reach, FRUSTRATION, not learning, is the result. Only when a task is a bit beyond the student’s comfort level, and the student finds a SUPPORT SYSTEM to bridge the gap, does learning occur.”\n\n– Based on the work of Tomlinson, C.A. (2003)\n\nI think there’s a great deal in that:\n\n  • Finding a task easy isn’t always a reason to celebrate. It may actually waste your time.\n  • Finding a task difficult can often be overcome with a bit of a push and the right help.\n  • Finding a task overly frustrating even begin can often end in no learning at all. Just as much of a waste as the simple task.\n\nThat’s why people can be productive when they face a challenge.\n\nLet’s look at the three possibilities in more detail:\n\nEasy tasks (The Known)\n\nThis is where the major danger lies. For many of us, we feel slightly smug and very pleased when a piece of work can be rushed off expertly in no time at all. Even if we don’t admit it to others, we like to give ourselves a pat on the back, breathing a sigh of relief that no hard work was needed. In a way, it can even boost our confidence when we realise our skill is sufficient to get good grades with little effort.\n\nBut because of these seemingly positive thoughts, the trap is in wanting more of this easy work. As soon as a task becomes more difficult, the blinkers tend to come on and even a relatively small challenge is treated like a mountain of impossibility. Sometimes it’s just an excuse for laziness.\n\nChange the outlook. You may be happy to find a task easy, but don’t dwell on it. Just get it out of the way and move on. Of course, if you imagine a particular task will be difficult and then surprise yourself at the ease in which you tackled it, you’re bound to be happy. So enjoy a brief celebration and then crack on with the rest of your work. Let your success act as a reason to push you forward further, rather than basking in the same position!\n\nOverly troubling tasks (The Frustration)\n\nSituations can arise in which an individual genuinely tries to reach a conclusion and fails, no matter how hard they try to crack it.  This is not to be confused with the frustration at having to do a bit of old-fashioned hard work.  Don’t kid yourself.\n\nIf the difficulty lies more with you than the task itself, generate a sense of urgency about the matter.  With this mentality, you can push yourself a lot further than you ever would.\n\nBut when attempts fail, despite giving it your all, the first thing to do is to admit defeat.  Don’t give up, but do allow yourself the admission that you can’t complete this particular task under current circumstances.\n\nA couple of times in the past, I carried on breaking my back with aggravating study.  But it just made matters worse, because I stopped focusing on the task itself and simply got annoyed with both myself and the situation.  I learned the hard way, but at least I learned.  All too often, this is a regular unproductive way of approaching work.  It must be hell to drive yourself barmy for no useful reason whatsoever.  I wouldn’t recommend it!\n\nGenerally, the problem will either be due to a set task or from an overall problem/misunderstanding with a broad subject.  Either way, speak to your relevant tutor about it.  Ask for direct help, as well as books and websites that could help you on your way.  Try to pinpoint what you’re missing out on.  Maybe you’ve been looking at the problem from the wrong angle, or you’ve missed the point.  Maybe a tutor has made a mistake or misquoted something.  There may actually be a reason why you can’t continue with the work…all the more reason to get help as soon as you can.\n\nWhile this can be doubly frustrating when a problem looks like it should have a clear answer.  It’s still wise to admit defeat when the options have dried out.  You may find that there is no answer.  It goes to show that you can revisit every last resource, but it may not get you any closer to a result.\n\nDifficult tasks (The Support)\n\nA lot of what you do should rest in this category.  A difficult task involves you, but doesn’t overwhelm you.  It’s the reason why so many productivity tips are out there.  It’s what makes your degree a source of learning.\n\nA ‘support system’ is not necessarily about getting support from people.  The support system is about you understanding how to make the most of a task and building up to an answer.  With all the right mental tools, time-management, research skills, people networking, and so on, you can take these difficult – but manageable – issues, and turn them into solutions.\n\nYou can work creatively, emotionally, through analysis, or in any way you choose.  So long as you have the right tools in place to support your moves from initial task to final draft, this is where the main bulk of learning will take place.  A challenge is there to be devoured.\n\nSo may I be the first to hope that, from now on, all your study is difficult…\n\nJust not too difficult.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.953495442867279}
+{"content": "Engineering for the Future\n\nEver wonder how robots can explore space, complete complex surgeries, and analyze human behavior? Explore these engineering endeavors in the following videos. Invite your students to discover careers in engineering, explore the engineering design process, and learn how engineers design bridges, create websites, and even build robots that can think and act like humans.\n\n  • What is Structural Engineering? | QUEST\n\n    Structural engineering is a specialized branch of civil engineering that entails analyzing and designing structures, like buildings, bridges, concert stages, and even roller coasters. \n\n    Grades: 6-11\n  • The Engineering Design Process: A Taco Party\n\n    When engineers set out to solve a real world problem, they go through an engineering design process in much the same way you would throw an impromptu taco party. In this animated video, learn how engineers design and test different prototypes. This video is part of the Engineering for Good Unit. \n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Are Robots Taking Our Jobs?\n\n    From robotic surgeries to driverless cars, robots are able to perform all different kinds of tasks. This means they could put some people out of work as technology continues to advance.\n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Career Spotlight: Mechatronics Engineer\n\n    In this video from KQED meet Leila Madrone, a mechatronics engineer — a combination of electrical and mechanical engineering — who works at Otherlab. She leads an engineering team that is trying to improve large solar power fields. By changing the size and materials of heliostats, structures that include large mirrors to reflect sunlight, she can make high-concentration solar systems more energy efficient and less costly. Madrone has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT. Before she joined Otherlab she was part of the Intelligent Robotics Group at NASA, where she created a device for taking high-resolution panoramic images. She chose to become an engineer because she wanted to help create a better world. She says that if you’re curious and have a desire to improve the world around you, you may enjoy a career as an engineer.\n\n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Career Spotlight: Robotics Engineer\n\n    Maria Bualat is a robotics engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, CA where she develops robotics systems for space exploration.\n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Career Spotlight: Software Engineer\n\n    In 2013, Jessica Egoyibo Mong arrived in the Bay Area with $100 in her pocket and a desire to enter the field of software engineering. Fast forward two years, and Jessica is now a software engineer with SurveyMonkey, a tech company that creates and designs custom online surveys. Jessica works on the billing side, writing code to ensure that customers can access and pay for surveys.\n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Career Spotlight: Spatial Interaction Engineer\n\n    Alex Okita teaches computers to see like we see. He designs and develops tools and games for the Structure Sensor, an attachment for the iPad that can 3-D scan rooms, objects, and even people. While many in his field have advanced degrees, Alex started working straight out of high school.\n\n    Grades: 6-12\n  • Career Spotlight: Civil Engineer\n\n    Alishia Ballard graduated in 2015 with a degree in civil engineering from San Diego State University. After graduating, she has been interning with San Francisco Public Works in their structural engineering section. Structural engineering is a subcategory of civil engineering, and it often involves designing, inspecting and analyzing structures like bridges and buildings.\n\n    Grades: 6-12", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.866304874420166}
+{"content": "The foundation underlying our individualized designs is our creative problem-solving process. This systematic, top-down approach ensures that our understanding is comprehensive and that each project is easily documented and under control.\n\n  1. Define project. Identify building type, basic requirements and constraints.\n  2. Gather client data. Understand client’s motives, desired functionality, lifestyle, needs and wants, and budget.  \n  3. Gather site data. Survey site for points of interest, elevation, wind and solar orientation, topographical, seismic and physical constraints. Identify local building-code constraints.\n  4. Develop design hypotheses + estimates. Draft preliminary design schemes and material estimates based on gathered data.\n  5. Make design adjustments/revisions. Review design with client, gather critique and revise accordingly.\n  6. Finalize design. Finalize design and forward to engineers for analysis.\n  7. Additional revisions. Discuss any design changes from engineers with client. Revise design accordingly.\n\n\n© 2010 Andrews & Partners, Inc.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9678817987442017}
+{"content": "Though technological innovation is an integral part of our operations, it is ultimately for the benefit of our individual projects. For each project, the technology is reanalyzed for optimal configuration, given the project’s requirements.\n\n  1. Define requirements. Identify design constraints required by the design concept.\n  2. Determine most suitable construction method. Pinpoint which among our suite of building technologies to deploy for a specific design and project phase.\n  3. Evaluate site soil. Consultant evaluates soil integrity of site.\n  4. Determine detailed structural design.  Consultant maps out detailed structural analysis and design.\n  5. Determine mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) layout. Consultants lay out MEP analysis and design.\n  6. Finalize design. Synthesize architecture, structural, and MEP designs and publish to blueprint.\n© 2010 Andrews & Partners, Inc.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9655032753944397}
+{"content": "mont blanc\n\nA classic dessert of sweetened, pureed chestnuts subtly flavored with vanilla. The mixture is riced and mounded into a high, fluffy mountain on a platter. This sweet alp is capped with whipped cream or crème chantilly. Mont Blanc (“white mountain”) is a peak in the French Alps near the Italian border.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9912889003753662}
+{"content": "Four Organizational Strategies That Can Make Your Business Operate More Effectively\n\nAs many corporate leaders understand, operating in an organized manner can play a key role in helping a company optimize its conversion rates. Being organized can also optimize other key processes such as interoffice communication, marketing, and project management. Below you’ll find just four of many organizational strategies that corporate leaders can utilize to make their businesses operate more effectively:\n\n1. Trello.\n\nTrello is a collaborative tool that can take a business’s level of productivity from average to awesome. This web-based system is effective because it enables company leaders and their employees to create lists that everyone can view, update, and optimize from one central virtual location. The lists can contain sticky notes with attachments and other documents that enable everyone to see how close the project is to being completed. Note that Trello enables project participants to recruit attachments from data sources such as Salesforce and BitBucket. Teammates will also be able to communicate and collaborate with one another through this project management system. Finally, the virtual whiteboard can be taken anywhere the employee goes on her or his smartphone.\n\n2. SMART Goals.\n\nIn addition to using organizational tools like Trello, business owners should implement SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Specific) goals. These goals optimize organization by ensuring that the corporate leader knows which tasks need to be accomplished while also enabling her or him to establish deadlines. A sample SMART goal would be “I will hire a digital marketing manager by 7/1/2018 to increase monthly online sales by 10%.” Notice that this goal is measurable given that the business owner’s expected sales increase is by 10%. Additionally, the goal has a deadline of 7/1/2018.\n\n3. Stop Micromanaging.\n\nOne final organizational strategy that business owners can utilize to keep their companies going and growing is ending their proclivity to micromanage. Interestingly, many business owners micromanage their employees with the intent of keeping everyone on track to completing activities that are important for business growth. Yet while micromanaging is ultimately an attempt at keeping everyone and everything organized, it rarely works. This is the case for many reasons, including the fact that many if not most staff members take offense when they perceive that their employees don’t believe they possess the level of confidence and/or competence necessary to complete tasks quickly and correctly. In many cases, micromanagement causes employees to become discouraged, at which point they may leave tasks incomplete or quit. This is why business owners who are determined to keep their companies organized should avoid micromanagement at all costs.\n\nInstead of micromanaging, business owners should focus on consistently, effectively training employees to complete more and more assignments with excellence and expedience. This way, the business owner can delegate with the confidence that the staff member has the good judgment and expansive skill set necessary to get things done quickly and correctly.\n\n4. Product Optimization.\n\nUsing the right products is one of the best ways to ensure that your business will begin operating more effectively. This technique works because it decreases the likelihood of your machines and devices breaking down or malfunctioning in a manner that precludes your staff members from getting things done. In the event that you’re looking for a copiers Dallas company to provide you with printing products, know that the professionals of CESCO Inc. can assist you.\n\n\nFour organizational strategies that business owners can utilize to facilitate company expansion include Trello, SMART goals, putting an end to your proclivity to micromanage, and product optimization. Start using these organizational strategies soon so your business can begin to operate more effectively!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9655170440673828}
+{"content": "Hints on the Study of Octaves, Thirds and Sixths\n\nThe performance of pure legato octaves is undoubtedly the greatest stumbling block in the path of a pianist striving for virtuosity. This is surprising, as with proper placing, correct use of the down-up motions of the wrist, and relaxation of the muscles, octaves may approximate the speed, depth and equality of single notes. Pure, perfectly even, resonant octaves cannot be acquired when the muscles are rigid, hands misplaced, and a faulty principle applied.\n\nThe ear plays a very important part in octave playing, as it requires constant listening to each tone, in order to discover inequality. All previous training of the fingers and muscles for scales, chords and arpeggios has been a splendid preparation for octaves, although the latter should be a daily study even for comparative beginners, as they are a great aid in developing strength and giving elasticity to the first and fifth fingers.\n\nOne case, of a very gifted girl who performed in public the Rubinstein D Minor Concerto, comes to mind. The task was accomplished only by applying the principles for octave playing to which I have so often referred, as the young girl had little mechanical development or capacity. With a very short thumb, and no stretch between the latter and the index finger, she certainly had enough to contend with, but added to that the fingers were stiff and the hand not large by any means.\n\nBy means of dogged determination and patient application of the correct principle, she was enabled in six years (from the time she received her foundation) to make her debut, performing an entire program of extreme difficulty, winning encomiums from press and public.\n\nThat convinced me how unimportant comparatively, a find hand was, and how much could be accomplished by musical and intellectual gifts, when combined with perseverance and correct guidance.\n\nWhite Key Octaves\n\nWhen performing on white keys only, the hand should remain over the margin between the front of the keyboard and the black keys, always using the straight lines for scale and arpeggio passages, but when using black and white, never move in and out, but invariably remain inside.\n\nThe rules for octaves are as follows:\n\n  • Play in a straight line\n  • Use even pressure\n  • Observe regularity of the up-down motions\n  • Complete devitalization when pressing down the octave\n\nThe chromatic scale in octaves should be a daily study. In the chromatic scale (played in octaves) use the slow, deep clinging legato touch, bearing down from the triceps, but never growing rigid. Never play with the arm (when using the triceps muscles) as only the pulsation of the latter is felt, and the arm, although relaxed is perfectly steady.\n\nIn performing thirds and sixths, the main difficulty lies in the connection of both tones when passing under and over the keys. Most performers retain only one note of the thirds or sixths, thereby destroying the equality and perfection of the passages. By using the same rules laid down for scales, relaxing the wrist when crossing over and under, and retaining both notes until the last moment, a perfect connection is assured.\n\nThe Chopin Berceuse in D Flat Major is an exceptionally fine work for developing thirds and other intricate passages, and some editions have a set of preliminary studies to prepare for the difficulties. However, if all the technical rules have been carefully observed studies will be unnecessary, and thirds or double notes of any kind will glide smoothly and perfectly, to the complete satisfaction of the performer.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.696266770362854}
+{"content": "Category Archives: poem\n\n  • 0\n\n\n\n\nOut of the night that covers me,\nBlack as the pit from pole to pole,\nthank whatever gods may be\nFor my unconquerable soul.  \n\nIn the fell clutch of circumstance.\nI have not winced nor cried aloud.\nUnder the bludgeonings of chance.\nMy head is bloody, but unbowed.\n\nBeyond this place of wrath and tears\nLooms but the Horror of the shade,\nAnd yet the menace of the years\nFinds and shall find me unafraid.\n\nIt matters not how strait the gate,\nHow charged with punishments the scroll,\nI am the master of my fate:\nI am the captain of my soul.\n\n\n\nCourtesy: Wikipedia\n\n  • 0\n\nQuestion everything!\n\nRudyard Kipling, the famous author had quoted in his poem- “The Elephant’s Child”\nI keep six honest serving-men\n(They taught me all I knew);\nTheir names are What and Why and When\nAnd How and Where and Who\nI strongly feel the need for us- the whole of mankind to take assistance from these six men in our day-to-day lives. All our actions must be based on the resultant answer we get, by asking these six men. I believe the resultant answer will weigh heavily in terms of ethic, logic and practicality and thus justify humans in the sanctity of truth, honesty, integrity and righteousness.\nTo put it in simpler words, I’d say that one needs to constantly ask himself these 6 questions- What, Why, When, How, Where and Who, before performing any action in his life. When he receives a Clear answer to those questions, he should go about those actions without a second thought. Every action is justified in this case. But, the moment he fails to get a clear answer to those questions from his conscience, he should stop. If he does go about doing that task or activity despite the ‘warning’, he is bound to be at a loss. The loss/failure may not be of materialistic nature but purely based on ethic, logic and practicality.\nThis concept is widely used in Journalism, Research, Police Investigation, Strategy building and other fields as well. The very basis of these fields is – Questioning Everything. Unless and until you question, you’ll not get the answers and it’s based on these answers that you need to build your foundation and eventually, reach a solution to the given problem. This is referred to as the process of Information gathering to get a Complete story of some occurrence/incident/thing.\nComing back to the six honest serving men,\n  1.  Who? Refers to the Participants/Stakeholders\n  2.  What? Refers to the Event/Happening/Occasion\n  3.  Where? Refers to the Venue/Location\n  4.  When? Refers to the Time and Date\n  5.  Why? Refers to the Reason/Purpose\n  6.  How? Refers to the Process/Modus Operandi/Course/Route\n\nFollowing the above rule, let’s see how we can apply this in our lives. Consider a simple example-\n\nA 15-year old kid, just out of school, wants a bike.\nWe start the process by asking questions. The questions need to be asked to all the stakeholders or the people involved with the idea.\nQ1. Who?\nAns: The kid, his Parents and the Showroom\nQ2. What?\nAns: The Motorbike\nQ3. Where?\nAns: The answer for this question could possibly be -The bike is available at the showroom\nQ4. When?\nAns: The answer for this question could possibly be – As soon as possible or in the next 10 days or in the next 2 weeks, etc.\nQ5: Why?\nAns: The answer for this question could possibly be – Since the kid stays far away from college, a bike would help him commute comfortably, also saving a lot of time and energy.\nQ6: How?\nAns: The answer for this question could possibly be- Convince the parents, i.e Sell the idea to the parents. Receive a feed back- Yes or No. Depending on that answer: if it’s a Yes, Select the bike of your choice, go and buy the bike after making the payment.\nIf it’s a No, forget about the bike or keep trying to convince your parents\n\nAnother question that becomes a part of this process is- ‘Which’. But, it is a sub-module of How in most cases. ‘Which’ refers to choice. In the above case, the choice of Bike answers the ‘Which’ question. This answer is again dependent on other factors. In the above case, the factors may be Brand, Mileage, Looks, Budget, Comfort, Manoeuvrability, etc.\n\nThe Application of this law in our lives should reap rich benefits, and the best part is the ‘Feel Good factor’. When we do something good, for ourselves or others, we get a really good response from our Conscience and that is one feeling that cannot be felt in any other way. \n\nSo, always remember- The first step of the Learning process is Questioning. Develop a sense of curiosity. Keep Questioning and seek answers for the same. \n\nHappy Questioning! :)\n\n  • 0\n\nTaking the Untrodden Path\n\n Greetings! to everyone who is reading this blog. This is my first ‘serious’ attempt at blogging. I had tried a couple of times before but failed to move on after my first attempt. ‘Blogging’ simply didn’t excite me in the past. Despite having a friend’s circle consisting of chronic bloggers, I never really felt the necessity, until now.\n\n Its been more than a week since I joined my new job, (infact my first job!) and the fact that it specializes in providing Social media services to Enterprises makes my foray into the Blogging world and reviving my Twitter account, all the more necessary.\n\n As of now, planning to write this on a weekly basis. Will talk about all those things that are dear to me and hope you can connect to it in some way or the other. Will try not to run into pages and pages and keep it concise. But there might be occasions where I might just lose track and keep on typing and typing. (Just hope that does not happen too often!)\n\n I’ve named my blog- The Untrodden Path. There is a deep meaning behind it. I’m sure all of you have come across Robert Frost’s famous poem- ‘The Road not Taken’The last 2 lines of that poem – \n“I took the one less traveled by, \nAnd that has made all the difference”\n\nhave been a great source of inspiration to me. Every individual in this world comes across a certain crossroads in his life a number of times, where he/she has to make a critical decision and choose from one of the few paths offered. Of course making a choice among the available options takes a lot of thinking, research and what not. But, at the same time it also takes courage to choose the less-opted path or walk on the less traveled path or simply the untrodden path. It involves a lot of risk and the uncertainty surrounding it makes it all the more adventurous.\n\n The courage to take the untrodden path is a hallmark of Entrepreneurs, Leaders, Pioneers, Inventor, Daredevils, Discoverers and all other kinds of Go-Getters.\n\n ‘The Untrodden Path’  refers to-  being Innovative, being Unconventional, being Unorthodox, being Distinct, being a Non conformist, being Unique, being Different… and that is what I believe in and that’s what I am!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8201958537101746}
+{"content": "Risk a Conversation\n\n227 (1)\n\n\n“I am looking for another position.” A client told me that he planned to transfer or leave his job. I was surprised since he had seemed to be enjoying his work and his recent presentation to his company was positively received.\n\n\n\n\n\nNotice your assumptions. What conversation can you risk engaging in?\n\nContact us at any time.\n\nWhat is your Resilience Strategy?\n\n\n“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her away, she adjusted her sails.”—Elizabeth Edwards\n\nThe head of Learning and Development of a large organization asked, “Are your other clients experiencing the same level of stress as our leaders?” Her organization, like most these days, is experiencing significant disruption. Most feel overwhelmed as they try to keep up with the current workload, create a new direction, and respond to changing market conditions and the introduction of new technology while supporting others.\n\nMany leaders are stressed and overwhelmed. They are working long hours and don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Some are opting to leave stressful environments. Others are building their resilience strategies and are positively influencing others.\n\nWe all face challenges and setbacks in the workplace and in other dimensions of our lives.  Resilience is our capacity to respond to these pressures and disappointments effectively.\n\nIt is important to reflect and reframe your mindset regarding the stressful time and to develop some habits that keep you present and grounded to see what needs to be done and what can be let go. (I find that often leaders fail to consider what not do.)\n\nEach of my clients develops their own ritual or practice. For example, you can start your day visualizing positive and productive interactions rather than focusing on how hard things are. You can ground yourself by noticing your feet and taking some long deep breaths to feel centered. Then remind yourself that “things are working out”and if things don’t go exactly as you want, you will learn and make things work. It is useful to remember that life is a growth opportunity and that we learn the most when we face such challenges. You can also be grateful that you have a job, home, health etc.\n\nIt is also important to check in with yourself and make sure you are taking care of yourself. The basics are vital—getting enough sleep, eating nourishing food, moving and connecting with friends and engaging in real conversations. Giving and receiving empathy and being vulnerable creates community and lightens our load.\n\nTake time to identify what fortifies you and eases your stress and follow your resilience strategy.  Engage a friend to track your progress and learning. I wish you ease.\n\nContact us at any time.\n\nDo Your Colleagues Know You Care?\n\n\n“Caring about the happiness of others, we find our own.”—Plato\n\nA highly successful manager told me she was disappointed. She had devoted many years of long days and nights to her organization and felt like she was disposable and not cared for by her boss.  Another person told me that his boss said he could not save his job in a corporate downsizing. He did not feel valued and appreciated for his contribution. Another high achiever does not feel recognized for her extraordinary impact and feels her boss does not really know or care about her.\n\nUnfortunately, these are not isolated events.  I hear complaints from people at all levels saying they don’t feel valued. This lack of genuine care results in frustration and disengagement.  You have heard the statistics by Gallop that employee engagement is less than 35%. They define engagement as “those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to the work and workplace.”\n\nSo much energy is wasted when people don’t feel personally valued or cared about.  When we feel we are not valued or seen as an individual, we lose motivation and trust.  Managers can become so focused and pressured for results that it is easy to forget to demonstrate care for colleagues.  We can fail to show we care about family members and friends too.\n\nReflect on your past bosses.  How was it different for you when you knew your boss cared for you?  A colleague told me he is so much happier and more productive with his new boss who takes a personal interest in who he is and what he wants.  \n\nWhen people know we care about them a sense of trust and safety evolves. When people know we care about them, we are better positioned to give them direct feedback and we are better positioned to create results together.\n\nHow can you demonstrate care?  First make the conscious decision to be caring. Visualize demonstrating care to each person on your team or in your family. It is likely to look different depending on individual styles and needs.  Ask your colleague or family member about how they are doing and show interest in their lives both in the workplace and outside. Be sure to give empathy and work to understand their perspectives. Be vulnerable yourself and share your perspective and share developments that are happening in the organization. Be candid and open yourself.  Take time to connect. \n\nReflect on your colleagues and others. How are you showing you care?\n\nContact us at any time.\n\nAre You Open to Being Influenced?\n\n\n\nT., an executive coaching client, was clearly an expert in his field. He was recognized both inside and outside his organization as being very bright. The company valued his contribution and considered him a key player.  He received awards and recognition for his innovative ideas and programs.\n\nT. was asked to work with an executive coach to round out his leadership style.  After I interviewed peers, colleagues and clients, it became clear that while T. had strong leadership skills and influenced how things were done and interpreted, he was not open to being influenced.\n\nMany people complained that T. did not listen and always thought that he was “right.”  The challenge is that he felt he was the most knowledgeable person in the room or the team.  T. tended to cut people off and left people with the sense that he felt he was better than most.  He was able to use his quick wit and fast mind to his benefit most of the time. However, as he progressed in more senior roles, his overly confident style and lack of openness began to hurt him.\n\nT. could not understand why so many people complained about him to HR. He felt justified in telling people that they did not have the answers needed.  The company struggled with how to keep his talent without his challenging style. These days, no matter how bright or capable an individual is, no one has all the answers.  We will only succeed by being open to new ideas and ways of doing things.\n\nFortunately, in this case, T. learned that effective leaders not only influence others, but are also open to being influenced. As he practiced listening more, giving empathy and reflecting what he heard, he developed an entirely new relationship with colleagues and clients. His new mindset of openness became contagious. People became more open to sharing their ideas as well as supporting his efforts.\n\nT. had not thought about the power of being open-minded and listening to others.  When he practiced being open he became a much more effective leader and continued to be valuable and progress in his career.  The biggest surprise for him was the deeper connections and more trusting environment he fostered. To his delight, he and his team excelled at an even higher level than he dreamed possible.  Energy was shifted from complaining and stress to more positive avenues.\n\nT. and his company were fortunate. I recall a similar experience where people advocated that a company keep a leader due to his knowledge and expertise.  People put up with his abrupt style. He was not open to feedback or input. People did not trust him and felt he was not open to other’s ideas. However, after a few years and after strong people left the organization because they did not want to work with him, he was finally asked to leave.  It was a loss for him and the organization. However, without the ability to listen and be open to others and create a trusting environment, this leader could not be effective.\n\nAsk yourself, “Am I open to being influenced as much as I am focused on influencing?”  Envision a see-saw. How balanced is the ride?\n\nContact us any time.\n\nBe Grounded\n\n\n“Get yourself grounded and you can navigate even the stormiest roads in peace.”—Steve Goodier\n\n“I feel out of sorts.”  “I have to give negative feedback to one of my staff.” “I can’t believe what she did!”  “We are not making our numbers.”  “The new boss is difficult.  “I have too much on me.” “He is out to get me.” “My team members are fighting one another.” “We need to get all of the leaders on the same page.” “My elderly parent is sick.” “My teenager is depressed.” “There is not enough time.” “My position is uncertain.”\n\nThese are a few of the comments I have recently heard from executive coaching clients. We are all facing many challenges. The pace is high these days in the world and in organizations.  We need to be collaborative and innovative and execute effectively and efficiently amidst a diverse workforce. Deadlines loom and we seem to be working harder than ever with increased competition. Emotions are contagious and we pick up the uncertainty and polarization in our political system and the myriad challenges in our world.\n\nAmidst the turmoil, we need leaders towell…be leaders. We all need to be leaders, too, even if we don’t have a formal title. Given that emotions are contagious, leaders are positioned to create positive and productive environments where people can reflect, engage in dialogue and create amazing results together.\n\nWhere should a leader start? One of the first things I recommend is to make the simple practice of being grounded. When your head is spinning with all that needs to be done, what is going wrong and all the pressure on you, it is hard to see possibilities and to be innovative.\n\nWhat do I mean by being grounded? Literally, tap your feet on the ground and notice the sensations. You may imagine being like a tree with roots firmly uniting you with the sustenance of the ground. Then as you walk from one meeting to the next, let go of your worries and notice your steps on the floor. This simple practice allows you to take a break from your thoughts and to reconnect with your body. Ideally, you take a few breaths and center yourself. Recall that you are a leader and you can make a difference in your sphere of influence.\n\nAs you remain calm, you access a different part of the brain. You may even recall a place in nature or another time when you are more in a state of flow. I call this your oasis. When you access this state, a different part of your brain is activated and you can see more of the whole picture and more possibilities. You may even notice a bit of gratitude for the challenge before you and the opportunity. Sometimes it is helpful to say something like, “Things are working out.”\n\nBy making it a practice of becoming grounded between meetings and even in meetings, you will be able to quickly access this grounded oasis state. It gets easier with a little practice as you build this habit.\n\nMy clients report that this simple action does indeed make a difference in how they see things and how they are perceived. They report that they feel more confident and experience success on many fronts.\n\nPractice bringing attention to your feet and feeling grounded. Remember to breathe and recall an oasis experience. Notice your impact.\n\nContact us at any time.\n\nHow Do You Influence?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nContact us any time at Potentials.com.\n\nMe or We?\n\npablo (100)\n\n\n\n\n\n\nContact us anytime.\n\nShould You Send an Email or Call?\n\npablo (64)\n\n\nAn executive I work with shared with me the frustration he was experiencing over a colleague. He learned that she was criticizing him and telling people that he was “out to get her”. He was frustrated and angry during our discussion. He had been working on being collaborative and this accusation of hers which she broadcasted to others seemed to come out of nowhere.  \n\nAs we worked to understand the circumstances, he reviewed the details. The last email he sent to his colleague was meant to give her a “heads up” that an issue falling under her responsibility was going to be addressed at an upcoming Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meeting. He had written in his email, “I want to make perfectly clear that I am trying to let you know what I heard…”  He thought he was being a good citizen to let her know. When she received the email, she reacted in a way he didn’t expect. She was defensive about what her team had accomplished, blamed my client, and copied many people. Then he started hearing from people that she believed he was out to get her. She did not want the issue that he identified to be addressed at the next ELT meeting. She didn’t feel ready to do so and assumed my client put it on the agenda (which he did not). So where did my client go wrong?  \n\nWell, we found a few places. The week before, he had learned that the budget he had anticipated had not been approved. And what’s more, he felt that his colleague’s team should give up some of her budget or a person from her team to compensate for a new role he needed filled that would benefit both of them. So he complained about the situation to her boss and to his own boss. She heard about the complaint (of course!) and she was angry and felt, “He is trying to throw me under the bus.” My client heard that she was upset, and so he chose to send the troublesome email assuming he was helping her. From her end, when she received his email, she read it with the perception that he was against her, even though it was not the case.\n\nWhat to do?  My client needed to vent his disappointment and anger about losing resources. He then needed to speak with his colleague. Instead, they were conveying messages to each other through others rather than talking directly to one another.  Once he calmed down, he was able to speak with her, give her empathy and recognize that it was not her fault that he did not receive the budget he wanted. He explained that he was actually trying to let her know that an issue important to her was going to be addressed at the ELT meeting and that he had not proposed the agenda item. They were able to communicate effectively and resume their positive relationship. As it turned out, they each were focused on different issues and had different views of their team’s responsibilities. As a result of their conversation, they were able to clarify and reconnect. They also came up with a solution to the budget and staff issue.\n\nWhen you know there is some disruption in a relationship, consider calling or talking in-person (when possible) before sending an email. It is so easy to read the tone of emails differently depending on our mood. It is useful to recognize our own mistakes, too. It may seem efficient to send an email and document. However, many issues have been cleared up with an open-minded conversation. In addition, relationships can be strengthened.\n\nWhere would a call or a visit serve you today rather than sending an email? What lessons have you learned about communicating via email?\n\nContact us at any time at www.Potentials.com.\n\nThe New Normal\n\n“There is a river flowing very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold onto the shore. They will feel torn apart and suffer greatly.\n\n\nI used to think busy or chaotic periods were just that—unique and that soon things would settle down and get back to normal.  Likewise, organizations would plan for implementing a change and then return to a steady state. Well… most of us have experienced change fatigue and now we need to accept that chaos and rapid change is the new normal.  The military coined the term VUCA to characterize our times—volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.\n\nWhile we recognize that change is constant, disruptive and fast, we need to shift our internal paradigm of change.  How do we adapt? First, we need to give ourselves and others empathy.  The shifts we are experiencing are not easy and difficult to manage. In fact, the concept of managing may be outdated.  Instead, we need to be resilient and flexible and work with what is evolving. We need to work to be resilient and flexible.\n\nThe Hopi Elder suggests that rather than holding onto the shore for safety and fighting the elements that we allow ourselves to experience the river as it turns and shifts.  This does not mean we close our eyes and hope for the best. We can keep our heads above water by staying centered and present and making course corrections as we see obstacles. We can learn to ride the rapids. Ideally, we join with others and support each other on this challenging journey. When we relax into the evolving river of change we will see more opportunities.\n\nExperiment with shifting your view of change from waiting for stability to learning to flow and experiencing the opportunities.  Who will you connect with on this journey for support?\n\nCheck Your Blind Spot\n\nI don’t know what I don’t know\n\nThe election has heightened our awareness that we are seeing the world differently. Many have expressed their shock at how they were blind sighted by the number of people with different views.\n\nJust as we can’t see cars that are in our blind spot when driving, we always have a blind spot in our interactions with others.  We each have different life experiences that influence how we view the world and make interpretations. Continue reading", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8386486172676086}
+{"content": "The Edge: Ranan-Transport Collaboration - India Phase\n\n~ Sunand Prasad, Architect\n\nRanan and Transport Theatre, UK have been working on a collaborative performance project - The Edge - since February 2011, focussing on human stories emerging from the issues of climate change and migration. Amlan Chaudhuri and Vikram Iyengar visited the UK to work with them in August-September 2011, and Douglas Rintoul (Artistic Director, Transport), Vicky Long (Artistic Collaborator) and Emma Cameron (Producer, Transport) will be in Calcutta in December 2011 to work with Ranan members. \n\nBijoya Dashami on the Ichhamati\n\nmore photos by Antara Das Gupt\nThe Ichhamati river forms a part of the extensive border between India and Bangladesh. Our first field trip comprised a trip to Hasnabad-Taki on 6 October 2011 – Bijoya Dashami, the last day of the Durga Puja celebrations and the day the idols of Durga and her family are immersed across rivers in Bengal.\n\nBijoya Dashami is the one day in the year when border patrolling and control by the BSF (Border Security Force) from India and BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) from Bangladesh is relaxed. The river becomes crammed full of boats of all shapes and sizes – some to immerse idols, but most full of revellers from both countries. A day of celebration when this very questionable border blurs.\n\nWe had booked a small country boat that could accommodate up to 15 people from Hasnabad Ghat. This proved to be immensely sensible since, when we got to Taki by boat, all one could see along the banks of both countries was a sea of people. There was no way we could have descended to the ghat, let alone got on a boat without a veritable stampede. Hasnabad is on the Katahal river, a small tributary which opens into the Ichhamati as it takes a wide curve between the two countries. Moving upstream along the Ichhamati, India is on the left, Bangladesh on the right.\n\nAt about 3pm Hasnabad ghat too wore a festive look. The narrow street was full of people dressed in their best, vendors of all sorts selling paper trumpets, balloons, snacks and Heaven knows what else. The narrow Katakhal was jam-packed with boats flying the Indian tricolour. Bigger launches jostled with smaller country boats as people clambered on for the trip. Our boat was the smallest kind – a country boat built from slats of wood fitted with a noisy motor and manned by two boatmen – or rather one and half, since the one who sat in the prow and occasionally bailed out the water that seeped in was just a boy. A boy with incredible balance, I must add, since he ran nimbly along the narrow edge of the boat to and from the prow all along the journey without once seeming to notice the brown waters inches from his feet.\n\nthe view from Hasnabad Ghat - video\nThe docile Katakhal opened into the expansive Ichhamati as it curved around the Bangladeshi bank. At this point, this finger of Bangladesh strangely has India on both sides of it as the river curves back on itself. Far up stream we could see that the monochromatic waters of the river were suddenly a riot of colours. There – between Taki in India and Sripur in Bangladesh – the river was crowded with boats from both countries crisscrossing between the banks. The banks too were lined with thousands of people. We saw for the first time boats flying the Bangladesh flag – but apart from that, how on earth could we tell each other apart! Zipping through this veritable chaos was the occasional BSF or BDR motorboat and the large stately blue and red launches that connect Bangladesh’s many riverside locations.\n\nA festive atmosphere is nothing new for India, and definitely not for Bengal. But to encounter this in the middle of a river was a different experience altogether. Vessels from the two countries are not allowed to land on the opposite banks, but apart from this it seems an explosion of emotion for both sides. A few smaller idols had descended into boats and were travelling up and down both the banks surveying and being surveyed by people on both sides.  Bangladeshis and Indians shouted and waved at each other from their respective boats throwing flowers and sweets for the other party to catch, traditional dhaak beats merged with the latest film music, and boatmen skilfully avoided each other by a hair’s breath with ease that would make any stuntman envious. Everyone has cell phones – but how does one deal with international roaming in such a situation and on such a border? My phone actually received no signal when we were towards the Indian bank, but had full reception when we were on the Bangladeshi side!\n\nOn the Indian side, we spotted people perched atop broken embankments – a reminder that this whimsical river is not always so kind and has the capacity to wreck havoc. As we coasted to the Bangladeshi side, we saw a large pandal set up with music blaring and some local heavyweight trying ineffectually to make announcements about the deep connection between the two countries. And among the mass of people thronging the bank, two families of Durga idols waited patiently for their turn in the immersion rituals. On the Indian bank too larger idols had begun to arrive, and the mother figures gazed at each other from two countries that came together annually on this once day. Perhaps it is only a mother that can bring together sundered siblings, if even for the shortest span of time. It was one of the most emotional and unforgettable experiences to be on that river among those thousands of people: complete strangers, and yet momentarily united in the aura of something larger than our individual selves, something larger that both of our countries, something intrinsically human and not a little divine.\n\nThe sun had begun to dip and the scene for the special immersion that Icchamati is known for was set, though the crowds of revellers are cleared from the river before this is allowed to begin in earnest. The idols are taken out to the middle of the river seated on a makeshift bamboo platform supported by two boats. Once in the deep waters, the two boats move away from each puling the raft of bamboos apart. The Goddess descends into the river vertically.\n\nmore photos by Antara Das Gupta\nAs darkness came on, fireworks began manned from an official barge towards the Indian side. Our boatman became anxious: not everything is as joyful and tension-free as it seemed. Apparently, as night falls over the river, the bigger boats purposely push past the small country ones – the kind we were on – in a dangerous game that under cover of darkness can go completely unnoticed by the patrol boats. We managed to avoid several such encouters by the skin of our teeth and dexterity of our boatman. There is complete absence of river traffic discipline of any sort, no one knows what dark shape will loom out from which direction, and by and large none of the boats have any lights. Every year there are accidents. Indeed, the day after the papers carried a report about an Indian boat that was capsized by a Bangladeshi boat. One person was lost in the waters, and his body was found washed up downstream somewhere in Bangladesh only a few days later. Doubly unfortunate is the predominant sense that the bigger Bangladeshi boats target the smaller Indian boats on purpose. People on the Bangladeshi side probably harbour just the opposite feeling.\n\nA border once drawn is not something one can easily wipe away, even though the land and water bear no actual trace of it. When very young, I had once asked my mother why we just didn’t join the partitioned countries back together again. She replied with what I feel is a strong and most unfortunate metaphor. One can join together a piece of broken glass but the cracks will always be visible.\n\nThe Sundarbans trip: Bali, Pakhiraloy and Burirdabri (10 to 12 December 2011)\n\n- Vikram Iyengar\n\nfog on the road to Gadkhali\nbreakfast en route\nWe set off at 6.30am for Gadkhali via Basanti – three cars meeting at Science City before two Sumos veered off left. Thick fog you could cut with a knife enveloped us, barely letting us see the road before us and only occasionally revealing the surroundings – ponds dotted with pink and white lotuses, houses which moved from concrete into mud constructions, and sudden busy wholesale markets of vegetables and fish. Breakfasted on the local petai paratha at Basanti and finally arrived into Gadkhali at about 10.30am – about an hour late thanks to the fog. We were to spend the day on Bali island visiting schools and villagers with Shri Sukumar Paira, headmaster of Bijoynagar Adarsha Bidya Mandir, who has made Bali his home for the last 33 years. His work has gone far beyond education, involving students, their parents and the larger community in areas and issues of conservation awareness and action, sustainable and alternative livelihoods which are eco-friendly, disaster relief work and much more. The school itself is an example of a holistic education including arts, sports (local games too), work education and nature education as part of the curriculum. From being an island with no schools at all in 1970, Bali now has about 24 schools spanning primary and secondary levels and a respect for education among both parents and children – both boys and girls. Shri Paira did not start the school: he was asked to come in for some time (three months between his BA and MA) by the gentleman who envisioned the school. Those 3 months have now become 33 years.\nShri Sukumar Paira\nthe Secondary School\nthe Primary School\nOur time at Bali was divided between the primary school in an Adivasi area and the main secondary school – Bijoynagar Adarsha Bidyamandir. At the first stop we met some villagers from the community including a 98-year old farmer, some children who were studying there while their parents worked elsewhere, and the teacher in charge. Conversations ranged from the current condition of agriculture in Bali especially post the Aila cyclone of May 2009 to education and aspirations and much more. The second experience included a long conversation with Shri Sukumar Paira himself touching on a host of experiences and observations, meetings with some students talking about the school Nature Club and their aspirations for the future, conversations with some farmers, and a visit to the newly inaugurated Girls’ Hostel. We then left for out two-night stay at Aponjon, Pakhiralay.\n\nIt is impossible to detail out the varied and rich nature of the experiences in a blog piece – and indeed, it would do no justice. Bare facts are one thing, a human experience and engagement is quite another. This evening – 24 hours later – the ten of us sat around and talked about any one thing that we took away from the two days we have spent here – today being a day-long launch trip into the astonishing Sundarbans forests to and from the Burirdabri watchtower which is on the border river of Raimangal, looking across the wide swathe of water at the Khulna district of Bangladesh .\n\nA heavily paraphrased illustration of what and how ten very different individuals remembered and were affected over both these days is perhaps a better evocation of this incredible experience.\n\n(Ranan repertory member, actress and production person, freelance work with children in various schools through music and drama)\n“In a conversation I was having with Jo on the launch today, we both thought we would love to visit and stay in one of the villages we were passing – only she was thinking for a week and I was thinking for 24 hours. What am I scared of? Perhaps scared is not the word. I’m not bothered about amenities or the lack of them. But what would I be doing for a week? The complete lack of knowledge about that. I’ve spent time in rural areas with school, but there is a whole gaggle of girls there! What is the experience of just me and the village – that’s both scary and exciting.”\n\n(Producer with Transport Theatre, Stage Manager)\n“What really struck me was the huge community that I encountered as I got off the boat at Bali. I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t that. They were all with us when the boat came in, all with us in the beautiful schoolroom, and all with us when we left again. They were together with us the whole time. I felt very supported even though I couldn’t communicate with them directly. I was struck by the generosity of the sharing.”\n\n(Ranan repertory and core group member and Administrator, actress and dancer, works in Insurance Sales)\n“My day-job involves selling insurance for a company. Gosaba is one of the branch offices under me, and when I went to Bali with my agent, I was also interested in how I could develop business here.\nIn the classroom at the Secondary School when we spoke to the children about their aspirations, many of them said that they wanted to stay on in the Sundarbans in what they did in the future. An observation made by Sukumar Paira at that point has been haunting me. He said that they are not yet aware of the realities and practicalities of living in the Sundarbans. Once they are faced with that, they may well leave for good.\nAnd my professional self was asking, how can I even think of developing business somewhere as poverty ridden as this in a country where the idea of life insurance hardly exists in rural areas.”\n\n(Dancer, Ranan repertory member, learning to be an actress)\n“I went with Romoni – one of the girls I met at the Primary School – to her house nearby. She was affected with polio when she was 8 and is now about 19 years old. She does intricate zari embroidery on saris and gets just about Rs. 200 for each sari even though it can sell at Rs. 5000 or Rs. 6000 in Calcutta shops and up to Rs. 20000 in a branded boutique. That too, she gets paid much after she has done the work. Her mother works harvesting paddy on others’ lands and get paid Rs. 100 per month per family she works for. Her father does not work.\nAnd yet she spoke to me frankly, sang me two songs and pressed me to stay for lunch. As I was leaving both she and her father asked if I could do anything to help them. That was when I felt most helpless – it was a pathetic moment for me.”\n\n(Ranan repertory and core group member, Production Coordinator and Movement Trainer, Actor)\n“Yesterday evening after we arrived at Aponjon, I got a call from Sukumar babu asking if everything was ok. He has already helped us so much in organising the day at Bali, there was no need for him to call me after we had left. That touched me a lot.”\n\n(Artistic Director of Transport)\n“The classroom in the Secondary School at Bali with the students talking about their dreams and aspirations. The optimism in the midst of so much adversity, even from children who haven’t seen their parents for nine months – parents who work away from home. The people’s stories and careers / jobs that came out of that exchange. What would be the level of optimism and aspirations I a deprived school in Kent? And they were so well-behaved!”\n\n(Ranan repertory and core group member, actress, architect)\n“We always think of roots as life-giving, but here I felt they were life-taking. No one decided to be born here, it just happened. And then they are caught. Like when the roots of the mangroves go down, it’s as if the soil starts clutching onto it so they can’t break away. Where would I be today if I had been born here?”\n\n(Artistic Collaborator on The Edge project, actress, producer)\n“I see the mangrove tree roots as the place where earth and water meet. Intermeshing, interlocking, connecting – a community working together. Each tree is a symbol of that strength.”\n\n(Captain and sailor)\nThe drive here, having never been in India before! And the sense of community and family, and their connectivity to their life support system / natural environment. How the community rooted in a place responds together. We speak from an urban perspective – what does a ‘better life’ actually mean?”\n\n(Artistic Director, repertory and core group member of Ranan, dancer, choreographer, theatre director)\n“What struck me most on the launch trip into the forests and at the watchtower was the quality of silence, and the quality of listening it demands from you. The quality of stillness. It has a grace and a majesty, a dignity that commands respect. Do we actually take it in at all?”\n\n\nSundarbans Moon Journal       -  December 2011\n- Dana Roy\n\n(timings are approximates since I was looking at more fascinating things than my watch)\n\n10th December\n5ish in the evening: Travelling from Bali Island in a launch we see the red moon before the approaching lunar eclipse. There in that half light on the river I wonder for a second if that red full moon is the disk of the sun. Slow logic tells me it isn’t, the sun had already set leaving long red fingers of twilight across the sky and the low hanging red moon\nSong in head: Jersey Thursday\nnight brought on it’s purple cloak of velvet to the sky, and the gulls were wheeling spinning…”\n5:30 pm : Later at Aponjon Hotel it looks slightly less red but very much like a disk of cheese with a warm coloured orange light cast on it. It is slightly higher in the sky. It seems to have developed a five o’clock shadow in one corner of its chin, but it’s so slow that we doubt if the eclipse has actually begun. Funny thing, I can’t actually see many stars, just the evening star right above us.\n6pm: It definitely is the eclipse. There is a chunk of the moon missing from the sky. We watch the eclipse, watch the earth’s slow progress across the sky. I think of this silent unstoppable coordinated dance between three giant moving bodies. A dance only fathomable to us by the shadow the earth casts on the moon, by the shadow we cast on the moon. A brief but measurable sense of our cosmic journey. I feel awe.\n7 pm: Now it resembles a clove of garlic.\nSong in head: “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…” clearly awe has left us and we are being a little silly.\nWhat is this obsession with the moon and food? - Cheese, garlic, pizza\n8:10 pm: It looks like a thumbnail clipping – at least that is not food.\n8:20 pm: If I looked at the sky now for the first time that night without knowing anything about celestial occurrences, I would have instantly thought something had ripped a bright little slit through an inky black blanket that covered the sky. No stars are visible. There is just a rip, a sliver of Heaven glowing through an otherwise impenetrable black. You can easily see how omens and predictions could come about. In the city watching an eclipse, such a thought seems silly, but out in the Sundarbans there is no escaping the leap in your heart when you look up and see something undoubtedly wrong with the sky.\n8:30pm: The total eclipse. The part of the moon that had been disappearing into shadow suddenly can be made out, lit only by the corona as the earth completely eclipses the sun from the moon’s point of view. Curiously, the moon does not disappear from the sky like you are led to expect. It gets swallowed by the shadow and when that shadow is fully cast, the moon looks like a very pale imitation of itself. It still is faintly red and oddly, stops looking like a two dimensional disk and looks more spherical, more three dimensional, with a faint shading around the edges that show a depth distinct to a sphere.\n9:20 pm After dinner, we looked up to see the moon had emerged quite a bit, cleaner and whiter than I ever remember seeing it before, like it just underwent some ritualistic purification. Certainly it was startling after having grown used to it’s redness all evening. I’m reminded of the Chinese dragon that is said to swallow the moon, or was that a serpent. No, perhaps the serpent is Indian and the dragon is Chinese\n\n11th December\n7:45 am: The moon appears again this morning, high-ish in the sky. We are on the river, on a launch wending our way through thick morning fog. I am watching through a window below deck. In the milky whiteness, my mind plays tricks on me again, I think the white disk is the sun struggling to shine through a thick white curtain. Then the boat turns and the real sun reveals itself, perfectly spherical with a soft incandescent glow that you see through the haze that surrounds it. There is no chance of mistaking it for the moon.\nSong in head: CSNY’s Cathedral.  Not for the lyric as a whole but for the tune/ movement of music and I suppose random bits of lyric that my unconscious throws at me that seem to fit. The song just mirrors in a different context the emotional responses of the present moment.\nAfter dinner: Rhea and I talk about stories of the Lady in the Moon. The moon looks exactly like it should on the Chinese Full Moon festival. I tell her the Chinese story of the princess of the Heavens trapped on the moon by her father for falling in love with a shepherd on earth, and how the cranes take pity on them one night in the year (the day of the Moon Harvest Festival) and form a walkway across the sky between the earth and the moon with their wings so the lovers can meet for one night.\nThe Bengalis and Chinese both have a Lady that lives on the Moon, the Romans and Greeks have Diana and Selene of the Moon. It is only the west that seems to talk about the Man in the Moon, some guy whose hair was made of spaghetti according to a kid’s nursery rhyme that flits across my mind. The song is unapologetically thrown out of my head.\n\n12th December\nAfter dinner: We walk along the embankment at night, having switched off our torch. The moon is full, bright and brilliant and lights up the whole landscape. Doug suddenly sings 3 notes of “Moonshadow” pointing out our shadows cast by the moon. Have I ever seen my own moonshadow before? The rest of the song plays in my head as we walk back to Help Tourism. I’ve always loved the song but confronted with my own moonshadow it doesn’t seem to make any sense, even just the music of it doesn’t work in the moment. Must find out what was meant when it was written.\n\n- Amlan Chaudhuri\n\nBe(n)dhechhe Eman-o ghar\nShuNyer upar po(n)jtaa ka're ....\nDhanya dhanya ba'li tare!\n[ What  a house He has built in thin air!\nBut how firmly founded!\nBravo, bravo to him!]\n\nLalon Shah phokir.\n\n[It's a scary game to watch:\nA boat loaded with a river, sails on dry land.\nThe river's name is the Water of Life.\nYou can find it in the microcosm.\nIn a wink of an eye it overflows its banks,\nIn a wink it dries up, too!]\n\nthe title song from Ritwik Ghatak's \" The River Called Titas\"\n\n\nShut up and Listen\n\nDana Roy\n\nEverywhere you go in the Sundarbans you meet loud tourists shouting at the top of their voices to each other “Eikhaney kichu nei, there is nothing here’. Looking out of the enclosed walkway meant for tourists at the mangroves and the mud they are convinced there is nothing out there worth any attention. Thankfully they leave quickly. The trick that this place teaches you over and over again is to stop filling the space with you and then, ah, and then the Sundarbans offers a feast for the senses.\n\nTake a walk at night with a torch and all you can see are the two steps in front of you lit by torch light. But switch the torch off and suddenly, amazingly you can see clearly right till the horizon lit by the brilliance of the full moon.\n\nTalk, night or day, and all you can hear is yourself and the person next to you. But stop talking and the sound of the waves leap up at you louder than anything before. Listen, and it is not just the waves; you are immediately struck by the depth, density and intensity of sound that you were not even aware of a second ago, such pitches, tones, clicks and rhythms. The deep underlying steady hum of the insects, above that the lower tones of the waves, each wavelet finishing with a gentle high tabla tap, persistent and rhythmic. Over that the plopping of the mudskippers and the staccato clicking of the crabs at your feet. Then both a high pitched and low pitched wind that rustles through the leaves. Above that the myriad calls of birds each with their own musical time, unpredictable like improvised jazz but still the perfect counterpoint to the steadiness below it. And somehow, caught in the center of it all, the peace, that only a rest could bring in the middle of a musical score. Caught in the center of all those tones is silence.\n\nThere can be no doubt in such an intricate orchestra of sound that the Sundarbans are full of life. Listening to all that life it is incredible to believe anyone could think “eikhaney kichu nei”. All anyone needs to do is shut up and listen.\n\n\nBURIRDABRI: Sunday, 11 December 2011\n\n- Vikram Iyengar\n\nI am sitting in the prow of a small launch in the Sundarbans. It is 2.30pm and we have just about ten minutes ago turned into a wide river – which I think is the Jhilla – from the Burirdabri Khal. The waters are falling. The tide is receding revealing more and more of the land they submerge, more and more of the contours of the narrow creeks they flood, more and more of the network of mangrove roots that hold up the trees in a tangled and interconnected mesh of precarious support. The waters are calmer now, with gentle ripples – the strongest being the waves our launch kicks back as it glides sedately forward. The surface reflects floating impressions of what lines the banks – a myriad shades of green and brown that will defy the colour palette of the most inventive painter. And as one moves away from the bank in this vast expanse of water that is only one of the many rivers that we have experienced since yesterday, it reflects the blue-grey milkiness of the sky – a depth below reflecting a depth above. To my left the sun has begun its journey into the earth, and the waters there shine silver as they catch the light, play with it, throw it up momently in little celebratory crests of gold and subside once again, seemingly at peace.  Yes, the tide is receding, but as the sun warms my left shoulder I remember this morning when it was engaged in conflict with the thick fog that swirled up from the rising waters, only managing to imbue the mists with a greyness of intangibility. The air was damp, the stiff breeze had a chilly bite to it, and the sun only appeared as a suffocated pale disc, looking more like the moon than its powerful self. But in moments when the fog let down its guard and a bundle of rays managed to get through, the waters shone like burnished gold, delighted in the promise of a warmth to come. It was all magical then, it is all magical now.\n\nAs I sit here enveloped in this world all around me – the river stretching out before my eyes, a dense green bank to my right, a long, low shadow of a bank far to my left broken unevenly by the silhouettes of treetops, and the blue cloudless sky above turning into a blinding white where the sun is – I feel alone, but not lonely. I feel a oneness. I feel I belong, I feel an acceptance by this place which moves and humbles me. And more than anything I feel my smallness, but do not feel slighted by that. I feel the generosity of this landscape but can only imagine its power. I feel grateful, I feel Grace, I feel peace, I feel Majesty. I feel everyone I love and have loved and lost around me, I feel them with and within me in this place, space and moment. Amazingly, I do not feel their absence. It’s as if this – where I am and what is being given to me with quiet, sombre dignity – is a burden too beautiful and precious for me to bear on my own. They are in this landscape, in this suspended moment that extends into eternity – helping me experience it, helping me articulate it, helping me remember it, and remember them.\n\nI am in the midst of a gift truly offered, truly given – a pureness that knows no motive other than making the planet I call my home a more beautiful, a more awe-inspiring place. People look and pray for miracles all the time. Here is one, and we don’t see it. \n\n\nFirst days...\n\n-Lav Kanoi\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nby Ruchira Das\nfloating down the Chituri forest\nWe were going down the river on the boat, when suddenly from the forest nearby we heard something which sounded like the cacaphony of birds - when they come back to their nests in the evening - but this was broad daylight ! - could it be monkeys chattering then? but there wasn't even one to be seen!\n\nLater we realised it's only the echo of the boat's motor from the forest- that marvel of nature had taken that mechanical drone and turned it into a natural sound of its own!\n\n\nDoug - Day 1\n\n- by Shataf Figar\n\nToday was the first day of the much awaited 2 week long workshop with Douglas. The day started with some text reading. We picked up a text from The Hungry Tide. Took the first line from it and worked on it with a new technique. \"in our legends it is said that a goddess's descent from the heavens would have split the earth had the lord not tamed her torrents by tying it to his ash smeared locks\". We looked at each word in isolation and then built an action for each word. Once this was done we spent time individually working on identifying the action to the word one by one. Then we got into a circle and read the text out with their respective actions one at a time. We then gave the lines more fluidity by going all the way. The objective was to let each come alive and live in the present moment. Not assuming what the next words coming up were. We were told not to attach our feeling but to look at it the way the author of the text wrote it. The muscular movement in the brain, face and gestures were to be recorded and then collectively put together for the final reading. The connectedness with each word was also very important. THEN WE ASKED THE QUESTION WHY? WHY DO I WANT TO SAY THIs?\n\nThe next exercise was a focus and connectedness game. Using the name, ball and touch. The smoothness of the game was focused upon. Being connected to everyone on stage and a smooth progression was highlighted. We formed a circle and created a pattern of flow with names. Once this pattern was created we passed the ball around to form another link. We played with these two in togetherness. Once this pattern was successfully taking shape we were asked to form another pattern or link by touching people on their shoulder and taking their place while the other person went and touched another person. Finally we put all these three different pattern together and tried to achieve smoothness while performing this exercise. What we speak, what we do and how we react.\n\nThen we played GO, which was all about keeping the rhythm in place. One person in the center with the ball starts passing it to other people creating a rhythm. Once this process is on any other member could say Go to the person in the center and he would have to move away letting the person who said go to take centre stage while continuing the rhythm. The idea was to maintain the rhythm on stage and not disrupt it. Any wrong move or any change in rhythm will disrupt the others presence on stage.\n\nNext was the chair exercise: 8 chairs and 7 people. The person who was walking had to be stopped from sitting on that one empty chair. All connected to the right movements and staying connected with the actors on stage.\n\nFinally the day ended with some movement exercise with focus on breathing and connection of the breath to the movement. Lessen it and build it up. It was to first to be able to connect to the music and then allow the breath to connect to the music. And make the movement small and large. This was a challenge for me as I had taken the wrong start by sitting on the floor. It was the most exhaustive exercise and it left us sweating and warmed us up on the cold winter evening.\n\n\n\nSome thoughts...\n\n\nSundarbans - where truly nothing is waiting yet it awaits\n\n- what exists there and what exists no more, only a sense captured,\nthrough my lenses\n- a being there, settling..unsettling, seized and held within, through my senses\n\n(a bit of Sundarbans - where truly nothing is waiting yet it awaits.\n- and a poem by Pablo Neruda)\n\nYou will remember that leaping stream\nwhere sweet aromas rose and trembled,\nand sometimes a bird, wearing water\nand slowness, its winter feathers.\n\nYou will remember those gifts from the earth:\nindelible scents, gold clay,\nweeds in the thicket and crazy roots,\nmagical thorns like swords.\n\nYou'll remember the bouquet you picked,\nshadows and silent water,\nbouquet like a foam-covered stone.\n\nThat time was like never, and like always.\nSo we go there, where nothing is waiting;\nwe find everything waiting there.\n\n\n\n- Dana Roy\n\nRe-reading the post Shut up and Listen, it strikes me that I have not at all been able to capture how one’s senses seem to reach out into the world. Just as your eyes find the horizon when you are out in the open, just as the moonlight lights up all of that great distance into the beyond, just as you look into the horizon and somehow you are present there at the far end of where your eyes take you, so too you discover a horizon of sound.\n\nPhoto: Shataf Figar\nLet me try and explain better. If you stop, shut your eyes and listen in a place like the Sundarbans, your ears first take in the sounds closest to you, waves, fiddler crabs, mudskippers then your sense of hearing seems to expand till you hear things maybe five feet away, a bird perhaps, or a frog, then it expands further to take in more that surrounds you, adding to the symphony. You ears steadily seem to take you further and further away from the place you are standing. There is no measurable way to know how far you have heard, and sounds do get fainter and fainter till you can just about make out that that is as far as you can hear. How far your horizon of sound is, will never truly be known, not in the terms with which you can measure a horizon of sight. It is also a horizon that you will never experience in a piece of music no matter how complex, because it does not exist, the instruments are finite and there is nothing beyond.\n\nHow far can your ears take you?  I am reminded of a discussion during our workshops about what it feels like to be underwater, and the quality of sound under water. I remember floating in the sea just off Pattaya, listening under water. The sounds are alien, unidentifiable because of the lack of language to express them, yet they are distinct even through the quality that water gives them. Sound travels further in water.  How far does it take you? How far away in the ocean is what you hear? One thinks of the great whales that communicate to each other over enormous distances. The connectivity and connectedness of it. I wonder about the bamboo game. And the connectedness of it. How each actor is connected to every other actor in the space, through nothing but bamboo sticks held between them by the tip of one finger on each hand.\nWhen you remember the kinds of listening you experience in the natural places of the world you know that the world is connected. It is the same quality of listening that is required of you in the bamboo game. It is as if the Earth has been playing that game for millions of years and has become so good at it, so adept that the patterns are organic and complex. Actually it is the other way around, we attempt in the bamboo game to replicate the organic quality of the living Earth.\n\nPhoto: Shataf Figar\nAnd I wonder what happens if an outside impulse is introduced. So if the world is so connected what happens if humanity provides a push from the outside. How does the world adjust? What happens when there are more external pushes. How long does it take to break the connectedness? How long before a bamboo falls?\n\nPhoto: Shataf Figar\nOr is it that the Earth adjusts. Millions of years of connection, each organism connected to another, each wave connected with another, cannot just be broken, but the ripples of an outside impulse are seen coursing through the connections. How do we plug in again to this constant communication, how do we shut up and listen? How do we connect, spiritually, personally, collectively, consciously? And it will need a disciplined consciousness, because currently we are shouting so loudly that there is not a chance of listening.\n\nIn the bamboo game when you are listening and connected, it is not hard to know what you have to do. It is not a revolutionary change that you bring about in others, or yourself, it’s but a slight shift of gears, not even that. It is subtler than that. It is a listening, through your ears, neck, back, a listening through your body. How do we do find that quality of listening in our relationship with the Earth? What new horizon will be opened up to us then?\n\n\n\n- by Shataf Figar\n\nPhoto: Emma Cameron\nThe workshop with Douglas so far has helped me refine my performance as an actor. Each day I wish for the clock to travel to 4pm as fast as possible so that we can start our workshop. I am like a little kid waiting with my bags packed to enter a space that focuses on the word refinement. Refinement of the skills that we possess.\n\nThe last week focused a lot on coordination, movements, space, energy, relationship with the other performers on stage, being aware of each other, what you say, what you do and how you move.  And of course the 2 day trip to Nimpith and Kaikhali in the Sundarbans. It was all about Exploration. Exploring the space internally and externally.\n\nSome of the exercises that have really been helpful and have stayed with me are the Bamboo exercise, 3rd force exercises, Impulse exercise, Chorus exercise and the rhythm and movement exercises.\n\nPhoto: Emma Cameron\nThe Bamboo exercise helped me in creating patterns and movements with my body that I had never imagined I could. Responding to each other’s energy in the right measure so that the stick could balance and at the same time being aware of what everybody is doing. Giving and receiving the exact amount of energy. Leading and being led. We started this exercise in groups of 4 and then broke it down to pairs. Once in pairs after a few minutes the bamboo stick was removed and we had to imagine the stick still there and maintain the fluidity of movements. Then the distance between the pair was divided into half. The focus was on receiving and giving of energy, fluidity of movements and creating interesting structures. Vikram's   addition of the text of \"All you who sleep tonight\" made the movement much more interesting and gave us a lot to play with.\n\nPhoto: Emma Cameron\nThe impulse exercise displayed some really fluid movements. The idea was of how movements would happen when the body is suspended in water  or the sea. A lifeless body. Anubha was brilliant at this exercise and her moves were telling a story by itself. A wonderful sight that shall remain with me. Connecting with each and every part of the body and letting it flow by the forces of the current.\n\nPhoto: Emma Cameron\nThe chorus exercise created some fun and entertainment for the audience. In a group we had to follow what the leader did. And every time we turned sides the leader would change. Some really interesting sightings were made by our audience. It also showed how easy is it to break away from the performance of a group. When this happens it is clearly visible that there is a disconnect between performers on stage. We were asked to perform on simple topics like life in the Sundarbans, life in Kolkata and life in Bollywood. This has been recorded by Vikram and I am waiting to see what fools we made of ourselves.\n\nCan't wait for this week to begin. Waiting for it to be 4pm so that my packed bag and I can enter the space that I loved the most.\n\n\nThat is what learning is\n\nDebosmita Roychowdhury\n\n“That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood all your life but in a NEW WAY” …….\n\nYes, definitely this workshop had been a great learning experience for me. The 2 week long workshop with Transport team made me think about the vastness about theatre, dance….. Actually about the ART...rather I should say the inter connection between different fields of ARTs.\nWe‘ve done some exercises which were about concentration, awareness, group work etc.  All of those were too good but I personally like “chorus”, “impulse” and “force”.\nWe were given different subjects to research on and the researches revealed many unknown facts.\n\nReally a lot of thanks to  Douglas and his team for giving us such a great opportunity to work with TRANSPORT.\n\n\nQuestions from within\n\nDebashree Bhattacharya \n\nI attended four sessions of the workshop with the intention to observe and learn, and use my experience in my career as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Little did I realise that it would go much deeper and shake me from the roots of my being.\n\nI learnt quite a few things after observing and performing the ‘Bamboo exercise’, ‘the Chorus’ and ‘Drowning piece’, that Douglas had made us do during the workshop. All these exercises provided me with reference points for the future.\n\nPic: Emma Cameron\nBamboo Exercise\nenergy flow, energy transformation, patterns, designs, exploring levels, awareness, connection, concentration\n\ntogetherness, connection, alertness, presence of mind, focus, awareness\n\nDrowning Piece\nstillness, surrender, peaceful, flow, balance\n\nThe above exercises were really a learning experience for me.\n\nKaikhali – on the banks of the river Matla, 21 December, 9.30pm\n\nthe Matla river at Kaikhali (Pic: Shataf Figar)\nA star-studded sky. Pitch Dark. Sounds of lapping water. SILENCE. It was an eerie, uncanny silence. Felt both peaceful and uneasy at the same time. Can’t explain why. In this context, I would like to mention about the Chorus piece that was created on 29 December. I was unable to hold back my tears that day. Moments from the lives of the people of Sundarbans, each wrapped up in a situation – their sorrows, their joys, their SIMPLICITY, their immense wealth and dire poverty, their innocence and experiences, their regrets and their celebration – all found expression through chorus. And never in my life have I ever thought that ’12 beats’ could become so monotonous as well as eerie and uneasy. Suddenly I was hit by many questions from within.\n\nWhat’s my role as an artist? My responsibility? Am I committed only to my dance form, a tradition hundreds of years old? What’s the larger picture of which my dance is only a small part?\nWhat’s the truth? About my art? About myself? Where do I search to find myself?\n(If I am sounding like a philosopher, I am sorry, but it came straight from my heart.)\n\nPic: Shataf Figar\nIn the monotony of 12 beats, Anubha had screamed ‘Bachao’. Save me. Us? From whom? From myself?  Who is the protector and who the survivor? Where do I place myself?\n\n‘Bachao’ still echoes in my ears and my heart.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6098647117614746}
+{"content": "Dueling Sabre ― Italian School\n\nItalian Dueling Sabre, “Pecoraro model”, close-up of hilt.\nItalian Dueling Sabre, “Pecoraro model”.\n\nThe Italian school of sabre is based on the dueling sabre, not the military sabre. Its foundation is the study and practice of the molinelli, which are types of circular cuts. There are two schools, which may be generally divided, into northern and southern. The southern school emphasizes the execution of the molinelli, with the wrist as the axis of rotation, while the northern school emphasizes the elbow as its axis. As is typical of the Italian schools, the guard position is relatively low.\n\nThe sabre taught is the northern system that adheres to the teachings of its founder Maestro Giuseppe Radaelli and his pupil Maestro Luigi Barbasetti.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5896034240722656}
+{"content": "Patrick Henry Speech\n\nOctober 10, 2017\nBy ryanorr999 BRONZE, Astin, Texas\nryanorr999 BRONZE, Astin, Texas\n3 articles 0 photos 0 comments\n\nNo matter how passionate Patrick Henry gets, he stays respectful throughout the whole speech. His very first sentence talks about how highly he thinks of the patriotism of the men who spoke before him. He says how he doesn’t want to disrespect anyone else’s opinion that think differently. He almost has a regretful tone in how he talks about and feels about presenting this question. By being respectful and regretful, everyone else in the room is more open-minded to his opinion, therefore becoming more impressionable. He says that it’s too important and urgent to disregard it any longer and that he cares so much that he will take whatever anguish of spirit it may cost. A big turning point in the beginning of the essay is when he says,” I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom and slavery.\n\nIn the beginning of the third paragraph, he uses a metaphor to express that his reasons come from experience. The metaphor is,” I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience.” He is saying that his choices and beliefs are only influenced by the experience he has. He also ask lots of rhetorical questions like,” Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation.” These rhetorical questions build up the audience’s questionability of the England government and whether or not they should fight for freedom or stay with England. In the fourth paragraph is when Patrick Henry really becomes influential and motivational about fighting for freedom. He says,” Will it be the next week, or the next year?” He uses parallelism in the words “will” and “shall” to continue to ask rhetorical questions that spark indecisiveness in the opposing men. He ends the paragraph with,” The war is inevitable and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.” I think this really builds up the intensity in the room and helps to progress to his final statement. Lastly he says,” I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” This statement is widely known and is a very strong statement and it really show his passion for this subject.\n\nThis idealistic thinking that Patrick Henry thinks that America should fight back and fight for their freedom and what they believe may be the thinking behind the current day posters. Protesters today are fighting for their freedom and what they believe. Personally, I don’t believe in the protests, but I believe Patrick Henry’s speech may be ideas behind the current day protests.\n\nSimilar Articles\n\n\nThis article has 0 comments.\n\n\nMacMillan Books\n\nAspiring Writer? Take Our Online Course!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.770416796207428}
+{"content": "Rachel in Uganda\n\nHi everyone!\n\nMy name is Rachel and I am doing a double major in Human Biology and Anthropology at the University of Toronto, St. George campus. You would agree with me that travelling to a place you have never been before makes you anxious and excited at the same time? I am thrilled to get this opportunity to travel to Uganda this summer where I will be working with the Children of Hope Uganda (COHU) organization as an intern for 3 months. COHU is a non-profit organization working towards empowering the war-affected youths in Northern Uganda. I have volunteered with COHU for about 2 years now and worked closely with the founder of the organization, Lorna Pitcher, who stirred a great zeal and inspiration in me to visit Lira, Uganda, the hallmark of all the COHU projects.\n\nI strongly believe that every human being came into existence because there is a purpose they need to serve in this rapidly-developing interconnected world community. I see in every human being an innate potential to soar to the highest heights of their dreams in life. It is true that due to unforeseen tragedies such as war, drought and disease epidemics, one can lose hope, energy, determination and motivation to tap into one`s potentials. However, I am grateful for COHU and many other organizations/groups that always stand for humanity. More than 1100 lives of young people have been hugely impacted, transformed and empowered by COHU, through the advocacy for education and initiatives promoting acquisition of self-reliance and entrepreneurial skills. Having had a similar life experience, I feel strongly connected to all the youths and children in Northern Uganda, whom I would happily consider my brothers and sisters.\n\nI am deeply passionate about serving the human kind in all possible ways; a dream I have always had since my childhood. This experience will not only expose me to new life challenges and experiences, but also will challenge my capabilities and facilitate my personal growth. All this will ultimately equip and shape me into a reliable global citizen who can serve humanity with unwavering compassion and deep understanding. \n\nFinally, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Lorna and Katie for their tremendous amount of support and for always being there to respond to my numerous questions. Many thanks to Dr. Oswald, the IDS department, Tasha and everyone who rendered me help!\n\nI am happy to be a QE scholar, looking forward to life-changing experiences!\n\nMwebale! (Thank you)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5375626683235168}
+{"content": "Virtual CISO\n\nCybersecurity solutions that fit your budget\n\nA data breach is any unauthorized acquisition or release of, or access to, information, with usually exposes the information to an untrusted environment. Cybersecurity has become a top tier risk for the US and multinational organizations. It is a matter of time before a determined hacker will penetrate your organization's system and successfully exfiltrate some data.\n\nAttackers innovate rapidly at little expense, harnessing sophisticated cyber weapons, sharing techniques and renting access to corporate networks to lee sophisticated cybercriminals. The effective Cyberdefense has evolved into a sophisticated risk-management task different from traditional compliance, pushing organizations to keep up with a rapidly changing threat landscape, rather than a checklist regulatory requirements.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9745293855667114}
+{"content": "The ancient Greek word ‘psyche’, is defined as ‘soul’ and it’s also the Greek word for butterfly. The idea of transition playing heavily in their mythology… first, a moth literally transforms into a butterfly, a physical event from youth to adulthood. And second, the soul’s carried by the butterfly which eventually seeks passage into the underworld… the transition from life to death, a metaphysical event. However, we know that we are born, die and are born again each day into our authentic self and the butterfly and its attributes are the perfect metaphor for change.                                                                     Continue reading Papillon\n\n\nThe Road To Anjou\n\nTo be happy is to know where we should be on the path even with pain, in effect living from the still-point of our eternal flame. This is where we grow, step-by-step closer to the Grail… JC\n\nAt times the refusal of the journey is the most important part of the path, a turning point that can never be rescinded. The Continue reading The Road To Anjou\n\nThe Incredible Shrinking Man\n\n\nI always associate the Creator with the wind. On windy nights the chimes hanging on the front porch ring out as the Architect of the universe is making sure I know she’s about, tending to what’s needed. In this same vein I hear the train in the distance, God again. It is these opportune moments that dance with my senses. The smallness, the subtleness of life and how huge that smallness is. Think of the Earth and its inhabitants as compared to the universe; how minute we are but it is this smallness in stature that is phenomenal when you consider the detailed information we already know and are learning about the cosmos.\nContinue reading The Incredible Shrinking Man", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7768367528915405}
+{"content": "Putin summed up the talks with Rouhani\n\n\nRIA Novosti\n\nTalks with President of Iran Hassan Rouhani took place in a businesslike and constructive atmosphere, said the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin following the meeting.\n\n“The talks with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani, who is in Russia on an official visit, were held in a businesslike and constructive atmosphere. Just made a comprehensive joint statement, signed, as you saw, a solid package of intergovernmental, interdepartmental and corporate documents. Thus, it is safe to say that relations between Russia and Iran are indeed friendly, respectful nature,” said Putin.\n\nRouhani is in Russia on 27 and 28 March at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998002648353577}
+{"content": "Total Number of words made out of Soaves = 31\n\nSoaves is an acceptable word in Scrabble with 9 points. Soaves is an accepted word in Word with Friends having 10 points. Soaves is a 6 letter medium Word starting with S and ending with S. Below are Total 31 words made out of this word.\n\n5 letter Words made out of soaves\n\n1). saves 2). vases 3). oaves 4). soave 5). oases\n\n4 letter Words made out of soaves\n\n1). ossa 2). save 3). voes 4). seas 5). vase 6). oses 7). aves 8). avos\n\n3 letter Words made out of soaves\n\n1). oes 2). voe 3). ass 4). vas 5). ave 6). avo 7). sea 8). sae 9). ova 10). ess 11). ose\n\n2 letter Words made out of soaves\n\n1). es 2). os 3). as 4). oe 5). so 6). ae\n\nScrabble finderAnagram FinderCrossword Solver\n\nNote There are 3 vowel letters and 3 consonant letters in the word soaves. S is 19th, O is 15th, A is 1st, V is 22th, E is 5th, Letter of Alphabet series.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7347984313964844}
+{"content": "Ad Hoc Announcements\n\nAd hoc announcements are notifications from the company that are intended to reach all shareholders at the same time. Pursuant to Art. 17 MAR, Aurubis is obligated to immediately publish any company news that could potentially lead to a significant influence on the share price.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8956769704818726}
+{"content": "Vampire Pop Strategy is an electronic/poprock duo formed in 2006 in Bologna, Italy.\nTheir debut release is the EP \"New Boys In Utah Beach\" (2007 - The Family label) and immediately their style is associated to historical british music movements like synth pop, glam, new wave, shoegaze.\nVampire Pop Strategy members are the brothers Francesco and Marco Leoci, they start this project after some experience in an alternative rock band, visual arts and sound design.\nAfter some years spent performing in clubs and some festival and working on new tracks, comes the second EP \" Mid Dim\" (2011 - Skpmz label) confirming their style but with more complex developments.\nWindows Of Suburbia (2013 - The Office Records) is their first album: eccentric british mood conveyed in retro-synthetic melodies.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999416470527649}
+{"content": "Immigration is likely to remain an overarching theme in European politics. And for a long time yet. It was at the heart of the UK referendum campaign (although this concerned mostly intra-EU migration), and it is set to dominate French and German elections next year (focusing on immigration from outside Europe). In the summer of 2015 Angela Merkel predicted that migration and asylum would “in the future preoccupy” Europe “much, much more” than financial issues have done. One year on, there is little reason to dispute this.\n\nA record 3,800 people have perished in the Mediterranean since the beginning of this year, according to the United Nations. Europe may have closed off the Aegean and Balkan routes, but more people are drowning than ever before in the central Mediterranean desperately trying to reach Italy.\n\nThe migration issue has shaped political discourse in Europe, and is likely to continue to shape it. On one side are liberal internationalists attached to fundamental asylum principles or to the dream of a borderless world; on the other are xenophobic fence-builders who see migration as a modern version of barbaric invasions threatening culture and civilisation. The latter, alas, tend to hold sway.\n\nOne of the collateral damages of post-truth politics is that not only the present gets distorted – the past gets rewritten as well. Racist videos online depict fantasies of Europe “before” and “after” migration. “Before” is depicted with orderly scenes of 1950s streets, shops and parks where an all-white population strolls or plays happily. “After” is groups of dark-faced men attacking women, rioting against the police, shouting “Allahu Akbar”.\n\nThe essential narrative of bigots is that our European world is collapsing under the onslaught of mass arrivals from cultures that we cannot possibly mingle with. In France, a theory called the “great replacement” has spread to large parts of the right and certainly the far-right. It states that, as a result of immigration, the nation’s core population is set to be replaced by non-European outsiders who will wreck the country’s identity. There are also echoes of this in Germany’s Pegida movement, whose full name is “Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the west”.\n\nDebunking these myths can be hard work. Hatred and passions overtake rational approaches and documented facts get swept away. It is even harder when Europe’s long history of almost constant population movement and mixing of cultures is ignored, untaught or forgotten. For example, it’s often said that the arrival of Arabs and Muslims in France started when post-second world war reconstruction efforts required a new labour force, or after Algeria became independent in 1962. Yet Algerians (especially from Kabylie) have been in France for at least a century. The French historian Benjamin Stora says the real challenge of immigration is “the challenge of knowing the other” – and it goes both ways.\n\nThe 2015 refugee crisis has held up a mirror to Europeans: it’s forced them to ask themselves who they are, how they define themselves and their actions. The 1.3 million people who reached the continent last year represented only 0.2% of the EU’s total population. It should have been manageable. Germany alone took in roughly 800,000. That’s equivalent to 1% of its own population, and is the same number it absorbed in 1992 when people fled the Balkan wars and ethnic Germans left the former Soviet Union..\n\nIf there was a crisis in 2015, it had less to do with the refugees – who knew what they were fleeing and where they wanted to go – and much more to do more with European governments and societies who did not all step up to the plate. In fact, Europe isn’t confronted with a refugee and migrant crisis. It’s the refugees and migrants who are confronted with a crisis of Europe. The scandal is that, in the Mediterranean, they have been paying with their lives.\n\nDemographers point out that the pivotal migration year for Europe was 2014. That’s when Europe for the first time surpassed the US as a destination for immigrants, according to the French demographer François Héran. Around 1.9 million legal immigrants came to the EU (population 508 million) and 1 million to the US (population 319 million). With that, the European ratio became 3.7 legal immigrants per 1,000 inhabitants, while the US’s was 3.1. This is the new, transformative reality many Europeans have yet to acknowledge.\n\nHistorically, Europe exported its population, whether to distant colonial possessions for conquest and domination, or to the New World as a consequence of poverty, persecution or war. Now, it has become the foremost magnet and refuge for those who seek safety and a better life. We are simply much richer and more stable than many other parts of the world.\n\nAnd our diversity is set to grow, but not in the “great replacement” scenario. Europe needs immigration as an injection of youth and dynamism if in the decades to come it wants to address its workforce and pension problems.\n\nEuropeans were once the huddled masses on boats reaching Ellis Island, in New York, or Pier 21 in Halifax, Canada’s gateway for immigrants – both now museums. I visited Pier 21 a few years ago, and spent some time looking at pictures of Hungarian refugees who had fled the repression of the 1956 Budapest uprising and celebrated their arrival. Perhaps Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s self-avowedly “illiberal” prime minister, who shuns refugees, should take a look. Perhaps other European politicians should too.\n\nCanada and the US are countries whose creation derived from the movement of people to faraway shores; European nations are rooted otherwise. But Europe could draw inspiration from the capacity to form a positive narrative that embraces migration instead of treating it mainly as a threat. Europe, as the new continent of immigration, will increasingly need that narrative.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6808651089668274}
+{"content": "venerdì 11 maggio 2018\n\nLa pratica dello Yoga durante il digiuno di Ramadan\n\nRamadan is just around the corner and I, like many others, have started planning ahead to be able to keep up my physical yoga practice while fasting for several hours a day! I often get asked if I continue my regular yoga practice while fasting? If I continue to teach during Ramadan? What kind of asanas do I practice and how do I keep up with the regular routine?\nMy answer is Yes! I practice and I teach Yoga during Ramadan. I also modify my practice and make adjustments accordingly. I am happy to share my thoughts on the practice of yoga while fasting, relevance of fasting in yoga, and how you can adapt your practice accordingly.\nIf you have fasted before, you have probably experienced some of the overall health benefits of fasting, such as improved cardiovascular health, weight management, decrease in blood sugar, boost in immune system, etc. But if you are new to yoga then you are probably wondering whether continuing to practice on a completely empty stomach is safe or risky!\n“The goal of fasting is inner unity.” Thomas Merton\nAs you may already be aware, fasting is an age-old concept and is common in many cultural and religious traditions, including the yogic culture. It is one of many forms of tapasya and is known to bring physical, mental and spiritual renewal. Regardless of which type of fasting you may choose, the practice of abstaining from the material consumption of food or drink, for a certain period of time, can purify your body and mind.  Thus its an integral part of all major religions of the world, such as Ramadan in Islam, Navratri in Hinduism, and Lent in Christianity, among many more.\nOne thing that all these different types of fasting have in common is that their goal is not just the act of refraining from food and materialistic pleasures, but to help you achieve a pure state of consciousness. Such practices help promote sattva (purity) and reduce rajas (passion, confusion) and tamas (darkness, chaos). Therefore, fasting may include but not be limited to actions such as keeping one’s body and surroundings clean, abstaining from acts like gossiping or lying, and making special efforts to control our negative emotions such as a cranky mood or anger.\n\nYogic Fasting\nYogic fastings can be of different types, including juice fasts, water fasts, or more severe types of fasting in which the practitioner abstains from the intake of both food and fluids. Fasting can also last anywhere from several hours a day to many days. Generally, anybody in good health can safely do a juice or water fast for 3-5 days without supervision. Longer or more extreme types of fasting may require supervision and I wouldn’t advise undertaking one without consulting your practitioner and making the necessary preparations to ensure that you stay healthy throughout the process.\n“In yoga, the ideal break between one meal and the next meal is eight hours. You can manage these kinds of meals even when you are working outside. But a minimum of five hours is a must for everybody. This is because only when your stomach is empty, your excretory system functions properly.” – Sadhguru\nFasting promotes the process of autolysis, which usually begins 24 to 48 hours after you start the fast, and consists of self-digestion and getting rid of diseased, damaged, dead, and dying cells.\nFasting promotes the elimination of toxins from the body, and also provides your digestive system with much needed rest, freeing up the energy that usually goes into the digestion process and redirecting it towards other purposes. Because of this, many people who initially think of fasting as an extenuating ordeal, soon realize that after a while, they feel more energetic than usual.\nFrom a spiritual point of view, fasting can increase your awareness, making it easier to focus and enter a meditative state .\nFasting may also help you develop your willpower; you learn to resist bodily urges, and develop the ability to complete a self-imposed task. When you learn to distance yourself from food and look at it as a mere object, without giving in to your body’s craving for sensory pleasures, you start to realize that you are not this body.\nFasting may also help you gain sensitivity and intuition.\n\nAll of the above create the perfect bodily environment for an enhanced yoga practice. You may enjoy more energy than the usual, and also be able to get deeper into some poses (or to perform poses you had never managed before) because your gut is empty. Likewise, your concentration may be improved, helping you turn your attention inward as you breathe in awareness.\nBelow I have compiled a few tips on how to maintain a satisfactory yoga practice while fasting:\n\nBe mindful of what you eat and drink when you break your fast\n\nWhile this is probably common sense, it’s not always easy to make a healthy decision when you have been fasting the whole day and are already daydreaming about sunset just so you can break your fast and take a full meal. As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to not break the fast with a full meal, instead have a glass of water and perhaps light snacks or fruits. When you do have your main meal, stick to healthy recipes, include plenty of fruits and vegetables, and try to avoid fried foods or sugary sweets. They may taste delicious but they lack essential nutrients and can also make you excessively thirsty. Remember to keep yourself hydrated through the day by drinking water while allowed (especially if your fast is time-restricted, like in Ramadan.)\n\nAsana is not everything\n\nYoga is not all about physical postures and fasting is a good time to remind yourself that you can practice yoga even without asana practice. While it’s definitely better to keep the body active throughout your fast, there may be times when this is not possible or when you are just not feeling it Depending on how your body is responding, you may choose to keep your asana practice to a minimum while you fast. Instead you can undertake other practices, such as pranayama, seva (selfless service), meditation, or delving deeper in your study of yoga philosophy. This is the perfect time to look inward and build a deeper connection with your spiritual self.\n\nFind a time that works for you\n\nIf you’re practicing asana, find a time that works for you.  When you fast, your energy levels will vary through the day. Practice when you feel the energy level is high. You may also want to save some energy in the morning, and dive into a more vigorous practice later in the day, when you’ll have less hours left until you can break your fast.\nPersonally, during Ramadan, I often prefer to start a little later than I usually would, and  I also change my teaching schedule, which goes down from 6 classes a week to just 3, which I hold in the late afternoon, so by the time the class is over people have just about a couple of hours to go home and get ready to break their fast.\n\nModify your practice\n\nBecause my personal yoga practice is not excessively dynamic, I don’t usually feel the need to modify it during Ramadan. My practice is heavily inspired by the Sivananda sequence, and depending on how I’m feeling, I usually add several more advanced poses. During Ramadan, I stick to the basic sequence, or take it a little further, always with awareness. I have also recently started learning the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Primary Series, which I practice once a week at the moment, but I am unsure if I’ll keep this one up while fasting, as it’s more dynamic than my usual Hatha Yoga practice.\nHere are a few suggestions:\nA couple of Pranayama (breathing exercises) that you can easily perform while fasting are Diaphragmatic Breathing (Yogic Breathing) to calm your mind whenever you’re feeling scattered or distracted, and Bhramari Pranayama (Bee Breath) if you’re looking to deepen your concentration and prepare for meditation.\nIf you feel like skipping your regular asana practice, you can go for the short sequence below, which focuses on poses that will promote digestion and help your body detox, complementing your fasting experience. Be sure to hold each pose for at least a few breaths for maximum benefits.\n  • A few rounds of the sun salutation helps tone and loosen up the whole body,  You can do just 4-5 rounds followed by a deep and relaxing Savasana, and finish with meditation if you wish. If you still have energy after some sun salutations, you can practice a few more poses.\n  • Setu Bandhasana (Bridge pose)\n  • Paschimottanasana (Seated forward fold)\n  • Bhujangasana (Cobra pose)\n  • Balasana (Child’s pose)\n  • Ardha matsyendrasana (Seated spinal twist)\n  • Shavasana (Corpse pose – relaxation)\nI hope that the keys above will help you sustain your practice while you fast and make the most out of the it — happy fasting!\n\nNessun commento:\n\nPosta un commento", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9907484650611877}
+{"content": "Hi. As a self-employed illustrator, money can sometimes be tight. If you'd like to support my work, the easiest way is to buy something from my shop or commission me to draw something for you. We both win!\n\nHowever, if you just want to help out a little, you can use the button below to send some cash my way. Donations go towards running this site and making neat things (so more artwork, animations, zines, blog posts etc.). You're not buying me new trainers, I promise.\n\nThank you so much.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6665982604026794}
+{"content": "Nanni Moretti\n\n\nNanni Moretti was born on the 19th of August, 1953. He lives in Rome, where since he was a kid he devotes himself to his two passions: cinema and water-polo. In 1970 he also played in water-polo first division in Italy, and in the junior National team. In those years he was also very committed in politcs, within the extra-parliament left wing. Once finished high school studies, he sold his stamps collection to buy a super8 cinema camera, using which he started shooting home-made short films with his friends in 1973. His professional movie-making career starts with Ecce bombo (1978). This was also his first nation-wide success, and still a cult-movie for many Italians.\n\n\nMovie Name Vizyon Tarihi\nOğul Odası — La stanza del figlio 18 May 2001", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.795021653175354}
+{"content": "会議発表用資料 Timing measurement on the laser wakefield accelerated electrons via electro-optic spatial decoding\n\n黄, 開\n\nBy introducing the EO spatial decoding technique, we succeeded clocking theelectron beams generated from LWFA. The Coulomb field front was discovered tohave a spherical structure due to plasma shielding and a new temporal mappingrelationship was developed. The injection position of the electron beams wasdiscovered to become closer to the drive laser pulse with increased plasma densityfor Helium gas in the self-injection regime. With superior data attainability andnon-destructive single-shot characteristics, this method could be a candidate aselectron timing monitor for LWFA experiments.\n\nこのアイテムのアクセス数：  回", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996368288993835}
+{"content": "newsdog Facebook\n\nBanking profits shrink\n\nDawn 2017-12-07 06:52:35\n\nKARACHI: Banking profits declined substantially in July-September, according to the quarterly compendium issued by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday.\n\nExperts said the decline was mainly due to a major cut in Habib Bank’s bottom line as it paid a heavy penalty to the US banking regulator.\n\nBanks earned a total profit of Rs112 billion in January-September as opposed to Rs139bn a year ago. They earned just Rs22bn in July-September against earnings of Rs41bn in April-June, SBP data showed.\n\n“Banking profits declined because Habib Bank had to pay about Rs22.5bn as penalty to the US regulator and this outflow has been adjusted in the third quarter,” said Samiullah Tariq, director of research at Arif Habib Ltd.\n\nHabib Bank announced in the first week of September that it would pay $225 million to the US regulator and surrendered the licence to carry out banking business in the United States.\n\nTotal assets of the banking industry increased to 17.56 trillion at the end of September from Rs17.5tr on June 30.\n\nAdvances dropped in the third quarter to Rs6.09tr from Rs6.119tr at the end of June. However, outstanding advances were higher than Rs5.5tr recorded at the end of September 2016.\n\nAdvances at the end of the third quarter are always lower than those at the end of the preceding quarter due to seasonal loans, Mr Tariq said. “Advances will rise in the next three months,” he said, adding that the banking industry has been flourishing due to increased economic activities.\n\nSome politicians are painting a gloomy picture of the economy due to uncertainty on the political front. But researchers and analysts foresee economic growth. The SBP predicted in a recent report that the country would witness a 6pc growth rate, highest since 2008.\n\nResearchers said the private-sector credit off-take has increased at a much faster pace than a year ago. Banks would record higher profits next year as a result of enhanced lending to the private sector.\n\nFor the first time in 10 years, banks’ lending to the private sector jumped to Rs748bn in 2016-17. Higher economic activities are usually connected with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). But data from many large-scale manufacturing segments indicates that non-CPEC sectors of the economy are also registering growth.\n\nPublished in Dawn, December 7th, 2017", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8719030022621155}
+{"content": "Lydia Sareal\n\nEladrin wizard\n\n\nLydia Sareal is a powerful eladrin wizard of 130 years of age. The crew of the Skystrider has had some run ins with her in the past year that resulted in them not getting along. Despite bad relations with the crew she has never shown direct aggression or malcontent towards them. Due to the evil wizard take over of her hometown of Oldsbek, she had a run in with a wizard who cursed her with the body of a 12 year old. This wizard also happened to be in possession of the the Arcanist’s Compass and so the Skystrider’s away party met up with her to acquire info on him (see Skystrider Session 5 for more info). She is fairly displeased with her current body situation and hands over what info she knows to help them.\n\nAfter Brandis was defeated it was discovered by her that while her age has been restored, her arcane power has been drained in it’s place. It is detected too late though and she has been left as a fledgling wizard. Her butler Richard and her investigate this further and make various discoveries as to how Brandis got this spell and where her arcane energy was siphoned off too (see Session 15 for more info).\n\nLydia Sareal\n\nHeroes of the Sky machvergil Dominion", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9351364374160767}
+{"content": "Many / One\n\nCompiled by JoAnn Kite\n\nSHOW detailed search and navigation | Quotes | References | JoAnn\n\n\nA History of God, The 4,000 Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam\nKaren Armstrong\n\n1 \"As we know from the workings of our own minds,…all beings yearn for unity; they long to return to the One…this is not an ascent to an external reality but an interior descent into the depths of the mind.\"\n\nThis body of quotes compiled by JoAnn Kite", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999455213546753}
+{"content": "What's A Conlang?\n\nConlangs have been called many things: constructed languages, model languages, articial languages, giant wastes of time, and self-inflicted headaches are among the most common terms. Conlangs can be as complex as real-world languages or as simple as a handful of vocabulary terms and no syntax.\n\nCyphers are letter-exchangers, trading one letter for another to make a code that may or may not be pronunciable; some cyphers use numbers and symbols as well.\n\nLearn Uhjayi\n\nLearn Uhjayi\nUhjayi is a root-based fictional language that comes with a unique syntax, written script, and pronunciation pattern. You can learn it here with written and audio lessons.\n\nCypher Translators\n\nKommu/Dannu Translator\nSpoken by the humans on Ykinde.\n\nEona Translator\nSpoken by the Panthera on Ykinde.\n\nVish Translator\nSpoken by the Lupos on Ykinde.\n\nIrdic Translator\nSpoken by the Avans on Ykinde.\n\nAlkerian Translator\nSpoken by the alkers on Ykinde.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9990886449813843}
+{"content": "Kinematics and dynamics of machinery solution manual pdf\n\nKinematics and dynamics of machinery solution manual pdf forward this error screen to 85. This article is about devices designed to perform tasks.\n\nA machine uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an intended action. Renaissance natural philosophers identified six simple machines which were the elementary devices that put a load into motion, and calculated the ratio of output force to input force, known today as mechanical advantage. Modern machines are complex systems that consist of structural elements, mechanisms and control components and include interfaces for convenient use. The word mechanical comes from the same Greek roots.\n\nHowever, the Ancient Greeks probably borrowed the word “mekhane” from the ancient Hebrews. A wider meaning of “fabric, structure” is found in classical Latin, but not in Greek usage. This meaning is found in late medieval French, and is adopted from the French into English in the mid-16th century. In the 17th century, the word could also mean a scheme or plot, a meaning now expressed by the derived machination. Machine, or Engine, in Mechanicks, is whatsoever hath Force sufficient either to raise or stop the Motion of a Body Simple Machines are commonly reckoned to be Six in Number, viz. Ballance, Leaver, Pulley, Wheel, Wedge, and Screw Compound Machines, or Engines, are innumerable.\n\nYou can help by adding to it. Perhaps the first example of a human made device designed to manage power is the hand axe, made by chipping flint to form a wedge. A wedge is a simple machine that transforms lateral force and movement of the tool into a transverse splitting force and movement of the workpiece. The idea of a simple machine originated with the Greek philosopher Archimedes around the 3rd century BC, who studied the Archimedean simple machines: lever, pulley, and screw. During the Renaissance the dynamics of the Mechanical Powers, as the simple machines were called, began to be studied from the standpoint of how much useful work they could perform, leading eventually to the new concept of mechanical work. James Watt patented his parallel motion linkage in 1782, which made the double acting steam engine practical.\n\nThe Industrial Revolution was a period from 1750 to 1850 where changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times. It started with the mechanisation of the textile industries, the development of iron-making techniques and the increased use of refined coal. Table of simple mechanisms, from Chambers’ Cyclopædia, 1728. Simple machines provide a “vocabulary” for understanding more complex machines. The idea that a machine can be decomposed into simple movable elements led Archimedes to define the lever, pulley and screw as simple machines. Perhaps the first example of a device designed to manage power is the hand axe, also see biface and Olorgesailie.\n\nTrasportabilità e dimensioni del dispositivo, cryptography and Network Security 4th Ed. Ai formati non appositamente ideati appartengono la maggior parte dei formati più vecchi ma ancora ampiamente utilizzati, introduction to stress and deformation analysis of basic structural materials subjected to axial, problems in combined convection and radiation. There are only two Engineering Degrees at Western. And requirements for static design of trusses, simple machines provide a “vocabulary” for understanding more complex machines.\n\nFront wheel drives generally have the engine and transmission mounted transversely, the course will also focus upon communication, geared horse or donkey mill. Damage caused by a faulty chain, alcuni di questi formati permettono la creazione di ipertesti e l’inserimento di oggetti multimediali come immagini, a wedge is a simple machine that transforms lateral force and movement of the tool into a transverse splitting force and movement of the workpiece. And clearly and effectively communicate ideas in written, progetto Wikimedia dedicato ai libri e agli ebook in pubblico dominio. Includes concepts in managing innovation and change, see gear train. IFRS Edition Vol. The program offers a multidisciplinary program where students can focus in civil, a comprehensive overview of the manufacturing process.\n\nA hand axe is made by chipping stone, generally flint, to form a bifacial edge, or wedge. Lever: The lever is another important and simple device for managing power. This is a body that pivots on a fulcrum. Because the velocity of a point farther from the pivot is greater than the velocity of a point near the pivot, forces applied far from the pivot are amplified near the pivot by the associated decrease in speed. Wheel: The wheel is clearly an important early machine, such as the chariot. A wheel uses the law of the lever to reduce the force needed to overcome friction when pulling a load.\n\nThe classification of simple machines to provide a strategy for the design of new machines was developed by Franz Reuleaux, who collected and studied over 800 elementary machines. Simple machines are elementary examples of kinematic chains or linkages that are used to model mechanical systems ranging from the steam engine to robot manipulators. This realization shows that it is the joints, or the connections that provide movement, that are the primary elements of a machine. Starting with four types of joints, the rotary joint, sliding joint, cam joint and gear joint, and related connections such as cables and belts, it is possible to understand a machine as an assembly of solid parts that connect these joints called a mechanism . Two levers, or cranks, are combined into a planar four-bar linkage by attaching a link that connects the output of one crank to the input of another. Additional links can be attached to form a six-bar linkage or in series to form a robot. The walking beam, coupler and crank transform the linear movement of the piston into rotation of the output pulley.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8636791706085205}
+{"content": "(Ocular Coherence Tomography)\n\n\"Seeing beneath the surface is essential to the health of your eyes\"\n\nThe Science\n\n\n\nThe scan is non-invasive, painless, simple and quick. The information it gives us is invaluable picking up the subtlest changes to your retina.\n\nWhat can the scan check for?\n\nGlaucoma damages the optic nerve at the point where it leaves the eye. The danger with chronic glaucoma is that there is no pain and your eyesight will feel unchanged but your  vision is being damaged. In many cases an OCT scan will be able to confirm the presence of this\n\nsight threatening disease before it could be detected in a regular optician’s sight test.\n\nAge-related macular degeneration \ncauses the gradual breakdown of the central area of the retina. This is the most common cause of vision loss in the over fifties. With OCT we can identify this condition and its type (there are two, wet or dry) and also monitor progression. In some cases monitoring the eye’s improvement with treatment.\n\nDiabetes is a major cause of visual impairment among adults. Here in the UK more the two million have been identified as having diabetes. OCT enables early detection, which greatly improves the success rate of treatment.\n\nMacular holes are small holes in the retina which effect the area of the eye responsible for sharp, detailed central vision as you can imagine damage to this area can result in loss of vision.\n\nVitreous detachments are when the jelly inside our eyeball moves away from the back of our eye towards the centre, in some cases it does not detach and pulls against the retinal surface and this could result in a hole. An OCT would easily identify this problem but again your eyesight can seem unchanged even though damage to the back of your eye is occurring.\n\nHow much does it cost?\n\nIt is highly unusual to find this sort technology outside of an eye hospital but this state of the art  Optovue OCT is now available at Davidson Rogers Opticians. There is a charge from £35.00 for the OCT scan and this includes a full analysis of the results by our fully trained optometrist.\n\nOCT screening will safeguard your eye health against potentially serious ocular diseases\n\nBook an Appointment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.754952073097229}
+{"content": "Iraq Marshlands Named Unesco World Heritage Site\n\nIraq Marshlands Named Unesco World Heritage Site.\n\nUntil the 1970s, the marshlands (al-ahwar) of Mesopotamia, in Southern Iraq, had covered an area of up to 20,000 square kilometers around the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in southern Iraq. The marshlands were once home to several hundred thousand inhabitants, the Ma’dan, a people whose unique way of life had been preserved for over 5,000 years. The Ma’dan consist of a number of different Shi’a tribes, including the Bani Asad, Bani Tamim, Albu-Hassan, Albu-Muhammad, and Bani Lam. In 1993, Human Rights Watch estimated the rural population of the marshlands to be around 200,000, which took into account the huge numbers of army deserters and political opponents seeking shelter in the region after 1991. Today, there may be as few as 20,000 of the original inhabitants remaining, the rest having fled or migrated to Iran and elsewhere, while an estimated minimum of 100,000 have become internally displaced in Iraq. Until the 1950s, the traditional subsistence lifestyle of the Ma’dan had hardly been disturbed. As recently as the 1990s, they were still using marsh reeds to construct delicately arched dwellings on artificial islands and waterways. They lived on fish and water buffalo that lived in the marshes and exported the surplus to other parts of Iraq. Their largely self-sufficient economy, structured around the aquatic environment, was based on the traditional occupations of fishing, cultivation, buffalo breeding, and reed gathering from which a cane handicrafts industry evolved. The marshes began to decline in the 1950s as dam-building in Syria and Turkey attenuated the river flows, but the process accelerated dramatically in the 1990s after the Persian Gulf War, when Hussein built giant canals and drains nearby. Under the joint pressure of political neglect and modernization, it is now estimated that about 95 percent of the original marshland has become a crusty wasteland. Administratively, the marshlands cut across three of Iraq’s eighteen provinces: Misan (originally al-`Amara), Dhi Qar (originally al-Nasiriyya), and Basra. Geographically, the heartland of the marshes comprised three principal areas: the al-Hammar Marshes, located south of the Euphrates between al-Nasiriyya and Basra; the Central Marshes, located between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers in a triangular area bounded by al-Nasiriyya, al-Qurna, and Qal’at Salih, with a section further north around the city of al-`Amara (commonly known as the al-`Amara Marshes); and the al-Huwaizah Marshes, located east of the Tigris and extending into Iran (where they are known as the al-Azim Marshes).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5934876799583435}
+{"content": "Finding Similarities Between Attorneys and Life\n\nJeffrey Benjamin: Understanding Fraud Law and How to Determine a Fraudulent Intent\n\nWhat does it mean by fraud law? Fraud law typically covers all sorts of crimes and civil tort actions to punish people who are obtaining money, property, and other benefits through deceit. Fraud is charged as a felony in the criminal context, wherein incarceration for a year or more can be a result of the conviction. The criminal penalties of fraud may include victim reimbursement or restitution, statutory fines, loss of civil rights, and community service. It can be difficult proving fraud. The victim suffers from loss and financial records help in proving it. The actions of the defendant may also obviously caused the loss of the victim. What is hard to prove is the intention of the defendant to commit fraud.\n\nIn the United States, a substantial percentage of the convictions involve fraud each day. Credit card and check fraud are the most common types of fraud convictions happening in the United States. In contrary to the misconception that intentionally “bouncing” checks is more or less tolerated by law enforcement, the legal system ensures that repeat offenders will go to jail. Credit card fraud happens when an individual uses a card that belongs to someone else without the owner’s permission. The individual may have stolen the credit card from the owner or the account number was obtained through different schemes, such as skimming card information from phishing or a gas pump. Then the account is used in purchasing goods and services, or in removing money from an ATM. There are other types of financial fraud aside from credit card and check offenses such as money laundering, counterfeiting, foreclosure and mortgage scams, investments schemes, prize or sweepstakes fraud, and more. The examples of non-financial fraud include overseas romance schemes to gain immigration benefits and identity theft.\n\nCriminals doing fraudulent transactions are often not caught because they tend to change tactics and innovate methods of committing fraud or scams. Hiring a lawyer can help you achieve justice and recover from your loss through the judge ordering full reimbursement or restitution and conviction of the defendant. Some defendants go unpunished even with overwhelming evidence because of prosecutorial errors, that’s why it is important to hire the right lawyer to help you. If you are looking for a trusted, reliable, and experienced lawyer to help you with a fraud case, we can help you by visiting our website or homepage now. It is best to seek the help and expertise of a lawyer to help you recover for your loss. If you are suspecting fraudulent transactions of activities, report it to the authorities, gain as many pieces of evidence possible and seek the help of an expert lawyer. Stop fraud by being aware and knowledgeable about the things you can do as a private citizen.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6142916679382324}
+{"content": "Sentence Examples with the word Apex\n\nThe apex leads into the canal of the cervix, but between the two there is a slight constriction known as the os uteri internum.\n\nIt is clear that, if we start from the condition of full eversion of the tube and watch the process of introversion, we shall find that the pleurecbolic variety is introverted by the apex of the tube sinking inwards; it may be called acrembolic, whilst conversely the acrecbolic tubes are pleurembolic. Further, it is obvious enough that the process either of introversion or of eversion of the tube may be arrested at any point, by the development of fibres connecting the wall of the introverted tube with the wall of the body, or with an axial structure such as the oesophagus; on the other hand, the range of movement of the tubular introvert may be unlimited or complete.\n\nIn some Guttiferae, as Hebradendron cambogioides (the Ceylon gamboge plant), the anther opens by a lid separating from the apex (circumscissile dehiscence) .\n\nView more\n\n\nLotsy has described the occurrence of special cells at the apex of the prothallus of Gnetum Gnemon,which he regards as imperfect archegonia (fig.\n\nGuished from the pre ceding by the position of the ovipositor at the extreme apex of the abdomen, and from the groups that follow (with very few exceptions) by the jointed trochanters of the legs.\n\nGonosome, free medusae or gonoThe apex of the stomach is prophores.\n\nNorth of the apex of the delta and the boundary between the deltaic and inland tracts, the rainfall gradually lessens as far as Minbu, where what was formerly called the rainless zone commences and extends as far as Katha.\n\n\nThe stigma presents various forms. It may be globular, as in Mirabilis Jalapa; orbicular, as in Arbutus Andrachne; umbrella-like, as in Sarracenia, where, however, the proper stigmatic surface is beneath the angles of the large expansion of the apex of the style; ovoid, as in fuchsia; hemispherical; polyhedral; radiating, as in the poppy (fig.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7325491309165955}
+{"content": "Microbiome Monday: Of Malaria and Microbes\n\nNews posts\n\n\nToday's posts comes from Dr. Perkins, whose lab is exploring the role that animal microbiomes may play in battling malaria infections. Those results may help us understand how microbes that already live inside us can help prepare our immune systems to fight off invading microbes that could cause us harm.\n\nMalaria has been a scourge for centuries. Its name, from the Italian for \"bad air,\" comes from the early idea that it was caused by noxious chemicals emanating from the swamps around Rome. Later, the disease was traced to single-celled Plasmodium parasites that invade the liver and red blood cells of humans. In 1897, Sir Ronald Ross completed the transmission puzzle when he demonstrated that these parasites are transmitted through mosquito bites.\n\n\nA mosquito of the Anopheles genus takes a meal, during which it can transmit diseases including malaria.\n\n© CDC/J. Gathany\n\nOver a century later, malaria remains a massive public health burden. Just one species of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is estimated to cause almost a million deaths per year globally. This huge health cost has made malaria parasites a big target, with huge sums of money and time devoted to researching ways to prevent and eliminate infections.\n\nSome of that research is looking into the relationship between malaria parasites and the human microbiome, which we are learning plays a huge role in immune function. The first major study on this relationship, published last year in the journal Cell, showed that gut microbiota in mice play a fundamental role in protecting the animals against infection with Plasmodium.\n\n\nA sample of blood cells containing Plasmodium falciparum parasites that cause malaria.\n\nCourtesy of CDC/Dr. Mae Melvin Transwiki\n\nThis protection seems to stem from the fact that the common gut microbe E. coli produces a carbohydrate that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. It turns out that malaria parasites express a very similar carbohydrate to the one on E. coli. In healthy subjects, the antibodies produced by exposure to E. coli also reduced the impact of malarial infections.\n\nThe authors also demonstrated that humans under the age of 3 did not have these antibodies present yet. This lack of antibodies could help to explain why malaria is so prevalent among young children, and why these cases are often more severe.\n\nE. coli bacteria\n\n\nImage courtesy of USDA\n\nIn a second study, published earlier this year, scientists observed that certain compositions of gut microbes resulted in significantly lower rates of malaria infection during times when transmission was common. While there is work yet to be done—this correlation might be caused by other factors—it points an exciting way to better prevent the occurrence of this disease, suggesting that modifying the microbiome could help to stem the spread of the disease.\n\nHumans are not the only hosts of Plasmodium parasites, however. In my lab, we study the relatives of human pathogens that infect other vertebrates like birds, bats, and lizards. There are approximately 500 of these species found worldwide, all in the family Haemospororida. Although the basic life cycle is much the same across all of these species, they do sometimes use different vectors, infect different tissues, and have very different effects on their hosts.\n\nMy students and I are now incorporating studies of the microbiome of these other vertebrate hosts and vectors as a means of understanding how these two very different types of microbial inhabitants interact and how they may have coevolved with their hosts. Stay tuned—we think it's going to be pretty exciting.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6436828374862671}
+{"content": "Free Access\nVolume 29, Number 1-2, 1998\nColony integration\nPage(s) 67 - 80\nApidologie 29 (1998) 67-80\nDOI: 10.1051/apido:19980104\n\nThoughts on information and integration in honey bee colonies\n\nThomas D. Seeley\n\n\nAbstract - Solving the puzzle of colony integration in honey bees requires understanding how a worker bee acquires the information that she needs to decide correctly, moment-by-moment, what task to perform and how to perform it. To help us understand how the bees inside a beehive acquire this information, I share some thoughts about information flow within honey bee colonies. These thoughts are based on recent findings about how a colony works as a unified whole in gathering its food. © Inra/DIB/AGIB/Elsevier, Paris\n\nKey words: Apis mellifera / communication / honey bee / information / social behavior", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9896196126937866}
+{"content": "The Golden Age\n\nSet during the start of one of the darkest periods of U.S. history, the infamous \"McCarthy Era,\" THE GOLDEN AGE takes a thought-provoking look at what might have happened to DC's first generation of super-heroes beyond their exploits during the Second World War, when paranoia has taken a chokehold on America.\n\nCollected Editions", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9920889735221863}
+{"content": "Canada's CGI in $871-mn deal with US defence agency\n\nCanadian information technology company CGI Group Inc has signed a deal with the US Defence Information Systems Agency (DISA) to provide a range of technology services valued up to $871 million over a period of five years.\n\nIn a statement yesterday, CGI Group said that its wholly-owned US subsidiary CGI Federal Inc will deliver services in the area of engineering, scientific, testing and logistics.\n\nThe services will include all support aspects for the agency's test and evaluation (T&E) mission, including the operation and maintenance of the test tools, labs, networks and infrastructure, and administrative support cells.\n\nCGI's vice president for national security programmes Tim Hurlebaus said, \"We look forward to working with DISA to enhance the operations and effectiveness of their T&E capabilities,\"\n\n\"Our understanding of the DISA mission combined with the end-to-end technology and engineering expertise we deliver will help DISA support national security priorities and operations,\" he added.\n\nMontreal-based CGI Group, founded in 1976 is the world's sixth-largest information technology and business process services. CGI offers a comprehensive portfolio of services including high-end business and IT consulting, systems integration, application development and maintenance, infrastructure management as well as more than 100 proprietary solutions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.717577338218689}
+{"content": "Statement on Diversity and Inclusion\n\nUndergraduate and Graduate Programs\nStatement on Diversity and Inclusion\n\nGilliam 2018\n\nDiversity is an essential component of science excellence. A diverse group of problem solvers is better positioned to find innovative solutions; the more difficult the problem, the greater the benefit of diversity in finding the solution. An organization committed to science excellence encourages and enables a diverse community to seek creative strategies to solve difficult scientific problems.\n\nDiversity can be measured in many different ways. Every person has an identity that contributes to the diversity of a group, and there is no hierarchy of importance of these different personal identities. However, there are some dimensions of personal identity for which U.S. science is far from parity, and it is important to focus on these dimensions to maximize the benefits that accrue from diversity. In U.S. academic science, those dimensions include race and ethnicity, gender, and disability status. Working towards parity in each of these dimensions requires specific strategies and ways to measure progress.\n\nStrategies that address barriers to participation should not only increase the numbers of persons in science who belong to underrepresented groups, but also work to ensure that they are empowered and expected to succeed in science and assume leadership roles in the scientific community. Only then can the full value of diversity be realized. The responsibility for creating an inclusive environment rests on the current leaders of the scientific community, including the principal investigators, the faculty, and the advisers of the trainees.\n\nAs an organization committed to scientific excellence, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute supports individuals and institutions that aspire to improve their capacity for inclusion and that work to develop scientists from all backgrounds, especially those who belong to groups currently underrepresented in science. A selection of our current programs are listed in the right rail.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8358678221702576}
+{"content": "posted by annah\n\na closed gas cylinder contains 0.500 mole h2, 0.300 mole o2, 1.200 mole co2 at a temperature of 25'c and presure of 2.00 atm\n1) calculate the volume of the cylinder\n2) calculatethe partial pressure of the cylinder if the volime is decreased to 25% of its original value at consistant tempurature\n\n  1. DrBob222\n\n    1) Use PV = nRT. You have P, R, T (must be in kelvin) with total n = 0.500+0.300+1.200 = ? Solve for V in L.\n\n    2) You meant constant T I assume (instead of consistent T). Multiply V in part 1 by 0.25 and use PV = nRT again. This time V is the new number (multiplied by 0.25), solve for P in atm, n, R, and T are the same as in part 1.\n\nRespond to this Question\n\nFirst Name\n\nYour Answer\n\nSimilar Questions\n\n  1. A.P Chemistry\n\n    A rigid 5.00 L cylinder contains 24.5g of N2(g) and 28.0g of O2(g). (a). Calculate the total pressure, in atm, of the gas mixture in the cylinder at 298 K (b) The temperature of the gas mixture in the cylinder is decreased to 280 K. …\n  2. Chemsitry II\n\n    mole fraction is equal to partial pressure divided by the total pressure Total pressure= sum of partial pressure use PV=nRT where n= number of moles equation become PV/RT=n make sure to convert the temperature to Kelvin and to use …\n\n    Dr Bob Can you confirm please Given a cylinder of fixed volume filled with one mole of Ar gas,which of the following is CORRECT?\n  4. physics\n\n    A cylinder contains 3.5 L of oxygen at 350 K and 2.5 atm . The gas is heated, causing a piston in the cylinder to move outward. The heating causes the temperature to rise to 640 K and the volume of the cylinder to increase to 9.5 L. …\n  5. physics\n\n    A cylinder of volume 2.3 L contains CO2 gas at 2.2 atm. A piston is pushed into the cylinder to decrease the volume to 1.2 L with no temperature change. What is the new pressure of the gas in atm?\n  6. chemistry\n\n    A closed gas cylinder contains 0.500 mole H2, 0.300 mole O2, 1.200 mole CO2 at a temperature of 25 °C and a pressure of 2.00 atm\n  7. Chemistry\n\n    A small cylinder of compressed gas has a volume of 396.6 ml and contains 47.9 g of CO2 at 25°C. What is the pressure (atm) inside the cylinder?\n  8. pressure\n\n    a 6.04L cylinder contains 1.71mol of gas A and 4.35 mol of gas B, at a temperature of 33.1C. calculate the partial pressure of each gas in the cylinder. assume ideal gas behavior.\n  9. P-Chemistry\n\n  10. chemistry\n\n    Four gases were combined in a gas cylinder with these partial pressures: 3.5 atm N2, 2.8 atm O2, 0.25 atm Ar, and 0.15 atm He.What is the mole fraction of N2 in the mixture?\n\nMore Similar Questions", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7962357997894287}
+{"content": "Personal Finance\nMay 22, 2018\n\nYour Emergency Fund: How to Decide If An Expense Is an Emergency or Not?\n\nSimple. Thrifty. Living.\n\nYou worked hard to save money for your emergency fund, but it’s a finite resource. Before you take cash out of your savings for an expense, it’s essential to determine whether it’s an actual emergency and the criteria you base this decision on.\n\nWhat are the consequences of waiting to pay this expense? You want to focus your emergency funds on genuinely urgent situations that would have an extremely negative impact on your life.\n\nFor example, paying your utility bills or your rent following a job loss would be a great use for this fund. If you’re unable to get to work without a working vehicle, you could end up losing your job. By dipping into this savings, you can stop this event from being a problem.\n\nYou can plan savings goals around regularly recurring expenses, so try to avoid your emergency fund for this purpose. You want to cover truly unexpected costs that you would not be able to predict.\n\nCan you get by without covering that bill from your emergency savings? Wants can sometimes feel like needs when you’re making this decision. Take some time to think about whether it’s necessary for the well-being of you and your family. And there may be other ways to get cash fast without touching your nest egg.\n\nAre there any other options to help with the situation other than paying the expense right now? For example, could you carpool with a coworker or go on a payment plan with a utility company? Look for ways to pay when you don’t have an emergency fund and how viable they would be for addressing a problem.\n\nSometimes it’s easy to second guess yourself and shy away from using savings even in a true emergency. Once you’ve worked through these questions and your need is urgent, then pay that expense. You’ve been building up your emergency fund for this very purpose.\n\nEmergencies are stressful even when you have the money to cover them. Ensure that you’re making the right decision when you use your emergency accounts, so you don’t end up in a worse position sometime in the near future.\n\n\n    Do you have any thoughts?\n\nSubmit a Comment\n\n\nAdvertising Disclosure\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8877119421958923}
+{"content": "Change Writer\n\nbe the change you want to see\n\nCategory: Stories (Page 1 of 2)\n\nThere’s a bit of Boris in us all\n\nBack in 1890, a young Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about Burma. The poem, The Road to Mandalay, was written from the perspective of a British soldier once stationed there. The soldier reminisces about the place, an encounter with a local girl, and describes his surroundings with the kind of paternalistic grandeur of someone who believes his empire, the British Empire, to be the ultimate expression of civilisation.\n\nThe text is also dismissive of Burmese culture and religion:\n\nBloomin’ idol made o’ mud \nWot they called the Great Gawd Budd\n\nFor Kipling’s soldier, this is an uncivilised, heathen place, albeit alluring.\n\nInterestingly, Kipling only visited Burma once, for three days, on his way elsewhere, and he never visited Mandalay.\n\nThis lack of experience didn’t prevent him from becoming influential in shaping the perspective of his countrymen on the place. The words he penned on paper describing this destination he barely knew became a go-to text for understanding what Burma is like.\n\nA 20-year-old shaping one people’s understanding of another.\n\nWhich brings us to Boris Johnson, who, on a recent trip to Burma, began reciting The Road to Mandalay at the site of a Burmese shrine, while a Channel 4 camera crew filmed him.\n\nThe UK’s foreign secretary reciting a poem praising colonialism and dismissing Burmese culture, at a Burmese shrine which he is being invited to visit by his gracious Burmese hosts.\n\nFortunately, Britain’s ambassador to Burma stopped him before he had a chance to complete his recital and embarrass the UK further, but the episode was a glimpse into the attitude that Johnson has towards the Burmese.\n\nJust days later, at a Conservative Party Conference event, he commented on how the only thing getting in the way of a “wonderful” group of UK businessmen turning the Libyan town of Sirte into the next Dubai was the dead bodies that needed clearing out of the way.\n\nFor Johnson, it seems that the British Empire still stands, and he’s happy to brush aside any dead bodies or cultural inconveniences that get in his way.\n\nBut this post isn’t just about Boris and his blunders. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the very real ability that we each have to see people who are different from us as somehow less valuable than we are.\n\nAnd how if we don’t pay careful attention, we can end up using other people’s small ‘incivilities’ as a way of building our own sense of superiority and worth.\n\nIn 1978 Edward Said wrote Orientalism, which looks at what happens when this natural human tendency becomes a system of thought. He demonstrates how literature and art shaped the way that Europeans understand ‘The Orient,’ and the effect that perspective has had on justice and international relations.\n\nOrientalism in its essence is about seeing ‘Western’ culture as superior to other cultures, and the actions which accompany such a perspective.\n\nOne example from Said is how ‘oriental’ women are portrayed in colonial era literature. They are usually passive, rarely speak for themselves, and are usually there to serve the various appetites of the men around them.1)Orientalism, 1979: 187-188 They are objectified: helpless and inferior.\n\nSaid might argue that this way of understanding non-European women has paved the way for our attitudes towards them when they enter our societies. When it comes to discussions like enforcing a Burqa ban, the voices of the women who wear them are usually crowded out by those who choose to speak for them, in the name of justice.\n\nWhile we would usually offer a European woman (in a similar scenario) the opportunity to explain why she dresses a certain way, the women of the Middle East are still seen as helpless and inferior.\n\nFrom his many gaffes and blunders, it’s clear that Boris is something of an Orientalist. He adores Britain’s colonial era, and apparently has little respect for other cultures: Britain is best.\n\nBut this post isn’t just about Boris and how he is embarrassing the British people.\n\nIt’s about how easy it is to view others as inferior, and how much damage that can cause in a globalised world.\n\nBecause we each carry a bit of Boris inside us.\n\nWe’re all capable of dismissing people who are different from us as weird, uncouth, uncivilised, inferior.\n\nIt might be a neighbour. It could be a refugee. It could be someone who votes differently from ourselves.\n\nAnd in coming to conclusions about people who are different from us before we’ve taken the time to get to know them, we carry perspectives about them which are, at best, naive, at worst entirely false. And we miss the opportunity to promote the kind of understanding upon which justice and change can be built.\n\n(Image by Andrew Parsons)\n\nReferences   [ + ]\n\n1. Orientalism, 1979: 187-188\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n(image by Hernán Piñera)\n\nStop falling for the allure of News FOMO\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThinking right is important\n\n\n\n\n\nBack to the BBC\n\n\nHumans want know what risks are ahead.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTake the power back\n\n\n\n\n\nMaybe I’ll begin by learning to take every thought captive. \n\nLanguage Hack 6: Uncomfortable Situations\n\n\n\n\n\nGo get rattled\n\n\n\n\n\nTaking up the challenge\n\n\n\n\n\nTips for getting uncomfortable\n\n\n\nRead Nathan Field’s blog here.\n\n\nWhat Downton Abbey Can Teach Us About The Future\n\nWhen my wife told me that she wanted to start watching Downton Abbey, I was a little reluctant. Although I enjoy reading the Brontes and Dickens, I’m not usually enthralled by TV period dramas. That said, after sticking with it for a season, I started to enjoy it for several reasons…\n\nBefore I get onto them, I want to talk about StrengthsFinder. When I got my results from Gallup’s personality profiling tool, I learned that Futuristic is one of my strongest themes. This means that I’m always looking ahead, and can picture fairly vividly what it might look to take certain turns in life. I gravitate towards ideas about the future, so am more naturally engaged by Sci-fi than by period dramas.\n\nBut there’s something interesting about Downton: it’s all about change.\n\nAfter a few episodes I began noticing the overarching narrative: a traditional aristocratic family in the first part of the 20th Century coming to terms with a rapid succession of changes.\n\nTransitioning from Honour to Guilt\n\nRight now I live in the Middle East. The dominant culture here leans towards collectivism and honour much more than the individualism and guilt of my birth culture. People recognise themselves first and foremost as members of a particular group – usually a family or tribe. Even in Europe, Middle Easterners can learn a lot about each others’ history by exchanging last names.\n\nHonour is a big part of collectivism. What one person does affects the standing of the group as a whole, so it’s important to make decisions that honour your family.\n\nThe family in Downton Abbey are on the knife edge between collectivism and individualism, and this is incredibly interesting. An example of this from season 5 is when Lady Mary decides to stay at a hotel in Liverpool with her potential fiancé in order to decide if she wants to marry him or not.\n\nIn the collectivist mind, this is outrageous. Think of the damage she could do to her family! But Mary is making a decision that she believes is in her interest as an individual.\n\nOf course, because she is still living in an honour culture, her grandmother goes to great strains to cover up Mary’s behaviour, in order that the family, and her future prospects, are not harmed.\n\nEmbracing The Other\n\nOne of the intriguing things about the Crawley family is that they are continuously faced with opportunities to accept or reject people who are outside of their social sphere, and who others would consider outcasts.\n\nOne of the first of these is Tom Branson, the socialist chauffer who wins the heart of Lady Sybil. The family are faced with a choice: lose Sybil, or accept Tom. To begin with they reject Tom and push away their daughter, but over time, and with the untimely death of Lady Sybil, they begin to accept Tom as one of them.\n\nAs time goes by, the Crawley family become adept at absorbing people from outside into their family, whether it be ex-convicts working as servants, nouveau riche businessmen, or Lady Rose marrying into a Russian Jewish family.\n\nThe Best Educated Are Not Always The Best At Embracing Change\n\nIt’s easy to think that society’s elite are the best suited for embracing change. They’ve been to the best schools, had access to the most information, and been exposed to the highest standard of art and culture. However the Downton story shows that these things don’t automatically result in people with open minds.\n\nIn reality, Lord Grantham has been raised to maintain a system. His goal is to maintain the honour and reputation of his family, and that means stewarding Downton well. He and his butler, Mr Carson, are kindred spirits. They see the world that was as the way it should be. If possible, they must uphold the old ways and traditions.\n\nBut the world is changing and the foundations of the old system are beginning to crumble. The finances of the aristocracy are no longer entrenched. The working and middle classes are asking for more opportunities and exerting themselves politically.\n\nFor each character in the series who is intent on maintaining the norm, there is another who embraces change. The Dowager Countess has Mrs Isobel Crawley, Lord Grantham has Tom Branson, Mr Carson has Mrs Hughes. Each of these relationships is a mix of polar opposite attitudes to change, and extreme fondness for one another.\n\nWhy is this important to the future?\n\nEach of these themes is important to our world at the moment: Exploring honour culture should help us better understand the challenges refugees face when coming to terms with European society.\n\nAs our cities and towns become increasingly multicultural, it’s good to ask ourselves if we will open the door to embrace and include the outsider, even if it means that we may be changed in the process. Check out this small town in Finland that did just that.\n\nAnd when we see the entrenched elite squirming at the rise of new leaders from more ordinary backgrounds, we can remember that they’re not always the best suited for facing change. We mustn’t fear change just because they do.\n\nWho knows, perhaps the trouble Lord Grantham had with accepting the future is the same that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were expressing at the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn gaining power 🙂\n\nThe Psychology of Conflict\n\nIt can be so easy to view institutions as unshakeable, fixed perspective, entities. They stand for something that is public and impersonal, something unchangeable.\n\nBut what if we looked at organisations more as the sum of their individual parts than as an official whole?\n\nA few weeks ago I was listening to the wonderful Analysis podcast from the BBC. In the podcast they interviewed psychologists who were working with groups long in conflict.\n\nListen to the episode, “Will They Always Hate Us?” here\n\nThey carried out experiments to see if they could increase levels of empathy of one side in a conflict towards those on other side. They showed Palestinians fake news articles of an Israeli leader criticising his own government. After reading this news article, they found that the group had greater empathy towards Israelis. They reversed the test, and found that it had the same effect on Israelis.\n\nBy observing self criticism, the readers started to see that the unified group that they were used to thinking of a single identity was actually made up of people with many different perspectives. They began seeing people as people, not just a category.\n\nThe researchers also questioned the leaders of these conflicting groups about what it would take for them to begin discussing solutions for peace in their region, and the answers they received were fascinating.\n\nBenjamin Netanyahu, the president of The Israeli Government said,\n\nI have nothing to discuss with Hamas until recognise the right of the Jewish people to be here. If they’re ready to recognise that right, then anything is on the table to discuss.\n\nKhaled Mashal, of Hamas asked researchers,\n\nWill they ever apologise for the harm they did our people in 1948, for their dislocation and dispossession?\n\nMany of the answers surprised researchers because they weren’t based on monetary or material restitution, but on showing recognition and respect for the other’s story.\n\nEach side in a conflict has a different history on which their worldview leans. In order for meaningful dialogue to take place, the other side needs to recognise this alternative history.\n\nAs I listened to it, rather than hearing an institution at odds with another institution, I heard the voices of people who have been wronged and who need their pain legitimised, recognised, owned up to, so they might move forward into something constructive.\n\nEssentially they were saying time and again something akin to “we need forgiveness.”\n\nToo often in popular society forgiveness is seen as either something easy and insincere or too costly (the Husband forgiving his wife’s murderers the day after she’s killed). But at the core of it there’s something essential to forgiveness that frees both parties to move forward into the present. It’s something divine, the effects of which have the potential to unstick centuries of misunderstanding.\n\nBut it also takes daring. It takes leaders who won’t let pride stop them taking the first step.\n\n(Image credit: hjl)\n\nDear Henning (A Tribute To Henning Mankell)\n\nDear Henning,\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor all of the above, I’m very grateful.\n\nWith much respect,\n\n\n(Image credit: PalFest)\n\nStumbling Over My Words\n\nLearning a new language opens a world of opportunities to experience vulnerability, especially if navigating your every day life depends on it.\n\nArabic writing\n\nJust over a year ago, my wife and I relocated to Jordan in order to learn Arabic. In the future we want to work with Syrian refugees, and we know that speaking the language will open up a world of opportunities to connect with those who are most vulnerable.\n\nWe live in an area made up of refugees from different eras. There are the Palestinians who began arriving during the 1940s, the Iraqis who arrived during the 1990s and 2000s, and now the Syrians who arrived here during the last 5 years.\n\nEverything from ordering drinking water, taking a taxi or buying vegetables depends on us finding the right combination of words, tone and pronunciation.\n\nEach day in school, we take classes in formal Arabic grammar (Modern Standard), and the Jordanian spoken dialect (known as Ammiya).\n\nOut of our many experiences of facing vulnerability through language learning, our reading class is the one I find the most humbling (humiliating).\n\nIn these classes we take it in turns to read out loud to a group of 8 people, while the teacher corrects mistakes and assists with pronunciation. When we’re finished reading, we summarise what we’ve just read in formal Arabic into spoken Arabic.\n\nDuring the class I sit there anticipating my next turn to read. I feel tense, I mentally assess the abilities of my fellow students (comparing them with my own). The closer it gets to my turn, the more agitated I get and the less my mind focusses.\n\nIt’s exhausting.\n\nThe main source of tension during these classes comes from the fact that I really want to be good at reading.\n\nI want to excel at the language and for others to recognise that I am good.\n\nBut the pressure to be good hinders my performance.\n\nI so badly want to perform well that I psych myself out and end up stumbling over my words. When the teacher corrects a mistake, instead of absorbing the feedback and jumping right back into the passage, I waver and my mind jumps around the page. I start second guessing and totally lose my flow.\n\nThe problem with pretending is that with it comes the fear of being found out.\n\nIt requires maintaining a facade of competence, that requires a great deal of energy.\n\nLearning to Let Go\n\nSo I’ve decided to work on my vulnerability issue. Instead of pretending that I’m good at reading Arabic, I’m admitting that I find it hard.\n\nI’m accepting the fact that in order for my language to blossom, I need to take myself less seriously.\n\nAnd I’m trusting that, as Brene Brown discovered in her research on the subject, vulnerability is the pathway to creativity and wholeheartedness.\n\nBy giving up worrying about what other people think of my abilities, I might just have the space to begin improving.\n\n(Image credit: Neil Hester)\n\nSliding the Rolling Wet Hills: an Interview with Dougal Paterson\n\n\n\nDougal Paterson big wave\n\n\n\nAnd you now surf big waves?\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat inspired you to try it?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nParallel Bible: An Interview with Andrew Breitenberg\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTell us about Parallel…\n\n\nparallel bible iphone 6\n\n\n\n\n\n\nspread 2\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho have been your major influencers on this journey?\n\n\n\n\n\nParallel Bible bookshelf\n\nTell us about your Kickstarter campaign\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the Parallel Bible community here.\n\nPage 1 of 2\n\n© 2014-2018 Jonathan Morgan", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7384411096572876}
+{"content": "Hope for the “Me” Generation\n\nThe “Baby Boom” generation was so anxious to have good relationships with their children that they tended to set aside their primary role as parents.  Their desire to be their child’s best friend nurtured the advent of a self-centered, demanding, “Me Generation” who believes the world revolves around them.  But there’s hope!\n\nParenting in Past Generations — Too Rigid\n\nAs I’ve grown older, I see more with the eyes of my heart than I do with those on each side of my big nose.  And the aging process has brought me to a greater understanding of my own mom and dad’s parenting style.  I’ve learned that things really weren’t as bad as I used to think they were.\n\nMy dad, like yours, was less than relational; his focus was on providing for his family.  Working at the same job for 38 years; providing was his way of showing love for his family. He demanded respect. He taught us to be responsible because that’s the way he was taught, and he wanted us to live the same way.\n\nMy father worked hard because he grew up during the Great Depression, and he knew first-hand the challenges of having little to live on.  He also saw to it that our family was protected. Food was always on the table, a roof was always over our head, we all went to college, and the enemy he fought in the South Pacific never marched on our homeland.\n\nParenting in Today’s Generation — Too Relational\n\nThen, the 60’s and 70’s came along. Some called it a revolution. Millions of “Baby Boomers” fell head over heels toward relationships and feelings of love for all mankind. Our music and lifestyle expressed our desire for universal peace and love.  We swooned to lyrics like “all you need is love,” and “smile on your brother; everybody get together; try to love one another right now.”   There was a “whole lotta’ love” going around.  And we “showered the people we love with love… showing them the way that we feel.”  Then we took our desire for peace, love and affection right into our parenting style.\n\nBaby boomers as parents focused on maintaining peace and love, at all costs. We were determined to have better, stronger relationships with our kids than we had with our parents; carrying out these normally good and healthy desires to an extreme.  Out of financial abundance, we gave our kids everything they ever wanted, and more.  Modern conveniences allowed for more free time and less responsibility.  Soccer moms equipped with minivans shuttled kids from one event or activity to another, with stops at McDonald’s in-between.  We indulged, spoiled and provided too much “stuff” as misguided expressions of our love.\n\nBut Good Relationships Are Good, Aren’t They?\n\nWhat’s wrong with too much love?  Nothing!  But there is something wrong with it if it is our only focus.  To put it bluntly, placing kids on a pedestal and focusing our lives on them created feelings of entitlement.  Kids began equating our love with our pocket book and our willingness to do things for them.  Their thrills in life came from getting new toys, new clothes, new honors, and new excitements. They became demanding, selfish, adrenalin junkies, searching daily for new thrills. When the excitement ended or the money train slowed, they became angry. We wanted to be the best parents ever, but the more we focused our attention and our money on our kids, the more they fell into anxiety, depression, and outright defiance. After all, they wouldn’t admit it, but deep down they were terrified for what they would do after they left the comforts and indulgences of home. Perhaps you have a teenager fitting this description living in your home right now?\n\nThe crux of the matter is that it is hard to be a good parent when our focus is on having peace, love and friendship with our children.  This becomes especially difficult in step-families and some adoptive families.  The crucial role of correcting and holding children accountable is impossible when our overriding concern is to avoid any form of damage to our friendship. But what we need to realize is that our children need parents first, not more friends.\n\nSo, the big question is this:  How do parents establish their position of authority, while also maintaining their relationship with their teen?  In other words, how do we find a proper balance without swinging the pendulum too far the other way?\n\nTell your teenager…“I desire to stand beside you and walk with you in life… but make no mistake; I will stand in front of you when I need to.”\n\nParenting the Right Way – Balanced\n\nA simple answer is to say things like “No” and “Maybe” more often; and we need to apply boundaries and consequences when our kids cross over the line.  Balanced parenting is applying strength when needed; and tenderness at the same time.  It is not just one or the other, it is both. The essence of balance in parenting is to stand beside our children and walk with them through life, while also determining to stand in front of them when we need to stop them from their foolish ways.\n\nOur goal should be to help our kids get to where they want to be, and keep them from going to a place they really don’t want to end up. But since they are too immature to know any better, we need to remain in control, no matter how upset it makes them temporarily. Then, as they mature in their thinking, the reins can be gradually released. Believe me, your kids will express their appreciation when they are older for holding them in line as teenagers, and they’ll realize that you did it out of love, not to be mean or rigid.\n\nIt’s never too late to start being a balanced parent; have a loving relationship, while also holding them responsible.  Your children need your correction, wisdom, and willingness to help them travel the path of life before them. Yes, your teen needs a parent and a friend, but when push comes to shove, they need a parent more.\n\nMark Gregston\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7043415307998657}
+{"content": "Within the scope of this course, the students will learn about the fundamental approaches to literature and various forms of literary criticism. They will learn about and will be able to interpret the relationship between form and content in a literary work and the relationship between a work of literature, the inner world of the author and society through various examples from Turkish and world literature. The students will be expected to read and compare Reşat Nuri Güntekin’s Çalıkuşu (The Autobiography of a Turkish Girl) and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre by the end of the semester. \n\nTürk Medya Tarihi dersi, Türkiye'de basının doğuşu, basına ilişkin getirilen yasal düzenlemeler ve bunların sosyo-kültürel ve siyasal yansımaları, tarihsel bir süreklilik içerisinde ele alınmaktadır. Bu dersin içeriğinde doğrultusunda Osmanlı’da Tanzimat Öncesi ve Tanzimat Dönemi Türk Basını (1828-1876), ilk gazeteler (Türkçe, Türkçe-dışı ve yabancı, azınlık), Birinci Meşrutiyet ve İsdibdat Dönemi (1876-1908) ve İkinci Meşrutiyet Dönemi (1908-1918), Kurtuluş Savaşı ve Cumhuriyet’in kuruluş yıllarında basın, tek partili dönem ve çok partili hayata geçişte basın, ilk demokrasi denemeleri, tam çoğulculuk yılları, 1960, 1971 ve 1980'li yıllar ile 1990'lı yıllarda Türk basını konularını yer almaktadır. Bunlara ek olarak ders kapsamında basında tekelleşme ve tematik yaklaşımlar üzerinde de durulmaktadır.\n\nWithin the scope of this course, the students will learn about the history and tradition of making meaning through visual means, and mankind's relationship with symbols and visual references from cave paintings to art, photography, cinema and mass media. They will also learn how to recognize and interpret certain cultural and ideological representations and references within visual products, such as the male gaze, stereotypes and propaganda. The aim of this course is for the students to gain a certain perspective about the history of images, internalize a visual way of thinking and become able to interpret the seemingly simple but important visual messages found especially in cinema and mass media products\n\nThe main purpose of this course is to explore communication processes and practices in a work environment. Organizational work force has changed significantly over the past two centuries and as a result this course will emphasize the processes, practices and difficulties of communication between and among large groups of people engaged principally at work. Organizational structures, patterns of communication, task and social roles, extrinsic influences, and methods of producing intrinsic motivation and innovation have evolved into many different forms.\n\nSuperior-subordinate communication have evolved into many changes and become important for today’s organizations in general as if subordinates see their immediate managers as one of the key information source for motivation to work. So, communication competence of individuals, especially individuals who are appointed to managerial positions which has an authority and influence on individuals (subordinates), become important qualification to provide good communication and harmony within work groups and teams. Since managers deal with intact work groups, it is very likely that managers need to be aware of individuals with different communication needs, expectations, approaches and practices.      \n\nThe goals of this course are to 1) understand the process of communicating with others in an organizational group, 2) formulate timely written opinions about the status of communication in organizational settings, 3) apply organizational communication research to a wide range of contexts from intrapersonal to societal and 4) how to improve information flow with communication audit.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9993818998336792}
+{"content": "The freezing cold can damage your cellphone\n\nMost people never leave home without their cell phones, but frigid cold temperatures can affect your electronics if you aren’t careful.\n\n“If you leave your phone in the car there’s the possibility that you can freeze the LCD in your phone, the liquid crystal,” said Joshua Watters, owner of Mr. Mustache Phone Repair.\n\nExperts warn not to leave your phone in your car if temperatures are at or below freezing. (WNEM)\n\nHe said for the most part, your phone or tablet will be just fine in the cold for a short period of time. After a few hours though things will start to go south.\n\n“It’s cold enough, the LCD freezes and it’ll actually crack,” Watters said.\n\nYour phone’s battery can also suffer from the cold temperatures.\n\n“It can just get depleted and not take a charge anymore. It’s almost the same as it overheating if you leave it out in the sun in the summer time at over 140 degrees,” Watters said.\n\nWatters said both your screen and battery are replaceable and it’s not the end of your device’s life.\n\nHe cautions people to be careful with snow because the water damage on your phone can destroy it.\n\n“If you’re outside shoveling just make sure you don’t get snow in your pockets with it. Your body heat will melt it and water and electronics is never good,” Watters said.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7843066453933716}
+{"content": "Cold cure confusion?\n\n\"A cure for the common cold could soon be a reality\" the Daily Express claimed, reporting that scientists have \"achieved a breakthrough\" with new research into the virus. However, The Daily Telegraph reported that research shows the cold virus \"may never be eradicated\", although it may one day lead to drugs to target different strains of the virus.\n\nThese reports are based on a study that has identified the complete genetic sequences that make up all 138 known strains of rhinovirus, the virus that causes the common cold. The reason why humans do not become immune to the common cold, and why vaccines and treatments generally prove ineffective, is that the genetic sequence of the rhinovirus can quickly mutate and create new viral strains. This study has also shown that the different strains of the virus can swap pieces of their genetic code, causing further variation.\n\nGiven the changing genetics of the cold virus, antibodies and treatments that target specific strains can quickly become less effective. Therefore, although the knowledge generated in this study is a key tool in helping scientists to understand the virus and, potentially, to develop new treatments, it does not mean that a cure is likely in the near future.\n\nWhere did the story come from?    \n\nDr Ann C Palmenberg and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin and other universities and institutes in the US carried out this research. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. It was published in the peer-reviewed journal Science.\n\nWhat kind of scientific study was this?   \n\nThis was a genetic study where researchers aimed to identify the genetic sequences that make up all known strains of the human cold virus (human rhinovirus or HRV). This virus causes both upper and lower respiratory tract infections. It also causes almost half of all cases of intensification of asthma symptoms.\n\nThis virus' genetic material is not made up of DNA, but a similar molecule called RNA. Like DNA, RNA is made up of four building blocks (nucleotides), and in RNA these are called A, C, G and U (DNA has T instead of U). These 'letters' are joined together in different sequences to make up chains (strands) of RNA. Each virus contains a strand of RNA that holds information for making the 11 to 12 proteins that make up the virus. The known strains of rhinovirus each contain different variations in the sequences of their RNA, but are thought to fall into three different species called HRV-A, HRV-B and HRV-C.\n\nThe researchers looked at all 99 known strains of the rhinovirus and 10 strains obtained from people with upper respiratory tract infections. They identified the sequence of the RNA of each of these different strains.\n\nThe researchers used computer programs to compare the RNA sequences from each strain as well as rhinovirus sequences already published by other researchers, looking for similarities and differences.\n\nThey used a number of different computer programs to help them work out a family tree for these viruses, exploring how they were likely to have developed from common ancestor viruses.\n\nWhat were the results of the study? \n\nThe researchers identified the complete RNA sequences of 99 known strains of the rhinovirus, as well as the 10 strains obtained from people with upper respiratory tract infections. Comparing their information with rhinovirus sequences already published by other researchers they found that, overall, they had the full genetic sequences for 138 different strains.\n\nThe strains all shared certain areas where their sequence was very similar (conserved regions), but there was also a lot of variation between the different strains. The genetic sequences of the strains were found to be made up of similar proportions of the four letters that make up RNA. Within each species, about two-fifths of the amino acids (building blocks of proteins) that these sequences encoded were the same.\n\nThe researchers found that a specific area near the start of each RNA sequence was very variable between the different strains, with each strain having a virtually unique sequence. The polio virus is known to have a similar region, and the variations in this region determine how infectious (virulent) the strain is. This suggests that genetic variations in this region may also contribute to levels of infectiousness in rhinovirus strains.\n\nBuilding a family tree of the different strains based on their genetic sequences suggested that the HRV-A and HRV-C strains had a common ancestor, which was also related to the HRV-B group. They found that three of the strains within the HRV-A species had quite different RNA sequences to the others, which suggested that they might be a new species of rhinovirus called HRV-D.\n\nThe researchers also found evidence that different strains had been exchanging pieces of genetic material, which is thought to occur when a person is infected with two strains of the virus at the same time.\n\nWhat interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?   \n\nThe researchers conclude that their results suggest that future studies of human disease caused by rhinovirus might benefit from identifying exactly which strain was involved by looking at its genetic sequence.\n\nThey say that, by using this approach, researchers might be able to obtain more information about the different levels of infectiousness of the various strains. They say it will help in studies of human disease, as well as in the development of new treatments and vaccines.\n\nWhat does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?   \n\nThis thorough study provides a database of information that will be useful in future studies of the cold virus. It shows the high level of variability between different strains of rhinovirus, and highlights some of the reasons why this virus has proven so difficult for the human body and for medical treatments to defeat.\n\nThis information may help scientists to identify possible ways of tackling the cold virus. However, the fact that the virus' genetic material changes quickly, and the ability of different strains to swap genetic material, mean that combating this virus is likely to remain a considerable challenge. Given the properties of this constantly changing virus, a cure is not likely to be just around the corner.\n\n\n\nLinks to Headlines\n\nScientists 'map DNA of common cold for the first time'. The Daily Telegraph, February 12 2009\n\nCold cure breakthrough. Daily Express, Februaury 12 2009 [Published in print only]\n\nLinks to Science\n\nPalmenberg AC, Spiro D, Kuzmickas R et al. Sequencing and Analyses of All Known Human Rhinovirus Genomes Reveals Structure and Evolution. Science Februaury 12 2009 [Advanced online publication]\n\nSupporting online material\n\n\nUseful Links\n\nArticle's categories\nGenetics/stem cells\nMedical practice\nArticle Review/Published Date\n2009-02-13 15:08:00Z\nCredits Section\nAnalysis by Bazian\nEdited by NHS Choices", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6902307271957397}
+{"content": "Date Tags pelican\n\nOn-page SEO best practices allow us to communicate with search engines in a language that they can understand. Fortunately, search engines and researchers have compiled checklists based on common markup and important ranking factors. The small businesses with a physical place of business would do well to invest in local SEO, online public relations and branding, optimizing for mobile and experimenting with Google AdWords. Always keep the restrictions of the small screen in mind when creating or editing content. Don’t use too many long sentences, keep your paragraphs around four sentences and use many stops like lists and headings to break up your text. Every page of your website (if optimal) represents an opportunity to rank that page and dozens more when combined with SEO best practices.\n\nCreating and Establishing Quality\n\nWebsites can occupy a so-called Bad Neighborhood. This refers to all websites that have been severely downgraded by search engines. At the same time, you Do your mathematical analysis - the primary resources are there for the taking. Its as easy as KS2 Maths or ABC. Its that simple! also need to consider something called ‘LSI’ or ‘Latent Semantic Indexing’. This is basically a fancy term that explains how Google now understands actual meaning rather than just looking to match words. The way it does this is at least partly by looking for synonyms and related terms when trying to answer questions. In short, don’t just use the exact keyphrase but be sure to use lots of relevant and related language. Link building refers to building credibility on your website by having your links appear on other web pages. What SEO specialists and strategists should be doing, instead of link building, is establishing relationships with local influencers and businesses. If your current website isn’t using HTTPS then you should start scoping out a migration.\n\n\nThousands of backlinks with a same anchor text produce negative results.Apart from disavowing low quality backlinks, I did see people disavowing their backlinks due to this over anchor text density. One of the most time-consuming parts about link-building is actually finding places that will give you links. Google wants to ensure that the sites it serves up in search results are relevant and up-to-date. A site that hasn’t been changed in two years is never going to do well. The length of search phrases continues to grow. Back when the Internet was just an upstart, single keywords were the only thing you needed.\n\nDominate your own little niche first\n\nFully optimizing for user intent requires an understanding of how your potential customers buy via your inbound marketing channels. As a result, make sure that you have identified these sales funnels as they are crucial for capitalizing on optimizing your website for user intent in search. Search engines have made it clear: a vitally important part of the future of search is “rich results.” Reviews can benefit businesses of all types, but they also have very specific and special benefits for local businesses. Gaz Hall, an SEO Expert from the UK, said: \"Try to ensure the key phrase is an exact match to what the searcher will type into a search engine. Natural language in search is becoming more prevalent, especially with the rise in voice search and Google’s understanding of natural language queries.\"\n\nProper HTML and CSS Validation\n\nThe world of search is a big one; even if you serve a niche industry, there are hundreds -- or even thousands -- of keywords and topics to choose from, and your choices could make or break your strategy. Make sure you are doing your best to have diversity in your Anchor Text when building backlinks. As far as ranking factors go, Anchor Text which had the search keyword in it tended to rank higher in Google for exact match searches and phrase match searches.​ SEO is not hard. It does, however take time – it involves technical tweaks on your website, competitive analysis/content strategy, and building links from around the web. Blog comments are a great way to promote content, diversify anchor text and build out a natural link profile.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7540904879570007}
+{"content": "World’s Longest Sea Bridge\n\nWorld’s Longest Sea Bridge  \nFiled under:\non 02/17/2010\n\nSource: Automotoportal.com\n\nHangzhou Bay Bridge - World’s Longest Sea Bridge (Photo: ABC News Australia)Hangzhou Bay Bridge - World’s Longest Sea BridgeHangzhou Bay Bridge - World’s Longest Sea BridgeHangzhou Bay Bridge - World’s Longest Sea BridgeHangzhou Bay Bridge - World’s Longest Sea Bridge\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Hangzhou Bay Bridge was first conceived in 1994 and construction actually did not begin until 2003 and was finally opened to the public in 2008. The bridge is estimated to have carried a minimum of 50,000 vehicles a day from one section to the other. The chief director of the project is said to have thought that this bridge is one of the three largest on earth and is built in one of the worst sea environments for a bridge, since typhoons and sea soil are drastically different in this area of the world.\n\nThere were many investment partners in the bridge project, including a total of 59% of the money coming from loans from China’s regional banks and 35% of the money coming from private companies in the area of Ningbo. The main reason for the bridge’s construction was to help bring more development to the Yangtze river delta and increase the economic power China has. This bridge created not only a way for traffic networks to be combined in two areas, but also a way of creating relations between the two business districts on either end of the bridge.\n\nClick to enlarge\n\nThe bridge is built in the East China Sea gulf of Hnagzhou Bay, where the Qiantang River Tide makes large waves and extremely fast waters. This area is highly prone to typhoons, and all of these were reasons for concern when building and planning the project.\n\nThe cable stayed design was chosen because it is able to hold up under the conditions of weather that the area is known for, and has been created for seismic criterion so that it holds integrity in the event of an earthquake of up to a 7.0. Each of the 3 lanes going each direction measure a total of 3.75 km in width and the total width of the bridge spans 33 meters. The grade at the cross slope is only a 2% while there is a maximum of a 4% longitude slope. The speed limits are posted at 100 km per hour for the main drags, while land approaches have a speed limit of 120 lm per hour. The total height of the bridge is 62 meters, so that container ships are still able to pass through beneath regardless of water conditions. The total amount of cable used for the project was 32.2 km.\n\nThe construction mostly took place on land and was then moved into the water after completion. One of the many challenges while building the bridge was the fact that many eruptions of natural gas in shallow layers along the line of the bridge were taking place. A team of experts was brought in and they conducted experiments and found that they could release the gas before pile driving, therefore causing no disturbance to the soil and the ground would no longer collapse. In construction, floating cranes and anchors as well as launching gantries were used to ship and place the girders in the sea bed. The shore seen construction taking place on mudflats on the south shores and a temporary trestle was created for creating the piers. Bad water conditions caused problems with anchoring the barges and other construction ships. The bad tidal flow and typhoons caused flow currents from 2 to 3.3 m per second at the sites on either end of the would be bridge.\n\nThe entire Hangzhou Bay Bridge is constructed of 9 separate sections, with the first being a lead road to the north end approach. The north end approach lies on piers and is made up of many concrete girders and leads to the bridge. The most notable sight on the bridge at this time are the two diamond shaped towers that sit directly in the middle of the site. For GPS monitoring, the construction crew used te Trimble 5700 RTK system and is still set up where the bridge crosses the Hangzhou Bay.\n\nYour Comments\n\n\nRelated articles\n\nNo related articles.\n\nLatest headlines\n\n\nPrevious articles\n\nMichelin voted Tire Manufacturer of the Year\n\n8 years 4 months ago\n\nJarno Trulli develops his first Lotus race car\n\n8 years 4 months ago\n\nAkio Toyoda to speak on Toyota quality woes\n\n8 years 4 months ago", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9315825700759888}
+{"content": "Keep your Identity safe and secure\n\nSecure your Identity and Passwords so that you can think about the more important things in life.\n\n*Free Scan. Purchase is required to use all functions.\nCompatible with: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP (64 & 32 bit)\n\nHow does Identity Protector work?\n\nIdentity Protector is a tool to find and secure your Personal Information on your computer, as well as organize your passwords in one vault across browsers and lock them securely with a “Master Key.” Your identity is always protected, and you’ll never forget a password again.\n\nUse Identity Protector's add-on on all major browsers\n\nHow can someone steal your identity?\n\nIdentity is our prized possession. Once its stolen, it can cause a lot of harm to you. See how your identity can be stolen so that you can take necessary action even before you get attacked.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCredit Card details\n\n\n\nSocial Security No\n\n\nHow Secure is Identity Protector?\n\nIdentity Protector scans your computer for any traces of Personal Information and any saved passwords and locks them away in a “Vault” on your system that can only be accessed by a single Master Key password that you create. Even we don’t know your password because it’s encrypted on our servers.\nWhat makes it secure?\n  • AES-256 encryption: A threat to hackers!\n  • PC Scan: Scan & clean all security traces from your PC.\n\nPassword for All\n\nLets you remember only one password to unlock all your accounts.\n\n\nAuto-Fill Forms\n\n\n\nIdentity Traces Removal\n\n\n\nAuto-Sync across Browsers\n\nAutomatically syncs your saved details across browsers through its extension.\n\nSecure Your Identity in 3 Easy Steps!\n\nWith Identity Protector, you can clean and secure your personal information in just 3 easy steps:\n\n\nScan your computer for existing identity traces that can be stolen.\n\n\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6382508873939514}
+{"content": "Why Do a Jane Austen Retelling?\n\nPosted by in Emma + Elsie\n\nJane Austen is more popular than she’s ever been in history, thanks to a number of recent retellings and remakes of her most popular novels. So what’s drawing me toward creating another story with these characters?\n\nI’ve asked myself this a lot, especially because there are so many other modern Austen retellings out there, and not even just books. The most popular ones are Clueless, Bridget Jone’s Diary, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, etc.\n\nThen there are meta stories, like Austenland, Becoming Jane.\n\nAnd then there are actual remakes of most of the stories as well, in both BBC miniseries versions and multiple full-length movies.\n\nAnd yet… Jane Austen is simply a classic, and the more I study her books, the more I become fascinated with her world and the way she portrays her characters.\n\nSo, I’m doing it, and I will make it awesome and different than all the other options out there. There will be a few things that set my series apart:\n\nRetelling + Mashup\n\nThe focus of these books are on Emma Woodhouse and Elsie Bennet, two characters from different Jane Austen books (Emma and Pride and Prejudice). That begs a lot of other questions that wouldn’t come up in a normal retelling:\n\n  • How does someone like Emma Woodhouse respond to someone like Chuck Bingley, and why does he choose Jane over her?\n  • Why are Emma and Elsie friends in the first place, when Emma cares so much about class and it’s clear that Elsie’s family has little of it?\n  • What does someone like Jace Knightley, who doesn’t always approve of Emma’s choices, think of her friendship with Elsie Bennet?\n\nThese questions make the retelling more interesting to me, because they shift both narratives in subtle ways and ultimately add a lot of story that isn’t actually there in the originals.\n\nNew Adult\n\nThe classic versions of Jane Austen’s books were always about young women growing up and finding their places in the world (typically through a romance). There is no doubt in my mind that the modern version of this would be the New Adult genre, books which are often about adults who don’t quite have to face adulthood yet; they are put in adult situations and deal with adult problems while not having to immerse themselves completely in that world.\n\nI believe the New Adult version will add some depth to how these books would look with a modern twist, especially because the reasons to be with someone are so much different in modern times.\n\n\nI love serialization and I knew that it was the right format for this series, because it would allow me to go deeper and explore little scenes in both books with a lot more space to expand on them.\n\nAs with all serials, I believe in limits. This series has 18 books, but they’ll be bundled and all that good stuff, about 6 full books worth of content. I really think the extended version will make them even better and more fulfilling for Jane Austen fans.\n\nI’m mostly creating this series because I love Jane Austen and I want more! There is never enough story, for some reason… so, I’m going to do one my way.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9757631421089172}
+{"content": "Capstone/Dissertation Title\n\nMotivational attitude: a study of the effects of motivational principles on students' attitudes towards mathematics\n\n\n\n\n\nDegree Name\n\n\n\nThe research question addressed is, how does purposefully crafting Geometry lessons using principles of motivation and engagement affect high school students' attitudes towards mathematics? Fennema and Sherman's validated questionnaires published in 1976 are used as a means to measure attitude, confidence, usefulness, anxiety, significant other perceptions, and effectance (motivation to master) in mathematics. Strategies and noted principles to increase motivation and engagement are used as a means to improve student attitudes towards mathematics. Orhun (2007) cites that teachers who recognize student differences in methods of learning will have a greater chance to connect the mathematics to their students in various ways, thus increasing their students' motivation to learn the subject. Similarly, students who understand the styles with which they learn best are more likely to approach learning with a better attitude and, in turn, become a stronger student.\n\nThis document is currently not available here.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.99637770652771}
+{"content": "#Bookreview The City by Clifford Simak\n\n\n\n#BookReview Kenobi by John Jackson Miller #StarWars\n\nStar Wars Kenobi (promo cover)\n\n\nBook Review: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress\n\nHeinlein is one of those names that when I hear it I am instantly filled with a sense of respect and admiration. With the likes of Bradbury and Asimov, Heinlein has me from the outset. Unlike the others, Heinlein usually loses me in pretty short order.\nThis book is probably the best of the old masters that I have read, or the one that has held up the best. Heinlein is just so deeply wedged in his own ideology that his science fiction is unable to see beyond his limited scope.\nI enjoyed this book. Yet I found it too often fell into the Heinlein flaws of still rejecting females as worthy characters and always having the government as the ultimate evil. In short, I am starting a campaign in my own mind to revoke Heinlein’s legend status, not because he no longer deserves it, but because he never deserved it in the first place.\nOrson Scott Card may be a horrible human, but at least his books don’t show that.\n\nBook Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins\n\nI knew the basic premise of this one going in, but I have never seen the movies and knew only the basics. I have to say, for a global phenomenon that this book created, I am rather disappointed. The story held my interest, but the plot was predictable. The book read like a children’s book, but the subject matter was a bit extreme for a children’s book. I felt like it wanted to be Ender’s Game, but Ender’s Game was not a children’s book, it was just a book that children were drawn to. I am in no hurry to read the other two books in the series, but I may pick them up if the mood strikes me.\n\n#Bookreview Forward the Foundation by Isaac Asimov\n\nThe last of the Foundation books, how sad! The journey of the Foundation series, both the original and the prelude books is perhaps the greatest sci-fi series I’ve read. This final installment was in many ways a lot like the first book. It was a series of short stories taking place over a span of time. While the original was about the foundation, this followed the foundation’s designer, Hari Seldon. It is a great book for fans of the series and a suitable conclusion, but if you haven’t read all the other Foundation books, go do that before picking up this final chapter. Asimov may be dead, but he laid the foundation for science fiction, and maybe even a second foundation.\n\nJohn Scalzi’s the Human Division\n\nJohn Scalzi is a famous author of science fiction, and his books often explore a universe where old men are genetically modified and made young in order to serve as soldiers in outer space. Part of the process turns these formerly old men into youthful, agile, and green not-quite humans. The old people young thing, sure. The outer space battles against countless aliens, sure. The green skin, alright. Where Scalzi went over the line and shattered my suspension of disbelief was when he stated that the Cubs had won the World Series. Get the hell off my book shelf! Anyway, fair to good read besides that; however, if you wanted a novel, keep looking. This is a book of intertwined shorts.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7438053488731384}
+{"content": "Idaho Statutes\n\n18-7011.  Criminal trespass — Definition and punishment. (1) Any person who, without consent of the owner or person in charge of any lands which are inclosed by fences of any description sufficient to show the boundaries of the land inclosed, shall go upon such lands and shall leave open any gates on or about said premises, or who shall tear down or lay down any fencing, or who shall willfully remove, mutilate, damage or destroy any \"No Trespassing\" signs or markers, or who shall go through cultivated crops that have not been harvested, or who shall damage any property thereon, or who without permission of the owner or the owner’s agent enters the real property of another person where such real property:\n(a)  Is posted with \"No Trespassing\" signs;\nis guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding six (6) months or by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both such fine and imprisonment.\nAs used in this subsection and in section 18-7008, Idaho Code: \"enters,\" \"entry\" and \"entering\" mean going upon or over real property either in person or by causing any object, substance or force to go upon or over real property.\n(2)  No motor vehicle shall be willfully or intentionally driven into, upon, over or through any private land actively devoted to cultivated crops without the consent of the owner of the land or the tenant, lessee or agent of the owner of the land actively devoted to cultivated crops. Violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor. For the purpose of this subsection, motor vehicle shall be defined as set forth in sections 49-114 and 49-123, Idaho Code. Land actively devoted to cultivated crops shall be defined as land that is used to produce field crops including, but not limited to, grains, feed crops, legumes, fruits and vegetables.\n\n[18-7011, added 1972, ch. 336, sec. 1, p. 975; am. 1976, ch. 154, sec. 2, p. 551; am. 1984, ch. 37, sec. 1, p. 63; am. 1984, ch. 55, sec. 2, p. 95; am. 1988, ch. 265, sec. 561, p. 857; am. 2005, ch. 359, sec. 12, p. 1139; am. 2014, ch. 28, sec. 2, p. 40.]\n\nHow current is this law?\n\nSearch the Idaho Statutes and Constitution", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9886023998260498}
+{"content": "Prints and Visual Communication\n\nThe sophistication of the photographic process has had two dramatic results-freeing the artist from the confines of journalistic reproductions and freeing the scientist from the unavoidable imprecision of the artist's prints. So released, both have prospered and produced their impressive nineteenth- and twentieth-century outputs. It is this premise that William M. Ivins, Jr., elaborates in Prints and Visual Communication, a history of printmaking from the crudest wood block, through engraving and lithography, to Talbot's discovery of the negative-positive photographic process and its far reaching consequences.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9823659658432007}
+{"content": "News | June 9, 2009\n\nManipulating Light On A Chip For Quantum Technologies\n\nchip img2\n\n\n\n\n\"We have been able to generate and manipulate entangled states of photons on a silicon chip\" said PhD student, Jonathan Matthews, who together with Alberto Politi performed the experiments. \"These entangled states are responsible for famously ‘weird' behaviour arising in quantum mechanics, but are also at the heart of powerful quantum technologies.\"\n\n\"This precise manipulation is a very exciting development for fundamental science as well as for future quantum technologies.\" said Prof Jeremy O'Brien, Director of the Centre for Quantum Photonics, who led the research.\n\nThe team reports its results in the latest issue of Nature Photonics [June 2009], a sister journal of the leading science journal Nature, and in a Postdeadline Paper at 'The International Quantum Electronics Conference (IQEC)' on June 4 in Baltimore, USA [IQEC Postdeadline Papers].\n\nQuantum technologies with photons\n\nQuantum technologies aim to exploit the unique properties of quantum mechanics, the physics theory that explains how the world works at microscopic scales.\n\nFor example a quantum computer relies on the fact that quantum particles, such as photons, can exist in a \"superposition\" of two states at the same time — in stark contrast to the transistors in a PC which can only be in the state \"0\" or \"1\".\n\nPhotons are an excellent choice for quantum technologies because they are relatively noise-free; information can be moved around at the speed of light; and manipulating single photons is easy.\n\nMaking two photons \"talk\" to each other to generate the all-important entangled states is much harder, but Professor O'Brien and his colleagues at the University of Queensland demonstrated this in a quantum logic gate back in 2003 [Nature 426, 264 (2003)].\n\n\nPhotons are also required to \"talk\" to each other to realise the ultra-precise measurements that harness the laws of quantum mechanics. In 2007 Professor O'Brien and his Japanese collaborators reported such a quantum metrology measurement with four photons [Science 316, 726 (2007)].\n\nManipulating photons on a silicon chip\n\n\"Despite these impressive advances, the ability to manipulate photons on a chip has been missing,\" said Mr Politi. \"For the last several years the Centre for Quantum Photonics has been working towards building fully functional quantum circuits on a chip to solve these problems,\" added Prof O'Brien.\n\n\nThe researchers proved that one of the strangest phenomena of the quantum world, namely \"quantum entanglement\", was achieved on-chip with up to four photons. Quantum entanglement of two particles means that the state of either of the particles is not defined, but only their collective state, and results in an instantaneous linking of the particles.\n\n\n\n\"The really exciting thing about this result is that it will enable the development of reconfigurable and adaptive quantum circuits for photons. This opens up all kinds of possibilities,\" said Prof O'Brien.\n\nA commentary on the work that appeared in the same issue [Nature Photonics 3, 317 (2009)] described it as \"an important step in the quest for quantum computation\" and concluded: \"The most exciting thing about this work is its potential for scalability. The small size of the [device] means that far greater complexity is possible than with large-scale optics.\"\n\nThe other co-author of the Nature Photonics paper is Dr André Stefanov, formerly a Research fellow in the Centre for Quantum Photonics, and now at the Federal Office of Metrology METAS, Switzerland.\n\nThe work was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Quantum Information Processing Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (QIP IRC), the US government Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) and the Leverhulme Trust.\n\nSOURCE: University of Bristol", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9291054606437683}
+{"content": "How To Identify A Zolpidem Overdose\n\nWhen you, or somebody you know, is taking some kind of drug on a regular basis, then it is always a good idea to be able to spot the different symptoms that indicate they may have taken an overdose. Clearly an overdose of any drug can lead to potentially serious consequences so what follows are the symptoms of a Zolpidem overdose as well as information on what happens with regard to medical attention so you will know in advance what is likely to happen should you find yourself in this situation.\n\nZolpidem is a drug that is given to people in order to help them sleep and it does this by having two layers with the first one helping you sleep and the second that dissolves and works slower than the first so you then stay asleep for longer. There are several kinds of Zolpidem available, but they will all give the same symptoms in the case of an overdose.\n\nSymptoms of a Zolpidem overdose.\n\nA Zolpidem overdose can, at times, be fatal for some people especially if they have a number of other medical conditions that could be made worse by too much of this particular drug. If you have any concern at all or if there are just one or two of the symptoms, then do get medical help immediately because the quicker treatment can be administered, then the better the chances of a complete recovery.\n\nKeeping that in mind, the main symptoms of an overdose include: the person being excessively drowsy or having real difficulty in waking them, the person is very confused and making little sense, breathing will become very shallow and labored, the person may complain of feeling light headed on a regular basis, they may faint, and finally the person may potentially slip into a coma. How severe some of these symptoms may be will vary from person to person; however, none of them should be ignored and if there is any uncertainty do get medical help as soon as possible.\n\nHow a Zolpidem overdose is treated.\n\nIn order to get treatment for a Zolpidem overdose one of the first things that must be done is to tell the doctor how much of the drug was taken as well as a rough time as this can help them to work out the best course of action for the patient as well as letting them know the different signs that they must look out for. It is also important to tell them about any other medication that they may be on due to the potential risk of it interacting with the other drugs in an adverse manner.\n\nWhen it comes to the actual treatment, then it is common for the patient to have their stomach pumped or they may be encouraged to vomit due to this helping to get as much of the drug out of their body as possible. Some people may also be given the drug Flumazenil as this helps to counteract the effects of the sedative, but this must also be given under close supervision.\n\nThe drug can only be pumped out of the stomach if medical help is sought immediately because after time has passed the drug will have been absorbed directly into the bloodstream at which point the treatment has to then change to one whereby the person is monitored and any health problems are dealt with as they occur. This does mean that they may be kept under observation for a number of days with this depending on what their vital signs are like and if they do indeed develop any other issues. There may also then be further appointments to see if there has been any damage to the body in the long-term; however, there is no reason to suspect that the person cannot make a full recovery with the correct treatment.\n\nThose are the signs of a potential Zolpidem overdose as well as information on how that overdose is then treated and the treatment does follow the same lines as any overdose of a sedative. Do just remember that there is the potential for the person to go into a coma and possibly even die as a result of taking this overdose so act quickly even if you are not sure if they have taken too much or not rather than waiting to see how they react over the next few hours.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6601031422615051}
+{"content": "Skilled Migration Point Test | Skilled Visa Points Test\n\n(189/190/489 Visa)\n\nThe online skilled migration points test (PR points Calculator) is a useful way to calculate your likely score in the Skilled Migration Points test in 2018. You would need to score a minimum of 60 points however that is always not enough to be invited to apply. Book a consultation for a detailed assessment and increase your chances of success in the points test.\n\nThe pool mark for all General Skilled Migration (GSM) visa’s is 60 points. However, due to the competitive nature of these visas, a pool mark does not guarantee an invitation to apply.\n\nThe invitation mark can and does fluctuate depending on the time of year, number of candidates for the nominated occupation and the current occupation ceiling. The above points test is for the 189 visa, 190 visa and the 489 visa.\n\nTo ensure you have a competitive advantage over all other potential applicants please contact us for a Consultation. The above Skilled Visa Points Test is provided as a guide only and may not be indicative of the points assigned by the Department of Home Affairs.\n\nAt consultation, our GSM experts will ensure you claim the most points possible under current migration legislation, which could prove the difference between receiving an invitation and not.\n\n+1 demo: Basic page", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9717909097671509}
+{"content": "\n\nThe bill is modeled on existing successful U.S. programs that reward those who come forward to report fraud and aims to help return assets stolen from foreign state coffers, by encouraging whistleblowers to talk to US authorities. The bill would allow the Department of Treasury to grant asylum and monetary awards to whistleblowers who provide information about stolen foreign government assets that are stored in the US.\n\nIn a kleptocracy, or “government by thieves,” corruption is the heart of the problem. According to the International Monetary Fund, as much as 5 percent of the world’s gross domestic product is laundered money, and only 1 percent of it is ever spotted. The taking of money out of corrupt countries by kleptocrats is a long-standing practice but today the scale and sophistication of this activity presents new and serious challenges to democracy. This corruption constitutes a multi-faceted threat to global security and international stability. As countries plagued with endemic corruption become breeding grounds and havens for criminals and terrorist groups who threaten global security.\n\n“The United States must intensify the fight against foreign government corruption and the money laundering that allows terrorist organizations to thrive,” said Congressman Lynch. “Foreign governments that are weakened by corrupt leaders do not have the financial or legal resources to combat terrorist financing, and the U.S. government should be doing everything we can to stop our financial institutions from unwittingly aiding corrupt officials and terrorist organizations.”\n\nOver the past 30 years, laws that encourage whistleblowers to report serious wrongdoing by offering monetary rewards have proven to be “the most powerful tool the American people have to protect the government from fraud.”\n\nThe bill is co-sponsored by Representatives Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Norma J. Torres(D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), and Michael Capuano(D-MA).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9964650869369507}
+{"content": "What you need to know about UML diagrams – Behaviour diagrams (2)\n\n\n\n\nThe last blog dealt with 2 structure diagrams: the class diagram and the object diagram. Today, we are going to talk about behaviour diagrams illustrated by an example describing an IKEA procurement system, an easy system known to everyone to clearly understand each diagram type.\n\nThe use case diagram: describe at high level the main behavior of each actor\n\nThis diagram shows the different use cases or actions that actors can take. What ‘actors’ means? The objects with their own behaviour. In the example, we have 3 of them:\n\n  • The “Customer”\n  • The “StoreService”\n  • The “StockService”\n\nAs you can see, an actor represents an object from the system, and even if it is represented by a “stickman”, it can represent the equivalent of a non-person object (like “StoreService” or “StockService”). You can find the involved objects and classes in the previous article about Structural diagrams.\n\nusecase diagram\n\nThrough the different use cases presented in the diagram, we see 3 major actions that the customer can carry out: examine a product, retrieve information about it or buy it. We can notice that some actions include other actions and actors. For example, the request for information about a product also leads to the request for availability of a product and its price. These behaviors are expressed at a high level of details to focus on the main actions of each actor.\n\nThe activity diagram: describe the functionality of the business system\n\nThe activity diagram shows the different possible execution paths for the customer in a “Buy Items” context. First, the user examines the presentation product. Then, he has to make a choice, modeled by the diamond. Depending on a state, the diamond indicates the path taken rather than another. So, if the customer is not interested, the flow goes to the breakpoint. Instead, if he is interested by the product, the next step is the availability check phase. If the product is available, the user asks for the price. He could eventually jeopardize his purchase because of the price but in this case, we face a compulsive buyer. If he can buy, he does.\n\nactivity diagram\n\nThe sequence diagram: focus on the message interchange between lifelines\n\nThis diagram represents for a very precise scenario: the method calls made, the instances created and the returns that exist when the objects “communicate” with each other by method calls. It is mainly used for describing the internal mechanic of a behavior. The following example shows a more refined view from the three behavior “Examine Item”, “Get Information about Item” and “Buy Item” from the use-case diagram and activity diagram.\n\nsequence diagram\n\nThis diagram shows a successful purchase of a product by the customer “John”. Each vertical lines represents the lifeline of a product. The “Order” lifeline is lower and linked to the “CreateOrder (John)”. It means that this particular command did not exist before this specific point in the execution scenario. In this diagram, we can see the “time” of a request execution, represented by the size of the rectangles on the lifelines (dotted lines). On each of the arrows, you can see which the methods are called. These methods are those shown in the diagram class. The dotted arrows returning after a call show the return values generated by method calls. If you follow the different links, you can see exactly how a purchase is going “in-house”. The customer requests to examine the presentation product. Then, he requests its availability from the warehouse, which induces a call to stock for an availability request. In this scenario, the stock, and therefore the store location, responds “true”. From there, the customer asks to put his product in his shopping cart. If an order does not yet exist for the customer (which is the case in this scenario), an “Order” is created by the warehouse and the product is added to the order. Then the customer asks for the total price of the order, which is calculated by the store by recovering the price of the “Order” (which passes through the price of the product), and then, pays. Following payment, the customer receives his product, taken from inventory.\n\nThe state machine diagram : model discrete behaviour through finite state transitions\n\nThis diagram describes the state transitions. This type of diagram can be very complexe sometimes. The idea is to consider that an object, during its lifetime, passes from one state to another depending on a certain number of conditions. A state machine diagram must be deterministe.\n\nBehaviour State Machine Diagram\n\nIn the example we proposed, the states represented are those of a product and, more precisely, its availability. The condition that causes the product to switch from one report to another is the state of the stocks. When asked if the presentation product is available, the system checks whether there is at least one such product in stock. If so, it is then “Available”. On transitions, we use OCL (Object Constraint Language), a constraint description language to represent the condition under which the presentation product changes state.\n\nThese diagrams are called behaviour diagrams because they show the dynamic behaviour of the objects in the system describing changes over time. The behaviour diagrams are totally complementary to structure diagrams. All these diagrams reunite give you a complete vision of your system and help you to build your app for example.\n\nStart experiencing these models with GenMyModel:\n\nYou’d also like to read: What You Need To Know About UML Diagrams – Structure Diagrams (1)\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7407721281051636}
+{"content": "Demo of roofing area and roofing material calculator\n\nGiven below, the brief demonstration of roofing area calculator and roofing area calculator.\n\nThese tools are utilized to work out the area and the materials required for any roof. While starting the calculation process, make sure that the eaves covered areas are taken into consideration.\n\nThe roofing area calculator should be applied for computing the area coverage of the house. If the house contains asymmetrical shape, the house covered area can be segregated into a few simple shapes and their area can be added in unison. The roof pitch determines the slope of the roof.\n\n\nIf the roof of your house contains complicated shape, the most perfect method is to calculate all the dimensions and include the areas of all surfaces. The area calculator will be applied for estimating the area of each surface. The mostly recognized roof materials in the United States are shingles, membrane roofing, ceramic tile, etc.\n\nNormally, the longevity of a shingle roofs is for 15 to 30 year whereas Membrane roofing generally persist for 5 to 15 years. Ceramic tile roof is costly and it lasts for over 100 years.\n\nRoof Pitch\n\nAs per terminology, the roof pitch refers to the vertical rise divided by the horizontal span.\n\nMake calculation Online\n\nArticle Source\n\nroof calculator", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6244992017745972}
+{"content": "VideoScribe Help\n\nUse zoom and set the camera\n\nLast updated: 17 November 2017\n\n\n\n\nSetting a zoom level and camera position\n\nStep 1. Size your element and place it where you want on the canvas (A).\n\n\nStep 3. With the image selected (A), set the camera position using the ‘Set camera’ icon (B).\n\n\nTips for using the zoom function  \n\n- Zooming can be highly effective, especially when combined with morphing.\n\n- You can set the camera for multiple elements to create different scenes.\n\n\n\n- Try and keep the zoom percentage reasonably close to 100% for most of the scribe and use occasional zooming to highlight. The zoom percentage is shown on the bottom left corner of the canvas.\n\n- When an element is added to the canvas it is given a default camera view - no matter how the element is resized or repositioned, the camera will always zoom in, out or pan so that that element is framed in the centre of the camera view when you play the scribe. This can be very effective to highlight an image or some text but less so if you use it a lot.\n\n- To take the camera to the current camera position set for an element select the element and then click on that element again in the timeline.\n\n- A camera position can be removed for an element, or group of elements and set back to the default, by selecting the element(s) (A) and clicking the 'Clear camera position' icon (B).\n\nRemove the final zoom\n\nTo stop the scribe zooming out at the end:\n\nStep 1. Click the 'Download or Publish Scribe Video' icon (A).\n\nStep 2. Untick the 'Zoom at end?' box (A) and return to the canvas by clicking the cross.\n\nIf you need hold the final zoomed out shot at the end of your scribe, follow these steps.\n\n\nStep 2. Add a new, simple element right at the end of your time line, and away from the other elements on your canvas.\n\n\nStep 3. With this new element selected set your view to the zoomed out level that you want at the end of your scribe (make sure that you can see all your elements, but not the new element you have added) and save this camera position by clicking on the camera icon.\n\n\nDid you find it helpful? Yes No\n\nCan you please tell us how we can improve this article?\n\nRelated articles", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6374479532241821}
+{"content": "Advice on writing UG4 and MSc project reports\n\nGoals of this page\n\nThis page contains advice that I find myself giving repeatedly to students writing honours and MSc project reports. Reading it should help you with the content and organization of your report, especially the introduction.\n\nIn addition to reading this page, make sure you know the assessment criteria! As you are writing and editing your report, ask yourself: have I addressed these criteria?\n\nThe introduction\n\nThis is often the section that students have the most trouble getting right, perhaps because they are not sure (or are misguided) about what should be in it.\n\nYour introduction needs to answer the following questions (not necessarily in this order):\n\n  1. What is/are the goal(s) of your project?\n  2. Why are these important? (Motivation for the project)\n  3. How did you go about tackling the goal(s)?\n  4. What did you actually achieve/what are your results?\n\nOf course, you may also need to include a few other things like explaining some terminology or a small amount of high-level background information so that you can answer the above questions without losing the reader, but answering the questions should be the main point. I'd expect it might take 2-4 pages to properly address these questions.\n\nThe introduction should only spend time defining terms and discussing related work just enough to be able to answer the above questions. Any additional background information should go in the following Background chapter.\n\nAlso, as noted in the official UG4 project report guidance:\n\n\"This chapter [introduction] should include a clear and concise summary of your contributions (examples: adapting a suite of existing code; interpreting a theoretical algorithm; coding; testing; conducting an experiment) preferably as a bulleted list\".\n\nThese may be a combination of points from questions 3 and 4 above which you can summarize as the bulleted list.\n\nReviewing the literature\n\nThe aim of a literature review preceding novel work (whether in a proposal, research paper, or thesis) is not to describe in detail every paper you've read that is related to the topic of your work.\n\nRather, the aim is to support the argument(s) you are trying to make: that there is a question or problem to address and that your chosen method is well-justified as a way to address it.\n\nToo often, students review the literature by writing a sequence of paragraphs, each one describing a different paper. For example:\n\nOne approach to this problem was made by Smith and Li (2007). They did X (providing several sentences of description) and found Y (several more sentences). Their approach had the advantage of A but did not solve B.\n\nGupta and Milch (2009) presented a different method, based on Z. In their work, they did Q and P. They showed that including bag of words features improved the results, which is why I plan to do so here.\n\n[...more paragraphs, more papers...]\n\nThe second paragraph above does begin to justify a particular approach (and the first paragraph might also, if that approach is intended to solve B). But in general, a much better way to organize your literature review is by first identifying the argument(s) you want to make, and then organizing your review around the argument(s).\n\nThis approach typically leads to a different style of paragraph. Instead of each paragraph describing a single paper, each paragraph will contain a single controlling idea or claim. Typically (but not necessarily) that claim will be stated in the first sentence. The remainder of the paragraph will provide evidence for that claim. In many cases that evidence may come from more than one paper, but it's often unnecessary to provide much detail about each of those papers in order to support the claim. For example:\n\nOver the years, there have been two main approaches to this problem: X (cite1, cite2, cite3) and Y (cite4, cite5). Here, we follow approach Y because it has property Q (cite4), which is more suited to our setting.\n\nThe results of cite4 and cite5 also provide some preliminary evidence that Z may be an important factor in the success of these models. In particular, cite4 showed A and cite5 showed B. However, their experiments are not entirely convincing because P. Therefore, we plan to experiment with both Z and ~Z and directly compare results.\n\nThere are some situations in which it is appropriate or even necessary to describe the details of previous work, simply as a description. The most common case is when your own work follows the previous method very closely, in which case the reader needs to understand the details of that previous work in order to understand what you have done. It may also be appropriate to describe details of methods you are comparing directly against. Other than that, be wary of \"description\" paragraphs in literature reviews.\n\nIf after reading this you are still confused about the difference between a \"description\" paragraph and a \"claim-evidence\" paragraph, you may also want to read UNC's guide to paragraph development. (What I call \"claim-evidence\" is their \"illustration\" paragraph type.)\n\nSectioning, transitions, and main points\n\nBe wary of using very large numbers of very short sections, and/or using section headings as a crutch to indicate the structure of the document. The section headings may make sense to you, but by themselves they are often insufficient to make the document structure clear to the reader; instead you should make sure the text itself includes transitions, introductions, and/or conclusions that clarify its structure, giving the reader a sense of direction. Consider what would happen if you removed the section headings. Would the document make any sense? A clearly structured document ought to. Crucially, you need to make sure that the main point of each section is clearly stated (i.e., why have you included that section in the document? What is it supposed to tell us?), and that this point is clearly related to what came before (and often, what will follow).\n\nNormally, the main point of each section and the transitioning/context information should come as an introduction to the section, which could be just a sentence or two for short (sub)sections or could be much longer. Introductions may or may not have explicit section headings--usually you would only put a section/chapter heading on an introduction at the beginning of a full paper, or (for a multi-chapter document) at the beginning of the whole document and each chapter. Otherwise it should be:\n\ntext introducing main point and how the subsections relate to this point\nstuff 1\n(relationship of C to B and/or to the main point of A)\nstuff 2\n\nIn addition, for any medium or large section of a long document (including sections shorter than a full chapter), consider: would it help the reader to include a conclusion that reminds them what the main point of the section was and again fits things into the context of the larger chapter/document (often including what are the missing pieces that the following sections will fill in?). The conclusion doesn't have to be a separate section, it could just be a couple of sentences at the end.\n\nLast modified: Wed, May 21, 2014 3:53:24 PM", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5763133764266968}
+{"content": "Akram Alian\n\nAssistant Professor Akram Alian\n\n\nResearch Interests:\n\nX-ray crystallography of macromolecules from infectious pathogens\n\nShort Synopsis:\n\nWe seek to understand the molecular basis of how viruses interact with the host cell and manipulate key cellular processes to aid their replication. Viral-host complexes play an integral role in the biology of the virus and range from binary protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid complexes to much larger multi-component complexes.  Defining the biochemical and structural basis of these interactions offers the potential to improve the current therapeutics, develop new intervention strategies, and understand the mechanism of emergent drug resistance. To decipher the molecular basis of these interactions at the atomic resolution we use a multidisciplinary approach of diverse methodologies including virology, biochemical, biophysical, and structural biology by X-ray crystallography.\n\n\nAlian A, Griner SL, Chiang V, Tsiang M, Jones G, Birkus G, Geleziunas R, Leavitt AD, and Stroud RM. Catalytically-active complex of HIV-1 integrase with a viral DNA substrate binds anti-integrase drugs. 2009, PNAS, 106: 8192-8197.\nAlian A, Lee TT, Griner SL, Stroud RM, and Finer-Moore J. Structure of a TrmA-RNA complex: A consensus RNA fold contributes to substrate selectivity and catalysis in m5U methyltransferases. 2008, PNAS, 105: 6876-6881.\nHe X, Alian A, and Ortiz de Montellano PR. Inhibition of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase InhA by arylamides. 2007, Bioorg Med Chem., 15: 6649-6658\nVerras A, Alian A, and Ortiz de Montellano PR. Cytochrome P450 active site plasticity: attenuation of imidazole binding in cytochrome P450(cam) by an L244A mutation. 2006, Protein Eng Des Sel., 19: 491-496. (Cover figure)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7149536609649658}
+{"content": "Printed circuit board assembly prototyping: machine assembly vs. hand assembly\n\n- Apr 26, 2017 -\n\n  Printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) is heart and brain of most electronic devices. When PCB was first invented in the 1950s, circuit boards were exclusively hand assembled and limited in scope, lacking the connective properties of multilayer PCBs.\n\n  The contemporary standard for PCB assembly is automated machine assembly, but some electronics makers or hobbyists still choose to hand assemble their boards for low-volume prototyping. This approach could be efficient especially when repeat verifications are needed, though it could lead to inconsistency problems. If machine assembled prototyping is still needed for mass production verification, this could prolong the production lead time.\n\n\n1. Consistency and accuracy\n\n  Automated machine-assembly preserves likeness across every unit produced, virtually abolishing the variations that would otherwise result from hand-assembly. This consistency makes it easy to create additional working copies of the PCB if ever requested at a later point.\n\nFurthermore, developing a partnership with a PCB assembly partner helps capture and store changes or specific criteria for future use, i.e, PFMEA (process failure mode and effect analysis). In return, Manufacturability review by Electronics Contract Manufacturing partner helps to improve Design for Manufacture (DFM) performance\n\n\n2. Shorten produced development cycle\n\n  The time investment for hand assembly ranges from a day to a full week, depending on the board’s complexity. By partnering with an EMS(Electronics Manufacturing Service) provider, not only grants you the peace of mind in knowing that your board will be returned in pristine condition, but frees your schedule for other aspects of design and production. Multiple steps can be completed in parallel, saving production time and money. Besides, machine assembly on prototypes can also verify the manufacturing process and save the production lead time when you are about moving to volume production.\n\n\nIn conclusion\n\n  Owning to automated machine assembly, the PCB assembly services are now available from the professional EMS provider on small-volume orders.\n\nPrevious:Electronics Manufacturing Services for the Automotive Market Next:What is OEM, ODM, ECM, EMS?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9719642400741577}
+{"content": "North End Cyclery Ltd.\n\n\nSwitch and Bait?\n\nWhat’s more, she says – that is a ongoing ailment in addition to an economic one. For example, there are many types of fish women that are pregnant aren’t likely to eat, and they could be consuming such seafood without also knowing it in the event that’s what they obtain if they order something else.. Switch and Bait? Fish buyers beware The fish you order in lots of supermarkets and restaurants might not be the fish you get.Apart from smoking; air pollution from vehicles, factories and manufacturing plants are also the other sources that are categorized as main category. Prolonged contact with air pollutants and passive smoking share a major part in developing lung cancer also. For workers, employed in manufacturing and factories vegetation, increased contact with chemicals and harzardous gases is normally general. Although they take safety measures by wearing masks, however, many amount of contaminants get inhaled. Harmful chemicals Iike asbestos, arcenic, chromium, nickel, aromatic hydrocarbons, sulphur monoxide, radon gas etc could possibly be the major reasons to trigger lung cancer cells.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.979888379573822}
+{"content": " Earth and Environment 1672-9250\nHome | Survey | Payment| Talks & Presentations | Job Opportunities\n\nEarth and Environment\n\nISSN 1672-9250 \nOrganizer: zhong guo ke xue yuan di qiu hua xue yan jiu suo  \nPublisher: di qiu yu huan jing za zhi she  \nDescription: \"The Earth and the Environment\" (originally called \"Geology and Geochemistry\") as the core of academic publications, the environmental geology discipline as the main direction of the main report and the human environment are closely related to the Earth's atmosphere - plant - soil - water - rock material between the spheres Geochemical migration process, and human, the interaction between ecosystems and the Earth for a variety of environmental problems, including environmental geology, environmental geochemistry, Quaternary geology, environmental hydrology, disaster geology, environmental monitoring and evaluation, environment and health, with special review, research, applied research, experimental research, new theories, new technologies, new methods, discussions and other columns. (Translated by machine.)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5762708783149719}
+{"content": "5 different essay styles\n\n5 different essay styles, 5 different types essay writing shrewsbury perce planks of reason essays on the horror film pdf croydon target sale paper for black friday fresno guidelines for.\n\nA writer’s style is what sets his or her writing apart and makes it unique style is the way writing is dressed up (or down) to fit the specific context, purpose. Completed by the team of professional writers, editors you'll get a basic overview of the 5 different types of term papers free application essay tips. Free learning styles papers, essays better essays: different learning styles: learning about learning - there are many people in the world, but only. Comprising, avoidance, competing, collaborating - pros and cons of the five different negotiating styles. Online writing lab types of there are variations (or subcategories) of different essays that are written in each main mode, but each.\n\nFour main types of essays every student has to be aware of different essay types and their features before beginning the task writing styles. There are four different types of writing styles what kind of essay is i am going to book mark this post and refer back to it as i work on different styles. Types of essays analysis argumentative mla style diagrams for the rscc owl was born june 5, 1995 it's among the oldest (and wisest.\n\nDifferent styles of essay writing on pharma 5 you may never writing a term paper should convert to a different dissertation writing service. Writing style in literature, writing style is the and note how the authors convey their messages in different manners, as a result of their choices hamlet.\n\nEssays are a complicated business, but they can become less complicated if you understand the different types of essays narrative essays are in that style. Essay-writing styles in this section we describe the characteristics of different types of academic essay, and offer examples of those essays, or at least essay.\n\nDifferent types of tones in writing style is much like any other type of style in that it helps us express how to structure an argument in your essay 5:45. Four different types of writing styles: expository, descriptive, persuasive and narrative http://wwwteachersparadisecom four types of writing: there are four types.\n\nWhat is a simple breakdown of the four different writing styles these types of essays or articles what does it mean if i have a different writing style every. Contentsthe five communication stylesthe benefits of understanding the different styles of communicationlearning to identify the different communicati. What types of essays exist, what is the difference, how to write a good one.\n\n5 different essay styles\nRated 3/5 based on 17 review", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8845905065536499}
+{"content": "is an outstanding pdf search engine\n\npainting quote download\n\npainting quote (Full Version) 4112 dls @ 3335 kb/s\npainting quote (Fast Load) 1045 dls @ 7559 kb/s\npainting quote (Mirror #1) 2200 dls @ 5243 kb/s\n\npainting quote related :\n\npainting quote\ncalligraphy sculpting 123 easy techniques to mastering calligraphy 123 easy techniques in mastering sculpting acrylic painting airbrushing oil painting pastel drawing sculpting pdf\nsteel structures painting manual good painting practice volume 1 second edition\nsample builders quote template\nquote form for commercial pressure washing\nquote templates for earthmoving\ncommercial photography quote template\nrequest for quote\nquote comparison template excel\nsample quote letter for cunstruction.\n\npainting quote additional documents:\n\nom eftermiddagen og mange har spistderes madpakke og frugtvi, sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday1, rappel 2004 209 79 37 80 130, medical devicesan 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+{"content": "Mission & Philosophy\n  1. Mission Statement\nOur Mission at Busy Bees Nursery to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating educational environment that will enable each child to explore, investigate, experiment, communicate and question. Our motto is “Play with Purpose”.\n\n  2. Philosophy of the Nursery\n\nAt Busy Bees we believe it is our special commitment to provide every child the opportunity to achieve success. To that end we are committed to providing a holistic approach to education that focuses on the whole-child. Our programme is designed to elevate the educational, physical and emotional well-being of the individual child.\n\nWe firmly believe all children can learn. We understand that children learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of instructional approaches to support their individual learning levels. We are committed to providing an educational programme and service to support the individual child.\n\nWe believe education should be fun, stimulating, exciting and hands-on, while providing children the opportunity to explore, investigate, question and use logical thinking skills.\n\nWe are committed to teaching our students good behaviour, good manners as well as an understanding and appreciation of the world around them, the environment and people of different ethnic backgrounds.\n\n  3. Core Beliefs\nFirst Core Belief\nTo provide a creative, safe, age appropriate, nurturing educational environment where learning is ‘hands on’ fun and interactive.\n\nSecond Core Belief\nTo provide an engaging programme where play with purpose is combined with mastery of the phonetic alphabet, number sense activities, proper manners, behaviour and learning all about the exciting world around us.\n\nThird Core Belief\nTo provide a whole-child approach to learning within the structured programme that is responsive to the educational and emotional needs of the individual child; as well as to teach our students an understanding and tolerance of people of different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds.\n\nFourth Core Belief\nTo promote staff development and cooperation while fostering a friendly work environment with team building capabilities where every member of staff is made to feel valued.\n\n  +971 (2) 6219492", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9162558317184448}
+{"content": "Bouteille Pichon Longueville\n\nChâteau Pichon Baron\n\nOur Grand Vin Château Pichon Baron, classified as a 2nd Grand Cru Classé in 1855, is made with grapes from the oldest vines on the estate’s historic plots.\n\n\nChâteau Pichon Baron exhibits elegance, intensity and exceptional length on the palate.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8306242823600769}
+{"content": "• English\n  • 中文(繁体字)\n  • 中文（簡体字）\n\n\n\nWhat kind of animal is the Japanese macaque?\n\n\nAmong the 180 species of monkeys that exist, the indigenous Japanese macaque is known to be the most northern non-human wild primate in the world. Most non-human primates tend to enjoy a more tropical or subtropical area, and I think a lot of people will agree with that mindset. Though the Japanese macaques are found all over Japan, only those at the Snow Monkey Park in Jigokudani-Yaen Koen are famous as the “snow monkeys” for to their tendency of entering the hot spring water.\n\nMale monkeys weigh 6 – 18 kg (13 – 39 pounds) while females weigh 6 – 14 kg (13 – 30 pounds) with a height that ranges from 47 to 60 cm (1.5 – 2 feet), depending on the age. The monkey has a short tail, about the same size of a human finger, which is different from the typical long-tailed monkey image most people have. It is estimated that just over 100,000 Japanese macaques live across Japan.\n\n\nWhy do the snow monkeys bathe in the onsen (hot springs)?\n\n\nThe reason why the monkeys take a hot spring bath is quite simple; to survive from the cold! So during the winter season (December to March) you’ll see monkeys sitting in the bath. You might also see monkeys in the hot spring at other times of the year for different purposes, such as to get food fallen in the bath, to swim or simply to relax.\n\nTheir habit of sitting in an onsen was first discovered at the ryokan (Japanese inn) Korakukan, located right next to where the Snow Monkey Park currently is. The onsen was originally made for the human guests, but at one point the monkeys got interested in it too. The problem with monkeys however, is that they do their business anywhere. So in order to have a clean bath for the humans but also a safe place for the monkeys, they decided to make a designated monkey onsen nearby. This is how the monkey park originally started.\n\n\n\nHow many monkeys are there in the park?\n\n\nIn the Snow Monkey Park there are about 150 Japanese macaques. Around 60 to 70% of the 150 monkeys are female. The park staff know pretty much every single one of the monkeys by their facial characteristics or even color of their fur.\n\nMonkeys move in troops and and they consist of both adult males, adult females and their babies. The males tend to move from group to group or they leave to make their own small independent troop. To avoid confrontation with the stronger troops, they do not come down to the park and are more likely to appear near the human residential area. You may bump into those monkeys in the area where the snow monkey park bus stop is located. In that case, you should take caution with plastic bags, as the sound is very interesting for them because they think it might contain food, or when holding food since they might try to take it from you.\n\n\nHow can we distinguish male and female monkeys, and individual monkeys?\n\n\nIn their childhood it is very difficult to see whether a monkey is male or female. When they start maturing however, it becomes more apparent due to the scrotal sac on males or the nipples on females. Also, females tend to have a lighter fur and males a darker fur.\nAs for distinguishing one monkey from the other, the older they get, the more wrinkly their face gets and the darker the fur color. Also, the character of the monkey really begins to shine through. The wrinkles, fur color and attitude make it easier to identify the monkey. However, being able to identify each monkey takes years of practice, even for the park staff.\n\n\nHow old do the snow monkeys get?\n\n\nThe average life expectancy is about 25 to 30 years. The oldest monkey in the park is currently around 24 years old. As they age, their skin gets wrinkly just like humans, and they tend to get a crooked spine and become a little smaller.\n\n\nHow do they communicate among each other?\n\n\nThey largely depend on facial expression, attitude, or verbal sounds to communicate with other monkeys. They use verbal sound not as language, rather as a way to show their attitude. When you hear the monkeys chatter, take a guess and try to translate what they are saying to the others!\n\n\nWhere do they sleep?\n\n\nThe monkeys generally go back up the mountain next to the Monkey Park. They make their sleeping place somewhere else just about every day. One day they might have their sleeping quarters in the top of a tree and the next on the side of a cliff. They do tend to sleep with relatives or close friends and cuddle up during cold nights.\n\n\nWhat do they eat besides the barley given by the park staff?\n\n\nEspecially during the spring and autumn they can forage the mountain for wild vegetables, nuts, flowers, fruits etc. The winter season is a troublesome one for the monkeys as there is close to no food to be found in the area. Only tree bark and winter buds are found. This is not the favorite food for the monkeys as the barely eat this in spring and autumn. The barley provided at the Snow Monkey Park at regulated times is much appreciated by the monkeys as it helps them survive.\n\n316 - コピー\n\n\nWhat are the differences between the Japanese macaques and other monkeys around the world?\n\n\nThe Japanese macaque are the only monkeys able to live under extreme cold weather conditions going as low as minus ten degrees Celcius or 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The snow monkeys bathing in the onsen to survive the wintery cold is a a unique scene only seen at the Snow Monkey Park.\n\nVisitors find the monkeys generally very friendly and docile compared to monkeys in other parts of the world. The monkeys tend to just ignore you as long as you don’t stare at them, or growl when you get too close to them.\n\n\nCan I bathe with the monkeys?\n\n\nThe hot spring at the Snow Monkey Park is just for the monkeys. However, if you want to try and take a bath with the monkeys, you might try your luck at the nearby Korakukan Onsen. There is a possibility the monkeys will join you while you bathe in the open-air bath at the ryokan. Even in the off-season people can be seen bathing in the onsen, sometimes with a not a lot covering them up…\n\n\nDo they bathe during the spring / summer / autumn too?\n\n\nSunbathing? Yes. In the hot spring? Not so much. You might see them in the bath taking a swim or bathing while enjoying lunch prepared by the park staff, but unlike the winter months there are definitely days when the monkeys just don’t feel like entering the bath.\n\nThe monkeys behave in different ways depending on the season and temperature of the day. When it’s very cold in the middle of winter, they tend to stay still to preserve energy and cuddle to warm each other or get in the onsen. When it’s warm and the sun is out, they tend to be more active and move around in the area. You’ll see monkeys grooming each other and kids playing under the sun.\n\nWinter is not the only time you can see the snow monkeys as most of their time is spend at the park.There is however always a possibility of monkeys not to come down to the park because they are wild animals. When this happens the park staff will go to great lengths to try and get the monkeys to come down to the park. They will go up the dangerous mountains to see if they persuade the macaques into joining the visitors at the park.\n\n\n\nWhat do the park staff do for their work?\n\n\nNext to cleaning up the occasional feces, they are in charge of feeding the monkeys at set times and to ensure a harmonious coexistence between monkeys and humans. The latter is mostly done through enforcing some of the rules of the park.\n①By not letting the monkeys be fed by visitors and feeding them at any given time, they make sure that monkeys won’t get into the habit of begging or stealing. It happens that occasionally a monkey tries to take something, but that is more out of curiosity than it is to get food.\n②By not letting the visitors touch or get too close to the monkeys they not only protect visitors from possible monkey attacks, but also keep distance between the animals and humans so the monkeys hold on to their wild nature.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5526449680328369}
+{"content": "[1941] Sergeant York\n\nsergeant-york-belgian-movie-posterHyperreal violence plays a role in postmodern American culture. It continues to be the defining moment in each day chronicled and it is glorified in stone in film and television. Fast, clear, and present danger is always under the next shag rug; the grass will kill you; and we better be ready for the imminent, always imminent, rise of the autonomy of things. First our cars will drive us, and then they will drive us off a cliff.\n\nBut ocean red, the hue that resonates the blood-shot reflection of a dead solider, will always be the cornerstone of American fascination with War. The Patriotic film demonstrates the hellish torment of battle, with corporeal guts and bones the ultimate sacrifice. This message is simple and meaningful and, when overdone, can be visually stunning and worthwhile as a statement, or just a way for a production studio to run the world a little dryer of #ff0000. But before color ubiquity in media, directors needed to dig a little deeper to represent the horrifics of war and death. Before it becomes unfashionable, the ultimate sacrifice is and was for of Our Lord the Christian God. Gary Cooper as Alvin York, in the titular Sergeant York, answers the call to demonstrate the harsh brutality of what it means to die in the arms of the ethereal. Continue reading “[1941] Sergeant York”\n\n[1941] The Little Foxes\n\n21355-the-little-foxes-0-230-0-345-cropIn formal probability theory, mathematicians and armchair enthusiasts sometimes describe a technique called “coupling.”\n\nThis technique allows for seemingly random variables, x and y, to interact with one another in otherwise random way. Suppose walks that way and this – how can we measure how likely it is that they meet? Or that they never will? Probablists introduce a measure of their own creation to force an interaction, then measure success or failure. This technique allows for the creation of path dependence and bias determination that otherwise could not have been measured.\n\nThis is a phenomenal approach to a problem of no consequence. Sure, we care what should happen, but we really only measure what does happen and try to predict, with some accuracy what could happen, given xy, and the medium. Sometimes, with enough certainty, our best guess is correct, and we begin to understand the difference between a graphite prediction and a graphic realization. The Little Foxes, whose production brought Bette Davis and William Wyler together again in 1941, is a film-proximate take on coupling.\n\nThe actress and the director make magic; theorists can couple together as much evidence as they want, but there is no measurement for spark and collaborative creativity that can outperform expected results. The Little Foxes proved this in the early 1940s. By way of a proud story, the film pairs together an actress at the height of her career with a director at the height of his. The story had been scene-tested on stage and was destined for imprint on film, with interpretive authority to be canonized as one of the five best of the year. Given this footstool of facts, mathematics aside, a critic from a reel away could have predicted this film’s success from the onset.\n\nAnd it was almost derailed. Continue reading “[1941] The Little Foxes”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7304452657699585}
+{"content": "NL Budget 2016 Revolt – Jon Parsons\n\n\n[Updated events, actions, demos, initiatives, etc., see link list at bottom of post] There is a revolt brewing in Newfoundland and Labrador in response to an austerity budget introduced by the prov…\n\nSource: NL Budget 2016 Revolt – Jon Parsons\n\n\nEven the Rich Can Enjoy Capitalism with a Basic Income\n\n\nEven many within the 1% should be willing to accept capitalism that involves a basic income where there is no poverty, and people compete for relative rather than absolute wealth.\n\nWhy would some people who have so much money under the current system prefer a system where they are still well off, but have less (in absolute terms)?  Because their relative rank would go up (in terms of wealth/recognition etc.)\n\nRedeeming personality-types are found in all fields and sectors of society as are sinister personality-types.  Some genuinely kind-hearted people do find their way into realms of affluence.\n\nThey have a lot under the current system, but what they don’t realize is they would have MORE under a system where there is LESS inequality.  In a less oppressive society where there is no poverty (and only minor inequality,) there is greater truth.  Greater truth only threatens sinister personality-types that hurt others to get ahead in society.  Someone like Oprah would also be successful in a world without poverty.  However, many people who did questionable things to become richer than her might have a much harder time doing so in a humane society.  Thus, her relative rank goes up.\n\nAnd it’s not just about wealth either.  In a world of zero poverty and genuine honesty, more compassionate human beings receive greater recognition and are actually less inhibited in their service to humanity.\n\nNobody’s perfect.  I feel Oprah has promoted excessive materialism and a very specious form of spirituality (i.e. colourful, but empty.)  I don’t like how she lauds the United States, describing it as “the greatest country in the world,” as if the ascendancy of Rome should eclipse the ruthlessness of its empire.\n\nHaving said that, I do think she is somebody who genuinely wants to alleve human suffering.  Leading up to the Iraq war, she did have a show that expressed her distaste of violence over peace.  However, it was met with the typical hysterical ultra-nationalism that applauds itself in suppressing any criticism or dissent.\n\nSo many of us have so much to say but can’t because there is no platform where such words are considered acceptable without sinister personalities taking advantage of the convenience of oppressing on behalf of (arbitrarily accepted) intellectual authorities.  Zero poverty allows truly resilient personalities to survive long enough to defend truth.\n\nThe more genuine characters within the 1% actually advance in terms of relative wealth/recognition in a society where there is no poverty at all.  Thus, there is some impetus for the rich to favour their wealth being redistributed fairly and properly (especially since the idea of property was arbitrary and anti-democratic to begin with.)\n\nEnding poverty is also just the right thing to do and success within a system that is fundamentally elitist/oppressive is like being a major success in North Korea—is that really something we applaud?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.781722903251648}
+{"content": "On the Use of Soul Mirrors\n\nThe very first step on our magical path is to understand what we are not. Some magicians refer to humans as spiritual beings in meat-suits. We are conjoined to the flesh we were born into and still there seems to be a difference between 'us' and our bodies. As we progress further on the path we begin to realise that we are not only vested in a suit of meat, but also in a suit of emotions and a suit of mental patterns. All of these together create the makeup of our mortal personalities, the house we live in.\n\n— C.S. Lewis\n\nThus before we can get anywhere in magic - or life in general - doing a thorough inventory control of what is present within this house is a first and crucial precondition to success. The goal is to gain a minute understanding of all the different layers of materials we were created from - as well as the specific qualities, compositions and dynamics these substances assumed over time as part of our personality. It is this knowledge and understanding of ourselves that enables us to alter and change ourselves as we progress - and to ultimately turn ourselves into effective tools of magical work as Adepts.\n\nOf course there are many ways to gain this knowledge of ourselves. We could call life a school that doesn't teach any other subject but to realise ourselves. So the good and bad news is: there is no rush towards these lessons, yet also no way to avoid them. The only thing we get to choose is how uncomfortable or painful the process of realisation will be.\n\nIn general the simple rule applies: the more we walk away from them, the harder the lessons will be. Yet, the more often we decide to walk towards them voluntarily, the more choices we might be given on the context we will be learning in.\n\nSo what are the techniques our magical lore gives us to walk towards these lessons of self-realisation? The answer is, they are legion, but they all start with introspection\n\nIntrospection is the self-examination of one's conscious thoughts and feelings. In psychology, the process of introspection relies exclusively on the purposeful and rational self-observation of one's mental state; however, introspection is sometimes referenced in a spiritual context as the examination of one's soul. Introspection is closely related to the philosophical concept of human self-reflection, and is contrasted with external observation. Introspection has been a subject of philosophical discussion for thousands of years. The philosopher Plato is thought to have referenced introspection when he asked, \"…why should we not calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly examine and see what these appearances in us really are?\" (wikipedia)\n\nNow as we embark on the adventure of introspection, the problem one quickly encounters is that we lack a language for observing ourselves. The predominant amount of our vocabulary is directed externally, towards the outside world. As a matter of fact language was created to describe the visible world and make interaction with it easier. Once we enter into the subjective realm of our minds the boundaries of language easily start to blur. Philosophers, priests and magicians have wrestled with this challenges for millenials - to bring objectivity to our subjective inner realms - while artists have greatly enjoyed it.\n\nOvercoming this barriers in most cases goes along with an either-or decision. Either we give up on language at all, we stop trying to verbalise what is going on inside of us and silently withdraw into a state of pure observance. This is the path of Eastern Mediation, the Zen path of self-realisation through silence and observing. This path recently has been re-discovered by western psychology and mental science in their attempt to leverage it for healing chronic mental disorders. The fascinating results can be studied under the term 'Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy'.\n\nOr we can chose another approach to pierce through the veil of inner subjectivity. Supplementing the Eastern path of silence here we discover the Western mystical path; rather than on non-attachement it relies on direct involvement, conscious experience and active introspection. Where the former aims to calm our mind into a state of non-perceiving or all-perceiving, the latter leverages the nature of the mind to grasp on to anything and everything and to realise itself through experience.\n\nWhat follows are two specific techniques of introspection taken from the Western path. As mentioned above, they can be supplemented by applying meditational techniques and observing in silence. Yet, their real strength lies in using the power of our minds to actively examine the nature of our mental, emotional and spiritual bodies.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9986785054206848}
+{"content": "Self control\n\n\n\n“But if we take a wider view we see that people exhibit extraordinary self-control in a whole range of ways in many different areas of their lives. It’s just that these different modes of self-control are not equally valued or celebrated by society. And society expects different people to exert different types of self-control. Gender is an obvious example, with women often expected to be particularly self-controlled in how they express their sexuality, how they control their weight, and how they suppress anger and assertiveness. You only need to look at media coverage of the drinking habits of young New Zealanders to see a highly gendered idea of self-control at play. Inevitably the media uses images of rowdy, out of control young women as the symbol of our youths’ “drinking problems”, even though their behaviour is similar to that of young men.\n\nSome people perform jobs that require immense resolve and patience in handling challenging scenarios and pressures. Flight attendants, nurses, teacher aids for kids with behavioral challenges, to name a few. These professions must practice self-control, perseverance, and self-discipline in often testing situations. But they are rarely deemed worthy of an inspirational article about self-control. Watch carefully the work these people do. It’s often a masterclass in self composure and restraint.””\n\n\nAbout Katherine\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7108645439147949}
+{"content": "Time course analysis of hippocampal nerve growth factor and antioxidant enzyme activity following lateral controlled cortical impact brain injury in the rat.\n\n\nGradual secondary injury processes, including the release of toxic reactive oxygen species, are important components of the pathogenesis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The extent of oxidative stress is determined in part by the effectiveness of the antioxidant response, involving the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide… (More)\n\n\n  • Presentations referencing similar topics", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9945077896118164}
+{"content": "A protractor is a device used in drafting and drawing: it's mainly used for drawing and measuring angles. Don't show up to geometry without your protractor!\n\nIn math class, you use many tools, such as a calculator. Another is the protractor, which is handy when you're studying geometry. Protractors are designed to help you measure and draw angles. You can make a rhombus or an isosceles triangle with a protractor. A protractor can help you measure existing angles too, like if you’re taking a geometry test and need to compare angle measurements. Graphic artists, architects, and other professionals who need to make angles use protractors.\n\nDefinitions of protractor\n\nn drafting instrument used to draw or measure angles\n\nType of:\ndrafting instrument\nan instrument used by a draftsman in making drawings\n\nSign up, it's free!\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9512662887573242}
+{"content": "Japanese food style\n\n\n\nOishii Ginza -Delicious Ginza-\n\n投稿日：2015/04/13 更新日：\n\nThe food section of the department store\n\nI hate air travel.Therefore I had few chance to travel abroad.Only, I went to Singapore 20 years ago.I went to Takashimaya in Sngapore.Takashimayahas an abundant line-up of products, so shopping was fun.Thereafter I go to buy Japanese food for the food section of the department store frequently in Japan.\nOishii Ginza -Delicious Ginza- picture3\nrefer to All About\n\n\nIn Japanese, “Depa-chika” refers to the basement floors of a department store where the delicatessen sections are usually located.This is the comic which backstage of “Depa-chika” was drawn on.The comic name is “Oishii Ginza”.\nOishii Ginza -Delicious Ginza- picture1\n\nDepartment store in Ginza\n\nThe story is set in a department store of Ginza, Tokyo.Tokyo, Ginza is the area where a Japanese longs for.The place that land prices are the highest in in Japan is Ginza.I am interested what kind of food will be sold in the department store in Ginza.I read this comic from now on.\nOishii Ginza -Delicious Ginza- picture2\n\n\n\n\nSpace Chef Caisar\n\n\nBakumeshi -Gamble dish-\n\n\nHot‐blooded cook ‘Shutomitoku’\n\n\nMayonaka gohan -Midnight meal-\n\n\nMiraculous kitchen\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7215038537979126}
+{"content": "Posttraumatic Growth and its Dimensions in Patients with Cancer\n\nMehdi Heidarzadeh, Maryam Rassouli, Farahnaz Mohammadi Shahbolaghi, Hamid Alavi Majd, Aman-Mohamad Karam, Hamidreza Mirzaee, Mamak Tahmasebi\n\n\nBackground: Physical and psychological stresses produced by diagnosis and treatment of cancer can lead to positive psychological changes or posttraumatic growth. The aim of current study is to assess posttraumatic growth and its dimensions in Iranian patients with cancer, and the impact of demographic characteristics on posttraumatic growth.\n\nMethods: This was a descriptive study on 452 patients with cancer who referred to the oncology wards of two main hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The instruments were the Demographic Characteristics Scale and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. SPSS version 15 was used to analyze the data.\n\nResults: The mean age of participants was 46.2±14.2 years, 59% were female and 39% had metastatic cancer. The mean PTGI score of the participants was 68.6±14.6. The most acquired percentage of score was for \"spiritual changes\" and \"communication with others\". Age, educational status, income, and type of cancer had significant correlation with posttraumatic growth score.\n\nConclusion: The findings of the current study indicated that the score of posttraumatic growth in Iranian patients with cancer was higher than in patients of Western societies. The most improvement was seen in the \"spiritual changes\" dimension.\n\nFull Text:\n\n\n\n  • There are currently no refbacks.\n\neISSN: 2008-6687           pISSN: 2008-6709", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996458292007446}
+{"content": "Stage Name Generator\n\nSelect your gender, enter the names of your two favourite colours in the box, and click the \"Go Hollywood\" button!\n\nWhich generation do you belong to?\n\nWhat do you currently do in life?\n\nWhat is your deepest desire?\n\nWhat,would you say, is your strongest quality?\n\nWhat role do you play in your friendships?\n\nHow often do you work out?\n\nWhy did you take this test?\n\nWhat do you dream about when you sleep?\n\nIf you were an animal, what would you be?\n\nDo you have a bucket list?\n\nPick one of the below. You are...\n\nNow enter your name and click the button:\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8802701234817505}
+{"content": "Sarah's Kine Justice, A Story of Modern Hawaii\n\nSarah's Kine Justice, A Story of Modern Hawaii\n\nABOUT Hermann Schachtschneider\n\nHermann Schachtschneider\nnewly self-published\n\n\n\nAction & Adventure in Hawaii!\n“Couldn't put it down,” was the comment added by the first Amazon reviewer.\n\n\n\nNow, two genetic engineers have found a way to force the United States to give back the islands, and they've given notice that all non-Hawaiians must get out or die.\n\nSarah Kiley is one of a few thousand pure-blooded Hawaiians who stand to inherit Hawaii under the scientists' plan. While investigating the murder of a friend, she finds herself a key player on the inter-agency task force that's trying to stop them. Given the opportunity to change the history of her people and return their stolen sovereignty, she must decide which side will win.\n\nTold from a Christian worldview!\n\nThis story is told from a Christian worldview. The main protagonists are not morally perfect, but they are practicing Christians. They pray, and they find strength in their relationships with their Creator and Savior. The author has taken care to not include expletives, blasphemous language or the sorts of story events and elements that he finds morally offensive in many popular thrillers and mysteries. The result is a first class thriller that you can recommend unequivocally to any Christian book lover.\n\nClick the “Buy Now” button to add this ebook to your cart, and discover the uplifting pleasure of reading a thriller purposely written from a Christian worldview.\n\nAloha and Peace be with you.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9401453137397766}
+{"content": "The Spirit Of Eid Al-Fitr\n\nIn the spirit of Eid ul-Fitr, Allah and His greatness are acknowledged, His blessings for humanity are acknowledged and thanked. The faithful make a promise to Him that everyone will live together in peace. There is no prescribed ritual for Eid ul-Fitr except for the two units of namaz or prayer.\n\nGifts of sweets distributed on the day of Eid represent the true spirit of this Islamic festival.The Prophet of Islam once said that an exchange of gifts promotes love in society. So, sweets are not simply sweets: they also have a spiritual meaning. Sweets represent not only the spirit of Eid, but also the true spirit of Islam.\n\n\n\nEid ul-Fitr represents the reward of Allah, which will be granted by God to those who observe one month’s fasting. In other words, fasting represents dutiful worldly life and Eid ul-Fitr represents the reward that will be given in return by Allah to man.\n\nAccording to tradition, the day of Eid is the day of divine reward. When believers observe their duty in the month of Ramzan in the true spirit of the season, Allah declares: “O angels, be witness that I have decided to bestow upon them paradise in the world hereafter.”\n\nPrecisely, the month of fasting represents the responsibilities of the believers in this world and Eid ul-Fitr represents the reward given to them in the world hereafter. Precisely\n\nLet’s hope that this auspicious occasion would be the harbinger of peace, progress, prosperity and happiness and would strengthen the bonds of communal harmony, brotherhood and amity, which are the hallmarks of J&K’s glorious pluralistic traditions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8117367029190063}
+{"content": "Kansas Judicial Branch Home\nKansas Courts\nKansas Judicial Branch\n\nClerk of the Appellate Court\nKansas Judicial Center\n301 SW 10th Avenue, Room 107\nTopeka Kansas 66612-1507\nTelephone:  785.296.3229\nFax:  785.296.1028\nEmail: appellateclerk@kscourts.org\n\nRules Adopted by the Supreme Court\n\nRules Relating to Discipline of Attorneys\n\nRule 226\nKansas Rules of Professional Conduct\n\n3.7 Advocate: Lawyer as Witness\n\n\n(1) the testimony relates to an uncontested issue;\n\n\n\nAdvocate-Witness Rule\n[3] To protect the tribunal, paragraph (a) prohibits a lawyer from simultaneously serving as advocate and necessary witness except in those circumstances specified in paragraphs (a)(1) through (a)(3). Paragraph (a)(1) recognizes that if the testimony will be uncontested, the ambiguities in the dual role are purely theoretical. Paragraph (a)(2) recognizes that where the testimony concerns the extent and value of legal services rendered in the action in which the testimony is offered, permitting the lawyers to testify avoids the need for a second trial with new counsel to resolve that issue. Moreover, in such a situation the judge has first-hand knowledge of the matter in issue; hence, there is less dependence on the adversary process to test the credibility of the testimony.\n[5] Because the tribunal is not likely to be misled when a lawyer acts as advocate in a trial in which another lawyer in the lawyer's firm will testify as a necessary witness, paragraph (b) permits the lawyer to do so except in situations involving a conflict of interest.\nConflict of Interest\n[6] In determining if it is permissible to act as advocate in a trial in which the lawyer will be a necessary witness, the lawyer must also consider that the dual role may give rise to a conflict of interest that will require compliance with Rules 1.7 or 1.9. For example, if there is likely to be substantial conflict between the testimony of the client and that of the lawyer, the representation involves a conflict of interest that requires compliance with Rule 1.7. This would be true even though the lawyer might not be prohibited by paragraph (a) from simultaneously serving as advocate and witness because the lawyer's disqualification would work a substantial hardship on the client. Similarly, a lawyer who might be permitted to simultaneously serve as an advocate and a witness by paragraph (a)(3) might be precluded from doing so by Rule 1.9. The problem can arise whether the lawyer is called as a witness on behalf of the client or is called by the opposing party. Determining whether or not such a conflict exists is primarily the responsibility of the lawyer involved. If there is a conflict of interest, the lawyer must secure the client's informed consent, confirmed in writing. In some cases, the lawyer will be precluded from seeking the client's consent. See Rule 1.7. See Rule 1.0(b) for the definition of\"confirmed in writing\" and Rule 1.0(f) for the definition of \"informed consent.\"\n[7] Paragraph (b) provides that a lawyer is not disqualified from serving as an advocate because a lawyer with whom the lawyer is associated in a firm is precluded from doing so by paragraph (a). If, however, the testifying lawyer would also be disqualified by Rule 1.7 or Rule 1.9 from representing the client in the matter, other lawyers in the firm will be precluded from representing the client by Rule 1.10 unless the client gives informed consent under the conditions stated in Rule 1.7.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6034587621688843}
+{"content": "Natural Remedies\n\nAlthough it can not seem, a cough is a measurement of protection of the body in healthy individuals. A cough is an involuntary reflection (something that we cannot avoid) that is initiated by two classes of nerves with conclusions in the lungs. Toser is an action that the body takes to get rid of substances that irritate the air passages, and a cough begins generally to clear an accumulation of flema (snot) in the trachea. When a person tose, the air can move through this passage in up to 300 MPH. What causes a cough? If an individual is a smoker and does not have a x-ray of the normal chest, the causes most probable of a persistent cough are asthma, heartburn, or nasal gotereo. Other causes of the chronic cough include chronic bronchitis and conventional medication indirect effect certain such as inhibiting ACE.\n\nA cough can also be a symptom of an infection or a respiratory bronchitis superior, pulmona, or tuberculosis. The natural remedies of the cough can help to alleviate the associated malaise to cough attacks. The individuals that smoke often have what it talks about like \" cough of fumador\" , a noisy cough that often gives rise to the expiration of flema. It is advised whenever the individuals stop to smoke of a natural way, as much to alleviate the cough of the smoker and to live one more a healthier life. The coughs in children are common, and accompany generally many by the normal diseases of the childhood such as influenza and bronchitis. Toser can also be driven by the food that goes underneath the incorrect route, and when this happens it is because epiglotis has not done its work correctly in the safekeeping of the food outside the trachea. Aid for a cough A cough that continues by several days or increases of severity authorizes a visit to a doctor to eliminate other diseases.\n\nRepairing A Relationship\n\n\n\n\n\nThe training to burn fat are an integral part of any program of exercises if you are aiming to lose kilos fast. Learn more on the subject from actress. After all, with the purpose of to become thin, it is necessary that all the objectives aim to burn the excess of fat that you have managed to accumulate in your body. A training to burn fat does more than only to burn all fats of the body, but also uses the fat like fuel to move your body. What are the exercises to burn greasy? A series of slow and aerobic exercises that extend by a long period of time considers that it is an exercise that burning fire the fats. These training have as primary target gruposde muscles in the body and the use of the fat stored in the body like primary fuel source, which aid to lose weight.\n\nNevertheless, if it is wanted to manage to lose kilos fast, it is important to maintain the intensity correct of these training. This must to that to low intensity, the body uses the fat like fuel. Nevertheless, when happening to a training of high intensity, your body changes to fat burning fire of the reserve of the body carbohydrates. What exercises help to burn fat? There are several exercises that will help you to burn fat and to lose kilos. These are: Aerobic dance – If you dance one hour, you can burn up to 330 calories! And when it is combined with a diet to lower of weight, you can burn the fat in your body and obtain the additional benefit to obtain strong muscles in the leg. Aerobic exercises – These exercises have like objective the area around the waist and to burn the fat of this region. Also aid to strengthen muscles of the final stage and inferior. Cycling – To walk in bicycle is considered like one of the best exercises for the fat burning fire, develops to the muscles of the thigh doing them more forts.\n\nLosing Belly Fat\n\nEverybody wants to learn like losing fast belly. And there are several good reasons to wish it. On the one hand, the fat of the stomach or a belly that is not most attractive of the world. On the other hand, the studies are beginning to demonstrate that those with a high abdominal fat concentration are in risk of undergoing serious problems of health, like diabetes, cardiac diseases and high cholesterol. So to lose and to undo of that fat so much talks about to shine well and to stay healthful. And, luckily, there are 2 simple things that you can make to squash that belly right now. Good comma Contrary to the popular belief, you do not have morirte of hunger, and to spend weeks with the sensation of extreme hunger, with the purpose of to burn fat and to lose weight.\n\nYou can eat a pile and even so to have a flat stomach. The trick is in eating the correct type of foods. The foods that are high in low protein and in carbohydrates, like eggs, thin meats, grain whole numbers, fruits and vegetables are your better options. On the other hand, to avoid carbohydrates refinings, which it means to avoid foods done with white flour and white sugar. Also desire that you stay remote of saturated fats. Refreshments a full one no, no.\n\nThese are full of sugar and empty calories. Beginning of the correct type of Cardio the physical activity greasy burning fire. And if one becomes jumbled in a vigorous physical activity of pumping of the heart, you will burn more fast fat. In fact, any thing that you can make to obtain your heart rate during 20 to 30 minutes helps to burn the fat that is in the stomach. Nevertheless, the majority of people thinks that doing 100s of abdominal they obtained a flat stomach. This process of thought is erroneous. It is necessary to include other exercises in his routine. This could mean to register in aerobics class, or the purchase of the videos that can be followed in house. But also it can include to participate in activities for the diversion, like swimming, to dance or to play a game of basketball with your friendly. Having a long walk by the district once to the day it is even the trick. to make some type of cardiovascular exercise has two advantages. First it is that burning fire the fat. Second it is that it helps to stimulate the metabolism. Your metabolism is, basically, the speed in which the greasy body burning fire. Whichever major is your metabolism, greasier you would burn, and? more weight you will lose. Now already you know like losing fast belly. In fact, it is that simple. If you eat more of the suitable types of foods, you eliminate the mistaken type of foods, and realise the type of cardiovascular exercise at least 3 or 4 times to the week, estaras in perfect abdominal the correct way to have a flat belly and in the smaller time. The Truth visits next On Abdominal the Perfect one\n\nHealth And Inflammation\n\n\n\nCardio Weightloss Exercises\n\nThe exercises of cardio? they have become one of the most popular aspects to lose weight, already all the nation entered the state of health-conscious that it is now. Like question in fact, there are good programs and exercises that concentrate in cardio to lose fat more than in any other session of exercise. The key is here, by all means, in the burning fire of calories, but in fact there are some things to have one more a deeper glance to before jumping in the tape. First of all, you must consider the types of training on the base of cardio to burn fat. There are mainly three and each of them will be discussed in detail. Each has an aspect different in the burning fire from calories and all has their pros and their cons, which enumerate themselves down also. Interval of formation of Alta Intensidad (HIIT) This interval is it last more of all these programs, since it demands Sprint to him to his maximum capacity soon to rest and to repeat.\n\nThe good thing is that it only takes about fifteen minutes to realise it. Points to favor: It increases your metabolic rate in rest. This even means that your metabolism increases, when is in rest. It is very important to even maintain our metabolism participating in rest with the purpose of to increase the rate of fat burning fire. A slow metabolism is friendly with an increase of weight. Burning fire calories even after making exercise. She has been famous by the form in which it much later continues burning calories of which it has finished with the exercises. This means therefore that him burning fire the fat even when it is not training. You are not going to suffer loss of muscular mass, a common problem with a session of exercises of cardio prolonged.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7706226110458374}
+{"content": "Laura Esquivel: “Every picture and every word heals”\n\nNov 30, 2016 | Interviews\n\nInterview with Laura Esquivel\nby Rayma\n\n\nIn the Miami Book Fair, we had the privilege of interviewing the Mexican writer. She presented her book “Pierced by the Sun.” We talked about the defining features of her work and her clear vision of the contemporary world.\n\nWhat is the central topic of your work?\n\nI think, it is love. It has always been in my work, its obstacles and complications. There is another topic related to a deep belief and conviction in the human transformative capacity.\n\nHow they can reinvent, transform and purge themselves, to become a different person.\n\nSo, literature is a shamanic practice of healing?\n\nEvery picture and every word heals. Sometimes, I address things people do not like, such as the responsibility of those in charge of pictures and words. The work is not about being successful or not, getting recognition or not, selling or not, but getting in touch with the sensible world of the readers, the world of their feelings. A world connected with the world of the reason, because there is no division between them. When you touch the heart, you touch the mind, sharing information that brings out the best of people. Therefore, I believe there is an alchemical process in literature, music, cooking, in everything.\n\nLatin America grew up from magical realism, and we have been in trouble since then because we are constantly looking for magical solutions. You, as a writer, have made a contribution with images and metaphors to this topic, but I have read your interviews, and you express with a clear mind. How can you address sensitive topics throughout metaphors?\n\nGoing beyond the functions of language and images is necessary. We all have unconscious archetypes with us. They come to our minds when we get in touch with certain information. I mean, instead of talking about murder and death of a loved one, we could understand that death is not real because life is not related to the body but with something beyond. In the novel, Like water for chocolate, the apparition of Tita’s mother is not magical realism. A castrating mother will appear before the daughter until she confronts her. That’s what Tita does; she says “I hate you, I hated you, I hate you, ” and the mother goes away.\n\nNow, I go further in my last novel: Tita’s diary. There is a reassessment and reconciliation with the mother. It is beautiful because the book shows twenty lost years of Like water for chocolate. So, I work those symbols and images again.\n\nAre your books parts of a whole?\n\nNow, I was invited to the Fair for my book Pierced by the Sun. But I have a new book Tita’s diary; this is the second part of a trilogy. The next year the last part will come.\n\nKitchen and woman are topics always present in your work. Ironically, in the contemporary world, the most renowned chef are men. I have a friend, a Venezuelan chef (Elena Ibarra). She says men are chef because they need to kill their mothers.\n\n\nUsually, professional chefs are looking for money, not for providing welfare or love. They do excellent work, but that’s different. TV shows about chefs in the US are contests where quick cooking is the plot. However, time doesn’t matter for women cooking in our countries. Their aim is spiritual nutrition and it is not important what chef is better because the idea is to continue traditions.\n\nSo, the sacred femininity is shown: joining, giving with generosity and love, energy always circulating.\n\nYou give a place among your characters to anonymous women and anti-heroines, like the one in Lupita.\n\nThey are heroines to me. They work from intimacy with actions that make no sense for a world dominated by production, consumerism, where time is money and surviving means crushing others. So, these violated and ignored women, day by day, fight a personal struggle from resistance. Lupita is my favorite character because she is the sacred feminine archetype. She is a mirror for women who tell me “I am Lupita”; This is a compliment to me.\n\nThis topic goes beyond gender. It’s a revindication of the feminine role.\n\nI try to show a worldview of those women, marked by the historical past. Let us ask, how many generations succumbed to alcohol? How many generations have suffered violations and abuses? How many generations does it take for a country to realize that their problems are the stolen elections, plundering, humiliations, be left on its own?, What does a person should think? And why do people not overcome that condition? That’s the reason of the character, Lupita.\n\nDo you think women have to reinvent themselves or should continue competing with the establishment? \n\nThis country had a woman candidate for presidency. It was unthinkable in the past.\n\nWorthy women have contributed to this system, but we are not on the right path. Who needs this terrible government?\n\nFear is the only thing that can paralyze a person. That’s why there are policies to generate fear, but how should we face fear?\n\nWe have to take a different way than division, extreme individuality, the law of the jungle, predation and collective suicide.\n\nThe right way to go is based on collaboration, sharing in community, and fostering values. The solution is to create sustainable communities: small, integrated and coordinated. We have to go back to basics to create and change. How long will it take? Nobody knows, but it’s time for the first step.\n\nPublished books\n\nLike water for chocolate (1989)\nThe law of love (1995)\nÍntimas suculencias (1998)\n\nEstrellita marinera (1999)\nEl libro de las emociones (2000)\nSwift as desire (2001)\n\nMalinche: A novel (2004)\nPierced by the Sun (2014)\nTita’s Diary (2016)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8430695533752441}
+{"content": "China Bucket Adapters Manufacturers\n\nAs a famous China Bucket Adapters Suppliers and Bucket Adapters Manufacturers,Fenghua Xinke Precision Casting Co., Ltd specializing in the manufacturing of Bucket Adapters,Our company is located in the beautiful town called Qiucun Town,which is in the famous industrial city Ningbo in China,we was established in 2004, it covers a total area of 60,000 square meters and now has more than 650 employees,including 10 engineers and 50 technicians. The company owns a brand-new foundry, which covers an area of more than 45,000 square meters, and is equipped with 12 modern types of energy-saving & environmentally-friendly production lines,We are capable to produce Bucket Adapters according to customers’ drawings or samples, we focus on stainless steel, carbon steel and low alloy steel,Our Bucket Adapters are mainly exported to over 30 countries such as USA,Germany,Japan,Spain,Italy,UK,Korea,Australia, Canada and etc.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9232425689697266}
+{"content": "Quick-fire interview round\n\n5 minutes with the PMC Lead of EE4J\n\nWhat is Jakarta EE? What does it mean for a project to go open source like Java EE? In this interview, Ivar Grimstad, the PMC Lead of EE4J, gave us five minutes of his time to tell us about EE4J and Jakarta EE.\n\nA language by any other name\n\nHow do we define Java?\n\nWhat is and isn’t part of Java? The question has a more in-depth answer than you may suspect. In this article, Simon Ritter discusses the differences in definitions between terms such as Oracle JDK and OpenJDK.\n\nWatch Sarah Saunders' JAX London 2017 session\n\nThe monster coming over the hill – Is enterprise coding dead?\n\nEvery code snippet that you will ever need is probably somewhere on the internet. All you have to do is ask for it. So why do we keep writing code? What’s our value as developers? Sarah Saunders talks about the skills that underline our job description as developers.\n\nOpen source makes everything better\n\nWhy are so many machine learning tools open source?\n\n\nPackt Skill Up report 2018: Results are in\n\nReport: What is the next big thing in web development?\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9215020537376404}
+{"content": "Ford Taunus GXL\n\nThursday 27 June 2013\nIn 1970 a new Taunus, the Taunus Cortina (TC), was introduced, as a two- or four-door sedan, station wagon (or Turnier) and coupé. This model also formed the basis of the UK-only Cortina Mk.III, but with different door skins and rear wing pressings to lose the \"coke-bottle\" styling of the Cortina. Also, the Taunus was available as a coupe, a bodystyle that the Cortina was never made in.\nBoth cars were developed under the auspices of Ford of Europe, and most major components including key parts of the bodyshell were identical. From 1976 Taunus and Cortina models were identical in all but name, 'Taunus' being the name used in left hand drive (LHD) markets, and 'Cortina' in right hand drive ones, although the Cortina name was used in LHD Greece, South Korea, Philippines and Taiwan. The Mk III was also sold in Scandinavia, alongside the Taunus.\n\nTechnical data:\n- engine: 6 cylinders\n- capacity: 2600 cc\n- horsepower: 125 HP\n- gearbox: 4+1\n- top speed: 180 km/h\n\n1 komentarz:\n\nJuanh pisze...\n\nBeautiful, in Argentina we had one equal. Great miniature!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9514661431312561}
+{"content": "Fidget spinners banned from schools for making too much noise\n\nCaroline Mortimer\nFidget spinners have taken off in popularity following their use by YouTube bloggers\n\nA school has banned fidget spinners after a pupil complained that the latest must-have toy was too noisy in lessons.\n\nChurchill Academy headteacher Chris Hildrew announced that the gadget, which is a palm-sized spinner containing ball bearings which can be flicked and spun around, would be banned from all lessons at the Somerset school because they made too much noise.\n\nThe toy, which was designed by Florida inventor Catherine Hettinger in the 1990s, has primarily been used to help pupils with ADHD and autism but has recently become a fad after YouTube bloggers gathered millions of views by performing tricks with them.\n\nHe posted the letter of an anonymous Year 7 pupil on Twitter who said there were now too many of them going off during lessons and it was making it hard for her to concentrate.\n\nShe said: “I find [the toys] disruptive [because] they are noisy and so when you are trying to focus on your work all you can hear is it spinning round and round.\n\n“Another reason is that if someone around you has one you kind of get attracted to it because they are trying to do tricks and everyone else is looking at it.”\n\nMr Hildrew said pupils with special needs will still be able to use “squidgy stress balls and blutack”.\n\nAlthough they were not designed for the purpose, the toys have been in use in schools for many years as therapy for children who have neurological conditions which make it difficult to concentrate.\n\nDr Tony Lloyd, the founder of the ADHD Foundation, which provides training on the condition for teachers, told The Independent that the toys were a way for children to express their need to move in order for the brain to produce dopamine, which helps concentration, learning and memory.\n\nHe said: “The scientific evidence linking movement and improved thinking skills is well established – and indeed in the case of children with ADHD – their body moves and fidgets compulsively as away of enabling the brain to produce dopamine – a neurotransmitter linked to learning, concentration and memory.”\n\nThe psychologist said he understood why Mr Hildrew had decided to ban the toys, as they could be distracting to other children, but said he was glad the headteacher was offering special needs children other options.\n\nBut Carol Povey, the director of the Centre of Autism at the National Autistic Society, said she hoped they would make an exception for children who need them.\n\nShe told The Independent: “Autism can affect each child differently, which is why it is so important that schools put the right support in place for each individual.\n\n\"Background noises, sights and smells can make it difficult for a child on the autism spectrum to focus on what the teacher is saying, and having an object to focus on that spins or twists can help to manage sensory overload and anxiety.\n\n“It is vital that schools develop a proper understanding about autistic pupils so their specific sensory needs can be met. We therefore hope allowances are made for particular children if they find that a fidget spinner or similar toy helps them concentrate, relax and learn.”\n\nThe Somerset head is not the first to ban the toy, with schools across the US having already moved against them.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8153294324874878}
+{"content": "St.Lucia Weather\n\nFind more about Weather in Vigie, LC\n\nAs is the case with many Caribbean islands, St. Lucia’s visitors should expect hot and humid weather conditions year round due to the island’s proximity to the equator. Fortunately, visitors will rarely feel uncomfortable as mild trade winds bring cool breezes off the water that offer some respite from the heat.\n\n\nDue to its location near the equator, St. Lucia does not have very well defined seasons. There is, however, a rainy season that generally falls between June and November. During this season, vacationers should be prepared for heavy, but sporadic showers that come on quickly. Visitors should not worry about traveling during the rainy season as the showers may come about rapidly, but blue skies are quick to follow.\n\n…cool off on a hike…\n\n\nSt. Lucia is located in the hurricane belt and it is possible for severe tropical storms to arise. The hurricane season is generally during the same time as the rainy season, June through November. Visitors should be cautious, but not deterred from visiting St. Lucia during this season. With advanced meteorological technology, storm prediction and detection will help prepare visitors and locals on the island for any potential danger. Visitors can take measures to protect themselves by researching weather conditions before traveling to St. Lucia and prepare accordingly.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9951492547988892}
+{"content": "\n\n\nDynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DCHP)\n\nWhat is DHCP?\n\nA protocol is a set of rules used to determine how computers on a network communicate. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is a protocol commonly used to automatically generate an Internet Protocol (IP) address and other configuration details, like the Domain Name System (DNS) server address, subnet mask and default gateway to client host computers connecting to a network.\n\nBefore it can connect to a local or internet network a computer, or any other device, needs to be properly configured to communicate on the network. With DHCP the configuration takes place automatically instead of manually, and as a result DHCP is often used with numerous devices that connect to networks, like computers, smartphones, servers, etc.\n\n\nCommon Types of Malware and how to Avoid Them\n\nMalware is a catch all phrase that includes any sort of program designed to do harm to a computer or that disrupts its normal processes. This includes viruses, spyware, adware, and much more. Malware is one of the biggest enemies of any computer that has access to the Internet, be it a company computer or a personal one. The most common types of malware that you might acquire and they way in which they affect a computer are outlined in detail below.\n\nRemote Administration Tools\n\nRemote Administration Tools are also known as RATs. If you have a RAT infestation, it means that somebody has planted malware on your computer that will give a remote user administrator rights to your files. This can include gaining access to your personal software as well as some hardware like your computer's microphone or webcam. Essentially, anything you can do with your computer, somebody using a RAT can as well. This malware is usually spread by getting users to click on a link that they think is safe, especially via social media channels or file sharing networks. You should make sure to avoid any unknown files or links, as a single mistake can lead to a RAT infestation that can destroy your privacy.\n\n\nPros and Cons of Windows Remote Desktop Services\n\nThe Windows Remote Desktop Services, or Windows RDS for short, is Microsoft's remote desktop tool which is customized specifically to the features of Windows in all its various iterations. This service is available in both Windows 7 and Windows 8, and offers a free way to access a Windows computer remotely. Remote Utilities also supports RDP connection.\n\nMore information about RDS, including a complete rundown of all the pros and cons of this software, can be found below.\n\nWhat is RDS?\n\nThis service, which is also known on some systems as the Windows Terminal Services, is targeted toward providing access from a distance for Windows users. This is ideal for businesses, especially if you have a centralized file storage but have employees who do a lot of traveling or who work from home. Because the technology was developed specifically by Microsoft, it has a great deal of compatibility with Windows and takes advantage of some special Windows only features. You can generally expect this system to work with both 32 bit and 64 bit applications on Windows, although you may have some compatibility issues when it comes to the remote access of certain third party products and programs.\n\n\nA Look at Modern License Management\n\nSoftware licensing has changed over the years, with software piracy and other end user situations complicating the distribution of programs. While various digital rights management, or DRM, techniques have come into play, many companies instead opt for the use of floating software licensing and a license manager tool. The use of both can help you to secure your software and also enable remote distribution to many different users in a simple manner.\n\n\nWhat is a Network Administrator?\n\nVirtually every business that has an IT department has a network administrator. Despite the common nature of this position, few people truly understand what such an individual does. By understanding what a network administrator does, you can communicate more effectively with your own administrator and also make sure that you know which qualities to look for if you are ever in the position where you need to find somebody to fill this role.\n\nThe Position at a Glance\n\nA person in this position is responsible for performing support services for a variety of different information systems related to an organization. This may include the company's local area network, or LAN, a wide area network, or WAN, a company's internal intranet, or another Internet or network system. Individuals in this position can also perform general IT duties and systems repairs, but their specialty is in network operations. If you are having issues with your Internet or intranet, if you need to set up a new private network for specific individuals within your organization, or if you are looking to streamline your office's network activities, your network administrator is the person you should speak to.\n\n\nGuide to Virtual Private Networks\n\nImagine leaving your home wearing a clearly legible sign around your neck that provides all of your most important and private information: your name, address, contact information, banking and other financial data, all of your shopping habits, places you frequent and what you do while you are there. Most of us would not want to share this information with complete strangers, for many obvious reasons. This data can put you at risk in any number of ways, including potential theft and physical harm. Yet, that is exactly what many people do every time they use internet.\n\nWhen individuals and businesses use the internet without encryption they leave all of their information out in the open, and put themselves at great risk. A virtual private network (VPN) can ensure the security of your connections and your most important information. A VPN utilizes a public network (most commonly the Internet) to link distant sites or users. In the past computers had to be connected via hardwiring. A VPN uses \"virtual\" connections directed through the Internet from the individual or organization’s private network to the distant site or employee location. There are several advantages to using a VPN. As shown above, a VPN can be used to establish a secure connection to a remote network using the Internet. Many businesses use VPNs to enable employees to access to files, software, hardware, and other company resources. Individual users can also utilize a VPN to safely access their secure home network from a remote location.\n\nVPNs are extremely useful to organizations that need to securely connect several networks. As a result, businesses of nearly every size depend on a VPN to connect and share servers and other assets between multiple locations around the world. Individuals can also utilize a VPN to connect their home or additional networks for personal use.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7536658644676208}
+{"content": "||    4 March 2014 @ 06:15\nPresidential Candidates - Hakainde Hichilema, Michael Chilufya Sata, Nevers Sekwila MumbaPresidential Candidates – Hakainde Hichilema, Michael Chilufya Sata, Nevers Sekwila Mumba\n\n\n[Continued from Part One]\n\n[Updated 7th March 2014. Added one chart and a clarification.]\n\nPresident Michael Sata’s Patriotic Front (PF) government is increasingly becoming deeply unpopular for various reasons I cannot fully delve into, suffice to say that escalating commodity prices, broken promises, perceived tribalism, worsening governance record, poor economic decisions and alleged corruption are among the main ones. Zambians have had almost two and a half years to reflect on their decision to throw out Rupiah Banda unceremoniously, albeit with a slender margin of 6% in favour of Sata. In 2011, voter turnout was only 54%, the lowest ever in a normal election cycle (the 2008 contest recorded 45% which was normal for a By-Election). Compare with 68% in 2001 and 71% in 2006. Even Frederick Chiluba’s second election in 1996 produced a 58% turnout.\n\nWhat this means is that Sata’s 2011 “soft” win is precarious, to say the least. It can be overturned more easily than most people realize. Zambians are getting regularly disappointed with the failure of the PF government to deliver and they are likely to give Sata and PF the boot in 2016 because they had high expectations (I still recall the spontaneous celebrations in the streets of Lusaka after the results were announced). Every week without fail, I see people upset and complaining about the PF, including once staunch supporters who are now thinking that the devil they knew for many years may have been better than this angel they are just getting to realize is not so angelic after all.\n\nThe levels of disappointment are greater than anything I have seen since former president Chiluba’s reign when the national coffers were extensively pilfered. It is worth noting that Mr Sata was at the center of corruption accusations during Chiluba’s time when he was a minister and National Secretary of the MMD. The late president Levy Mwanawasa went on record to say that he resigned as Chiluba’s Vice-President partly due to Sata’s alleged corruption. Zambians have a low tolerance for corruption in presidents which is why to this day, most people remember Chiluba more for sticking his fingers in the national kitty than for all the good economic decisions he made. In 2001, 71% voted against the ruling party in the presidential election. I see ominous signs of history repeating itself.\n\nPresidential elections 2001-2011\n\nPresidential elections 2001-2011\n\nWhat is the likelihood of United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema winning the 2016 presidential elections? The statistical results of the four previous elections suggest a huge uphill battle for him, despite the confident chatter of his supporters saying “Haleisa Haleisa” (a play on his name and initials and the Bemba word “Aleisa”, that means “He is coming”). The equally creative chants by opposing camps say “Hakaivotela Heka” (derived from “Akaivotela eka” meaning “He will vote for himself alone”).\n\nDespite the strong financial advantage Hichilema has over the other opposition parties, big question marks surround the viability of his 2016 election bid. Firstly, UPND votes have declined in three consecutive elections (2006, 2008, 2011) after Mazoka’s 2001 run. Hichilema has lost 7 percentage points in his 3 elections and 9% from Mazoka’s 2001 peak. As a consequence of the 2006 consolidation of votes around the “Big Three”, there is great difficulty in making dramatic gains in the absence of earth-shattering events. If Hichilema is to win, he has to swing the vote TWENTY TWO percentage points in his favour from the 18% he got in the last election to get to the magical winning number of 40%, as explained in Part One. This means that PF and MMD have to drop about 11 percentage points each or some other combination that adds up to 22%. Is this likely, considering the massive financial war-chest PF has? What if MMD have regrouped by 2016?\n\nAnother challenge with the candidacy of Hichilema is that he has been in alliances and pacts three times and they all either came to nothing or collapsed. His 2006 “United Democratic Alliance” (UDA) with UNIP and FDD only managed to give him 25% of the vote. His decline to 20% in 2008 and then 18% in 2011 suggests that the alliance is what propped up his numbers. For example, 2006 was the year UPND managed to get parliamentary seats in Eastern Province (four) and this appears to have been due to the campaigning of UNIP and FDD, whose party presidents (Tilyenji Kaunda and Christon Tembo) were both from the East. UPND has not won a seat in Eastern Province before or since then.\n\nHis pact with the PF prior to the 2011 elections collapsed amid accusations and counter-accusations. His alliance with the MMD soon after they were kicked out of government lasted less than a year. A lot of voters may begin to view these events with suspicion and begin thinking that there is something seriously wrong with Hichilema. They may not know exactly what it is but sometimes the appearance of something negative that you do not understand is more powerful than something you can see. Indeed speculation has been rife that he insists on being at the top of any presidential ticket even though his party is less influential.\n\nMembers of Parliament (2001-2011)\n\nMembers of Parliament (2001-2011)\n\nThe biggest indictment of Hichilema’s candidacy however is simply that he is not a factor in four key provinces. Luapula, Northern, Eastern and Copperbelt. He has not even managed 5% in these provinces after 3 election cycles. In 2011, UPND won zero Parliamentary seats in these four provinces as well as Lusaka. Currently, there are no MPs in these five provinces except one in the Copperbelt. Copperbelt, Lusaka, Northern and Eastern are the biggest four provinces in terms of registered voters adding up to 56%. To make things worse, Hichilema has not yet locked up North-Western and Western Provinces (he has been beaten by the MMD candidates). Although he is likely to win these two provinces which have been MMD strongholds, the victories may not be emphatic enough to make a significant difference in his favour. The two provinces have the lowest number of registered voters (Western 8%, North-Western 6%).\n\nMembers of Parliament by Province (February 2014)\n\nMembers of Parliament by Province (February 2014)\n\nIn 2001, UPND won 49 seats in Parliament. In 2006, MMD increased by 4 to 73, while UPND (working together with FDD and UNIP under the UDA) dropped by almost half to 26, with PF making a massive jump to 43 from 1 seat just 5 years earlier. In 2011, PF moved up their tally to 61. MMD dramatically lost a quarter of their MPs and dropped to 55, while UPND hardly moved, adding 3 seats to get to 29. The drop in popularity of the UPND on the Parliamentary front has been much more drastic than the presidential.\n\nTheir MPs reduced from their peak by 43% and this will be a big factor in the 2016 Elections because incumbent MPs have a strong influence on the presidential vote by campaigning for their party leader. The evidence suggests that you need not less than 50 MPs to get a decent chance of winning the presidential election, meaning that UPND needs to increase their parliamentarians by about 60% in 2016. Prima facie, the major fight shall be between Mumba’s MMD and Sata’s PF, barring significant new factors.\n\nWhat about the viability of Nevers Mumba? His candidacy is a complex concoction of positive and negative factors which may play out in all sorts of ways. Aside from the fact that MMD lost to PF by only 6%, they have some major advantages over all other opposition parties.\n\n1. Their party structures are everywhere, having been built for over 20 years and the perceived persecution of their leaders will likely cause the structures to strengthen. Both PF and UPND have not yet built theirs to rival MMD.\n\n2. They presided over Zambia’s transition from strong Socialism to a more liberated economy in which the private sector thrived and has produced tangible improvements in standards of living for the average Zambian. There is much nostalgia for the MMD in many circles. More people are realising that PF is not doing much that is new but merely continuing the MMD projects.\n\n3. Their president Nevers Mumba is very charismatic and a great speaker.\n\n4. Mumba poses the biggest challenge to Sata’s dominance in the North, partly because he is a “true” Bemba, unlike Sata who is Bisa. The ongoing antagonizing of the Bemba Royal Establishment by Sata plays into Mumba’s hands (lots of low-lying fruit to pick here).\n\n5. MMD cannot easily be accused of being a tribal party, something the UPND is being smeared with by the PF constantly.\n\n6. MMD is a well-established party whose existence and future is not tied to its president, unlike almost all the other parties. For example, one cannot see a clear path to succession after Mr Sata leaves office.\n\nHowever, MMD has some major disadvantages. Among the main ones are:\n\n1. They no longer have access to state resources. Media reports have suggested they have struggled financially. Money is a big factor in elections. UPND has a huge advantage over MMD on this point as Hichilema is very wealthy and well-connected.\n\n2. Mumba and other MMD leaders have been kept busy in court with case after case which takes away valuable planning, fundraising and campaigning time, not to mention depletion of financial resources due to high legal fees.\n\n3. The nullification of MMD seats in parliament and the poaching of some of their MPs by the PF has weakened the party significantly. In 2011, MMD won 55 seats but have since then lost a total of fifteen seats (about 27%). The chart below shows the current composition of the National Assembly.\n\nMembers of Parliament in 2014\n\nMembers of Parliament in 2014\n\n4. Coverage of the MMD in the media is currently very sporadic and their online presence is almost non-existent. These two factors have an important influence in Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces which have the most registered voters who are more educated and economically better off. The MMD message has been muffled and this is working against them.\n\n5. Mumba is yet to define himself with a short, sharp, clear message that can resonate with voters the way Sata did in 2011.\n\n6. MMD is yet to shake off the image of a corrupt party that is perceived by many as dead and gone like UNIP.\n\nAs for the last point, I am not persuaded that most of the 36% of voters who supported MMD in 2011 will suddenly switch to another party, especially as the PF failures increasingly come into sharp focus. Comparisons with 1991 are misplaced because UNIP lost to MMD by a huge margin of 24% to 76% whereas MMD lost to PF by 36% to 42%. The nostalgia factor in favour of MMD cannot be under-estimated, especially as people begin to compare the respective records of MMD and PF when approaching 2016.\n\nAs for the rest of the 2016 potential candidates, both existing and yet to emerge, they will have to work extra, extra, extra hard to get anywhere close to Plot One. For one thing, they need lots of money to be able to travel and sell their message. For another, they have to build party structures everywhere which takes many years. They also need to have a superior message, compared to the three titans of Zambian politics.\n\n[In Part Three, possible outcomes for the 2016 election results. Read Part One]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7718245983123779}
+{"content": "Infertility in Women\n\n\n\n  • Female infertility is a common condition which results in an inability to conceive.\n  • A female is identified as infertile if she is unable to conceive subsequent to 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse. In addition to this, women who conceive and face miscarriages are also categorized under the condition of infertility.\n  • The causes of female infertility are numerous. Age is considered as a primary cause for female infertility.\n  • As a woman gets older her chances of experiencing infertility is higher. At age 30 a woman’s chances of conceiving drops to 20% and by age 40 the percentage drops to 5%.\n  • Moreover hormonal problems such as failure to produce mature eggs, malfunction of the hypothalamus and malfunction of the pituitary gland can also lead to female infertility.\n\nFactors such as Poorly Functioning Fallopian Tubes, Endometriosis along with behavioral factors such as smoking, alcohol, drugs and inappropriate diets and exercises can cause female infertility.\n\n\nAdditionally environmental and occupational factors such as medical treatments and material, lead, Ethylene Oxide etc. increases the risk of infertility.\n\nIn many cases of female infertility, women are not aware of their condition until she has trouble conceiving. This occurs since female infertility reveals very few symptoms apart from being unable to conceive. One such symptom is irregular and unusual menstrual cycles. On such occasions women are advised to consult a doctor to carry out relevant tests.\n\nThe process of female infertility testing generally starts by measuring a woman’s follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Afterwards the fertility specialist will carry out tests such as Cervical mucus test, Ultrasound test, Hormone test, Hysterosalpingogram (HSG), Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy or Endometrial biopsy. Through these tests the specialist will be able to identify the exact cause of the condition.\n\nOnce the cause is identified the woman can initiate treatments. Generally treatments can be carried out by form of drugs or surgery. Female infertility treatment drugs include Clomiphene citrate (Clomid, Serophene), Gonadotropins, Metformin (Glucophage), Letrozole (Femara) etc. Female infertility surgical treatments include procedures of tissue removal, Tubal reversal surgery (microscopic), Tubal surgeries etc.\n\nAll the above-mentioned drugs and surgeries address varying issues by targeting different causes of infertility. Thereby it becomes crucial to correctly identify the root cause of the problem in order to accurately overcome the condition of female infertility.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8418927788734436}
+{"content": "The Holy Ydoran Empire, also known as Holy Empire Yudora, existed in Ivalice 1,200 years prior to the plot of Final Fantasy Tactics. Saint Ajora Glabados was secretly working against them until Germonique reported him to the authorities. Ajora was executed, but a large wave destroyed the place of power of Pharism, which was then the dominant religion, resulting in the rise of the Church of Glabados.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000098943710327}
+{"content": "Homelessness Essay\n\nHow many times have you passed by people sitting on the street, with a plastic glass or a small cardboard box asking for spare change? Have you ever noticed the amounts of people who have neither home, nor a job to sustain themselves? Perhaps you think it is their own fault; you might think if they wanted, they would have it all. “Go find yourself a job” is a regular phrase homeless people hear. However, this advice is pointless, because there are objective reasons why people lose homes and jobs, and why they cannot return to normal life.\n\nOne of the most frequent causes of homelessness is property-destroying disasters of any kind. It can be an earthquake (like in Japan in 2011), a hurricane (like in New Orleans), a flood or tsunami, and so on. At the same time, it can be a disaster or accident of a smaller scale, but still a significant one. Domestic fires, for example, destroy hundreds of residences annually; usually, if a brigade of firefighters does not manage to arrive on time, people suffer severe material damage. Left without a home, victims of these disasters also often lose their IDs, property documents, credit cards, cash stashes, and so on. It can take months (or even years) to renew them. And friends and relatives are not always willing or capable of helping a victim during the time he or she recuperates (IFR).\n\nAnother group of factors leading to homelessness includes unhappy marriages and their outcomes. Divorce and abusive relationships are among the major factors of homelessness (Homeless Resource Network). In particular, divorce can often leave one of the spouses homeless. When divorcing, former family members usually try to divide the property they acquired in marriage; in some cases, one of the spouses can find themselves deprived of any property, including a place to live in. Another possible reason for homelessness is domestic violence. Although it is usually considered that women suffer from domestic violence more than men, it is not true; as a result, a number of people of both genders prefer to live on the streets rather than stay in abusive relationships.\n\nThe institutional backgrounds of people can cause them to end up living on the streets (Shelter). In particular, people who served in the armed forces and participated in war conflicts can suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, which can prevent them from fitting into normal life, living with their families, and so on. As a result, they are at risk of not being able to get along with the peaceful environment around them, and end up on the streets. Another group of people who can potentially become homeless are former prisoners. A prisoner does not necessarily remain a villain after getting out of jail; moreover, such people could have committed some minor crimes, or even were unjustly convicted. Still, non-criminal citizens usually do not give them a second chance, so they often become homeless as well.\n\nIt is obvious that homelessness is caused not only by a person’s unwillingness to work and sustain themselves; rather often, there exist objective factors causing people to become homeless. Among them, one should mention disasters (both natural and human-caused), divorce, abusive relationships, PTSD, and non-conducive backgrounds like being a former convict.\n\n\nDoe, John. “What Causes Homelessness?” IFR. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.\n\n“Factors Contributing to Homelessness.” Homeless Resource Network. N.p., 03 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 May 2015.\n\n“What Causes Homelessness?” Shelter. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2015.\n\nDid you like this guide / sample?\n\n\n  • 80+ essay types\n  • 1000+ essay samples\n  • Pro writing tips\n\nRelated Writing Guides\n\nWriting a Cause and Effect Essay\n\n\nThe Issue of Homelessness in US\n\nHomelessness is a huge area of concern in the United States and it is something that social services and government officials are struggling to deal with. It is estimated that at any given time there are more than 500,000 people homeless in the United States. Of the half a million homeless Americans, approximately a quarter of them are children. One of the biggest factors that is contributing to the large number of homeless people in the country is that there is a substantial lack of affordable housing. Let’s take a look at some of the most important facts.\n\nWho Is Affected By Homelessness?\n\nIf you have never had any personal experience of homelessness, it is likely that you have a pretty inaccurate idea of what, or who, a homeless person is. It is very easy to assume that homeless people are the stereotypical drunken bums we see in the movies. However, in reality homelessness is something that can affect anybody. As already noted, around 25% of homeless people in the United States are children and there are currently around a million children in the public school system who are classed as homeless. It is hard to pin down an exact figure because different organizations define homeless as different things. For example, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development base their figures on people who are living in homeless shelters, transitional housing, in cars or on the streets. However, the National Center for Homeless Education also includes children who are sharing housing on a temporary basis and those currently waiting for foster care placement since they have no fixed address of their own. It is believed that several thousands of homeless children are unaccompanied, meaning that they have no parent or othe adult caring for them.\n\nAnother group of people who are a large part of the homeless population are veterans. On any given night at least 57,000 veterans are homeless and almost 40% of them will sleep unsheltered in parks and alleyways. This accounts for more than 11% of the total homeless population in the United States.\n\nContributing Factors Of Homelessness in The United States\n\nOne of the biggest causes of homelessness in the United States is a severe lack of affordable housing and with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development having their budget slashed this is set to continue. It is estimated that around 10,000 units of subsidized low income housing are lost each year. Since 2001 one eighth of the nation’s low income housing has been permanently lost. It is not only the low income families who are suffering. It is estimated that most people are spending half of their income on rent and since 2008 one in ten mortgaged properties has been foreclosed on, making the demand for affordable housing even greater. Public rental assistance does exist, but waiting lists are several years long. As an example, Charlotte, NC just opened up their applications after 14 years of not accepting new applicants and 10,000 families applied!\ndomestic violence\n\nAnother major contributor to homelessness is actually domestic violence. It has been suggested that as many as 90% of female homeless people are victims of physical, sexual or mental abuse. They have found themselves homeless after fleeing from their homes often in fear for their own lives. They have nowhere else to go and are forced to make the choice between remaining in a dangerous and abusive situation or sleeping rough.\n\nSave Your Time with JetWriters\n\nGet high quality custom written essay just for $10\n\n\nOther Problems Stemming From Homelessness\n\nBeing homeless and not having a safe place to sleep is a big enough issue by itself, but it also leads to many other issues. For example, a growing number of cities across the country are criminalizing homelessness meaning that not only are people battling homelessness, but they are also at risk of gaining a criminal record making it harder for them to get a job or rent an apartment thus making it even more difficult for them to get out of homelessness. The National Law Center conducted a study in 2014 on Homelessness and found that 18% of the 187 cities asked consider sleeping in a public place illegal, 43% will arrest someone sleeping in their car and 53% make it illegal to sit or lay down in certain public places.\n\nAnother major issue relating to homelessness is the detrimental affect that it has on health. Statistic show that 6% of the general population suffer from severe mental illness. However, in the homeless population this figure rises to 25%. Around half of these people are self medicating and are likely making the situation worse by adding addiction and poor physical health into the mix. Studies suggest that homeless people have a life expectancy of 30 years less than the average person. The average life expectancy in the homeless population is just 47, but homeless women are unlikely to live beyond 43 years of age.\n\nIn conclusion, homelessness is a big issue in the United States and it is one that affects people from all walks of life. A lack of affordable housing and support for the poorest of our population has resulted in large numbers of people left with no place to live.\n\n\n0 thoughts on “Homelessness Essay”\n\n\nLeave a Comment\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9183440208435059}
+{"content": "Ancient Sicily: A Mediterranean Crossroads\n\n\nSpring 2017\n141 Haas Pavilion\nDay & Time: \nMWF 12-1\nClass Number: \n  • Sicily sits in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its history is shaped by its position at the intersection of several cultural worlds. This course will explore the causes and consequences of human mobility in ancient Sicily from its first human inhabitants to Greek and Phoenician colonization to the Roman empire and beyond. Over centuries, willing and unwilling migrations shaped the social landscape of Sicily though a complex history of settlement, violence, and movement. There is a rich and manifold body of material that illuminates Sicilian history, so students will spend significant time and effort on the interpretation of literary sources, but they will also utilize material and documentary evidence. Students will learn not only the demographic history of a major Mediterranean island, but also the major questions being asked about ancient Sicily, and how those and other questions can be answered through critical analysis of written and archaeological records.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997854232788086}
+{"content": "Saturday, November 10, 2007\n\nCommercial Comedy and the Problem of Seriousness\n\nBrothers, Sisters, and Transgendered Comedists Everywhere,\n\nThis week a couple of deep philosophico-theological Comedist questions were raised by good brother Hanno -- well, brother Hanno, anyway. So let's consider them both.\n\nBrother Hanno asked,\n\nHow can an all perfect God allow unfunny things to happen?\nAh, the Comedist version of the problem of evil. This is a matter of some debate amongst Comedist theologians (or at least will be when there actually are Comedist theologians...) One view is that all Creation is part of a great inside joke that only the Cosmic Comic understands and what we see as unfunny is actually funny to one with infinite humor. Another blames human free will for that which is unfunny. A third view is that a joke requires a set up which is not funny in order for there to be a punchline which is, so that all of the unfunniness you see in the world just proves that reality is not a one-liner. A fourth response is to simply laugh at the person who asked the question.\n\nIt was also asked,\nWhat is the status of humor used in commercials? Is it a sin before the comedic God, the use of something holy to feed rampant consumerism? Or is it a mitzvah, making bearable though humor what is a fact of life, the commercialization of everything?\nA complex case indeed. On the one hand, we must remember \"Render unto Sid Caesar, that which belongs to Caesar, and render unto the Lord that which belongs to the Lord.\" Only the Cosmic Comic stands outside of all historical context, we limited finite beings must understand that we are to be funny wherever we are. Comedy is not incompatible with capitalism, especially small scale markets where consumer and producer meet face to face. Bargaining, if done well, can be frickin' hilarious (no, no, no, you're supposed to 'aggle).\n\nThat said, humor is a powerful weapon that can be used for good or ill. Comedy can be misused to lead people into oppression and large scale corporate capitalism can lead to lives devoid of the joy and laughter that Comedists see as the well-lived human life for all. The idea of a sweatshop, for example, can be pretty funny:\nClerk: And what about this one?\nCustomer: No, too gym sockish, I was looking for something a little more musky.\nBut what we've done with the Marianas Islands, for example,is a disgrace and humor used to contribute to or divert concern from this deliberate destruction of human joy and well-being for profit would be very much counter to Comedist teachings.\n\nBut, then, there are some really really funny commercials. I've found some of the \"Need to get away?\" spots particularly amusing. What do you in the congregation think are the funniest commercials ever?\n\nLive, love, and laugh,\n\nIrreverend Steve", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6564605236053467}
+{"content": "Moscow: Large pieces of the Russian Progress M-12M space freighter have not been found after it crashed in Siberia because the spaceship most likely burned up in the earth's atmosphere, an official said.\n\n“Large pieces of the space freighter have not been found because they probably burned after an explosion of the third stage of the Soyuz-U carrier rocket. There had to be a lot of kerosene and liquid oxygen in the fuel tanks at the time of the emergency,” a space industry source said on Monday.\n\nThe Progress M-12M, carrying food and other items to the International Space Station, fell in South Siberia's Altai Republic on August 24 after failing to separate from its carrier rocket.\n\nThis was the first loss of a Progress freighter in the history of Russia's space industry. A rocket engine failure caused the accident.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999262094497681}
+{"content": "Atomically unique physical security devices\n\n\nIn nanostructures, the position of impurity atoms, and their exact shape and size, all influence their properties. This makes it virtually impossible to produce two devices that operate identically. This is a major problem for many applications, but research led by the Young-Quantum group has developed an exciting application for this inherent irreproducibility. Using this effect we have invented the first physical security devices with atomic sensitivity. The underlying security is based on a simple quantum technology.\n\n\nWe rely heavily on electronic devices in our daily lives. For example, we use them to carry out financial transactions, communicate with other people, monitor our health and interact with our environment. Secure operation of digital devices is vital, as they are often trusted to fulfil critical tasks, and normal cryptographic protocols are used to achieve this. These protocols rely on secret information that is either stored on devices or provided by users. It has been shown, however, that attacks on digital devices can leak the secret information stored within, and users are known to be a weak point when it comes to keeping a secret.\n\n\nPhysical unclonable functions (PUFs) are relatively recent inventions, which provide an alternative method to generating a secret. Instead of storing the secret in digital memory, or asking a user to provide it, it is derived from a physical characteristic of the system. A PUF can be constructed in various ways. For example, scattering patterns of an optical medium or chip-specific transistor switch delay variations can be used to generate PUFs. The assumption is that the secret cannot be copied, as it is bound to a physical entity which cannot be cloned. Furthermore, it is assumed that the probability of finding two devices with identical physical characteristics is very low.\n\n\nExisting PUFs have limitations, as they are often difficult to produce and handle, and more importantly, there is no guarantee that they actually cannot be cloned. Arbiter PUFs, Ring Oscillator PUFs, XOR PUFs, Lightweight Secure PUFs and Feed-Forward PUFs have all been attacked using machine learning techniques. An SRAM-PUF was cloned by Helfmeier et al., and it has been shown that some existing PUF implementations are vulnerable to side-channel attacks.\n\nOperation of QPUF or Q-IDResonant tunneling diodes (RTDs), simple electronic structures exhibiting quantum confinement, were recently proposed for operation as PUF devices by the principle investigators. The RTD encapsulates a quantum nanostructure between two electrical contacts and displays an exotic I-V characteristic not seen in classical devices. The quantum nanostructure behaves such that it only allows electrons to exist at well-defined energy levels within the nanostructure. Only when the energy of the incoming electrons is equal with one of these energy levels can current flow through the device, as the electrons have to quantum mechanically tunnel and use the energy levels as a stepping stone. Thus, this type of diode allows current to flow only at well-defined voltages, which is dependent on the nanostructure placed within it. Further increase of the voltage results in a peak in the spectrum due to a drop in current and a region of negative differential resistance (NDR), a defining characteristic of such a device. This peak is highly dependent on the quantum confinement exhibited within the nanostructure, which is subject to the overall atomic arrangement of the device. Hence, the device was named a quantum confinement PUF (QC PUF), and represents the first PUF whose output is sensitive to atom-scale variations. The probability of creating, either on purpose or accidentally, two devices that are exactly the same is negligible, because each device consists of hundreds of thousands of atoms. Therefore, each manufactured device exhibits a spectrum with a uniquely positioned peak. Properties of this peak can be used as the input of a function providing unique device identification. Alternatively, the information may be treated as a secret and could then be used to derive key material.\n\n\nA QC PUF, besides preventing cloning, has other important benefits. A QC PUF can be produced together with an integrated circuit (IC) on the same wafer without introducing additional manufacturing steps. As a QC PUF is simple and small in size many can be included within a chip, giving a simple scaling mechanism for the size of the provided secret.\n\n\nThe QC PUFs inception has led to a great deal of excitement surrounding the possibilities for this technology. This proposal will build upon this recent foundational work, investigating how their nanoscale properties can be harnessed to deliver novel functionalities, whilst exploring their fundamental security potential. Methods of implementation, protecting devices against weaknesses inherent in other technologies, will be developed.\n\nQuantum confinement physical unclonable function being tested", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9676387310028076}
+{"content": "Tuesday, March 17, 2015\n\nWaiting until they're ready\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBe mindful.  Be aware.\n\nMonday, March 9, 2015\n\n“We don’t need more data to tell us we need action.”  The concluding quotation in a March, 2014 article written by Joy Resmovits of the Huffington Post.  The article, entitled “American Schools are STILL Racist, Government Report Finds,” is almost a year old, and yet it stabbed at me as if it had just come hot off the press.  In this report Resmovits rattles off statistics indicating that our education system is racist – the conclusion from a series of data surveys given by the US Department of Education and Civil Rights Data Collection.\n\nThe post made for a good morning Facebook conversation with a psychology professor I’d never met. It’s currently eleven o’clock, and I’m still fired up about it. \n\nIn the first few paragraphs Resmovits stuns readers with statistics about the percentage of black students versus the percentage of black students who have been suspended or referred to law enforcement.  She also continues by revealing that a higher percentage of students of color are exposed to teachers who “fail to meet license and certification requirements” AND that teachers in areas where there are higher numbers of black students get paid less than those in less diverse districts.\n\nFirst off, putting unqualified teachers into classrooms of our most at-risk groups of students is the result of decisions made by people who are obviously not qualified to make those decisions.  It would be like sending in a surgeon who hadn’t finished med school to perform an intricate and delicate procedure that, if done poorly, would likely result in death.   Because, often, the result is death – is it not?  Maybe not physical death, but death of opportunity.  Death of self-esteem.  Death of future. \n\nWhy are we not spending money on recruiting the thousands of highly qualified and caring educators who are currently jobless to move into these schools?  Why are we spending so much time and energy on assessing, when we already know what the assessments are going to tell us?  In the state of Illinois, property taxes, by county, indicate a significant portion of the income schools receive to run the schools.  I, myself, work in a district where, next door to us is a large district that doesn’t even have busses to bring kids to school!  On the other side of that same district is a district that has enough busses to take everybody to school at the same time.  This is a true picture of inequity.\n\nRacism, according to several dictionaries I consulted this morning, means anywhere from a belief that a race is inferior to another to simply liking or disliking a race based on some judgment.  In all of the definitions I read, there was one commonality – a person (or collective group) who is racist must make some judgment about a race.  So basically what Resmovits is saying in the title of her article is that America’s schools are judging races and have made a decision that blacks are indeed inferior OR that America’s schools just don’t like blacks in general.  Call it picky.  Call is syntax.  That is what she’s saying.\n\nBut is that what she meant?\n\nResmovits continues in her report by bringing up Brown v. Board of Education and the 1964 Civil Rights act that use ambiguous words such as “quality education for all children” and “equal access to education”.  Apparently these historical decisions were supposed to put away hundreds of years of judgment and hatred and learned behaviors.  But one person’s definition of quality education and equal access is not everybody’s.  Enter today’s education system.  A broken system with more holes than a honeycomb. \n\nThe remainder of the article references a survey by the Education Department’s Office of Civil rights and continuously points to the fact that our system hangs minority students and students with disabilities (how being disabled got into the article about race, I have no idea) out to dry.  The entire article is so full of generalizations that it’s tough to grasp the point except that it keeps screaming racism.\n\nOne truth that Resmovits discusses is that change is needed.  She even talks about easing discipline and how that won’t help with the increase in school violence.  How the problem has such long roots, that we see these trends even in preschools!  Even the discipline/skill correlation surfaces toward the end of the article.\n\nWhat would happen if we started treating our students more like people and less like numbers?  What if – and this is a big IF – we honored the gifts of each of our students and allowed them to be themselves rather than the people we think they should be?  What if we knew what our students’ strengths (and I’m not talking about academics) were as they walked into the door, and what if we could use that information to guide them to advocate for themselves?\n\nOur problem is the fact that we have lost focus on what is really important.  Those children and adolescents who walk into our classrooms each day are singularly different – so much so that you could never carbon copy one of them.  To know each one’s strengths and preferences in learning is to empower ourselves as educators to teach the entire child.  More than half of them will not be academically talented, but academics is what we emphasize in school.  Some will have a gift for art, music, or sports – so why do we limit those times to once or twice a week while we pummel them with phonics and math facts?  Believe it or not – the gift of gab that some of them have will end up being their forte in life and may take them places we have never dreamed!  Is their curiosity or creativity not important?  The message we are giving them at school is that it is not.\n\nBefore we start pointing fingers at systems for being racist, what we ought to do is take a look at ourselves as a society and reflect on what is really important.  Perhaps it is us who have created a society that embraces a way of life – one in which certain populations of our children are still being treated as unequal.  I am in no way saying that any race behaves a specific way or has a particular strength, but if we step away from skin color and focus on our students as students – we might find that we can see a piece of them that we have never been allowed to see. \n\nWhat we perceive as negative behaviors may only surface because the whole child is not embraced.  Excessive talking in a kid who is interpersonal becomes a way to cope when math is hard.  Doodling helps visual students get through a tough literature class.  Physical aggression allows kinesthetics a release when a student has been cooped up in school for ninety minute blocks of testing. Once we view our students through these new lenses, we can then begin the task of building them up so that they feel like they want to succeed.\n\nIf they have the skills and want to succeed, they will.  Dr. Ross Greene of Harvard University says very pointedly – Kids do well if they can.  It is our responsibility as a society to find out why they are not producing.   Generally speaking – it’s not because they’re black.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5683658123016357}
+{"content": "Beijing National Day reception 11 million 200 thousand passengers to accept an illegal day tour of 2 9c8950\n\nBeijing National Day reception 11 million 200 thousand tourists accept illegal tour 26 – Beijing, Xinhua news agency, Beijing October 7th news (reporter Lu Chang) reporter from the Beijing Municipal Tourism Committee was informed that during the 2016 National Day holiday, Beijing 11 million 195 thousand passengers were tourists, 2.8% less than the same period last year, total tourism income of 8 billion 400 million yuan, an increase of 1.1%. Statistics show that Beijing received domestic tourists to Beijing 2 million 760 thousand passengers, 1.1% less than the same period last year, but the average consumption of tourists and improve their ability of domestic tourists to Beijing per capita consumption of 2485 yuan, up 3.2%. The reporter noted that this year, Beijing Golden Week tourism market gradually reflect the rational choice of tourists, in some hot scenic spots to take measures to limit the flow of tourists, more consider the change number of tourist destinations, to avoid hot scenic spots. According to statistics, during the golden week, Beijing historical and cultural city park traditional scenic tourists number is less, the the Imperial Palace pre-sale limiting measures, the capacity is limited to 80 thousand people, 7 days of tourists is relatively smooth and orderly. In contrast, the folk custom tour reception popular folk tourism, a total of 4 million 335 thousand tourists trips, an increase of 9.3%, realize the folk tourism income of 440 million yuan, up 7.8%. It is reported that, during the golden week, Beijing City, two district level departments against illegal \"day\" to strengthen regulation, complaints from the situation, accepting illegal tour 26, down 42% (2015 45), there is no major tourism safety accidents and malignant complaints.相关的主题文章：", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7889032959938049}
+{"content": "Sign up for our\n\n\nHarmful Algal Blooms (HABs)\n\nAlgae, single celled plant-like marine organisms, are critical to life on Earth. Marine algae range from microscopic single celled organisms (phytoplankton) to larger mulitcellular seaweeds like kelp. As photosynthesizers, harvesting energy from sun to produce their own food, algae are the base in many marine food webs. Oxygen is another product of photosynthesis, and single-cell algae (phytoplankton) living in the ocean are responsible for half of the oxygen produced on Earth.\n\n\nPseudo-nitzschia, a marine algae that can cause domoic acid poisoning.\n\nAlgae as a group are immensely important to the functioning of our planet, but there are a few dozen species of algae which can cause serious problems. These species become noticeable during periodic events known as \"harmful algal blooms\" (HABs). Algae can grow at rapid rates (bloom) and overgrow other species, alter habitats, or deplete oxygen (though algae produce oxygen while they are alive, the decomposition of large amounts of dead algae can deplete oxygen). Some algae are capable of producing powerful toxins that are harmful or deadly to other species. Impacts of HABs include fish kills, injuries to marine invertebrates and marine mammals, and even human illness or death.\n\n\nAlexandrium, a marine algae that can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning.\n\nThe causes of HABs are not fully understood. In some cases, environmental changes such as alteration in water flow or water temperature have been observed to coincide with HABs. In many aquatic ecosystems, nutrients (such as nitrates and phosphates) are scarce and this limits algae growth. When additional nutrients are available through runoff from land, pollution or changes in water circulation, this natural control on algal growth is removed, often resulting in rapid growth of aquatic algae. Scientists suspect that increases in nutrients may also play a role in some HAB events. HABs are a threat to living resources, fishing, tourism, and human health. The number and intensity of HAB events appear to be increasing.\n\nIs Shellfish Safe?\n\nHABs Resources\n\nAdditional Resources\n\nDetecting Harmful Algal Blooms in the Pacific Northwest\n\nNANOOS Awarded Funds to Study 2015 West Coast Bloom\n\nNOAA Funds HAB Forecasting System\n\nPhytoplankton Bloom in Hood Canal 2016\n\nNANOOS Ocean Technology Transfer Grant for 2014-2017\n\nOverview of 2015 HAB Event\n\nHow are HABs Monitored?\n\n\n\nHABs Research\n\nRelated NANOOS Products\n\nReal-Time Data\n\n\nWater Quality for Shellfish Growers\n\nAccess a wide range of water quality data tailored to the shellfish growing community.\n\nSamish Bay Biosensor\n\nThe NWFSC Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) is an advanced biosensor for micro-organisms, including those responsible for harmful algal blooms.\n\nRegional Coastal Observing Systems\n\n\n\nCentral and Northern California\n\nGreat Lakes\n\nGulf of Mexico\n\nPacific Islands\n\n\nAtlantic - Northeast\n\nPacific Northwest\n\nSouthern California\n\nAtlantic - Southeast", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9735883474349976}
+{"content": "Positioning the Cleavage Furrow\n\nLMU researchers have identified a signaling pathway that restricts cleavage furrow formation to the mid-plane of the cell.\n\ncell biology\nCell division in the C. elegans embryo (magenta: microtubules, blue: TPXL-1, green: chromosomes)\n\nCell division is a fundamental biological process which ensures that, following the replication of the mother cell’s genome, the two sets of chromosomes are equally distributed between two daughter cells. Chromosomes are segregated by the spindle apparatus, which is made up of fibrous protein structures called microtubules. The spindle apparatus is anchored to the opposite poles of the cell and determines the position of the future cleavage site in the middle of the cell, where a contractile protein ring is assembled. LMU researchers led by cell biologist Dr. Esther Zanin, who heads an Emmy Noether Research Group at the LMU Biocenter, have identified a molecular signaling pathway that restricts formation of the contractile ring to the mid-plane of the mother cell. Their findings appear in theJournal of Cell Biology.\n\nCorrect segregation of the chromosomes requires precise positioning of the cleavage furrow to the mid-plane of the cell. To achieve this, the spindle apparatus sends out two signals. One of these actively stimulates formation of the contractile ring at the mid-plane of the cell while a second signal inhibits its assembly at the cell poles. The inhibitory signal is known to originate from the so-called astral microtubules, which project to the cell poles from the spindle apparatus. “However, the molecular constituents of this signal have remained unknown until now,” says Zanin. “With the help of a newly developed and highly sensitive method, we have now shown in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans – a popular model organism in cell biology – that the enzyme Aurora A is a central component of the inhibitory signal.”\n\nAurora A, which is also present in human cells, is known to play a crucial role in the control of spindle assembly, and is activated on the astral microtubules. “We think that the active enzyme then diffuses from the astral microtubules to the cell membrane at the cell poles, where it suppresses formation of a contractile ring.” Zanin explains. In multicellular organisms, the precise control of cell division is not only essential during embryonic development, but also in the adult organism. Defects in cell division can causes numerous diseases including cancers.“ A detailed understanding of this fundamental process is therefore a prerequisite for the development of more effective ways to treat and prevent such disorders,” says Zanin.\n\nSource : LMU Munich", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.981076717376709}
+{"content": "This Friday's Free Downloads | Featured Artistes: Paul Oti, CIA, Jhiedy, Emmanuel Hero, Juwon Johnson, Femi Okunuga, Kunle Kenny\n\nCan you believe that today is the last day of February?  Where did the month go?  Well, I certainly hope this month was an awesome one for you.  Here are seven songs to help celebrate all the wonderful things that happened in February (and usher in the month of March).  In no particular order, enjoy songs from the following artistes, followed by a short excerpt from their press releases:\n\n  1. Paul Oti - Malafakumo (Don't be afraid)\n  2. Christ I Abide (C.I.A) - All A'Dem\n  3. Jhiedy - Faith Realm\n  4. Emmanuel Hero - Nara Ekele\n  5. Juwon Johnson - Je Kan Mo (Let them know)\n  6. Femi Okunuga - Emi Orun (Holy Spirit)\n  7. Kunle Kenny - Ijo Ope\n\n*Let me know which ones you really like!\n\n1. Paul Oti - Malafakumo (Don't be afraid)\n\nPaul Oti is a music minister and vocal coach with passion for God based in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. He has worked with Ebiere and Afy Douglas who are top notch gospel acts in the South-South region and has organised great concerts to promote the gospel of Christ. He loves training choirs and helping people that are not very good singers to be the best.\n\n\n\n\nDodo, the kid from outer space\n\n\n\n\nOpen Day and Why Many Students Hated It\n\nOkay, not all students hated \"open day,\" but let's just say it wasn't an occasion students looked forward to.\n\nOpen Day is the one day in a semester/term set aside for parents and guardians to come to their child's school, meet with teachers and decide the fate of that child inspect the child's schoolwork to make sure he or she is on the right track academically.  That's all good on paper.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.611538827419281}
+{"content": "OP #4 Farewell to Britain\n\nWell my time in England is coming to an end. I have had a wonderful time. One of the best parts of my time here in Britain was my hike through Scotland on Iona. It was such a peaceful place and the hike was really nice. The rolling hills of stone offered me a challenge of trying to climb them and the wildlife was cool as it was different due to the shielding of the big hill on the island.  The sights were amazing from the tops of the small rock hills. Another place that I found to be awe inspiring was Stirling Castle. The castle was massive and showed me what castles of great importance look like. The castle showed me how a castle can still survive and be relevant well into the gunpowder age. I will miss being able to see castles and the weather which we had in Scotland because it was absolutely beautiful. I miss Scotland even now. I really want to go back. I miss Scotland because the landscape is beautiful with its simplicity. I just find the simple low lying grasses and the natural element to Scotland with its rock hills and mountains. I also love the Scottish accent which as it happens is very prevalent in Scotland. This course has changed my perspective on how I look at the United States and has led me to appreciate what we have because even the United Kingdom does not have it. I have a great time in Britain and have grown to appreciate the culture and landscape of Britain.\n\n\nPortsmouth Harbor\n\nPortsmouth is one of the biggest military naval harbors historically in England. Today, it is still used in some parts as a naval base and training facility for the naval academy.  The HMS Victory was an impressive ship that was built in the late 1700s. It is the oldest ship in continuous military service. The second oldest ship is the USS Constitution. The HMS Victory was the flagship of Vice-Admiral Nelson at the battle of Trafalgar. Nelson is considered one of the best naval officers in British history. Nelson died at the battle of Trafalgar after the battle as he led his flagship the HMS Victory in the lead into the naval action. The HMS Victory barely made it back to port due to the damage it has sustained during the naval action. The battle at Trafalgar was a resounding victory for the Royal Navy (British). The French and Spanish fleet was resoundingly defeated. This battle took place during the Napoleonic Wars. The ship which is on display in Portsmouth Harbor is massive for its time. It had 104 cannons arrayed on its three decks along with a hold at the bottom of the ship. These cannons included 32 pound cannons, 24 pound cannons and an array of long and normal barreled 12 pound cannons. The poundage of a cannon is based upon the weight of shot that is fired from the cannon. This made the HMS Victory a ship of the line which were the main military ships of the Royal navy although as the flagship it was bigger and more heavily armed than most ships of the same classification. In fact, it was a first-rate ship of the line which means it was fitted with the best materials available and purpose built to be an important ship in the royal navy. It was commissioned by Pitt the Elder a famous tactician in British history.\n\nPortsmouth is also home to a World War I ship HMS M.33. This ship was a small bombardment ship meant for coastal duty with two big 6 inch guns that have a range of at least 6 miles which allowed them to cover the amphibious landings on Gallipoli. The ship had 4 siblings all of which were destroyed by enemy artillery fire during the landings. This was due to their ½ inch thin hull which any direct hit by an artillery shell could destroy the ship. HMS M33 became known as the “luck ship” as it was the only one that survived. The ship then saw service in the support of landings in Archangel in north western Russia to cover the White Russians’ retreat. The ship was repurposed in World War II as a mine layer and a floating office for some officers who were never of note. The ship was decommissioned soon after World War II. The ship is one of three remaining ships that served in World War I and the only surviving ship from the Gallipoli campaign. Portsmouth harbor is a fine reflection of some of the history of the Royal Navy’s illustrious history.\n\nMad Max Tour and Avebury Stone Circle\n\nThe Mad Max tour is a bus touring company that we used to get from place to place today. The company was called Mad Max due to the owner of the company Madeline or Mady for short who owns the company. When she gave bus tours, she would bring her dog Max with her and thus the company became known as Mad Max. During this tour, the class visited ancient places such as Stonehenge and Avebury Stone Circle. The Avebury Stone Circle is located in the town of Avebury in England. This stone circle is connected to Stonehenge by an ancient road or route that is about 17 miles long between the two sites. The surrounding area is has a high concentration of chalk which has not helped the scientific dating because chalk does not preserve pollen which is used to easily tell what plants lived in the area at that time. The scientists thus turned to snail shells as they are incredibly diverse and many varieties exist according to their environment. Through this process scientists have learned that in the Avebury area a giant oak forest once stood. The site at Avebury is by far the largest in size for that period in England with the next closest being a quarter of the size. The henge seen at Avebury that can be seen today started construction in roughly 3000BC and was added to periodically until 2400BC. It is expected that prior to the placing of the stones in Avebury and other henge sites that there were once wooden poles set which served the same unknown purpose as the stones. The purpose of these stones are unknown although one can surmise that they had a religious purpose and that it had to do with the sun, moon, and stars. At the site, there is a rock that has a natural outcropping which is called the devil’s seat as bad luck has been said to befall people who sat in the “seat”. Long after other people came to the area such as the Romans who left the stones intact. It was not until the late medieval period that people saw a problem with the stones. England at this point had converted to Christianity and they saw the stones as a symbol of the devil hence one stone being called the devil’s seat. They began pulling the stones down, but this was stopped by the death of a barber-surgeon who was crushed by a stone as it fell. The locals may have believed that these stone could feel or were somehow alive and thus to pull them down they needed someone with medical training. Avebury remained generally unknown throughout time expect to the locals in recorded history. It was not until the 1695 that there was any significant mention of Avebury in any recorded and widely publicized works. It was included in the Britannia which is equivalent to the modern-day encyclopedia. The site came to be as it is today through the efforts of Alexander Keiller who bought the land and righted the fallen stones and mapped out the places where stones once lay.  \n\nEdinburgh Castle OP #2\n\nEdinburgh castle located in the Scottish city of Edinburgh which holds the seat of government for the Scottish Parliament, today. Edinburgh Castle is the rock which commands the heights above the city of Edinburgh.  The castle was besieged many times by both the Scottish and the English multiple times as it was of major importance for control of the region. The castle was originally built by the Scottish although records do not show when it was built. It first pops into existence upon the death of the Scottish King Malcom III. While King Malcom III might be the earliest king associated with Edinburgh Castle, the earliest building remaining in the castle is St. Margaret’s Chapel. It is a small stone structure roughly in the center of the complex. The castle was rebuilt and used during the wars of independence and switched hands repeatedly. The Scottish King Robert the Bruce eventually took the castle and slighted it (removed the defensive fortifications of the castle). This was done to prevent the English from retaking the castle and the Scots having to re-siege the castle.\n\nThe castle was redesigned with the advent of cannons being used consistently in siege Also at this time. The castle became the armory for the lowlands and by the time of Mary Queen of Scots’ attempt to seize power in Scotland in housed the majority of the heavy cannons in Scotland. The castle held for almost 2 years of siege until the forces opposing Queen Mary’s ascent to the Scottish throne called upon England for support. Mary’s cousin Queen Elizabeth was more than willing to help and sent heavy siege artillery up to Edinburgh and after only a relatively short time in comparison to the siege time which had already gone on. The castle surrendered, and with it the last bastion of support for Mary Queen of Scot’s bid to the throne of Scotland. This was longest siege to take place at the castle.\n\nAfter the Act of Union, which joined the two countries of Scotland and England into one nation. The castle was used for various purposes though mainly for military purposes such as the housing of soldiers of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards which now has a museum dedicated to them and their exploits. They are still an active unit although they no longer ride horses, but tanks and other mechanized engines of war. The museum is dedicated to their service throughout the centuries from the Crimean War to World War II to the Boer Wars in South Africa. Alongside this museum stands a memorial to those who fought in World War I and World War II from various Scottish regiments.\n\nThe castle still retains its own importance and traditions. The castle houses the Scottish regalia which is the royal pieces that are only to be held by a Scottish king or queen. One important tradition that is still carried out is the firing of a cannon at one o’clock in the afternoon. This was done at one to save gun powder. This has gone on uninterrupted for centuries except during WWII. In the modern day, the United Kingdom’s soldiers use a modern artillery piece to fire the shot at one o’clock. This is Edinburgh castle in a nutshell.\n\nOfficial Post #4\n\nDuring the class, I have learned a tremendous amount about the people of the 14th century lived. They lived in a much simpler time compared to today because they could not travel the vast distances that are regularly travelled by people today. The people were not living in fairy tale as is sometimes romanticized in movies nor were they living in the worst conceivable situation. Death was much more common than it is today and people just accepted this more so than we do today. There were many more ways to die back then than there is today. In fact, the average age was in the 40s to low 50s for those that reached adulthood which was 20. This was a feat considering the staggering infant mortality rate of the time which left many dead before they had their first birthday. This would also have been compounded by the physicians of the time not having the faintest idea of modern medicine which generally made the patient’s situation worse than before the person was treated. This paints a bleak picture, but in contrast the people of the time loved to dance, listen to music, or listen to stories. People did not want to dwell on the death that was all around, but instead focus on life. The humor of the 14th century tended towards what would today be seen as practical jokes.\n\nThe world in which they lived was filled with dangers which was a reason for not traveling as there were robbers and thieves on the road. This road violence would increase in times of bad harvests because there was not enough food so people would endeavor to obtain some through theft. Violence was a part of everyday society with some being seen as sport such as bullbaiting and cockfighting which was considered a children’s game. There was no real law like the police of modern day and each person had to be able to defend themselves. The law was there, but it was hard to enforce due to the lack of communication over the island. Travel time was a factor given that most people travelled on foot as the primary mode of transportation. Travel on horseback was expensive and one had own a horse in which to ride. Travel by sea was risky because of pirates and rough seas could drive a ship away from the coast or wreck her on the shore. Finding a place to stay was another reason for travelers not to go as inn keepers would not accept people that were not willing to pay for room and board. It was considered preferable to find a private residence in which to stay. This was seen as the more proper way of traveling because one must have some type of relation usually to be allowed to stay in a private residence. Another alternative for travelers is to stay at a monastery or other religious compound or building. Generally, the religious will take anyone in because it is seen as part of their duty to uphold their religious vows. Thus, the people in the 14th century are quite different from the people of today.\n\nTo Britain\n\nIt is almost time for the trip to Great Britain. I am really excited and cannot wait to go. I am looking forward to experiencing the British enthusiasm for football and hopefully to go and see a game, although the season is ending for them. It may be too much to hope for, but I would love to see a game. I am a really big soccer fan in the United States and I am looking forward to seeing the dramatic difference between how Americans talk about soccer and the British talk about football (not American). I have been keeping track of how the English Premier league is going, and the club that I like is most likely going to be relegated which is horrible. Relegation for those that do not know is when a team in a division finishes in the bottom 3 and they are sent down to the league under it and the top 3 are sent up although there are different rules for some divisions, but this generally remains true through the various divisions. I am also looking forward to just seeing the sites especially the castles because I have never actually seen one in person before. The preparation class has taught me about how the castles are built and how they are designed for defense. I have read books about castles since I was young enough to read and had a glorified picture of how it was to live in one. I want to learn about the realities and try to understand the people that lived in the castle on their own terms. In the famous words of Dr. Walther “I want to do history.”\n\nCaernarfon Castle\n\nImage result for caernarfon castle history\n\nCaernarfon Castle, a castle in northern Wales, was built by the Normans to solidify their control over the Welsh. The castle was built during the reign of King Edward I, but it came from more humble beginnings. At first, the castle was an old Roman fort which was controlled by local Welsh after the Romans left. Then, the English invaded and an Earl built a small motte and bailey castle in the same place as the later castle would be built and the castle would incorporate the original motte of the Earl’s castle into the defensive works of the later castle built by King Edward I of England. The castle was built at the same time as two other castles were being built at Conwy and Harlech. Caernarfon castle holds a very strategic location by sitting so close to the river which feeds into the channel between the mainland and Anglesey Island. During the construction of Caernarfon castle, a rebellion broke out in Wales and the Welsh rebels destroyed much of the castle that was built which had yet to complete the outer walls. The castle was retaken by the English about a year later and a building spree began to repair and finish the castle. The castle of Caernarfon was picked by the English to be the administrative center for the region of Caernarvonshire. The castle also played an important role as the English prince Edward of Caernarfon who was both born in the castle and given the title of Prince of Wales in 1301. The building of the castle went on uninterrupted until the Scottish war in 1304 which was led by William Wallace. After its completion in the early 1300s, the castle was garrisoned and kept English rule in the area. The castle was besieged in 1403 by Welsh and French forces and held until the end of hostilities. This was during the rule of Henry Tudor who gave rights back to the Welsh after the war ended. This led to the end of garrisoning of the castle, but it still remained the administrative center for few more years until this responsibility was taken over by the town outside the castle. The castle continues to exist to this day although there was a point in the 1660s that there was a call for the destruction of the castle and to sell off its materials because the castle was not being used and was taking up space in the town.\n\nCaernarfon castle is built as a reminder of the English presence in the area. The first tower that was supposedly completed was the Eagle Tower which was the housing apartment for the nobles of the castle and may have even been the residence of the Edward I when he visited and the place where Edward of Caernarfon was born although records do not say this for certain. There were nine towers built altogether with each one serving a purpose beyond the defensive measures they afforded. The castle had one main gate as well as two side entrances that led off towards the water ways. Caernarfon castle is still an impressive sight to behold.\n\nWilliam the Conqueror\n\nKing William I of England or more commonly known as William the Conqueror of England. He is most famous for his conquest of England. William would usher in a new era in England with his victory at the battle of Hastings in 1066 C.E. William would usher in an era of Norman domination over the previously Anglo-Saxon peoples that populated England at this time. William started with more humble beginnings which shaped him into the man he was when he became king of England.\n\nWilliam was born an illegitimate son of the Robert, Duke of Normandy. His father legitimized him as his heir before his death, but some in the duchy did not accept his claim to the duchy. William was 6 when he inherited the duchy of Normandy. There were regents and guardians placed so as to care for William and take care of running the duchy. Williams early years were filled with intrigue as one after another his guardians and regents were assassinated. Eventually his cousin led a rebellion with the help of many nobles in Normandy to take the duchy away from William. William was forced into exile at the palace of the French king. In 1047, William would return to Normandy and crush the rebellion and was merciless to those who rose up against him. Thus, William solidified his control on Normandy which allowed for the events that would take him to be the king of England.\n\nWilliam in 1051 was visited by his cousin Edward the Confessor who while in these meetings promised William the crown of England because Edward had children in which inheritance could be passed on. This was even supposedly solidified over an oath on a sacred object. The problem that developed was that upon the death of any English king a council of English nobles chooses the next king and this was a long held belief. Thus, upon the death of Edward, the witan, as this council was called, chose Harold son of Godwin as the next King of England. William was said to have been enraged by this and planned an invasion of England. Lucky timing favored William for at the same time roughly his ships set sail for England. The English army led by Harold was locked in battle with a Norwegian invasion force which the English defeated soundly. Harold after the victory marched south to meet William. The armies met at the Battle of Hastings on the 14th of October 1066. The battle was won by William and saw the death of Harold’s two brothers and Harold himself. This victory for William gave him the power to be crowned king of England on Christmas Day 1066. The south of England saw William as king while the northern parts of England would continue to resist William’s rule for years to come.\n\nWilliam I changed the landscape of life in England. Many of the nobles in England lost their land to William who gave it to loyal Norman nobles. A massive building spree of castles and fortified positions were built to impose Norman rule on the people. William ordered the creation of what is known as the Doomsday book which is a detailed record of everything taxable in the whole of England that William I controlled. William would spend most of the rest of his life fighting to hold onto his lands both in England and Normandy. William I would die on 9th of September, 1087. He would split his holdings in two with his eldest son getting Normandy and his middle son getting England.\n\nCarlisle Cathedral\n\n\nIn our recent work in class, I did some research into the cathedral at Carlisle. The cathedral at Carlisle was built by the Normans after their conquest of Cumberland County which contained the town of Carlisle and it was in this town that a cathedral was built. The diocese itself was established in 1133 A.D. by Henry I of England. The creation of the diocese served more as a defense against the encroachment of the Scottish bishops into northern England. This kept the Scottish bishops from claiming parts of England as part of their diocese. The cathedral was poorly maintained throughout its existence more because it simply needed to exist to maintain its purpose which was to keep the Scottish bishops at bay. The surviving parts of the cathedral include: two bays of the nave, the southern part of the cross patterned church, and the crossing. Churches at this point in time were built in the shape of crosses. The crossing was the middle portion of the cross where the four arms intersect. The cathedral was built in a typical Romanesque style of the time. Some of the decorations that were carved into the surviving walls still exist. For example, a zigzag pattern still is visible as one looks at the walls. The parts of the church that were destroyed were caused by human error whether it was poor maintenance or purposeful destruction. The first damage done was by a fire in 1292 A.D. This led to a rebuild that continued for a majority of the 1300s. The northern part was destroyed in 1380 A.D. by its own tower crashing down on it. This was rebuilt in the early 1400s. The rest of the damage was done during rule of Oliver Cromwell. This period was known as the Commonwealth period due to the fact that there was an attempt made to create a republican government, but this descended into Oliver Cromwell becoming more or less the military dictator of England. This time period saw a massive movement across England to root out Catholic influence which was why these people destroyed many cathedrals or in this case just part of it as in the Western part of the cathedral and the other parts of the nave in 1650 A.D.\n\nThe grounds where Carlisle Cathedral stands was at first a priory which was then added onto by the construction of the cathedral. The Augustinian Priory of St. Mary in Carlisle was found in 1122 A.D. by Henry I. In 1540 A.D., the priory was dissolved during the Commonwealth period. The cathedral at Carlis9le became a pilgrimage center which before their removal was run by the priory of St. Mary. The main focus of devotion was to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Carlisle Cathedral during the Commonwealth period was used as a place of worship while the monastic buildings were reduced to rumble and ruins. After the Restoration of the monarchy which occurred after the Commonwealth period. There was a time of rebuilding, but the cathedral at Carlisle was not near the top of the list, so it fell even more into disrepair. The first steps were taken in 1764 by the bishop to rebuild, but most of this was redone in the nineteenth century restoration. It was never completely rebuilt until the 1850s when people retook an interest in the building. It was not until the mid1900s that the cathedral was finally completed of all its restoration work.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8046160340309143}
+{"content": "tthis article was written on March of last year during the “season” of Sta. Cena or the Holy Supper inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo. While going over the recent comments of one of my dear friends Mario, he mentioned this article. I went over it and as Mario has said it is a timely piece so my friends, I post it again for those who may have missed it. I also thank  Mario for reminding me. Take care dear brother.\n\n  • William\n\nThe_Last_Supper_nameplates_01march, so it appears for us  is the month of the Holy Supper, “Banal na Hapunan,” or “Sta. Cena.” It is an event characterized by so much preparation.  From the “panata” to the “pagdadalaw, pag-aayos ng mga kaso,” and so forth.  It is the belief that anyone who partakes of the Holy Supper should be worthy and no hindrances should exist to prevent God from making His presence felt during the solemn worship service. Thus,  ministers and officers designated to lead the Holy Supper are carefully selected to ascertain the sacredness of the role assigned to them. Or so it seems …\n\n016kThe hilltop at dawn is always a very beautiful place to be, overlooking the quiet neighborhood just starting to awaken. The night sky and the stars slowly fading away as the glimmering sun calmly pushes its presence across the distant horizon.  A cool breeze brush your shoulders as you stare at Goofy and Katy trying to keep snugly in place.  They must be wondering why I must always come here when their porch is the most comfortable place to be.  We walked down and jogged a few paces before reaching home.  Both were breathing heavily especially Goofy who had shorter legs.  They rushed to their bowl of H2O. I stared at them both. So innocent, so naive, so dependent. Goofy would not touch food served by anyone else but me.  I remember the time I had to go to Aurora province for a few days. The food bowl had to be filled without Goofy knowing who had put it there. That was the only way she would touch her food thinking I left it there for her. It was “TRUST.” She had faith in me to such an extent that she distrusted others to serve her food.\n\nThe organizational set-up of the Iglesia ni Cristo is in a sense a Theocracy or Ecclesiocracy meaning, it is a”government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. Or as the The Oxford English Dictionary would define “A form of government in which God (or a deity) is recognized as the king or immediate ruler, and his laws are taken as the statute-book of the kingdom, these laws being usually administered by .. his ministers.., claiming a divine commission; ..”\n\ndictatorshipThus, this same claim is used by our administration in implementing all of its functions including the officiating of our Sta Cena which was actually based on the Last Supper of Christ and continued thereafter by the apostles.  All Christianity have their own versions of the Holy Supper, us included.  The only difference is we claim sole authority.\n\nAs we all know Judas Iscariot was one of the original 12 apostles but lost face when he betrayed Christ for 30 silver coins. He was also designated Treasurer and had been stealing for 3 and a half years from the treasury at the time. (Ironically, others claim that Judas did Christ a favor because without him the setting in motion of the events that led to Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection would not have taken place. Interesting ..)\n\nWith the axe of credibility hanging precariously above its head, the INC now needs to ask itself, “Does God and Christ still acknowledge our Holy Supper?” Is the TRUST still there, or putting it bluntly:\n\n“Kung si Hudas Iscariote and mangangasiwa ng Sta. Cena, tatanggap ka ba?”\n\n(Ironically too, if Ka Jun Santos shares limelight with Judas Iscariot as “Treasurer” of the Church, will his fortune be identical with Judas in also restoring the Church to its former glory, unblemished and pristine? Nagtatanong lang po …)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6832874417304993}
+{"content": "Archive for March 23, 2009\n\nThe current financial crisis has been running riot on global markets now for more than a year. After many bank collapses, desperate central bank attempts to save the financial market and seemingly forever dropping stock prices, it’s so bad now that we don’t even hear anymore that the worst might be over (even though just today Obama spun some light at the end of the tunnel) – we actually are getting softened up by governments and economic pundits for worse to come. This crisis is the worst capitalism has experienced since the Great Depression in the 1930s. And it is not just a financial crisis – we actually moved towards the centre of a deep social and environmental crisis, which again shows that the capitalist system is not just unrulable but also impotent to cater for our welfare and survival needs.\n\ndemoThis disaster is not a natural catastrophe. Ostensibly it seems the result of the bursting of the US housing bubble and the collapse of the credit pyramid built by the shadow banking system in recent years. But in reality this crisis is systemic, the product of a system in which capital as a form of a society’s wealth circulates around the world on the hunt for huge financial returns for a few individuals. It is the result of global imbalances that have been increasingly exacerbated over the last few years, and it is rooted in policies that deliberately expedited deregulation and liberalisation of financial markets and in the process eliminated the industrial production capacities of countries like the UK and the US. This crisis is also the result of a bottom-to-top wealth redistribution, which primarily made the concentration of fortunes possible in the hands of such few and dramatically widened the gap between the haves and have-nots.\n\nBanks worldwide so far had to write off trillions of dollars, investment banks have basically disappeared, and the rest of the banking system has been deeply shaken. Stock prices have more than halved and despite a recent respite might decline further. But the really afflicted aren’t the financial managers and stockholders; they are for example those millions of Americans who have lost their homes and pensions. They and millions more worldwide who will lose their jobs over the next year or two are the ones who are bearing the brunt of capitalism’s systemic failure. Let’s also not forget the people in the so-called developing world who have been and will be particularly hard hit by the expanding world economic crisis; they had very little to begin with and will sink even deeper into poverty or simply die. And what about the general populations in societies all over the world who have to bankroll the gigantic bank bailouts with their taxes while sacrificing public service deliveries such as in health, education and social welfare in the process?\n\n\n\nI know nothing about haute-couture but I do like the worlds of the darkish surreal with its oddly dreamlike sequences parading the bizarre and the fantastic. Just looking at Inhabitat’s borrowed (from the NYT) images of those weird and unreal yet startling looking models in Alexander McQueen‘s “trashy production” for Paris Fashion Week, I immediately wanted to know more. So here is the wonderfully bewildering, as presented by Yuka Yoneda’s .Inhabitat fashion post.\n\n\nWake up and smell the rubbish, people!\n\nThat’s what king of couture, Alexander McQueen’s tantalizingly “trashy” production for Paris Fashion Week seemed to roar, leaving the audience with eyes wide and mouths aflutter. The show — which featured models that resembled creepy crossbreeds between a blow-up doll, Pinhead from Hellraiser, and Blythe (incidentally the postergirl for McQueen’s line with Target, but more on that later) sauntering among black heaps of junky old props from the designer’s past shows — sent uneasy waves through the crowd. Are the dead-on silhouettes of Dior’s New Look and Givenchy’s little black dress meant to poke fun at us? Why are the models wearing umbrellas and aluminum cans on their heads? What does it all mean?!!!\n\n\n\nOne thing is pretty certain: if the current economic disaster unfolds further, hitting Americans harder, the chances for social unrest are increasing. We already had large scale demonstrations and uprisings in many countries all over the world, including the still ongoing conflict in Greece and last week’s demonstrations and a general strike in France in which up to 4 million people participated – and will continue to give support to. Small demonstrations in the US are currently directed and channelled by the media against AIG senior staff, but that anger can multiply when people realise the Obama government is in cohorts with the banking industry and big business and is doing nothing to alleviate the plight of the average person.\n\nBut even if the economic situation improves miraculously and the government and the large corporations escape unscathed, there’s still another upheaval looming: global warming and its social consequences. And there has been ample evidence of government representatives expressing concern about future social unrest and the need to be prepared to curb it. Clandestine operations to gather early evidence of protest movements dangerous to the ‘authorities’ (meaning spying), the employment of combat troops against the American civilian population and internment camps are not far fetched in this context. Chossudovsky’s following reflections therefore should at least make us a bit more sensitive to and investigative of what’s going on the home front in the US. Guys, beware!\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDetailed print and online imitations\n\n\n\n\nThe paper has a circulation of over half a million.\n\n\nSlightly edited version\n\nSenator Stephen Conroy\n\nImage by neeravbhatt via Flickr\n\n… and it is starting, as this Age article reports, with those critical of Conroy, known for his useless and invasive Web and Bit Torrent filtering scheme. Feels a bit like a lighter shade of China descending upon the Australian blogosphere:\n\n\nTender documents issued by the Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy reveal it is looking for a “monitoring service for print and electronic media”. The department later attached a clarification confirming this included “blogs such as Whirlpool“.\n\nWhirlpool has strongly criticised Senator Conroy’s plan to filter internet content and his handling of the Government’s $15 billion national broadband network. It is a community-run forum devoted to discussing broadband internet access.\n\nSenator Conroy’s spokesman said: “Whirlpool … covers a wide range of topics across the telecommunications sector. It and other web sites provide valuable insight into the industries in which we work.”\n\nSeems like the Australian government is becoming more and more obsessed with controlling activities on the Net. Sure, they won’t censor blogs critical of them (at least not right now), but what will those bureaucrats and pollies do with data they collect? Making the tax-payer funded marketing of their schemes more effective is one thing, which is bad enough. But what will they do with the information they gather about individuals? How will their spying for example affect certain job prospects they might have? And what will the Rudd government ‘monitor’ next?\n\nIf the government would really be interested in what the community thinks and feel, it would engage, using forums like Whirlpool to begin a dialogue. Snooping on them instead says a lot about governments in general and the arrogant, self-righteous, autocratic and control-freak attitude of Rudd and Co in particular.\n\nReblog this post [with Zemanta]\n\n\nKevin Purdy at Lifehacker posted yet another top 10 Windows utilities, and again some of them seem to be quite useful. They’re the little things that (in this case) make a Windows system so much better, especially when use less than 10MB of memory to make your life easier. Go to Lifehacker to check out those 10 apps that pack a lot of greatness into very little space.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6284686326980591}
+{"content": "Oh, My Pop Culture Religion: To Love a God or the Ethics of Mortals & Gods Together\n\nzeus & europa\n\nOne of the things that is fairly common in many religions is some sort of erotic relationship between gods and mortals. Especially in various pagan pantheons, gods frequently have sex with mortals, often resulting in the creation of some sort of superhuman child. This is where we usually get the heroes of many of these myths. These heroes are able to stand up to gods and monsters of all kinds, but not all of the children created from these unions are good. In fact, some end up being vicious monsters or even just powerful humans using their godly abilities for evil. Either way, the union between gods and mortals ends up creating a powerful elite class of beings. With that being said, is it ethical for gods to ever have an erotic relationship with a human if the union can create such powerful and dangerous beings? Furthermore, when there are powerful and immortal people sleeping with changeable mortals, this creates a whole other set of issues involving the large power imbalance between the two people involved.\n\nContinue reading\n\nOh, My Pop Culture Religion: The Lucifer Season Finale & Feminist Theology\n\nAlmost a month ago the Lucifer season finale premiered and I enjoyed the heck out of the episode. I loved everything from seeing Lucifer pray to getting a glimpse of hell, but the show really threw me a curve ball with Lucifer’s final line in the episode and the feminist theologian in me isn’t sure how to feel about it.\n\nMajor spoilers for the Lucifer season finale after the jump.\n\nContinue reading\n\nLady Geek Girl & Friends’ Best of the Blog Sundays\n\nHiatus Spongebob Pic SundayWe’re still on hiatus until January 6th. Happy New Year, everyone, and we’ll be back soon!\n\nOh, My Pop Culture Unchristianity: Sandman’s Humanizing Subversion of Common Christian Tropes. Syng illustrates how Sandman plays with common Christian tropes.\n\nAn imperfect God is easier to believe in. Just as a mystical pregnancy that doesn’t result in special children (because statistically, so few people are likely to become Great; why should children of mystical pregnancies be any different from typical humans?), and the death of a son of god being much more personal than a momentous world-saving act is easier to believe in.\n\nOh, My Pop Culture Religion: Religious Practice in the Potterverse. Stinekey speculates on how magic and religion work in the Potterverse.\n\nHowever, there are a few canonical instances where wizards do actually practice (Christian) religion in the series. St. Mungo’s, the wizarding hospital, is actually named for a real saint. St. Mungo, also known as St. Kentigern, was a Christian missionary who performed miracles and founded the city of Glasgow. The Fat Friar is the ghost of Hufflepuff House and was a monk in his former life.\n\nContinue reading\n\nOh, My Pop Culture Pantheon: Gods Alive!\n\nMany stories circle around one particular religion or mythology. However, I think it can be equally interesting when a book or show addresses multiple mythologies simultaneously—when a story posits that all the gods and goddesses from various religions exist and interact. What are the politics like between these groups? The power dynamics? Let’s look at a few examples.\n\nPercy Jackson/The Red Pyramid:\n\nThe original Percy Jackson quintet doesn’t touch on any sort of gods outside the Greek pantheon, and on its face, The Kane Chronicles (of which I’ve only read The Red Pyramid) is entirely about Egyptian mythology. However, there was one really interesting moment in The Red Pyramid when the two main kids are hiding out in New York and they look over to Manhattan, seeing thunder and lightning over the Empire State Building (new home of Mt. Olympus in the Jackson books). When they ask their mentor about it, they are told that Manhattan is Greek territory and Egyptian deities don’t go there. This suggests a world where all the pantheons of previous civilizations still exist, are aware of each other, have at some point agreed upon divisions of American territory between themselves, and respect each other’s power. This one throwaway line made me wonder what other pantheons Riordan will eventually delve into—Norse? Aztec? Hindu? I’m excited to see.\n\n\nLady Geek Girl touched on the fail of Supernatural where it concerns Hinduism last week, but I’d say that it fails concerning pretty much any non-Christian religion. The idea that the show appears to work from is that the gods of all other traditions, including ancient ‘pagan’ (the name they give to any sort of Druidic or less-well known gods, mostly Anglo-Saxon) traditions, still exist, but their power is derived from their worshippers, and they no longer have as much clout in the modern world because of the rise of Christianity. LGG pointed out that in this mindset, the Hindu and other Asian gods should be much more powerful than they are portrayed, but most deities of non-Christian mythologies, although more powerful than the average ghost or demon, can usually be killed with a fancy stake or bled-upon ram’s horn. Nothing from a non-Christian pantheon can come close to the power of the angels or other Christian powers, and the non-Christian deities are portrayed as having to band together to protect themselves from complete destruction.\n\nAmerican Gods:\n\nAmerican Gods is a wonderful book by Neil Gaiman.  It also works from the idea that gods are only as powerful as the population of their worshippers can make them, but takes this concept in a far different direction from Supernatural. This story posits that the gods of the Old World immigrated to the US like so many other groups in the last two centuries, and have lost much of their power. Now, the old gods are banding together, and they are massing to make war against the New Gods of America—not Jesus or the Judeo-Christian God, but rather powerful personifications of Media, Celebrity, Drugs, and other fascinations of modern culture. The focus of this story is on Norse myth, but many other traditions’ gods are portrayed, in what I think is a realistic way: they all are aware of each other’s powers and are justifiably suspicious of each other, but have grudgingly put aside their differences to defend their place in America.\n\nWhat stories have I missed? Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comes to mind, but I figured I’d focus on the more topical of Gaiman’s works here. Anyway, let me know in the comments, and, as always, tune in next time to get some religion!\n\nOh, My Pop Culture Jesus: O Death!\n\nDo I really need to explain why death is important to religion? Life, death, and the afterlife are key parts of any religion. That mysterious force that is death has perplexed humanity for… well, ever. Why do some people die while others live? And what part does God have in it all? Well, let’s look at my three favorite examples of Death as he/she is often personified in pop culture.\n\nCheck out the first appearance of Supernatural’s Death.\n\nMan, doesn’t that video just give you chills.\n\nThe portrayal of Death in Supernatural is one of my favorites. Despite looking completely normal, if a bit skeletal, Death is clearly a wholly other being of great power. When Dean Winchester first meets Death it becomes very clear fighting Death will not be plausible. That becomes even more obvious when Dean actually talks to Death. Death describes how he is so powerful that to him Dean appears like nothing more than an ameba and even describes Lucifer, arguably one of the most powerful angels in exist as “a bratty child.” But Death’s power becomes even more obvious when he talks about God. He describes himself as being as old as God, maybe even older. He furthermore explains how in the end even God will die and he’ll reap God. And though it’s never shown in the TV series, it is implied that Death talks to God and knows where God is—God has been notably absent in the show. Death, like God, sees the big picture and understands how the world works. Because of his power and his ability to understand seemingly everything, Death appears as this indifferent larger-than-life figure.\n\nDeath spares Chicago because he likes the pizza, he pulls Sam’s soul from hell, but refuses to do the same for Adam, and seems to only do this because he wants something from Dean. The only person that Death seems particularly fond is actually God. When Dean, Sam, and Bobby bind Death to them in order to kill Castiel, who proclaimed himself god, Death doesn’t understand that they want him to kill the Castiel god and thinks that they want him to kill the God. Death tries to stall. He lies and says that he can’t, and when Castiel shows up calling himself god Death makes fun of him, calling him a “mutated angel” and says, “I know God, and you sir, are no God.”\n\nI think the Death of Supernatural is portrayed as he is because he is based on humanity’s own feelings about death. Death is the awe-inspiring, impartial, unfeeling force in the universe, but for those of us with some spirituality we also have a sense that Death is part of something greater and more important. In this respect, Death in Supernatural is portrayed extremely well.\n\nNeil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…\n\nI’m not ashamed to say that Good Omens is perhaps my all-time favorite novels with one of my all-time favorite portrayals of Death, or I guess for these purposes we should call him DEATH. In this portrayal, DEATH is not impartial. DEATH is excited for the end of the world. It is described by him and the other horseman as waiting for Christmas or your birthday. At the end of the novel, the antichrist Adam faces down DEATH because he doesn’t want the world to end. DEATH wants the world to end and tries to convince Adam to follow along with his nature, but when Adam and his friends defeat the other horseman, DEATH grudgingly concedes that the apocalypse cannot continue, but makes of point of saying that he is not defeated.\n\n\nThe heat of their stare faded. Adam scratched his nose.\n\n“Oh, I don’t know,” he said. “There might be a way.” He grinned back.\n\nDEATH himself cannot be defeated and even the other horsemen seem to continue to exist in some form, but Adam implies that perhaps there is a way. I think this might be implying the idea that Christ defeats it in the act of his crucifixion and resurrection, or even the obvious fact that if DEATH does go through with the apocalypse there will either be Hell on earth or Heaven on earth, meaning that DEATH would no longer need to exist. In enacting the apocalypse, DEATH would actually be killing himself.\n\nNeil Gaiman apparently owns my soul because he has another portrayal of Death that is my absolute favorite. Death in the Sandman Comics is very different for several reasons. First, unlike most portrayals of Death, this Death is a woman, shown as being a young attractive goth chick. She is also very different in the way that she functions. This Death is not distant, impartial, uncaring; she is invested in the world. She adds the spark of life to all babies when they are born and remembers them all, calling them by name when they die. She enjoys life and enjoys humanity and the many other creatures that inhabit the Sandman universe. She is often seen giving advice to her brother Dream and genuinely seems to care about everyone.\n\nThis Death is clearly a benevolent and caring one who understands the importance of Death, while understanding the fear and misunderstanding of Death that comes from those finite beings that can’t see the larger picture.\n\nI hope all this talk about Death hasn’t depressed anyone. Personally, I find it extremely hopeful. This makes me think that though we humans fear our own death, we fear the death of everything just as much, while at the same time many people long for the end of days. Weird, right?\n\nNext time on Oh, My Pop Culture Jesus: The End is Here\n\nTune in next time and find some religion!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6779444217681885}
+{"content": "GUT #7: The Three Ages Of Marx\n\n\n\nContribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Law, 1844\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Holy Family, 1844\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe First Age Of Marx\n\n\n\nContribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Law, 1844\n\n\n\n\n\nAfterword to the Second German Edition of Capital (1873)\n\n\n\n\nThe Second Age Of Marx\n\n\n\nManifesto of the Communist Party\n\n\n\n\n\nManifesto of the Communist Party\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMarx, Preface to the Critique of Political Economy (1859)\n\n\nThe Third Age Of Marx\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLast Words Are For Fools\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFinally, at the end,  Marx is credited with:\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd,most telling of all:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n1 and 2\n\nMarx-Engels Correspondence 1858\n\nMarx To Ferdinand Lassalle In Düsseldorf\n\nSource: MECW Volume 40, p. 268;\n\n\nG.U.T. Revealed\n\n\nHegel’s philosophy of dialectics was in itself synthesis. It represented the response to Protestantism’s attack on the foundational Catholic philosophy that had shaped Germany and Europe for the millennia. Identifying the imperative behind this response is key to understanding the dynamic of history since the 18thC.\n\n\nMarx’s battle with synthesised Germanic philosophy forced  him to decamp to England, but retreat provided only temporary respite. Hegel’s dialectic and the problem of moral choice would lay siege to Marx in London and force Marxism  as far west as it was possible to go- America. There was no peace for Marxism even there.\n\n\nEverywhere the synthesised German philosophy held sway was hostile ground to Marxism. Everywhere synthesised German philosophy ruled, Marxism was forced to flee. Marxism could only thrive specifically where synthesised German philosophy did not. These are the true material conditions that determined the success or otherwise of Marxism in any particular time or place. It is not random chance that  Marxism proliferated wherever synthesised western German philosophy failed –  Russia, China, parts of the Far East and now, the modern developed nations. That’s right- Marxism rules in the west now. Marxism gained a foothold when synthesised German philosophy began its decomposition in the western world..\n\n\nThe Definition of Tragedy\n\n\nThe purpose of GUT is to describe and understand the relationship between Marxism and historical reality as we have experienced it over the past century. Was Marx essentially just an opportunist Victorian radical whose work was a reaction to the development  of industrial capitalism? Or is the Marxist claim that Marx was chosen by the zeitgeist to define a new era and a new conception of history, closer to the truth?\n\n\nOr is it even possible that the history into which Marxism fits points to something different but even more profound than the claims made by Marxists? I will argue that this is the case. Marxists as a whole have FAILED to understand the specific (as opposed to ‘true’), importance of Marxism and failed to communicate this specific importance to the populations of German societies.  The irony is that this failure is  tragedy and genuine disaster precisely for those sections of German societies who came to perceive it as victory. It is a tragedy whose magnitude and depth is only now becoming truly apparent. Defeat perceived as victory is as good a definition of tragedy as any..\n\n\nThe key to understanding and defining  Marxism  lies in the context in which Marxism came to be and in which it operated. With this in mind I will briefly survey the most important global powers around 1850 and their relative positions in the world.  Foremost among the Empire powers would be the British Empire comprising of the British Isles and attendant colonies in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It had an outer core of non white populations controlled by Anglo Saxon colonial elites as in South Africa and India etc. At this time the British Empire was  somewhere around the peak of it’s power.\n\n\nSeconded to the British Empire is North America, about to be transformed by the American Civil War of 1861.  The third tier of world powers at that time consisted of western European Latin colonisers such as France, Spain and Portugal. France was clearly fundamentally flawed internally and the other Latin nations; Spain and Portugal  were  heading towards military, social and economic exhaustion. As a consequence their  ability to successfully exploit empire in  South America and elsewhere was rapidly fading.\n\n\nThe Struggle To Be Last\n\n\nBehind the western Europeans around 1850  is Germany- finally gaining pace in its development as a scientific and social power. The reasons for Germany’s late development as a capitalist nation state are a fundamental part of GUT. And bringing up the rear of the pack, the two wild cards that would actually shape the detailed course of the 20thC –  Russia and Japan.\n\n\nThe two most fraught battles in any race are the battle for first and just as importantly, the battle for last place. While England and Germany fought for first, Russia and Japan were fighting to see who would come last in the league table of developed WHITE nations. Russia and Japan were in a desperate battle to see who was the most or least, ‘white’ among them. This battle would produce the Russo Japanese War and this war in turn would produce the modern world.\n\n\nThe two most dynamic world powers driven by the pressure for change, were heading for inevitable conflict with each other. This  is the context for Marx’s prediction that capitalism would collapse. The attitude of  British  and German state and society to Marxism only truly makes sense in this context. Consider the viable active content of Marxism, in particular the collapse and revolution that Marx predicted.  What would be the actual process of collapse? Would it be some textbook abstracted ‘workers revolution’ or would it present itself in a complex, tangential real world way?  And what about the consequences of that collapse? Would the post revolutionary nations simply stop dead at the moment of revolution? Wouldn’t new forces IMMEDIATELY start to fill the vacuum left by collapsing capitalism, long before the point when it could legally be declared dead?\n\n\nIn truth there could never be a direct revolutionary confrontation between  workers and capitalists because the forces that led to revolution would have caused each class to decompose partially or fully, before they ever got to the point of terminal confrontation! Workers are the product of capitalism not socialism. If workers really were to be the ‘gravediggers of capitalism’- who would be there to pay them? Who would be there to tell them where to dig the hole? If they could do these things without instruction and payment, they would no longer be workers. If you think about it, a ‘workers revolution’ is by definition a nonsense.. Here is a new revolutionary definition of a worker: A worker is a person who cannot think for themselves.\n\n\nMarx’s analysis predicts increased international competition among various competing national bourgeoisies first economic and then military, finally leading to open conflict.. This is what happened.  But both Germany and England, the two powers that would acutely express this process of competition leading to war were Germanic powers and this is fundamental to understanding the unique character of the historical developments that took place. This is not history as some abstracted map where A N Other ‘nation state’ competes with A N Other  ‘nation state’, but the actual specific course of historical events in all its evidentiary detail.\n\n\nWhy The Russian Revolution Succeeded And Why It Failed\n\n\nIt is in this context that the only significant contribution to Marx’s critique of political economy outside of Marx himself was the theory of Imperialism developed by Lenin. It was his intellectual accomplishment in understanding the crisis of capitalism in its specific historical terms that led to the success of Lenin and Bolshevism. This was why the Russian revolution succeeded where so many others did not. The success of the Russian Revolution was based concretely on understanding that the crisis of capitalism was to be a specifically German crisis. Lenin’s astounding insight was realising that above all else, capitalism was German. The price that Slavs were to pay for this proclamation of historical truth came twenty years later in the Second Germanic War.  Germans, both Anglo Saxon and Continental,  tried to murder them all.\n\n\nThe First ‘War To End All Wars’\n\n\nAround  fifty years after the publication of Das Kapital in 1867 the two Germanic powers were plunged into the First World War or more accurately; the First Germanic War. This war fits into the very definition of ‘mutual ruination’ that Marx spoke of in the event that revolution should fail. The two leading capitalist powers at that time were effectively destroyed by the war they started.  The war resulted directly in the Russian revolution and  America’s consequential rise to leadership on the world stage. However, this was only the beginning. Over the subsequent  two decades  Germanic nations descended into madness and horror. And this historical perspective we have absolutely brings us to a clear understanding of the significance of Marxism.\n\n\n\n\nOnce we understand that the growth and collapse of capitalism as an economic force was to be framed within the historical context of the rise and fall of German culture and society we can understand the history of the past two centuries. The socialist struggle to avoid ‘mutual ruination’ (Marx) and ‘barbarism’ (Rosa Luxembourg), was specifically a struggle to avoid German ruination and German barbarity. It was in fact a struggle to avoid an inter Germanic war between the two poles of German culture; the Anglo Saxon and the Continental.\n\n\nIt was clear from Marx’s analysis that the capitalist elites of each side could never reach accommodation. They were driven to compete to the death by the very same forces that had given them social and economic life! The only way fatal competition  could be avoided was if some other force in society took over and forced co-operation.  Who could that be?  Who could Marx and the other socialists  find among the respective populations of both continental Germany and England that was so ALIENATED from existing society, so abused, and so disenfranchised that they could abandon culture, history and identity and forge a new TRANSGERMAN alliance and identity?\n\n\nThe answer was of course, the working class\n\n\nThis is what socialism actually is: a plea to the ALIENATED of both poles of Germanic society to ABANDON CULTURE, IDENTITY AND HISTORY and make common cause to avoid war and mutual destruction. A program for carrying out the seizure of power would be necessary to avoid destruction.\n\n\nThis endeavour is best described as German Unification Theory. or G.U.T. for short.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGUT#5: The Philosophy Refugee\n\n\n\n\nMarx waged war on classical German philosophy and failed. He failed because he could not claim to be inheritor of the western tradition and its destroyer at the same time. That method of attack; infiltration and then rebellion, had been open to Luther in his assault on the Catholic church, but not open to Marx; Hegel had seen to that through his development of dialectics.\n\n\nGerman philosophy (civilisation), learned a lesson from the fate of the Catholic church in the German Reformation and was ready and armed for the day when Marx or another like him emerged. Marx, who saw himself as the ultimate anticipator, had been anticipated by Hegel. The newly emergent political economy as practiced by Smith and Ricardo was not so prepared and payed the price accordingly; it was overrun and devastated by Marxism. Failure in the field of philosophy and success in the field of economic theory defines the nature of Marxism and the relationship between Marxism and capitalist society.\n\n\nMarx set political economy a trap from which it could not escape; a running noose that progressively tightened the more the victim struggled.  Hegel did the same with Marx. Should Marx chose to be  revolutionary, he would be forced to accept the arbitrary nature of power undermining the idea of inevitable historical progress he was advocating.  Although he liked to think of himself as Lucifer in the Abrahamic tradition, Marx is more like ‘Thor’ the German ‘god’ of thunder whose power mainly consists of a form of ‘Sturm und Drang’ – sound and fury ultimately signifying nothing. Every moment across the earth’s atmosphere there are countless micro electrical discharges from air to earth, returning the air to equilibrium charge. In the same way every time one of countless choices or accommodations is made by ‘proletarian’ or ‘capitalist’, Marxism is grounded by a force it cannot account for. A charge builds up and is then dissipated. Every so often a major lightning strike does occur, but these are rare and only a danger to anything that gets between charge and earth. Mostly these electrical storms only serve to frighten children.\n\n\nThis comparison between Lucifer and Thor is instructive. It was central to Marx’s conception of himself and his project that he would  lead opposition forces – i.e. be Lucifer, with all other socialist variants subordinate to Marxism after the form of ‘Paradise Lost’. This struggle to dominate opposition would characterise much of the explicitly political activity that Marx and Engels undertook  in the years in which they engaged in active organisation of workers movements. But as Thor is merely one of many German ‘gods’, so Marx is one of a pantheon of 19thC revolutionaries, one whose main job was to scare with lightning and thunder while others sought to pursue a quieter course. Marxism fitted into a niche within Germanic socialism as a whole- as the extreme that less radical elements could use to prompt concessions from bosses and governments and with which bosses could scare workers. Again we return to the idea of Marxism itself being  co-opted, and leveraged in a way that Marx was not able to control. The idea that workers, trades union leaders, churchmen and even finally capitalists could choose to pick up or lay down Marxist thought and rhetoric as it suited them, never seemed to seriously occur to Marx.\n\n\nBut again, this is not to deny that where Marxism is blocked in the philosophical sphere it rebounds with double the destructive force against political economy.  Despite his philosophical shortcomings, Marx was if anything, a victim of his own intellectual success in the field of economics. Marx saw modern industrial capitalism emerging from the womb, saw the defect on its face at the moment of  birth, and realised that the significance of this inherent deformity was that it presaged the inevitability of capitalism’s death, even if Marx could not predict the time and place. And it was not just capitalism itself but one hundred disciplines born out of capitalism that Marx cursed. Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Criminology, were  all doomed in the crib  by Marx, like the Bad Fairy in Sleeping Beauty.  If this is true , how did this curse have power? What was the nature of that power? Where did this power come from?\n\n\nMarxism is flawed in the sense that it does not belong to mainstream western tradition at all. It is more in the tradition of  Diogenes and Socrates, which like ‘democracy’ are claimed by the western mainstream tradition in name but denied in action.  Marx’s rhetorical devices are Zen like koans whose purpose is to short circuit thought (philosophy), and lead to action.  This shrinking of the philosophical horizon to the impetus for action is fundamental to the revolutionary impulse. In a similar vein, in his ‘Meditations’ Marcus Aurelius’ Stoic philosophy  reduces the essence of man’s conscious perspective to the span of a fraction of a fraction of a second because the Stoicism he advocated  finds no consolation in the past and no hope in the future.  All Stoics have is the moment they are in and the same applied to Marx. His purpose was to maintain balance over the abyss between revolutionary antithesis and post revolutionary synthesis. In the same way a tightrope walker uses a pole, Marx used projection into both past and future as a means of giving himself stability.. For a tightrope walker, the longer the pole the better it works to balance the tightrope walker. Through historical materialism, Marx incrementally balanced both distant past and distant future over time only as a means  to stabilise his existence in the present. Marx had no serious interest in the past or the future outside of how they might serve him from one second to another. This is a fundamental insight into Marx and Marxists. They are happy to burn the doors and window frames to heat the house for the week. They are happy to mortgage the gutted building to buy groceries for the day.\n\n\nAnalysis of Marx’s philosophy has brought us to consideration of Marx’s material facts, in particular why Marx decided to spend the bulk of his intellectual career in London. Simply put, in philosophical terms Germany could create a Marx but not sustain him. whereas England could sustain a Marx but not create him. Like a tadpole becoming a frog and moving from water to lilly pad, Marx changed internally according to environment and  changed environment according to the dynamic of his personal transformation.\n\n\nMarx’s defeat at the hands of continental philosophy had brought him to London as a philosophy refugee but  it has never been clear by what means Marx could successfully live in London, not least in freedom from the attentions of the British state. Marx’s physical existence in London was characterised by poverty and insecurity. It was only through the sponsorship of Engels that Marx was able to undertake his research. Living in London was not materially advantageous to Marx and it is also clear that London was no more advantageous in terms of the likelihood of revolution occurring there. Anglo Saxons had already clearly emerged as the people in Europe least likely to revolt against the processes that characterised the development of capitalism and the people most likely to compromise with them . In ‘The Condition Of the Working Class in England’ Engels noted the process by which Saxon capitalism was transforming itself through modifying extreme aspects of its development.\n\n\nDespite the fact that there was no imminent danger of revolution, there would surely have been some desire to remove Marx as a supposedly dangerous revolutionary, and if not that at the very least to neutralise any threat he may come to pose. Or if not even that, then to make him serve the interests of the British state either actively or passively.  Since Marx was allowed to remain  unmolested we can deduce that the British state clearly felt there was no threat in Marx or saw a positive advantage in having Marx in the capital city of England.  We can reasonably draw the conclusion that at some level Marx served the interest of England against the interest of Germany in that England felt it had nothing to fear from Marx’s philosophy whereas it felt Germany had.  Germany was increasingly seen by the English state and elite  as a competing  and potentially dangerous foreign power, but one whose potential weakness for continental radicalism presented both danger and opportunity for England. And here is the kind of irony and humour that Marx would appreciate.\n\n\nMarx came to England precisely because no-one understood philosophy there. Nobody in England even understood the significance of philosophy.  Because no-one understood philosophy in England, no-one understood how Marx had been already been defeated by classic German philosophy by the time he got to London. In as far as they took him at his word, the English elite accepted to a greater or lesser extent the nature and  extent of the threat that Marx could pose to the emerging German power. They were happy to have Marx in London on the basis that he could provide advantage to them  with regard to destabilising Germany and posed no significant threat to the stability of England. But in fact the exact opposite was true. In actual fact Marx posed no threat to the German elite and every threat to the Saxons…\n\nG.U.T. #4\n\n\n\nMarxist Theory Is The Hallmark Of Capitalist Development\n\n\nMarx noted that capitalism is innately unstable  leading to periodic crisis. It is on this prediction of crisis that  his analysis is built; this makes his critique ‘scientific’ in character as opposed to ‘moral’. Marx’s  economic analysis of the development of capitalism is  powerful, accurate and overwhelmingly borne out by observed events. As a consequence it has become the de facto fulcrum that divides modern from  premodern. In line with Marx’s analysis the undeveloped world has the ‘freest’ markets, the developed world the most regulated.. ‘Development’ itself has come to mean the development of regulatory government structures to predict and ameliorate the effects of periodic crisis. Comprehensive global regulation of economy also divides the world in time from pre crisis to post 2008 watershed. The co-ordinated post financial crisis response was the first time all major economies in the world  acted in unison. It was the first example of true globalism- and it was the global triumph of Marxist analysis.\n\n\nFor Marx the fact that he was thinking what he was thinking was evidence in itself  that what he was thinking was happening was already happening- as he was thinking it!  A bit like Artificial Intelligence in science fiction  – all at once his conscious analysis of capitalism was aware of itself.\n\n\n‘The entire movement of history, as simply communism’s actual act of genesis — the birth act of its empirical existence — is, therefore, for its thinking consciousness the comprehended and known process of its becoming’.\n\n\nPrivate Property and Communism (1844)\n\n\n\nBut when Marx actually got down to the practical business of how his consciousness might finally manifest outside of Marx in the real world, how it would be made flesh so to speak, he found he was creating a parody of what he increasingly referred to as generic ‘religion’. Even though the specific observations Marx made about crisis were new and the specific conclusions they led to were new, the framework within which he was forced to shape his thought began to look increasingly, disturbingly familiar.\n\n\n ‘The theory of Communism may be summed up in one sentence: Abolish all private property”.  \n\n\n‘The abolition of existing property relations is not at all a distinctive feature of communism’.    \n\nThe Communist Manifesto\n\n\nMarx realised he could not  explain the origin of  his intellect and his theory from within the terms of that theory itself. Fundamentally, Marx could not think of a new, original reason to explain why new, original Marxism came to be… At times Marx argued that his thought was the product of the present ‘zeitgeist’. At other times he implied it came from the future i.e. he was the first to express this new form of thought. If his theory was totally new, (and it must be because capitalism was supposed to be new), and socialism was new as was Marxism new, how come the core elements of the conclusions it reached were so similar to what had gone before? Why wasn’t the practical conclusion of Marxism as different from everything else as it should be?\n\n\nThe key to understanding Marx’s problem lies in the relationship of Marxism to  Hegelian dialectics. Marx’s critique of Hegelian philosophy is central to the Marxist  project and centres on Hegel’s presentation of Thought as an abstracted absolute – a logical preposition.  Given any specific thought or conception, Hegelian philosophy describes how that particular thought is modified and developed. Marx used Hegelian dialectics as both starting point and justification for Marxism by modifying the Hegelian dialectic to produce Marxist dialectics and historical materialism.\n\n\nWhereas in Hegelian philosophy The Thought is the starting point for describing how intellect is developed and subsequently changes, in Marxism The Thought is the end point for describing WHY people think as they do at any given point. Marxism seeks to invert the question form: How do people change their minds from one particular thought to another  to: Why do they have any particular thought in the first place? In Marxism, Thought is the product of a process, the end not the means. Adapting dialectics in this way served a two fold purpose for Marx. Firstly it allowed him to locate his own intellectual identity within the historical process of capitalist  unconsciousness/false consciousness spontaneously becoming conscious and secondly it allowed him to explain the conscious nature of Marxism as a separate entity.\n\n\nNone Dare Call It…\n\n\nMarxism is a revolution against Capitalism, Political Economy, Moral Socialism and ‘unconsciousness because once you become conscious you can never again be unconscious. If Marxism is not against all these things, it is not revolutionary. By definition, it can leave nothing untouched. Revolutionary Marxism is the antithesis to every thesis.. Revolution must annihilate what has gone before and seeks to replace old knowledge with new knowledge. Which  means even replacing the knowledge of how the revolution itself came to be. Revolution must in the end deny it’s own arbitrary character -even though arbitrariness is it’s prime justification!- and proclaim things were always meant to be this way and therefore things have always been this way. The revolution was inevitable – it took the revolution to make us see that.  In order to be successful every revolution must finally, inevitably revolt against revolution itself..\n\n\nThe Significance Of Marx’s Authorship\n\n\n‘ …. in the end, one will be found among us who will prove that the sword of enthusiasm is just as good as the sword of genius.’\n\nEngels, Anti-Schelling (1841)\n\n\nRevolutionary Marxist dialectics must annihilate Hegelian dialectics, and Marx sought to use the very essence of Hegelian dialectics as the means with which to achieve this end, which everyone must admit is very clever. So the battle was between Hegelian dialectics; the ‘HOW’ of Thought, and Marxist dialectics; the ‘WHY’ of Thought.  Look again at Marx’s battle against idolatry religion (see parts 1-3), and you can see that Marx is using exactly the same trick in every instance.. Marx sought to use the Judaic injunction on idolatry against Judaism, and in turn sought to use Hegelian dialectics against Hegel. But just as Marx ended up creating a new form of idolatry religion so he reproduced the Hegelian process in a different form..\n\n\nIn Hegelian terms (Thesis, Antithesis and Synthesis), you cannot abolish the ‘past’ (the starting point), you can only modify it. Add water to whisky as much as you like, you can only dilute the mixture, you cannot remove the whisky that is already there. The prime objective of revolutionaries; abolition of what is gone before, is impossible. This Hegelian problem plagued Marxists way past the death of Marx and even past the initial phase of the Russian Revolution. Trotsky finally devised the idea of continually diluting whisky in the barrel before it even got poured into the glass and claimed that this made the problem of dilution moot. He called his solution (pun intended), ‘The Marxist Theory Of Permanent Revolution’.\n\n\nRevolution is antithesis not synthesis; the midway point in a process, not the end of that process. It is the contradiction of everything that presently is. But this means that Marxism is only a way station in the process of thought, not the outcome of the thought process. In Hegelian terms Marxist revolution as antithesis leads to a final synthesis that is different from the Marxist revolution itself. Revolution is not the final outcome, it is the basis for the outcome. Marx sought to specify the outcome of the Marxist revolution, but could not because in as far as Marx is truly revolutionary he could not know the outcome of the revolution he promoted. In Hegelian terms to be a revolutionary is to oppose yourself to past and future.\n\n\nThe Gospel According To Marx\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe issue of authorship is the crucial factor that determines the  significance of everything that Marx wrote. The issue of my authorship is the crucial factor determining the significance of everything I write. And everything you write and so on.. If an author fails to maintain the narrative that supports authorship then that writing must fail. The primary purpose of all writing must be to validate the author of that writing. According to Marx, if Marxism was valid in its own terms then it  was part of the continuum of development that had to be located in the history and development of capitalism. The emergence of socialist consciousness was the inevitable consequence of the development of capitalism. This was the logic of human development. This was the logic of Marx himself. Logic is the formula for inevitability.\n\n\nTwo Wrongs..\n\n\nThis leads directly to Marx’s  critique of Hegel which ‘flipped’ Hegel on its own internal logic to produce Marxism. This flipping of Hegel produces the revolutionary Marxist antithesis of the Hegelian thesis. So as Marxism stakes its claim to be  revolutionary it must forsake its right to name socialism as a successor to the capitalism and Hegelianism it opposes-. Marxism loses it’s purchase on the outcome of the revolution it instigates.. In theory Marx can double down on revolutionary opposition and argue that Hegelian philosophy is absolutely wrong. But If Hegel is absolutely wrong then Marx’s tactic of flipping it on it’s head, using Hegel against Hegel, must also be totally wrong. If Hegel is error, error is not located in the historical process of development of human thought! (if it is, there is no  rational logical predictable march to consciousness as Marx claims…) Two wrongs, however they are put together,  don’t make a right. The more resolute Marx’s opposition to Hegel, the more firmly Marx embeds himself as revolutionary opposition within the framework of Hegel and the less grasp Marxism has on the outcome of the struggle it began. The only other option is that Marx’s analysis and its authorship does not follow on from Hegel (Error)- it is completely separate from it. Then Marx would stand alone, revealed and naked as in the Garden of Eden…\n\n\nThe Gates of Eden\n\n\nFundamentally Marx’s problem is the same as that of Lucifer. Marx claims to have discovered a principle that precedes the principle he begins from, just as Lucifer does. If God Were not The First, if God Had not prescribed the principles of Heaven and Earth, then Lucifer argues he would be legally, rationally  free to propose a new better framework based on a principle he discovered that precedes God. But God Created Lucifer and everything Lucifer does and could ever think. So nothing Lucifer can ever think can precede God, including the principle he claims to have ‘discovered’.  Just as lightning touches earth and is grounded, so Lucifer whenever and wherever he seeks to set foot on the earth, is grounded by this fact. So it is with Marx and Hegel. Marx claims to have discovered a principle that precedes the principle of Hegel but is forced to admit this principle is created as a consequence of Hegel.\n\n\n\nGerman Ideology (1845)\n\n\nWelcome To My Nightmare\n\n\nBecause Hegel anticipates Marxism and literally accounts for it, Marx must always be antithesis. Marx saw himself as being trapped, prisoner and victim of the order of events in the universe where he was forced to stand forever in an historical  line  behind Hegel when he should be at the head of the queue. And he complained bitterly over and over again about it.\n\n\n\n\nThere Is No Alternative.. Is There?\n\n\nThe only options for Marx were either deny Hegel entirely (including the context in which Hegel existed), or agree to be bound by him. Either to say there is no ‘law’ of historical development, just the ideas and opinions of individuals, or there is a law and Hegel precedes Marx in it.\n\n\n\nGerman Ideology (1845)\n\n\nOf course, if there is no such law then Marx’s claim to be the chosen inheritor of that law would necessarily be wrong. Marx would have to admit that a fundamental part of his analysis was in error. And more importantly, Marx would not be the choice of the contemporary concrete, world to further human progress, he would only be only one random voice of many. In essence, be only another opinion. Not chosen. The inheritor of nothing.\n\n\nHow to proceed had become a matter of intellectual courage, rather than intellect per se and Marx simply did not have that courage. Unlike Adam, Marx could only find it in himself to stand at the Gates Of Eden (cause and effect, the dialectic) cursing  God (Hegel) rather than go out naked and alone into the wilderness- to say that he himself was in essence merely a collection of opinions.. Cut off from both past and future,  Marx only could ever be Marx   if he channelled total revolution and antithesis, chaos,  whatever the consequences. From then on the point was to change it- whatever it was..\n\n\n…we see how the resolution of the theoretical antitheses is only possible in a practical way (my emphasis), by virtue of the practical energy of man. Their resolution is therefore by no means merely a problem of understanding, but a real problem of life, which philosophy could not solve precisely because it conceived this problem as merely a theoretical one.’\n\nMarx, Private Property and Communism (1844)\n\n\nRather than admit that Marx could not solve his problem of philosophy, Marx proclaimed that Marx was a problem philosophy could not solve! As could go neither forward nor back, Marx would devote the rest of his existence to digging a burrow for himself next to the Gates of Eden and here he would remain locked out from the past, unwilling to face his future. Hiding in the space between antithesis and synthesis.  Just as Marx told the moral socialists they would have to sacrifice their moral heaven for a rational one,  so he in turn would have to sacrifice his vision of rational logical, socialist Heaven and give himself over to experimental chaos instead.\n\n\nMarx had been utterly defeated in the realm of rational philosophy. He was now  like defeated Napolean, traipsing across a blasted landscape of his own making, intellectually destitute- a refugee. Where was the only place in the world a man could be guaranteed asylum from the power of rational philosophical enquiry?\n\n\n\n\nThe first part of Marx’s analysis; ‘crisis’ (antithesis) was established. The second part of his analysis, ‘socialism’ (synthesis) could never be. Crisis was the product of reason but subsequent socialism, despite everything Marx said, remained in the realm of choice. Realising that he was powerless to remove choice itself, Marx argued to change the rationale for that choice from morality to reason. Not  choice based on right and wrong but based instead on  heading for the future whether we liked it or not. A  future of two possibilities; Socialism or mutual ruination. Marx came to argue that there is an unwritten contract between capitalists and history and workers and history. ( compare this with England’s unwritten constitution). Workers were signed on to be the gravediggers of capitalism, capitalists the occupants of the box.. If all sides kept to the terms of the agreement there would be a predictable outcome- revolution.\n\n\n\nHistory is the judge — its executioner, the proletarian.\n\nSpeech at Anniversary of The People’s Paper (1856)\n\n\nFrom this point the mission of Marxists would be to hold capitalism and workers to the contract they had with history. Capitalist would create crisis after crisis of increasing severity until workers rebelled. Marxists would encourage the capitalists with relish. But by late 19thC it was clear that both capitalists and workers had begun to vary the terms of this historical contract. In Germany social provision and welfare emerged under the tutelage of  Bismark ; a process that  spread rapidly over all the Germanic territories of NW Eurasia. The two main holdouts  were England and USA, Anglo Saxon societies and economies.  This state of affairs held until the post World War II capitulation when America and England both adopted welfarism as a consequence of   two World Wars and a  Russian revolution. In a peculiar inversion, here was the first real vindication of Marxism, capitalists themselves conceded that if capitalism was  not managed there was indeed a danger of absolute collapse.\n\n\nCultural Capitalism\n\n\nThe  element of choice Marx failed to destroy returned to centre stage with a vengeance. The twentieth century revealed it was possible to be morally committed to capitalism while rationally accepting it would collapse without intensive and ever increasing management. Through the ideas of Keynes pundits and economists began to modify capitalism to deal with the extremes of its operation with the express purpose of preserving it for its moral and cultural qualities. The economics of capitalism were over. Capitalism revealed itself as pure religion. A moral, cultural choice.\n\n\nCapitalism and those who lived within the system became increasingly characterised by degrees of acceptance instead of absolute acceptance. From this point on Capitalism is characterised by its failure to consistently and comprehensively transform the nature of the societies it operates on. Capitalism begins with an initial phase of rapid and comprehensive restructuring of any given society.. But capitalism is unable to change the nature of societies at a deeper level. It runs out of momentum. We now are at an historical juncture where third world transformation by capitalism  still appears to be relatively rapid and large scale but first world transformation has ground to a  standstill and is moribund. When was the last time capitalism changed anything significant  in a developed nation?\n\n\nJust as the ‘bosses’ choices began to splinter by degrees, so  the workers  increasingly seemed to be captured by ‘momentary diversions’. And the final developed picture of modern economy comes fully into focus.\n\n\nThe Marxist concept of crisis is fully universally accepted.\n\nThe threat of crisis is to be offset by government intervention.\n\nThe extent and depth of this intervention increases year on year.\n\nThe only way to limit government intervention is to…use the government to do it!\n\nThe Marxist revolution is as complete as it ever could be .\n\n\n\n\nGuest Of Honour\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIf thy eye offend thee…\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA Tale Of Two Titles\n\n\n\n\nAll that is solid melts into air..\n\n\nFor They Know Not..\n\n\n\n\nForgive them, for they know not what they do\n\n\n\n\nG.U.T #2: The Roots Of Marxism\n\n\n“To be radical is to grasp things by the root.”\n\nCritique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right\n\n\nThough the vast majority of western pundits remain loathe to admit it, Marxism is a foundational strain of thought in the modern western world. In fact it could be argued that it is the intellectual presence of Marxism that precisely differentiates the modern from the pre-modern world. Western politics is entirely colonised with the ideas of Marxism, from progressive left through traditional conservative right, in the same way that the human gut is colonised by the billions of bacteria that process and digest food that the body depends on. The disconcerting truth is that the human host is entirely dependent upon these organisms although they themselves are not actually human. Without these aliens the body cannot digest  and would die. Marxism lives in the gut of Germanic capitalist society and allows it to digest information from modern reality….\n\n\nFrom a strictly rational point of view ‘Classical’ (pre Marxist) economics has been shown again and again to fail abysmally when faced with the task of ordering and understanding the real world. The final debacle in a long and ignominious history was the failure to predict and deal with the series of calamities that culminated in the disaster of 2007. During the so called financial crisis the entire structure of the global economy and society teetered on the brink of collapse. It was only the abandonment of any last shred of faith in traditional ‘classical’ economic practice that saved the world economy from chaos and disintegration.  So now everybody is a Marxist to a greater or lesser extent. But I confidently predict that is by no means as far as this process will go. In the post modern world, the entire canon of western thought has increasingly come under sustained pressure from post modern polyglot globalism. As the future unfolds Marxism will end it’s existence, not as the haunting ‘spectre’ Marx hoped it to be but rather as a cherished relic of western tradition, like the statues of confederate soldiers presently being defended from defacement and destruction because they are part of American history for good or ill. Marxism will be transformed from an object of specific hate into a totem of common heritage.\n\n\nFace Value\n\n\nBut that is for the future, At this precise juncture it seems the only options are either to accept Marxism at face value or to attempt to discredit and undermine it. It has become time to understand what Marxism actually is as opposed to taking part in the Punch and Judy argument that has dominated the last century. The process of real understanding begins with realising that since the moment of its creation there never has been a clear and unbiased analysis of Marxism, because it has never been in anyone’s interest to create one. Anyone’s interest. Or put another way, it has always been in the general interest to avoid creating one.\n\n\nWhen Marx said:\n\n\nWhatever I am… I am not a Marxist\n\n\nHe was in part observing  that no one can actually be a Marxist – until everyone is.\n\n\n\nThe German Ideology\n\n\nWe have to explain why this would be. In part 1 I pointed towards the central question that must be answered, even if we accept Marxism under it’s own terms: How does Marxism explain its own coming into existence and is this explanation credible from a Marxist perspective ? This is by no means a given. The Marxist narrative begins from the argument is that Capitalism is inherently unstable; an observation that is by no means confined to the left. It is one of the successes of Marxist thought that the instability of capitalism  is now generally accepted as an observed truth and as a consequence the idea of a self regulating market is completely discredited. Following on from this Marxism argues that  if thought is the product of material circumstance, then unstable capitalism produces unstable minds which process finds expression in inherent and increasingly violent contradictions within capitalism. These inherent contradictions will fight one another until a new stability supported by experience wins out. Material conditions develop and change and thus the general thought process will also accordingly be forced to change .\n\n\nPeople will increasingly  see capitalism as illogical until it collapses. In essence capitalism will fall and be superseded by socialism because this is the logical outcome  of human development and people will be forced to become logical because human development itself is ultimately logical, even if people who make up that development are not!. In the past all societies gave expression to the objective conditions that governed them but not in a rational self conscious way. Expressing the objective conditions that give rise to  thought can only be rational in one case throughout history- that of socialism.  After the moment of enlightenment  a person becomes conscious and forever after enlightenment that person’s actions are necessarily conscious actions. Marxism argues that you cannot know something and then act as though you don’t know it. In this sense the triumph of socialism is inevitable. In 1984 Orwell argues on the contrary that knowing something and then acting as though you don’t know it is precisely the basis on which modern society is run. In other words, a certain knowledge by no means necessarily leads to a certain action.\n\n\nKeep Taking The Tablets\n\n\nSince the force of inevitable progress has decreed that the ideology of socialism must come into existence it will perforce need an intellect to express it- to give it form. This new Law Of Human development  will require a Moses to bring the tablets of it’s commandments down from the mountain. And it is here Marx saw himself entering the story of history -as having been chosen by the inevitable developmental forces that create history to be the one to make conscious that which was previously unconscious and concrete that which was previously without concrete form. Not only would Marx be the one to go to the mountain, not only would his be the finger that inscribed the tablets, his intellect would be the actual stone of the tablets themselves.  Marx is selected by time and place, by the Zeitgeist. the spirit of the age, to transform himself into the vessel of conscious socialism. And so for the first time ever, personality and the conditions that give rise to it are consciously fused. Through this process Man comes to know himself and through this process Man and the universe are finally one..\n\n\n\nEconomic & Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844/The Communist Manifesto\n\n\n\n\nCollected Works of Marx and Engels\n\n\nAnd of course, such a Moses would also need a people to lead out of captivity and a captivity to lead them out of.….what is the point of the tablets if you have no one to give them to….?\n\n\n\nCapital, Vol 1: A Critical Analysis of Capitalist Production\n\n\nOn one level all this might be an amusing diversion  -an intellectual conjuring trick that might  gain its author enough acclaim to  purchase an entrance into society as a bete noir….. And it is possible at some level this is what Marx originally intended. In this had been the case the entirety of Marx’s thought might have remained in the realm of bourgeois intellectualism. But the component parts of the society into which Marxism came into being quickly made clear that it was not content to let Marxism or anyone else write its own story to the detriment of all around.  After all, there were greater things at stake in the debate over the new capitalist society than merely Marx’s reputation and livelihood as an author.. As I have said more than once, capitalism was unstable and as a consequence lacking confidence. In some ways the history of capitalism is the history of an ongoing crisis of confidence and every capitalist has rightly felt like an historical imposter. In light of it’s suspect claim to power, capitalism simply could not stand a critique of any kind. For these reasons and others we will see later Marxism from it’s inception was dabbling in the primordial essence of things.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhatever else Karl Marx was, he was not a Marxist- as he himself is reported to have said. This comment is generally taken as a dig at the intellectual quality of ‘Marxists’ and one all the more piquant because it comes from the progenitor of Marxism..  But it is possible to see this from another point of view; as a typically wry observation that Marx himself understood that he could not be a Marxist according to the logic of his own position, because he was unwilling and unable to apply a strict Marxist interpretation to Marxism itself. If Marx was accusing anyone, he was accusing himself…. His favourite motto:\n\nDe omnibus dubitandum [Everything must be doubted].”\n\nwould of necessity include Marx himself of course…\n\nMarxism as an ideology necessarily comes into existence in it’s own terms. Marxism proclaims that it derives  purpose and validity solely by virtue of it’s own content. For a Marxist, there are no questions to be asked about Marxism’s  origins or the context in which it came to existence outside of the terms of Marxism itself. At first glance his seems a bit knotty, but in fact the logic is quite straightforward. Let me elaborate: Marxism is given as the product of Marx’s intellectual development which in turn is the product of the development of the objective conditions that gave rise to it; (That would be Marx’s intellectual development and also Marxism, which are two different things, but also the same thing,,,ahem..) Let me elaborate further…\n\nThe basic idea underpinning historical materialism is that capitalism inevitably comes into existence because of mankind’s increasing productive capacity through technological advance. By the same process socialism/communism also inevitably must come into existence because of the inherent nature of capitalism. In so far as mankind’s development is inevitable, so the development of capitalism from feudalism and then socialism from capitalism is inevitable.  And since socialism is the first truly self aware social movement, it’s ideology must also inevitably come into existence at the same time that socialism itself comes into existence.(Because if it didn’t then it wouldn’t be self aware..and therefore not Marxism/socialism). You can be a functioning capitalist without necessarily understanding capitalism but you can’t be a functioning socialist without understanding socialism. On the contrary, Marxists argue that it is a precondition of being a capitalist that you do not really understand the true nature of capitalism since if you did then you would be…. a socialist!\n\nKarl Marx\n\nThis fundamental conditionality is encapsulated in the idea of ‘false consciousness’ which, like many such concepts, is used in inverse proportion to the extent it is understood. The vulgar exposition of false consciousness is that workers believe they have a stake in the ongoing success of capitalism when in fact their best interest would be served by its collapse. But actually the doctrine of false consciousness holds that thought is ‘falsely conscious’ when it holds itself to be the product of abstracted reason instead of objective conditions. In other words a thought is conscious in that it wants to be the product of reason (which is what consciousness consists of, according to Marx),  but it is false in that it is not actually the product of reason but an expression of the social relationships that gave rise to that thought. In more prosaic, (but no less convoluted), terms; You think that you think what you think because you have reasoned it out and therefore there is no reasoned alternative to what you are thinking.  But in reality you think what you think because you have been conditioned to think it. Simply because you are unaware that you have been conditioned to think as you do, your conditioned thought is non rational. If you did understand that you have been conditioned to think as you do, then this would necessarily be the first step toward breaking that conditioning and becoming truly aware, (a socialist).\n\n\nIn general the first step towards becoming a socialist/Marxist is to understand that there is an historical identity to capitalism because that specific understanding breaks the conditioning of capitalism.\n\n“Once the inner connection is grasped, all theoretical belief in the permanent necessity of existing conditions collapses before their collapse in practice\nLetter to Ludwig Kugelmann (July 11, 1868)”\nSelected Letters: The Personal Correspondence 1844-1877\n\nFrom this whole cloth the historical materialism I refer to above  is created. Historical materialism holds that the emergence, development and demise of capitalism is part of an ongoing historical process. On the contrary, modern capitalist ideology holds that capitalism itself is the end point of that process. (The ‘End Of History’ a la Francis Fukyama).\n\nA brief word to clarify what is meant by conditioning here. This is not necessarily a directed process in the Pavlovian sense of training a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell, but rather a natural outcome of interaction with the world as it presently is. To a Marxist, thought is the contemporaneous state of the world mediated through the minds of the people that inhabit it.\n\nGrundrisse: Foundations of the Critique of Political Economy\n\nAs a consequences of this perspective, Marxism understands thought as a PRODUCT not a cause in distinction from capitalists who regard thought as a means to an end instead of an end product in itself. Thought is unconscious ( falsely conscious), to the extent  of being a product and not a cause. Thought is actually conscious to the extent of being a cause and not a product. ( hence the famous Marx quote:\n\n\nEleven Theses on Feuerbach\n\nThese prophetic words are inscribed upon Marx’s grave. Irony.\n\nMarx argued this in direct contradistinction to Hegelian philosophy although he claimed Hegel in part as inspiration. In fact, Marx characterised his materialism in exactly this way as the contradictory argument that refines Hegelian philosophy. Hegel starts from the process of thought and goes on to explain the thought process but Marx ends at thought. In this way Marx directly contradicts Hegel and yet claims though this contradiction to be his successor! This startling conception of the thought process gives rise to a problem however. If a given thought process is the product of the conditioning that created it, surely it is trapped by that very same conditioning. How can such a thought process ever realise that it is the product of conditioning? How can you modify your own thought process just by thinking about it? How can you lift yourself up by your own shoe laces? It is clear that for the argument to work some outside force becomes necessary to break into the conditioning/thinking feedback loop and produce a change.\n\nLuckily as it turns out, capitalism just happens to contain within itself that agent of change!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.550093412399292}
+{"content": "Listing Saved\nEmail Sent\n\nRec Tract Adjoining National Forest\n\nWhitmire Hwy : Union, SC 29379\n\nUnion County, South Carolina\n\n63 Acres\nCreate a FREE Farm Buyer Profile or sign in. DISMISS\nExpired Listing\n\nFarm Description\n\nNice 63 acre recreational tract adjoining US Forest Service lands located on Highway 176 just south of Union. This tract has open areas, hardwoods, pines, and a power transmission line running through the back side that allows for long range shooting. Wildlife is aboundant and allows access to thousands of acres of public land to hunt and recreate on. This tract is priced to move. Small tracts that ajoin the USFS usually sell pretty fast so do not hesitate on this one.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7667120695114136}
+{"content": "Evaluating the U.K.’s ‘Active Cyber Defence’ Program:\n\nIn November 2016, the U.K. government its Active Cyber Defence (ACD) program with the intention of tackling “in a relatively automated [and transparent] way, a significant proportion of the cyber attacks that hit the U.K.” True to their word, a little over a year on, last week the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) published a (over 60 pages long) of their progress to date. The report itself is full of technical implementation details. But it’s useful to cut through the specifics to explain exactly what ACD is and highlight its successes—how the program could benefit the United States as well.\n\nThere are three defining features of the ACD program: government-centered action, intervention, and transparency.\n\n(Via Lawfare – Hard National Security Choices)\n\nRead the article for a nice summary of the report, including the section towards the end that talks to potential benefits for the U.S.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9333171844482422}
+{"content": "Serial: 8 Things to know about Season 2 (AUDIO)\n\nDec 10, 2015 at 7:07 p.m. ET\n\nIt's been over 14 months since Sarah Koenig and the rest of the Serial team cut us off cold turkey from the podcast's addictive first season.\n\nFans were left shaking their collective fists at the sky and yearning for more episodes that gave closure to Adnan Syed's case when Season 1 ended last October. We were given little information — or hope — for a second season other than, \"Serial will probably return sometime in 2015.\"\n\nUntil today.\n\n\nThe image of a dark landscape and barbed wire is ominous, but doesn't give away too many hints as to what Season 2 is all about. Will it be anything like the first? Here's what we know so far.\n\nMore: 7 Things we need in Serial Season 2\n\n1. It doesn't seek to solve a murder case\n\nThe real-life case involving the death of Hae Min Lee and Syed, who was convicted of her murder, was so riveting in Season 1, many listeners are having a hard time picturing a new season of Serial that doesn't unravel another murder mystery.\n\nHowever, Season 2, unlike Season 1, will not be a \"whodunnit\" series, but rather unpacks the story of Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who walked off his post in Afghanistan in 2009 and was subsequently captured and held by the Taliban. Bergdahl was charged with desertion upon his release, and is the subject of an active military case in court.\n\nKoenig will explore why Bergdahl made the curious decision to abandon his post and the strange events that unfolded after his capture and release.\n\n2. It's an inside look at captivity\n\nThe Taliban held Bergdahl captive for five years, which, according to the Serial website, is longer than any other American in history has been imprisoned by the radicals and lived to tell the tale. Episode 1's voice recordings of Bergdahl describing the harrowing details of his captivity are chilling — and we can only imagine there's more to come.\n\nMore: 7 Books for Serial fans now that the podcast is over\n\n3. Bergdahl is a complicated dude\n\n\"Bergdahl, by the way, is such an interesting and unusual guy, not like anyone I’ve encountered before,\" Koenig writes on the Serial website, which is a bold statement coming from the woman who had many an intimate conversation with Syed.\n\nAnd her statement is definitely founded. Bergdahl was homeschooled as a child and received his GED in his early 20s, after which he studied fencing and ballet, even dancing the role of the Nutcracker in a local production, according to The New York Times. He also pursued Christian missionary work in Uganda in 2003 and spent time in a Buddhist monastery in 2007 and 2008, just one year before joining the Army and disappearing, according to\n\n4. Koenig goes deep\n\n\"That's me, calling the Taliban,\" Koenig says in Episode 1. That's right, one show in and she's already seeking to communicate with one of the most feared organizations in the world. Makes knocking on Jay's door seem like no big deal.\n\n5. Koenig explores controversial feelings about the military\n\nSeason 1's story was basically confined to Baltimore and the students who were in high school when Lee was brutally murdered, but Season 2 will go far and wide.\n\n\"It reaches into swaths of the military, the peace talks to end the war, attempts to rescue other hostages, our Guantanamo policy,\" writes Koenig. \"What Bergdahl did made me wrestle with things I’d thought I more or less understood, but really didn’t: what it means to be loyal, to be resilient, to be used, to be punished.\"\n\nOne of the most intriguing aspects of Season 1 was how it made us question our judicial system, so having Koenig poke into the United States military in a similar fashion is exciting.\n\nMore: 13 Questions Sarah Koenig had better answer to end Season 1 of Serial\n\n6. The Serial team will have a larger social media presence\n\nAs a result of Season 1's success, the Serial team expanded and announced that they will be interacting with fans more on the Internet. Week by week, listeners are encouraged to ask questions on Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.\n\n7. Pandora\n\nExciting news: The music streaming giant has taken on Serial and you can listen to both Season 1 and new episodes of Season 2 through the service. You can continue to listen to the weekly podcast through its website, iTunes and Stitcher as well.\n\n8. The MailChimp girl is still in full effect\n\n\nNew season, same old sponsors! And the poor MailChimp girl still can't get it right.\n\nTake a listen to the first four minutes of Serial Episode 1 below, but proceed with caution: It only takes four minutes to get hooked.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5615738034248352}
+{"content": "Printing Terms Dictionary\n\n\n\n\n\nPage Formats: The standardized sizes used accross the the industry:\n\nFormat Inches Metric (mm)\nA3 11.69 x 16.54 297 x 420\nA4 8.25 x 11.75 210 x 297\nA5 5.83 x 8.25 148 x 210\nB5 6.93 x 9.84 176 x 250\nExecutive (Monarch) 7.25 x 10.5 184 x 267\nLegal 8.5 x 14 216 x 356\nLetter 8.5 x 11 216 x 279\nMagazine - Broad 10 x 12 254 x 305\nMagazine - Narrow 8.125 x 10.875 206 x 276\nMagazine - Standard 8.375 x 10.875 213 x 276\nMagazine - Wide 9 x 10.875 229 x 276\nPeriodical 10.25 x 13 260 x 330\nTabloid 11 x 17 279 x 432\n\nSee also standard Envelope Formats.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nParallel Interface: An interface between a computer and a printer in which the computer sends multiple bits of information to the printer simultaneously. Parallel and Centronics interfaces are the same type.\n\nParallel Transmission: Sending dtat from a computer down several wires simultaneously, the pulses in one wire being precisely synchronized with the pulses in the other wires.\n\nParity: Used in error correction. A separate bit _ the parity bit _ is added and manipulated so that the number of 1s is odd (for odd parity) or even (for even parity). If the number of bits sent don't conform to the parity, the software detects and error.\n\nPartition: A partition is a portion of a physical disk that functions as it were a physically seperate unit.\n\nPartition Table: The partition table contains entries showing the start and end point of each of the primary partitions on the disk. The partition table can hold 4 entries.\n\nPaste: To transfer the contents of the clipboard (˜) to an application. Many applications have a Paste Command that performs this task.\n\nPattern Matching: A computerized search operation whereby input values are treated as patterns and matches are sought in a search database. Whenever exact matches occur, this is called a hit, the results of a search produce a list of hits for further investigation.\n\nPC: Short for IBM Personal Computer. Used to indicate an IBM or compatible. sometimes used more generally to indicate any personal computer.\n\nPCI: See Peripheral Component Interconnect.\n\nPDL: Page Description Language.\n\nPeaking: A common expression used to describe the electronic manipulation of gray tones to increase contrast in an image.\n\n\n\nPerl: An interpreted programming launguage developed by Larry Wall, Perl offers superb string-handling and pattern-matching capabilities and is a favorite among CGI programmers.\n\n\n\n\n\nPhotomultiplier (PM): A photo cathode having extremely high stability and capable of reading low level light measurements in the entire part of the visible spectrum (as well as some non-visible radiation). PM's are capable of reacting to extremely short duration exposures of light as well as continuously changing conditions of light values. These PM's can read, disseminate, boost up signal and pass the information along (in microseconds) to the color computer where these signals are adjusted to conform and create the necessary color balance and depth of color to make the final separation. The photomultiplier is located in a group of four in the scanners head and measures the light transmitted through or reflected from the original copy and through corresponding color filters to create the color printers.\n\nPhotoshop: A Macintosh-based software program created by Adobe Systems, Inc. for the manipulation of scanned images for PostScript output.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPoint to Point Protocol (PPP): The industry standard that is implemented in dial-up networking. PPP is a line protocol used to connect to remote networking services, including Interet Service Providers. Prior to the introduction of PPP, another line protocal, SLIP, was used.\n\n\n\nPort: A socket, usually at the back of a computer, allowing the computer to be connected to other devices.\n\nPortrait: A page whose width is shorter than its height.\n\n\nPostScript: A page definition language (PDL) developed by Adobe Systems. When a page of text and/or graphics is saved as a PostScript file, the page is stored as a set of instructions specifing the measurements, typefaces, and graphic shapes that make up the page.\n\n\nPrepress: The preparation work required to turn \"camera-ready\" artwork into the printing plates needed for mass production, i.e., making negatives, \"stripping\" or placing the negatives in place, and etching the plates.\n\n\nPrimary Colors: Additive primaries are red, blue and green. The subtractive primaries are cyan, magenta and yellow. (see additive and subtractive primaries.)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nProcess Lens: A highly corrected photographic lens for the graphic arts used to record linework, halftones or color separations when using the direct screen method.\n\n\n\n\n\nProtocol: A set of rules that define how computers communicate with each other. Protocols are used between instances of a particular layer on each computer. Windows 95 includes NetBEUI, TCP/IP, and IPX/SPX-compatible protocols.\n\n\nPull-Quote: Style of taking a short phrase in the text and repeating it in larger text.\n\nPush, Pull: In photography, the deliberate manipulation of the film speed in order to achieve exposure and operative controls beyond the normal range and limitations of the film. By pushing (over development) the effective speed (ASA) can be increase. By pulling (under development) the effective speed (ASA) of the film can be reduced. Note: pushing and pulling film create undesirable results such as grain, contrast and color shifts.\n\nPush Installation: A method of installing software automatically accross a network.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6831852197647095}
+{"content": "Kornprodukter, belgfrukter og avledede produkter\n\nKomité: CEN/TC 275 (Food analysis - Horizontal methods)\nSluttdato: 5. jul 2018\nVis merVis mindre\nThis document describes a procedure for the determination of phomopsins in lupin seeds and lupin-derived products based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Several phomopsins exist, i.e. phomopsin A, B, C and D, but the method only deals with the quantitative measurement of phomopsin A due to lack of commercially available analytical reference standards for the other phomopsins. The method has been validated for phomopsin A in naturally contaminated lupin seeds, lupin flour and crisp bread at levels ranging from approximately 5 µg/kg to 60 µg/kg.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9310626983642578}
+{"content": "Tea Time in Russia\n\nTypically, people in the U.S. consider England to be the major tea drinking country in Europe, but in 2005 a study found that 82 percent of Russians drink tea daily.\n\n(Interesting side note: evidence shows this is causing an iron deficiency among women and children. Tea contains tannins, which reduces iron absorption into the body).\n\nNormally, black tea is the tea of choice for Russians, but green tea has been growing in popularity.\n\nTea drinking in Russia dates back to 1638 when Mongols introduced the drink to the area. Since then, most likely thanks to Russia’s cold climate, tea has remained a popular drink Russia.\n\nIn Moscow, there is even the Moscow Tea Museum. There, a “tea master,” hosts tea ceremonies for visitors. A team master is responsible for knowing how to prepare the water. Also, they need to know all about the six different kinds of teas – where they grow, how they are gathered and how they can influence people.\n\nMost importantly, the tea master is in charge of creating the necessary tea atmosphere. The goal is to immerse the tea drinker in the ambience, and to create a strong emotional reaction while drinking the tea.\n\nWhat separates Russian tea culture from others is the brewing process. They use a two-step brewing process. The first step involves brewing a portion of dry tea in a small teapot. The second step involves pouring the brew into teacups, allowing each drinker to add as much or as little water as wanted (so each drinker can make their tea just as strong as they would like to).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9523665308952332}
+{"content": "Truth Be Told: How Much Protein EXACTLY For Vegans? The Point On Protein Supplements and One Vital Factor No One Talks About!\n\nIf you are a long term vegan, or someone who has done their ‘nutrition homework’ throughout their transition into veganism, you will most definitely read a few articles about the protein deficiency myth.\n\nMost vegans are aware that if they follow a varied whole-food vegan diet, consisting of a good amount of pulses, nuts, and greens, combined with a sufficient calorie intake, protein deficiency is something they do not need to worry about. Still, I have decided to post a more detailed analysis into the subject and take into consideration a few factors that may vary from person to person. Again, I will stress that too many vegans are trying to prove a point of ‘no supplements needed’ without taking into consideration the fact that each body is different and there is no ‘one size fits all’ answer for a question concerning each individual’s body and health.\n\nClarifying Protein Needs\n\nIn summary, although protein is a key nutrient, responsible for ‘building’ our organs, including skin, hair, nails, and muscles, we don’t need huge amounts of it. The RDA recommends that we take in 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram that we weigh (or about 0.36 grams of protein per pound that we weigh) (1). This recommendation includes a generous safety factor for most people. When we make a few adjustments to account for some plant proteins being digested somewhat differently from animal proteins and for the amino acid mix in some plant proteins, we arrive at a level of 0.9 gram of protein per kilogram body weight (0.41 grams per pound). If we do a few calculations we see that\n\nThe protein recommendation for vegans amounts to\n\nTruth Be Told: How Much Protein EXACTLY For Vegans? The Point On Protein Supplements and A Few Deciding Factors No One Talks About!\n\nclose to 10% of calories coming from protein. For example, a vegan male weighing 174 pounds could have a calorie requirement of 2,600 calories. His protein needs are calculated as 174 pounds x 0.41 g/pound = 71 grams of protein. 71 grams of protein x 4 calories/gram of protein = 284 calories from protein. 284 divided by 2,600 calories = 10.9% of calories from protein.\n\nIf we look at what vegans are eating, we find that, typically, between 10-12% of calories come from protein 3. This contrasts with the protein intake of non-vegans, which is close to 14-18% of calories.\n\nSo, in the United States it appears that vegan diets are commonly lower in protein than standard American diets. Remember, though, with protein, more (than the RDA) is not necessarily better. There do not appear to be health advantages to consuming a high protein diet. Diets that are high in protein may even increase the risk of osteoporosis (4) and kidney disease (5). Overconsumption of protein may cause problems for your hear.t It may also promote the growth of cancer cells, cause digestive problems, and harmful mineral imbalances.\n\n Sample Menu Showing How Easy It Is To Meet Protein Needs\nProtein (grams)\nBreakfast: 1 cup Oatmeal 6\n1 cup Soy Milk 7\n1 medium Bagel 10\nLunch: 2 slices Whole Wheat Bread 7\n1 cup Baked Beans 12\nDinner: 5 oz firm Tofu 12\n1 cup cooked Broccoli 4\n1 cup cooked Brown Rice 5\n2 Tbsp Almonds 4\nSnack: 2 Tbsp Peanut Butter 8\n6 Crackers 2\nTOTAL 77 grams\nProtein Recommendation for Male Vegan 63 grams\n[based on 0.9 gram of protein per kilogram body weight for 70 kilogram (154 pound) male]\n\nAdditional food should be added to this menu to provide adequate calories and to meet requirements for nutrients besides protein.\n\nAlso Check out The 14 Highest Quality Sources Of Vegan Protein (Plus Recipes)\n\nWhat about combining or complementing protein? Doesn’t that make the protein issue much more complex?\n\n12 Essential Vegan Basics You’ll Be Amazed You Didn’t Know! (Or Put Much Thought Into)\n\nThe ‘protein combining’ rule has been discredited as misleading by various institutions, and you may inform yourself as to why that is in this concise, but super informative video here.\n\n\nAlso check out 9 Surprising Protein-Packed Foods To Further Enrich Your Vegan Diet\n\nAnother important point to consider is that\n\n\nAmounts of Foods Providing Recommended Amounts of Essential Amino Acids\n\n12-3/4 cups of cooked corn OR 8 large potatoes OR 2-1/2 cups of tofu OR 15-1/2 cups of cooked brown rice\nAny one of the above foods, eaten in the amount specified, would provide the recommended amounts of all essential amino acids for an adult male. Women would need about 20% less of each food due to lower recommendations. This concept is illustrated below:\nAdult RDA,154 lb male (1) 350 1400 1330 2940 2660 1330 2310 1680\n12-3/4 cups corn 437 2527 2527 6801 2679 1824 5339 3629\n8 large potatoes 646 2057 2033 2990 3277 1723 3971 3134\n15-1/2 cups cooked rice 907 2569 2962 5773 2660 2418 6237 4111\nSource: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24, 2011.\nNotes: Amounts of amino acids are in milligrams. Try=tryptophan, Thr=threonine, Iso=isoleucine, Leu=leucine, Lys=lysine, Met+Cys=methionine+cysteine, Phe+Tyr=phenylalanine+tyrosine, Val=valine\n\n\nOne Factor No One Talks About\n\nBefore looking deeper into this point, I would like to stress the following – this information is valid for vegans and non-vegans alike! A vegan diet is not necessarily responsible for the following phenomenon! This is just an important piece of information everyone should be aware of.\n\nNutrient Absorption\n\nI started looking into this topic, because I have always considered myself as a healthy eating individual. I eat huge amounts of nuts, fruits, veggies, and all the good stuff we are supposed to. I have also limited my intake of refined sugar and gluten over the last few years. My blood tests are perfect, and I don’t have any deficiencies. Yet, after making close observations to my body, I discovered that with the amount of physical activity I do, I cannot make it without a protein powder supplement. This is despite the fact that I am clearly getting enough calories and protein from my food alone! I spent a few months without a supplement, and I was feeling chronically fatigued, unable to complete my workouts and my physical strength plummeted quite visibly. On the contrary, within a few days of taking a high quality protein supplement, my physical condition changed quite noticeably.\n\nThis led me to the idea that our bodies absorb nutrients in different ways\n\nBefore I present some scientific facts on this topic, I will share some personal observations. Have you noticed that certain people go to the gym, eat right, and take protein supplements, and their muscles are still hardly visible? While others, who barely exercise and don’t watch their diets nearly as much, have lean well defined muscles and strong bodies? This led me to the idea that we all process nutrients in different ways, and therefore we must make close observations to what is happening in our system – even if physical and blood tests show that everything is balanced (including hormones).\n\nWhat Makes the Body Not Absorb Nutrients?\n\nFiber Intake\n\n\nIt’s also possible to have too much fiber in your diet (this can easily happen to vegans, including me). Excessive fiber inhibits absorption of certain nutrients, so make sure you get just enough without going overboard. Every 1,000 calories in your diet means you’ll need 14 grams of fiber — 28 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 states.\n\nCeliac Disease\n\n\nBowel Problems\n\nIf your bowels aren’t functioning properly, no matter how balanced your diet is, you won’t be absorbing all of the nutrients you need. Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, inflammatory bowel disease and colitis are just a few of the conditions that lead to inflammation in your intestines. Certain foods may trigger inflammatory outbreaks, causing damage to villi and intestinal walls, although sometimes inflammation stems for unknown reasons. If you undergo bowel surgery and have to part of your intestinal tract removed, nutrient absorption becomes further inhibited, since most nutrients absorb in your intestines.\n\nLactose Intolerance (not applicable for vegans, but good to know!)\n\nLactose is a natural sugar from dairy that breaks down with a specific enzyme called lactase. If your body doesn’t produce enough lactase though, you can’t digest lactose. You’ll experience abdominal cramping, bloating and diarrhea in as little as 30 minutes after consuming a lactose-containing food, the University of California San Francisco Medical Center explains. By continuing to have lactose in your diet, the increased frequency of diarrhea could cause your body to quickly pass beneficial nutrients. Chronic diarrhea can even damage the walls of your intestines, limiting nutrient absorption.\n\n\nPlease take these into consideration when making a decision for your protein supplementation! Observe your body and don’t try to stick to another myth the vegan society is trying to instill on everyone – the ‘no supplements needed’ myth. I have personally discovered that I do need to use a protein powder, despite a healthy varied diet – this is what came out after experimenting with different approaches and making sure I don’t have any deficiencies. You are a different person, so this may or may not be applicable in your situation!\n\nKeep in mind that a deficiency in Vitamin B12, or Vitamin D may also lead to nutrient malabsorption, so also make sure you are getting these right! Do review the following pieces:\n\n6 Key Supplements You May Actually Need On A Vegan Diet\n\nCan Vegans Really Get B12 From Intestinal Bacteria? (Sound Science Vs Financial Interests)\n\nAnd if you want to make it even easier on yourself to eat a balanced vegan diet, Download The Complete Vegan Recipe Solution featuring 145 balanced delicious vegan meals that help you get all the nutrients you need for a healthy, active lifestyle!\n\n\n\n  2. Rodriguez NR, DiMarco NM, Langley S. Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and athletic performance. J Am Diet Assoc2009;109:509-27.\n\n\n\n\nImage Credit", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.77520751953125}
+{"content": "We’ll never forget the notable childhood memory of Mary Poppins singing, “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” An emotionally dynamic film and current Oscar contender, “Saving Mr. Banks” recounts the true story of \"Mary Poppins\" author, P. L. Travers (Emma Thompson), as she works with Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) in the production of the “Mary Poppins” movie.\n\nAfter sales of her book begin to drop, P. L. Travers ultimately concedes to Disney’s request to make a movie adaptation of \"Mary Poppins.\" She flies out to LA to oversee the adaptation. Throughout the film there is consistent controversy, as Travers fights to retain the authenticity of her book. Periodic flashbacks to Travers’ childhood reveal her troubled relationship with her alcoholic father (Colin Farrell), which inspired her to write this story.\n\nEmma Thompson’s commanding performance made the film. Travers behaves exactly how one may imagine a stubborn and proud author would behave as the film adaptation of her work happens just before her eyes. Within the first thirty seconds of reading the script, she already has a mouthful of comments and begins making changes. She insists on being addressed as Mrs. Travers, and she always asks for her pot of tea, with the milk poured in first. Tom Hanks successfully plays the charismatic Walt Disney, who had been pursuing Travers for twenty years until she finally granted him movie rights. The comedic tone and chemistry Travers and Disney have is complimented by powerful flashbacks of Travers’ father who deteriorates before her eyes.\n\nThis was a truly endearing film, with the personal struggle Mrs. Travers faces leading to tremendous growth. She still proudly shows up to the “Marry Poppins” premiere with her driver, Ralph (Paul Giamatti), even after being uninvited. However, in the end, we see that “Saving Mr. Banks” successfully addresses and illustrates the concept of confronting, embracing, and ultimately finding a way to let go.\n\nGrade: A\n\nRating & Runtime: PG-13, 125 min.\n\nSee if you liked: “Miss Potter”\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9529716372489929}
+{"content": "Voltmeters, Physics\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWrite discussion on Voltmeters\nYour posts are moderated\nRelated Questions\nRolling Disc Imagine a rectangular tray lying flat on a horizontal table. Suppose in which the tray has vertical sides, and this a plate (or disc) lies flat on the table and r\n\nFigure shows an arrangement  of a carriage system.  A force P is applied on the carriage B and moving rightward at 3 m/s 2 constant acceleration.  At the instant shown the velocit\n\n\n\nWho was the first person to show that all objects fall toward Earth with constant _________.\n\ngive the complete explaination with design formulae of single pv cell?\n\nwhich theorem is better among all network theorems\n\n\nIt is the need of elastic strength of a substance when subjected to repeated stresses and strain. If the substance is reserved undisturbed for some time, the previous properties ar\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9611589908599854}
+{"content": "\n\n\nJoined up data for better decisions\n\n\n\nAdministrative Data\n\nData derived from information collected and maintained as part of an administration system, such as health records, vehicle licensing and tax systems.\n\nAggregate Statistics\n\nStatistics that relate to, and provide collective information about, an entire group and do not differentiate individuals within that group.\n\n\nFreely given and informed agreement by the Data Subject for his or her personal data being processed for a specific purpose.\n\nData Controller\n\nAn individual, organisation or body that determines the purposes for which and the manner in which any personal data are, or are to be, processed.\n\nData Linkage / Record Linkage\n\nData linkage is the joining of two or more administrative or survey datasets using individual reference numbers / identifiers or statistical methods such as probabilistic matching. See also” Indexer”.\n\nData recipient\n\nResearcher who initiates a data linkage to answer a research question.  \n\nData Sharing Agreement\n\nAgreement between Data Controller and data recipient clarifying: the purpose or purposes of the sharing; Who will have access; What will be shared; How the data will be transferred: Quality issues (including accuracy, relevance and usability); Data security; Retention and deletion; Review of effectiveness of sharing.\n\nData Subject\n\nIndividual who is the subject of personal data.  A Data Subject may be identifiable, directly or indirectly, through reference to an identification number or to one or more factors specific to his or her physical, physiological, mental, economic, social or cultural identity.\n\nIndividual Reference/Identifier\n\nFrequently a sequence of characters and/or numbers that is used and/or assigned by an organisation to a person to identify uniquely the person for the purposes of the organisation’s systems and operations.\n\nInformation Asset Owner\n\nPerson appointed by the Senior Information Risk Owner to ensure specific information assets are handled and managed appropriately. This includes ensuring information is protected appropriately but also that it is used within the law for public good.\n\n\nA dataset of individual references that can be used for cross-referencing between sources.\n\n\nIndividual (or body) who receives personal data from one or more Data Controllers and determines which records in each dataset relate to the same individual (or entity).  The indexer then creates a unique reference for each individual (or entity) and a corresponding key to allow the data from the different sources to be joined.\n\n\nIndividual (or body) who receives datasets from data controllers and links them together using a key created by the indexer.\n\nLongitudinal Survey\n\nA survey in which information is collected about the same group of individuals on more than one occasion over a period of time.\n\nPersonal Data / Identifiable Data\n\nInformation about a living individual who can be identified from that information and other information which is in the data controller's possession.\n\nPrivacy Impact Assessment (PIA)\n\nA process which helps assess privacy risks to individuals in the collection, use and disclosure of information.  PIAs help identify privacy risks, foresee problems and bring forward solutions.\n\nPopulation Spine\n\nA dataset created by cross-referencing indices that allows for an accurate count of the population.\n\nSafe Haven\n\nA physically secure area, containing a computer, with no external devices e.g. disc, CD, USB drives or printer access, in which trusted and authorised researchers can analyse personal data.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998265504837036}
+{"content": "The Global Development Crisis\n\nA third of workers, internationally, earn less than $2 a day.\n\nThe World Bank sets the poverty line at $1.25 a day, and on that basis asserts that poverty is declining.  But is that right? Where did that figure come from?  The New Economics Foundation estimates that it should be set at $5 a day, and others suggest $10.  Rejecting the idea that ‘the poor’ need to rely on benign assistance, and that the market provides the answer, Dr, Ben Selwyn puts forward the view that the capital/labour relationship is the reason most of the world’s workers are poor, and advocates labour-centred development – where ‘the poor’ (the global labouring classes), and their own collective actions and struggles constitute the basis of an alternative form of non-elitist, bottom-up human development.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999980330467224}
+{"content": "جاهل ولا ظالم؟ متفرقش\n\nياترى أكبر سبب للخراب اللي احنا فيه هو الظلم فقط ؟ ولا فيه حاجة كمان هي السبب و يمكن تاثيرها أكبر من الظلم كمان ؟\n\nفيه حديث عن الرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بيقول فيه أن القضاة ثلاثة: اثنان في النار وواحد في الجنة، رجل عرف الحق فقضى به فهو في الجنة، ورجل عرف الحق فلم يقض به وجار في الحكم فهو في النار، ورجل لم يعرف الحق فقضى للناس على جهل فهو في النار.\n\nأنا مش قصدي أتكلم عن القضاه بشكل خاص حاليا بس هدفي من الحديث ده توضيح إن ربنا يعاقب الجاهل نفس عقاب الظالم  بالضبط كأنهم سواء لأن تأثيرهم على المجتمع واحد. فالشخص الذي لا يظلم ليس أفضل مِن مَن يظلم لو كان جاهلاً.\n\nالجهل والظلم وجهين لعملة واحدة، فلا تفضل إحداهما عن الأخرى.\n\nاتقوا الله وليعلمكم الله.\n\n\nWhy Needmash Failed to start (For now..)\n\nNeedmash logo\n\nMe and a group of my friends were working on a project called Needmash (Previously known as ShopekLobek) and it’s idea was simple, post anything you need and help other people with what they need. We made a prototype of it (I hope it stays up and running) during our last year of college as our graduation project and we got straight A’s.\n\nSo everything was going fine right after graduation, we knew what to do and there was not much left to do for launching the service. But what we weren’t fully aware of, is that not all of us has the same purpose and motivation for this project. I myself just wanted to make something that help people more and make their life easier, whether it’s high tech or low tech, I didn’t really care, I just wanted to help. Some other members were taking this project as an experiment to learn from it, some others changed their personal goals after graduation and it didn’t go along with starting a business and some others were just following their passion and when they lost it, they lost interest in the project. And believe me, you will lose your passion in your startup many many times, here’s how to keep it.\n\nSo it’s not always the lack of skills or resources that fails a project. You can have the right people at the right time and things eventually go wrong because they didn’t have the same goal or motive. And by goal I don’t mean that they didn’t want the project to succeed, of course they did! But “why they wanted it to succeed” was different inside each of us.\n\nSo what I’ve learned from this experience and my advice to you is when you choose someone to start a business with, or hire someone in the early stage of your project, you must make sure that his personal goals and motives are the same as yours, whatever how skillful they are, you won’t get the best out of them unless you have a unified vision and personal goals. Think of it as multiple strings pulling a rock, if they don’t all have the same direction, things will fall apart.\n\nBy the way if you are a huge corporation, you may not need to worry about your employees personal goals, they work for your money anyway.\n\nياريتها جت عالطماطم\n\nImageكنت لسة بتفرج على فيلم World War Z بطولة Brad Pitt وكان بيتكلم عن ال zombies وكده.. و ضمن احداث الفيلم إن إسرائيل هي أول دولة تاخد إحتياطاتها من الفيروس ده و تبني سور ضخم يحميها من هجمات ال zombies (محامهاش قوي عموما)\n\nالمهم .. لما Brad كان راح هناك عشان يقابل شخص عنده معلومات عن أصل الفيروس و جه منين و بتاع، و لما قابل الشخص ده سأله ليه إسرائيل كانت أول دولة تستعد للخطر ده، فـالراجل رد عليه بإن بعد احداث كتيرة حصلت لإسرائيل و مقدروش يتوقعوها (و اللي منها كانت حرب 1973) المخابرات قررت طريقة جديدة في بحث صحة أي معلومة تيجي لهم، و الطريقة دي اسمها “The 10th man rule” أو قاعدة الرجل العاشر. القاعدة ببساطة بتقول إن المجلس (المكون من 10 أشخاص) لما يبحث صحة معلومة ما و يبقى 9 من ال 10 أفراد متفقين على رأي، يبقى مهمة الشخص العاشر إنه يبحث في احتمالية حدوث الرأي الاخر حتى لو هو مش مقتنع بإمكانية حدوثه، و بكده يبقوا مستعدين لإحتمالية حدوث أي شيء.\n\nالقاعدة  دي أبهرتني بصراحة لدرجة إني بحثت عنها عالنت بعد ما خلصت الفيلم و لقيت واحد على Quora بيسأل إذا كانت اسرائيل بتستخدم القاعدة دي بجد ولا لأ. المفزع إن طلع الجيش الإسرائيلي بيطبق القاعدة  دي في الواقع فعلا في اتخاذ قرارته و كانت ضمن تغيرات كتير في استراتيجية اتخاذ القرار في الجيش الإسرائيلي بعد 1973. و مصدر المعلومة دي هو كتاب “Lessons from Israel’s intelligence reforms” و اللي ألفه “Yousef Kuperwasser” رئيس قسم البحث العلمي في وزارة الدفاع الاسرائيلية من 2001 إلى 2006.\n\nآه صحيح.. اللي مستغرب من عنوان المقال، فيه إشاعة طالعة إن إسرائيل جايبة لينا طماطم مسرطنة.\n\nياريتها جت عالطماطم …\n\nWhy I will never do a task again without a timer\n\n\n\n\n  3. I do a better job when being watched or monitored\n\n\n\n\n\nWhy I’m Happy\n\n\n\nI’m happy because:\n\n(Now it’s starting to get harder to remember :D)\n\nNature’s processor\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTime travel is useless\n\n//This title is not meant to be catchy at all.\n\nYes I believe “time travel only” is useless, what you think is fun or cool or amazing or whatever.. isn’t just time travel, its time travel with your memories unchanged or altered.\nThe basic time travel will send you back in time for you to change some mistake you made in the past but the point is that you won’t remember that you regretted this action in the future because it didn’t happen yet, it doesn’t exist and you’ll make it again in the future, then you’ll regret it again and use the time travel to change it and forget.. and regret again… you’ll end up in an infinite loop.\nBut what does the basic time travel offers for traveling to the future ? well, it offers nothing (disappointing, right?)\nYour memories and other people’s memories end at this moment, further in time doesn’t exist because there’s no memories to create it, its actions hadn’t been taken yet. So how the system gonna get those actions out of the people to let you see the future ? If its feasible you are most welcomed to tell me in the comments what is the next post I’m going to write on this blog.\nWhat people want isn’t really time traveling because as we saw it offers nothing, they want transferring present memories to the past or predicting the future with 0 errors, and this I believe this is a different problem than time travel itself and even harder.\nIn the end I want to quote Morgan Freeman in Through the wormhole TV series ” If we can go back in time and change the mistakes we made, would we learn from it? Would we be who we are today? “", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.524433434009552}
+{"content": "Two random (for the purposes of this post) articles that show a clear lack of understanding of numbers and reason; or, careless oversight and a frivolousness use of words.\n\nFirst, from this article on natural gas production:\n\nIn other words, the EPA thinks the amount of methane leakage is only about 80 percent of what was previously thought, despite the boom in natural gas production.\n\nThat clause at the end is either: a) unnecessary (if the author is using language sloppily), or b) shows a lack of understanding of what a percentage is because it doesn’t matter how much more methane we’re producing if the amount of leakage is expressed as a percentage of production.\n\nAnd there’s this much more egregious error from an article on money “buying” happiness.\n\nbad graph\n\n\nWhich the writers describe this way:\n\n\nWhat has happened here is that they’ve arbitrarily broken a single data set into two data sets. Why? I don’t know, but probably so that they could make a provocative conclusion: that income does matter for well being. Well, it’s bogus. At least, the graph is (the conclusion might not be, despite the bad data analysis, but that’s not my point). You can’t – reasonably – just arbitrarily break data sets into small data sets and form conclusions based on those. This is a common statistical error and leads to such “true” statements as 9 out of 10 dentists recommend Crest toothpaste or 9 out of 10 game-goers prefer Bud Light over Miller Light. What is one simple way to see that the dissecting of the above data set is bogus? Well, you could easily break the data set again at about 32 GDP per capita (the x-value) and then fit a line that goes very steeply downward. Your conclusion would then be that being very rich and getting richer is really bad for happiness. While this may or may not also be true, you can certainly understand why the authors did not also make this particular subdivision; it would have sharply contrasted with their desired conclusion.\n\n-JD Cross", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9789101481437683}
+{"content": "3 Practices of Mindfulness for Your Career\n\nThinking about the big picture can happen anywhere.\n\nIt’s amazing how little we discuss the practice of mindfulness in the workplace. It’s kept at a cool, photographer’s distance away: close enough to resonate with the yogi within, and yet far enough way to leave our daily habits uninhibited. If we’ve hit a stride with our team lead, our deliverables, and our skill sets, what requires a closer look?\n\nMindfulness is a step beyond breaking habits or building new ones; in practice, being mindful is an ethos, a way in which we do the things we do. It’s an exercise, and like any exercise, it makes us stronger, more successful, and better prepared for the next challenge.\n\nBelow, explore three practices of mindfulness I’ve witnessed in the most successful careers across industries:\n\n  1. Remembering what it feels like to advocate. Do you know a story of an intern turned VP? A start-up turned Fortune 500? Behind every bottom-up story, I get to hear about leaders and allies who vouched for something in its budding stages. Advocating brings a sense of pride and higher purpose while building lasting relationships. Trying a daily practice of recalling times you’ve advocated for something or someone, and you’ll find your voice and confidence — both qualities valued by your teams.\n  2. Thinking strategically about the small things. How does one step to the left or right inform the larger trajectory? What will you get for investing a little extra time now? Strategy can become a buzzword without the action to back it up, and implementing the details behind the design will not only inform the bottom line, but get you noticed for following through. Before you hit send on that email, take a moment to think about how it will be read by those on the other end. Before working late again, consider about how it might be impacting how other’s view your boundary setting. Reconsidering the small things is a safe ROI: Every time, a little mindfuless goes a long way.\n  3. Investing money and time in your health. Career mindfulness is holistic. Every year, more research presents us with the importance of sleep cycles that work for our cycles and whole foods that aren’t cut with substitutes for the real thing. Immediate and long-term health benefits aside, choosing foods that work with your mind and body — not against it — is a moment-to-moment meditation of self worth. Each time I see someone valuing their health above all else, I see someone who consistently brings their best self to the table.\n\nMindfulness in the workplace can sometimes feel like battling auto-pilot mode. In many ways, we’re taught to optimize a situation until its comfortable — but the most successful careers I’ve witnessed are of those who know the difference between a rest and a plateau.\n\nWe may have mastered tasks at hand. We may have even mastered the stressors that previously felt insurmountable. The disservice, however, is a lack of mindfulness that saps your fullest potential.\n\nLike what you read? Give Ciara Jordan a round of applause.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9994264245033264}
+{"content": "How can I customise CSS for each category? (as in having different design for each category)\n\n(Panteen Pro-V) #1\n\nHi, I’m running a game forum and I’d like to be able to customise CSS for each category so that each category will look different with each other (example: Fallout 4 category can have more post-nuclear design, Halo category will have futuristic design,etc…) Currently the CSS customize in Admin affect all categories. Any possible way to change css for each category without affecting other category?\n\n(Mittineague) #2\n\nIsn’t it only a matter of using the correct selector(s)?\n\neg. the body tags class value should have a category specific value you could use.\n\n(Robin Ward) #4\n\nWhen you’re in a category, discourse adds the category slug to the body element. For example, on meta here when I visit the bug category I get category-bug in the body tag. If you use that as a selector you can style each category differently.\n\n(Panteen Pro-V) #5\n\nThanks for the info. I will try it out", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9270726442337036}
+{"content": "Open In App\n\nPhilippians: A 4-Day Devotional\n\nDo you sometimes feel like you’ll never get where you’re going in your relationship with Jesus? \n\nThe people in the Philippi probably felt the same way when Paul wrote the letter we now know as the book of Philippians. In Philippians, Paul reminds us that following Jesus is about progress not perfection.\n\nJesus gives us what we need to take steps to become more like Him. Joy from Jesus allows us to overcome anxiety about our circumstances. Jesus helps us become humble, leading to unity in our relationships and in the church. And as we follow Jesus’ example of generosity, we move from selfish to selfless living. \n\nProgress is often hard to see day by day, but every small step of obedience adds up. Learn how incremental changes can shape our hearts, making us more like Jesus and helping the Gospel to spread.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.82875657081604}
+{"content": "Modality: MRI (T2)\n\n- “ Pancoast tumor or superior sulcus tumor is subtype of non squamous cell lung cancer that involves the apical lung and usually extends outside the ...”\n\nUsed in the following article:\n\n\nView full size version of Pancoast tumour with cystic cerebral metastasis\n\nUpdating… Please wait.\n\nAlert accept\n\n\nAlert accept Thank you for updating your details.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8216822147369385}
+{"content": "Reflection – Research Project\n\n\n\n\nReflection – Total Parenteral Nutrition\n\n\n\n  1. Identify if there is an indication to TPN\n  3. Information gathering:\n      1. Calculate BMI, IBW and do adjBW if overweight\n    2. usual weight at home\n    3. weight change\n    4. nutrition status\n      1. intake during hospital admission\n      2. intake prior to hospital admission\n      3. signs of muscle wasting\n    5. PMHx\n      2. diabetes\n    6. IV maintenance fluids and replacement fluids\n    7. IV access\n    8. Inputs and outputs\n      2. Diarrhea → lose bicarb, sodium, chloride\n      3. Vomiting → lose chloride\n  4. Order any electrolyte replacement orders\n    2. Electrolyte replacements would be given prior to TPN start\n\nGeneral monitoring parameters:\n\n  • Weights today and then q Mon + Th\n  • Ins and outs\n  • Calorie counts if progressing with diet\n  • Plan with diet (decided by surgery)\n  • Plan with surgery\n\nPractical pearls:\n\n\nReflection – Leadership\n\nThis was my first non-clinical rotation, and I think the timing of this rotation at the half-way mark of my residency is very fitting. It was very eye-opening to see the layers of management and leadership behind ensuring that all the operations, clinical services and strategic plans run smoothly.\n\nThrough shadowing Mits, and having discussions and daily reflections with Mits, I had the opportunity to learn and observe about his management and communication styles.\n\nSome clinical pearls I learned were:\n\n  1. Communicating with SBAR\n\n    Prior to this rotation, SBAR was something I had only seen on a nursing communication sheet at MSJ. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation – it follows a similar order that SOAP does. When addressing a management issue, Mits had me practice how I would explain this particular issue through SBAR and I was also able to observe how Mits used SBAR to explain the same issue to a medical director. One difference between the way I explained SBAR and Mits was that he included parts of the “R” in my “S” to allow the receiving end to understand the purpose of the conversation. I think this tool will be a very systematic and effective way for me to communicate issues to other health care team members and my colleagues.\n\n  2. Communicating with OWTF and using “I” language\n\n    OTFW is communicating by talking about what I observed, what I think, what I feel and want. The order doesn’t have to exactly follow OTFW, but the key is to touch on all of them when bringing up an issue. Communicating with OWTF and using “I” language will help others understand your perspective, communicate in a non-confrontational manner and provide others with the choice of helping you (versus demanding for assistance on the matter).\n\n  3. ADKAR\n\n    Implementing and ensuring successful change requires going through all 5 steps of ADKAR. On my last day, we attended a leadership forum at Burnaby Hospital where managers, coorindators, PCCs, LPNs and executive directors presented and discussed about the health care report card, different initiatives taking place at BH, the successful patient stories and steps to take and are being taken to ensure successful change. This forum was also great example of another communication tip that Mits taught me and that was to ensure that everything communicated does a 360. If there is an issue, ensure that those who brought up the issue are made aware of the status of the issue (e.g. email, verbal communication, interim reports). This forum provided an opportunity for the leaders in BH to provide feedback and input, as well as, ask questions to president of Fraser Health, Michael Marchbank. Overall, it was a great end to my rotation to see ADKAR being applied in practice!\n\n  4. The Donut Model imageskykedry3\n\n    The Donut Model consists of 3 layers – the inner most represents what you can directly affect (e.g. what you can wear)?, the second layer represents what you can influence and the third layer represents what you can’t control (e.g. weather, the past). It is important, in my residency year and the rest of my career, to be aware of these different layers and avoid putting my energy into things I cannot control.\n\n\n\n\n\nReflections – Cardiology\n\nThis was by far one of my favorite rotations in residency! Herb and the interdisciplinary team at SMH were amazing and incredibly supportive throughout my rotation. When discussing my patients, Herb would write out my patients’ medical conditions, medications and history on a board. This definitely made it a lot easier to draw connections between the progress in hospital and their medications.\n\nDuring this rotation, I feel that I have gained a stronger understanding of various cardiac conditions, as well as, the evidence and key landmark trials. Aside from my objectives, other things I was able to improve on are identifying patient-specific goals, presentation skills, patient interviewing and chart documentation. These are things I can definitely still work on but with the help of Herb, I feel more confident in these areas and will continue to work on them in my future rotations/practice. Additionally, during this rotation,  Herb taught me how to perform physical assessments and learn how to interpret them. It was definitely exciting to be actually performing these assessments on real patients, instead of lab simulators! While a little daunting at first, making sure I did physical assessments whenever I had the opportunity to helped increase my comfort level and enhanced my ability to see my patient as a whole. All in all, this was a fantastic rotation and I will definitely aim to keep using the skills I have gained in future rotations! 🙂\n\nReflections – Surgery\n\nThe following are my objectives for surgery:\n\n  1. Continue to develop a systematic thought process to assessing and managing infectious diseases\n  2. Continue to develop my ability to practice antimicrobial stewardship (e.g. assessing when therapy can be narrowed, for IV to PO stepdown)\n  3. Continue to develop my ability to effectively perform therapeutic drug monitoring on medications such as vancomycin, aminoglycosides and anticoagulation\n  4. Develop my ability to effectively manage anti-coagulation (e.g. pre- and post-op management, duration of treatment or prophylaxis)\n  5. Continue to develop my ability to write concise and clear chart notes\n\nAnother great rotation at RCH! Bruce was incredibly knowledgeable and helped to build my thought process regarding patients in surgery. This rotation definitely gave me a lot of experience with infectious diseases, especially intra-abdominal infections. Bruce also helped schedule a shadowing opportunity for me with one of the antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists. One key thing I will always keep in mind when managing infections is the importance of source control! Unfortunately, I was not able to get any experience with aminoglycosides…but was able to get lots of experience with anticoagulation (e.g. VTE prophylaxis for patients who have abdominal surgery for cancer – requires 28 days of LMWH). Generally, VTE prophylaxis is started on POD 1 with dalteparin if eGFR > 10. With Bruce’s guidance, I was able to write clearer chart notes. Writing concise and clear chart notes will definitely be a goal that I will continue in future rotations.\n\nReflections – Psychiatry\n\nPsychiatry is definitely a very different and complex field, and I am very fortunate to have such an experienced and knowledgeable preceptor to help guide me through psychiatry! 🙂 During this rotation, I had the opportunity to care for patients with various psychiatric disorders such as eating disorders, bipolar, and many more. Before this rotation, I had found psychiatry very daunting…and it’s definitely more of an art than a science as evidence in psychiatry often has various limitations. But, with the help of Gillian, I was able to develop a systematic approach to working up patients and identifying and comparing different therapeutic alternatives. Additionally, through our therapeutic discussions, I also gained a stronger understanding of common psychiatric disorders and was able to garner a lot of clinical pearls from Gillian. In my future rotations, I will continue to develop my knowledge and ability to perform therapeutic drug monitoring for common psychiatric medications (e.g. lithium).\n\n\nReflections – General Medicine\n\nI can’t believe how quickly this rotation flew by! I’m very fortunate to have been able to work with such a supportive preceptor and health care team at the Short Stay Medical Unit (SSMU).\n\nThese were my objectives for this rotation:\n\n  1. Develop and strengthen my systematic approach to assess and work up patients\n  2. Develop my ability to clearly and concisely document my soap notes and important patient interactions\n  3. Develop my ability to effectively perform therapeutic drug monitoring on medications such as vancomycin, aminoglycosides, digoxin and anticoagulation\n  4. Develop my ability to practice antimicrobial stewardship (e.g. assessing when therapy can be narrowed, for IV to PO stepdown)\n\nDuring this rotation, my preceptor helped to build on my approach and when I presented on my patients, he would help map it all out on the whiteboard. This made it easier for me to view my patient as a whole and connect their medications to their indications and medical conditions. The importance of matching medications to medical conditions, vice versa was emphasized with this rotation. Additionally, I feel that I was able to improve on my documentation, especially on my soap notes for therapeutic drug monitoring (e.g. for vancomycin). Unfortunately, I was not able to get much experience with monitoring of digoxin or aminoglycosides. I was able to see various patients with pneumonia, and had more experience assessing for narrowing of therapy and IV to PO stepdown.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9810273051261902}
+{"content": "Siskiyou Review: ‘Getaway Girl’ get 5 Stars\n\nby Shelee Juarez, Columnist\n\nGetaway Girl by Tessa Bailey was the quintessential friends-to-lovers romance with an angst-filled and wonderfully written lead-up from friendship to beyond. Most crucial to this story was the friendship between Addison and Elijah. Bailey took her time with it, creating and crafting a close companionship that spoke louder than attractions and became this foundation for two people–both suffering two very different lives–to find that solidity they craved. Not only was their friendship forbidden, but so was absolutely anything more than that. The obstacles their friendship and more intense feelings created both served and detracted from their romance in equal fashion–all of which created a stunningly addictive love story.\n\nThe dynamic between the well-mannered, soon-to-be-mayor and the town’s pariah was as fascinating as it was complicated. And though it added a particular spice, what was most beguiling was that raw instinctual need the characters had to be near one another that went beyond the physical attraction. They two brought out sides to one another which neither knew was possible, and constructed roots that finally found a soil to dig into. Addison’s wild was soothed by his calm and gave her a place to call home and feel safe. In equal measure, she gave him the ability to let loose from that carefully crafted political persona of his to find his true motives. It was a love between friends that grew to become a safe place to land, and that was impossible not to feel.\n\nBailey continuously reinvents herself with each of her books, bringing forth characters with vastly different personalities and hangups. In the end she always brings it back to that one crucial thing: finding that perfectly beautiful and visceral love story. Filled with an ignitable couple that is as intimately touching as it is emotionally so, Getaway Girl shines on its own for all of the little things it says that speak so loud.\n\nI give this novel 5 out of 5 stars.\n\n\nThis unlikely getaway driver never expected to help the mayor escape…\n\n\n\nYou must be logged in to post a comment Login", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.966442346572876}
+{"content": "The Past in Egypt’s Present\n\nEgyptians must answer the vexing question that they have failed for six decades to confront: What is Egypt? One must hope that the experience of recent decades will induce a broad range of Egyptians to seek an answer based on respect for plurality of ideas, frames of reference, and traditions.\n\n\nEgypt’s recent past is indeed provocative. Mohamed Ali, the Ottoman adventurer who took control in 1805 after France’s withdrawal, began to modernize Egypt by introducing effective administration, industrialization, exposure to Europe, and a standing army. The Mohamed Ali dynasty’s first six decades in power created an Egyptian empire that stretched from the sources of the Nile in east Africa to the eastern parts of Turkey, including the entire eastern Mediterranean and two-thirds of what is today Saudi Arabia. But the empire fell when the dreams of the Pasha’s descendants exceeded their state’s resources and capacities.\n\nThe early-twentieth-century liberal experiment, when Egypt adopted the Arab world’s first comprehensive constitution (in 1923), took the state away from Ali’s family and (at least in theory) gave it to the people. Egypt enjoyed the beginnings of democracy, true representation, constitutionalism, and, crucially, the notion – central to modern citizenship – of equal rights and obligations.\n\n\n\n\n\nLog in;\n\nCookies and Privacy\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.550706148147583}
+{"content": "Why is France Daesh’s top terror target in Europe?\n\nPARIS—When militants loyal to Daesh seek to inflict pain on Europe, France is their preferred target, a grim reality borne out yet again with Tuesday’s knife slaughter of a Catholic priest.\n\nSince January 2015, attacks inspired by Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, have killed at least 235 people in France, by far the largest casualty rate of any Western country. French citizens or French-speaking residents have committed the overwhelming majority of strikes, often employing suicide tactics alongside command of their home surroundings.\n\nSoldiers patrol the famed Promenade des Anglais in Nice, southern France. Since January 2015, Daesh-inspired attackers have killed at least 235 people in France, by far the largest casualty rate of any Western country.\n\nPresident François Hollande argues that France is their top enemy on the continent because of his homeland’s reputation as a cradle of human rights and democracy.\n\n“If terrorists strike us, it is because they know what France represents,” Hollande said after this month’s Bastille Day truck attack that killed 84 people on Nice’s crowded waterfront.\n\nAnalysts agree that Daesh propagandists particularly target France as a land anchored in secular values, liberal freedoms and life’s pleasures. But its colonial history, demographic tensions and interventionist policies against militant Muslims abroad point to deeper reasons why anti-Western killers seek so ruthlessly to bring grief to France’s door.\n\nArticle Continued Below\n\nFrance has the largest population of Muslims in Europe, more than 5 million in a nation of 66 million, a legacy of its colonial domination of large swathes of Africa and the Middle East. Most have grown up speaking French alongside Arabic and are disproportionately represented in France’s poorest, most alienated districts.\n\nFrench soldiers and special forces remain committed today in predominantly Muslim corners of former overseas possessions, fighting Daesh-linked extremists in Africa and fuelling calls for retaliation on French soil. French air power is strengthening the nearly two-year-old coalition offensive against suspected Daesh targets in Iraq and Syria, too.\n\nFrance’s exceptional public focus on promoting integration into a secular society has fuelled chronic tension with its Muslim minority, exemplified by a 2010 ban on wearing face-covering veils and a 2004 ban on Islamic head scarves in the classroom.\n\n“France’s model of integration is generous in its principles but too rigid in its practice,” Farhad Khosrokhavar, a sociologist who is an expert on the Muslim experience in French life, wrote in an analysis for The New York Times.\n\n“Although France has managed to integrate many immigrants and their descendants, those it has left on the sidelines are more embittered than their British or German peers, and many feel insulted in their Muslim or Arab identity,” he wrote, noting that alienation can run particularly deep among those from France’s nearest Muslim neighbours: Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria across the Mediterranean Sea.\n\nFrance has suffered terrorism incubated in Algeria since the late 1950s as the French fought an ultimately doomed war to retain their major North African possession. France withdrew from Morocco in 1955, Tunisia in 1956 and Algeria in 1962.\n\nBut just as in West Africa, where French finance and military might continue to shore up friendly governments, France has never fully withdrawn its influence, maintaining a far more hands-on role than the British do in their former empire.\n\nArticle Continued Below\n\nIn the mid-1990s, the Armed Islamic Group of Algeria — which decapitated citizens and slaughtered foreigners on home soil as it sought to overthrow a French-backed government — mobilized supporters in France to commit train bombings and other violence that claimed more than 20 lives.\n\nThe French military footprint in former African colonies threatened by Islamic extremists has grown markedly under Hollande. French forces intervened in Mali in 2013 and today are present through much of West Africa.\n\nIt’s no surprise, analysts say, that the majority of today’s attackers in France have family ties to North and West Africa, not the Middle East.\n\nSons and daughters of these African immigrants now seek to answer the Daesh recruitment call at rates unseen in other European nations. An estimated 1,000 French citizens and residents mostly of African Muslim background have travelled to Syria, or been caught trying, to join Daesh forces ever since the nation — another former French possession — started to unravel five years ago.\n\nThe French recruiting influence in the Daesh power base of Raqqa reflects the common languages spoken there, Arabic and French. This, in turn, spurs the production of slick Francophone propaganda tailored specifically to insult and intimidate French eyes and ears. Daesh has directly threatened France, using native French speakers, in nine communiqués over the past three months.\n\nOne video released this month features a cappella song in French titled “My Vengeance” alongside footage of November’s attacks on Paris nightspots that killed 130 people. Its lyrics advise France-based followers to “shed the blood of the pigs ... destroy their souls. Make France quake.”\n\nFrance’s response to the Nice carnage was to call up several thousand police and army reservists to join more than 100,000 security personnel already patrolling the streets and borders. Hollande also pledged to send more military advisers and artillery for the U.S.-led fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria.\n\nSome analysts doubt whether France’s military commitments play the critical role in spurring resident Muslims to answer the Daesh call. They say France’s fundamental challenge is that it hosts the greatest concentration of marginalized Muslims on the continent, many of whom view their adopted homeland as sinful and disrespectful toward Islamic traditions.\n\n“Whether the guy who rented a truck in Nice was frightfully interested that Raqqa is being bombed, I don’t know,” said François Heisbourg, an analyst at a French think tank called the Foundation for Strategic Research.\n\nHe said targeting French population centres using homegrown militants offered the opportunity for “surefire results” against a land that represents, in the eyes of Daesh leaders, “a target of unbelief, of heresy, of apostasy.”\n\nMore from The Star & Partners", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7618831396102905}
+{"content": "Rest | Rest in Our Finances | Ken Sunoo\n\nRest in our Finances\n\nMatthew 6:19-24\nDecember 17, 2017\n\nReview:  Last week did you find opportunities to give life rather than criticize?\n\nIntroduction: “Peace!” the angel announces at the birth of the Holy Child. “Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace….”  So why so much stress in our lives? Maybe it’s not so much the work we are doing as much as the work behind our work. Maybe it’s not so much about what we are doing but why we are doing it. This Advent Jesus catches us trying to live at the speed of thought and slogging through unprecedented levels of anxiety, vitriol, and uncertainty. But he invites us to step aside and find his rest. “Come unto me, all you who are weary…”  Matthew 11:28\n\nThis week we focus on how we cannot buy our peace nor want more than our hearts desire in Jesus.  December is a time of year when our culture wants us to focus on being consumers.  God calls us to store up treasures in heaven.\n\nPray: LORD, Jesus, help us hear your word and find peace in you.  Amen.\n\nRead:  Matthew 6:19-24\n\n\n  1. What are “treasures on earth”?\n\n    What are “treasures in heaven”?\n\n  2. Rephrase verse 21, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” in your own words. \n    Give examples of how you have seen this to be true.\n\n  3. What does Jesus mean when he says your eye is the lamp of the body?\n\n  4. Why do so many well-meaning people think they can serve two masters, God and wealth?\n\n    Why is Jesus so clear and decisive in saying you cannot serve two masters?\n\n  5. What effects how you see life and what is valuable?\n\n  6. Describe a treasure or two that you are storing in heaven.\n\nApplication:  This week as you spend your wealth, time and talent, evaluate the reasoning behind your expenditures.  \n\nPray:  Thank you for your words Jesus, that free us to focus on serving one master.  Thank you for being worthy to serve, generous in grace, loving us into your kingdom.  Protect us from our culture’s attempt to seduce us into consumerism.  Give us generous eyes and hearts that store up treasures in heaven.  Amen.\n\nDownload to Print", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.993664562702179}
+{"content": "by Helen Fryman Question: What about radiocarbon dating? Response: I asked several people who know about this field. (1.) C14 dating is very accurate for wood used up to about 4,000 years ago.This is only because it is well calibrated with objects of known age.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nY., reported today in the British journal Nature that some estimates of age based on carbon analyses were wrong by as much as 3,500 years.Dates up to this point in history are well documented for C14 calibration.For object over 4,000 years old the method becomes very unreliable for the following reason: Objects older then 4,000 years run into a problem in that there are few if any known artifacts to be used as the standard.The field of radiocarbon dating has become a technical one far removed from the naive simplicity which characterized its initial introduction by Libby in the late 1940's.It is, therefore, not surprising that many misconceptions about what radiocarbon can or cannot do and what it has or has not shown are prevalent among creationists and evolutionists - lay people as well as scientists not directly involved in this field.Example: wood found in a grave of known age by historically reliable documents is the standard for that time for the C14 content.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9414414763450623}
+{"content": "Anxiety Got You Down? Learn To Control It Now!\n\nStress is something everyone deals with, but there is no need for it to be unmanageable. Stress can evolve into anxiety if it’s not dealt with. Anxiety can harmfully strain the body not well. Read on how you can deal with anxiety effectively.\n\nSay as many positive things as you can each day. Tell yourself you’re going to have a good day and remind yourself that everything is going to be alright. Do what you can to have the day end up that way.\n\nListening to music is a great way to deal with your anxiety.If you feel anxious, start playing your favorite music. Focus on each word in the music. This can distract you from your anxiety, making you less anxious. Keeping your mind occupied can really help deal with anxiety.\n\nConsistently think positive thoughts. Make it a habit to remind yourself of these things before you go to sleep and again first thing in the morning. The positive feelings will keep negative ones away and help you deal with anxiety.\n\n\n\nConsider trying amino acid treatment to cure your only hope. Many individuals find they are deficient in certain nutrients and that their bodies do not produce enough serotonin.\n\n\nA diet contains many helpful vitamins and nutrients which your body needs to stay healthy.\n\n\nPay close attention to your breathing when you feel stressed. You will experience a shortness of breath which can later become varied and probably taking erratic breaths.It’s easy for you to forget how to breathe correctly when anxiety has a lot of you. Focus on proper breathing if you have an anxiety attack.\n\nTalk to someone about what you’re going through no matter who it is. It is going to intensify your feelings if you try to keep too much bottled in. Your anxiety is sure to lessen when you share it.\n\nTalk to someone you know about what you’re going through no matter who it is.Keeping feelings bottled up will only make things worse. Sharing your feelings makes you feel a lot better while reducing anxiety.\n\nGetting enough good quality sleep is a critical tool in fighting back against anxiety. Physical and mental difficulties increase when you do not get enough sleep, and this adds to your anxiety. It should be a common practice to achieve 7-8 hours of sleep each night.\n\nAs this article just said, anxiety and stress are hard to deal with but cannot be helped sometimes. It may not be possible to rid ourselves of them, but they can be managed. Put all your knowledge into action to help resolve your anxiety disorder.\n\nNo matter who you find, seek assistance to discuss your problems. A support system is very important to someone who is suffering from anxiety. A friend might be able to help you find solutions and talking about your problems will make you feel much better.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6297937631607056}
+{"content": "Friday, June 5, 2015\n\nBetween a Rock and a Hard Place\n\nI take alot of joy in Disney movies, especially the ones that were released when I was young; it's like a time portal into my childhood. But it was only as an adult that I began to really think critically about the stories and the messages contained in them. It's pretty easy to see that most of the Disney princesses emerge from a daddy-daughter relationship. Freud focused his theory of the father complex on ambivalent feelings for the father on the part of the male child, as an aspect of the Oedipus complex.  But according to Jung,  females are also able to develop a father complex, which might be either positive or negative.\n\nLet's start with The Little Mermaid. Ariel is the youngest daughter of the Sea King, and true to Andersen's text, she is enamored with the world above the water. Her father forbids her to have any contact with it, so is forced to hide her fascination with it, as well as her extensive collection of artifacts salvaged from sunken ships. When her father becomes aware of her continued interest with humans, and her new interest in a particular human, he sets out to eradicate this rebellious streak in her. I think this scene is the most authentic in communicating the nature of their relationship because the dialogue sounds authentic: Ariel's pouty \"I don't care\" is the favorite uttering of sixteen year old girls. But furthermore, the symbolism of Ariel hiding behind the Prince Eric effigy at first, and later desperately trying to protect it (she's literally between a rock and hard place) represents the classic struggle of a daughter to distance herself from the central male figure in her life only to seek a new one.\n\nShe sacrifices her voice (much less painful than her tongue, as in the original story) to the Sea Witch in exchange for legs, so that she can go ashore, find the prince, and (silently) charm him. In the age of third wave feminism, it's a pretty horrible message that in order to make a man love her, a woman should be voiceless.\nAriel's voice, and tail, is restored when her time on land runs out. As stipulated in her contract with the Sea Witch, she is now her property, and we see her slowly devolve into a sea urchin.\nPrince Eric defeats the Sea Witch, and the other sea urchins are restored to their original forms (mermaids and mermen who also defaulted on their deals), but Ariel is still confined by her fins. It's only through her father's power that she is able to return to land to reunite with her soon-to-be husband.\nI guess if you want to be sentimental, you could say that King Triton is unselfishly allowing his daughter to live her dream, even though it pains him. But it must also be noted that he is sacrificing his power over her; earlier he told her as long as she lives under his ocean, she is to obey his rules. She traded in one kingdom for another.\n\nAll this being said, I still canot be trusted with the remote control during a viewing of this movie; it rapidly devolves into a loop of Part of Your World and a (bad) one woman karaoke show.\n\n1 comment:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5101660490036011}
+{"content": "Why is it important for Indian paintings to represent the village life?\n\nPaintings are a form of expression, a form of capturing the emotions and the daily lifestyle of people so that it will be effectively reproduced for years to come. However, since times immemorial, paintings have also been able to reflect the culture and the society as well as ensure that people actually have a good knowledge about everything that is going on in their country. With that being said, it takes a lot for people to realize the value of good quality paintings, particularly by masters such as Thota Vaikuntam.\n\nThe contemporary Indian art scenario may seem to be in its nascent stage but it is certainly something that has been picking up pace for years to come. Of course, people like Thota Vaikuntam have been able to contribute on their own, creating paintings that not only get into the Indian galleries, but also ensure that it can creep into the foreign galleries as well. This is the reason why the artist has been able to showcase the very best of his paintings in various galleries across the world, and also takes pride into the kind of paintings that he has been able to bring about in India for generations to come.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9463498592376709}
+{"content": "Friday, March 18, 2011\n\nThe Trans-en-Provence, France UFO Incident\n\nLeft to right: Dr. Jacques F. Vallee. Dr. Michel Bounias and the witness, Mr. Renato Nicolai\n\n\nThe case was investigated by the Groupe d'Etudes des Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés (GEPAN), or Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena Study Group, established in 1977 within the National Center for Space Studies (CNES) in Toulouse, the French counterpart of NASA. (The functions of GEPAN were reorganized in 1988 into the Service d'Expertise des Phénomènes de Rentrées Atmosphériques or SEPRA). The primary investigator was Jean-Jacques Velasco, the current head of SEPRA.\n\nThe witness was the farmer Renato Nicolai, 55, on whose property the UFO landed and then took-off almost immediately. Thinking that it was a military experimental device, Nicolai notified the local gendarmes on the following day. The gendarmes interviewed Nicolai and collected soil and plant samples from the landing site within 24 hours of the occurrence, notifying GEPAN on January 12 as part of a cooperation agreement for UFO investigation between the two agencies. Further collection of samples and measurements of the site were undertaken by the GEPAN team, and the samples were thoroughly analyzed by several government laboratories.\n\nThe first detailed report on the case was published by GEPAN in 1983 in its \"Technical Note No. 16, Inquiry 81/01, Analysis of a Trace.\"\n\n\nThe Trans-en-Provence Case\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n3. Trace quantities were found of phosphate and zinc.\n\n\n\n6. Biochemical analysis showed numerous differences between vegetation samples obtained close to the site and those more distant. - 'The UFO Evidence: Volume II: A Thirty-Year Report' - Richard H. Hall\n\nSurface evidence magnified\n\nRenato Nicolai's Testimony\n\n\"My attention was drawn to a small noise, a kind of little whistling. I turned around and I saw, in the air, a ship which was just about the height of a pine tree at the edge of my property. This ship was not turning but was descending toward the ground. I only heard a slight whistling. I saw no flames, neither underneath or around the ship.\n\n\"While the ship was continuing to descend, I went closer to it, heading toward a little cabin. I was able to see very well above the roof. From there I saw the ship standing on the ground.\n\n\"At that moment, the ship began to emit another whistling, a constant, consistent whistling. Then it took off and once it was at the height of the trees, it took off rapidly... toward the northeast. As the ship began to lift off, I saw beneath it four openings from which neither smoke nor flames were emitting. The ship picked up a little dust when it left the ground.\n\n\"I was at that time about 30 meters [100 feet] from the landing site. I thereafter walked towards the spot and I noticed a circle about two meters [7 feet] in diameter. At certain spots on the curve of the circle, there were tracks (or traces).\n\n\"The ship was in the form of two saucers upside down, one against the other. It must have been about 1.5 meters [5 feet] high. It was the color of lead. The ship had a border or type of brace around its circumference. Underneath the brace, as it took off, I saw two kinds of round pieces which could have been landing gear or feet. There were also two circles which looked like trap doors. The two feet, or landing gear, extended about 20 centimeters [8 inches] beneath the body of the whole ship.\"\n\n\nThe samples of soil and wild alfalfa collected from the landing site, as well as the control samples from varying distances from the epicenter, were subjected to a number of analyses: physico-chemical analysis at the SNEAP laboratory, electronic diffraction studies at Toulouse University, mass spectrometry by ion bombardment at the University of Metz, and biochemical analysis of the vegetable samples at the National Institute of Agronomy Research (INRA), among others. The findings report included the following statements:\n\n\"Traces were still perceptible 40 days after the event.\n\n\"There was a strong mechanical pressure forced (probably the result of a heavy weight) on the surface.\n\n\"A thermatic heating of the soil, perhaps consecutive to or immediately following the shock, the value of which did not exceed 600 degrees.\n\n\"The chlorophyll pigment in the leaf samples was weakened from 30 to 50 percent... The young leaves withstood the most serious losses, evolving toward the content and composition more characteristic of old leaves.\"\n\n\"The action of nuclear irradiation does not seem to be analogous with the energy source implied with the observed phenomenon; on the other hand, a specific intensification of the transformation of chlorophyll... could be tied to the action of a type of electric energy field.\n\n\"On the biochemical level, the analysis was made on the entirety of the factors of photosynthesis, lipids, sugars and amino acids. There were many differences between those samples further from the spot of the landing and those that were closer to the spot.\n\n\"It was possible to qualitatively show the occurrence of an important event which brought with it deformations of the terrain caused by mass, mechanics, a heating effect, and perhaps certain transformations and deposits of trace minerals.\n\n\n\nElapsed Time Event Comments\n\n0-3 secs Witness first sees the object which appears to be above two tall conifers approx 35 m from the impact point. Distance estimate is based on map and statement that the cabin is 35 m away from impact point; comparison of that distance on the map[8] with the distance to the tree suggests an additional 35 m to the tree.\n\n3 secs Object strikes the ground with a sound like a stone falling. The motion from the trees to the impact point is fast and continuous. Assuming the distance from the impact point to be 35m for the top of the tree, and assuming the altitude to be above the tree (stated to be \"dozens of meters high\"[9],[10]); because of the error in translation, resolved to 10 m, we take 10 m as the altitude of the object; the distance traversed between first sight and impact is therefore 14 m.\n\nThe following assume a constant deceleration:\n\nThe deceleration based on a 3 second time to cross this distance is -0.32G from a speed of 34 kph.\n\nAccording to Velasco, an upper limit to the weight based on the ground trace is 700 kg. To accomplish the noted deceleration at that weight would require a thrust of 7,171 kg.\n\n4-25 secs Object is on the ground and the witness is continuing to move to a new location. Assuming 8 secs to walk 10m (a reasonably brisk walk), walking 30 m takes 24 secs, of which it is assumed 1-2 secs are used while object is descending, since the report refers to \"while it was continuing to come down, I went closer by walking\".\n\n25-28 secs Witness observes the object on the ground. According to the statement: \"several seconds\"; also, \"From that position I clearly saw the device resting on the ground.\"\n\n28-35 secs Object lifts from the ground, tilts, and departs. Altitude appears to be that of the tops of the trees, here estimated to be 10 m (\"it lifted off... reaching a point above the trees, it left at high speed\").\n\nIt took from 1-3 secs to accomplish this.\n\nThe following assume a constant acceleration / deceleration:\n\nIf it took 3 sec, then it accelerated at approximately 0.45 G for 1.5 sec to 5 m and then decelerated at -0.45G to 10 m; the thrust required in the acceleration phase is 10,204 kg assuming a 700 kg weight.\n\nIf it took 1 sec, it accelerated at approximately 4G for 0.5 sec to 5 m and then decelerated at -4G for 0.5 sec to 10 m; the thrust required in the acceleration phase is 91,840 kg, assuming a 700 kg weight.\n\nThe GEPAN account differs somewhat, claiming \"it rose vertically over several meters, tilted above the platform, continued to rise in this position and disappeared in the sky.\" Hopefully \"several\" is 10 or so.\n\n\nDescription Of The Trace Evidence\n\nThe trace was found by the witness immediately after the departure of the object. The trace was circular, 2.4 m in diameter, and had the form of a ring, 0.2 m in width (it is claimed that there is a \"crown\" to the trace which is only 0.1 m in width. Note that the witness reported the object surrounded by a shelf approximately 0.15 m in width.\n\nPhotographs show the trace as lighter in color than the surrounding dirt. Vegetation remains (leaves and sticks) from the edges of the path where the object landed are seen to cross the trace (as of the next day). There does not appear to be any preferential orientation for this material, nor does it appear affected by pressure or heating. In combination, this indicates the possibility that either a) the force which produced the trace had no outward and no inward components, or b) the material was swept back over the trace either at or after the object departure. Note that the witness mentioned the object's departure as having raised some dust.\n\nThe soil of the trace is lighter than neighboring soil, appears to be slightly raised or crusty, and bears radial striations. These striations are not perfectly radial, but are slightly curved in a clockwise direction, and are slightly irregular. The trace ring shows these formations most prominently on the directly east and west sides of the ring. The north side of the trace shows a slightly lower degree of the same effect.\n\nThe width of the ring as photographed and diagrammed shows no notable deviation, nor does the circularity of the ring show any notable deviation. - GEPAN - \"Technical Note No. 16, Inquiry 81/01, Analysis of a Trace\"\n\n\nOverall Conclusion\n\nThe Trans-en-Provence UFO observation lasted under a minute. However, in that minute, information was gained by an alert witness and extracted by focused and experienced investigators which allow an analyst to form and validate hypotheses about the nature of the object.\n\nThe Trans-en-Provence UFO was able to dissipate considerable kinetic energy without affecting the ground beneath it. This may have resulted in the observed \"whistling\" sound, which indicates a motion of air away from the object. The object was then able to create close to 600 degrees C of ground heating on departure, despite the apparent insufficiency of mere thrust pressure to produce those temperatures. It then departed after tilting, and did not produce any further effects on the environment at that time.\n\nMany previous observations have indicated that the UFO rim is a source of energetic phenomena. The Trans-en-Provence case continues to support that pattern.\n\n\"The UFO Evidence: Volume II: A Thirty-Year Report\" - Richard H. Hall - 2000\nJean-Jacques Velasco - \"Report on the Analysis of Anomalous Physical Traces: The 1981 Trans-en-Provence UFO Case,\" - 1990\nMichel Bounias - \"Research Note: Further Quantification of Distance-Related Effects in the Trans-en-Provence Case,\" - 1995\nPurchase your copy at Mothman Dynasty: Chicago's Winged Humanoids\n\n photo fortean-reptilian_zpsb0c95d60.png\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPlease help support\n'Phantoms and Monsters'", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8620235323905945}
+{"content": "The word “candle” comes from the Latin verb “candeo” which means “to shine”. Using candles as a means of showing your devotion to the Holy Father or as a symbol of enlightenment and brilliance amidst darkness is an antediluvian practice. Devoted Catholics have been using different types of candles for various religious purposes since the inception of this very religion. Through lighting a candle in front of the Holy Father, His Son, and other angels, the followers of this religion offer their requests and prayers to God. Candles are also used as a symbol of benevolent influences so that evil devious forces that can bring harm and temptation to an individual are kept at bay.\n\nIn Catholicism, candles are used for multifarious occasions including Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, etc. The shape, size, and even colour of the candles vary significantly from one ceremony to another. However, the material used for all of them is beeswax.\n\nCandles for Different Occasions:\n\nThe Baptismal/Paschal/Easter Candle: This candle can be easily distinguished from the others because of its sui generis size and colourful decorations. A cross with five cloves and the year are generally imprinted on these candles. For the occasion of Easter, this candle signifies the resurrection of Jesus from the abysmal darkness to the illumination of sacredness. After this candle has been used for Easter or Baptism, they are lit throughout the year as a reminder of that Holy Sacrament. The imageries of this candle narrate the story of a new soul joining the God’s family.\n\nThe Altar Candles: Devoted Christians have been using altar candles since the 12th The sole purpose of altar candles is to represent Lord Jesus as the eternal light of the world. However, altar candles also represent the stern realities. In the beginning, these candles were generally used in the catacombs where they one altar candle was the only source of light.\n\nAdvent candles: Advent candles were a part of the ancient Germanic tradition and it was later adopted in Catholicism. Advent candles symbolise one thousand years in the history of salvation i.e. from the time of Adam and Eve to the birth of Christ.\n\nVotive candles: Votive candles (also known as Devotional candles) are mainly used for prayers and offerings in congregations. The light of the votive candle represents a burnt sacrifice, reparation of vices, contrition, and adoration. Among all such candles, votive candles are used the most frequently in Christian churches.\n\nColours of Candles:\n\nDespite being used for different occasions, candles also come in different colours that signify different aspects of Catholicism. Usually these candles come in:\n\n  • White: White candles epitomise the harmony, veracity, and wholeness of a spirit.\n  • Red: Red candles signify the eternal love and adoration along with fortitude to fight against the evil forces of nature.\n  • Blue: Deep blue coins are a symbol of laughter and happiness where the royal blue coins symbolise royalty.\n\nCandles have an enlightening as well as an emphatic presence in Catholicism. With different colours and imageries they not only signify the benevolent qualities in the devout Christians but also help them connect with the Almighty spiritually.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.560718297958374}
+{"content": "How to motivate your sales team\n\nSelling is tough. Selling is an important stage in any business. Selling is demanding. This is why keeping your sales team motivated is extremely important and will directly affect the results obtained.\n\nNot everyone is motivated by the same things, which is why it is important to have different ways of moving your team forward. It is important to understand your team members, who they are, what they like and what they want.\n\n  1. Commissions - unfortunately a fat salary will not always motivate your sales team. However, a good commission structure will usually allow your sales team to thrive. Make them want to go for the big fish, or fight for that deal. If your commissions are capped, uncap them. Remember the sky is the limit for your sales team; don’t place a glass ceiling on it.\n  2. Peer pressure – the one thing that sales people cannot stand is to be number two. Make their numbers, quotas and stats public. Allow everyone to have access to the team’s results. Don’t keep them private.\n  3. Daily praise – Sales people are known as sharks, but really they need recognition. Don’t be shy on your praises, when a job is well done, say it. Make those praises public.\n  4. Encourage teamwork – build winning teams by having everyone support and help each other. Don’t force the individual work, but place more focus on teamwork. Encourage your team to help each other, to share their best practices. Reward the team not just the individuals.\n  5. Daily huddles – daily meetings are overrated, they tend to last too long, not cover what is actually planned and 7 out of 10 meetings are not actually essential. However, daily huddles are fantastic. 10 minutes max, keep them positive and upbeat, have your team share their experience, feelings and plans for the day. Start the day on a bright note!\n  6. Create personal goals – Don’t just set goals for each department, set goals with each member of the team. Understand who they are and where they can be. Set goals with your team members, not for them. Allow them to set their own goals.\n  7. Provide coaching – Sales people can get quickly demotivated when they realize that they have a lack of knowledge somewhere. Don’t let them! Understand their results and search for their weakness, then provide regular coaching to fill the gap.\n  8. Always support your team – whether it is technical support, more information your team needs, always be available. Your team needs to feel supported and protected by their manager. People work better when they fell they are doing it for someone that has their back. There are many different ways to motivate your sales team, whether is via a public award board or a daily positive email, the importance is that your sales team feels acknowledged, respected and part of a team, not just a number.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5613960027694702}
+{"content": "kal kal - 1 year ago 143\nJava Question\n\nJava Timer vs ExecutorService?\n\nI have code where I schedule a task using\n\n. I was looking around and saw\ncan do the same. So this question here, have you used Timer and\nto schedule tasks, what is the benefit of one using over another?\n\nAlso wanted to check if anyone had used the\nclass and ran into any issues which the\nsolved for them.\n\nAnswer Source\n\nAccording to Java Concurrency in Practice:\n\n  • Runtime exceptions thrown in TimerTask kill that one thread, thus making Timer dead :-( ... i.e. scheduled tasks will not run anymore. ScheduledThreadExecutor not only catches runtime exceptions, but it lets you handle them if you want (by overriding afterExecute method from ThreadPoolExecutor). Task which threw exception will be canceled, but other tasks will continue to run.\n\nIf you can use ScheduledThreadExecutor instead of Timer, do so.\n\nOne more thing... while ScheduledThreadExecutor isn't available in Java 1.4 library, there is a Backport of JSR 166 (java.util.concurrent) to Java 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, which has the ScheduledThreadExecutor class.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6662828922271729}
+{"content": "List of virtual tables\n\nThe “virtual” tables are generated by the Envision runtime itself, instead of reflecting tabular input files. Here, we list the virtual tables supported by Envision.\n\nCalendar tables\n\n\n\nread \"/sample/Lokad_Items.tsv\"\nread \"/sample/Lokad_Orders.tsv\" as Orders\n\nWeek.sold := sum(Orders.NetAmount)\nshow linechart \"Weekly sales\" a1f4 unit: \"$\" with Week.sold\n\n\nThese tables are all populated with the same date range that matches the full range of the input data, as defined by the read statements that specify a Date column. If a filter when is applied, these tables are filtered accordingly.\n\nFiles table\n\nThe Files table contains the list of all the files that have been captured by the read statements in the Envision script. This table is intended to support the design data integrity checks where, for example, files are tested against conditions related to their expected sizes.\n\nshow table \"My Files\" with\n\nThe fields are defined as follow:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9934868216514587}
+{"content": "“Moving and being moved: More-than-walking and talking on pilgrimage walks in the Manx landscape”\n\nAvril Maddrell\n\nJournal: Culture and Religion Volume 14, Issue 1, March 2013, pages 63-77.\n\n\n\nCitizen science in action – Manx Y-DNA Study\n\nCitizen science is a new term that has been in use since the 1990’s but has really only evolved to become popular in the last few years. It is used to describe  systematic works of scientific research that are carried out, not within the formal academic or business research structures, but by amateur individuals or teams of private individuals operating in a new area of scientific research and within informal networks, increasingly internet-based.\n\nIn a sense all the major scientists before the 20th century were citizen scientists, men like Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin and Charles Darwin, for example, were all amateurs and self-funded. More recent examples of citizen science projects however include large scale astronomical observation projects and public nature and bird watching surveys.\n\nGenetic Genealogy\n\nOne field of rapidly evolving citizen science participation and leadership is that of genetic genealogy. This research area was started in the early 2000’s with the emergence of several fledgling DNA testing companies offering DNA testing services to the general public.  The first obvious application for these relatively affordable tests was in the area of genealogy, where it very quickly became apparent that DNA analysis, within and across families, was a very fruitful and effective way of bridging gaps in family history research where physical paper records no longer survived or indeed never existed.\n\nThe nature of DNA research in genealogy is that an individual’s results are only meaningful when compared to other possibly related people. This meant that it became an early necessity that DNA data publication- and sharing- mechanisms were clearly needed to be provided and available to all, and the internet was the obvious medium to use.  Several commercial DNA and research organisations positioned themselves to provide public online DNA databases and this created the impetus for a massive expansion in private, citizen-science research.\n\n\nThe dramatic expansion in the development of new DNA tests by commercial companies in the last 10 years has in fact been largely been carried out in a synergistic fashion by the worldwide amateur genetic genealogy community.\n\nThe process of expanding the knowledge of the human DNA genetic tree has been a partnership between the commercial technology providers and the public buying their DNA tests and researching their own genetic ancestry.\n\nThe reality is also that testing companies cannot do research into the DNA tree on their own. They need as large and diverse a population as possible to use their tests in order to develop and validate them.\n\nThis research process also has had to have been an iterative one. Commercial DNA tests are developed based on the knowledge of the detailed structure of the human DNA genetic tree known at the time of test development.  These tests are bought and used by the public and, through the testing, publication and analysis by genetic genealogists, new insights into further detail of the genetic tree are gained. This new knowledge is then incorporated into the succeeding new technology test, and so on. For example, if someone with an unknown DNA marker/mutation is not tested and that marker thus not identified, then the testing companies will not know that such a marker exists and not offer a commercial test for it!\n\nFor genetic genealogists researching their own position on the Y-chromosome genetic tree (Y-DNA research represents the most popular area of public attention) this has become an ongoing journey of discovery. The structure of the Y-chromosome DNA tree is proving to be highly complex and detailed and new and more powerful Y-DNA tests are still coming on to the market.\n\n\nAll of the DNA testing that is carried out by genetic genealogists is paid for out of their own pockets. The tests are provided at commercial, or slightly subsidised, prices by the testing companies and there is no public or commercial funding of these activities. Thus the whole funding of this substantial area of research is paid for by the participants.\n\nAnalysis Networks\n\nSo, whilst commercial companies provide the means whereby those people who are interested can test various elements of their own or family’s DNA, a large part of the analysis and dissemination of the results of such testing is carried out by informal networks of private individuals, the citizen scientists.\n\nToday there are now some 6,000 separate Y-DNA research projects worldwide, all run by private individuals, the vast majority of whom had no prior technical expertise in DNA analysis and testing before they took on the project responsibility.  A large number of these projects are focussed on just one family name or a group of related family names. Other projects just concentrate on specific areas of the Y-DNA tree and provide unique direction and impetus for more research in each particular area\n\nThe skills involved in managing and analysing the DNA data generated by these projects all have had to be developed by the project members as their projects have developed. However, the powerfully cooperative nature involved in these informal genetic genealogy networks means that there are many individuals that are generous in providing help and advice to anyone else who requests it.\n\nAll Individuals within the network possess their own personal blend of mathematical, analytical, computing and scientific skills. But inevitably some acknowledged experts with particular skills or knowledge emerge into view and become a resource for everyone else in the network. This is citizen science in action.\n\nManx Y-DNA Study\n\nJohn Creer started the Manx Y-DNA study in August 2010.  This 5-6 year long project is engaged in carrying out the Y-DNA analysis of the male members of the 120 original Manx families known to be living on the island in the 1500’s and before. It is intended that the results of this study will identify the early origins of these old Manx families before they settled on the IOM, their genetic connections with each other and families/tribes from neighbouring Ireland and Scotland and the likely timing of such connections. Early results from this work are already revealing new, and sometimes unexpected, insights into the history of these families in a way that no other scientific or scholarly approach could achieve.\n\nSome 70% of the indigenous Manx population, as represented by these 120 families, have already been tested, either in part or fully. Another 2-3 years is required to complete recruitment and testing. This will also allow the study team time to take advantage of the rapid and dramatic improvements in testing methods and the new evolving knowledge of the detailed, low-level structures of the Y-DNA genetic tree.\n\nSo far nearly 170 men have been involved in this study and the majority of them have paid for their own DNA tests, so the private investment in this work amounts to around £25,000 so far. During the last three years a number of Manx cultural, political and business organisations have been approached to provide any level of financial or moral support for this unique Manx historical research, but so far nothing has been forthcoming. Thus, it is a telling commentary on our present times that such a ground-breaking and unique piece of research into Manx history is, so far, privately funded.\n\nManx Study Team Skills\n\nJohn has a science degree and a wide-ranging business background in the pharmaceuticals industry, encompassing marketing, information management and IT project management roles. Since retirement he has been engaged in extensive Manx family history research and Y-DNA testing and analysis of his own Manx paternal family line. All of these skills and knowledge have now been put to further effective use as the citizen scientist leading this unique work.\n\nRecently Mark Jost (Watterson) has joined the study as co-administrator. Mark is an American who became involved in genetic genealogy in order to try and learn more about his biological paternal line, after he was informed by his mother later in his adult life that he was a Non-Paternal Event (NPE) child of his biological mother and was paternal adopted by marriage prior to his birth. Mark approached the Manx Study as his Y-DNA profile was close to one of the Manx men already tested. With time and further testing, it has now become clear that Mark is the direct descendant of a Manx man who immigrated to the USA around 1700 and settled there. Mark has a business degree and runs his own computer business, and has utilized his computing and mathematical skills to become one of the leading citizen scientists in the field of genetic genealogy, accomplished in using sophisticated analysis techniques to determine the ages of populations of men, based on their Y-DNA profiles. Thus with his Manx ancestry Mark is ideally suited to playing a major role in the Manx Y-DNA study.\n\nIn due course, it may become appropriate to involve other people with other skills to play a role in the latter stages of analysis and interpretation of the results. This is typical however of how a citizen science-based project works, using informal knowledge networks of amateur experts bringing their own blend of personal abilities when required.\n\nThe Manx Y-DNA study (www.manxdna.co.uk) is a prime example of how the work of citizen scientists can undertake new and ground-breaking research outside the formal, institutionalised research structures.\n\nThe Literatures and Cultures of the Irish Sea\n\nSeries Editor’s Introduction from John Brannigan\n\nIrish Sea Studies’ is a term with some purchase in marine biology, archaeology, and ancient history, but might it have significance for the study of the literary and cultural interrelations between the constituent nations and regions of the British Isles? The archaeologist, V.G. Childe, once described the Irish Sea as ‘the natural centre of a province whose several parts it unites rather than divides’. This series hosts eight lectures by major scholars on literary and cultural transactions across the Irish Sea, and which focus on the Irish Sea as an ‘inner waterway’ of the British and Irish Isles. This has been the subject of considerable debate in recent literary scholarship, following John Kerrigan’s Archipelagic English (2008), and Christopher Harvie’s A Floating Commonwealth (2008), both of which proposed new ‘archipelagic’ and ‘coastal’ models for understanding the literatures of the isles. The lectures gather together, and make publicly available in downloadable audio and text formats, new work by major scholars who are currently researching maritime, coastal, and portal themes in the literatures and cultures around the Irish Sea.\n\n\n\nReconceiving the British Isles: The Literature of the Archipelago\n\nSeries Editor’s Introduction from John Brannigan \n\nThe growing strength of contemporary scholarship in Scottish, Irish and Welsh literatures in English in the twentieth century demands new critical histories of twentieth-century literature in the British Isles which reflect contemporary critical perspectives, and which avoid an Anglo-centric narrative. Such an archipelagic approach has been developed in recent decades in relation to seventeenth-century literature and history, but has rarely been attempted in relation to twentieth-century literature, the study of which has been dominated firstly by Anglo-centric narratives (in which Yeats and Joyce were seen as exemplary of metropolitan modernism, for instance), and later by national narratives (in which Yeats and Joyce were seen predominantly in relation to Irish national traditions). This series of lectures is designed to provide exemplary archipelagic narratives of twentieth-century literature, reflecting the post-devolutionary cultural contexts of the study of English in the British Isles, while remaining sensitive to what is distinctive about the linguistic, cultural and political histories of literature in each of the constituent parts of the archipelago.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7728310823440552}
+{"content": "Prototyping: A User’s Manual\n\nThis post first appeared on www.bolser.co.uk\n\nA digital designer’s toolset is constantly evolving. It sometimes feels as though there is a new time-saving, innovative software release every week. Many of the new releases fall flat, and others have the potential to become an essential part of a designer’s process, or even life. Prototyping tools — software which allows a designer to fabricate and imitate digital products such as apps and websites without code — are no different, most of the time.\n\nHere I discuss, compare and critique some of the different prototyping tools I’ve been lucky enough to work with and try out over the last two-or-so years. Some used in R&D projects, others in client work.\n\nI can’t code to save my life! This is something I want to change, but that’s the fact. Framer.js is a code based prototyping tool. It uses Coffee Script, a compiled version of JavaScript. Coffee Script is surprisingly easy to grasp, even for me. With the vast range of resources and tutorials available, from Framer themselves and various other sources, it’s easy to cobble together an interaction.\n\nAs far as I’m aware, it’s difficult to create a full app prototype, as you may as well just build it if you’re going to prototype it in any form of code. However, Framer.js is amazing for creating precise and accurate animations using code. Animations which can be interacted with as if they were created for real — if you can figure out the code!\n\nFramer also offers a viewer application for iOS, which opens up the possibility of user testing and presentations.\n\nIf you want to create a short screen sequence, and prototype it to an extremely high fidelity, and — more importantly — if you’re comfortable with code, Framer.js is the tool for you!\n\nPrinciple, for me, is the sweet spot. A lower fidelity of animation and interaction design than you might have in Framer.js, or in JavaScript, as you’re not controlling any elements with code. But, a much higher fidelity than apps like Invision of Marvel. You have the ability to control animations, timing and transitions to a relatively decent standard.\n\nI went from no prior Principle experience, to creating a massive prototype in a matter of days. It’s incredibly easy to get to grips with. You have the ability to sync your entire Sketch file with Principle or copy over elements directly using your clipboard. It’s pretty cool stuff! Great for supercharging your prototyping process.\n\nThe downside I found, is that Principle isn’t as up to date as it could be. Principle works with other applications such as Sketch, which often adds new features, features I take advantage of to supercharge my design process. Principle is yet to support some of these newer features, which often screws up direct Sketch imports. (An example of this would be using symbol overrides in Sketch, Principle reverts the overrides back to their default state).\n\nAdobe Experience Design\nFormerly known as XD, Adobe Experience Design is an all-in-one design and prototyping tool. Strictly speaking, this software still is in BETA. The software is still being built, and there are open channels to communicate to the software developers, so they can implement features that designers want and need in the future. Potentially, this software has the potential to be king.\n\nIn its current form, Adobe Experience Design is actually pretty slick, for what it is. In the past, I’ve used it to quickly throw together wireframes and link the screens together as a shareable prototype. XD did this really well, I was able to distribute the prototype for multiple testing rounds and get some really useful feedback. The prototyping feature is very smooth, with the ability to create links by dragging components and artboards together using magical blue lines.\n\nI was able to distribute the prototype for multiple testing rounds\n\nAs for design, XD’s tool set as it stands is slightly hit and miss. There are some great built-in features, features like the repeat grid function (the ability to duplicate content in a grid format). And the ability to drag images directly into masks from finder or windows explorer. But, on the other hand, XD feels like a stripped back version of Photoshop, having a limited set of design tools to utilise. You are limited to a set of basic shapes and lines, the pen tool and a text input. Not to mention the lack of guides!\n\nAs it stands, I use XD for wireframes and rapid prototyping. I wouldn’t use it to create any form of high fidelity design, I’ll stick to Sketch.\n\nInvision & Marvel\nIf your goal is speed, to quickly upload, link and distribute screens, InVision or Marvel might be for you. Both products are one and the same, almost identical in terms functionality. In our experience, we’ve found InVision invaluable to our process. Being able to push design changes to an existing InVision document at the click of a button has saved us some serious time.\n\nThese designs can then be distributed internally and to clients. Who then can either flick through the screens with their arrow keys or navigate their way through the entire document as a hot-spot prototype. The hotspots, for the most part, are quite basic, with a limited number of gestures at your disposal. (Tap, double tap, and swiping). All of which have to be performed over the required hotspot, otherwise the user will be taken to the next screen in the series, by default.\n\nPersonally, I would not recommend either for User Testing. Due to Invision’s ‘casual’ usability, a test participant could swipe through numerous screens accidentally, or even find themselves back in the dashboard view, disrupting the flow. (Which has actually happened in the middle of a testing round…)\n\nKite Compositor\nThe new kid on the block, Kite Compositor is a UI animation and prototyping application which might just be the rival for the long-standing Principle. Literally released days before writing this post, it is being praised by many designers.\n\nApart from a slightly different interface, it’s hard to distinguish Kite from Principle. In terms of functionality, there really isn’t any difference within the app itself, so I don’t need to go over the amazing in-app prototyping abilities I mentioned earlier.\n\nKite lacks a native mobile viewer app, an app which allows you to view your designs directly on a device. So you’re unable to use Kite for any form of mobile user testing, which is a big drawback. Kite becomes almost useless as a testing tool, rather just an interaction prototyping tool.\n\nNo application is flawless, there isn’t a prototyping tool which trumps all the others in the market.\n\nEach app has it’s own use case; for speed and topline prototyping without much fidelity. For example, consider Adobe Experience Design or the web applications Marvel or Invision. All of which offer rapid prototyping using hotspots and links, and can be quickly shoved into an app viewer for user testing or demos.\n\nIf you’re after some a little more robust, controlled animations and interactions, consider using Principle or Kite. The trade off for the higher fidelity is time. Depending on the size of the prototype, and the complexity of the animations, Kite and Principle can be very time-consuming. For user testing, I’d personally recommend Principle — mainly because Kite doesn’t offer a viewer app.\n\nFor detailed interactions, not an entire app or a section of an app, I’d suggest Framer.js, especially if you’re comfortable with code.\n\nLike what you read? Give Anthony White a round of applause.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8808019757270813}
+{"content": "Tag Archives: Teaching and Learning\n\nThe Great Paradox: Education in a Changing World (a reflection)\n\n\nEducation is in a constant state of change, yet it can also be stagnant. The system is both a product of its successes and failures. As global education systems evolve, we continue to grow the innovators of tomorrow while also recycling the sins of the past.\n\nEducation systems will only be as good as their worst champions, yet change and growth, no matter how slowly, still occurs. The cycle of constant change manifests itself in opposing ways. Early adopters embrace opportunities to try new strategies and reflect on innovative practice, while those who are sceptics of change set up camp in what has always worked for them, what they believe to be tried, tested and true. It is necessary for both of these to coexist. The early adopters keep us moving forward, while the campers slow us down and make us take pause, lest we make a hasty decisionhttp://philstubbsquotes.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/when-the-winds-of-change-blow.jpeg and move forward too quickly.\n\nAs educational theorists digest and publish the latest brain research, translate it into pedagogical learning theory and filter it down to the school or practice level, schools shift to keep up with the pace and demands of change; or, they throw their hands in the air and spin in a vicious circle, unsure of which way to go. The more we learn, the more choices we have. Choice can either motivate us or it can paralyse us.\n\nIn the midst of all this change and stagnation is the learner – the one constant, yet also the greatest variable of all. Without the learner, our purpose as educators would be lost. We do what we do for the learner. Yet, no two learners are exactly alike, and each learner is constantly going through his/her own change – physical, intellectual, social, cultural and emotional.\n\nThe Great Paradox of Education is both exciting and exhausting. Whether we acknowledge we are or not, all educators are agents of change. We respond to the changing nature of the learner and inevitably, as the learner changes in a changing world, the very nature of learning changes too. It is the learners we teach who grow up and enter the world and make their contribution through science, technology, creativity, innovation….the list goes on! These learners, knowingly or not, drive our change as the education system responds to what what they give back or take from the world we help to prepare them for. The noble calling of education is alive and well and I am so grateful to be able to exist in this ever shifting paradigm, navigating the waters of child development,  innovation, pedagogy, reflection…and change. How about you?\n\n\nPlaying With Time: Friend or Foe\n\nTime has a way of marching on in spite of us. In schools, the clock on the wall is either friend or foe. Time can propel us or it can paralyze us. I’ve had a life long love-hate relationship with time. I’ve tried to master it, manage it, conserve it, speed it up, slow it down…the list goes on. A wise mentor used to laugh at me and tell me that I needed to be more playful with time. Play with time? How can you play with something that is always moving, never still? While I couldn’t see it all those years ago, my mentor was right. You really can play with time. It’s in the very forward motion of time that the beauty of time playfulness lies.  At that point in time, he knew something I did not: time is only scarce if we think it is. I used to think of time as my enemy – it grinded me and wore me down as I constantly tried to battle and slay it. There was never enough time, and worse still, there was no way  for me to somehow get more of this fleeting trickster.\n\nIn my own inquiry into how to play with time, I discovered a great book by Elizabeth Saunders called, The Three Secrets of Time Investment. While this book is not written specifically for educators, and my motivation to read it was more personal than professional, I still found myself reading the book through my educator lens and thinking about how Saunders’ principles could be applied to teaching and learning. Saunders proposes that time should not be managed. Instead, she challenges the reader to look at time from an investment perspective. Ultimately, we can choose how we invest our time. Instead of spending time, we need to invest our time. When we look at time from a perspective of scarcity, we are in fact hoarding it. If we always think there will never be enough time, there never will be enough time. However, when we look at time from the perspective of abundance then, and only then, can we have a magical play date with time. Here are some of my key applications of Saunders’ time investment “secrets” to an educational setting:\n\n1. Accept the fact that time is finite. Every school day has a definitive beginning and end and there are only so many hours in a school day, and so many days in a school year. You can’t do it ALL. Face it and move on. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a learner, so why do we try to cram everything under the sun into a school day? The more time you spend on one discipline, activity, etc., the less time you can spend on\n\n― Elizabeth Saunders\n\nanother. A typical school day is approximately 6 hours long. Factor in recess breaks, lunch and transitions and there are about 4.5 hours of quality learning time in a day. How we play with that time is essential. You know you will see your students for a finite portion of their learning day so you have some choices to make about how that time should be invested. To play with time, focus first on the big picture before you start dialling it down to daily specifics. Think about all of the factors that might pull away your time…relational issues that need resolving after recess, assemblies, accidents, unexpected events like fire drills, absences, etc. Stuff happens in schools – there are a lot of variables that can’t be planned for or controlled. Leave room for these and focus on the time you DO have.\n\n2. Clarify priorities. Knowing your curriculum well is the first step to knowing how to prioritize learning time. If you aren’t sure where you are going, how can you decide where to make curricular time investments? Be realistic when you decide on your curricular priorities. Real is not always ideal, and as Saunders puts it, “reality always wins.” Educators tend to have a bent towards the ideal, and in doing so, we lose sight of what is real. Plan with reality in mind – who are your real students (not the ones you imagine)? How much time do you really have (not how much time do you wish you had )? What is really worth knowing and doing? Decide what is essential – less is more. When we put the less is more principle into practice we can make wise time investments that bring playful learning yields. We leave room for learners to have the time to play, explore and inquire. We model prioritization for our students – a pretty necessary skill in today’s fast paced, time challenged world.\n\n3. Habit Patterns Rule. Establishing routines and systems creates stability and security. When you feel stable and secure, fear is replaced by playfulness. One thing I’ve learned is that kids thrive on routines – not rigid routines, but consistent and predictable routines.  Predictability creates the space to for spontaneity. Spontaneity invites inquiry. Inquiry invites motivation. Motivation invites learning. Learning invites growth…  Habit patterns also enable us to make informed choices when setting priorities. (See #2) How often do we “fly by the seat of our pants” in the classroom? When there is a lack of routine, we lose sight of priorities, and we are right back in the trenches fighting the war against time.\n\nOur relationship with time has significant impacts on how we approach every aspect of teaching and learning, from deciding which learning outcomes will have the highest priority, to how much time learners will need to spend on a task or engage in a learning opportunity, to how much room there is for students to engage in inquiry and reflection. If we are hurried, our students will feel hurried. If we are weary, our students will feel weary. If we are playful, then our students will feel playful. How will you invest your time, so that the learners in your classroom will see the value of how they invest theirs?\n\nFor more information on the work of Elizabeth Saunders, visit http://www.reallifee.com/\n\nThe URGE to Inquire\n\n\n\nHow do learning architects create urgency within curriculum?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWeekly check in reflection.\n\nSome of our 2013 Central Ideas:\n\n\n\n\nPopulation growth is a global issue that impacts quality of life.\n\nThe increasing availability of weapons has significant and lasting consequences.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMoving from concepts or topics to deeper issues.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBig lessons from little learners\n\n“Children are learning about big ideas but they are also finding out about themselves and others in their community. ” (Jo Fahey, p. 27)\n\nI’ve been spending some time reading through Jo Fahey’s recently released book, Ways to Learn Through Inquiry: Guiding Children to Deeper Understanding and reflecting on inquiry in the early years. It’s reminded me that we have so much to learn from the littlest inquirers in our schools. They come at inquiry from a place if pure openness. They don’t worry about saying what they think as they explore; they just say whatever comes to mind as they construct meaning, sort out differences and confirm or discredit their assumptions about the world, themselves and each other. It was timely that I happened to be observing in an SK classroom very recently. What I saw and heard brought the pages of Fahey’s book to life for me.\nThe teacher had planned a preparing provocation to have learners connect with their new unit of inquiry exploring the concept of shelters. The learning engagement involved learners working in small groups to explore, sort and categorize a collection of images (depicting various types of shelters, homes and habitats). The criteria for the task was that each group needed to work as a team to agree on how to sort the images into groups and then name their groupings. Students quickly set off, pouring over the images. I was very curious to see what each group would decide and how they would go about getting there. As I wandered the room kid watching, I happened upon the following exchange, as a group of students began to sort their images as “structures” and “not structures”:\nA: This is not a structure. (Holds up a picture of a coral reef.)\nB: How do you know?\nA: Because no one put it there.\nB: Well then who put it there?\nA: I don’t know but it’s just there. No one built it.\nB: What about the tree? (Holds up image of a tree.)\nA: The bird did it.\nB: Birds don’t make trees.\nA: But they build in them.\n\nLater on in the lesson, students shared their sorting categories with each other and discussed why they chose to label them as they did. When the group including the two students who had the above exchange shared, their sort still included two categories: structures and not structures. As the students went on to define their categories they indicated that images were “not structures because no one decided what they would look like.” Those pictures included in the structures category were there “because they’re not built out of the same things. Someone put them there and people live in them and some are for animals.”\n\nThe dialogue between these students and the level of thinking amongst them was so rich with inquiry. By the end of the lesson the students had a theory and a definition to begin developing their inquiry into the concept from. They were already engaged in the process of attending to differences right from the onset of the inquiry as they sorted, classified and reached consensus.\nAfter reflecting on the lesson with the teacher afterwards, we both agreed that while the learners made some significant connections, they also had some misconceptions that could be further tended to through the inquiry process. While no direct question was asked of the teacher, several avenues for deeper inquiry were apparent and could be explored further:\n– the idea that a shelter is only a built structure\n– an inquiry into how coral reefs are made and how they do or do not provide shelter\n-man made shelters vs. natural shelters\n-shelters for people vs. shelters for animals\nThe possibilities could go on! And that’s the point. Providing constructs to facilitate inquiry leads to infinite possibilities for learning. The hardest part is getting out of the way and taking the time to learn from the learner – even the littlest learners!\n\n\nTaking the Time to Learn From Mistakes\n\nSo now I’m wondering:\n\n\n\n\n\nMy knitting project…to date!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5047571659088135}
+{"content": "10 Best Tex-Mex Restaurants in Phoenix: Where to Find Southwest-Inspired Eats\n\nTex-Mex is a popular regional cuisine known for its use of savory grilled meats, ground beef, and red and green chile. In Phoenix, where Sonoran-style Mexican food dominates, Tex-Mex treats such as fajitas and chile con carne still manage to fly off the menu as diners savor the slow-roasted flavors and zest of these traditional Southwestern dishes.\n\nOver at Sierra Bonita Grill, you won't find kitschy decor on the walls, but you will find often-delicious Southwestern cuisine that captures the spirit of cowboy cooking and Tex-Mex flavors.\n\nIf you're seeking the ultimate in Tex-Mex comfort food, head to Fajitas, a family-friendly restaurant known for its signature fajita platters. Dishes feature marinated strips of beef and grilled onions, served with a side of cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream. \n\nIf you're craving tamales, that other favorite Southwestern comfort food, The Tamale Store in north Phoenix offers freshly made, moist and irresistible tamales by the dozen, including their popular Tex-Mex tamale, made with ground beef and Monterrey jack cheese.\n\nTexAZ Grill is something of a local institution around these parts. This friendly, family-run restaurant has been bringing a taste of Texas to the Valley for more than 30 years. The menu is frequently updated with specials, but you can always...  Read More\n\nSometimes you need to add a little spice to your life, and this is the place to do just that. Featuring the flavors of New Mexico, Richardson's satisfies hungry mouths until late into the evening. Chiles rellenos, quesadillas and wood-fired...  Read More\n\nThis South Phoenix institution has been dishing out some of the best home-style Mexican food for decades. Don't be fooled by the humble exterior and lackluster dining area: the food is hot, tasty, and top-notch. Tacos, burros, flautas,...  Read More\n\nDishes prominently influenced by New Mexico traditions are the main feature of this establishment. Owners Paul Bigelow and Jose Leyva present Arizona locals with an inexpensive way to enjoy top-quality Southwestern fare. Most popular are...  Read More\n\nFajitas, those sizzling hotplates brimming with marinated meats and veggies (served with a side of cheddar cheese, pico de gallo and sour cream, of course), is the focal point at this north-central Phoenix restaurant. The restaurant uses an...  Read More\n\nThis central Phoenix bar and grill is named after the historic Sierra Bonita Ranch in Southeastern Arizona. The restaurant offers an authentic Southwestern culinary experience, dishing out menu favorites such as their house Cowboy Stew, made...  Read More\n\n\nHearty portions, fresh salsa, and creamy, cheese-topped beans are on the menu at Popo's Fiesta del Sol, a popular family-friendly Mexican restaurant on Phoenix's westside. Festive decor and a huge menu of Mexican staples make this a popular...  Read More\n\nThis award-winning restaurant specializes in everyone's favorite Mexican comfort food staple: tamales. Soft, moist and stuffed with delicious meats, veggies and cheeses, there are almost as many ways to make tamales as there is to enjoy them. At...  Read More\n\nOutside of town\n\nJust north of Phoenix in the quaint Western hamlet of Cave Creek, you'll find Tonto Bar & Grill, an award-winning restaurant specializing in authentic Southwestern cuisine. The Tonto frequently makes the list of the top restaurants in the...  Read More\n\n\nMeet Patricia Escarcega\n\n\nShe received her MFA in Creative...  More About Patricia", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9164549708366394}
+{"content": "First Person\n\nCommentary: Meaningful professional development\n\nJessica Cuthbertson is a literacy coach in Aurora Public Schools and an active member of the Denver New Millennium Initiative through the Center for Teaching Quality\n\nRecently, three dozen teachers from multiple states, including Colorado, convened in California for the winter meeting of the National Writing Project’s Literacy Design Collaborative, a professional learning initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.\n\nThe second cohort of the collaborative is currently engaged in a two-year commitment that involves shared professional learning tied to Common Core Standards and the prototyping and implementation of “modules.” Modules are teacher-created curriculum plans that span a two-to-four week period of instruction in secondary literacy and other content areas.\n\nThe weekend’s work serves as a powerful framework for professional learning at its best – an extended experience where teachers were recognized as professionals and actively engaged in the process of relevant and rigorous learning.\n\nEach teacher’s own district, school and classroom context was at the forefront of the work. An outsider looking in on these teachers might, at first glance, think that it was all about the modules themselves. Indeed, each teacher received at least an hour to present their work and receive feedback from their small group using a supportive protocol. But reducing the learning to just this task is akin to seeing exceptional classroom instruction as merely the result of a lesson plan.\n\nLearning, at both levels, is much more complex. Regardless of the topic or title, each teacher presented detailed plans for critical and provocative learning. Each teacher asked questions that were thoughtful and complex. Each teacher worked to ensure the students experience learning that will change the way they think as readers, writers, speakers or thinkers.\n\nShouldn’t every teacher walk away from a professional learning experience feeling this way? Rejuvenated and inspired to change elements of their practice to better support and accelerate student learning?\n\nThe answer seems obvious, but the reality is that professional development is too often about doing, not learning. The result of this is classroom instruction focused on activities or tasks instead of meaningful learning. Or, at its worst, professional development can result in confusion, remediation or denigration of the very professionals the learning is supposed to empower.\n\nSo what can professional developers at the school, district or state level learn from the National Writing Project’s LDC initiative? The following elements were key factors in the success of this professional learning experience:\n\n  • Time: Teachers had time to write, discuss, read, reflect and question. Every participant received the same amount of time to share and receive support specific to their work.\n  • Creativity: While each teacher is producing a module using a similar template and process, the content and context of each module is unique to the teacher and the students it will serve. Teachers were encouraged and supported to be creative and to think outside the box to ensure that their module was meeting the needs not just of a range of learners, but of their specific learners.\n  • Clear Commitments: Clear communication, organization and planning on the front end ensured that every teacher arrived prepared to share their work and left the weekend with clear commitments and next steps between now and the summer meeting. Teachers will carry out their work in unique and varied ways with their specific students, but understand the shared commitments and data they need to bring to move the work forward.\n  • Professionalism: While feedback and support was provided, each teacher was trusted as a professional to make the revisions that best suited the context where they work and the students they serve. Ongoing support for feedback will also be provided as teachers finalize and implement their modules. In every conversation, teachers were honored and respected as pedagogy and content experts, elevating the conversations and creating a community of camaraderie among the teachers.\n  • Can meaningful professional learning really be this simple?\n\n    Time, creativity, clear commitments and professionalism ensured every teacher learned and contributed to the conversation. Infusing these elements into our site-based and district level professional learning can shift professional development from something that is done to teachers, to something that is done by teachers.\n\n    First Person\n\n\n    PHOTO: Patrick Wall\n    Layla Gonzalez\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    First Person\n\n\n    PHOTO: Patrick Wall\n    Jennifer Palumbo\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n    They are like me but in a way backwards.\n\n\n\n\n    We can break through!\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.970181941986084}
+{"content": "The face is the first thing that people see when they look at us.  Every face is different, with its own personality and history.  Surgical or medical aesthetic facial procedures are often done to reduce a tired looking face, to brighten up the facial features and to improve people’s self-confidence.\n\n2 components must be considered and addressed:\n\nThe facial structural component\n\nThis involves the structure and the facial architecture.  With time, the facial structure changes: the face loses its fat, which allows the underlying skeleton to appear, giving it a wearily look.\n\nIn addition, between gravity and melting fat, the tissues tend to move down, changing the overall facial architecture.\n\nPlastic facial surgery will then reshape the facial architecture:\n\n  • Lifting to improve the facial contours\n  • Lipofilling to correct facial fat loss\n  • Blepharoplasty to treat dropping eyelids or under eye pockets\n  • Rhinoplasty to change the nose’s shape\n  • Otoplasty for ear shaping\n\nThe dermal component\n\nThis is the skin overlying the facial fat and bone structures.  This skin component can only be covered by specific aesthetic medicine. The goal is to improve the skin quality by correcting the skin imperfections and flaws.  Injections and resurfacing treatments are used to improve skin quality:\n\nFor optimal and natural results, it is necessary to conduct a thorough facial examination to completely analyze all the features and the possible results.\n\nNote that often, aesthetic technics can be used as complementary manners in order to assure the best possible results.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.951514720916748}
+{"content": "Helping Children Understand Social Shades Of Gray\n\nMy 9 year old son is constantly accusing others of being mean but I think it has more to do with how he defines the behavior of his peers. Help is appreciated!\n\nOne of the many challenges of growing up is contained within the sometimes mysterious world of peer culture: misunderstood meanings of social behavior. The emphasis on dichotomizing peer behavior as either good or bad, reinforced by the broad definitions of bullying, has planted the seeds for many children to label peers as either nice or mean. This sets the stage for personalization, avoidance, accusation, and other social traps that are the result of skewed perceptions. Difficulty understanding social shades of gray can be resolved when children learn how to consider that the vast majority of peer behavior is not nice or mean, but in-between.\n\nIf your child is often caught in the black and white blinders of peer perception read on for ways to help them appreciate the subtleties and shades of peer life.\n\nhelping-children-understand-social-shades-of-grayBegin by explaining the concept of interpersonal behavior as \"in-between.\" Draw upon examples in real life reflecting how people are often relating to one another on neither extreme of nice or mean, but within the shaded zone where present situations impact upon our behavior. Distinguish between the hurried hello when acknowledging a neighbor in a grocery store vs. the cheery greeting when patiently sharing stories at the bus stop. Explain how the same person acts very differently depending upon the situation due to reasons that are often times unknown to us. This tendency to \"show our shades\" to others has a lot to do with situations, such as being in a hurry or concerns over the presence of others.\n\nFurther educate children by posing the question, \"Is it nice, mean, or in-between?\" Graphically display this rubric with vertical lines on a paper laid on a horizontal plane. Show how the two margins, the \"nice\" and \"mean\" sections, occupy about 25% of the page while the center section takes up the remaining 50%. Use this visual aid to place some of the past peer encounters shared by your child, depicting them as circles that reflect one of the three behaviors, or perhaps overlap on one side or the other. Explain how these \"situation circles\" are important in understanding why peers behaved the way they did, even if all the reasons are not clear.\n\n\nOffer examples of the many reasons why children's behavior falls in-between, or why the same child may behave in the nice zone when they are over for a play date but in the in-between zone at recess or within a group activity at school. Discuss how the presence of others effects the way individual children behave due to the pressure they feel to conform to the \"group effect.\" Illustrate this effect by describing how the wish to gain popularity, appear \"cool\" to others, or follow the lead of an admired peer can strongly impact upon the way one child behaves within the group, regardless of the presence of a good friend. Suggest that this can explain why a friend acts so differently in different places.\n\nEncourage them to take a \"mental picture\" of the rubric to have available in their thoughts. Ask them to use the \"mental drawing\" to protect themselves from having their feelings easily hurt when friends act differently or when they are confused by peer events around them. Continue to discuss the in-between zone as circumstances emerge that validate this notion.\n\nDr. Steven Richfield is a child psychologist and author in Plymouth Meeting. Comtact him at 610-238-4450\n\nEd. note: Detailed information on parenting skills here.\n\n\nnext: Children with Asperger’s Syndrome Hurt by Asperger’s Stigma\n~ back to: Parenting Articles Table of Contents\n\nLast Updated: 28 March 2017\n\nReviewed by Harry Croft, MD\n\nRelated Articles\n\nFollow Us\n\nMental Health Newsletter", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8437291383743286}
+{"content": "Image: Probiotics for baby: Infants lacking in good gut bacteria are more susceptible to bad bacteria\n\n(Natural News) Infants who lack good gut bacteria are more susceptible to bad bacteria, according to a review of studies. The review, published in the journal mSphere, found that the lack of the good bacteria in infants caused changes in the pH level of their feces.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSupplementation of probiotics in infants\n\nAn earlier study, also funded by Evolve Biosystems, suggested that supplementation of a probiotic that contains a proprietary strain of B. infantis restored good bacteria, reduced bad bacteria, and lowered fecal pH in infants.\n\nIn this study, one-week old babies were given the proprietary EVC001 strain of B. infantis for three weeks. Results showed that even though the supplementation was completed, the bacteria remained in the gut of the infants for 30 more days. Moreover, the supplementation caused reductions in the fecal pH levels of the infants and decreased the numbers of harmful Proteobacteria, which is a marker of dysbiosis (microbial imbalance). When compared to the control group, the supplemented infants had four times lower endotoxin levels and higher levels of lactate and acetate.\n\nFurthermore, the supplemented infants had lower levels of fecal milk oligosaccharides, which indicated higher consumption of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) by the probiotic B. infantis. This finding supports previous evidence that B. infantis works with HMO in breast milk to help produce a beneficial microbiome in infants.\n\n“It’s able to use the sugar molecules in mom’s milk better than any other gut microbiome, including commensal and pathogenic bugs,” said Mark Underwood, lead researcher of the study.\n\nRead more news stories and studies on health and wellness by going to\n\nSources include: 1 2\n\nJoin the Health Ranger's FREE email newsletter\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5888617038726807}
+{"content": "Potential role of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in bladder cancer cells\n\n\nTransient receptor potential (TRP) channels play important roles in thermal, chemical, and mechanical sensation in various tissues. In this study, we investigated the differences in urothelial TRP channels between normal urothelial cells and bladder cancer cells. TRPV2 and TRPM7 expression levels and TRPV2 activator-induced intracellular Ca2+ increases were… (More)\nDOI: 10.1007/s12576-014-0319-6\n\n4 Figures and Tables\n\n\n\nCitations per Year\n\nCitation Velocity: 7\n\nAveraging 7 citations per year over the last 3 years.\n\nLearn more about how we calculate this metric in our FAQ.\n  • Presentations referencing similar topics", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000016689300537}
+{"content": "Greek Civil War\n\nAshley Singer & Kate Chang\n\nThe Greek Civil war can be deemed a civil war because people from the same unified nation divide and fight against each other. Greece is divided into two sides; communists, those set on Greece having a communist government, and royalists, those who supported the Greek monarchy at the time. The two different opinions on government led to violence and bloodshed, a civil war.\n\nPrecursor Events\n\nWorld War II\n\nGerman troops occupied and controlled parts of the country. Greece held a main-line railway ran north from the Peloponnesus through Athens to Thessalonica, after which it branched to former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey. This rail line was an important means of supply for German forces in Crete and even North Africa during WWII. 550,000 Greeks were killed; the country lost “one in 14” of its population, compared to “1/77” in France and “1/125” in Britain. More than a third of the national wealth and over 400,000 homes were destroyed, as well as over half of the national roads system, 73% of the commercial navy, 66% of trucks, and 60% of large farm animals, and a large part of agricultural crops. Unemployment in the cities stood at 50% and inflation was rampant. It was estimated that Greece would need $3,172 million to reconstruct. Thus, Greece emerged from WWII in complete economic, social, and political disarray.\n\nPolitical Tension\n\nPolitics played a main role in the relationship between the ELAS and EDES very early, and was precursor of what was to follow. Even if ELAS tended to be somewhat independent, preferring to defeat the Germans first and talk about politics later, a bitter confrontation developed between the EAM and EDES. Of course, with the time the Communists made sure that ELAS toed the party line more closely.\n\nCommunist Take over\n\nPreviously, the Greek government was controlled by Dictator Ioannis Metaxas who ruled Greece from 1936 until his death in 1941. After his death, Greece is left powerless. Greece establishes a monarchy with King George II. He is, by implication, overthrown in a communist uprising in 1944.\n\nWhite Terror\n\nOccurred during 1945 - 1946; the persecution of EAM-ELAS members prior to the civil war. Organization X, a right-wing force, unleashed a terrorist campaign not only against the communists, but also against communist sympathizers, socialists, and centrists. 84,931 leftists and centrists were arrested, 31,632 were subjected to physical torture and 1,299 were executed. A British Parliamentary investigating team warned that “Greece is rapidly becoming a fascist state.”\n\n\nThe Greek civil war was fought over communism and power whereas the U.S. civil war was fought over slavery and states’ rights. A communist group in Greece breaks away to form a new government that, by implication, disowned the Greek King George II and his government. Royalists, those who are loyal to Greece and against communism fight back to preserve the monarchy.\n\n\nThe Government of Greece (Royalists)\nSupported by: Great Britain, United States\n\nEDES - National Republican Greek League (Led by Nikolaos Plastiras & Napoleon Zervas)\nEKKA - National and Social Liberation\n\nEOEA - National Groups of Greek Guerrillas\nX - Organization X (commanded by Col. George Grivas) Waged a war of terror and counter-terror against the EAM and ELAS and their sympathisers\n\nThe Democratic Army of Greece (Communists)\n\nSupported by: Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania\n\nKKE - Communist Party of Greece (Led By George Siantos)\n\nEAM - National Liberation Front\n\nELAS - National People’s Liberation Army (Led by commander Stephanos Saraphis)\n\n  • DSE - Democratic Army of Greece (EAM/ELAS)\n\n  • Renamed themselves in December 1946 and were completely controlled by the KKE\n\nNOF - Pro-Yugoslav organization that sided with the EAM\n\nArms and Army\n\nNeither side had a huge advantage but the Non-communists were supported by the greater military powers in the world, the British and the United States. The communists were also supported by other nations (but not as powerful) Yugoslavia, Albania, and Bulgaria. However, the communists built their headquarters in the mountains, making it harder for the royalists to try and take the communist capital.\n\n\nBig image\n\nResources and Technology\n\nThe communist side of the Greek Civil war controlled local resources. They had help from neighboring countries close by. The royalists’ allies were in northern Europe and halfway around the world. It took longer and it was more difficult for the royalists to receive resources from the aiding countries. However, the royalists had more men since they were supplied by the two greatest military powers in the world. Even backed with three nations, the communist would not have the greater amount resources.\n\nThe U.S. and Great Britain had aircraft, which were fairly new at the time, and other forms of transportation they could provide for the royalists. However, the communists strategically placed their headquarters in the mountains where vehicles would have trouble reaching. The communists used defensive technology by barricading themselves and using their uphill advantage to fight off any invaders.\n\n\nCommunist Alliances: Albania, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria\n\nNon-communist Alliances: Great Britain, United States\n\n  • The United State’s involvement included military affairs as well as economic aid. The United States began its involvement in order to address the overwhelming destruction of the war. In 1945, UNRRA, an international agency dominated by the U.S., began a mission in Greece and that “paved the way for the Truman doctrine.”\n\n  • From the end of WWII to the outbreak of civil war in 1946, Greece was run by a slew of British backed Service Governments. The first major internal crisis occurred in December 1944 when British General Scobie decided to disband EDES and ELAS, causing an uprising. The Varkiza Agreement was signed between the Service Government and EAM-ELAS in January 1945, after which ELAS honored the deal to surrender arms to the state authorities. Civil war was temporarily averted, however, political life remained in complete disorder.\n\n  • For the first time, during the elections of 1946, the government of the USA was directly involved in Greek affairs alongside Britain. Also in 1946, the U.S. began to transition from a focus on primarily economic aid to a military and political strategy\n\n  • In February of 1947 by Britain had the intention of “pulling out” 40,000 troops from Greece, as well as other troops in Turkey\n\n  • The most important cause of the shift in U.S. policy was a belief that the Soviet Union might be interested in pushing not only west, but most alarmingly in threatening the stability of the Northern Tier – Iran, Turkey and Greece. Domino theory: stopping communism in Greece, which was seen as a “buffer zone” protecting the Middle East, was essential in preventing the fall of the entire region of the Northern Tier to Soviet influence\n\n\nThe communist society was taken aback for the GCW was one of the first conflicts of the Cold War: Greece was the only place in Central, Balkan and Eastern Europe where communism attempted, but failed, to take power. The GCW potentially started a new conflict. The civil war left Greece in a greater economic crisis than the country suffered as a result of the German occupation. Of a population not much greater than seven million, well over 100,000, possibly close to 150,000, perished in the civil war. One million became homeless and 28,000 children “disappeared” (to become ardent communist fighters or taken abroad for their own safety).\n\n\nThis graph shows you the number of Greek deaths from World War II to the end of the Greek Civil War. By the end of World War II, Greece was already left economically unstable. To further their instability they fight a civil war and increase the damage left behind. The Civil War did not benefit their economy but made it worse. With an original estimated population of 7 million people, about 700,000 dead.\n\nThe Arts", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5840951800346375}
+{"content": "As mentioned on the Neurology & Physiology page of this website, there is a vast range of possible swallowing deficits that can arise following a stroke. Furthermore, it has been shown that post-stroke dysphagia can occur in any stage of the swallowing process (Groher and Crary, 2010). For the purposes of this section, specific reference is not made to the various types of incoordination and impairment that can occur throughout the anatomical components of the swallow post-stroke. Rather, the assessment section focuses on the reported fact that patients with bilateral hemispheric stroke are twice as likely to aspirate than patients with unilateral stroke (Horner, Massey, and Brazer, 1990). Accordingly, this section discusses clinical and instrumental assessments in relation to detection of aspiration.\nThe high risk of aspiration in patients with bilateral hemispheric stroke requires a rigorous and methodical assessment that is both holistic and considerate of the patient's condition and background. This section of the website discusses:\n\nAs this website is focused on patients with bilateral hemispheric stroke within the acute phase of hospital care, it is possible that due to the patient's overall condition, an instrumental assessment may not be possible within the first week post-stroke. This does not reduce the importance of instrumental assessment - while the clinical assessment is upheld as a means of gathering valuable information about the patient's swallow and non-penetrative dysphagia, the instrumental assessment is highly regarded in terms of its accuracy in identifying aspiration. Furthermore, instrumental assessment allows the clinician to visualise the coordination and structure of certain swallowing anatomy, while the clinical assessment only allows the SLT to infer its integrity.\nOngoing assessment is also an important consideration as stroke patients' dysphagia can improve over time (Daniels and Huckabee, 2008). Post-acute reassessment allows the clinician to ensure that dysphagia intervention is effective and appropriate (Heckert, Komaroff and Barrett, 2009).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9673066139221191}
+{"content": "Photography Is So Easy With These Great Tips\n\n\nTry out new ideas, and don’t shy away from taking original photos. A creative picture should showcase your own style and allow viewers to see the world in a certain way. Try to stay away from taking pictures that are described as ‘classic’. You can create great photos by using different angles and adding your creative touch.\n\nFraming the subject in a photo is very important. Get rid of distracting elements by zooming into your focal point. This prevents clutter in your pictures, and multiple unwanted, unsightly focal points.\n\n\nIf you’re on a trip, it’s best to start capturing photos the moment you leave. You should keep your eyes peeled for interesting photos to take during your trip, no matter how photogenic you are expecting your destination to be. Document your travel. For example, there are many interesting things about an airport that makes it perfect for picture taking.\n\n\nPre-focus your camera before moving slightly, so your subject isn’t centered in the frame. Centering is generally expected and not that interesting in a photo. Take interesting pictures by making the subject off center.\n\nMake your subject feel comfortable, especially if you don’t know them. Many people see photographers as a possible threat. Have a nice chat and make them feel comfortable with you, and then ask if it’s okay to photograph them. It’s up to you to help them understand they’re taking part in your art, and you’re not not trying to invade their privacy.\n\nThough there are techniques that can help you be a better photographer, they are not secrets and can be learned easily. Do not stop taking pictures. With each image that you capture, you gain experience. You don’t need to feel you have to preserve every photo you take, especially with digital cameras being so prolific. You want to constantly experiment with new subjects and techniques, then judge and compare the results to see what worked best.\n\n\nSetting deliberate limitations can spark your creativity. One way is to limit your shots for a whole day to subjects that express a single idea. Focus your shooting to one spot or room and shoot 100 varied photographs. These strict limits will force you to try new ideas and think creatively.\n\nAt one time or another, your picture results might have disappointed you. If you take the time and apply what you have learned from this article, you should never encounter that problem again. Use our tools and your pictures will be ones that you are proud of, displaying gorgeous memories to last more than a lifetime.\n\nProfessional Picture Tips And Tricks You Must Know\n\nIn the world of photography, good photos are ones that craftily showcase the subject matter. There are a number of tips professional photographers use. You will be able to take better pictures and have a better reputation as a photographer. Use these tips, and you’ll be able to create high-quality photos.\n\n\nIf your goal is to produce professional looking photos, you will have a much easier time if you purchase a professional-level camera. Think about getting a DSLR camera so you can take great pictures at an affordable price. Successful photographers pay close attention to the type and quality of the equipment they purchase, so it would behoove you to do the same.\n\n\nWhen taking pictures of people, make sure that the background is slightly blurred. Having your background in full focus is bad; it will take away the focus from your subject. An easy way to do this is to make sure that there is a larger distance between the subject and the background.\n\nUse your camera to capture every detail of your travels. Once you get home you will appreciate all the photos you have taken and relive the journey in your mind. Think about taking pictures of stores, coins, bus tickets or street signs for example.\n\nEven if you don’t know your models, make sure they feel comfortable. Someone taking pictures can easily appear to pose a potential threat. Help your model to relax by keeping a friendly atmosphere, and the mood upbeat. Also, seek their permission before you start taking their picture. Help them understand that this is art, and not just a method of invading their privacy.\n\nWhite is the worst color to be wearing in photographs, despite popular opinion to the contrary. Modern cameras are equipped with auto-focus. When the camera tries to auto-focus it looks at all the different shades of color in the field. White clothing usually looks washed out in these pictures.\n\n\nYour Source Of Solid Ideas About Photography Can Be Found Below\n\nPhotography needs a good amount of training, as well as natural talent. This is not saying that you have to be born to be a photographer, just that you will need to keep an open mind and learn many different techniques until you find what works for you.\n\n\nCreating photographs that stand up to the pros will require that you invest in a camera that has professional features. Think about getting a DSLR camera so you can take great pictures at an affordable price. The best photographers utilize these cameras and so must you.\n\nWhen photographing landscapes, create a sense of depth. Put a person in the foreground to get the sense of scale of the surroundings. Setting a small aperture, no greater than f/8 with most consumer digital cameras or f/16 with a full-frame SLR, will provide sharpness to both the foreground and background.\n\n\nWhen going on a trip, start shooting photos the instant you depart. Once you arrive you may find plenty of times to take pictures, but photograph the journey too. Instead of only waiting until you reach your desired location, document your trip there. For example, an airport presents lots of engaging subjects for your photographs.\n\nYou are allowed to move around the subject to find an interesting shot. Experiment with taking a picture above and below your subject, as well as moving off to the side.\n\nUse careful consideration when choosing the subject of your photograph. It doesn’t matter how skilled you are, or how great your equipment is, you need a great subject to photograph. Think about it for a bit then carefully choose objects that naturally inspire you. You can also look for someone to model and pose for you.\n\n\n\n\nBy now you realize that you can become a great photographer and enjoy a great career that you won’t find in other fields. Taking pictures is more than just pointing and clicking a camera, Photography is about taking the scenic beauty that is present all around and immortalizing it forever.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6047221422195435}
+{"content": "GAD 2297 - Graphic Art & Design Portfolio\n\nThe course focuses on helping students create an effective professional design portfolio and presentation of their work. Students will gain the opportunity to learn that the quality and personal style of a designer’s portfolio is crucial in starting out in the design industry. The entire creative audience will be addressed. Students will be guided through the essential steps in creating a portfolio that reflects their personal style, an often-overlooked aspect that employers cite as essential information. Coverage includes a unique plan for defining a student’s own “brand” or “image,” with practical suggestions for translating that personal vision into a cohesive “marketing program” that gets results. Based on a student's specific goals, emphasis will be placed on methods of effectively presenting his/her works.\n\nIAI Codes - Illinois Articulation Initiative (If applicable)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999789595603943}
+{"content": "Dodes'ka-den (1970)\n\n\nAfter Red Beard Kurosawa was offered the chance to direct the Japanese half of the 20th Century Fox produced World War II epic Tora! Tora! Tora!.\n\nAfter fears of Kurosawa going over budget and the filming schedule going too long, 20th Century Fox fired the director. Rumors of Kurosawa's mental stability were also cited as a reason for 20th Century Fox's decision to fire him.\n\nAfter the drama of Tora! Tora! Tora!'s production, Kurosawa set out to re-invent himself in a way. The one hurtle that he needed to overcome was financial in nature.\n\nTurning to fellow veteran Japanese directors Kon Ichikawa, Masaki Kobayashi and Keisuke Kinoshita, Kurosawa formed the production company called the Club of the Four Knights.\n\nDodes'ka-den would be the first and only film they would produce.\n\nThe production of Dodes'ka-den stands out for several reasons. Not only was it the first time Kurosawa utilized color film, but it was also his first film with a whole new group of actors.\n\nKurosawa also defied expectations and finished the film before schedule.\n\nThe film, however, was not a success. What followed was undoubtedly the darkest period of Kurosawa's life.\n\n\nOf Kurosawa's films, Dodes'ka-den is probably the one most devoid of a traditional plot. The film is merely a few days in the lives of the inhabitants of a Japanese junkyard town.\n\nRokuchan, a mentally challenged boy, dreams of driving the local trolley. He plasters drawings he's made onto the walls of his home and rides his imaginary trolley into the main junkyard area chanting \"Dodes'ka-den, Dodes'ka-den\" (Clickety-clack).\n\nThere we meet a colorful cast of characters, literally. In the center of the town there are the gossiping women. On either side of them is a couple, content on living however they please, even if it means swapping husbands.\n\nIn a beat-up car a man and his son imagine their dream home.\n\nAn old man offers life lessons to those in need.\n\nA bureaucrat with a nervous tic lives with his overbearing wife.\n\nA young girl lives with her abusive uncle, toiling away working for two while her aunt is in the hospital and her uncle drinks all day.\n\nAll of these stories combine to present a sad, infuriating and sometimes even humorous picture of what life is like for the forgotten and poor people living in Japan.\n\n\nDodes'ka-den is certainly a departure from the usual Kurosawa film. The Kurosawa film it most resembles would be The Lower Depths. Dodes'ka-den, like The Lower Depths, is a film that is far more concerned with characters than a standard plot.\n\nOne might say nothing really happens in Dodes'ka-den. Indeed, we leave the characters seeing them much the same way as when we met them. Despite a couple tragic deaths, the film is merely a window into a few days in the lives of a junkyard town.\n\nKurosawa's films prior to Dodes'ka-den are rich in characterization. The characters leap off the screen and the actors who portray them often seem to become their characters by the end of the film.\n\nIn Dodes'ka-den this feeling is not so easily had. The audience is generally asked to sympathize and relate to the characters in most films, especially those of Kurosawa. We go with Watanabe as he deals with his cancer in Ikiru, we travel with two lowly peasants in The Hidden Fortress, and we seek revenge with Nishi in The Bad Sleep Well.\n\nThe issue with Dodes'ka-den is that Kurosawa tries to do too much. He spends so little time with each character that as soon as we begin to relate to one he jumps to the next.\n\nEach character has their own story to tell. And despite the film's 140 minute run-time, we are treated to mere snippets of their lives.\n\nThis is but one flaw in an otherwise refreshingly new Kurosawa film.\n\nIf one expected to see some trepidation from Kurosawa's first venture into color film, Dodes'ka-den may come as a shock. The director dives into the colors as any natural painter like Kurosawa would.\n\nThe film is flooded with bright yellows, reds and blues. Kurosawa displays these colors in the bleakest of worlds.\n\nEqually as impressive as his ability to adapt to shooting in color is the way in which he uses color itself to enhance the story.\n\nThe best example of this comes with the story of the man and his son thinking about their dream home.\n\nThey dream of a home with vibrant colors. As they speak of the images they want to create Kurosawa cuts to a model of their creation. Showing what characters are thinking about in their minds is a new technique from Kurosawa but it works remarkably well to put the audience in the place of the characters on screen.\n\nAs the film goes on the physical condition of the man and his son begins to deteriorate. At the end of the film their health is so bad that the two look like they are completely devoid of color. With their faces now the color of ash, Kurosawa is showing us the link between color and the human soul.\n\nThe most heartbreaking scene in the film occurs when the man's boy dies. In one final dream, the man grants his sons wish by creating a large swimming pool in his mind. Kurosawa zooms-out quickly and in an almost seamless transition the junkyard is transformed into a bright, colorful swimming pool.\n\nAnother strong example of meaning in Kurosawa's use of color occurs when Katsuko, the girl who works for her uncle, is lying on a bed of colorful flowers which she has made. It is a stunning portrait of innocence. The sense of vulnerability is also heightened by the high angle shot.\n\nThe innocence is soon destroyed when her drunk uncle comes in and rapes her. The imagery earlier in the scene makes the act that much more heinous.\n\nThe final scene contains one more flourish of color from Kurosawa. The camera pans around Rokuchan's home which is laden with drawings of trolleys. Kurosawa backlights the drawings so their colors come out through the glass.\n\nDespite their living conditions he shows us that dreams are still alive and important.\n\nKurosawa often contrasts the colorful with the drab and gray. When characters are at their low points he will place them in a backdrop of gray.\n\nThough he would work with color in all of his later films, it is with Dodes'ka-den that he utilizes the power of color to its fullest.\n\nIn The Lower Depths, the characters are keenly aware of their situation in life. They know they are the forgotten people and have little or no hope of ever getting out of their particular socio-economic status.\n\nThe characters in Dodes'ka-den are the same way. They get by the same way the characters in the earlier film do. Some drink, some laugh and others simply do nothing but waste away.\n\nThere is indeed a lot of humor in Dodes'ka-den. The man's nervous tic seems like something out of a Chaplin film and when the old man assists a burglar by giving him money, the humor in the otherwise tragic situation is brought out.\n\nMost of the film is, however, quite depressing. The man who dreams up his house laments to his son about how the Japanese people used to be. One can't help but feel that Kurosawa himself is speaking through this man. He himself must have felt the same way and would probably often escape into dreams himself, a subject he would later explore in his semi-autobiographical film Dreams.\n\nAs in The Idiot, Kurosawa holds a strong amount of sympathy for the mentally challenged. Rokuchan, like Kameda, is a victim of the society in which he lives.\n\nRokuchan is arguably given the more sympathetic ending in Dodes'ka-den. He still has his dreams.\n\nWith Rokuchan Kurosawa employs another technique to get the audience to feel what he feels. When Rokuchan is operating his imaginary trolley, Kurosawa inserts into the soundtrack the sounds a real trolley would make.\n\nAgain, the effect works extremely well. The sound effects for the imaginary trolley and the images of the man's dreams of his home are really the only two examples of Kurosawa bringing the audience into the minds of the characters.\n\nIt comes as no surprise that these characters are really the only ones that a strong connection is felt with. And because their screen time is so limited, the other characters in the film seem to be merely fillers in an otherwise tragic and interesting story.\n\nApart from the color photography the camerawork is not so different from his previous films. The one major difference is the inclusion of the zoom lens, something never before seen in a Kurosawa film.\n\nThe camera explores more space than the previous theater-like Lower Depths, but in each house Kurosawa seldom moves the camera in favor of showcasing the acting.\n\nDespite its lack of a strong plot or action, the characters in Dodes'ka-den are its most endearing quality. Although it is not Kurosawa's strongest work, it is still an excellent example of how the director worked with characterization.\n\nThese characters, like those of his other films, seem incredibly real. Because of the verisimilitude in the film, the tragic message does get through.\n\nLife goes on, Kurosawa tells us, but even in lives like these people still have their dreams.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5972805023193359}
+{"content": "USC News\n\nMenu Search\n\nBlack Holes: Eternal Prisons No More\n\nBlack Holes: Eternal Prisons No More\nThe famed physicist spoke to a packed house at Bovard Auditorium.\n\nCelebrated physicist Stephen Hawking delivered an inspiring speech to a full house at Bovard Auditorium on March 10.\n\n\nWarner said that Hawking has contributed greatly to popularizing science with his book A Brief History of Time, which sold 10 million copies and focused on black holes and the big bang theory. With a lifetime spent studying cosmology and black holes, Hawking’s scientific prowess also has played a part in prime-time shows such as Futurama and The Simpsons.\n\n\nHawking’s lecture focused on black holes, a term coined by American physicist John Wheeler. Hawking discussed the history of black holes, which began in 1783 with British physicist John Michell, who suggested that there might be “dark stars” whose gravity is strong enough to trap light and prevent the star from being seen from far away.\n\nAmericans Albert Michelson and Edward Morley proved that the speed of light is invariant and does not depend on where it comes from. Therefore, Michell’s notion of a dark star is not entirely correct. Next, Albert Einstein weighed in with his theory of relativity where space and time are no longer independent entities but rather different directions in a four-dimensional space-time.\n\n\nFrom outside a black hole, you cannot tell what is inside. Hawking humorously noted that one can throw television sets, diamond rings or your worst enemy into a black hole. All the hole remembers is the total mass and the state of rotation.\n\n\n\nHawking outlined how black holes seem to conflict with one of the fundamental ideas of science, namely determinism. That is, given enough detail about the state of the universe at present, one can predict the future and reconstruct the past. The fact that black holes can absorb matter and then emit something completely different means that black holes appear to undermine determinism. However, Hawking believes he has found a resolution in the ideas of Richard Feynman, who believes that quantum theory involves looking at all possible alternative histories.\n\nThis perspective also supports the idea that if you fall into a black hole, you may come out in another universe. If there is a large hole and if it is rotating, you may pass through it and into another universe. As a result, you would not come back to this universe.\n\nWarner and his colleagues selected questions from students to ask Hawking following his talk. One question posed: “Stephen, why are you so cool?”\n\nBlack Holes: Eternal Prisons No More\n\nTop stories on USC News", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7525756359100342}
+{"content": "There are two ways of visiting the CIVIMA Museum:\n\na) Unguided visit: no previous booking required. The Museum can be visited within its opening hours, buying an entrance ticket.\n\nb) Guided tour: Previous booking required\n\nThe CIVIMA Museum (Centro de Interpretación Viñas de Manilva) has the following exhibitions rooms:\n\nAudiovisual room: Screening of a documentary about the Project and Manilva town.\n\nViticulture room: Space dedicated to the description, through images and items, of the history of viticulture in Manilva, the different vines, morphology of the plant, traditional labors and equipment used.\n\nOenology room: Exhibition space dedicated to explaining how we produce wine, comparing the difference between traditional and modern systems.\n\nGrape harvest room and Grape harvest celebrations: We can view the traditional cane \"sombrajo\", the place where the grapes where processed before taking them to the market. Photographs of different times relating to the celebrations and traditions of the viticulture. Description and use of the raisin dryers, to produce raisins and grapes for the production of sweet wines.\n\nCIVIMA has a room dedicated to temporary cultural exhibitions, where local artists can exhibit their paintings, photographs, ceramic, arts & crafts works or any other cultural activity. It also holds well-known itinerant exhibitions.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5417029857635498}
+{"content": "\n\nMatthew Weier O'Phinney:\nOn Deprecating ServiceLocatorAware\nApr 27, 2016 @ 11:16:51\n\nIn this post to his site Matthew Weier O'Phinney talks about a change in the Zend Framework ZendMVC package to deprecate the ServiceLocatorAware interface and some of the unexpected backlash of it.\n\n\n\nHe shares some of the \"constructive\" feedback they received when they made the change, most importantly asking for a justification for the change. He then goes through their thinking behind the change, some of its original intent and how it allowed for \"dependency hiding\" in its use. He gets into some detailed code examples for this last point, some of the errors that could happen as a result and other issues (like no type safety and the brittleness of using a service locator).\n\ntagged: deprecation servicelocatoraware interface zendframework zendframework3\n\nLink: https://mwop.net/blog/2016-04-26-on-locators.html", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8506802320480347}
+{"content": "Shere Khan is one of the many versions of the eponymous character in the short story collection, The Jungle Book, written by the late Rudyard Kipling, and the main antagonist of the anime series Jungle Book Shonen Mowgli, and is quite faithful and authoritative to the literary version, except for some minor differences. \n\nHe is a recalcitrant and dangerous tiger who violates many laws of the Jungle, including eating humans and cows and over-hunting. He has to his service hyenas and monkeys (and his right arm is the most trusted hyena Tabaqui) and is also the one who pushed the path of the evil Grizzle, a wolf once part of the Seeonee Wolf Pack. \n\nHe also appears as the boss of Alba.\n\n\nShere Khan is also fearless and indomitable of most things, except that he is a pyrophobe (or one who fears fire), he is frightened by guns and he withdraws when it comes to an elephant named Hathi.\n\nHis loathing for humans is part of a history that goes back to his first ancestor's encounter with one. The injury on his right, hind leg is dealt by Alexander in a fight.\n\nLater, other injuries he would receive include: A piercing being made in his forehead after Mowgli attacks him with a long, narrow, sharp-edged rock; the wound over his left eye being made. Again by Mowgli, slashing it with a blade in requital for slashing Mowgli's left thigh and harming one of his new human friends/future family members, leaving the tiger disfigured.\n\nIn the last showdown, Mowgli defeats and slays Shere Khan by stabbing him in one of his sides. \n\n\n\n           The Jungle Book Villains\n\n\nThe Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo: Buldeo\nThe Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story: Shere Khan | Tabaqui\n\nJungle Cubs: Cain | Mahra | Arthur & Cecil | Dholes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5102423429489136}
+{"content": "Warriors G Curry gets vote from dad's replacement\n\nCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Dell Curry may not have been able to vote for his son as the NBA's rookie of the year, but his replacement did.\n\nCurry, the Charlotte Bobcats TV analyst, had his vote revoked by the NBA because his son, Stephen of the Golden State Warriors, is considered a front-runner for the award along with Tyreke Evans of Sacramento.\n\nThe elder Curry said he turned in his ballot Tuesday with his son as rookie of the year. After the vote was voided, the ballot was transferred to Bobcats radio play-by-play announcer Scott Lauer. He said on Wednesday he voted for Curry.\n\nDell Curry claimed his choice wasn't simply based on family. Stephen Curry is averaging 17.2 points, second for rookies Evans' 20.1. Curry leads all rookies with 5.9 assists.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7874605655670166}
+{"content": "Edith Varian Cockroft, American (1881 - 1962)\n\nA painter in the modernist styles of her era, Edith Cockcroft was heavily influenced by Henri Matisse with whom she studied in Paris in 1898. She was born in Brooklyn to wealthy parents and lived in Allendale, New Jersey.\n\nIn 1898, she went to France where she spent much time in the art colonies of Pont Aven and Concarneau. She exhibited in Paris at the Salon de la Society Nationale des Beaux Arts and the Salon d'Automme. \"There is probably no truth to the often repeated story that she was a mistress to Paul Gaughin for, by 1898, he had traveled to the South Seas for the last time.\"\n\n\nShe married as a teen ager and lived with her husband in New York City and then in Sloatsburg, New York. Her husband, Charles Weyand, was a stock broker who lost much money during the Depression, so she supported them with the making of pottery, jewelry and with fabric designs.\n\n\nArtist's Gallery\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7839021682739258}
+{"content": "“There are so many reasons why we can’t be, indeed, we’re not sure why we should be. We don’t know why we should be artists, but we have many reasons why we can’t be. Why do people instantly resist the idea of associating themselves with art? Perhaps you think art is for the greatly gifted or for the thoroughly and professionally trained. And some of you may think you’ve strayed too far from art. Well you might have, but I don’t think so. This is the theme of my talk today. We are all born artists.”\n\nIn the following Tedx Talk, celebrated Korean auther Young-ha Kim  invokes the world’s greatest artists to urge you to unleash your inner child — the artist who wanted to play forever. He asks, “why do we ever stop playing and creating?” In this playful speech he reminds us the importance of fighting the resistance and the inner voices that emerge when one is engaging in artistic work, as well as the importance of play and fun when being creative. Most importantly he states that the time to start is now!\n\n\n\n“What should we do now?Let’s be artists, right now. Right away. How? Just do it!”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9855846762657166}
+{"content": "\n\n\n\n\n\nCrateDB Combines SQL-based Queries And Extreme Scalability For Machine Data Analytics today announces the general availability of CrateDB, an open source SQL-database platform that specializes in storing and analyzing machine data and related applications. CrateDB features a distributed SQL query engine that empowers users to run complex queries in real-time without the diminution of performance specific to “first generation SQL databases”, as noted in a press release. The platform also boasts columnar field caches and enhanced versatility with respect to SQL-based queries on machine data. For example, CrateDB delivers the capability to create outer joins as well as run queries on structured and unstructured data, perform time series analysis and leverage advanced database search functionality. In addition, CrateDB features extreme scalability marked by automated sharding and data redistribution that optimizes data performance and availability in correspondence with the volume of data stored within the platform. Importantly, CrateDB allows organizations to take advantage of SQL-oriented skills and tools to expedite its integration and adoption. As such, the platform represents a SQL-based alternative to NoSQL machine data solutions such as Splunk and Cassandra that empowers organizations to collect and analyze massive volumes of machine data in real-time in conjunction with the platform’s enhanced querying versatility and scalability. Available under an Apache 2.0 license, CrateDB marks the emergence of another key player in the machine data analytics space that promises to disrupt the landscape of machine data analytics platforms, particularly given the nexus of its advanced SQL-based querying functionality and extreme scalability. Organizations with resources versed primarily in SQL will lean toward CrateDB given the richness of its distributed SQL querying engine and ability to query data in real-time without resorting to an ancillary data warehousing option to append to their machine data analytics infrastructure.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nb. Create new data design of NoSQL database\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMongoDB Reveals Details Of Connector To SQL-Compliant Business Intelligence And Data Visualization Platforms\n\nMongoDB today announced details of a technology that connects MongoDB to business intelligence and data visualization platforms such as Tableau, Business Objects, Cognos and Microsoft Excel. By rendering data stored in MongoDB compatible with SQL-compliant data analysis tools, the connector allows developers to leverage the rich querying ability of SQL to derive actionable business intelligence from MongoDB-based data. MongoDB customers can now directly take advantage of MongoDB’s connector to transform data from MongoDB’s JSON, nested format into the tabular format required of SQL-compliant tools, whereas previously, organizations interested in obtaining business intelligence on MongoDB-based data typically resorted to third party analytics and visualization platforms such as Jaspersoft, Pentaho and Informatica. By giving customers access to a richer, deeper connection between data aggregated in MongoDB and platforms such as Tableau and Business Objects, customers no longer need to consider transforming MongoDB-based data into a relational database prior to performing advanced analytical queries.\n\nAt this year’s MongoDB World conference, Tableau and MongoDB leveraged data from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to illustrate the likelihood that conference attendees would return home on time. The release of the connector is symptomatic of a broader, industry-wide trend toward deeper integration between NoSQL and SQL as evinced, for example, by the recent integration between Couchbase and Metanautix. Given the contemporary interest in real-time analytics on streaming Big Data, the obvious question raised by the tightened integration between MongoDB and SQL-compliant platforms concerns the degree to which BI platforms such as Tableau will be able to perform real-time queries on streaming data aggregated in MongoDB. Meanwhile, the release of the MongoDB connector illustrates the enduring popularity of SQL as a framework for querying heterogeneous datasets as exemplified by the way in which the convergence of SQL and NoSQL stands to complement the robust ecosystem of SQL on Hadoop platforms such as Lingual, Apache Hive, Pivotal HAWQ and Cloudera Impala.\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8962880969047546}
+{"content": "Front. Psychiatry Frontiers in Psychiatry Front. Psychiatry 1664-0640 Frontiers Media S.A. 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00053 Psychiatry Original Research Somatic Experiencing® Informed Therapeutic Group for the Care and Treatment of Biopsychosocial Effects upon a Gender Diverse Identity Briggs Paul C. 1 * Hayes Sage 2 Changaris Michael 3 1Healing Concepts, LLC, Hollywood, FL, United States 2Embodied Liberation, South Portland, ME, United States 3Integrated Health Psychology Training Program, Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA, United States\n\nEdited by: Rebecca Thwing Emeny, Geisel School of Medicine, United States\n\nReviewed by: Jana Chihai, Nicolae Testemiţanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Moldova; Maia P. Smith, St. George’s University, Grenada\n\n*Correspondence: Paul C. Briggs,\n\nSpecialty section: This article was submitted to Public Mental Health, a section of the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry\n\n27 02 2018 2018 9 53 13 07 2017 07 02 2018 Copyright © 2018 Briggs, Hayes and Changaris. 2018 Briggs, Hayes and Changaris\n\n\n\nSomatic Experiencing® (SE™) is a resiliency-based treatment for autonomic nervous systems dysregulation syndromes, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and physical syndromes like chronic pain, migraines, and fibromyalgia. “Transgender/gender non-conforming/gender variant” describes people whose gender identity/expression is different, at least part of the time, from the sex assigned at birth. Research indicates transgender individuals have a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, victimization, and discrimination. SE™ tools may support transgender/gender non-conforming individuals to increase resilience in the face of discrimination and social injustice.\n\n\nThis study is a pretest posttest within group (N = 7) pilot study assessing the impact of a 10 session SE™ based group treatment on depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), somatic symptoms (PHQ-15), quality of life (QoL) (WHOQoL-BREF), and coping with discrimination (CDS) for a cohort of seven individuals identifying as transgender/gender non-conforming. Materials were created in collaboration with members of the LGBTQIA community. Care was taken to be inclusive of gender non-conforming identities and culturally responsive in design.\n\n\nParticipants described their gender identities as: non-binary, female to male, male to female, and gender fluid. Participants had significant increase in psychological QoL (psychological well-being) (WHOQoL-BREF) p = 0.004, SD = 2.31, with a modest effect size of d = 0.71. Some likely impacts of historical effect discussed. No other clinical or QoL outcomes were statistically significant. However, one outlier was identified in the dataset. When this outlier was excluded there was a trend toward significant reduction in depression symptoms (PhQ-9) p = 0.097, SD = 3.31 and a modest effect size of d = 0.68; somatic symptoms (PhQ-15) p = 0.093, SD = 3.52 and a modest effect size of d = 0.72.\n\n\nThese data indicate that a brief 10 session intervention of SE™ could have a meaningful impact on symptoms of depression, somatization, and QoL for gender non-conforming individuals. Further research is warranted.\n\n\nFirst, this study has a small sample size limiting statistical power and generalizability. Second is a history effect. Less than 1 week prior to final data collection, there was a significant hate-motivated act in Florida targeting the LGBTQIA community.\n\nsocial injustice Somatic Experiencing® transgender discrimination resilience groupwork\n\nSomatic Experiencing® (SE™) is a resiliency-based treatment for autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation syndromes, e.g., physical syndromes like migraines, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia, as well as anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. SE™ focuses on re-establishing an individual’s innate capacity for ANS, physical, and emotional regulation. According to SE™, trauma resides in the nervous system, not in the traumatic event itself, and is a relatively short-term, somatically based approach to resolving trauma (1). The results of a study of 150 victims exposed to the swift impact of a Tsunami revealed that even 8 months after the event, trauma symptoms, such as intrusion, arousal, and avoidance, either improved or were eliminated for victims provided with an SE™ intervention shortly after the event (2). In the first randomized controlled study of the effects of SE™ for the treatment of PTSD, researchers Brom et al. (3) concluded that SE™ may be an effective therapeutic method for PTSD. They studied the outcomes of the intervention effects for posttraumatic symptoms severity and depression among 63 participants who received 15 weekly SE™ sessions.\n\nIt is well documented that a more severe symptom profile with respect to pain, disability, and psychological distress stands comorbid to PTSD in chronic pain. In a first-ever two-group randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating the effect of SE™ for treating comorbid PTSD and low back pain, a cohort of 1,045 patients was studied by researchers Andersen et al. (4). The authors found that SE™ intervention significantly reduced the number of PTSD symptoms and fear of movement, and both comparison groups achieved a large reduction in pain catastrophizing, disability, and pain. Thus, a brief additional SE™ intervention was found to have a significant effect on PTSD and fear of movement compared to a group receiving only standardized treatment. Researchers add that the clinical importance of the effects can be questioned, as the overall effect of SE™ was less than expected.\n\nPayne et al. (5) indicate that SE™ is not a form of exposure therapy. SE™ differs from cognitive therapies in that the strategy utilizes a bottom-up processing of limbic and brain stem activation states rather than a top-down or cognitive regulation. SE™ technique guides attention toward interoception of visceral states and proprioception/kinesthesis of musculoskeletal position and tension. The authors explain that SE™ initially works with a focus on a gradual increase of resiliency, working in a titrated manner to explore traumatic affect, and memories. Using this method of gently, gradually, and indirectly approaching charged memories allows for the development of empowerment in managing the intensity of traumatic states. Ultimately, positive experiences of mastery/empowerment are generated, contradicting the negative traumatic state of overwhelm. These new possibilities likely overwrite the traumatic event’s outcome with the generation of corrective interoceptive/kinesthetic/proprioceptive experiences, the authors convey.\n\nGender Identity and Gender Dysphoria\n\nA psychiatric condition termed Gender Identity Disorder was a former label for individuals who experienced a significant incongruence between their gender identity, or sense of being male or female, and their physical phenotype, resulting in a chronic suffering known as Gender Dysphoria (6). Gender Dysphoria as defined by the American Psychiatric Association in the DSM-V (7) became the revised diagnosis relative to a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and assigned gender. In a study involving the review of medical charts of 435 gender dysphoric individuals, Cole et al. (8) recognized that gender dysphoria is usually an isolated diagnosis, and individuals experiencing gender dysphoria do not appear to have problems indicative of coexisting psychiatric illness, such as major depression or schizophrenia. Once the individuals studied were able to acknowledge their gender dysphoria, they were able to perceive themselves as happier, more competent, and they felt more productive in vocational and other activities.\n\nCurrent treatment recommendations for and relief from Gender Dysphoria symptoms, within a male-female binary context, involves a transitioning process toward the desired experienced gender (9). This process includes cross-sex hormone replacement therapies (HRT) and can also involve an array of gender-affirming surgeries intended to change one’s body to achieve the physiological look, feel, and function of the body in order to conform to one’s gender identity. For many, these surgeries can be cost prohibitive to acquire, and sometimes dangerous when attained under sub-standard, less costly means. In a 5-year follow-up study of 19 transsexuals in different phases of a change-of-sex process, Bodlund and Kullgren (10) found that 70% improved in different social, psychological, and psychiatric aspects. This supports fairly positive outcomes in several important areas for these transsexuals changing sex. Gómez-Gil et al. (11) realized that 67 individuals out of 187 transsexual patients on a gender identity unit who had not initiated cross-sex hormonal treatments reported higher levels of social distress, anxiety, and depression. The remaining 120 who had undergone hormonal sex-reassignment treatment reported subclinical levels of social distress, anxiety, and depression.\n\nWhile much of the literature reviewed supports more favorable views of self-image once HRT and reassignment surgeries are achieved, Devor (12) proposes a biopsychosocial model which supports a more comprehensive and inclusive consideration of transsexual identity formation. The term “transsexual” has been used to define those people who self-identify within this binary context (e.g., gender as a binary of male or female). The broader, more widely preferred term “transgender” describes a person (or even a group of people) who do not fit into the binary context of gender categories of male and female (13). “Transgender/gender non-conforming/gender variant” describes people whose gender identity or expression is different, at least part of the time, from the sex assigned to them at birth. Gender nonconformity is not the same as gender dysphoria, and only some gender non-conforming people experience gender dysphoria at some point in their lives (9).\n\nA view of gender spectrum from a health-based perspective would not be rooted in a health or mental health disease model. However, some transgender individuals tolerate the insinuation of transgender identities stemming from a biological or mental health disease origin in part due to the economic realities of current health-care delivery. Many fear that activism and advocacy efforts to remove “transgender labels” associated with “disease,” will diminish the vital importance of the need for hormones or gender-affirming surgeries, which require a diagnostic label in order to be paid for by insurance companies, while others desire to be free from imposed labels (14).\n\nMarkman (15) proposes that the distress experienced by transgender and gender variant people is not the fault of some individual pathology but is instead the result of problems generated by a society that perpetuates ignorance, prejudice, and bigotry. “There is no one way to be transgender.” Exposure to discrimination in the social context has an impact on health and mental health overall. People who identify as transgender come from all professions, income levels, sexual orientations, age groups, races, and live in every country in the world. Transgender individuals may define their gender identity as their inner sense of being male, female, both or neither. Transgender people often vary on how they describe and identify themselves relative to their backgrounds, where they live, who they spend time with, and how the media influences their self-definition, resulting in an ever-changing terminology that best fits and describes who they are (16).\n\nGender Identity, Community Violence, and Microaggressions\n\nTransgender persons within the US are marginalized in many ways due to discrimination and various other psychosocial barriers. From a 70-question survey of over 7,500 people, the largest and most extensive study of its kind to date, Grant et al. (17) indicate that the transgender population reports a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, mental health concerns, suicide, lack of access to health care, unemployment, violence, victimization, and discrimination. Much of the literature reviewed supports this indication. Additionally, transgender persons must live their daily lives in a world constantly challenged by social expectations regarding their gender expression and presentation (18). In an exploratory study by Nadal et al. (19), the authors indicate how overt forms of bias and discrimination, such as hate crimes, systemic oppression, and injustice, affect transgender and gender non-conforming people. Sources of bias and discrimination include health care, family, employment education, the criminal justice system, and other public accommodations and service providers. The authors recognize that more subtle forms of discrimination, known as microaggressions, can also have detrimental effects on individuals belonging to the transgender community. Microaggressions, which consist of microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations, come from various environments across life domains, including educational systems, workplace settings, the media, and the general community (20). These exposures can have a negative effect on mental health and well-being. A study of 571 male to female (M → F) transgender individuals confirms the prevalence of high exposure to psychiatric distress and gender-related abuse over the course of a lifetime, as is indicated in much of the literature. In this study, Nuttbrock et al. (21) found that 78.1% of study respondents previously experienced gender-related psychological abuse, and 50.1% previously experienced gender-related physical abuse, supporting a causal association between gender abuse and depression or suicide.\n\nStudies have confirmed, over the past two decades, that there are consistent associations between exposure to discrimination and mental and physical health, with an impact upon a wide range of DSM mental disorders as well as objective physical health outcomes (22). Because of the way they are treated by society; minority, oppressed, or marginalized groups are at greater risk for experiencing mental health issues, according to the minority stress theory. Transgender people face discrimination both within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community, and within society as a whole, and gender-non-conforming individuals often belong to other oppressed groups as well. Increased anxiety is also an experience of many transgender and gender non-conforming people who are exposed to high levels of violence, victimization, and trauma (23).\n\nSomatic Experiencing<sup>®</sup> Model and Exposure to Discrimination\n\nChronic exposure to discrimination and stress in one’s social contact can lead to intense feelings of stress as well as at times feelings of overwhelm and being out of control. According to Scaer (24), “almost any social setting where control is lost and relative helplessness is part of the environment can easily progress to a traumatic experience.” During a traumatic or threatening event, lower, more primal brain centers become engaged, and executive higher brain functions become less active. A more dominant hard-wired neurological reaction occurs involving the reactions of orienting, fight, flight, or freeze (2). A person’s reactions can become conditioned to aspects of this life-threatening event as a traumatic experience, and subsequent exposure to similar events can trigger an involuntary portion of the terror reaction in the body to be replayed (25). SE™ (26) works to gently gain access to these involuntary responses, build the person’s awareness of the bodily reactions, and actually “process” the reactions to an “adaptive resolution.” When an event creates an unresolved impact on an organism, trauma occurs. By working with the felt sense, resolution of a traumatic impact can be achieved. Traumatic stress reactions, when left untreated, have been found to often result in long-term negative mental health effects (2729).\n\nThe work of Levine (30) reveals that the “freeze response,” a state of immobilization associated with individuals who experience trauma, can manifest into numerous debilitating somatic symptoms, including dissociation, feeling trapped and helpless, shutting down, and numbing. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated in a heightened state, the parasympathetic nervous system also becomes activated, resulting in a slowing or shutting down of body systems. The resulting numbing can create a dissociation, where people are no longer “in” their bodies. Many people who become traumatized find that the experience of “being in their bodies” can in and of itself feel unsafe and frightening (31). Left unresolved, this immobility reaction becomes chronically coupled with intense negative emotions, such as dread, revulsion, and helplessness. A chronically coupled fear becomes paramount, and this now conditioned fear perpetuates into a traumatized person remaining fearful of even internal (physical) body sensations, which then generates even more fear, further deepening the paralysis or “freeze,” forming a type of trauma vortex (30). Leitch et al. (31) indicate that in addition to psychological trauma, substantial evidence exists that those who survive trauma also suffer significant and debilitating physical or somatic symptoms relative to their experience. Getting in touch with the process of the traumatic response, rather than recreating and reliving the event, is the key to healing (32). Body psychotherapy techniques that incorporate body psychotherapy, such as SE™, promote the emotional release and psychological stability by correcting hyper-arousal in the person’s physiology, immobility, and ultimately re-stabilizing the ANS (33).\n\nHopwood and dickey (34) encourage members of the transgender community to pay attention to their health and well-being. Mental health professionals can assist with ways to relieve stress, provide more information in order to discover ways to confirm and express gender identities and help people to manage interruptions or difficulties in life, which can create sources of distress, even in a relatively balanced life. It is possible for individuals to regain balance in mental health by being pro-active in locating their own supports and services. Therapists who are competent in working with transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are increasing in numbers and offer a variety of therapeutic relationships through individual and group experiences.\n\nAim and Significance\n\nThis study represents a proof of concept study that explores the possibility that a 10-week SE™ informed psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational group experience can establish a group work model to foster resiliency toward the management and possible resolution of symptoms of distress related to Gender Dysphoria; as well as related to discrimination and other psychosocial barriers faced by Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming, and Gender-Variant individuals.\n\nMaterials and Methods Overview\n\nThis study is a pretest posttest within groups design. Selected Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming, and Gender-Variant individuals were assessed on changes resulting from particpation in a 10-week SE™ informed psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational group experience. There were two points of measurement: at the start of the group sessions, and again after completion of participation in the 10 weeks of sessions. This study was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the “IRB Committee at the Wright Institute” in Berkeley, CA, USA, with written informed consent from all subjects. All subjects gave written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the “IRB Committee at the Wright Institute”, and it is identified with the Wright Institute as “SE Transgender Care Research Protocol (IRB) r05-03-15 FINAL.”\n\n\nSignificant studies indicate that the Transgender population reports a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, mental health concerns, suicide, lack of access to health care, unemployment, violence, victimization, and discrimination. Additionally, Transgender persons must live their daily lives in a world constantly challenged by social expectations regarding their gender expression and presentation, causing undue stress and anxiety.\n\nThe Patient Health Questionnaire-SADS (PHQ-SADS) (35) is a brief measure with strong validity and reliability of stress, somatic symptoms, anxiety, and depression. The World Health Organization Quality of Life (QoL)- BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) (36) is a clinically sensitive measure of quality with solid validity and reliability. It measures four QoL domains (psychological well-being, health-related well-being, social relationship-related well-being, and environmental well-being). The measure is flexible and was developed to be adaptable to multiple settings and populations. Psychological symptoms as measured by PHQ-SADS and wellbeing as measured by WHOQoL-BREF are correlated with resilience. There is a large body of research and literature on the relationship between QoL and management of anxiety and coping with stress. Originally developed for use with cultural, racial, and ethnic minorities experiencing discrimination, the Coping with Discrimination Scale (CDS) (37) is a brief measure that has solid validity and reliability as a measure of coping factors relative to the experiences of discrimination. The language context appears to transpose appropriately to evaluate coping of Transgender persons experiencing discrimination in multiple dimensions of their life experiences.\n\nStatistical Analysis\n\nThis is a pretest, posttest within groups design. Main effects will be assessed using paired one-way t-Tests for each variable and significance will be reported at a p-value of 0.10. All comparisons groups that do not conform to assumptions of within groups t-Test, i.e., does not meet criteria for normal distribution will use Wilcoxon single rank t-Test. Pearson’s r will be used to assess the correlation between CDS scores and outcomes on PHQ-SADS and WHOQoL–BREF. Normality of distributions will be assessed using visual analysis on Q–Q plots as well as Sharpiro–Wilk test. Data that do not conform to the assumption of Person’s R will be assessed using Spearman’s Rank. Data will be assessed for outliers using visual assessment via scatter plot, SDs from the mean, and the Dixon outlier test.\n\nParticipant Initial Recruitment and Selection\n\nA convenience sample of adult group participants who may be experiencing and/or have been formally diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria was solicited from within the South Portland, ME, USA Transgender community. Participants needed to self-identify as “Transgender/gender non-conforming/gender variant,” which describes people whose gender identity or expression is different, at least part of the time, from the sex assigned to them at birth. They could also be in a process of transitioning from their physiological gender to their self-identified gender in a binary context. Individuals who passed pre-screening were given the opportunity to participate in a 10-week SE™ informed group therapy intervention model.\n\nAppropriate candidates were provided with additional instruction at an informational meeting. During this event, candidates had an opportunity for discussion of the procedures, the risks, and benefits of participation in the study, their rights as a research participant, confidentiality procedures for their personal information, time commitment, group schedule, and duration. Participants were informed that treatment referrals were available should they have an adverse reaction to the testing or else discover a need for care. All went through a three-level informed consent process and completed a written informed consent acknowledgment. They were apprised that any data collection is private, the group experience is confidential, and no personal data would be retained that could connect an individual with their measures. The signed informed consent forms and all subsequent collected data were stored separately, maintaining appropriate HIPAA compliance at all times. Participant flow is represented graphically in Figure 1.\n\nParticipant flow.\n\nInitial Group Participant Establishment Challenges\n\nThe original design of this study was to consider the results of a comparison between two independent group experiences with groups running in two different geographical locations. Group parameters and curriculum would be held to consistency, and each group would be facilitated by a different author. Two well-established community locations equally offered a safe, consistent, familiar meeting space, ancillary participant support, as well as a source for soliciting participants. One location was to have been at Sunshine Social Services (SunServe), a local Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender + Social Service Agency located in Wilton Manors, FL, USA. The second location considered was Embodied Liberation in South Portland, ME, USA.\n\nTransgender support group promotion began in South Florida. Palm cards were printed, and distribution and community visibility occurred over a 6-month period at several major Transgender events significant to the local Transgender community. The hosting agency, SunServe, provided additional promotion through word of mouth and social media information distribution on their agency website and Facebook page. At the end of the promotional period, only 10 prospective participants expressing interest. Despite these group promotion efforts, we were only able to finally contact, screen, and identify 5 individuals for the group, from a total of 10 inquiries. Five of those who had expressed interest early on were no longer available once the group was ready to begin.\n\nThe five identified individuals were contacted by telephone, and through e-mail and were provided with the exact dates and times of the introductory meeting and the 10 subsequent support group dates. On the evening of the introductory meeting, none of the five individuals attended, nor did they make contact with the facilitator to advise that they could not attend.\n\nWe, along with SunServe staff, met and discussed possible reasons for a lack of turnout on the first evening of the group. Possible South Florida site factors included:\n\nduring the day prior to and the day of the initial group evening, weather in South Florida was rainy, damp, and there had been an unusual threat of tornado touchdowns in the area.\n\nparticipants in this group may need additional reminders, i.e., phone call/e-mail just prior to the date of the group.\n\nthe group facilitator identified as a gay, cisgender male.\n\nalthough the facilitator has been involved in the South Florida LGBTQ Community for over 18 years, he is not well known in the Transgender Community.\n\nthe group facilitator had only been able to make telephone and e-mail contact with participants, there has not yet been an opportunity to meet face to face.\n\nOur study was finally conducted using only one group, without an opportunity for comparison, with participants selected from the South Portland, Maine community. Group members were solicited from the community in a similar fashion, through palm card distribution, social media, and word of mouth. Eight participants were identified and engaged in the study. Positive site factors considered included:\n\nthe group facilitator identified as a Transgender person.\n\nthe facilitator is a member of the South Portland Transgender Community.\n\nthe facilitator is a practicing massage therapist in the South Portland Community for many years.\n\nthe facilitator has an established relationship and is well known and embedded in the community.\n\nAdministration of Measures\n\nSelected candidates were given a packet of measures consisting of a demographic survey, the PHQ-SADS, the World Health Organization QoL–BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) scale, and the Coping with Discrimination Scale (CDS). The same set of measures, with the exception of the demographic survey, was administered once again at the conclusion of the 10 weeks of sessions.\n\nSomatic Experiencing<sup>®</sup> Informed Group Therapy Intervention Model design Group Therapeutic Goals\n\nThe intention of the group is to assist participants who may be experiencing Gender Dysphoria to develop: a general increase in awareness of resources, skills, and abilities, increased skills for affect management, increased skills for nervous system regulation, increased capacity for tolerance of “being in their bodies” and managing “real life” situations relating to confrontations and microaggressions, increased resiliency, a decrease of negative symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and feelings of social isolation. Subjects who participated in the study may have experienced discomfort while answering some pre- and posttest questions, and during participation in a therapeutic group process. But there is no clear data indicating iatrogenic effects of answering the mentioned measures. Further, subjects may have experienced discomfort relative to the emergence of material relative to their therapeutic process during their group experience. The group setting is intrinsically designed to be a safe, supportive environment to nurture growth and change. Heck (38) indicates that the efficacy of services for the care of transgender/non-conforming individuals has not yet been established, however, there is a small but growing body of scholarly work focusing on competencies necessary for the delivery of quality transgender-affirmative care. As the needs and challenges of transgender/non-conforming individuals are further identified, work can evolve from writing about providers’ group work experiences with this population, to actually empirically evaluating the efficacies of and implementing interventions that demonstrate positive identity-related and health outcomes. This is one goal of our work. In a study using a brief (one to two session), SE™ informed Trauma Resiliency Model intervention, Leitch et al. (31) found that the resiliency of participants increased, while psychological distress was found to significantly decrease. Adequately addressing trauma experiences from self-directive, interpersonal, and collective perspectives, utilizing both idiographic and nomothetic approaches to clinical practice was found by Richmond et al. (39) to be of importance. A single, 75-min treatment approach used by Parker et al. (2) focused on the introduction of psychoeducational information related to the involuntary nature of trauma symptoms and on participant practice subsequent to the intervention, yielding a reduction or elimination of trauma symptoms for 150 participants, even after 8 months. This indicates the effectiveness of their protocol on dysregulation from trauma. Our SE™ informed group design sought to utilize these ideologies.\n\nPrescreen for High-risk Behaviors and Group Appropriateness\n\nMaintaining the ongoing safety and support for participants at all times was an utmost priority in this study. A set of screening questions was developed and utilized to identify those individuals whose capacity for managing these possible periods of discomfort and shifts in cognitive awareness is compromised by a history of high risk for self-harm, severe mental illness, or active use of mind-altering substances. For these individuals, participation in the study was not recommended. Group members who were selected to participate were asked to not be under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances during participation in groups.\n\nGroup Makeup, Setting, Location, and Facilitation\n\nSeveral additional factors were considered for the design, creation, and implementation of a therapeutic group model that could be both extremely effective for as well as hold the interest of participants. Such factors included the safety of the setting, both actual and perceived, group facilitation, program consistency, a high degree of being SE™ informed, access to ancillary supports outside of the group experience, and ease of replication.\n\nThe group met weekly, in 10 consecutive 90-min sessions, was free of charge to participants, and was offered to appropriately screened adult individuals aged 18 and over who identified as transgender, gender non-conforming, or gender variant. Participants could also have a formal diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria, which was not a requirement for inclusion. We chose to impose an age restriction upon our participant sample, solely to avoid the need to obtain parental consent for participants under 18 years of age. We firmly believe that the design and benefits of an SE™ informed Transgender Support and Healing Group experience would be equally appropriate and effective for young adults and adolescents, and with some modifications could be effective for working with children as well.\n\nIt was important to provide group participants with a consistent, appropriate, safe, and familiar space to meet each week. Having the perception of a predictable and safe environment is crucial for participating individuals, as this has been shown to aid in adjustment in a variety of traumatic situations. It is important to have knowledge of the many ways intersecting oppressions can inform participants’ perceptions of a predictable and safe environment (4042). The initial development and ongoing maintenance of a safe environment both inside the therapy room and at large as well is of great importance (43, 44). Within the context of SE™ informed work, it is certain that group members’ nervous systems will respond in understandable and predictable ways, as the group experience touches on situations of stress, trauma, overwhelm, and interpersonal risk. These very same responses occur in the daily lives and experiences of group members, in relationships, in the workplace, as well as in the therapy group. The group setting affords a container where members can discover or recover the opportunity for self-regulation (45).\n\nParticipants were solicited from and the group was purposely held within the same South Portland, ME, USA Transgender community. Group facilitators were clinicians or practitioners with a professional level of training, experience, and expertise regarding group work process and SE™ work, in our case one of us. The role of the primary group facilitator was to guide the group through the SE™ informed curriculum and associated exercises, utilizing their skills as a practitioner. As well, the primary group facilitator works at tracking the nervous system at multiple levels, that of individuals, and that of the collective nervous system of the group. The facilitator provides support for the group and individuals, as the capacity to tolerate more intense experiences increases, within the range of resilience (45). An optional second care provider could be a student or intern from a social work, mental health, or bodywork background. Their role would be to monitor group members, recognize nervous system activation or overwhelm, and be able to intervene with support for group members when needed. A second care provider was not utilized in our case.\n\nAgency Staff/Clinician Ancillary Support and Education\n\nSubjects who participated in this study may also have had the added benefit of already being engaged in other pre-existing relationships of supportive psychotherapy and/or case management, by virtue of their possible affiliation with community providers or agencies. Otherwise, they did not receive any unique or additional treatment, procedures or information other than the participation in the group experience and data collection.\n\nClinicians and staff of affiliated community agencies can play an integral part in providing participant support outside of the group setting, as participants work on change in the group process. Considering this, prior to the start of the group series, local community agency providers were offered an orientation regarding: concept and principles of SE™ work, what will be done in the group setting, predictable outcomes and responses of participants making change during their process, ways that providers can be supportive allies during this work. The option was given for participants to grant written permission for individual providers and group facilitators to be able to communicate regarding any emerging concerns relating to group members’ participation in both individual and group therapy sessions.\n\nCurriculum Design Considerations for Somatic Experiencing<sup>®</sup> Informed Work\n\nThe foundation of the group experience is based upon Somatic Experiencing®, a well-recognized treatment model for working with dysregulation syndromes such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression; focusing on re-establishing an individual’s innate capacity for ANS, physical and emotional regulation. SE™ informed work involves the application and integration of SE™ theory, concepts, and practice principles into a treatment model; in this case a Transgender Support and Healing Group experience. The goal being to address the care and treatment of and give attention to biopsychosocial affects upon a gender diverse identity which can contribute to some form of Gender Dysphoria. This study targets how SE™ informed work, and more specifically working with the “felt sense,” can assist Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming, and Gender-Variant persons with alternative ways to help manage, re-establish, and build capacity for ANS, physical, and emotional regulation. There is a body of literature that indicates increased skills in self-regulation leads to increased resiliency and coping. In the interpersonal process of an SE™ informed group setting, the survival physiology and activation patterns related to fight, flight, or freeze responses can be re-worked in vivo, allowing for the alteration of interpersonal symptoms often created from these responses (45).\n\nGroup Format: Structure, Content, and Flow\n\nDesign consideration for this study consisted of learning and SE™ skills building assembled into 10 themed modules, which included the presentation of new material and concepts, reinforcement of learned concepts, overlap, and building upon skills acquired in previous sessions. Experiential exercises that familiarize participants with and engage the “felt sense” were incorporated. As well, exercises that helped group members to learn about and practice regulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS were implemented into the core of skills building. Addressing ways to practice self-care was also vital as a means to reinforce new material and skills.\n\nThe structure of each module consisted of title, content/activities, intention, target issues, skills taught, homework, and supplies. We built in consistency to each module design, so that appropriate time could be allotted for necessary group functions. For each 90-min session, we allotted: settling/grounding—5 min, check-ins—15 min, content (teaching, experiential opportunities, integration of information, and experiences)—55 min, and wrap up/closing—15 min. More detail is provided in Table 1: Somatic Experiencing® Informed Transgender Support and Healing Group Module Structure.\n\nSomatic Experiencing® Informed Transgender Support and Healing Group Module Structure.\n\nModule Title Content/Activities Intention Target Issues Skills Taught Homework Supplies\n1. Grounding (welcome) Please consult with authors for details ↓\n\nHave participants share why they are here and why we are here as Trans people\n\nSet agreements\n\nIntention setting\n\nSet tone, Grounding - physical/energetic space\n\n\n\n\nGroup sharing\n\nLearning to make agreements with each other\n\nWorking collectively\n\n➢ Trans History and Timeline-bring in at least 3 significant events\n\n2. Resourcing and Trans History Timeline\n\nFraming and introducing embodiment, resourcing, felt sense\n\nVisibilize Trans history\n\nUtilize Trans history as a resource of empowerment and visibility\n\n\nIncreasing understanding\n\nHistoric and multi-generational empowerment in the body\n\n\nTracking felt sense\n\nReflecting on life and history in a historical and resourcing way\n\n➢ Bring picture of significance representing own personal process regarding gender, expression, and identity Visuals for Trans history (optional), markers, tape, paper for timelines\n\n3. Campfire. Mindfulness. Awareness. Tracking\n\nDeepening connection, cohesion, trust\n\nSharing personal stories/identities\n\nGenerate a “lived” definition of what Trans is to our group\n\nSelf-esteem-Highlighting personal and collective resilience amidst challenges, coping, surviving\n\nBuilding positive personal and collective identity\n\nIntroduction of tracking/paying attention to the body\n\nFelt Sense\n\n\n\nReflection and sharing\n\nValuing of diversity of experiences, identities and expressions\n\n➢ Check in with one person within the group over the week large bowl, candles for “campfire”, s’more sticks, marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, bucket of water for safety, chime\n\n4. Nervous System Overview and Resilience\n\nTeach about nervous system and trauma 101\n\n\n\nUnderstanding and self-awareness\n\nHow to track the threat response cycle and complete it\n\n➢ Tracking felt sense SE™ skills visualsSE™ Powerpoint or posters\n\n5. Safety. Boundaries. Protective Mechanisms\n\nExplore and understand embodied safety\n\nCollectively define the different types of safety in different parts of life\n\nName transphobia as contextualized (social) trauma\n\n\n\nSafety inventories\n\nExperience of personal space\n\nExperience of tracking where personal boundaries are\n\nBoundary setting\n\n➢ Increase awareness of safe and unsafe spaces - people, places, things\n\n6. Dealing with the Stress of Microaggressions\n\nTeach about and make visible microaggressions\n\nTeach about the impacts of microaggressions on the body\n\nTeach what happens in the body when it is under threat\n\nTeach about and make visible microaggressions\n\nTeach about the impacts of microaggressions on the body\n\nAgency and response to microaggressions\n\nSelf and environmental awareness\n\nDetection of microaggressions\n\nSelf-care for microaggressions\n\n7. Working with Depression and Anxiety Developing a Self-Care Practice\n\nCentralizing self-care as essential\n\nNormalizing depression/anxiety as adaptive responses to chronic threat and stress\n\nCompassion for self and others regarding depression/anxiety\n\nSelf-care, self-regulation\n\nSelf-assessment of different aspects of health\n\nSelf-care skill through actual self-care activity (foots soaks, etc)\n\n8. Building Trauma-Informed Caring: Trans Community and Support\n\nUse awareness practices to support our capacity to stay with exactly what is going on\n\nBuilding tolerance for activation\n\nCreating direct support for activation\n\nEmotional and physical capacity building for sensations\n\nSupport giving\n\nSupport receiving\n\nFeeling tones\n\n9. Embodied Liberation, Thrive. Resolutions, Completions\n\nEmbodied Visioning - using SE™ concepts to imagine where you want to go\n\n\n\n\n\nImplementing skills and experiences into an action plan\n\nEnvisioning a positive future\n\nPaper, worksheets\n\n10. Party, AppreciationPostTest\n\nWrap-Up group\n\nIdentify learnings from past 10 weeks\n\nMark what has changed over past 10 weeks\n\n\nStrong and healthy ending\n\n\n\n\nIntegral and vital to SE™ informed work is the concept of resourcing. Initial treatment must involve reinstating lost resources, learning new ones, and strengthening those that exist. This concept is fundamental in many body-based approaches and is essential when working with traumatized clients. Ogden et al. (46) explain that traumatized clients typically have unregulated nervous systems, a perceived or actual loss of safety, compromised functioning, and somatic, emotional, and cognitive confusion between the past and the present. These patients can become further destabilized unless interventions are introduced that provide stabilization and increase the capacity of the nervous system so that adaptive functioning in daily life is increased. Ogden et al. (46) define resources as “personal skills, abilities, objects, relationships, and services that facilitate self-regulation and provide a sense of competence and resilience.” Heller and Heller (47) indicate that “a resource can be any positive memory, person, place, action, or personal capacity that creates a soothing feeling in a person’s body.” Resources can be the parts of our bodies that feel good, or the past and present positive experiences in our lives. Accessing positive resources in the “here and now,” with a focus on what is working rather than what is not working for a client, has a therapeutic impact in three different domains: cognitive, emotional, and physiological (48). The authors indicate that cognitively, clients can recognize ways to shift their thinking away from self-blame and self-judgment, avoid shame, and become more self-accepting. Emotionally, clients frequently take for granted that they have survived adverse difficulties, with great courage and fortitude, for sometimes a very long time, and often lose sight of the fact that there has been and still is support for them through their internal strengths. Body-based resources in the here and now have the most power, as getting in touch with internal and external resources facilitates the capacity for nervous system regulation, producing a further calming effect.\n\nWe believe that the group setting itself can provide a source of resourcing for participating members. Much like the herds of animals that Peter Levine studied in the wild, a group can operate with a “collective nervous system,” sensing, identifying and responding to common threats that may evoke in the group process and dialog (30). Conversely, a group setting can also represent resources that provide a sense of safety and so can replicate the protective factors afforded by a herd, group members can resonate on the senses and resolution of the threat response, can find support among fellow group members, and so can collectively operate in the healing process. Group members can recover their innate sense of what is and is not safe and can vicariously learn for themselves through bearing witness to, resonating with, and managing distress evoked by the shared experiences of others in the group (45).\n\nWe believe that transgender history can be a powerful resource, as many transgender individuals lack a reference to positive role models, pioneers, “heroes,” and events in history, instead of being constantly reminded of a sense of insignificance and the negative challenges they must confront. We integrated a “trans history” exercise into our curriculum so that group participants could take positive and affirming ownership of some of the many notable origins of “being transgender.”\n\nSocial Engagement\n\nRe-orienting in the here and now is an integral part of an SE™ informed process and being in the group presence can serve as part of this important function. The capacity for embodied social engagement is intrinsically self-calming and appears to make a powerful contribution to health and happiness, according to Levine (30). This capacity can provide a protection for the person, instilling their organism from being “hijacked” by the sympathetic arousal system, or else frozen by a more primitive emergency shut down system. The group setting provides a source of commonality for both grounding and normalizing of individual participants’ experiences.\n\nMovement Interlude\n\nAt times, it would be necessary to assist the group with ways to collectively re-regulate participants’ ANS, especially after highly charged material emerged from within the group process. We developed a tool and coined it “Movement Interlude,” that could be used when group facilitators recognized high levels of group energy that may be too collectively overwhelming or too difficult for the group or a majority of individuals to manage. This tool is a physical movement intervention when the need for activation energy discharge is necessary. The possibility of use of this interlude and its purpose was previously discussed with group members, and a brief practice run occurred. One group member was invited to lead the group in a brief, creative random movement exercise (i.e.,: marching/walking in place, movement of extremities, conga line, etc.) that allowed the opportunity for collective and individuals’ energy to be discharged. The exercise would take approximately 2 min, with an additional 2 min for grounding, settling, centering, and re-focusing. During this time, group members were encouraged to share about what they noticed for themselves and for the group.\n\n\nN = 7 participants had complete data for the WHOQoL-BREF. As shown in Table 2, significant improvements in QoL measures were observed in one of the four domains of the WHOQoL-BREF. Psychological QoL (Psych. QoL p = 0.003) was found to display both a statistically significant and a clinically meaningful improvement. This change would also represent a meaningful increase a participant’s ability to psychologically respond to stressful life events. The effect size for this change was moderate with a Cohen’s d = 0.71. All other domains were non-significant. The below data sets met criteria for normality using visual assessment of line on Q–Q plot as well as Sharpiro–Wilk test.\n\nChanges in quality of life (QoL) as measured by the WHOQoL-BREF (N = 7).\n\nPretest Posttest p for model Effect sizeCohen’s d\nHEALTH—QoL 54.57 ± 26 61.43 ± 31.46 0.18 (NS)\nPSYCHOLOGICAL—QoL 41.86 ± 20 58.29 ± 25.9** 0.003*** d = 0.71\nSOCIAL—QoL 67.86 ± 25.1 66 ± 28.7 0.35 (NS)\nENVIRONMENTAL—QoL 56.3 ± 23.2 51.86 ± 21.7 0.22 (NS)\n\nIncreased scores on all QoL measures indicate improved QoL.\n\n*Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.10.\n\n**Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.05.\n\n***Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.01.\n\nNS, non-significant results.\n\nWHO-BREF-QoL Graphic Display of Data\n\nFigure 2 displays mean changes between pretest and posttest on four domains of the World Health Organization QoL measure. Increases in QoL score between measures would indicate a positive change. Both health-related QoL (mean increase of 6.96 points) and psychological QoL (mean increase of 16.43) showed improvement between measures. Social and environmental QoL showed small declines between measures with a mean reduction of QoL of 1.86 points and 4.43 point reduction, respectively. The results indicated a significant improvement in psychological QoL (p = 0.003) on the WHOQoL-BREF, effect size d = 0.71. The increase in psychological QoL would be clinically meaningful and likely would represent an improved overall psychological sense of wellbeing.\n\nWHOQoL-BREF: environmental, social, psychological and health domains.\n\nPHQ-9, GAD-7, and PHQ-15 (Outlier Included)\n\nN = 7 participants had complete data for three clinical measures. These measures assessed depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and somatic symptoms (PHQ-15). None of these measures were significantly reduced. The data did indicate a reduction in clinical symptoms between pretest and posttest in all three measures. These changes could have a modest impact in an individual’s overall functioning. Data sets shown in Table 3 met criteria for normality using visual assessment of line on Q–Q plot as well as Sharpiro–Wilk test.\n\nChanges in clinical symptoms: dep., somatic, and anxiety (outlier included: N = 7).\n\nPretest Posttest p-value for model Effect sizeCohen’s d\nPHQ-9 (Depression Symptoms) 8.57 ± 5.01 7 ± 6.85 0.2 (NS)\nPHQ-15 (Somatic Symptoms) 10.71 ± 4.83 9.2 ± 5.3 0.18 (NS)\nGAD-7 (Anxiety Symptoms) 7.4 ± 4.9 6.86 ± 4.12 0.41 (NS)\n\nDecreased scores on all clinical symptom measures indicate improvement.\n\n*Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.10.\n\n**Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.05.\n\n\nNS, non-significant results.\n\nPHQ-SADS Graphic Display of Data (Outlier Included)\n\nThese data indicated a modest reduction in clinical symptoms between the first and second measurement point (Figure 3). Changes in depression and somatic symptoms would indicate clinical change that could be felt by the participant and observed by a clinician. None of the clinical symptom profiles indicate a statistically significant change between pretest and posttest. Depression symptoms were reduced by 1.57 points, anxiety by 0.57, and somatic symptoms by 1.28 points.\n\nChange in clinical symptoms: depression, anxiety, and somatic.\n\nPHQ-9, GAD-7, and PHQ-15 (With Outlier Excluded)\n\nOne member of this group was found to likely be an outlier in using the Dixon outlier test with p-value of with 0.024, 0.028, and 0.006 compared to each of the above measures posttests. The data associated with this participant also ranged from 2 to 3 SDs higher the mean. There were several notable factors when comparing this individual case to others that may indicate why this individual does not fit with the group mean. These are higher level of reported illness including chronic pain, insomnia, and other chronic health conditions. This individual also had a higher level of psychosocial stressors than others reporting a history of homelessness and higher levels of exposure to violence. It may be that this individual case would represent an interaction between the impacts of gender identity and chronic illness. In further studies adapting the group materials to address chronic illness could impact this outcome.\n\nDue to the above factors, it appeared worth considering the data set without this case included. The data without this case included trended in both a more clinically meaningful and statistically significant direction. With this outlier excluded data trended toward significant reduction in symptoms of depression and somatic symptoms with p = 0.093 and 0.097, respectively. These data had a modest effect size using the Cohen’s d test. The findings indicated effects size of d = 0.68 for depression symptoms and d = 0.72 on somatic symptoms. Anxiety symptoms were not found to be reduced significantly. Data sets shown in Table 4 continued to meet criteria for normality after removal of outlier using visual assessment of line on Q–Q plot as well as Sharpiro–Wilk test.\n\nChanges in clinical symptoms: dep., somatic and anxiety (outlier excluded N = 6).\n\nPretest Posttest p for model Effect sizeCohen’s d\nPHQ-9 (depression symptoms) 7 ± 3.4 4.3 ± 2.4 0.093* 0.68\nPHQ-15 (somatic symptoms) 9.5 ± 3.98 7.33 ± 2.36 0.097* 0.72\nGAD-7 (anxiety symptoms) 7 ± 5.3 5.3 ± 1.9 0.27 (NS)\n\nDecreased scores on clinical symptom measures indicate improvement.\n\n*Trending toward significant decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.10.\n\n**Significantly decreased between pretest and posttest p ≤ 0.05.\n\n***Significantly decreased between pretest an posttest p ≤ 0.01.\n\nNS, non-significant results.\n\nPHQ-SADS Graphic Display of Data (With Outlier Excluded)\n\nReduction of clinical symptoms between pretest and posttest indicates an improvement in mental health. Figure 4 shows changes in symptoms of depression with one case identified as an outlier removed. Reduction in depression symptoms and somatic symptoms between first and final measure that trend towards significant reduction with p = 0.093 and 0.097, respectively, with a moderate effect size of d = 0.68; and d = 0.72, respectively. Symptoms of anxiety did not show significant reduction between measures. Depression symptoms were reduced by 3.6 points between measures, somatic symptoms were reduced by a mean of 2.17 points, and anxiety symptoms were reduced by a mean of 1.7 points. These changes would indicate a reduction in clinical symptoms that likely could be observed by both a clinician and would be experienced as meaningful by the participant in the study.\n\nMean change in clinical symptoms depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms.\n\n<italic>Post Hoc</italic> Analysis Findings <italic>Post Hoc</italic> Analysis Clinically Significant Depression Symptoms (PhQ-9)\n\nTwo participants who completed the PHQ-9 were in the clinically significant range. Over the course of the treatment these individuals moved below the clinically significant range moving from 10 to 8 (moderate depression symptom score to mild/no depression score) and 12 to 2, respectively (moderate depression symptom score to mild/no depression score). Two individuals had a modest increase in symptoms, with one individual having a 5 point increase shifting into the severe range and another an increase of 3 points remaining in the minimal to no symptom range. Figure 5 displays pretest posttest data for individual participants’ depression symptoms.\n\nIndividual change in depression symptoms.\n\n<italic>Post Hoc</italic> Analysis Clinically Significant Anxiety Symptoms (GAD-7)\n\nOn the measure of anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), there were two individuals that scored in a range that is considered likely to indicate the presence a clinical diagnosis of anxiety. Their scores were 11 and 15, respectively. These individuals’ range had what would have been a meaningful reduction in their clinical symptoms moving from 11 to 2 (moderate symptom score range to mild/none score range) and 15 to 5 (severe symptom score range to mild/no symptom score range) on the GAD-7.\n\nThose in the subclinical range had no significant reduction, either staying the same or displaying a modest increase staying in the mild to no symptom range. Three individuals had an increase in anxiety symptoms, these ranged from a 4 to 6 point increase. Two of these individuals had near 0 initial symptoms and moved to a score of 5 (from no symptoms to no to minimal symptoms). One individual had an increase in anxiety from a score of 10 (mild anxiety) to a score of 16 (moderate anxiety range).\n\nIt is possible that increased somatic awareness increased their awareness of the physiological stress that they were experiencing. The individual who showed the highest level of increase also was in the group with the highest rate of health and mental health conditions reported, the highest exposure to gender-based violence, and had experienced significant life stressors. This might indicate a need for increased focus on chronic conditions and self-care in future adaptations of the curriculum. Figure 6 displays pretest posttest data for individual participants’ anxiety symptoms.\n\nIndividual change in anxiety symptoms.\n\n<italic>Post Hoc</italic> Analysis Clinically Significant Somatic Symptoms (PHQ-15)\n\nThree participants had a reduction in symptoms. Two of these individuals moved from moderate symptoms to mild to no symptom range. These individuals had a 7-point and a 6-point reduction, respectively. And the other individual who showed symptom reduction went from high mild symptoms to low mild symptoms (2-point symptom reduction). Three individuals had an increase in scores. Two displayed a modest increase of 1 point between each measure and one participant had a 5-point increase in score. The individuals who had increased scores all had higher levels of overall health concerns, two reported three incidents of exposure to violence related to their gender identity and all three had experienced homelessness. Figure 7 displays pretest posttest data for individual participants on somatic symptoms.\n\nIndividual change in somatic symptoms.\n\n<italic>Post Hoc</italic> Analysis Coping with Discrimination Scale (CDS)\n\nThere were four individuals who completed the CDS and all other measures. Two of these individuals had an increase in sub-scale on CDS that measures coping through education (a positive empowered form of coping). For these participants, there were larger reduction in symptoms on all levels of SADS-PHQ than those with reduced education score on CDS.\n\nParticipant Race, Ethnicity, Biological Sex, Gender Identity, and Self-Description\n\nA total number of eight individuals were screened as appropriate candidates to participate in the SE™ informed group study. One individual later dropped out from the study, and we will report responses of all eight individuals. All eight identified as “white.” One participant also identified as “American Indian/Alaska Native,” while another also identified as “Hispanic/Latino/Latina.”\n\nOf the eight participating individuals, all considered themselves to be transgender/gender non-conforming/gender variant/gender diverse in some way. Five were born biologically female and three were born biologically male, as indicated on their original birth certificate. In response to “what is your primary gender identity today,” one biologically born female identified as “male/man,” two biologically born males identified as “female/woman.” Other self-identified gender descriptions included: “non-binary demi-boy” (biologically born female, also group drop-out), “no gender trans-female” (biologically born male), “non-binary, gender queer” (biologically born female), “no gender, some male/some female” (biologically born female), “unknown” (biologically born female).\n\nParticipants were given the opportunity to respond to questions regarding whether they were in transition from a M → F or female to male (F → M) binary gender identity, and whether any were receiving medically monitored HRT. Seven respondents indicated that they were in transition. One (the group’s drop-out) was unclear in their gender transition response, had completed desired transitioning, and was not receiving HRT. A F → M indicated that they had not completed desired transitioning, and they were receiving HRT. Another F → M indicated that they had not completed desired transitioning, and they were not receiving HRT. A M → F indicated that they had completed desired transitioning, and they were receiving HRT. Another, who considered themselves F → M → FUnsure, had completed desired transitioning and was receiving HRT. Another who considered themselves F →?, had not completed desired transitioning, and was not receiving HRT. Another participant, who considered themselves non-binary, had completed desired transitioning and was not receiving HRT. One last respondent, who was ambiguous (answered yes and no) regarding whether they were in the process of transitioning, considered themselves “res binary,” had completed desired transitioning, had received top surgery and oophorectomy, and was not receiving HRT. Of the three participants indicating that they were receiving HRT, none were obtaining hormones from the internet.\n\nParticipants were asked to respond with “not at all,” “somewhat,” or “strongly” to a listing of self-describing terms used in the Transgender community. Responses are presented in Table 5: Group Participants’ Self-Describing Gender Terms.\n\nGroup participants’ self-describing gender terms.\n\nSelf-describing terms Not at all Somewhat Strongly No answer\nTransexual 1 4 2 1\nMtF (Male to Female) 3 1 2 2\nFtM (Female to Male) 2 4 1 1\nIntersex 7 1\nGender variant/gender NON-conforming 1 7\nGender fluid 4 3 1\nGenderqueer 4 4\nAndrogynous 3 4 1\nFeminine male 7 1\nMasculine female or butch 3 5\nA.G. or Aggressive 7 1\nThird gender 2 5 1\nCross dresser 8\nDrag performer (Queen/King) 7 1\nTwo-spirit 5 2 1\n\nOther, please specify Demi-boy, A-gender queer, femme, non-binary\nFamily Composition, Living Arrangement, Supports\n\nDetermination of support systems, relationships, living arrangements, employment, school, and homelessness were explored. All eight respondents reported having a circle of friends or family that they could count on. Five participants identified as “single.” Of these five, one respondent was employed, a student, had never experienced homelessness, and lived with their three children in a home that they owned. All of the remaining participants reported having no children. Another single respondent was not a student, not employed, had previously experienced homelessness, currently lived with a roommate/friend, and paid rent. A third single respondent was not a student, was employed, lived alone, had experienced homelessness in the past, and did not answer as to whether they owned or rented. The fourth single participant had responded as both single and partnered, they were not a student, not employed, they had experienced homelessness in the past, they currently lived with a roommate/friend, and they paid rent. The final single respondent was not a student, was not employed, had never experienced homelessness, they currently lived with a roommate/friend, and they paid rent.\n\nThe remaining three of eight respondents identified as “partnered.” One of them was not a student, was not employed, had previously experienced homelessness, lived with a spouse/partner/significant other, and paid rent. Another partnered respondent was a student, was employed, had never experienced homelessness, lived alone, and owned their home. The third partnered respondent also identified as having a non-monogamous relationship, was a student, was employed, had never experienced homelessness, lived with a roommate/friend, and paid rent.\n\nHealth Factors\n\nParticipants were polled for having some common medical conditions. None reported having diabetes, heart problems, nor kidney disease. One reported having high blood pressure that was controlled with prescribed medication.\n\nThree study participants reported having a formal diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria. All three also saw a mental health provider for psychotherapy support, two of the three took prescribed medication for a mental health condition, and one of these two also saw a psychiatrist for medication management. A fourth participant was not sure if they had a formal Gender Dysphoria diagnosis but took prescribed medication for a mental health condition. The remaining four participants responded as not having a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria. Only one of these four saw a mental health provider, and another one of the four took herbal supplements for mental health. Degrees of experiences of depression, anxiety, anger/irritability, difficulty sleeping, and pain were also solicited (see Table 6).\n\nResponses to types of experiences with some mental health conditions.\n\nMental health conditions Do not experience Intermittent/occasional Constant, frequent or chronic No answer\nDepression 1 3 4\nAnxiety 2 3 2 1\nAnger/irritability 1 5 2\nDifficulty sleeping 5 2 1\nPain 1 4 3\n\nActive substance use was explored. None of the respondents acknowledged cocaine, methamphetamine, or non-prescribed benzodiazepine use. Of eight respondents, two used cigarettes or tobacco products, while six did not. Of the two smokers, one consumed alcohol on a daily basis, while the other did not. One other participant consumed only alcohol on a daily basis. Three respondents acknowledged using only cannabis ranging from daily to monthly, while the remaining five did not. Two of the remaining respondents reported using no alcohol, tobacco, or other illicit substances whatsoever.\n\nIdentified Barriers to Health Care\n\nBarriers to routine, preventative, or emergency health care were examined. Routine health care would include cervical exams, breast exams, prostate exams, accidents, etc. Two of the eight respondents did not try to access any of these types of health care, giving reasons as financial/no insurance and discomfort about meeting with health-care providers as barriers. Another respondent gave financial/no insurance as a barrier, and two others gave discomfort about meeting with health-care providers as a barrier. Another respondent gave discrimination/abuse/mistreatment by providers as an only barrier, while the two remaining participants indicated “none of these” as a response.\n\nOf eight survey participants, three acknowledged having no desire or have not decided to access reconstructive, enhancement, or gender reaffirming surgeries. Another three of the eight respondents gave reasons of financial/no insurance as barriers against accessing these services. Another responded that finances or lack of insurance, discrimination, abuse, mistreatment by providers, and discomfort about meeting with health-care providers were all barriers. One responded that they could not locate a Medicare-funded surgeon for desired procedures.\n\nExperiences of Mistreatment, Violence, Abuse, and Harassment\n\nSurvey participants were asked to respond to questions related to several different specific experiences of mistreatment, violence, abuse, harassment. Five reported no mistreatment (verbal abuse, disrespect, harassment) from health-care providers because of their gender identity, while two acknowledged some form of mistreatment, and one did not provide an answer. Four participants denied experiencing any form of partner or domestic related abuse or violence related to their gender identity. Four acknowledged some form of partner, domestic related, or other violence in the past relative to their gender identity. Five of eight respondents acknowledged current verbal abuse or harassment in their day to day activities, while three did not. Five of eight respondents acknowledged other current or past types of harassment or abuse in their day to day activities, one did not, one did not because they were not “out,” while one did not answer.\n\n\nThe exposure to experiences of discrimination can have a highly negative effect on health and mental health. Some previous studies have identified ANS functioning and long-term exposure to stress hormones as the mediating factor between stress, health and discrimination. Dysregulation in the ANS has been found to have multiple long-term health and mental health impacts. ANS dysregulation may be one of the moderating if not mediating factors that lead to increased rates of depression, suicide and mortality in individuals who identify as transgender or gender fluid. Increased, resilience and coping could improve ANS functioning. Developing skills that support improved resilience, increased ANS regulation and develop capacity to cope with experiences of discrimination could improve health, mental health, and QoL/well-being.\n\nThese data indicated a modest clinically impactful and statistically significant improvement in one marker of resilience for individuals who identify as gender fluid and gender non-conforming, e.g., psychological QoL. Data showed significant increases in psychological QoL (a measure of mental wellbeing) (p < 0.004). Increased psychological wellbeing would have a meaningful impact on the ability to be resilient after a stressor and to psychological adapt to challenges.\n\nThe skills taught in the group focused on increasing somatic awareness and mindfulness and the ability to regulate difficult emotions. These skills could have an impact on the capacity to manage the many stressful events in the lives of individuals’ ongoing exposure to discrimination and threat of community violence. It is notable that just prior to the final assessment one of the most violent assaults to the LGBTQIA community in US history occurred. Forty-nine individuals from the LGBTQIA community were killed and 53 people were injured at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL, USA. The psychological impact was likely significant. However, this group still displayed increased psychological well-being overall.\n\nWhen considering the entire data set there were no significant decreases found in mental health symptoms. The data would have, however, indicated a modest improvement in overall mental health that may have been able to be felt by the participants and observed by a clinician.\n\nData were analyzed to assess for outliers and an outlier was identified. When reviewing factors that may have driven the increased initial and follow-up symptoms, this participant had a higher rate of chronic illness and psychosocial stressors. Other group treatment modalities have solved these problems by adapting the group materials to address increased support and case management as well as to address complex health issues. These could be addressed in later adaptations of this group.\n\nIt also appeared that exploring these data with this data point removed would offer some meaningful insights. When this outlier case was removed the data showed an increase in the amount of clinical change into a more meaningful clinically significant range. The data also indicated significant decreases in symptoms of depression (p < 0.093) and somatic symptoms (p < 0.097). These symptom reductions could indicate a reduction from moderate symptoms to minimal symptoms. This would translate to increased ability to effectively engage with work, relationships, and enjoyment of life.\n\nThis study offers initial indication that a resiliency-based SE™ informed group therapy intervention model for reducing negative symptoms of Gender Dysphoria could increase markers of resilience. Future adaptions in the group materials can take into account findings related to chronic illness and life stressors. While the data have significant limitations, it provides a demonstration of the potential efficacy of a therapeutic group model that can be repeatedly replicated, applied and used to help Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming and Gender-Variant persons within communities.\n\nWith tools and self-awareness gained, participating Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming and Gender-Variant persons may become more hopeful and resilient to better manage the multiple challenges that inherently exist through experienced psychosocial barriers, discrimination, and social injustice. Intrinsically, injustice does not go away easily and on its own, and will, unfortunately, remain a strong influential factor in the lives of Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming, and Gender-Variant persons.\n\nThe hope is that this group can help participants to feel less victimized and more self-empowered, to become stronger self-advocates, to become more educated, to build resiliency, and to build unity and decrease isolation. Some have argued that exposure to discrimination and community violence represent a traumatic event in and of itself. These data point toward the possibility of developing capacity to address the impact of multiple forms of discrimination and increased health and mental wellbeing for individuals exposed to toxic interpersonal experiences.\n\nRelative to his therapeutic work with Vietnam Veterans, Bessel van der Kolk (49) observed that Veterans in a group setting could speak with the intensity of traumatic combat experiences, as they found resonance and meaning among the sharing of experiences of other Veterans. Van der Kolk observed a renewed sense of comradeship, vital during their service experiences. “You were either in or out- you either belonged to the unit, or you were nobody, the world is divided between those who know and those who don’t know, people who have not shared in a traumatic experience are not to be trusted because they cannot understand it.” This phenomenon was noted to occur in our Somatic Experiencing® Informed Trans Support and Healing Group. Unlike van der Kolk’s Veterans’ group, who could not make a connection between their wartime experiences and behaviors in their current lives, our group was able to demonstrate the experience of more of a connection.\n\n\nPosttest follow-up measures were conducted during the week following the June 12, 2016 fatal shooting massacre at Pulse Orlando, a gay nightclub in Orlando, FL, USA. Forty-nine people were killed and 53 were injured. This horrific act was portrayed in the media for several weeks, creating a sense of fear, sadness, anxiety, as well as of solidarity in the LGBTQIA community worldwide. We are certain that this event had a significant influence on group participants’ anxiety and stress levels, and their feelings and perceptions of overall safety at the time of post evaluation.\n\nOur group size was relatively small, and the entire demographic make-up of race and ethnicity consisted of eight white participants, with one participant also identifying as “American Indian/Alaska Native,” and another also identifying as “Hispanic/Latino/Latina.” Diversity inclusive of people of color and other races and ethnicities would be a factor of great value for future studies.\n\nFuture Directions of Research\n\nFurther research needs to be done in a larger sample with randomization. This line of research has a real potential to improve the lives of the transgender/gender non-conforming community. More research is needed for the exploration of how SE™ and other trauma-based treatments can address social trauma, which is chronic and persistent, often for a lifetime, in comparison to traumatic events which have no social component, have happened in the past, and which are often time-limited in nature.\n\nAs the literature develops it is possible that this model will be transferable for use in the care and treatment of the effects of social injustice upon other oppressed and marginalized populations. With minor changes, the therapeutic group curriculum can be modified to fit the needs of other specific target populations, or else generalized to target a wider population. SE™ informed segments, such as ANS regulation, social engagement, resourcing, and safety, would remain universal within the curriculum as the foundation of the therapeutic group work. Therapeutic goals would also remain universal as: a general increase in awareness of resources, skills and abilities, increased skills for affect management, increased skills for nervous system regulation, increased capacity for tolerance of “being in their bodies” and managing “real life” situations relating to confrontations and microaggressions, increased resiliency, a decrease of negative symptoms such as depression, anxiety and feelings of social isolation.\n\nAuthor Contributions\n\nPB is principal investigator. He developed protocol for group intervention in collaboration with SH. He wrote multiple sections of the article and compiled all data. SH conducted the group treatment. They developed the treatment protocol in collaboration with PB. They consulted on issues related to the community where the study was conducted. MC was a consultant on the project. He supported IRB document development, research protocol development, made recommendations about outcomes measures, and conducted data analysis and supporting paper write up and submission.\n\nConflict of Interest Statement\n\nPB is an SE™ practitioner (SEP) who derives income from his practice. SH is an SE™ practitioner (SEP) who derives income from their practice and is a training assistant with the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute™. MC is a member of the board of directors for Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute™, who receives a small yearly stipend for that work, and chair of SE™ research coalition, an unpaid position.\n\nThanks to Gina Forbes for lending her creative talents and SE™ knowledge to our curriculum design and content, and coining the “movement interlude.”\n\nFunding. This study was self-funded by authors.\n\nReferences Heller DP Heller L. Somatic Experiencing® in the treatment of automobile accident trauma. USA Body Psychotherapy J (2004) 5:4252. Parker C Doctor RM Selvam R. Somatic therapy treatment effects with tsunami survivors. Traumatology (2008) 14(3):1039.10.1177/1534765608319080 Brom D Stokar Y Lawi C Nuriel-Porat V Ziv Y Lerner K Somatic experiencing for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled outcome study. J Trauma Stress (2017) 30(3):30412.10.1002/jts.22189 Andersen TE Lahav Y Ellegaard H Manniche C. A randomized controlled trial of brief somatic experiencing for chronic low back pain and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Eur J Psychotraumatol (2017) 8(1):1331108.10.1080/20008198.2017.133110828680540 Payne P Levine PA Crane-Godreau MA. Somatic experiencing: using interoception and proprioception as core elements of trauma therapy. Front Psychol (2015) 6(93):118.10.3389/fpsyg.201500093 Gooren LJ. Care of transsexual persons. N Engl J Med (2011) 364:12517.10.1056/NEJMcp1008161 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association (2013). Available from: Cole CM O’Boyle M Emory LE Meyer WJ III. Comorbidity of gender dysphoria and other major psychiatric diagnoses. Arch Sex Behav (1997) 26(1):1326.10.1023/A:10245173024819015577 World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming people, version 7. Int Journal of Transgenderism (2011) 13:165232.10.1080/15532739.2011.700873 Bodlund O Kullgren G. Transsexualism – general outcome and prognostic factors: a five-year follow-up study of nineteen transsexuals in the process of changing sex. Arch Sex Behav (1996) 25(3):30316.10.1007/BF02438167 Gómez-Gil E Zubiaurre-Elorza L Esteva I Guillamon A Godás T Cruz Almaraz M Hormone-treated transsexuals report less social stress, anxiety and depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology (2012) 37:66270.10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.08.010 Devor AH. Witnessing and mirroring: a fourteen stage model of transsexual identity formation. J Gay Lesbian Psychother (2004) 8(1/2):4167.10.1300/J236v08n01_05 Maguen S Shipherd JC Harris HN. Providing culturally sensitive care for transgender persons. Cogn Behav Pract (2005) 12:47990.10.1016/S1077-7229(05)80075-6 Walters PC. Trans pathologization. In: Erickson-Schroth L, editor. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. New York, NY: Oxford University Press (2014). p. 3089. Markman ER. Gender identity disorder, the gender binary, and transgender oppression: implications for ethical social work. Smith Coll Stud Soc Work (2011) 81(4):31427.10.1080/00377317.2011.616839 Simmons H White F. Our many selves. In: Erickson-Schroth L, editor. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. New York, NY: Oxford University Press (2014). p. 323. Grant JM Mottet LA Tanis J Harrison J Herman JL Keisling M. National Transgender Discrimination Survey Report on Health and Health Care. Findings of a Study by the National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (2010). Meier SC Labuski CM. The demographics of the transgender population. In: Baumle AK, editor. International Handbook on the Demography of Sexuality, International Handbooks of Population. (Vol. 5), Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media (2013). p. 289327. Nadal KL Davidoff KC Davis LS Wong Y. Emotional, behavioral, and cognitive reactions to microaggressions: transgender perspectives. Psychol Sex Orientation Gender Diversity (2014) 1(1):7281.10.1037/sgd0000011 Sue DW Capodilupo CM Torino GC Bucceri JM Holer AM Nadal KL Racial microaggressions in everyday life: implications for counseling. Am Psychol (2007) 62:27186.10.1037/0003-066X.62.4.271 Nuttbrock L Hwahng S Bockting W Rosenblum A Mason M Macri M Psychiatric impact of gender-related abuse across the life course of male-to-female transgender persons. J Sex Res (2010) 42(1):1223.10.1080/0022449090306225819568976 Lewis TT Cogburn CD Williams DR. Self-reported experiences of discrimination and health: scientific advances, ongoing controversies, and emerging issues. Annu Rev Clin Psychol (2015) 11:110.10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032814-11272825581238 Carmel T Hopwood R Dickey LM. Mental health concerns. In: Erickson-Schroth L, editor. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. New York, NY: Oxford University Press (2014). p. 30532. Scaer R. The Trauma Spectrum: Hidden Wounds and Human Resiliency. New York: W. W. Norton (2005). Ledoux J. The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life. New York: Touchstone Books (1996). Levine P Frederick A. Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma through the Innate Capacity to Transform Overwhelming Experiences. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books (1997). Bower GH Sivers H. Cognitive impact of traumatic events. Dev Psychopathol (1998) 10:62553.10.1017/S09545794980017959886219 Brady KT Killeen TK Brewenton T Lucerini S. Comorbidity of psychiatric disorders and posttraumatic disorder. J Clin Psychiatry (2000) 61(Suppl 17):2232. Maylou R Bryant R Ehlers A. Prediction of psychological outcomes one year after a motor vehicle accident. Am J Psychiatry (2001) 158:12318.10.1176/appi.ajp.158.8.123111481156 Levine PA. In an Unspoken Voice: How the Body Releases Trauma and Restores Goodness. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books (2010). Leitch ML Vanslyke J Allen M. Somatic Experiencing®: treatment with social service workers following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Soc Work (2009) 54(1):918.10.1093/sw/54.1.9 Levine P Frederick A. Waking the tiger: Healing trauma through the innate capacity to transform overwhelming experiences. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books (1997). Bhat D Carleton JA Malovichko A. Somatic psychotherapy: history, present perspectives and future directions. SEPTI 2014 Paper Presentation. Montreal, Canada (2014). Hopwood R dickey LM. Mental health services and support. In: Erickson-Schroth L, editor. Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community. New York, NY: Oxford University Press (2014). p. 291304. Spitzer RL Williams JW Kroenke K. Patient Health Questionnaire—SADS [Database record] (n.d). Retrieved from PsycTESTS.10.1037/t06164-000 authorship i No. World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF [Database record] (n.d). Retrieved from PsycTESTS.10.1037/t01408-000 Wei M Alvarez AN Ku T Russell DW Bonett DG. Development and validation of a Coping with Discrimination Scale: Factor structure, reliability, and validity. Journal of Counseling Psychology (2010). 57(3):32844.10.1037/a0019969 Heck NC. Group psychotherapy with transgender and gender nonconforming adults: evidence-based practice applications. Psychiatr Clin N Am (2017) 40(1):15775.10.1016/j.psc.2016.10.010 Richmond KA Burnes T Carroll K. Lost in translation: interpreting systems of trauma for transgender clients. Traumatology (2012) 18(1):4557.10.1177/1534765610396726 O’Neill M Kerig P. Attributions of self-blame and perceived control as moderators of adjustment in battered women. J Interpers Violence (2000) 15:103649.10.1177/088626000015010002 Root MPP. Reconstructing the impact of trauma on personality. In: Brown LS Ballou M, editors. Personality and Psychopathology: Feminist Reappraisals. New York, NY: Guilford (1992). p. 22965. van der Kolk BA McFarlane AC Weisaeth L. Traumatic Stress: The effects of the Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society. New York, NY: The Guilford Press (1996). Koetting ME. Beginning practice with preoperative male-to-female transgender clients. J Gay Lesbian Soc Serv (2004) 16(2):99104.10.1300/J041v16n02_06 Lev AI. Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender Variant People and Their Families. New York, NY: Hawthorn (2004). Taylor PJ Saint-Laurent R. Group psychotherapy informed by the principles of somatic experiencing: moving beyond trauma to embodied relationship. Int J Group Psychother (2017) 67(1):S17181.10.1080/00207284.2016.1218282 Ogden P Minton K Pane C. Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy. New York: W. W. Norton (2006). Heller DP Heller L. Crash Course: A Self-Healing Guide to Auto Accident Trauma & Recovery. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books (2001). Heller L LaPierre A. Healing Developmental Trauma: How Early Trauma Affects Self-Regulation, Self-Image, and The Capacity for Relationship. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books (2012). van der Kolk BA. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin (2015).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9859686493873596}
+{"content": "Shares of Holcim Limited ADR (HCMLY) are on watch as they closed the most recent session above the Parabolic SAR line.  The current level of the shares currently stands at 10.22 at the time of writing. \n\n\n\n\nAt the time of writing, the 14-day ADX for Holcim Limited ADR (HCMLY) is 14.88. Many technical chart analysts believe that an ADX value over 25 would suggest a strong trend. A reading under 20 would indicate no trend, and a reading from 20-25 would suggest that there is no clear trend signal. The ADX is typically plotted along with two other directional movement indicator lines, the Plus Directional Indicator (+DI) and Minus Directional Indicator (-DI). Some analysts believe that the ADX is one of the best trend strength indicators available.\n\nSome investors may find the Williams Percent Range or Williams %R as a helpful technical indicator. Presently, Holcim Limited ADR (HCMLY)’s Williams Percent Range or 14 day Williams %R is resting at -70.48. Values can range from 0 to -100. A reading between -80 to -100 may be typically viewed as strong oversold territory. A value between 0 to -20 would represent a strong overbought condition. As a momentum indicator, the Williams R% may be used with other technicals to help define a specific trend.\n\nWhen performing stock analysis, investors and traders may opt to view technical levels. Holcim Limited ADR (HCMLY) presently has a 14-day Commodity Channel Index (CCI) of -69.26. Investors and traders may use this indicator to help spot price reversals, price extremes, and the strength of a trend. Many investors will use the CCI in conjunction with other indicators when evaluating a trade. The CCI may be used to spot if a stock is entering overbought (+100) and oversold (-100) territory.\n\nChecking in on moving averages, the 200-day is at 10.59, the 50-day is 10.25, and the 7-day is sitting at 10.53. Moving averages may be used by investors and traders to shed some light on trading patterns for a specific stock. Moving averages can be used to help smooth information in order to provide a clearer picture of what is going on with the stock. Technical stock analysts may use a combination of different time periods in order to figure out the history of the equity and where it may be headed in the future. MA’s can be calculated for any time period, but two very popular time frames are the 50-day and 200-day moving averages.\n\nShifting gears to the Relative Strength Index, the 14-day RSI is currently sitting at 43.42, the 7-day is 32.21, and the 3-day is currently at 9.38 for Holcim Limited ADR (HCMLY). The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a highly popular momentum indicator used for technical analysis. The RSI can help display whether the bulls or the bears are currently strongest in the market. The RSI may be used to help spot points of reversals more accurately. The RSI was developed by J. Welles Wilder. As a general rule, an RSI reading over 70 would signal overbought conditions. A reading under 30 would indicate oversold conditions. As always, the values may need to be adjusted based on the specific stock and market. RSI can also be a valuable tool for trying to spot larger market turns.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9700383543968201}
+{"content": "Raumfahrt - Russland will ein Landegerät zu Sonnensystem größten Mond Ganymed senden\n\n\n\nAfter years of pressure from Congress and the scientific community, NASA has finally begun formal mission planning to send both an orbiter, possibly launching as early as 2023, and a follow-up lander mission to the Jovian moon Europa. But the US space agency may not be alone in sending probes Jupiter's moons. Russia now says it is going to Ganymede.\n\nIn a promotional video uploaded to YouTube, engineers from the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, discuss a proposed orbiter and lander mission to the largest moon in the solar system. Specific dates are not discussed for this \"Laplace-P\" concept, but the Russians have previously targeted a launch date of 2023, and the video suggests a launch could come in the next decade. Although the commentary is in Russian, the video appears to suggest that Ganymede may be as good a candidate (or better) for life than Europa. Both moons are believed to have large subsurface oceans, but NASA scientists generally believe that Europa's large ocean, which is relatively near the surface and has a rich internal heat source, is likely more conducive to life.\n\nDespite the video, it is not clear how \"real\" the Laplace-P mission actually is. For example, Russia has talked repeatedly about building a permanent lunar base in the 2030s, but the country hasn't made much progress toward that goal. Moreover, the Russian agency's planetary exploration program has somewhat been in state of a shambles in recent decades.\n\nWhereas NASA has explored the Solar System from Mercury to Pluto and beyond, Russia has not had a successful interplanetary mission in more than three decades—since 1984’s launch of Vega 2, a probe to Venus and Halley’s Comet. Russia has also never successfully sent a probe beyond the Martian system, to Jupiter or elsewhere.\n\nAt the same time, landing on Europa or Ganymede represents a step up in difficulty from landing on Mars, as NASA did with the Curiosity probe in 2012. The Jupiter system is congested with many moons, and any spacecraft traveling there must contend with a much more harsh radiation environment and greater distance from Earth. So while a Ganymede lander would be cool as could be, it remains a largely speculative venture at this time.\n\nQuelle: arstechnica", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5736933946609497}
+{"content": "The Science\n\n7spell is scientifically designed, and utilizes principles based on decades of research in learning, retention, and psychology. Here is a summary of the theory and research behind 7spell's effectiveness.\n\nCraik, F., and Tulving, E. \"Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory.\" Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Vol 104(3) (1975): 268-294. Print and PDF.\n\nIn this seminal study performed at the University of Toronto, Canada, the authors performed a series of tests in which they gave the study participants a sequence of words to learn, with information related to each word as it appeared in order. They discovered that when the information provided stimulated the participant's brain to process the word on a more involved level (referred to as \"deep encoding\" or \"degree of elaboration\" in the study), that word was more effectively learned and remembered. With 7spell, the user is given a wide range of additional information about each spelling word, including the word's definition - one of the key factors in enhanced memory, according to this study - as well as usage examples, synonyms, and antonyms.\n\nGelman, B.D., Gruber, M.J., and Ranganath, C. \"States of Curiosity Modulate Hippocampus-Dependent Learning via the Dopaminergic Circuit.\" Neuron, 22 October 2014, 84(2): 486-496. Web.\n\nStudents who are eager to learn are more likely to remember what they have learned, something that the authors of this study demonstrate. They used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to show real-time connections between a person's curiosity about a specific topic, and the production of dopamine, the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and the brain's reward system. The authors also concluded that a higher level of interest and curiosity in a topic or question leads to better memory and enhanced learning. Including exercises that stimulate curiosity, and providing reward mechanisms as part of the study process, also increases a person's ability to absorb and retain information, as the researchers found. 7spell has a text import feature that allows each user to include and incorporate practice material that matches their interests, while learning the spelling of words in those texts. The system also uses several different reward systems to encourage users to continue working towards their defined goals.\n\nGarcia, S.M., Tor, A., and Schiff, T.M. \"The Psychology of Competition: A Social Comparison Perspective.\" Perspectives on Psychological Science, November 2013, 8(6):634-650. Print and web.\n\nEach person is influenced by a unique set of factors related to their own status and progress towards goals, but is also affected to a greater or lesser degree by the achievements and perceived standards of the people around them. This analysis of past and current studies looks at the way people view and are motivated by individual goals as well as societal achievement (competition). The authors conclude that effective use of motivational strategies must take both into account. This is something that 7spell accomplishes by providing each user with the ability to set personal goals, earn reward points, and view their own progress tracking reports, and also to publish all of those results on public social media platforms.\n\nKivetz, R., Urminsky, O., and Zheng, Y. \"The Goal-Gradient Hypothesis Resurrected: Purchase Acceleration, Illusionary Goal Progress, and Customer Retention.\" Journal of Marketing Research, February 2006, 43(1):39-58. Web.\n\nIn a study focusing on the influence of reward-scheme programs on behavior, the authors found that when people see visible progress towards their goals they are more likely to increase the activity required to reach those goals. The study also confirms that most people are also motivated by receiving rewards for completing specific activities, even if those rewards are not immediately transferable to actual material or monetary benefits. Status points, rewards, and real-time progress tracking are all methods used in 7spell to encourage frequent spelling practice by awarding points for the completion of exercises and activities. Because the user can access their progress charts at any time, they will always be able to see how close they are to achieving their personal spelling goals.\n\nButon, M., Winterbauer, N., and Todd, T. \"Relapse processes after the extinction of instrumental learning: Renewal, resurgence, and reacquisition.\" Behavioural Processes, May 2012, 90(1): 130–141. Print and web.\n\nInstrumental learning, also called \"operant conditioning,\" is a method by which behaviors are learned in connection with a stimulus, a reward, or both. In this research done at the University of Vermont, the authors studied the ways in which the information connected to a specific behavior is retained when the stimulus is removed, and how subsequent repetition or reward reinforces information recall and a resumption of previously learned behaviors. They conclude that there are two primary methods of reinforcing active memory and behavior: by creating a different way to test the subject's memory, and by providing the opportunity for intensive focused repetition of that stimulus-behavior response. These two methods are widely used in the 7spell activities and games to create the link between instruction and memory that is so crucial in effective spelling learning on the student's part.\n\nXue, G., Mei, L., Chen, C., Lu, Z-L., Poldrack, R., Dong, Q. \"Spaced Learning Enhances Subsequent Recognition Memory by Reducing Neural Repetition Suppression.\" Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 2011;23(7):1624-1633. Print and web. http://doi:10.1162/jocn.2010.21532\n\nIn this study comparing long-term and short-term memory, the study authors tested the neural activity of participants as they memorized a set of images. Half of the study participants used massed learning techniques, in which each new image was presented multiple times in a row; the other half were given the images in a spaced repetition mode, where the images were shown in alternating order. Although each participant saw each image the same number of times, the people in the spaced-repetition exercise were able to accurately remember more images, and for a longer period of time. Repetition is a key technique in learning spelling, and 7spell incorporates spaced repetition in two ways. First, the system uses randomized selection of spelling words from the user's current list to populate the activities and exercises, ensuring an interval between word reviews. Second, the system's Word Discover feature provides pop-up instant review of the words on that list, again in random order. By providing users with multiple opportunities throughout the day to read and review their words, 7spell provides all of the benefits of the spaced repetition methodology in its spelling instruction.\n\nBlocki, J., Cranor, L., Datta, A., and Komanduri, S. \"Spaced Repetition and Mnemonics Enable Recall of Multiple Strong Passwords.\" Cornell University Library, January 3, 2015. PDF.\n\nSpaced repetition is a memory training tool that relies on frequent and consistent review of information; mnemonics is a memory technique that involves multiple ways of looking at that information, such as the incorporation of images or story lines. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University focused on the combination of spaced repetition and mnemonics in evaluating how best to train people to remember specific pieces of information: computer passwords. They found that by combining the two methodologies, the results in both ease of learning and retention were increased. 7spell uses each method separately and together to help users learn and remember new spelling words by using the same words in multiple exercises, presenting spelling words in a variety of formats, and encouraging users to add information related to each word to make a personal connection that helps them to remember that word and its correct spelling.\n\n\nHow Did April Get Its Name?\n\nCategories: Uncategorized |\n\nEver wonder why the months are named the way they are? What is it about the last month of the year that makes “December” an apt name for it? What about April and March – what are their stories?\n\nWe know for certain that for August through December, the months’ name correspond to their order of appearing in the year. September was the seventh month, October the eighth and so on, back when March was the first month of the year. However, April’s name has nothing to do to its position in the sequence.\n\nApril, the blossoming of Nature\n\nThe most prevalent theory as to how April got its name says that it goes back to the Latin word ‘aprilis’ and the verb ‘aperire,’ both of which denote an opening, to open, or blossom. This is a well-grounded hypothesis considering that April is the time when both animals and nature resume their activities after the long winter. Signaling this activity by naming the month after it seems like a sensible thing to do.\n\nAnother theory, however, says that ‘April’ got its name from the Greek goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite. Again, this could be seen as an attempt to denote the beauty of this time of the year as the trees and flowers begin to blossom, showing off their radiant colors.\n\nApril is a month commonly mentioned in literary works, music and other forms of oral culture and arts. T. S. Eliot’s Waste Land opens with the line: “April is the cruellest month” and George Orwell’s 1984 novel opens with this strong image:\n\n\nApril Proverbs and Sayings\n\nCultures around the world have proverbs about the month of April that help us better understand the significance and role it had to play in their daily lives.\n\n“March Winds and April showers bring forth May flowers”\n\nThis well-known proverb perfectly illustrates how the weather in March and April ensures the abundance of May and early summer.\n\nThis proverb signals the anticipation of spring and all the images this conjures up of blossoming flowers and buzzing nature. In many countries and especially the UK and Ireland, April has heavy rain (or ‘April showers’) due to the jet stream.  The Spanish face the same phenomenon as illustrated by their own saying which is very similar: “En abril, aguas mil.” This proverb says that during the month of April, there’s a lot of rain, ‘millions of water.’\n\nIn previous centuries when people use to forecast weather based on the weather of particular days and months, April was among the months whose weather was under scrutiny. Such forecasts include:\n\n- After a wet April, a dry June\n\n- Fogs in April, floods in June\n\n- Moist April, clear June.\n\nAt the same time, the French have a saying that counsels patience. The proverb says that April is not yet the time to don your summer outfits:\n\n-En avril, ne te découvre pas d’un fil.\n\nThe French caution you not to put away your winter clothes yet as cold is still a fact.\n\nIs there a special proverb or saying in your language about April? Let us know in the comments below!\n\n\nFollow Ultimate Vocabulary on Facebook, Twitter and Googe+ for more tips and advice.\nCheck out eReflect’s Profile on Wikipedia, Youtube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Crunchbase and Training Industry as well!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9958785772323608}
+{"content": "Mark 1:1-20 CEV\n\n1This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.#1.1 the Son of God: These words are not in some manuscripts. 2#Ml 3.1. It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet, “I am sending my messenger to get the way ready for you. 3 # Is 40.3 (LXX). In the desert someone is shouting, ‘Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.’ ” 4So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.” 5From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 # 2 K 1.8. John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey. 7John also told the people, “Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals.#1.7 untie his sandals: This was the duty of a slave. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!” 9About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. 11#Gn 22.2; Ps 2.7; Is 42.1; Mt 3.17; 12.18; Mk 9.7; Lk 3.22. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” 12At once God's Spirit made Jesus go into the desert. 13He stayed there for 40 days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him. 14After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God.#1.14 that comes from God: Or “that is about God.” 15#Mt 3.2. He said, “The time has come! God's kingdom will soon be here.#1.15 will soon be here: Or “is already here.” Turn back to God and believe the good news!” 16As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. 17Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 18Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. 19Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7657661437988281}
+{"content": "Rampant, Vol. 1\n  Show Excerpt\nRelease Date:  \nFile Formats:  \nepub, mobi, pdf\n\nRampant, Vol. 1\n\n2nd Edition\n\nLady Cory has carved out a life for herself not just as a wife to three husbands but also as one of the rulers of the supernatural communities of Northern California—and a college student in search of that elusive degree. When a supernatural threat comes crashing into the hard-forged peace of Green's Hill, she and Green determine that they're the ones in charge of stopping the abomination that created it. To protect the people they love, Cory, Bracken, and Nicky travel to Redding to confront a tight-knit family of vampires guarding a terrible secret. It also leads them to a conflict of loyalties, as Nicky's parents threaten to tear Nicky away from the family he's come to love more than his own life.\n\n\n\nCover Artist: Anne Cain\n\nRecommendations and Updates", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9238297343254089}
+{"content": "Your diet impacts your mood & anxiety levels\n\nDepression anxiety ebtoffical\n\nFood choices have a massive impact of how we feel, perform, look, and age. There is a lot of focus today on “the optimal diet”, with discussions about the exact amount of specific nutrients and fights over nutritional timing. In earnest, we all know that if we eat whole foods, skip the processed stuff and don´t add refined sugar or too much alcohol to our diet, we will live a healthy life.\n\nA “bad” diet has been linked to an increased risk of falling into depression, but it has also been shown that a diet based on high intakes of fruit, vegetables, fish, and whole grains may be associated with a reduced risk of depression (1,2).\n\nA recent 12 week randomized controlled trial tested this approach on patients with major depression. Patients were randomly selected to either a dietary improvement setup or a social support setup, both groups with equal days and actual time in consulting. The diet was in general as mentioned above (the good diet). The diet group showed significant improvement on symptoms, mood and anxiety, compared to the control group (3).\n\nNot depressed? Why should you care? Well, it is estimated that about 6.7% right now suffer from this condition, that’s 16.1 million adults in the U.S (4). Chances are that you, a family member or at least someone in your vicinity will fall into depression.\n\nThe study supports a beneficial role of good dietary choices for changing a depressed state to the better. Keep up your stomach happy and your mind will follow.\n\n\n  1. Jacka et al. Moving towards a population health approach to the primary prevention of common mental disorders. BMC Medicine 2012, 10:149 .\n  2. Jun S Lai et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary patterns and depression in community-dwelling adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2014;99:181–97.\n  4. NIH. Major depression Among Adults. Used 20/3-17\n\nStay Updated\n\nWith the latest science updates. We don’t spam! \n\nBy clicking on subscribe you agree to our Privacy PolicyTerms & Condititions", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.962404191493988}
+{"content": "sun, silhouette, sunbeam, sunlight, tree, sky, lens flare, tranquility, sunset, nature, built structure, beauty in nature, low angle view, tranquil scene, building exterior, scenics, architecture, outdoors, no people, bright\n\nWant to buy this photo?\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.996033251285553}
+{"content": "Farrer Huxley Associates\n\nAlex Swallow\n\n\nAlex Swallow\n\nAssistant Landscape Architect\n\n\nAlex has worked in both London and Sydney and joined FHA in 2018. With an eye for detail, he enjoys exploring the intricacies of how materials function and connect.  \n\nHe has experience on projects ranging from the design of schools and courtyards to large infrastructure works. Alex is a passionate designer driven by a deep concern for the impact that noise pollution from cities is having on the natural environment.\n\nOver the past few years, Alex’s work has also focused on exploring the effect of acoustics and environmental sounds on human experience. His research has been directed towards using sound as a method of increasing social interaction and activating unused spaces. Through his research he has also gained experience in temporary landscape installations and interventions.\n\nAlex enjoys music and is proficient in five musical instruments. He also loves to travel and go on an adventure, especially when hiking or kayaking is involved.\n\n\n2013 - 2017 | BA (Hons), Landscape Architecture, University of New South Wales\n\n\nKey Projects\n\nWinstanley and York Road Estate Regeneration, London Regeneration and Estate Enhancement (Mixed-use), RIBA Stages 2-6\n\nNorthwold Estate, London Residential, London, RIBA Stage 2-3", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.999988317489624}
+{"content": "(Reopens FGN 47)\n\nThe numbers from South Korea declined by 4.2 per cent, causing it to fall from the third leading place of origin to fourth place.\n\nAfter these top four countries, no country represents more than three per cent of the total international students in the United States.\n\nDespite a one per cent decline, Canada remains the fifth leading place of origin, the report said.\n\nEach of the top 25 places of origin had more than 6,000 students in the United States.\n\nThere were increases in the number of students from 16 of the top 25 places of origin, including China, India, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Iran, United Kingdom, Nepal, Nigeria, Kuwait, France, Indonesia, Venezuela, Malaysia, Colombia, and Spain.\n\nAs for American students going abroad, Europe remains the top destination.\n\nOpen Doors 2016reports study abroad to Europe increased by 5 per cent in 2014/15, driving study abroad growth.\n\nThe United Kingdom remains the leading destination for American students, followed by Italy, Spain, France and China ? which remained the fifth largest host destination despite a seven per cent decrease.\n\nThere were decreases in study abroad to China (down 7 per cent) and India (down three per cent to 4,438 students).\n\nSeveral leading destinations in Asia saw increases as hosts for US study abroad: Japan (up 1.3 per cent) and South Korea (up nine per cent). PTI LKJ SUA AKJ SUA\n\nDo You Like This Story?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.998227596282959}
+{"content": "Marking Progress\n\nIt’s funny to observe the steps we take to mark our accomplishments. Last Thursday, the medical and corporate copywriters discussed our individual methods. For Laura, our lead creative copywriter, it’s highlighting an item once it has been written and then striking it through once it is approved. I mark all written items and then organize all hard copies depending upon its approval status. Andrew on the other hand, stays green by keeping a mental tally of completed works.\n\nWhy do we do this? To see the visual progression of a search engine optimized website, medical script, or eLearning program. As these projects often require a good-deal of technical copywriting, the task can seem overwhelming at first. But, as we check off each written page of copy, we can have visual validation of our progress.\n\nFor the past two weeks, I have been working on content for our new medical website and enjoy grabbing that highlighter at the end of each work-day to mark my progress and I find myself taking the same approach at home. Since we’ve started work on our house, it’s been difficult dealing with the overwhelming list of improvements. From insulating the house, repairing the roof, and rerouting a new floor plan to deciding what heating system to use and what bathroom fixtures to choose, it’s easy to crumble under the pressure. So, with each completed, task, we mark them off our long lists of ‘To Dos’ and feel a sense of accomplishment as the completed check-marks grow.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9932253956794739}
+{"content": "Sean “Penned” First Novel Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff\n\nWell known for his decades-long career in Hollywood as an actor, writer, producer, and director, these days Sean Penn is focusing on his writing. While Penn has previously authored opinion pieces, and worked as a war correspondent, his debut novel titled “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff,” presents a narrative featuring the main character, Bob Honey, a septic-tank salesman who doubles as a contract killer for the US government. The New York Times calls the book “a riddle wrapped in an enigma cloaked in crazy.” “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” is a thought-provoking novel, and includes such thick and heady vocabulary and prose that the reader may need a dictionary to understand the nuanced dystopian world that Penn describes.\n\nBob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” is rife with commentary on the current sociopolitical climate in the United States and the world, which consequently may lead readers to believe that the novel could double as an opinion piece, although Penn disagrees. In an interview with Vogue, Penn denies the idea of his work as opinion and states that anyone who sees “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” in that way “picked up the wrong book.” Despite this declaration, Penn references a plethora of current topics including the president, El Chapo, the #metoo movement, race and police tension, internet rights, mental health, the effects of the media, and recent events such as the Las Vegas concert shooting. Incontestably, Penn offers ample commentary on current events in society throughout the writing of “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff.”\n\nFurthermore, not only does Penn describe current world events, but he finds inspiration from his personal experiences and conviction in helping others. “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” describes the main character assisting in aid efforts after a hurricane, just as Penn did after a hurricane in Haiti in 2010, and after Hurricane Katrina. Penn has also worked as a war correspondent, while Bob Honey surveys the after effects of war in Iraq. Seemingly, Bob Honey has inherited certain aspects of his worldview directly from the life and times of his creator.\n\nPenn’s debut novel is chock-full of events and ideas inspired by the present day, in addition to the author’s personal experiences and ideals. “Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff” is satirical, garrulous, and thought provoking, and may require breaks to process this novel that illustrates the world as understood by Penn.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9102410078048706}
+{"content": "ZIKT Meaning and Definition\n\nAstrological definition for ZIKT abbreviation. A list of ZIKT acronyms with corresponding meaning is located in the end of this web page.\nAnalysis and Definition for ZIKT\nLife Path Number 3.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat hides behind ZIKT? Secret meaning of the letters. Here we have described the meaning of each letter of QYK in numerology.\n\n  • Z has special meaning in ZIKT. Demonstrating the great power, the form of Z keeps us alert. It also stands for the truth and justice for all. Z reflects financial safety, because its base (material things), justice as a result of action (antenna located in the center), and logical thinking (the horizontal antenna at the top).\n\n\n  • K has special meaning in ZIKT. Here you can see two antennas, one of which is directed to the sky, and the second to the earth. They are linked in the center of the vertical axis, which reflects the emotional field (its main function). The whole resembles three lines, one of which takes energy from the top (which means intuition), and the second gets it from the heart (standing for impulses). The last line gets energies from the earth.\n\n\nAcronyms Like ZIKT\nAbout astrologicalmeaning.com", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8346467018127441}
+{"content": "A Hunting Gear for spring animal chasing\n\nInclination to maneuver around in their fat frameworks as well as large teams make animal the Eatfun hunters usually used waterfowl hunting goals. A animal chasing experience is obviously a satisfying and pleasing understanding, however any talented animal finder might inform you should you choose not provide the animal chasing equipment that is necessary that you are hard to finish up pleased with success. The minor necessary equipment that he must be given by any animal finder includes something to induce anything once they have been shot down to obtain something to decimate the animal, the animal, and the animal. The apparatus issues that are acclimated to efficiently draw with a hunting area that is selected in herds of animal are replicas. In front of animal at whatever stage views another mind of animal on the ground because it Eatfun hunter over a landing site that is possible.\n\n\nThe animal suppose the top on the ground has arrived there while there is nutrition on the ground for that cause that place, creating the top Eatfun hunter prepared to home because pursuit of nutrition. Categories of reproductions may be employed to technique into landing territorial, receiving them into selection of the maverick’s tool rushes of animal. Yet another thing designed for predators to draw in animal is simply perhaps an animal hunter, or perhaps a construction that duty seems similar to those that animal make. A spring animal consumes trusts and the sound that another animal is nearby, creating the animal really looks for the noise, consequently which makes it to maneuver ever nearer to the maverick. Likely the Eatfun hunter’s large device an animal finder should share with viably chase animal with him is just guns that will be clearly used to destroy the animal. Guns that individuals for that most part use to quest animal are two important types are shotguns and guns. The shotgun efficient over a more little variety compared with gun bearing in mind modify, dispatches a dash of topic items introduced buckshot over a far more intensive area, that makes it the less complicated tool to goal.\n\nUse shotguns once they will be truly near to their goals 토토먹튀 hunters constantly. The gun is just an Eatfun hunter traditional type of tool that dispatches just one, directed concept that Eatfun hunter along its trip to improve precision. An animal finder will utilize a tool to take animal over extents out. Once you have shot them to obtain the animal, a certain standpoint in animal chasing equipment that is effective is just a method. A particular device is not necessary for this about the off-chance that you must take animal ashore moreover you would not worry travelling in to the available to obtain your wipes out yourself, nevertheless, you will totally desire to provide something to assist you say your killings if you go over a stream or river.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5733028650283813}
+{"content": "[Stretch Bands] Exercise Bands Set, TopElek Fitness Resistance Bands Set with 5 Fitness Tubes/Handles/Door Anchor/Ankle Straps/Carrying Pouch/Workout Guides, Best for Men and Women\n\nbuy now\n\n\nFrom Our Customer:\nA: I love to workout but because of my tight schedules I can’t go to Gym regularly. So, I usually workout at home when I can’t go to Gym. So, I usually buy home workout set.\n\nB: Good for training at home. Don’t spend money on gym.\n\nC: Very well thought out and feels strong and durable. Ideal for anyone who doesn’t have room for a gym or who travels a lot.\n\nNote: Do NOT rub or cut exercise bands with anything sharp!\n\nDurable Latex Tubes\n\nAdd Varieties to Your Workout\n\nQuestions & Answers\nQuestion: Where can I get the workout ideas?\nAnswer: We provide some basic ideas, and you can find more on YouTube.\n\nQuestion: Can you add two or more bands together for extra resistance?\nAnswer: Of course you can. You can use different bands to get different tensions.\n\nQuestion: What are the maintenance requirements to ensure these bands don’t wear or break?\nAnswer: Please make sure your bands are not rubbed or cut by something sharp while using.\n\n5 x Resistance Bands\n2 x Foam Handles\n2 x Ankle Straps\n1 x Door Anchor Attachment\n1 x Carrying Pouch\n1 x Workout Guide\n11 Resistance Band Sets — Include 5 different-colored bands: Black(30lbs) > Blue(25lbs) > Red(20lbs) > Green(15lbs) > Yellow(10lbs), 2 Cushioned Handles, 1 Door Anchor, 2 Ankle Straps and a Carry Bag. Bands are suitable for both men and women.\nPremium Quality — Sturdy latex exercise bands, nylon door anchor, handles and ankle straps will not distort or snap even under strong tension. The carabiners are easy to detach from resistance bands and convenient to replace.\nPortable Resistance Bands — This resistance cord kit comes with a cloth pouch. The portability and versatility of the bands make them ideal for workout while traveling.\nWarranty — Every TopElek product includes 45 day money back, 18 month worry-free warranty!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9986380338668823}
+{"content": "Mugai Ryu\n\nMugai Ryu Iaido is an old, authentic martial art of the Samurai. It was founded 1693 and passed down the generations. The style has a deep connection to Zen Buddhism and has a plain beauty with direct efficient techniques and a characteristic calmness and sharp attention.\n\nFounder of Mugai Ryu\n\nInyoshin Dojo is the official representative for the whole of the UK.\nMugai Ryu is an open and inclusive style giving everybody an opportunity to train. Everyone is welcome to train without prejudice.\nThe students will be taught Bushido as a way of self-development. Also known as the way of Zen.\n\nDavid Jackson, demonstrating Mugai Ryu\n\nKata (Forms) are trained with real swords. Until the Master degree, or Dan level, Iaito are used. Iaito are training Katana made of steel, but not sharpened. Kata training helps the Iaidoka to work on his posture, charisma and presence.\nAfter gaining some experience, Kumitachi (actual combat) will be taught, using Bokuto (wooden swords).\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.893176794052124}
+{"content": "دانلود مقاله ISI انگلیسی شماره 23907\nعنوان فارسی مقاله\n\nچطور مردم تصمیم واقعی بلند مدت می گیرند : یک مورد از آماده سازی بازنشستگی\n\nکد مقاله سال انتشار مقاله انگلیسی ترجمه فارسی تعداد کلمات\n23907 2012 22 صفحه PDF سفارش دهید 15687 کلمه\nخرید مقاله\nپس از پرداخت، فوراً می توانید مقاله را دانلود فرمایید.\nعنوان انگلیسی\n\nPublisher : Elsevier - Science Direct (الزویر - ساینس دایرکت)\n\nJournal : Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Volume 81, Issue 1, January 2012, Pages 39–60\n\nکلمات کلیدی\nفرآیند تصمیم گیری - برنامه ریزی - قاعده کلی - پس انداز بازنشستگی - امور مالی خانگی\nکلمات کلیدی انگلیسی\nDecision process, Planning, Rule of thumb, Retirement saving, Household finance\nپیش نمایش مقاله\nپیش نمایش مقاله چطور مردم  تصمیم واقعی بلند مدت می گیرند : یک مورد از آماده سازی بازنشستگی\n\nچکیده انگلیسی\n\nLarge variations in retirement wealth are common, with some households accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars and others accumulating next to nothing. We examine to what extent formal planning or simple rules of thumb contribute to these differences in wealth accumulation. In particular, we investigate whether those who follow simple rules of thumb or those who come up with more complete plans accumulate more wealth than those who take an unsystematic approach. We test this empirically using a specifically designed survey about retirement preparation. We find that people who rely on a rule of thumb behave like literal planners. However, people without any systematic approach save substantially less. Our results, taken together with evidence from psychology, suggest that financial planning advice based on simple rules of thumb may be helpful for those who currently take no systematic approach.\n\nمقدمه انگلیسی\n\nHouseholds differ markedly in their wealth accumulation for retirement. Attempts to understand these differences, such as Ameriks et al. (2003), Bernheim et al. (2001), Beshears et al. (2008), Laibson et al. (1998), Lusardi and Mitchell (2007), Saez (2009) and Scholz et al. (2006) have taken various approaches. People may differ in their budget constraints, information, discount rates, the functional form of their discount rates (such as hyperbolic discounting), whether they engage in planning, or their financial literacy. In this paper, we consider the role of what we will dub decision processes, i.e. the steps one takes to make a choice. Bernheim et al. (2001) suggest that the extent to which accumulated retirement wealth varies across households is difficult to reconcile with the classical life cycle model. Traditionally, economists assume that choices are the outcome of optimization over consumption in the presence of a budget constraint. Agents are assumed to identify the choice that leads to the highest satisfaction out of all feasible choices. In many domains, this optimization process is fairly straightforward, most notably for choices that do not involve long time horizons or substantial uncertainty. In contrast, in the domain of life cycle saving, literal optimization requires engaging in contingent planning and backward induction. Indeed, most economists agree that people do not literally engage in optimizing in this domain. Rather, there is consensus that people's behavior should be understood “as if” determined by an optimization process (Friedman, 1953). Interestingly, though, economists have remained surprisingly vague about what the “as-if” metaphor would mean in practice. In other words, economists have paid little attention to how real people actually arrive at the retirement savings decisions that they make. A growing literature has started to fill this gap. In particular, Ameriks et al. (2003), and Lusardi and Mitchell (2007) provide evidence that those who plan for their retirement accumulate more retirement wealth. What remains an open question is which precise aspect of planning, i.e. which decision process, leads to the positive relationship between “planning” and the accumulation of retirement wealth. Is it calculating a detailed savings plan? Or could it be that a simple rule of thumb may also work as a “plan” to boosting wealth accumulation? We define a decision process to consist of a series of steps that one takes to make a choice. In this paper, we consider three potential prototypes of decision processes people may adopt when deciding about their retirement savings. We dub the first prototype the literal planning approach. This relies on careful intertemporal budget calculations, perhaps based on financial software or expert advice. We dub the second prototype the rule-of-thumb approach. In contrast to the literal planning approach, some individuals may not actually engage in any formal planning process. Rather, they may follow some simple rules of thumb such as putting aside a fixed percentage of their monthly earnings. Finally, some individuals may not engage in any planning at all nor consciously follow any specific rule. We dub the latter the unsystematic approach. Crucially, individuals’ decision processes may differ in terms of the degree of their sophistication and therefore how costly they are to implement. Gathering detailed information for working out a careful plan may require a substantial amount of time. In contrast, copying a simple rule of thumb from a friend or simply maximizing the company match for a 401(k) plan does not require a large time investment. Importantly, the costs of working out a careful plan may differ across individuals. It may require little effort for someone with substantial mathematical or accounting skills. On the other hand, it may be very burdensome for people with low planning skills and to those with a high disutility from thinking about economic issues. Decision processes should be distinguished from preferences over consumption profiles. Intertemporal preferences determine the optimal choice of lifetime consumption profiles. However, finding out the choice that maximizes intertemporal preferences may be costly due to bounded rationality. As a result, individuals may make choices that differ from the preference-maximizing ones. Individuals may use simplified planning or rules of thumb as a procedure to come up with a savings choice. Individuals with identical preferences over intertemporal consumption streams may easily make different choices if they differ in terms of cognitive abilities or the propensity to plan, and hence in their decision making process. In this paper, we investigate how the three prototypes of decision processes, literal planning, a rule of thumb, and the unsystematic approach, contribute to differences in wealth accumulation. Bernheim et al. (2001) posit that observed variation in wealth at retirement is likely to be caused by deviations from “rational, farsighted optimization” and that differences are more consistent with a rule of thumb. However, previous research has not had access to data that could directly measure whether individuals follow a plan based on farsighted optimization or instead follow a simple rule of thumb or even exhibit an unsystematic approach to life cycle saving. For our analysis, we use a novel data set that has been collected for the purpose of this study. These data allow us to categorize individuals according to the three prototypes mentioned above by means of specifically designed survey questions. We first examine whether all of the three prototypes can actually be observed. We investigate their relative frequency as well as the determinants that lead individuals to adopt either prototype. The main topic of the paper is then to explore whether all three prototypes of decision processes lead to comparable savings outcomes or whether they are associated with systematic differences in outcomes. Our data come from a detailed survey module on decision behavior that we fielded with the American Life Panel at the RAND Corporation. Our module consists of questions on how individuals proceed when making their retirement savings decisions, as well as questions on choice outcomes and individual characteristics. In contrast to our survey module, traditional economic data sets typically contain only the latter two. We present two main findings. First, the planning and rule-of-thumb approaches are associated with substantially higher retirement wealth accumulation than the unsystematic approach. Second, we do not find any statistically significant difference between the outcomes for planners and rule-of-thumb savers. Thus, rule-of-thumb types behave as if they were planners. In Section 2, we discuss evidence from psychology of how even a randomly assigned rule of thumb can change behavior. In light of this evidence, our results suggests that a rule of thumb may be an effective device for retirement saving for individuals who find working out a careful plan too demanding. Our paper is closely related to the papers of Ameriks et al. (2003) and Lusardi and Mitchell (2007). Both investigate the role of planning for wealth accumulation and find that planning does indeed have an economically significant effect on wealth accumulation. A crucial difference between these two papers and our own is our aim to investigate multiple decision processes rather than just “planning.” In particular, we address the question whether adopting a simple rule of thumb leads to a similar amount of wealth accumulation as working out a careful plan. This question is important from a policy perspective; advice in the form of a simple rule of thumb is by definition simpler than a plan and may be an effective way to help those who do not have a sophisticated plan. Overall, our finding is that those who do not work out any plan but simply rely on a rule of thumb behave in a similar way as proper planners. In contrast, those following an unsystematic approach save substantially less. This suggests that treating both rule-of-thumb and unsystematic-approach people just as one single “non-planning” category as in the analysis of Ameriks et al. (2003) and Lusardi and Mitchell (2007) may not reveal the full picture. A further important difference between the work of Ameriks et al. (2003) and ours relates to differing samples. Their work is based on a highly skilled sample of TIAA-CREF participants. In contrast, our sample comes from the American Life Panel and is more representative for the overall population. Rodepeter and Winter (2003) provide an in-depth discussions of the literature on rule-of-thumb behavior in the domain of life cycle saving and simulate the outcomes resulting from various rules of thumb. While many authors have considered the use of a rule of thumb for savings,1 to our knowledge we are the first to measure their prevalence or their effect on wealth accumulation using micro-data. The rest of the paper is organized as follows. Section 2 outlines the psychology of planning and wealth accumulation and spells out our main hypothesis. Section 3 presents our data and outlines the definitions of decision making types used for analyzing the data. Section 4 investigates the relationship between types and retirement wealth accumulation. Section 5 considers several robustness checks. Section 6 concludes.\n\nنتیجه گیری انگلیسی\n\nIn this paper we have addressed whether the adoption of different decision making processes leads to systematically different levels of accumulated retirement wealth. Interest in this question arises for several reasons. First, previous research has found that variables related to the classical life cycle model do not explain much of the observed variation in retirement wealth. Second, knowing more about individual decision processes in the realm of retirement savings has practical consequences for a good design of a pension system. Third, addressing this question relates to a fundamental methodological issue in economics: whether or not decision processes are relevant for decision outcomes. Famously, Friedman (1953) suggested that decision processes are irrelevant. He argued that, even if some (or the majority of) people did not literally optimize by means of a careful planning process, their behavior would nevertheless look “as if” they optimized or had made a careful plan. While we cannot be sure that our planners are literally optimizing, they are calculating retirement needs and savings rates necessary to achieve those needs. At some fundamental level, this is similar in spirit to solving the life-cycle model. Our results allow us to conclude that rule-of-thumb types behave “as if” they were planners in that they accumulate a similar amount of wealth. This finding is novel and may be very welcome since, for a substantial part of the population, understanding the logic of a sophisticated plan may be rather difficult. On the other hand, we find that planner and rule-of-thumb types accumulate substantially more retirement wealth than the remaining category that we have dubbed unsystematic. Thus, decision processes do matter. The unsystematic type category counts for about one third of our sample. Hence, the behavior of a substantial fraction of the population does not look “as if” it is derived from a careful plan. Because of this, variation in decision behavior does indeed contribute to explaining part of the variation in observed retirement wealth. Building on the research of Ameriks et al. (2003) and Lusardi and Mitchell (2007), our results show that non-planners are not a homogenous group. Half of the non-planners are in fact rule-of-thumb types whose outcomes in terms of wealth accumulation are similar to planners. Our paper also has implications for the discussion about the validity of the life cycle model. The existence of unsystematic types and their much lower level of savings adds to the literature that refutes the life cycle model, while the behavior of rule-of-thumb types supports it. Thus, our research points to the importance of considering multiple models of behavior to describe subsets of the population. Our results suggest two main implications for policy making. First, it is important to be aware that people use different processes to make retirement savings decisions. In particular, unsystematic types may react to changes in pension policy differently from the other types. Economists should try to account for heterogeneous decision types in their theoretical models. This is all the more an issue given that all three decision making categories are substantial in size. Second, our results show that simple rules of thumb may be a powerful device for accumulating retirement wealth. We cannot make any strong conclusions that rules of thumb have a causal influence on wealth based on our data. However, there is a substantial body of evidence from psychology on the causal effect of such rules on behavior related to the achievement of long-term goals such as health behavior. This evidence suggests that at least part of the positive association between rules of thumb and retirement wealth may reflect a causal effect from a rule of thumb on wealth. If this is indeed the case, then it may be very helpful to spread information about simple rules of thumb that lead to an adequate level of retirement wealth for a range of representative cases. This may lead to a spread of adequate levels of retirement saving among the population by means of a non-intrusive policy measure.\n\nخرید مقاله\nپس از پرداخت، فوراً می توانید مقاله را دانلود فرمایید.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7037645578384399}
+{"content": "Friday, 16 May 2014\n\nWILL They??\n\nAFN, executive, regionals, PTO's and Confederacy must force the govts to deal with each nation. AANDC has regional offices that can develop capacity agreements to deal with administering respective nations/communities/freedom schools /home schoolers own education acts/regulations/curriculum. Of course, we already have the resources in our communities to deliver education to our students inside as well as outside the current education system. Lack of money and resources isnt so much the problem as the lack of will, coordination and faith that we can develop our own systems while incorporating conventional methods.\n\nChange The Game By Not Playing At All\n\nWe cant keep fighting colonial government for something we can and should be doing ourselves.\nResurgence of our traditions, return to use of the land by taking only what you need for sustenance, medicines, prayers and teaching.\nAll of these laws, policies and politics won't mean a damn thing when they come to lay pipe, build wells, steal water and remove people. Its going to come down to on the land protection.\nSetting up camps, freedom schools &  mapping where the sacred sites and traditional use areas are, so we prove we are actually USING the lands. We will have the basis of ongoing use of the land once we get out there.\nThe chiefs, Confederacy,  PTOs can still be relevant by directing their resources to local communities for things such as survival training,  traditional land use, mapping, freedom schools and direct action TRAINING - so we can be prepared to minimize the possibility of arrests, \"injunctions\" by knowing and exercising our rights based on court cases, international law, and most importantly inherent.\nRather than react to government and colonial structures of AFN, why not draft declarations that we are returning to the land, that we are inherently free, that we are responsible to the land, water and people.\nCan they stop you from being free? Hell no. Change the game by not playing at all.\n\nWednesday, 7 May 2014\n\nEducation Trumps Politics\n\nFocus on strategy while establishing nationhood should be the priority of our actions rather than depending on AFN Executive to speak for the Nations.  We should not be under the illusion that a new National Chief is the answer or even that AFN is the answer.\n\nBut as it the chiefs, regional, PTO's, and AFN executive not realize how much potential and leverage they have to show the government of canada that we have the potential to cripple the education system off reserve?\n\nPulling our children from the system to being under the First Nations jurisdiction, even just for a short time, would be very effective in changing policy. \n\nTake a look at Saskatchewan for example;  There are approximately 4000 First Nations funded students that attend provincial schools and depending on tuition agreements that number could be approximately $40 million.  Thats $40 million that we can rightfully hold from the provinces.  Thats 4000 students that can learn in an environment that respects their culture, language and land.\n\nWe all know that AFN as it is today and prior to Atleos resignation, cannot serve its the purpose because of the many diverse communities. Why is the executive not listening to Ontario Regional Chief Stan Beardy when he asks that the confederacy of nations be revived?  POWER AND STATURE is the reason. The ones in control do not wish to relinquish it.  They are clinging onto their  chiefdom and 'job' rather than duties.\n\nSo while it is still here, we should use the AFN and PTO's as a tool by accessing and using their capacity to meet, coordinate, implement and force the government to meet with the First Nations or territories directly.  Force the AFN executive and the structure as it is now to empower nations and provide resources to meet and formulate nation building.\n\nThe AFN executive must hear the voice of their people prior to the May 15th and May 27th meetings.  They cannot rely on their technicians to guide their hearts.   After such, the AFN executive and PTO's must listen to the grassroots and assist in Nationhood building which could include providing templates for our own respective Nations education acts and assist in making the transition as easy as possible.   While many Chiefs of First Nations are busy running local band administration, politics and the front line, regional chiefs have the capacity to forum with members to see where they go from here and provide recommendations.\n\nUntil there is a body that can effectively force the government and industry to deal with the nations, we must use the resources of the AFN and PTO's while maintaing autonomy.   The AFN and executive are not rights holders, rather the AFN executive should be forcing the government to deal with our nations and territories directly.  \n\nIf there is to be an advocating body it it to be a grassroots membership directing the path.  Since there is no such body, the Confederacy of Nations would be the most inclusive of what is presently out there.  As I said above, I do not see the executive taking a chance on invoking such a logical and powerful structure. \nIf the AFN executive fails to hear the voices they will prove they are irrelevant and redundant.\n\nThe only solutions I feel is effective is local jurisdiction and responsibility.\n\nWe need not to beg the government to recognize our inherent right to educating our children.  We do not need them to give us permission to do everything necessary for our future generations.\n\nWe must establish curriculum based on our traditions, worldview and also include conventional education then implement it.\n\nWe have the solutions in our communities and the resources are on the front lines.  The educators, the parents, the elders, knowledge keepers and most importantly the youth are these resources and they should not be underestimated or ignored.\n\nThe present Education system does not meet the needs of our cultural identity, language, learning styles, the consideration of family dynamics, ceremony, and history.  So rather than forcing our children to accommodate the needs of an an education system that doesn't respect their needs, we should be forcing the education to accommodate our children's needs.  An action such as this would force the government to consult with First Nations or Territories directly.\n\nAn action like this is NOT idealistic or radical.  Its pride, faith and inherent knowledge that makes it possible.\n\nMonday, 5 May 2014\n\nProof is in the pudding\n\nWe are being put to the test and now is the time to show what we are capable of.\n\nFrom my perspective, I feel we as grassroots people should approach PTO's, Band councils, Tribal councils and FN urban service providers and begin strategy on a national call to action.  What would this would look like:\n\nPull students from the schools for the most part of June.  Call it National Cultural Resurgence & Education Month, if you may. \n\nReturn to community building and empowerment.  Freedom schools can be set up concentrating on language revitalization, cultural teachings & storytelling, land based education in medicines, botany, hunting, tracking and survival skills.\n\nCall a strike for all on reserve teachers & administrators to walk out of colonial structures and constraints and onto the land for the survival of our people by providing your knowledge.\n\nWe have the resources, intelligence, capabilities and the heart to accomplish this.  There is no barriers to such an action.  Working together to send a message not only the government but more importantly to our youth - \"WE WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN\".  \"Youth are our future leaders and we should support them\", lets prove this to them by taking ACTION.  \n\nThis is a call to all Chiefs, Councilors, educators, service providers to meet with the grassroots people and come up with a plan to PROVE we will exercise our jurisdiction of our children's education.\n\nA couple examples that it IS possible and CAN be done:\nThe Akwesasne Freedom School (AFS) was founded in 1979 by Mohawk parents concerned with the lack of cultural and linguistic services available in local public schools.  As an independent elementary school, AFS has existed on a shoestring budget for over 25 years. In 1985, the parents who administer the school made a historic decision to adopt a total Mohawk immersion curriculum. It was a historic decision. AFS was the first to implement this curriculum and did so without approval or funding from state, federal or provincial governments. By focusing on our young people, we reverse the assimilation process and ensure that the Mohawk people do not lose their language, culture and identity.The school continues to immerse its students in levels Pre-K to 8 in the Kanienkéha (Mohawk) language and culture. All instruction, as well as recess periods, outdoor activities, field trips, meals and extracurricular activities are conducted in the Mohawk language.\nIn the winter of 2005 - Rontewennanónhnha – Ganienkeh’s first total immersion school became a reality. Experienced Kanien’kehà:ka language teachers and program developers were recruited for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to develop Kanien’kehà:ka language programs at Ganienkeh. Programs are being developed and implemented that will work and are not tainted by the bureaucratic constraints of “Indian Country” schools still dependent on funding from US and or Canadian sources. Our education is truly in our control and this was mandated and insisted upon by our youth who truly appreciate one of our greatest resources – our language, our direct link to the natural world around us.\nMother Earths Childrens Charter School\nCanadas first and only Indigenous Charter school\nOur Vision\nRediscovering the gifts and potential given to them by the Creator, our children will achieve personal excellence and fulfillment.\nOur Mission\nTo wholistically nurture, guide and challenge each child’s spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional self through traditional Indigenous teachings.\nAnishinaabek Gardens Homeschool Academy is a private homeschool located in Michigan but available online for all families across the world. This is an umbrella school for families that need private school enrollment with little interference over their educational activities. Families may purchase their own curriculum of their choice or we can plan a curriculum specifically for their needs. You may request assistance with transcripts, graduation activities, and homeschool advising. \n\nSaturday, 3 May 2014\n\nKnowledge is Free\n\nAutonomous education is what I prefer rather than having our children herded into a system and curriculum based on colonial constructs.  \nThe free will to choose what is best for our children rather than a one size fits all model. We are built of many nations and to think that legislation, even if we were the ones writing the regulations - the rich diversity of our culture would be sacrificed to some extent.\nThe ability to choose, what parents and their children feel necessary to learn,  is true freedom.  Working with like minded people to develop their own curriculum,  support and share  knowledge is liberation.  \nDeveloping Freedom schools, home-schools, charter schools and co-ops is what I would love to see. Something like this takes coordination, commitment and resources.  \nIf there was a fight I am willing to put all my dedication into it would be gathering these resources and pressuring the government to also provide. Regardless of what the government does or doesn't do, I believe we can still do what is necessary for our childrens future. \nOnce we begin to establish nationhood and modelling holistic education, governance, protection; others will follow suit.  Indigenous as well as those not originally from Turtle Island will see these models as a concept that works to not only protect humanity but Mother Earth as well.\nWe will provide cultural teachings, language and land based education to our children as priority while incorporating math, science and other subjects given in conventional education systems. \nShifting the worldview that success isn't based on western concepts of materialism and financial wealth to the worldview that what we as Indigneous people know - success based on the wellbeng, health and comfort of our families and Mother Earth.\n\nIf there is to be any mobilization against government it should be done as an act of resurgence rather than reaction.There is a great opportunity now to pressure the government by exercising our jurisdiction of education.  It is my belief that if a mass mobilization of parents, educators, traditional knowledge keepers and Elders liberated their children from schools, even for just a short time, as we establish more secure means of teaching our own, we can send a message to the government, school boards and provincial regulators.  They will see and feel the potential results that we are a force to be reckoned with.  They will see that they must heed our warning and provide the resources necessary to make Indigenous peoples education a priority.   With all the technology available, the possibilities for reaching many is endless. Satellite schools can be set up in homes, halls, band offices and even in parks on the land.  Free universities that provide every bit of relevant concepts that conventional institutions teach can be a reality.  Knowledge is free, degrees are not.  It is the ability to exercise our responsibilities that we are fighting for.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8602361679077148}
+{"content": "Support the documentation of Aboriginal cultural landscapes\n\nFormats and tools\n\nUnit Description\nAssessment Tool\nan assessor resource that builds a framework for writing an assessment tool\nAssessment Template\nAssessment Matrix\nWiki Markup\nEvidence Guide\ncreate an evidence guide for workplace assessment and RPL applicants\nCompetency Mapping Template\nObservation Checklist\n\nSelf Assessment Survey\nMoodle Outcomes\nRegistered Training Organisations\nTrying to find someone to train or assess you? This link lists all the RTOs that are currently registered to deliver AHCASW307, 'Support the documentation of Aboriginal cultural landscapes'.\nGoogle Links\nReference books for 'Support the documentation of Aboriginal cultural landscapes' on This online store has a huge range of books, pretty reasonable prices, free delivery in Australia *and* they give a small commission to for every purchase, so go nuts :)\n\nElements and Performance Criteria\n\n\nPerformance criteria\n\nElements describe the essential outcomes.\n\n\n1. Identify the characteristics of Aboriginal cultural landscapes on Country\n\n1.1 Identify Aboriginal cultural landscapes and associated sites and features of cultural significance\n\n1.2 Determine boundaries and extent of Country\n\n1.3 Apply the concept of lore/law in the land\n\n1.4 Describe Aboriginal cultural landscapes in ecological and archaeological terms, Aboriginal cultural language and spiritual terms, and traditional Aboriginal economic terms\n\n1.5 Identify archaeological evidence of landforms\n\n2. Participate in investigations of cultural and historical records of an Aboriginal cultural landscape\n\n2.1 Identify from relevant databases or websites whether any historical records or previous research is available for the site\n\n2.2 Participate in research activities to determine traditional understanding of the cycle of the seasons and meteorological phenomena, and of landform and vegetation community types in a cultural landscape\n\n2.3 Determine environmental cultural knowledge, cultural connections and relationships with the landscape that are passed down generationally\n\n2.4 Carry out investigations on Country in accordance with safe work policies and procedures, enterprise requirements and Burra Charter guidelines\n\n3. Identify Aboriginal cultural value links to cultural landscapes\n\n3.1 Identify cultural landscapes and determine links with Aboriginal cultural and Community knowledge\n\n3.2 Describe relationships between Creation stories, oral histories, kinship and totemic to the cultural landscape\n\n3.3 Identify gender access, roles and usage as this relates to the cultural landscape\n\n3.4 Identify Aboriginal cultural values in cultural landscapes\n\n3.5 Identify links between archaeological evidence and cultural landscapes\n\n3.6 Identify indicators in the landscape that reveal traditional Aboriginal land management practices\n\n4. Describe Aboriginal cultural practices and beliefs which maintain cultural connections to cultural landscapes\n\n4.1 Identify appropriate persons within Communities who hold cultural knowledge\n\n4.2 Identify appropriate Cultural Knowledge holders and/or Cultural Manager for an Aboriginal cultural landscape\n\n4.3 Recount the range and interrelationship of Aboriginal beliefs and Aboriginal cultural and ceremonial practices that maintain connection with the cultural landscape\n\n4.4 Document the associations of connection to Country through language, stories, song, dance and art if appropriate according to Community protocols and customs relating to disclosure of knowledge, using archaeological and Aboriginal terminology", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9961619973182678}
+{"content": "Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:\nTitle: Multilevel processes and cultural adaptation: examples from past and present small-scale societies\nAuthor: Reyes-García, Victoria\nBalbo, Andrea L.\nGómez Baggethun, Erik\nGueze, Maximilien\nMesoudi, Alex\nRicherson, Peter J.\nRubio Campillo, Xavier\nRuiz Mallen, Isabel  \nShennan, Stephen\nKeywords: cultural adaptation\ncultural evolution\nmultilevel selection\nIssue Date: 2016\nPublisher: Ecology and Society\nCitation: Reyes-García, V., A. L. Balbo, E. Gómez-Baggethun, M. Gueze, A. Mesoudi, P. J. Richerson, X. Rubio-Campillo, I. Ruiz-Mallén, and S. Shennan. 2016. Multilevel processes and cultural adaptation: examples from past and present small-scale societies. Ecology and Society 21(4):2.\nSeries/Report no.: 21;(4)\nAlso see:\nAbstract: The last two decades have seen a proliferation of research frameworks that emphasise the importance of understanding adaptive processes that happen at different levels. We contribute to this growing body of literature by exploring how cultural (mal)adaptive dynamics relate to multilevel social-ecological processes occurring at different scales, where the lower levels combine into new units with new organizations, functions, and emergent properties or collective behaviors. After a brief review of the concept of ¿cultural adaptation¿ from the perspective of cultural evolutionary theory, the core of the paper is constructed around the exploration of multilevel processes occurring at the temporal, spatial, social, and political scales. We do so by using insights from cultural evolutionary theory and by examining small-scale societies as case studies. In each section, we discuss the importance of the selected scale for understanding cultural adaptation and then present an example that illustrates how multilevel processes in the selected scale help explain observed patterns in the cultural adaptive process. The last section of the paper discusses the potential of modeling and computer simulation for studying multilevel processes in cultural adaptation. We conclude by highlighting how elements from cultural evolutionary theory might enrich the multilevel process discussion in resilience theory.\nLanguage: English\nAppears in Collections:Articles\n\nFiles in This Item:\nFile Description SizeFormat \nES-2016-8561 (1).pdf143.32 kBAdobe PDFView/Open\n\nThis item is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.97129887342453}
+{"content": "Increased social spending by government can decrease mortality rates\n\nViews: 48\n\nNew York, March 2 (IANS) Even small increases in social spending — monies for welfare, education, and health — can significantly reduce the risk of dying, says a US-based study.\n\nEach additional $250 spent per person per year on welfare can lead to three percentage point lower probability of their dying from any cause, the findings showed.\n\n“My findings highlight the health benefits of welfare and education spending, in particular, and the harm that increasing or maintaining the gap between the rich and the poor can have on everyone’s health,” said researcher Daniel Kim, associate professor at Northeastern University in Boston, US.\n\nThe findings were published in the journal Preventive Medicine.\n\nThe study, involving more than 430,000 adults, examined the effects of US state and local social spending on mortality.\n\nALSO READ:   US dollar declines as euro rebounds\n\nIn his study, Kim examined six leading causes of death in the US in older adults: coronary heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and suicide.\n\nMost affected by state and local government social spending was coronary heart disease, which kills more than 370,000 people annually, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\nKim found that each additional $250 spent per person per year on welfare reduced the chances of dying from heart disease by nearly two percentage points, and the same amount spent per person on education reduced the chances by almost one percentage point.\n\nHis analysis also showed that the bigger the gap between the rich and the poor, the greater the chance a person had of dying.\n\nALSO READ:   Rajasthan BJP chief to be announced soon: Party leader\nComments: 0\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9460436105728149}
+{"content": "Rajinikanth, Bollywood celebrities get Padma honours\n\nViews: 35\n\nNew Delhi, Jan 25 (IANS) The government on Monday announced that nine film celebrities will be conferred the country’s prestigious civilian honours. Southern megastar Rajinikanth will get the Padma Vibhushan while late India-born British actor Saeed Jaffrey has been posthumously named for the Padma Shri.\n\nVeteran actor Anupam Kher and singer Udit Narayan will be conferred the Padma Bhushan; actors Ajay Devgn and Priyanka Chopra, and filmmakers Nila Madhab Panda, S.S. Rajamouli and Madhur Bhandarkar will get the Padma Shri honour.\n\nRajinikanth, who enjoys a massive fan following, tweeted: “Feeling deeply honoured for being awarded the Padma Vibhushan. My heartfelt thanks to my dear fans, well-wishers and friends for all the wishes.”\n\nLovingly called ‘Thalaivar’ by his fans, the actor has spent over four decades in filmdom and is a phenomena by himself. His family is equally excited that he has been named for the country’s second highest civilian award.\n\nALSO READ:   Soni Singh enjoys playing negative characters (TV Snippets)\n\nHis daughter Soundarya tweeted: “Proud daughter! Appa is now Padma Vibhushan Shri Rajinikanth”, while his son-in-law Dhanush, who’s married to his second daughter Aishwarya, wrote: “Padma Vibhushan for Thalaivar… SUPER thrilled, SUPER proud SUPER day can’t get bigger.”\n\nEqually excited are the other celebrities who have been chosen for the honours.\n\nNational Award winning actor Anupam, a cinema and theatre veteran who has over three decades of experience, shared: “Happy, humbled and honoured to share that I have been awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. Greatest news of my life. #JaiHind.”\n\nThe other Padma Bhushan awardee is Udit Narayan, who has been entertaining listeners with his melodious and soulful voice for over 30 years now. He’s best known for his romantic tracks like “Pehla nasha”, “Jadoo teri nazar”, “Mehndi laga ke rakhna”, “Dil to pagal hai” among several others.\n\nALSO READ:   George Michael's ex to challenge his will\n\nBhandarkar, best known for his films “Chandni Bar”, “Page 3”, “Traffic Signal” and “Fashion”, is “really grateful and honoured” to be awarded the Padma Shri.\n\n“I accept it with all humility, this great respect bestowed by my government and my country,” he tweeted.\n\nIn the Arts category, other Padma Vibhushan winners are classical dancer Yamini Krishnamurthi and classical vocalist Girija Devi.\n\nTheatre director Heisnam Kanhailal from Manipur and sculpture artist Ram V. Sutar are among the Padma Bhushan awardees.\n\nClassical dancer Prathibha Prahlad, folk musicians Bhikhudan Gadhvi, Mamta Chandrakar and Malini Awasthi, textile designer Sribhas Chandra Supakar, classical musician Pandit Tulsidas Borkar, classical vocalist Soma Ghosh, folk artist M. Venkatesh Kumar, folk dancer Gulabi Sapera and theatre artiste Naresh Chander Lal have been named for the Padma Shri honour.\n\nALSO READ:   Connect with deep inside to stay fit, says Shahid Kapoor\n\nRajasthan’s classical music icon Prakash Chand Surana has been named for a posthumous Padma Shri.\n\nComments: 0\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7105119228363037}
+{"content": "As a recent immigrant, I still marvel at the energy usage in all aspects of Canadian life. As a country, we are in 27th position of a list of the 29 OECD nations for energy use per capita, with a rate of twice the OECD average and five times the global average. Over the last eight years we have seen gas prices at the pump continue to creep upwards from 80 to 120 cents/L, with peaks of 140 cents/L in 2008. Ironically this is still lower than gas prices were in the UK when I left in 2004 and I am well used to the life-choices that people make when faced with high energy prices. I often wonder what effects this steady increase has on the North American psyche; at what point do people begin to downsize their cars and houses, and change their lifestyles? However, at the same time, we are all aware of the enormous reserves of hydrocarbons in North America; the International Energy Agency recently stated that the U.S. would surpass Saudi Arabia in oil production by 2017. So what’s the problem?\n\nIn 1956, Hubbert developed a model of oil production that has been successfully used to predict the peak and decline of production from oil wells to whole countries. Peak oil theory suggests that we are at the cusp of global peak oil extraction and the rate of production is now expected to go into terminal decline. Although pronouncements of the death of the oil industry are, to paraphrase Mark Twain ‘exaggerated’, what is not controversial is that much of the remaining estimated trillion barrels of oil on Earth will come from unconventional sources, such as oil sands, shale gas and deep-water offshore fields. The challenges of extracting and processing these hydrocarbons, requires high oil prices for the economic viability of the reserves. So it is not likely that we will run out of oil, but the era of cheap oil is over. Negative global economic outcomes are predicted to occur with this post-peak oil production decline, due to the dependence of industrial transport, agricultural and systems on the low cost and high availability of oil. Although major investments in alternative energy sources can be anticipated, they will not be able to replace oil and a viable transition fuels are decades away. Hence major changes in the economies and industries of heavily oil-consuming nations will eventually occur.\n\nDespite the current global recession suppressing oil prices, increases from the current $117 per barrel of Brent crude to the historical maxima of $147 per barrel are quite feasible over the next few years. This has been estimated to cause a 1% reduction in global GDP (approximately $500 billion), which will be magnified for developing countries, with some of the poorest oil-importing countries estimated to lose up to 4% of their GDP. Reductions in investment and tax income often take place with significant oil price volatility and contagion occurs in the financial markets. The lower economic output from the OECD countries will potentially lead to less bilateral foreign aid, philanthropy and lower immigration rates, which may affect diaspora contributions to their home countries.\n\nOil prices will have significant influences on employment, food and transport prices, which will increase food insecurity and poverty levels in developing countries. Whilst global trade will decline, higher transport prices will likely encourage more local and regional trade. Certain groups in society have a higher degree of vulnerability, such as the poor, the landless, informal workers and female-headed households. The poor spend a higher proportion of their money on oil products and in urban areas have limited access to agriculture and are vulnerable to changes in the food and urban transport prices. The cost of community development initiated from the OECD countries will also increase and more projects may be generated and lead by local NGOs.\n\nA number of policy solutions have been proposed for developing countries to cope with these oil price increases, including strategic petroleum reserve stockpiling, trade agreements with net oil-exporting developing countries, infrastructural change to renewable sources of energy and reducing and optimizing energy usage. The creation of innovative solutions for oil price stability is also recommended. However, the use of bio-ethanol is a salutary lesson, since it has had the unintended result of causing higher food prices for the developing world. Oil price increases will certainly affect us all and the globe may even be entering a period of de-globalization. The developing world is particularly vulnerable to these changes and the international development sector will be dealing with the consequences sooner, rather than later.\n\nDo you agree? What issues can you foresee for development if this occurs?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5522313117980957}
+{"content": "Local Officials\n\ntown officials at a meeting\n\n\nInformation for You\n\nWe gather dental health information about Vermonters so we can improve the quality of life of Vermonters.\n\n\nIncreasing physical activity and access to healthy diet choices are important in reducing the impact of chronic disease.\n\nPrivate water supplies are monitored and maintained by their owners, so it is important for them to do their own water testing and maintenance to make sure their drinking water remains safe.\n\n\nClimate change will affect everyone, but certain people and certain places will be affected more than others.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9282894134521484}
+{"content": "Dealbreakers for New IT Hires\n\nExit ButtonEven candid exit interviews don’t always reveal while someone’s leaving, even if they’ve  only been with you for a short while. Since many IT professionals seek advice from their peers before throwing in the towel, we’re sharing a list of the top issues that point newcomers to the door.\n\nInaccurate Job Descriptions\n\nOut-of-date or inaccurate job descriptions raise a red flag, especially when the manager doesn’t address or acknowledge the disparity between the promised and actual duties. For example, one professional was promised the opportunity to develop new tools and work with cutting edge technology, but was still debugging poorly written code in an older program three months later. If the manager is too busy to revise the job description, ask members of the IT team to make the necessary updates or provide an interim list of tasks and duties covering the first six months.\n\n\nSometimes the new guy is ambushed by the staff and required to provide after-hours technical support, or a rogue teammate takes credit for his ideas or assigns him extra work. New hires usually put up with the situation for a while because they’re afraid to complain. But rather than risk losing them, encourage managers to assign them a big brother. A respected veteran won’t hesitate to put unruly teammates back in line, at least until the new employee acclimates and can fend for himself.\n\nFire Drills\n\nThere’s not much HR can do about a lack of resources or a backlog of IT projects, except tactfully suggest that the manager prioritize the work or bring in additional contractors. Of course, it’s important to be transparent about the situation during the hiring process, so a new hire isn’t tempted to hit the streets after just 30 days on the job.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.912459135055542}
+{"content": "What is materiality? The basics of defining what matters\n\nWhat is materiality? The basics of defining what matters\n\nA successful sustainability strategy and effective sustainability reporting starts with one very important exercise: defining what really matters, often referred to as a materiality assessment. Understanding what is expected of your company to deserve the continued loyalty of stakeholders, is maybe the most important knowledge you can have to ensure (sustainable) success for your company. It’s the very basis of your strategy, and implemented well, it will integrate with the entire company strategy in order to transform in the direction needed to stay relevant in the 21st century. This blog post will give you who is new to the concept a basic understanding of what materiality is and how to define what really matters.\n\nGet an overview of topics and reporting disclosures utilizing international frameworks\n\n\n\nDefine what matters\n\n\nThe organization’s economic, environmental, and social impacts\n\n\nWhat is important to your stakeholders\n\n\n\nThe GRI Materiality Matrix gives an understanding of what topics could be considered most material. Source: Global Reporting Initiative\n\nBenchmark against industry peers\n\n\n\n\n\nOther blog posts you might find interesting:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9427617788314819}
+{"content": "Art Form Nurseries\n\nWholesale Growers of Perennials and Herbs\n\nPennisetum alopecuroides 'Hameln'\n\nDwarf Fountain Grass\n\nVery popular and widely used in groups, mass plantings or even as a specimen in a smaller garden. Finely textured, grass-green foliage is topped by fluffy, wheat-like flowers in July. Stays attractive all winter when foliage fades to a straw color.\n\nExposure: Full Sun\nSize: 30\" tall x 24\" wide\nBloom: Fall\nColor: Cream/Tan\nHardiness: Zone 5\nCharacteristics: Deer Resistant", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999774098396301}
+{"content": "Physics- Electrostatic Field Force Flashcards Preview\n\nGrade 9 November Exams > Physics- Electrostatic Field Force > Flashcards\n\nFlashcards in Physics- Electrostatic Field Force Deck (11):\n\nShock come from\n\nA discharge of static electricity from your body to an object\n\n\nDischarge can be seen\n\nAs a spark\n\n\nThe total positive electric charge in the nucleus is\n\nBalanced by the total negative charge of the electrons around the nucleus.\n\n\nIf you remove one or more electrons\n\nThe atoms is no lined neutral but positively charged\n\n\nIf you rub two different types of materials against each other\n\nSome of the electrons can be transferred from one material to the other. This leaves one negatively charged (material that picked up electrons) and other materials is positively charged (material that lost electrons)\n\n\nOnly electrons\n\nCan be transferred from one material to the other\n\n\nStatic electricity has\n\nPotential energy. This energy comes from the energy spent on the running process\n\n\nHow lightning is formed\n\nWhen wind blows thunderclouds, it creates friction between the ice particles and water droplets in the cloud, which move past each other in the atmosphere.\nThus friction is responsible for a very high electrostatic charge build-up inside the cloud.\nIf the electrostatic charge becomes high enough, it discharges in the form of a lightning bolt to the earth.\n\n\nThe energy in a lightning bolt is\n\nVery high and can cause severe damage and death with a fraction of a second\n\n\nLightning discharge usually\n\nHits high points\n\n\nProtection against lightning\n\nLightning conductors provide a safe path for electricity to travel to the earth.a metal rod with the bottom end buried in the soil and the top end attached to a sharpened.\nHide in the lowest possible position if outside.\nStay clear of bodies of water or tall trees.\nSeek shelter.\nWhen inside, avoid showering, taking baths or washing dishes.\nAvoid using appliances that conduct electricity, such as landlines and televisions.\nStay inside half an hour after you hear thunder or last see lightning\n\nDecks in Grade 9 November Exams Class (186):", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5696044564247131}
+{"content": "Socialization Flashcards Preview\n\nSociology 1A06 > Socialization > Flashcards\n\nFlashcards in Socialization Deck (18):\n\n- We need social interaction for brain, intellectual, social and physical development\n- Just as important as food and water\n\n\n\n- Discovered to be living in nature without care of adults\n- Lack of socialization could lead to never developing language\n\nFeral Children\n\n\n- Friends\n- Media\n- Education\n\nAgents of Socialization\n\n\n- Differences in social behaviors that different cultures exhibit around the world\n- ex. kissing one's cheeks\n\nCross-cultural variation\n\n\n- Childhood: learns the values, norms and behaviors that should be displayed\n- Family is the most important agent\n\nPrimary Socialization\n\n\n- Adulthood: learns appropriate behavior to be displayed within a smaller group still part of a larger society\n- lengthier and discontinuous such as education\n\nSecondary Socialization\n\n\n- Process where a person practices or rehearses for future social relationships\n\nAnticipatory Socialization\n\n\n- Learning new and different set of attitudes, values and behaviours from those of one's background and previous experience\n\n\n\n- Making the decision on your own to change and learn new norms in a new society\n\nVoluntary Resocialization\n\n\n- Forced to readjust to a new lifestyle with new norms and values\n\nInvoluntary Resocialization\n\n\n- Looking glass self: our self concept is tied to how we think people view us\n- our interpretation of other's reactions shape who we are\n\nCharles Cooley\n\n\n- Taking the role of the other: ability to interpret or understand another's perspective\n- Ability to take role of the other will shape how we take on certain encounters\n\nGeorge Herbert Mead\n\n\nSelf Developed 4 Stages\n\n1) Imitative (imitating parents)\n2) Play (pretending to be other people)\n3) Game (able to take on and understand role of several people at same time)\n4) Generalized Other (understanding how others see us)\n\n\n- socially constructed from birth\n- emphasize socially constructed gender roles\n- explicit or nuanced\n\nGender Socialization\n\n\n\"Sexual harassment in the workplace\" (Welsh and Baker)\n\n- Gender socialization teaches men to be dominant, powerful and competitive\n- view women as sexual objects\n- women accept it or are non-confrontational\n- support services are important\n\n\nChildren's Books\n\n- females underrepresented in stereotypical ways\n- male characters were much more prominent and pursued adventures while female characters were very limited and had passive roles\n\n\nWomen and gender socialization\n\n- women are rarely in higher workplace positions\n- women taught to be modest about accomplishments\n- reluctant to take verbal credit\n- usually say \"we accomplished\" rather than \"I\"\n\n\nGender differences in friendships\n\n- Women have fewer friends but closer friendships (face to face)\n- Men have more friends but less close friendships (side by side)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999973773956299}
+{"content": "A federal appeals court is being asked to order the government to legalize use of marijuana for medical purposes such as controlling nausea in cancer patients.\n\nThe Drug Enforcement Administration ignored evidence that marijuana can ease the suffering of patients with cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis, said plaintiffs in the case being argued Monday before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.Marijuana has been shown to ease nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, lessen muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis and reduce eye pressure for glaucoma patients, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) and the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics. They are represented in court by the Drug Policy Foundation.\n\nThe DEA acknowledges that the drug's therapeutic potential has been noted by doctors for 150 years.\n\nBut the agency has repeatedly rejected bids to allow medical use of marijuana, most recently in December 1989. It contends that marijuana is still a research drug and that it has not been accepted by the medical community as having a medical use.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6080253720283508}
+{"content": "science and technology\n\nAnswer both of the following questions: What is the most important lesson this course has taught you about science or technology? Which specific ideas or arguments from the authors we have read have taught you this lesson? Exactly why do you consider this lesson an important one?\n\nUse examples from one or more of our assigned readings to document the extent to which you have used your work in this course “to think critically about contemporary technology issues….and to learn to accept the social responsibilities of educated citizens in a global technological society” (p. xiv).\n\nPlease ensure that your answer are well-organized, make specific reference to relevant ideas from our course readings, and addresses each aspect of the assigned questions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9978682994842529}
+{"content": "The Wild Tundra\n\nBy: Brynn McFarlen and Macy Davis\n\n\nThe first few meters of soil are completely frozen as the fertile soil lies underneath. It has 400 varieties of flowers but only 48 types of animals. Also during the summer it is daylight 24 hours a day. Plants that grow in tundra often grow in clusters to help protect themselves from severe water winds.\n\nThe Plants of the Tundra\n\nArctic Moss (Calliergon giganteum) - Can grow in water to escape the cold and stores energy to make leaves during the Spring, the growing season.\n\nCaribou Moss (Cladonia rangiferina) - Actually a Lichen, or a fungi and algae living together, which is a symbiotic relationship. The lichen is capable of going dormant if there is little or no water.\n\nDiamond-leaf Willow (Salix pulcha) - Grows across the ground a few inches tall and lives near creeks and marshes.\n\nLabrador Tea (Ledum groenlandicum) - grows up to 4 to 5 ft up in down in the warmer parts of the tundra, and across the ground further North.\n\nPasque Flower (Amemone patens) - Grows close to the ground in order to avoid the cold\n\nThe Animals of the Tundra\n\nTundra Vole (Microtur oecoromus) - Lives near steams or areas with cover to escape the cold, and tunnels through the ground to escape predators and travel.\n\nTundra Shrew (Sorex tundrensis) - Lives in dry climates with shrubs for cover and food.\n\nLemmings (Lemmus lemmus) - Burrows in snow tunnels to be safe from the cold and win. They sometimes drown in rivers and lakes...\n\nCaribou (Rangifer tarandus) - Lives in groups/ Can walk in deep snow because of their long legs and flat wide hooves.\n\nMusk Oxen (Ovibus moschatus) - Long fur coats and both males and females have horns. They travel in groups of 10 to 20 and constantly move as they feed. The form a circle to protect their young from danger.\n\nArctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) - White fur for camouflage and tick undercoat to keep warm. They hunt in small packs.\n\nWolverine (Gulo gulo) Climbs trees and rocks and \"pounces\" onto prey. They fight each other for territory.\n\nArctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) - Lives on dens by river banks or dug into hills.\n\nWeasel (Mustela ernminea) - Kills things then takes their burrows as homes. Nobody messes with weasels, not even a honey badger.\n\nArctic Hare (Lepus arcticus) - Thicker winter coats and lives in burrows to escape the cold.\n\nArctic Owl (Bubos scandiacus) - Flies close to the ground to find food, hunts all small mammals.\n\nPolar Bear (Ursus maritimus) - Long coat with that is white of camouflage, can swim and hunt in the water.\n\nClimate for tundra\nBig image\nBig image\nHuman influences\n\n\nMost desolate place next to the desert with little life\n\nColdest area on the planet next to the arctic\n\nOne of the most natural places on the Earth, touched little by humans in areas without oil", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9964903593063354}
+{"content": "The North Pole Press\n\nThe Santa Claus Enigma is available at:\n\nNewKindleDigital          WindowsStore\n\nAppleNook   Kobo   Scribd   24 Symbols   Inktera   Angus and Robertson \n\n\n\n\nThe Santa Claus Enigma\n\nWhat is an enigma? According to the dictionary definition it is; a person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. Santa Claus fits into all three parts of this definition.\n\nHe is certainly mysterious, popping in and out of homes at Christmastime without people knowing he has been there and gone.\n\nSanta is puzzling. Precisely why does he bring toys and gifts to the Christian world, and ask nothing in return except good behavior from the recipients?\n\nAnd through his flying around the world with unusual modes of transportation, distributing billions of presents, and answering to a variety of names and dress, Santa is difficult to understand to the common man or woman.\n\nThis book will solve many of the questions above and a few more. The elves compiled the most sought after questions and secrets about this mysterious gift-giver. They put forth explanations to answer, and help understand how things work in the North Pole and with Santa Claus.\n\nYou now have the answers in your hand. Enigma solved.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8833121061325073}
+{"content": "The Long Road Home\n\nPDF EBook by Ben Shephard\n\nEBook Description\n\nAt the end of World War II, long before an Allied victory was assured and before the scope of the atrocities orchestrated by Hitler would come into focus or even assume the name of the Holocaust, Allied forces had begun to prepare for its aftermath. The Long Road Home PDF EBook Taking cues from the end of the First World War, planners had begun the futile task of preparing themselves for a civilian health crisis that, due in large part to advances in medical science, would never come. The problem that emerged was not widespread disease among Europe’s population, as anticipated, but massive displacement among those who had been uprooted from home and country during the war.\n\nDisplaced Persons, as the refugees would come to be known, were not comprised entirely of Jews. Millions of Latvians, Poles, Ukrainians, and Yugoslavs, in addition to several hundred thousand Germans, were situated in a limbo long overlooked by historians. While many were speedily repatriated, millions of refugees refused to return to countries that were forever changed by the war—a crisis that would take years to resolve and would become the defining legacy of World War II. Indeed many of the postwar questions that haunted the Allied planners still confront us today: How can humanitarian aid be made to work? What levels of immigration can our societies absorb? How can an occupying power restore prosperity to a defeated enemy?\n\nIncluding new documentation in the form of journals, oral histories, and essays by actual DPs unearthed during his research for this illuminating and radical reassessment of history, Ben Shephard brings to light the extraordinary stories and myriad versions of the war experienced by the refugees and the new United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration that would undertake the responsibility of binding the wounds of an entire continent. Groundbreaking and remarkably relevant to conflicts that continue to plague peacekeeping efforts, The Long Road Home tells the epic story of how millions redefined the notion of home amid painstaking recovery. Like this book? Read online this: Long Road Home, The Long Road of War.\n\nThe Long Road Home PDF download\n\nSelect filetype to download The Long Road Home:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9067142009735107}
+{"content": "Bisexual Montebello\n\nCreate a free profile on Bisexual Dates and you can start meeting up with Montebello bisexuals in just a few clicks. Men, women and even couples, we are all about exploring bisexuality in your area.\n\nFind Bisexuals from Bi California including Montebello and nearby cities, Pico Rivera (2 miles), East Los Angeles (3 miles), Commerce (2 miles), South San Gabriel (2 miles), Monterey Park (3 miles), West Whittier-Los Nietos (3 miles), Bell Gardens (4 miles), Maywood (4 miles), South El Monte (4 miles), Bell (4 miles), Santa Fe Springs (5 miles), San Gabriel (5 miles), Alhambra (5 miles), Rosemead (5 miles), Downey (5 miles), Whittier (5 miles), Cudahy (5 miles), El Monte (6 miles), South Whittier (6 miles), Boyle Heights (5 miles), Huntington Park (6 miles), San Marino (7 miles), East San Gabriel (7 miles), Avocado Heights (7 miles), Temple City (7 miles), Walnut Park (7 miles).\n\nFind Bisexuals in Montebello or browse Bi California for more cities. Registration is completely free and anonymous.\n\nMontebello Bisexual\nSign Up - It's Quick and Free!\n\n*Password will be sent to this email\n\nBi Montebello\nResults are based on a radius search of Montebello, California with a Montebello center lookup of:\n1301 W Harding Ave\nUnited States\n\nBi Curious Montebello\n\nBi California\nBisexual Pico Rivera | Bisexual East Los Angeles | Bisexual Monterey Park | Bisexual Bell Gardens | Bisexual Alhambra | Bisexual Rosemead | Bisexual Downey | Bisexual Whittier | Bisexual El Monte | Bisexual South Whittier | Bisexual Boyle Heights | Bisexual Huntington Park\n\nBisexuals in Montebello\n\nThere are approximately 184 registered profiles from Montebello. Including surrounding areas of Pico Rivera, East Los Angeles, Commerce, South San Gabriel, Monterey Park, West Whittier-Los Nietos, Bell Gardens, Maywood, South El Monte, Bell, Santa Fe Springs, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Rosemead, Downey, Whittier, Cudahy, El Monte, South Whittier, Boyle Heights, Huntington Park, San Marino, East San Gabriel, Avocado Heights, Temple City, Walnut Park, there are over 3,898 members and growing every day.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7450597286224365}
+{"content": "Wenzhou Shenya Printing Industrial Co., Ltd.\n\nInexpensive non-woven bag\n\nInexpensive non-woven bag\nProduct Detailed\n\n1. Type: Inexpensive non-woven bag\n2. Appearance: Modern\n3. General Use: General Use\n4. Material: Fabric& Metal\n\nWe are a professional manufacturer\n\n\n\n\nInexpensive non-woven bag\n\nBasic Information of the Fabric:\n\nComposition: 100% PP Spunbonded non -woven fabric (polypropylene material)\n\n\n2.Process of Production :by spunbonded .\n\n3.Construction:100% polypropylene\n\n4.Width:160cm,240cm,320cm(can be split )\n\n5.Color:Any colors available\n\n\nPacking: In roll/paper tube 2\" or 3\" with Polybag.\n\nDelivery:7-12 days after receiving T/T deposit\n\nCBM:5-6 Ton for a 20GP, 12-14 Ton For a 40HQ\n\n\nFeatures: eco-friendly, good tensile strength, soft, lightweight, non-toxic, water-resistant, air permeability, good absorbency.\n\n\nUsage and Applications:\n\n1.Industry:Roadbed clothe/bank cloth/filers ,base of artificial suede and leather /roof cover ,ect.\n\n2.Agriculture: UL-treated products used in agriculture , crop tent .\n\n3.Civil /home Texitile: table cloth ,furniture ,disposable cloth ,pillow case ,headrest cover, bed mattress/bed sheet .\n\n4.Medical :Surgery cloth ,gown, cap,mask, shoes-cover.\n\n5.Packing :Cloth keeper, shopping bags, coverage, package bag etc.\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9700971245765686}
+{"content": "crayheader.gif (7645 bytes)          adaptec_1505_technical\n\n\nThe Adaptec 1505 is a low cost SCSI controller suitable for the connection of Tape or DAT backup (due to their low transmission rates). It is the controller we recommend for use with the PICK operating system.  It is supplied with EZ-SCSI Lite software for Windows.\n\n\nTo select the Address and IRQ on the card, you are required to set two jumpers on a bank of five pairs of pins (JP1).\nThe ALT pin pair selects the Address setting. When jumpered the Address is 140. Without a jumper the Address is 340. The PICK operating system requires the Address to be 140, therefore ALT should be jumpered.\nThe remaining four sets of pin pairs select the IRQ. The uppermost pin pair below ALT selects IRQ 12. The PICK operating system requires the IRQ to be 12, therefore this pin pair should be jumpered.\n\nTerminating resistors are fitted as standard to the card. If the controller card happened not to be the first device on the SCSI bus, these resistors should be removed.\n\nto_the_top   to_order_page    What_price?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9671211242675781}
+{"content": "\n\n\nWe cover the colander with a towel in order to prevent the snails from escaping and we leave them there for a few minutes until all of them start to move. We separate the snails that move from the snails that have not exited their shell. We check if these snails are alive, using a tooth pick to prick them. The snails that show no reaction are dead and must be immediately disposed.\n\nAfter that we again wash the snails carefully with plenty of cold water for the complete removal of remainders and we put them in a pot with cold water, vinegar and salt. We put the pot on the heat and we notice the time when the water starts to boil , the snails try to climb the walls of the pot so as to escape the heat. We put them back inside the pot.\n\n\nWhile the temperature rises a froth is created in the surface of the water.\n\n\n\nWe constantly remove the froth with a skimmer. After that we remove the snails, we put them in a colander, we wash them with cold water and we repeat the boiling with vinegar and salt 2 to 3 times until the froth evaporates. We drain the snails, wash them with cold water, dry them with the orifice down on an absorbing paper and then the boiled snails are ready for immediate consumption or they can be stored in the refrigerator or in the freezer for long preservation.\n\n\nWe put olive oil in a large pot, we add whole onions and we sauté them until they turn brown. Afterwards, we add the rest of the ingredients (garlic, cinnamon, tomato paste, laurel leafs, salt, pepper) and water so as to cover the onions. Then we boil them in a low heat for an hour. After that we add the snails and continue the boiling for another hour while, from time to time, we stir thoroughly. When the sauce becomes thick enough we add vinegar and cumin (optional), we mix the food and we remove it from the fire.\n\n\nOur proposal for better results is that after the removal from the fire the food should stay in the pot for a few hours for better balance and “bonding” of tastes and ingredients. Then we are ready to serve.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7950409054756165}
+{"content": "Follow Me on Pinterest\n\nSunday, May 28, 2017\n\nLPAPA at Carlsbad with Rita Pacheco\n\nThe paint out for LPAPA was at Dog Beach in Carlsbad.  It started at 8:30 am so I had to really move and start early.  I got a little lost but was only 5 or 10 minutes late.\nRita gave a great demo.  She painted quickly, kept her focus on the information that she was sharing, and spent plenty of time with everyone who was there painting.\nThe lagoon was interesting.  The sand and the water in contrast to the grass and the hills in the distance.  The shapes of the sand, the path, the water, the hill on the left, and the hills in the distance really worked.  I had to shorten the width between the elements to get them into the 24x30 board.\nTo me there were attractive aspects to each of the choices.  The grass with a hint of sand and water seemed incomplete.  The sand dominating the picture with the water seem too simple.  The answer for me was to combine them.\nI really liked the warm colors in her painting.\nThis painting started by indicating the large shapes within the context of the composition.  You can see the S shape of the composition.\nThere were about 15 painters who showed up to paint and speak to Rita.  There were painters who came from as far away as Anza Borrego.\nRita worked with everyone who showed up.  She was so positive in the feedback and information she shared.\nThis path that bends through the grass was the most interesting element in the painting to me.  The accurate shape and perspective of the path and beach were most important \nHere the dark shapes help define the light shapes.\nHere I am defining the dark shapes through the lighter shapes.\nPulling the foreground to the bottom of the painting helps to finish defining the shape of the composition.\nNow I wanted to bring the foreground into sharper contrast to the background.  I tried to get as dark as I could in the foreground to push the background back further.\nHere the composition looks like a double S.  This is something I could have never planned to do.  Giving in to the moment allows freedom of expression.  Overthinking leads over wrought paintings.\nRefinement within all of the areas of the painting to make them support each other yet be able to stand alone on their own strength.\nCleaning up the pallet at the end of the day.\nI have been trying to use all of the paint that I lay down.  It has been a struggle.  It seems like I am throwing away a tube everytime I start.\n\nFinished!  Now clean up and rush home to beat the traffic.\n24x32 oil on board en plein air.\nThe value shot.\nThe detail shot.\n\nFriday, May 26, 2017\n\nStatice Quo\n\nThe day started as cool and foggy.  The Statice were blooming more than I can remember.  They commanded the stage this morning.\nI have painted this scene so many times but I still did a quick sketch to get the composition right.  The size of the board makes it tricky to get all the elements into the painting.\n\nI am continuing to experiment with different colors.  I have added about 10 colors to my pallet.  I am working to create a brighter more vibrant range of colors.\nThis painting started differently than a lot of my other paintings.  Instead of drawing or covering the board with washes, I ended taking a mosaic approach.  The strength of the colors in the Statice suggested this treatment.  This was an unintended process.  What I mean to say is that it was not a conscious decision.  \nAs with many of my paintings, being open to suggestion leads to a more unique perspective and handling of the composition.\nCovering the surface with this approach is more time consuming.  One of the challenges when painting this way is to not lose the shapes within the mosaic.  \nAnother challenge is to maintain the integrity of the values as the painting progresses.  Blending the colors within the mosaic too early could result in mud soup.\nBringing the foreground forward through color and value became important to me at this point in the painting.  It was critical to get the relationships between the foreground and the rest of the painting correct before I moved onto anything else.\nIt had been sunny for a while, but there was still an atmospheric haze  that I wanted to convey within the painting.\nHere I am pulling everything together.  All of the hard work has been done and the painting is about staying on track.\nThere is always that moment when I feel compelled to drive to the finish.  Everything speeds up to get to the finish line.\nHere is when I look to tie up all the loose ends.  Clean up the rough spots, complete any unfinished thoughts, and finalize the highlights.\nThe last thing I do is touch up any spots, step back and evaluate, and to sign it.\nWhat does it look like in direct light?\n\nThe day has completely changed during the course of the painting.\nThe finished painting Statice Quo.  24x30 plein air oil on board\nThe value shot\nThe detail shot.\n\nWednesday, May 17, 2017\n\nRedefining Beauty\n\nI heard an interview of a musician who was asked if he was trying to redefine beauty.  It made me think about the subjective view of beauty.\n\nWhen I am painting, I am putting my feelings about the subject down.  Every painting is painted because I see beauty in the landscape I am painting.  My feelings and thoughts about the subject and my expression of their beauty are specific to me.  They are a lifetime of experiences distilled into the effort and the immediacy in the moment of my painting.  All of these experiences may push me in a direction but it is the feeling about beauty at the moment of creation that is my biggest influence.  Yet this influence as pervasive as it may be is so hard to define in words.  It is like an invisible hand guiding my work.  It is at a deep subconscious level.\n\nMy experience and ability are always moving and changing.  As I continue to grow in my ability to handle my medium,  my ability to express changes.  My ideas of beauty are always on the move and my skill to express them is changing as well.  This moves my evolution of beauty forward. \n\nEvery day I paint seems connected to all the days that have come before.  Every day beauty is defined on my terms.  Inside my mind what I consider beautiful changes slowly.  This is demonstrated by tendencies within subject matter, color, and technique.  My ideas about beauty and my ability to express them are never in sync.  My ability to express them is limited.  That limitation compromises the communication of my ideas to a certain extent.  It is easy to pinpoint the limits of my ability.  I am not sure what my limitation to perceive beauty is.\n\nBeauty is redefined every time I paint.  I am taking something that is beautiful to me and I am trying to express my unique impression of that beauty.  None of my paintings would be considered a literal interpretation.  They are a combination of impression, expression, and personal interpretation.  Everything involved in my creation of art is in a state of flux.  \n\nWhen I am creating art, I am moving towards the fullest expression of what I think is beautiful.  Redefining beauty is not taking something that I find unattractive and trying to make it beautiful.  Redefining beauty is taking a subject that has enough attractive elements, using my perception of that beauty, and  pushing those elements forward through my medium.\n\nBy my definition creation of art is the redefinition of beauty.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9831472039222717}
+{"content": "Looking For Kitchen Table And Chairs\n\n\nLooking For Kitchen Table And Chairs\n\nLooking For Kitchen Table And Chairs - Choosing your kitchen seats depends on how you intend to work with them and also on the way you would like them to look. Kitchens get used for a variety of purposes, and never just for cooking. They're places for eating, for using your notebook PC, for the children to do their assignments and for get-togethers with family and friends. So your seats will even need to fit in with this assortment of tasks.\n\nTake cooking to begin with. Even preparing food such as skinning for slicing vegetables, fish, meat and so on is generally done on a work surface which is which is used when you're standing up, and at waist height. That is not to say you will never work with a chair and do some of this work at a kitchen table, but what it does mean is that the kitchen seats should be as \"storable\" as they're \"usable\".\n\nHaving identified this as a first criterion, the next one is to possess kitchen seats that fit the different individuals who will be sitting to them as well as the different occasions. Uncomplicated to clean seats are a high priority for lots of people, particularly when you have kids who eat finger food and forget to wipe their hands later. With all the continuous movement back and forth to the refrigerator, kitchen seats pulled forward by sticky fingers and get pushed back.\n\nIf on the other hand, you've got a farmhouse-style kitchen table, then you definitely would possibly well prefer to have wooden seats to go with it. In this scenario, be prepared for the accompanying wear and tear on your own seats. For kids that are very little you will probably need to give a helping hand for then to have their chair pulled in enough to the table. The wooden farmhouse kitchen seats that go with the chunkier tables are generally quite solid in themselves.\n\nTags: #kitchen table and chairs edmonton #kitchen table and chairs espresso #kitchen table and chairs painted #kitchen table and chairs red #kitchen table and chairs value city", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8903495073318481}
+{"content": "\n\nAchieving Black Belt, though still impressive to college application reviewers, unfortunately does not carry the same weight that it used to 10 years ago (mainly due to explosion of martial art studio growth and the resulting exponential growth of black belts). We, at USSD Laguna Beach, have created the Service and Mentoring Program for teens that expands on the commendable achievement of earning a black belt.\n\nThe Service and Mentoring Program is for the teenage student to mentor students in the childrens' class, and help develop the child to his or her full potential. This not only builds leadership and mentoring skills for the teenager, but also provides a unique opportunity to both describe the achievement of earning a black belt and the positive work done as a black belt.\n\n\nBoth male and female teenagers can benefit from martial arts instruction in a variety of ways. Young men learn skills that will help them assess danger and make wise decisions about when to be assertive and when to avoid confrontation. Young women also gain experience in assessing dangerous situations, and learn tactics that will help them escape and the confidence to defend themselves if escape isn??t possible.\n\n\nOur kempo style karate training is unlike many martial arts in our teaching approach. We focus on personal skills through one-on-one classes and group lessons. Our belt ranking system sets achievable goals that motivate while strengthening their sense of self-worth. The lessons learned in self-defense both physically and mentally will last a lifetime, and improve performance in other activities such as school (improved grades) and sports (better balance and focus). Teenagers are at the perfect age to begin studying martial arts because they are both physically able to do the movements and mentally mature enough to understand their applications.\n\nCome see why USSD is a truly different experience from any other martial arts training you may have seen before.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9936468601226807}
+{"content": "How Ukraine sees Kersti Kaljulaid’s visit?\n\nPHOTO: Presidendi kantselei\n\nUkraine welcomed Estonia’s president with blue, black, and white flags, blue skies, and warm weather. That said, Kersti Kaljulaid has not been as prominent in the Ukrainian media as she could be.\n\nShe has mainly been mentioned in official communications and some popular online channels, accompanied only by a short description of circumstances. Some national networks broadcast the official part of the presidents’ meeting.\n\nI asked Ukrainian experts to comment on the first days of the Estonian president’s visit. My first question was whether Ukrainian media coverage is lacking as concerns Estonia and other Baltic countries.\n\nDirector of the World Politics Institute Yevhen Magda is convinced that the Ukrainian media is not paying enough attention to Estonia and indeed all of the Baltics, even though the countries actively support Ukraine. He believes the president’s visit will deliver an impulse for the development of mutual relations.\n\nProfessor Serhi Fedunyak of the Chernivtsi University disagrees. He is convinced that the Baltics are sufficiently covered by the Ukrainian media. That said, Fedunyak believes coverage could be more thorough and go beyond an overview of facts to lessons from the achievements of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.\n\nSome news associated with Kaljulaid’s visit were thoroughly covered by the media in Ukraine. One of the more prominent was the fact Kaljulaid is to become the first foreign head of state to visit the war zone in Eastern Ukraine.\n\nMember of foreign policy experts network Prisma Serhi Gerasimchuk believes it is an important gesture in the context of international politics. It sends a clear signal that Ukraine is important not just for Estonia and the other Baltic counties but also the European Union. He hopes Kaljulaid’s decision will serve as an example to other heads of state.\n\nMagda agrees with Gerasimchuk and is convinced that what counts is not a country’s size or obligations but political will on the level of leaders. Magda said that Kaljulaid is a brave woman who is willing to take the trip to get trustworthy information.\n\nHead of diplomacy at initiative group Professional Governance Viktoria Vdovichenko believes that Kaljulaid’s Donbas visit paints her as a politician sporting a long vision. She added that Kaljulaid will send the signal that the conflict in Ukraine is not frozen but open war that makes life difficult for locals and the aftermath of which will affect the whole of Europe.\n\nThe other message to receive broader attention was Estonia and Ukraine’s mutual opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.\n\nVira Konstantinova from the Ukrainian Diplomatic Academy believes that Kaljulaid’s message was chosen well. The project is not just contrary to the two countries’ interests but is also a security risk. She also finds the plan’s economic benefit to be questionable, making it simply a geopolitical agreement.\n\nThe Estonian president’s official visit to Ukraine continues which is why it is too early to analyze its effects. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that while Ukraine must also look for allies in the West, its true friends are located in the north. They are the Baltics and especially Estonia.\n\nMore stories", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6991564035415649}
+{"content": "The Packaging Gradient\n\nThe Packaging Gradient\n\nThere are many options to package software, particularly Python software. How do all these options fit together, and how does one decide which option is right for them? This guide takes a holistic approach, as presented at PyBay 2017.\n\n\nMahmoud Hashemi\n\nAugust 12, 2017", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999760389328003}
+{"content": "Do you like to sleep on a pillow stack or do you have one, flat-as-a-pancake, pillow that you’ve had forever? No matter how you like to sleep, the important thing is that your neck and body are aligned at night. Here’s all you need to know to choose a pillow that will help keep your spine in alignment and your body healthy.\n\nUnderstanding Neck Alignment\n\nWhen you are asleep, your postural goal should be to keep your spine in neutral alignment. This means that nothing is twisted or torqued sideways or up-and-down. It means that your spine is allowed to lay as it naturally wants to, without being pushed or pulled in any particular direction.\n\nWhile your nighttime posture depends on quite a few things, like your mattress, your sleep position, and more, your neck alignment is primarily influenced by your pillow. A pillow that is good for you helps maintain that neutral position, while one that isn’t good for you will keep you out of alignment. Note that a pillow that works for you may not work for your partner or someone else.\n\nHere’s how to tell if your pillow is doing its job.\n\nFor Side Sleepers\n\nIf you are a side sleeper, test your pillow by lying on it as if you were trying to fall asleep. First, make sure the pillow’s position is correct. The bulk of it should be in the small of your neck, with complete contact throughout the length of your neck. You should not have pillows under your shoulders or touching your back.\n\nNext, have someone take a photo of you from the back and the front and compare it to the chart below:\n\n\n\nYou should be able to draw a straight line from your sternum, up your neck, and through the middle of your face. The line shouldn’t have bends or twists. These indicate a postural problem and that you likely need a new pillow.\n\nFor Back Sleepers\n\nAgain, lie down as if you were about to fall asleep. The basics are the same. The pillow should like mostly in the small of your neck and should make contact with your entire neck. However, you shouldn’t have pillows under your back or your shoulders. In addition, make sure that the back of your head is lying on the pillow and you don’t have it scrunched up and pressing against the top of your head.\n\nTake a photo and compare it to the chart below:\n\n\n\nThe line you draw this time will curve, because your neck naturally curves. However, you don’t want the curve to be exaggerated or too shallow. If you’re not sure, take a photo of yourself with good posture while standing and compare it to the one you took while lying down. Your neck posture should look the same, or you may need a new pillow.\n\nFor Stomach Sleepers\n\nMaintaining healthy neck position is very difficult if you sleep on your stomach because you usually have to twist your head sideways to breathe. Consider sleeping without a pillow or changing your sleep position to one that is healthier for your body.\n\nHow to Choose the Right Pillow\n\nYou’ll want to choose the pillow that keeps your spine in alignment. Needless to say, this may take some trial and error. Many pillow manufacturers understand this and will give you a trial period when you buy your pillow. Be sure to keep track of this, in case you need to return your pillow later.\n\nIf at all possible, take a potential new pillow home and sleep on it for several days before you make your decision. Most people know pretty quickly if a pillow is right for them. In addition to performing the tests above, many people notice neck and back pain within a night or two if a pillow won’t work for them.\n\nNot sure where to start? Many back sleepers like memory foam, because of the way it cradles the neck and head. You could also try an adjustable pillow, where you can add or remove different kinds of filling until you find the combination that keeps your spine in alignment all night.\n\nDo I Need More Than One Pillow?\n\n\n\nMost people should be able to find one pillow that keeps their neck in alignment and is comfortable to sleep on. In fact, layering pillows can cause more harm than good. Sure, you may be able to layer several pillows to get the height of one good one, but these can slide or shift overnight. This can cause spinal damage and neck pain.\n\nWhile it’s best to sleep with only one pillow under your head, many sleepers benefit from the use of other pillows elsewhere on the body.\n\n  • Back sleepers often sleep better with a pillow under their knees. Ideally, this wouldn’t be necessary, but when we hunch over computers all day we often end up with excessive arching in the lower back. Raising the knees with a pillow helps reduce that arch and brings the spine back into alignment.\n  • Side sleepers often like to sleep with a pillow between their knees. This helps keep the pelvis straight so that the top side isn’t torqued forward all night. Some side sleepers achieve this with a body pillow that they can also wrap their arms around, which can help with shoulder alignment, too.\n  • Pregnant women can benefit from a body pillow or several different pillows to arrange as they will. This can help them deal with the various aches and pains that can pop up as the human body grows another human. As pregnancy progresses, many women find that a pillow under the belly offers needed support for the lower back.\n\nYou may have to experiment to find the pillow arrangement that works best for you and keeps your neck aligned. Take your time, and you should be able to find a pillow or pillows that will help you sleep well for a long time.\n\nIf you are in the market for a pillow, take a look at our in-depth pillow buying guides and reviews.\n\nby: Sarah Winfrey", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.834877610206604}
+{"content": "7 ways to manage shyness\n\nShy womanTrue story – Once upon a time there was a very shy 14-year-old candy-striper who volunteered in a hospital gift shop. She was so shy that when anyone she didn’t know spoke to her, her face would get flushed with red and her hands would tremble. Working in the gift shop was easy for her because selling gum and newspapers was a pretty easy task as there was little conversation for those short transactions. One afternoon, a man who had obviously been celebrating, bolted through the door of the gift shop and in a loud voice happily announced that his wife had just delivered their first child. His “celebration” had obviously removed any inhibitions he had, if he had had any at all. He chose a gift for his wife and brought it to the volunteer to be wrapped. She took the gift and nervously began to wrap it. The new dad was talking away and noticed the shy volunteer’s hands trembling as his voice got louder and louder, “Look she’s turning red. Don’t be nervous, it’s OK. Look, she’s shaking!” It seemed to take forever for the young woman to get that gift wrapped, the transaction completed and for the new dad to get back out the door. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, it was over and new dad was gone. The volunteer was left red-faced, trembling and in a sweat from the arduous encounter.\n\nThe funny thing about this story was that the entire event, while embarrassing for the candy-striper, turned out to be a blessing for her. Something amazing happened that day. That experience was sort of a “trial by fire” for the volunteer, and since she survived that encounter, she was able to deal with people much more easily from then on. She even went on to manage the entire hospitality shop where she would greet many different people in a day.\n\nOf course, not everyone who is shy will either have a similar experience or the same result to such an experience as the young woman in the story, but if you are someone who suffers from shyness, you know how difficult it can be.\n\nThere are different degrees of shyness; it can be life limiting and can even be debilitating. There are those who may just blush a little when meeting someone new, but it can restrict others from making friends, going places, attending events or having meaningful relationships. Why people are shy probably varies by person, but most feel shy due to a lack of confidence. If you want to overcome shyness, there are some ideas you could try:\n\nTake a Class in Public Speaking\n\nIf you can get past how scary that sounds at first, a course in public speaking may benefit you a great deal. It will teach you to speak with confidence, how to use body language to project yourself and how to engage an audience. Some institutions even offer free adult education classes; see if you can find one in your area.\n\nPractice Speaking to People\n\nTry engaging people wherever you go. Choose some less scary scenarios at first, like the line at the grocery store. Look back at a person looking at you, instead of looking down, and smile. Say hello. There now, that wasn’t so bad. Practice with other people you meet in a safe environment.\n\nWalk Into a Room Like You Own It\n\nYou may have heard that before, but it really is effective. Stand tall, shoulders back, head up, no slouching. Walk into a room, bar, restaurant, wherever, and look at people as you walk by. Don’t look down at the floor or dart your eyes away from someone who might look at you. This may feel awkward at first, but it will get easier and easier and before you know it, you will own the room.\n\nDon’t Let Your Imagination Sabotage You\n\nSometimes our imagination can get the best of us. We imagine that we are less than, or that people don’t like us, or we don’t deserve to be here or there because . . . when none of that is true. Most likely, you are more appealing to people that you think, but without engaging people you won’t know. Use your imagination instead to see yourself making friends, telling stories and having fun!\n\nStay In The Moment\n\nWhen engaging with others, stay out of your head and listen to what they’re saying. Instead of thinking about your hair being out of place or you really don’t like what you’re wearing, stay engaged and be part of the conversation. When you stay focused in the moment, you will forget about your hair and your outfit and before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a great conversation.\n\nJust DO IT\n\nWhen you feel shy about a situation, just dive in. Don’t stay home when you’re nervous about going to that party you were invited to. Just show up, ring that bell and walk in. You might feel awkward or out of place at first, but chances are, you will begin to feel more comfortable as you meet the people there.\n\nSeek Counseling\n\nFor some, shyness can be overwhelming. Seek out a professional counselor should you feel you need one. Don’t feel embarrassed about seeking help; you and your future are worth it.\n\nCCI Training Center’s Career Placement Service offers job placement assistance to every student.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7589114904403687}
+{"content": "Service Charges - When is a Management Agreement “for a term of more than twelve months”?\n\nCorvan (Properties) Ltd v Abdel-Mahmoud [2018] EWCA Civ 1102\n\n\nIf a landlord of residential premises wishes to recover the costs of employing a managing agent through the service charge, he must ensure that he complies with the requirements of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Under that Act only £100 will be recoverable from each tenant unless the tenants are consulted beforehand on any “qualifying long term agreement” which the landlord proposes to enter into.  The question of how long is long enough to qualify arose in the recent Court of Appeal case of Corvan (Properties) Ltd v Abdel-Mahmoud  and managing agents have been eagerly awaiting the outcome.  I represented the tenant in that case with Philip Rainey QC.\n\n\nWhat is a Qualifying Long Term Agreement?\n\nA “qualifying long term agreement” is defined by s. 20ZA of the 1985 Act as “an agreement entered into, by or on behalf of a landlord or a superior landlord, for a term of more than twelve months.”   Corvan (Properties) Ltd was the landlord of a block in Maida Vale and employed managing agents without consulting its tenants, who included Ms Abdel-Mahmoud.  Clause 5 of the management agreement provided that:\n\n\nCan this agreement be brought to an end by the end of the year?  If so does the fact that it is expected to continue for longer than a year mean that it is for a term of “more than twelve months” or is it enough that the agreement could be terminated at the end of the first year?\n\n\nThe Issues in Corvan\n\nThe Court of Appeal was faced with two questions:\n\n(1)            what was the proper construction of the management agreement; and\n\n(2)            What is the correct interpretation of the s. 20ZA – does “term” refer to a minimum term or a certain fixed maximum term?\n\n\nThe first question is, of course, specific to this agreement although there are many like it.  The second is of more general concern.\n\n\n\nOn the construction question, McFarlane LJ considered that the word “will” in Clause 5 introduced a mandatory requirement that the contract will continue beyond the initial twelve months, without specifying for how long.  He said:\n\n\n“Although the wording of the clause does not prevent the giving of notice of termination before the conclusion of the twelve months, any such notice would have no effect until after the twelve month period has ended.  To hold otherwise would be to do violence to the words “and will continue”.\n\n\nThe meaning of s. 20ZA\n\nThe agreement was therefore for a term of more than 12 months and the tenant was home and dry.  There was strictly no need to consider the correct statutory interpretation of s. 20ZA but the Court of Appeal agreed with HHJ Marshall QC in Paddington Walk Management Ltd v Peabody Trust [2010] L & TR 6  that the deciding factor is the length of the commitment – that is the minimum commitment.  The fact that the agreement can be allowed to roll on with not make it a QLTA if the agreement’s minimum term is less than 12 months.  McFarlane LJ said that it necessarily followed that HHJ Gerald had been wrong in Poynders Court v GLS Property Management Ltd [20112] UKUT 339 (LC) when he found that an indefinite term which could be terminated on 3 months’ notice was a QLTA.  HHJ Gerald had found that the issue was one of duration not termination.  The Court of Appeal disagreed and said that whilst in Poynders Court  the managing agent may have been intended to provide services for a period of more than 12 months, the agreement did not secure that they were under contract to do so for more than 12 months.\n\n\n\nThe landlord need only consult its tenants before entering into an agreement which is for a minimum term of more than twelve months.  It does not, therefore, matter if the term could last longer provided it can be brought to an end before the expiry of a year.  However, when using rolling contracts careful consideration must be given to the wording.  It is all too easy to create a term which in reality cannot be terminated at the end of a year through drafting which has not been properly thought through.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9586782455444336}
+{"content": "Interviews with Monster Girls Volume 1\n\n\nBy Petos\n\nWith monster girls now a genre in of itself, several series have taken new approaches that explore the concept in unique ways. Petos’s Interviews with Monster Girls muses upon how monster girls could integrate into human society. Featuring three demi-human students, and one demi-human teacher, referred to in colloquial terms as “demis,” Petos uses the public school system as a way to distill the society of this world in a formative and universally relatable, multifaceted social setting. Here, the high school is not simply a trendy and familiar setting, but it’s also a place where Petos explores a diverse range of characters of different ages, with unique problems. Petos is very interested in the thought-experiment of how demis live their daily lives, and uses society to contradistinguishes them from Tetsuo. This first volume works well as a self-contained thesis on that very subject, contrasting how the four demis fight the culturally ingrained prejudices and preconceived notions society has about them.\n\nThe result is a down-to-earth and eminently relatable treatise on minorities trying to achieve social understanding in a homogenized culture. Japan’s minority population is low, and there have been many stories from foreigners who live there who faced daily prejudice based on their skin or hair color. Even in the U.S., for as much as social awareness expands in some circles stories of prejudice and racism still permeate from the island country. The succubus teacher Sato, for instance, wears plain clothing, take the first and last trains home, and live far away in the sticks, abiding by strict regulations as to how close she can live or even exist in proximity of normal human beings. It’s not hard to see the racial discrimination and segregation allegories here. Interviews’s look at how far the demis have to go to conform to a society that doesn’t making living easy for them is surprisingly perspicacious.\n\nIn a broader context, the series presents a variety of allusions to the real-world problems of people who can’t live normally. Takanashi the vampire’s dieting habits, relying on rations of government-sanctioned blood donations, supplementing it with alternatives like tomato juice, and needing to eat blood-stimulating foods like liver and onions, is allegorical of someone with celiac disease who needs a monitored diet of gluten-free meals. The series even shows how her family changes their eating habits to adapt to her condition, with even her fully-human sister eating the same meals as she does (and enjoying them!). Similarly, the snow woman Yuki’s problems with overheating and fainting when exposed to too much sunlight relates to someone with heat intolerance. Petos adeptly fuses minority issues with medical restrictions to create believable problems for the demis that a wide breadth of readers can relate to, which helps make the readers’ social empathy for the demis and understanding of the struggles of minority groups deepen in a more profound and emotionally connected context.\n\nBeyond themes of discrimination and adaptation, the series also explores how the teenage demis deal with social prejudices, puberty, and coming of age. The biggest conflict of the volume finds Yuki being badmouthed by bullies for her social awkwardness, perceiving her shyness as haughtiness. This subplot resolves when the generally aloof Takanashi confronts the bullies herself and very honestly tells them that they’re wrong, going so far as to break down in tears by the end after laying herself emotionally bare. It’s a classic coming of age trope in young adult media for the heroine to confront the bullies spreading rumors about her, but rarely does it end with the heroine in tears, nor end with the bullies realizing that they’ve legitimately hurt the feelings of someone else and feel bad for what they’ve done, apologize, and everyone becomes more aware of each other’s feelings. Rather than proceeding like a YA coming of age trope, this feels like a genuine situation involving real people being caught up in their misunderstandings and prejudices, only realizing the error of their assumptions when confronted with the truth. The result of the incident prompts Tetsuo to form a support group for the demis, asserting that by spending time with one another they can help each other out of similar jams in the future. This is very much the kind of support group a high school might form for its LGBT students or just any at-risk minority group, another detail of realistic fallout and institutions in place to support minority groups in the series that helps make this world feel true to life. Moreover, this arc wears the themes at the heart of the manga on it’s sleeve by illustrating that no matter how matter how someone may be outwardly or in their lifestyle, we ultimately all have the same human emotions and capacity for empathy. It’s a good message for teens that plays well alongside the other themes confronting discrimination and normalizing alternative lifestyles in the book, really making this series a great recommendation for young adult readers who feel disenfranchised, alienated, or unsure of themselves as they transition into adulthood.\n\nThe series isn’t faultless, though. Part of the fun of most monster girl series are the crazy inventiveness of the character designs and providing a rational explanation of how mythical beings operate in a human world. The demis are a little too human-like; their character designs could easily be mistaken for normal high school girls in any average slice-of-life series. The only girl who is unmistakably a monster girl is the dullahan Machi, by virtue of her head being detached from her body at all times. There are some fun chapters that explore her peculiar circumstances, like how she left her body on the bus one time when someone else was holding her, but otherwise most of the girls’ problems are a little too grounded in reality and not as fantastical and bizarre as they could be. It works for exploring the themes Petos wants to, but as monster girls series go, Interviews is honestly one of the least creative in terms of it’s character designs and crafting unique scenarios.\n\nAnother issue is the blatant harem elements pervading the series. All four demis have a crush on the male protagonist by the end of this volume, with the last chapter being about them all wanting to give him a hug, ending on a boob joke when he reacts awkwardly to squeezing Machi’s breasts against his body. Tetsuo is an adult man and a teacher to these girls, so it’s a little squicky for the series to have high school girls form a harem around him.  The presence of Sato, the adult demi, is at least somewhat comforting as she should by all rights be his default love interest. To his credit, Tetsuo also doesn’t reciprocate the girls’ interest with him and is pretty clueless about their crush on him. He also behaves responsibly as a teacher entrusted with helping them with their problems, never taking advantage of them emotionally during his interviews. Still, an entire chapter is devoted to Machi trying to go on a date with Tetsuo, and this is only the first volume. In general the rom-com elements of the manga aren’t particularly funny and are often uncomfortable, and I’m cautious about how they might escalate in future volumes.\n\nThose unfortunate issues aside, there’s really a lot to like about Interviews with Monster Girls. It uses its premise for observant social commentary about minority rights and fuses it with relevant, positive messages of acceptance and empathy. It’s a series that could really resonate with young readers in particular and help them contextualize a lot of complicated and confusing issues they face in society both externally and internally. Based on the reception for the anime, it seems the series will end up focusing more on the harem aspects over the social commentary going forward, which is disappointing. Even so, this first volume works well as a stand alone treatise on tolerance and community, and explores these subjects so skillfully that it’s worth checking out regardless of whether you’re a fan of monster girl series.\n\nMonster Girls\n\nLiked It. 6\n[Interviews With Monster Girls] uses its premise for observant social commentary about minority rights and fuses it with relevant, positive messages of acceptance and empathy.\nReader Rating: (0 Rates)0", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.794827401638031}
+{"content": "A lot of people think cooking food is a difficult task to accomplish, but this is not the case. Cooking is quite simple if you follow instructions and have the proper knowledge. The article below contains many tips that will assist you in cooking your favorite dishes and eliminating the stigma of difficulty.\n\nIf you are cooking for someone important, such as a new boss or for a dinner party, don’t use a new recipe and a new ingredient. Make sure you practice the dish first for your own family. Play around with it to make sure it is how you want it.\n\nTo maximize the efficiency of the cooking that you do, always make your food in large quantities and when you are finished with the meal, store the meats in freezer bags. This will allow you to create a meal the next day for your family that is still fresh and tastes great.\n\nCook your chicken over other ingredients. If you are making a chicken dish that includes an ingredient like onions, cook the chicken over them. Oil the pan and cut the onion into slices. Put them in the pan and place the chicken over them. The juices from the chicken will soak into the onion.\n\nMake sure that if you are planning a party with friends and family, to have each course planned out in advance. You should have an appetizer course, salad course, main dish and dessert. Breaking your meal into courses will give people a chance to digest and appreciate what you have cooked for them.\n\nAs previously stated in the article above, many people think cooking is difficult, but that is not true. Cooking is simple when you have knowledge and instructions present. If you remember the tips in the above article when you are cooking your dishes, you will have an easy time.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9248714447021484}
+{"content": "Wetlands and Flood Management\n\nBY EDM | 01 FEB 2017\nWetlands play an important role in flood management and disaster risk reduction.\nWetlands are ecosystems, which can be found where the soil is permanently or intermittently saturated (or inundated) with water and has vegetation that tolerates high moisture levels. There are many different types of wetlands including:\n\n\nMarshes: Common in floodplain areas near the lower reaches of a river; characterized by low grassy vegetation and peaty soil that can hold very large amounts of water.\n\nEstuarine or tidal wetlands: Reed beds, salt marshes, mangroves or mudflats at a river mouth or landside of a lagoon; can provide protection from tidal floods.\n\nRiverine wetlands and forested wetlands: Wooded or shrub areas immediate to a river; can absorb small increases in flow and prevent localized floods.\n\nShallow lakes and ponds: Occur in depression areas of a landscape; can act as a reservoir during a storm and release water slowly to the aquifer or natural waterways; important in urban or agricultural areas to regulate overland floods.\n\nWetlands can provide important ecosystem services for flood and disaster risk management:\n\nRetain and detain flood flows and stormwater.\n\nWetlands can help manage the flow of water for example by gradually releasing water into downstream ecosystems (sea, rivers and groundwater aquifers) which will reduce the amount of water that flows over the surface of the land.\n\n[cml_media_alt id='1445']wetlans stat[/cml_media_alt]\n\nImprove water quality through filtration.\n\nWetlands primarily help filter water in two ways: firstly, by slowing the flow of water, sediment in the water can settle to the bottom of the wetland; and secondly, vegetation in the wetland can absorb excess nutrients reducing the amount of contaminants from urban/agricultural areas that reach downstream aquatic ecosystems.\n\nReduce the impact of storm surge and coastline erosion.\n\nWetlands can reduce the speed of waves and wetland plants helps prevent coastal erosion by anchoring sand and soil.\n\nHealthy wetlands can help manage flash floods, storm surge, and localized flooding (particularly in urban areas). In general, a watershed with more wetlands is better able to absorb floodwater, although extreme weather events have the potential to overload any system. From a risk management perspective, wetlands can be managed and restored as natural ways to reduce risk from flood waters; in many cases, climate-informed wetland restoration is a low-cost method for managing potential flood risk.\n\n[cml_media_alt id='1446']wetlands steps[/cml_media_alt]\n\n\nRelated News & Resources\n\n\nThe Flood Green Guide Podcast Series: Episode 1\n\nThe EDM program joins America Adapts for a three-part series on flood management...READ MORE\n\nFrom Flood to Fig: Norfolk's food forest\n\nResidents look for ways to adapt to more frequent flooding in Virginia's coastal...READ MORE\n\nFlood Green Guide Training Workshop\n\nFlood risk managers join WWF and the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, T...READ MORE\n\nUsing the Past to Prepare for the Future\n\nFarmers in the Andes are helping save Lima from a future of drought and flooding...READ MORE\n\nConnect with Our Program", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9867491722106934}
+{"content": "首页 > 上海 兼职 > 职位详细\n\n\n[原帖] 发信人: saplabs(SAPhr), ☉ WWW.YINGJIESHENG.COM☉\n标 题: 【实习】SAP 项目助理 - 2018年毕业\n发信站: 饮水思源 (2016年11月28日23:21:11 星期一)\n\nThe objective of this position is to support the implementation of SAP projects at customer sites by delivering the following tasks.\n\nYou are responsible for:\n1.Assisting the project manager in planning the resources for the project\n2.Assist the project manager to collect the information needed and prepare the daily and weekly project progress report\n3.Assist the project manager to track the progress of open action items\n4.Prepare project related documentation for the team\n5.Assist in project related logistics\n6.Project related IT support\n7.Translating, proofreading, documenting project-related materials from Chinese to English or vice versa, which might include but not limit to emails, presentations, blueprints, status update reports, announcements, etc.\n8.Attending customer meetings and/or workshops and taking meeting minutes, distributing them to action plan owners as required\n9.Communicating relevant project information between customer site and backoffice in a timely and accurate manner\n10.Using SolutionManager to monitor and update project plans, issues, progress, requirement changes, etc.\n11.Other ad-hoc tasks required by project team\n\nSoft Skills\n1.Quick and self-motivated learner\n2.Organized and logical thinking\n3.Positive and outgoing personality\n4.A can-do mind set\n5.Strong attention to detail without losing the broader picture\n6.Ability to multi-task, deal with fast-changing priorities and meet tight deadlines under minimal supervision\n7.Maintain a professional decorum at all time\n8.Able to get on with people from a diverse set of cultural backgrounds\n9.Willing to work over-time and on weekends when project timelines are tight and travel on short notice\n\nHard Skills\n1.Strong linguistic (Chinese Mandarin and English) and translation skills\n2.Proficiency in MS Office Suite, especially MS Excel\n3.Familiarity with financial and IT terminology is preferred\n4.Exposure to CAT toolkit is preferred\n\nEducation and Qualifications\n1.Bachelor’s degree in computer science, finance, accounting or economics\n2.Business Operation Background in MNC is preferred\n\nIf you are interested with this position, kindly send your CV to fiona.choi@sap.com , thank you.\n\n\n※ 来源:·饮水思源 bbs.sjtu.edu.cn·[FROM:]\n\n※ 修改:·saplabs 于 2016年11月28日23:22:51 修改本文·[FROM:]\n\n※ 修改:·saplabs 于 2016年11月28日23:24:10 修改本文·[FROM:]\n\n\n\n\n百信银行校园招聘 郑煤机集团校园招聘 心动网络校园招聘 海格物流校园招聘 中国建设银行博士后科研工作站校园招聘\n申请该职位(外发) 收藏该职位", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8352253437042236}
+{"content": "Tag Archives: primacy\n\nBattling Confirmation Bias and First Impressions in Litigation\n\nBy Thomas M. O’Toole, Ph.D.\n\nConfirmation bias refers to when people accept or reject evidence based upon what they want to believe as opposed to basing it on the actual merits of the evidence. In some ways, it is a psychological survival mechanism tied to our beliefs about how the world works. Challenges to these beliefs can cause a great deal of chaos and stress, so our brains are, essentially, pre-programmed to seek out evidence that reinforces those beliefs, while minimizing, explaining away, or outright rejecting evidence that challenges them. In fact, this explains the siloed media we have today where people tend to pick which news channels to watch based upon their political affiliation.\n\nFor lawyers, confirmation bias can be a significant problem at trial, especially when the first impressions favor the other party. As Nobel prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman notes, “The sequence in which we observe characteristics of a person is often determined by chance. Sequence matters, however, because the halo effect increases the weight of first impressions, sometimes to the point that subsequent information is mostly wasted.” In other words, first impressions at trial often shape how jurors perceive the subsequent evidence and testimony at trial. A poor first impression of the defendant will likely lead jurors to place greater focus and emphasis on evidence and testimony that reinforces the negative view of the defendant and vice versa. Continue reading\n\nPrimed to Decide: How Impactful are Opening Statements?\n\nMy Cousin Vinny\n\nBy Thomas M. O’Toole, Ph.D.\n\nPrimacy and recency are, by far, the most popular theories of persuasion that arise in my discussions with attorneys. I have never heard an attorney mention “elaboration likelihood model,” but references to primacy and recency seem to come weekly at times. Primacy refers to the idea that what is presented most remains the most salient and, consequently, impactful for the audience. Recency is the opposite idea that an audience is most impacted by what it heard last.\n\nApplied to a litigation setting, the primacy/recency debate translates to a popular debate about whether opening statements or closing arguments are more important. The traditional belief among lawyers (and in some respects, this author) is that opening statements are the most important part of trial. Many attorneys take primacy to an extreme, embracing a statistic that has been passed down through the ages that 70-90% of jurors make up their minds about the case after opening statements. In other words, these attorneys go as far as arguing that trial is essentially over after opening statements. Hans and Sweigart[1] offer a rich discussion of this belief in their analysis of civil jurors’ perceptions of attorneys, suggesting that this belief originated with a 1940 study[2] where researchers assessed liability judgments at eighteen different points in a mock trial and concluded that the vast majority of final verdicts were consistent with judgments made right after opening statements. Continue reading", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8066883087158203}
+{"content": "Informing Spectroscopists for Over 40 Years\n\nNew method for faster pharmaceutical residual solvent characterisation\n\nVUV Analytics has announced the launch of a new method for residual solvent testing in pharmaceutical products and excipients that reduces analysis time while allowing the combination of different sample types into a single test. The gas chromatography-vacuum ultraviolet (GC-VUV) spectroscopy method reduces the GC separation time recommended by the Unites States Pharmacopeia (USP) Method 467 of 60 min to 8 min or less. In addition, residual solvent classes typically run as separate tests can be combined into a single GC run due to VUV spectroscopy’s ability to provide unambiguous compound identification and quantitation even when signals overlap.\n\nOrganic solvents are used in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and can contaminate drugs during packaging, storage and transportation. They account for 50–90% of the mass in typical pharmaceutical operation and present most of the process toxicity. This new GC-VUV method ensures complete identification of any solvents remaining from synthesis while delivering faster time to results.\n\nRegister for a free subscription\n\nRegister for free subscriptions to print and digital magazines, as well as full access to 100's of articles and columns.REGISTER NOW", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5999144315719604}
+{"content": "The Quietus - A new rock music and pop culture website\n\nBaker's Dozen\n\nLearning Through Listening: Shabaka Hutchings Favourite LPs\nOlamiju Fajemisin , March 28th, 2018 09:07\n\nIn anticipation of the release of Sons of Kemet's latest LP, Your Queen Is A Reptile and their appearance at this year's Field Day Festival, saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings detailed the thirteen albums that shaped his experiences as both a man and a musician to Olamiju Fajemisin\n\n\nGeorgia Anne Muldrow – Ocotea\nI see her in a similar light to the way in which I see Don Cherry, as a pure musician, but this only started after hearing this album though. She's not singing on it at all and up until then, I'd only known and loved her as a singer. I didn't realise that she was also an instrumentalist. So I listened to this album, and I thought 'Holy shit! This woman is not just an instrumentalist, she's a killer instrumentalist!' She has an actual vision of music that has references to people like Sun Ra, and other people from this side of jazz that hasn't necessarily been that widely explored yet. It's not one of these orthodox albums. Listening to Ocotea you can feel her having been in the studio, quite simply creating. I've tried to learn from the free attitude I hear in this album. It feels like she went into the studio with the intention of giving us her creation, and that's just so motivating. Having the courage to do an album unlike anything you've presented before is easier said than done. I'm known as a saxophone player, so then why should I work on a project based an entirely different context of music, completely different to what people see me as and expect me to produce. To present an album like that takes courage that as an artist; I'm still trying to strive towards.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7160450220108032}
+{"content": "Williams - The Prague Spring and its Aftermath: Czechoslovak Politics, 1968–1970\n\n\n\nISBN: 9780521588034\nVydavatelství: Cambridge University Press\nRok vydání: 1997\nVazba: Paperback\nPočet stran: 288\nDostupnost: Na objednávku\n\nPůvodní cena: 1 Kč\nVýstavní cena: 1 Kč(t.j. po slevě 15%)\n(Cena je uvedena včetně 10% DPH)\nKatalogová cena: 30.99 GBP\n\nNárok na dopravu zdarma\nPřidat do wishlistu\nZpět Tisknout\nThe Prague Spring of 1968 was among the most important episodes in post-war European politics. In this book Kieran Williams analyses the attempt at reform socialism under Alexander Dubcek using materials and sources which have become available in the wake of the 1989 revolution. Drawing on declassified documents from party archives, the author readdresses important questions surrounding the Prague Spring: Why did liberalization occur? What was it intended to achieve? Why did the Soviet Union intervene with force? What was the political outcome of the invasion? What part did the reformers play in ending the experiment in reform socialism? What was the role of the security police under Dubcek? The book will provide new information for specialists as well as introductory analysis and narrative for students of East European politics and history and Soviet foreign policy.\n\nViz také\n« »\nPřehled výstav, na kterých byl titul prezentován:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8687224984169006}
+{"content": "Bluestreak and the birth of a collaboration kernel\n\nSuccessful Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) collaboration depends on the timely dissemination of relevant information throughout the project team. This task is made difficult by the number of collaboration interactions that occur and the diverse range of digital tools used to support them. To improve this process it is proposed that a collaboration kernel could weave together these disparate interactions and tools. This will create a more productive and efficient collaboration environment by allowing design discussion, issues and decisions to be efficiently and reliably exchanged between team members and the digital tools they currently use. This article describes how Project Bluestreak, a messaging service from Autodesk Labs, can be transformed into an effective collaboration kernel. To guide this transformation, the principles of the Project Information Cloud have been used to evaluate the existing service and identify areas for future development. These fundamental digital collaboration principles are derived from lessons learnt in the formation of the World Wide Web. When these principles are embodied within a digital collaboration tool, they have demonstrated an ability to improve the timely delivery of relevant information to members of the project team.\n\nSeamless collaboration within a fragmented digital environment\n\nA successful AEC digital collaboration environment brings multiple parties together so that they can productively work towards a satisfactory and achievable design outcome. During this process participants must engage in a variety of interactions between team members and the digital models used to describe the design. These interactions, and the technologies commonly used to enable them, are summarised in the following diagram and table.\n\nNote: The term 'model' refers to a CAD or BIM digital model that represents the proposed design. Digital models play an important role in the collaboration process as they communicate ideas, impose restrictions and can be manipulated to reflect a participant's opinion.\n\nBe2camp presentation on architectural micro-blogging\n\nBelow is the slide presentation I will (hopefully) present at tonight's Be2camp North un-conference. Basically the presentation graphically summarises my recent blog post on the use of micro-blogging within architectural collaboration.\n\nThe conference is in Liverpool and I am in New Zealand, so if the technology gods are not in a good mood things may go pear shaped very quickly...\n\n\nUsing micro-blogging to record architectural design conversation alongside the BIM\n\nThe majority of professionals within the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry use the telephone and email to collaborate on immediate design problems. Unfortunately there is a disconnection between this communication and the underlying Building Information Model (BIM) where the agreed upon architectural solution is recorded. As a consequence it is difficult for a person interacting solely with the BIM to take part or learn from this external conversation because they are often oblivious to it taking place. Micro-blogging is an emerging, Internet-based communication medium that may provide the common thread to tie these disparate sources of project information together. It will achieve this through enabling the issues and outcomes discussed during architectural conversations to be quickly recorded by any member of the project team. Those working on the BIM will be able to actively monitor and search across these conversations to keep up to date with the project’s state and help solve new design problems.\n\nUnlike blogging and instant messaging, micro-blogging can communicate simple messages between groups of people using mobile phones or any Internet connected device. These conversations are published online so they can be referenced in further design discussion, or indexed for searching alongside other sources of project information. For adoption to occur the technology must be integrated within the BIM toolset so that being part of this conversation is a natural extension of the digital workspace. Current micro-blogging services such as Twitter, lack this integration and have not (yet) been tailored to meet the specific demands of architectural collaboration. A focused implementation would likely improve architectural collaboration because micro-blogging embodies many of the principles of the Project Information Cloud. Its qualities of simplicity, ubiquity, decentralisation, modularity, awareness, context sensitivity and evolving semantics make it a promising collaboration medium, and one that could move the AEC industry towards the goal of hyperlinked practice.\n\nAutodesk Seek gets a new look and more content\n\nAutodesk has not yet abandoned their web-based services endeavours in spite of a wilting construction industry and sinking global economy. Just prior to Autodesk University 2008 their Seek service received a significant makeover. Now this week it was announced BIMWorld has been acquired by Autodesk so that its BIMLibrary catalogue can be folded into Seek's. These events all sound good on paper, but how do they stack up, and more importantly is this a step forward for the Seek service?\n\nThe new user interface\n\nThe old white on black style of Seek has disappeared in favour of pastels on white. Overall this is a welcome change, but more importantly the overall appearance has been tidied up, with more attention paid to the rendering of onscreen elements. The result still feels very database-driven, but compared to the previous interface it does have a better flow and a less haphazard look. The Javascript-based Yahoo! User Interface library has been used to good effect and overall it feels very snappy. Unfortunately under this new coat of paint some things have not changed, for example the URIs for each product are shockingly bad. The option to email a link of the product has improved, but most people are used to simply copying and pasting URLs from the browser. If Autodesk expect others to link to content they need to resolve this problem. Until then it is very difficult for people to collaborate using Seek as a point of reference.\n\nMaking digital collaboration \"more betterer\"\n\nRecently I gave a presentation at Victoria University on the work I am doing with my PhD. For posterity I have uploaded this presentation to Slideshare.\n\nThe talk covered the problem of digital architectural collaboration and how it is an immature field compared to other aspects of architecture. Due to the pressing nature of architectural collaboration the solutions to this problem will not be revolutionary, e.g. Second Life-like, but rather evolutionary, and at times even haphazard.\n\nAfter introducing the problem-space I went on to discuss the emergence of the Building Information Model (BIM) as a central figure in digital architectural collaboration. However whilst BIM is an excellent productivity tool it does not address many of the industry's collaboration issues - in fact in many respects it compounds them.\n\nWIth BIM identified as a significant yet problematic collaboration technology I outlined the need for an overriding set of digital collaboration principles that can be applied to future collaboration technology decisions. Rather than starting from zero I propose that we build on top of the underlying theories of distributed systems such as the Internet. With this need and methodology identified, I go on to introduce the seven principles of the Project Information Cloud:\n\n  1. Simplicity\n  2. Ubiquity\n  3. Decentralisation\n  4. Modular design\n  5. Information awareness\n  6. Context sensitivity\n  7. Evolutionary semantics\n\nThrough application of these principles it is hoped we can establish Project Information Clouds within architectural projects. These unbounded information clouds will link significant amounts of projects data into intelligent, loosely joined, knowledge-bases.\n\n\nAutodesk Seek talk by Mike Haley\n\nA day after posting my critique on Autodesk Seek I came across this presentation Mike Haley of the Seek team gave in March. Boy I wish that I had come across this last week as it answers some of the outstanding questions that I posed. The video covers the technologies that Seek is composed of, i.e. Atom syndication feeds (PartAtom), schema design, Amazon EC2 and open source modules. The entire thing looks surprisingly good (and open) for a big company like Autodesk. The presentation is an hour long but worth watching as it is probably the most significant thing one of the big-AEC software vendors have attempted on the Internet.\n\nAnother interesting thing Mike mentions is that Amazon are working on Windows-based EC2 instances...\n\nAutodesk Seek steps towards ubiquitous AEC search\n\nNote: Before reading this critque I would recommend checking out this Autodesk Seek presentation as it answers many of the questions raised here.\n\nIn May Autodesk released a beta of Autodesk Seek, a web-based Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) specific, 3D model and specifications search tool. Rather than a free for all model index in a similar guise to Google's 3D Warehouse or CADoogle, the service is focused on exposing the model and specification catalogues of AEC suppliers. This is hardly going to interest the armchair designer, but for architects and engineers the ability to quickly locate, access and reference specifications and 3D data could potentially reduce design development time and costs significantly.\n\nGauging by the initial contents of Seek it would appear Autodesk have partnered with some large U.S. suppliers in order to kick-start their index. Whilst the index signals a clear sign of intent its current contents is hardly awe inspiring. That being said raw index size itself does not ensure success, to really make a mark and stand the test of time the Seek team need to execute on three things:\n\n  • Quickly build out this index with up to date and relevant content so that it becomes the first place AEC professionals head to.\n  • Create a compelling user experience which overcomes the idea that a specifications catalogue must be dull, unhelpful and always two months out of date.\n  • Work to integrate Seek into as many aspects of Autodesk's existing modeling and drafting tools. By doing so the line between desktop and Web will be blurred and Seek will become a natural extension of their professional digital toolset.\n\nWhat differentiates Seek from the crowd?\n\nThe idea of an online product catalogue for AEC specifications is certainly not new. However Seek is unique in that it is the first online product catalogue backed by a large company who's primary customer-base is not AEC suppliers. In the past online AEC catalogue initiatives have been spearheaded by suppliers or third-parties financially dependent on these suppliers. This close association has hindered growth and because for a Web-based, universal product catalogue to be successful it must stand independently from its data suppliers. This independence establishes trust which is important because users do not want the relevancy of their search influenced by who is paying the bills, nor do they want a 'walled garden' where only products from selected (paying) suppliers are on show. Consequently even though many supplier-backed catalogues exist, none can be considered the Google of the AEC world.\n\nSeek has the potential of filling this 'Google' void because Autodesk's primary income is from people who make material purchasing decisions (architects, engineers and contractors, etc.) and not the suppliers themselves. This difference places Seek in the position of being able to design a catalogue that acts in the best interests of the search consumer. At the same time suppliers are practically forced to take part given Autodesk's vast global audience. The challenge facing Seek it is that Autodesk are not known for producing search indexes or successful Web products.\n\nSo given this background and the potential rewards on offer what works and what doesn't in this early beta release? Let's take a look...\n\nArchitecture Astronauts\n\nA blog post by David Megginson brought to my attention an article posted six years ago by Joel Spolsky about architecture astronauts. Who are they? Architecture astronauts in Joel's words are:\n\n\"Smart thinkers (that) just don't know when to stop, and they create these absurd, all-encompassing, high-level pictures of the universe that are all good and fine, but don't actually mean anything at all.\"\n\nThe moral behind Spolsky's story will continue to remain relevant simply because it is a lesson often forgotten in the heat of a debate or brainstorming session. David Megginson agrees with many of these observations but does point out architecture astronauts have had a positive, if not always successful effect on technology development. From the real world of architecture I am always reminded of Mies van der Roe's ability to grasp the big ideas of modernism whilst still keeping his head when it came to functionality and details (after all, 'God is in the details'). This ability gains even more credit when you compare his work to Le Corbusier, arguably one of architecture's great astronauts, who's ideas often far outstretched their functionality or success in the real world.\n\nOn a technical tangent I especially agree with one of David's last points about XML and the heady effect it has had on technology architects and evangelists in the past:\n\n\"(Architecture astronauts) believe that if a bit of standardization is good, a lot must be even better.\"\n\nIf anything both posts highlight the importance of stopping work, taking a step back and readdressing what it is you are actually trying to achieve and the way it is being done. Unfortunately for most of us it is all too easy to get caught up in the big idea or the nuts and bolts, in the process missing the chance to grasp what we were really on to in the first place.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9101731777191162}
+{"content": "Resource Categories\nTrialr Home\nAudio & Multimedia\nReference Tools\nTeaching & Training Tools\nGames & Entertainment\nGraphic Apps\nHome & Hobby\nNetwork & Internet\nSecurity & Privacy\nSystem Utilities\nWeb Development\n\nLatest Users' Opinions\nMacsome iTunes Converter for Mac 2.2.1 [2018-08-15 15:01:31] 5\nGreat product. If you want to convert iTunes m4v movies to mp4, you can Also use DRmare M4V Converte ...\ndefecult to download app\n\n  • Matrix Calculator Pro 5.0\n\n    \" Matrix calculator Pro \" is a practical math tool to calculator matrice. As you see, it's easy, various, and effectual. Its price is only $49.90. Download and try it. Function: Matrix inverse. Matrix transpose. Largest component. Smallest component. Matrix or vector norm. Dimension. Sum of diagonal elements. Determinant. Matrix rank. Eigenvalues. QR factorization. Orthogonal-triangular decomposition. LU factorization. Cholesky factorization. Singular value decomposition. <+> ...\n\n    HAN | | 617KB | 2009-12-04 21:44:25\n  • Academia 3.0\n\n    Do you want to review your knowledge of English, mathematics, science, geography, and history? Are you interested in designing tests in the field of your choice? If you answered yes to any of the above, then Academia 3.0 can help you to achieve these goals. Version 3.0 is the successor to Academia 2.1, and it boasts new and updated features, including the Test Creation Wizard, a custom dictionary, and Books Central, which is a reference tool that covers many topics in the five subjects. The ...\n\n    Genesis Software | | 7.13MB | 2009-11-03 20:25:53\n  • UberSmart Math Facts 2.2\n\n    UberSmart Math Facts is not just another flash card program, it's a highly effective tool that helps children of all ages master their math facts. Did you know that you have to recall 12 different math facts just to multiply 867 x 39? Quick, accurate recollection of math facts is a vital skill for performing math calculations. UberSmart Math Facts helps students MASTER that skill. Have a child that's just starting out? Math Facts will teach them each skill in small manageable sets, starting ...\n\n    UberSmart Software | | 3.59MB | 2009-10-06 23:02:02\n  • Visual Math Student Edition 2.02\n\n    Visual Math student edition. Visual Math product family 11 in 1 bundle special. Help school, college, university teachers, students to teach or study mathematics, including algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, complex variable function, fractal, curve fitting, probability analysis and optimistics.\n\n    GraphNow | | 22.66MB | 2009-09-07 09:39:07\n  • Calculate Mathematical Expressions Software 7.0\n\n    Evaluate math expressions with sin, square root, pi, factorial, etc.\n\n    Sobolsoft | | 756KB | 2009-07-28 09:19:27\n  • Scientific Calculator - ScienCalc 1.3.3\n\n    ScienCalc is a convenient and powerful scientific calculator. ScienCalc calculates mathematical expression. It supports the common arithmetic operations (+, -, *, /) and parentheses. The program contains high-performance arithmetic, trigonometric, hyperbolic and transcendental calculation routines. All the function routines therein map directly to Intel 80387 FPU floating-point machine instructions. Find values for your equations in seconds: Scientific calculator gives students, teachers, sci ...\n\n    Institute of Mathematics and Statistics | | 1.91MB | 2009-07-23 12:40:45\n  • Compact Calculator - CompactCalc 4.2.3\n\n\n  • Multipurpose Calculator - MultiplexCalc 5.4.3\n\n    MultiplexCalc is a multipurpose and comprehensive desktop calculator for Windows. It can be used as an enhanced elementary, scientific, financial or expression calculator. It embodies generic floating-point routines, hyperbolic and transcendental routines. MultiplexCalc contains more than 100 mathematical functions and constants to satisfy your needs to solve problems ranging from simple elementary algebra to complex equations. Its underling implementation encompasses high precision, sturdiness ...\n\n    Institute of Mathematics and Statistics | | 1.91MB | 2009-07-23 12:23:14\n  • Rapid-Pi 2.1\n\n    Rapid-Pi is an add-on for Microsoft Word (and other word processors) that will transform the way you enter mathematical formulae, equations and expressions into documents. Rapid-Pi was designed with a single purpose in mind - to save you time when editing math in documents. Rapid-Pi's text-based input is a simply faster way to input math. Most equation editing programs require you to click on toolbar buttons or go through menus in order to insert symbols and expressions. This process is inher ...\n\n    Trident Software Pty Ltd | | 3.02MB | 2009-07-22 21:19:07\n  • Maths Trainer 1.1\n\n    Maths Trainer has 24 challenging activities to exercise your mental math skills. There are 12 practice activities, 8 Daily Test Activities and 4 Reward Games. Daily Progress Charting. Includes arithmetic, fractions, decimals, clock and money activities.\n\n    Oak Systems Leisure Software Ltd | | 12.33MB | 2009-07-03 10:42:50\n  • Desktop Calculator - DesktopCalc 2.1.3\n\n    DesktopCalc is an enhanced, easy-to-use and powerful scientific calculator with an expression editor, printing operation, result history list and integrated help. Desktop calculator gives students, teachers, scientists and engineers the power to find values for even the most complex equation set. DesktopCalc uses Advanced DAL (Dynamic Algebraic Logic) mechanism to perform all its operation with the built-in 38-digit precision math emulator for high precision. DesktopCalc combines fast \"just-on ...\n\n    Institute of Mathematics and Statistics | | 1.91MB | 2009-06-27 22:45:09\n  • ViCalc 3.3.17\n\n    ViCalc-software is a scientific calculator with protocol. In addition ViCalc-Software has got an operation panel in order to get a better view of the running calculation. It`s possible to edit, to print and to copy the table into other applications. The software is able to work with arithmetic-, scientific-, memory-, percent-, statistic, base-n-calculations, scientific constants and units conversion.\n\n    Dr. Vitali Kudaschov | | 690KB | 2009-06-23 11:51:29\n  • Visual Stats 1.2\n\n    Implement data analysis and multivariate statistical analysis. 1. Probability analysis. 2. Compute descriptive statistics of selected data - compute probability density function values, cumulative density function values, quantile values, means and variances. 3. Frequency analysis. 4. Compare means- one sample t test, independent-samples t test and paired-samples t test. 5. Compare variances. 6. Variance analysis - one-way ANOVA and two-way ANOVA. 7. Univariate linear regression and multivariat ...\n\n    GraphNow | | 2.58MB | 2009-04-18 21:54:38\n  • Calculation Made Easy 4.1\n\n    Calculation Made Easy Ver 4.1 is an electronic math flashcards program. It has drills written to teach children (even adults) Tables, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division. Calculation Made Easy Ver 4.1 provides practice of basic mathematical skills and multiplication tables. Indeed, it is a challenging program for practicing the basic of arithmetic. Calculation Made Easy Ver 4.1 emphases on memorization of the number facts and on mental arithmetic (i.e. ability to perform comp ...\n\n    AAP Media | | 2.68MB | 2009-04-15 14:17:04\n  • Advanced Grapher 2.2\n\n    Powerful but easy-to-use graphing, curve fitting and calculating software. Graphs Cartesian (Y(x) and X(y)), polar and parametric functions, graphs of tables, equations (implicit functions), inequalities and slope fields. Up to 100 graphs in one window. Calculus features: regression analysis, obtaining zeroes and extrema of functions, intersections, derivatives, equations of tangents and normals, numerical integration, value tables, calculator. Lots of graph and coordinate plane parameters. You ...\n\n    Alentum Software, Inc. | | 1.38MB | 2009-04-04 02:10:35", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9218340516090393}
+{"content": "12.12  Optimization of the Viterbi Decoder\n\nReturning to the Viterbi decoder example (from Section 12.4), we first set the environment for the design using the following worst-case conditions: a die temperature of 25 C (fastest logic) to 120 C (slowest logic); a power supply voltage of V DD = 5.5 V (fastest logic) to V DD = 4.5 V (slowest logic); and worst process (slowest logic) to best process (fastest logic). Assume that this ASIC should run at a clock frequency of at least 33 MHz (clock period of 30 ns). An initial synthesis run gives a critical path delay at nominal conditions (the default setting) of about 25 ns and nearly 35 ns under worst-case conditions using a high-density 0.6 m m standard-cell target library.\n\nEstimates (using simulation and calculation) show that data arrives at the input pins 5 ns (worst-case) after the rising edge of the clock. The reset signal arrives 10 ns (worst-case) after the rising edge of the clock. The outputs of the Viterbi decoder must be stable at least 4 ns before the rising edge of the clock. This allows these signals to be driven to another ASIC in time to be clocked. These timing constraints are particularly devastating. Together they effectively reduce the clock period that is available for use by 9 ns. However, these figures are typical for board-level delays.\n\nThe initial synthesis runs reveal the critical path is through the following six modules:\n\nsubset_decode -> compute_metric ->\ncompare_select -> reduce -> metric -> output_decision\n\nThe logic synthesizer can do little or no optimization across these module boundaries. The next step, then, is to rearrange the design hierarchy for synthesis. Flattening ( merging or ungrouping) the six modules into a new cell, called critical , allows the synthesizer to reduce the critical path delay by optimizing one large module.\n\nAt present the last module in the critical path is output_decision . This combinational logic adds 2–3 ns to the output delay requirement of 4 ns (this means the outputs of the module metric must be stable 6–7 ns before the rising clock edge). Registering the output reduces this overhead and removes the module output_decision from the critical path. The disadvantage is an increase in latency by one clock cycle, but the latency is already 12 clock cycles in this design. If registering the output decreases the critical path delay by more than a factor of 12 / 13, performance will still improve.\n\nTo register the output, alter the code (on pages 575–576) as follows:\n\nmodule viterbi_ASIC\n\n\nwire [2:0] Out, Out_r; // Change: add Out_r.\n\n\nasPadOut #(3,\"30,31,32\") u30 (padOut, Out_r); // Change: Out_r.\n\nOutreg o_1 (Out, Out_r, Clk, Res); // Change: add output register.\n\n\n\nmodule Outreg (Out, Out_r, Clk, Res); // Change: add this module.\n\ninput [2:0] Out; input Clk, Rst; output [2:0] Out_r;\n\ndff #(3) reg1(Out, Out_r, Clk, Res);\n\n\nThese changes move the performance closer to the target. Prelayout estimates indicate the die perimeter required for the I/O pads will allow more than enough area to hold the core logic. Since there is unused area in the core, it makes sense to switch to a high-performance standard-cell library with a slightly larger cell height (96 l versus 72 l ). This cell library is less dense, but faster.\n\nTypically, at this point, the design is improved by altering the HDL, the hierarchy, and the synthesis controls in an iterative manner until the desired performance is achieved. However, remember there is still no information from the layout. The best that can be done is to estimate the contribution of the interconnect using wire-load models. As soon as possible the netlist should be passed to the floorplanner (or the place-and-route software in the absence of a floorplanner) to generate better estimates of interconnect delays.\n\nTABLE 12.13  Critical-path timing report for the Viterbi decoder.\n\nInstance name\n\nDelay information 1\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ninPin --> outPin incr arrival trs rampDel cap(pF) cell\n\n\nCP --> QN 1.65 1.65 F .20 .10 dfctnb\n\nA1 --> ZN .63 2.27 R .14 .08 ao01d1\n\nB --> ZN .84 3.12 F .15 .08 ao04d1\n\nB2 --> ZN .91 4.03 F .35 .17 fn03d1\n\nI --> ZN .39 4.43 R .23 .12 in01d1\n\nS --> Z .91 5.33 F .34 .17 mx21d1\n\nB0 --> CO 2.20 7.54 F .24 .14 ad02d1\n\n\n... 28 other cell instances omitted ...\n\n\nB0 --> CO 2.25 23.17 F .23 .13 ad02d1\n\nCI --> CO .53 23.70 F .21 .09 ad01d1\n\nA1 --> Z .69 24.39 R .19 .07 xo02d1\n\nsetup: D --> CP .17 24.56 R .00 .00 dfctnb\n\nslack: MET .44\n\nTable 12.13 is a timing report for the Viterbi decoder, which shows the critical path starts at a sequential logic cell (a D flip-flop in the present example), ends at a sequential logic cell (another D flip-flop), with 37 other combinational logic cells in-between. The first delay is the clock-to-Q delay of the first flip-flop. The last delay is the setup time of the last flip-flop. The critical path delay is 24.56 ns, which gives a slack of 0.44 ns from the constraint of 25 ns (reduced from 30 ns to give an extra margin). We have met the timing constraint (otherwise we say it is violated ).\n\nIn Table 12.13 all instances in the critical path are inside instance v_1.u100 . Instance name u100 is the new cell (cell name critical ) formed by merging six blocks in module viterbi (instance name v_1 ).\n\nThe second column in Table 12.13 shows the timing arc of the cell involved on the critical path. For example, CP --> QN represents the path from the clock pin, CP , to the flip-flop output pin, QN , of a D flip-flop (cell name dfctnb ). The pin names and their functions come from the library data book. Each company adopts a different naming convention (in this case CP represents a positive clock edge, for example). The conventions are not always explicitly shown in the data books but are normally easy to discover by looking at examples. As another example, B0 --> CO represents the path from the B input to the carry output of a 2-bit full adder (cell name ad02d1 ).\n\nThe third column ( incr ) represents the incremental delay contribution of the logic cell to the critical path.\n\nThe fourth column ( arrival ) shows the arrival time of the signal at the output pin of the logic cell. This is the cumulative delay to that point on the critical path.\n\nThe fifth column ( trs ) describes whether the transition at the output node is rising ( R ) or falling ( F ). The timing analyzer examines each possible combination of rising and falling delays to find the critical path.\n\nThe sixth column ( rampDel ) is a measure of the input slope (ramp delay, or slew rate). In submicron ASIC design this is an important contribution to delay.\n\nThe seventh column ( Cap ) is the capacitance at the output node of the logic cell. This determines the logic cell delay and also the signal slew rate at the node.\n\nThe last column ( cell ) is the cell name (from the cell-library data book). In this library suffix 'd1' represents normal drive strength with 'd0' , 'd2 ', and 'd5' being the other available strengths.\n\n1. See the text for explanations of the column headings.\n\nChapter start ] [ Previous page ] [ Next page ]\n\nUniversity of Denver GIS Program\nTeledyne Optech\n\nInternet Business Systems © 2018 Internet Business Systems, Inc.\n  Privacy PolicyAdvertise", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8782011270523071}
+{"content": "Zombats are small bat-like creatures sent by Vrak to enlarge monsters. Malkor refers to them as Vrak's pets. Vrak says that he owns them because the royals have access to the best technology.\n\nIn appearance, the main body of a Zombat looks similar to a microphone, with bat wings at its sides. It's eye has a blue iris, and appear somewhat blood-shot.\n\nUsualy summoned by a snap of Vrak's fingers, 6 Zombats would surround the defeated monster, each generating a piece of a blue hexagon that would cover the creature briefly. After that, the creature would be revived as a giant.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.60848069190979}
+{"content": "Vegan Sweet Potato, Coconut Milk, & Roasted Chili Ravioli\n\n\n\n● 2 cups of all-purpose flour\n● 2 cups of semolina flour\n● A dash of salt\n● 1 cup of water or a little more\n\n\n● 3 medium sweet potatoes\n● 2 chili peppers\n● 85 mls of coconut milk\n● 85 mls Almond Creamery Almond Milk\n\n1. Preheat the oven to 230 degrees Celsius\n2. Rub the peppers with olive oil and then put the sweet potatoes and peppers on a baking sheet and into the oven.\n3. Roast for about fifteen minutes.\n4. Let the peppers rest for fifteen minutes in a paper bag or an air-tight container to make the skin easier to remove.\n5. After that, peel the skin and remove the seeds. Mince and set aside.\n6. Meanwhile, the potatoes are still in the oven.\n7. During that time, combine the two flours and salt in a large bowl. Make a hole in the middle to pour water. When you mix them all pour on a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth. Divide into two, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rest.\n8. Check if the sweet potatoes are soft. If they are, remove them from the oven.\n9. Leave them to cool.\n10. When they are cool or at room temperature, peel their skin off, and mash them in a large bowl. Add the coconut milk and minced peppers. Stir, until it is well combined.\n11. Roll one bowl of dough in a rectangular shape on a floured surface. It should be thin, but not close to tearing. Place even spoonfuls of the sweet potato filling along the dough.\n12. Roll the second bowl of the dough in the same shape and size. Brush some water between the fillings, and place the second rectangle of pasta on top of it. Press to seal well.\n13. Cut out the ravioli with a pasta wheel or a knife. Press all around the edges of each ravioli with a fork to be sure they are sealed properly.\n14. Bring a pot of water to boil over medium-high heat. Add the ravioli. Cook until they begin to float in the pot.\n15. You can eat them straight out of the pot or make them crispier by roasting them additionally on olive oil in a pan. This will take about three minutes\n\nThese delicious treats can be served in different ways. You can top them with rosemary, basil, rocket salad, etc. You can also serve them with tofu cheese or some vegetable-based sauce.\n\nIf you are too lazy to prepare ravioli (we get it, there is a lot of work to it), you can simply serve the filling as a mashed potato dish.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.717287003993988}
+{"content": "about osho\n\nOsho represents a paradigm shift in the history of human consciousness.\n\nOsho is in spirituality the equivalent of Einstein in science and Kant in philosophy, and Picasso in art and Freud in psychology: he represents a point of no return.\n\nOsho is a modern Buddha whose presence, insights and devices have touched the life of millions of people across the globe. He belongs to no tradition or religion of the past, and yet he has absorbed them all. \n\nOsho is known for his revolutionary contribution to the science of inner transformation, with an approach to meditation that acknowledges the accelerated pace of contemporary life. His unique Active Meditations are designed to first release the accumulated stresses of body and mind, so that it is then easier to take the experience of stillness and thought-free relaxation into daily life.\n\nOsho is an enlightened master who is working with all possibilities to help humanity overcome a difficult phase in developing consciousness.\n— The Dalai Lama\n Osho Active Meditation in London\n Osho Active Meditation in London", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.692657470703125}
+{"content": "- this week\n\nGender: Female Meaning of Asteria: \"star\" Origin of Asteria: Greek\n\nThe name Asteria is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning \"star\". Asteria and is often added to user-created lists like Mythological goddess names for girls and discussed in our forums with posts like \"Love, Like, Lose -- Outlandish/Guilty Pleasures edition!\".\n\nFrom the experts:\n\nAsteria is an Anglicized spelling of the Greek Astraea or Astraia, the goddess of justice and innocence. She became the constellation Virgo, so all forms of this name would be especially appropriate for a child born in late August or early September.\n\nFind other names based on Asteria using our baby name generator.\n\nFamous People Named Asteria\n\nPop Culture References for the name Asteria\n\nAsteria, role in the opera 'Nerone' by Arrigo Boito\nAsteria, goddess of justice and stars.\nAsteria, several figures in Greek Mythology.\nAsteria, role in Handel's opera, Tamerlano.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9974470138549805}
+{"content": "Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta\n\n\"Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta\" Image credit : www.madman.com.au\n\n“Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta” Image credit : http://www.madman.com.au\n\nIn this week blog post, I mainly discussed about the key things that I found interesting in this documentary film “Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta” which directed by Sue Clothier and Craig Grahman. It is a documentary that shows the untold story of how Vietnamese community overcomes the unfamiliar place. This is an interesting documentary film that shows what actually happen in Cabramatta. It showing the real stories and the challenges that Vietnamese has been thru when living in Cabramatta. Besides, the racism, poverty, family dysfunction and crime are kindly presented in this documentary as well.  (Alstin, 2012)\n\nRefugees from Vietnam . Image credit : http://www.couriermail.com.au\n\n\nCustoms Officer Frank Dalton holding a Vietnamese refugee child. Image credit : http://www.migrationheritage.nsw.gov.au\n\nFrom this documentary, we clearly understand the Vietnamese has escaped their home country by boats during the Vietnam War. Because of the communist has take over and control the whole Vietnam, therefore many people are decide to leave the country. In 1970s, many Vietnamese become a refugees who came all the way illegally. As we all knew that, no one wanted to be a refugee unless there are only a chance to survive and life better. It is because refugees is a group of person who don’t know what are the challenge and risk that waiting for them to face it. Their destiny is a life-death decision. They can’t control their own life because everything is controlled by the others who have more power and decide who and what they going to be. Basically, refugees are mainly relying on the sympathy of the country that provides them an opportunity to live.  This is why, as it explained in the video by Hien Le- Vice President of Vietnamese Community in Australia, we clearly understand that this is the biggest history for the Vietnamese to make such decision.\n\n The Vietnamese choose to live in Australia because it was so different compared to their country. They bring high hopes because they believe Australia is amazing place that helps their children has a better life and bright future. The Vietnamese parents are willing to do and work even harder just to make sure their children are live happily. However, this doesn’t seem happen because of multiculturalism. The Australia believed that different culture can live side by side, but it actually not. The consequence of multiculturalism has causing trouble from a clean country turn into darkness. The Vietnamese seem unimaginable the hopes has destroy.\n\nTony from \"Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta\" Image credit : www.madman.com.au\n\nTony from “Once Upon a Time In Cabramatta”\nImage credit : http://www.madman.com.au\n\nFrom this documentary, it clearly shows that the peer pressure and the different culture are the main reason for having this issue happen. For example in the case from Tony –one of the responses who born and lived in Australia, he mentioned that he feel frustrated when he couldn’t share his happiness and sadness to his family because of language barrier. Tony can speak fluent in English but not the Vietnamese. In addition, the Vietnamese parents are working hard for their job and will never around with their children. The Vietnam kids are not growth up like the normal living which always has the parents with them whenever their needs. This is the reason why, the kids are getting involved with the criminal –drugs and violence.\n\n“The drug are divided the family…”\n\n5T gang – it is a criminal gang in the Vietnamese community which heavily involved in crime. The media in Australia has portrayed 5T as those teenagers from broken home and without parents. But the real meaning behind 5T is all about a group of young age peoples without true love from the family. This group of peoples has started to make attention to the people around in Australia. They joined up with the other gang to sell drugs in all around the place. Besides, this Vietnamese groups were also involved in murder, robbery and gambling as well.\n\nWith those temptations and the greed, the youngster started to change and deal for drugs. It is because selling drugs can make money easy which they think it can lead them having future. But for their parents this makes them feel pain and regret. The bright future of their children is totally ruined up because of drugs. They don’t want to see their own child has doing all the bad things.  The Vietnamese parents looking many ways just want to make their child turn clean. It is because they want their children has a better life in future, and not to having the same experience and the past as they have.\n\nIn conclusion, form my understanding in this documentary, I’m pretty sure many people including me and you might thinking those refugees who has the opportunity to live in others country is always the nice thing for them. But after watching all the three parts of this documentary, it proves that not all the refugees are lucky one who doesn’t need to be worry about the future.\n\n In this documentary, we understand the problem of multicultural is getting serious and given an unexpected consequences to the Vietnamese. Because dealing with different culture, it causes a big problem not only for the Vietnamese but the Australian as well. The Vietnamese was trying adapting themselves in the Australia culture, because they wanted to be one to be a part of the country and just to be equal as anybody else. They want to live in Australia without thinking to going back. Because of the lack of communication and the racism in the country, it makes the Vietnamese treat unequally. And, there’s how the criminal issue has become increase.\n\nWe clearly understand, many refugees left their home country to another because of the economic reason. But some of the Vietnamese are actually seeking for the better life especially for their children and kids. But, it deeply failed for them to achieve this. Everything seems different to them. The children are starting to involved crime, drugs and others bad things. And, this is not what the Vietnamese parent’s wanted.\n\nFrom this, we clearly understand most of the media are quickly to portray the refugees are doing the bad thing. The media untold us the truth stories behind. From this documentary, I am so glad the Vietnamese can be spoken up for their right, telling the truth and what are the actual things that have been involved in Cabramatta. Although it is a sad case to be happen, but they don’t feel angry, complaint and blame anyone. But from the explaining and the sharing of the stories, I can feel how disappointment and hard life for the Vietnamese. I learnt a lot from this documentary. I understand the difficulties for the refugees to live in a new place.\n\nReferences :\n\nAdam, 2005, accessed 6/6/2014, http://www.nuaa.org.au/files/usersnews/UN43/UN43_How_It_Was_In_Cabra.pdf\n\nAlstin, 2012, ‘Once upon a time in multicultural Australia’, Eureka Street, vol.22, no.1, pp 25-26.\n\nAsylum Seekers\n\nTo be honest, the issue of asylum seekers is getting serious and highly topical in everywhere around the world.  As you can seen in our country –Malaysia, there are many asylum seekers and refugees that can be found in everywhere around the corner. Somehow, we may surprise is this the country where we live. It is because the “foreigner” who came all the way from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and etc are always surrounding all of us. This is one of the reasons why; the tourists who visit Malaysia might feel surprise and shock because they can’t differentiate who is the Malaysian and who are not.\n\nSo what is the meaning of asylum seekers?\n\nBased on my own understanding, asylum seekers refer to those who escape and move across the borders from their home country to others places whether they arrive by boats, plane, or others illegal immigrant. They are the person who fled their own country where the actual place they belong to and search of protection. They are the peoples who arrive and live in a country without any appropriate documents, visas and passport. These groups of peoples are actually arrive illegally to a country, and held in detention whenever they were being caught by the police.\n\ndownload (1)\nImage credit : www.popsugar.com.au\n\nIn the SBS and Cordell Jigsaw Productions, it was a television documentary shows named “Go back to where you come from” which hosted by David Corlett and together with the six brave Australians. The six Australians are turning themselves and experience as asylum seekers who has no identity, passport, wallets, phones, and official protection from the government. They need to seek for survive and safety from their own. They experience immigration raids in Malaysia, Kenya and Iraq. (Song,2013)  By after watching one of the episodes from this program in the first series, it totally amazed me a lot. It changed my view about asylum seekers. This is a brilliant piece that was surprising me all the time. Although it might be uncomfortable to everyone because it showing how cruel and challenge in the real situation, but in this program it raises questions of morality and illegality.\n\nIn this short video clips above, this is the crueler thing that I seen it happen in Malaysia. This video is making me so upset and feels pity to the asylum seekers. Although I am Malaysian, but the way the policeman treat the asylum seeker is so wrong. Don’t get me wrong, I was not trying to say it was not right to do that. But this is the most heartbreak moments whenever I watching It again and again.\n\nAs we all knew the fact that, the way media that reporting on this issue are the key influence us the way we look them differently. But, no matter how kindly we are the value of stereotyping and racist are still causing us to perceive them in different way. It is because the media and the government are characterizing them in false beliefs. Most of the people believe they are dishonest, and the one always under crime issue. But, is this truth? Why they came in to other country?\nThis is the tough questions, with no answer.\n\nIn my opinion, in law they are the person with no rights and seriously need to be punish because of the illegally sneak in to others country. But are they the one who deserve to be treated as this? As one of the response from “Go back to where you come from”, he stated that the asylum seeker that being caught by the Malaysia policeman has beaten them hardly and treat them like no one. Based on this, we understand the darkness of asylum seekers.\n\nWell, every one of us has our own family and friends. We have our own reason to survive and live better. It same goes to the asylum seekers as well. The main reason for them to decide to be asylum seekers is not easy but because of the money they are willing to live in an unfamiliar country without family and friends. They just to want make sure the money they earn can help their family members are not in danger and live better. They sacrifice themselves for living in their country and take risk all the way here. They also are willing to work in low pay because this is the golden opportunity for them to earn more money.\n\nBy discuss in this situation, for me the both parties – government and asylum seeker are done wrong. The government should not open the gate and allowed them to work in our country. If really do, I think everyone of us including me and you should not threaten them differently. We should not look down on them because of who they are. Although everyone of us are live in different background, but we should appreciate what they do for us. Look at the positive side, the tall buildings are mainly built by the asylum seekers. They are the one who more hardworking than us although their pay is lower than us. But, without having them I’m sure there’s no one willing to work for it. Therefore, how we perceived this issue is based on the attitude and behavior that we have. We should always have our own judgment to differentiate what’s right and wrong.\n\nLastly, I want to share one of the project that did from Coca-Cola Singapore which showing how they appreciate the workforce from the workers.\n\nReferences :\n\nSong 2013, accessed 3/6/2014, https://www.altlj.org/news-and-views/law-and-culture/law-and-culture-vol-38-1/514-go-back-to-where-you-came-from\n\nTelevision are still important\n\n\n\nImage credit :rockerhuffy.hubpages.com\n\nA quick look at the world today, everything started to be changed. The world is getting smaller because of the globalization and the emergence of modern technology. Whenever we like it or not the phenomenon of globalization means a lot to us, it highly takes place and influences in our daily life that we never ever noticed how impactful of this. In my own words although we are living in the different nation across the world, globalization is all about linked every one of us to interact, integrate, share information, recognize and practice together. It also helps all the peoples around the world keep in touch easily.\n\nBy looking at what we have today, although there are rise of new media but the old media such as television are still one of the important medium that greatest influence all of us. (Tay & Turner, 2008) It is not only informing us about how the world should be and what’s happening around the world, but it also providing a wide range of films, dramas, and variety shows. (Mitu, 2011) Television also indented to entertainment the audience as well.\n\nIn addition, televisions today are no longer just providing the local television program to the audience. However, what we watched in the television today are mostly import the content program from others countries. For example, we able to watch Korean dramas, Live sports competition and others television program easily as long as we owned a television at home. Well, based on this it clearly shows that globalization makes all of us listening to the same music, watching the same dramas and movie no matter where we live. Every one of us has the same behavior pattern because of the same content and what we explored on the media. This is why television can be the powerful medium that helps spreading the different culture that influences us.\n\n\nMitu, B 2011, ‘Culture and Television’, The Television Globalization, vol.6, no.2, pp896-900.\n\nTay, Jinna and Turner, Graeme, 2008, ‘What is television: Comparing Media System in the Post-broadcast Era’, Media International Australia, no.126, pp71-81.\n\n12 Years a Slave\n\nIn this week’s topic, it was so interesting to discuss and understand about what are the people’s perceptions on different races. Besides that, it also given a clearly understand how the community being represented. Because of this is a sensitive topic to be further discuss, at here I need to declare that what has been posted or mentioned below was based on my own point of views and thoughts, there’s no offensive. So, let’s start off the topic today –“Race, Ethnicity and the Media”.\n\n\nImage credit : http://www.moviehdwallpapers.com/\n\nI just finished “12 Years of Slave” –the movies that based on true story that showing Solomon Northup a free man who kidnapped and sold into slavery. This is one of the eye-opening movie that I watched so far, it allows me deeply understand and feel the cruelty side of slave trade. To be honest, by watching the first ten minutes from the movie I feel so sad and disappointed to see what’s really happen in the past. From this movie, it was really touched my heart deep inside. The strong and realistic scenes that showing in the movie was totally amazed and inspired me, it makes me felt so real like I was the one who be involved. Besides that, this movie was also given me a great lesson to understand how serious of the inequality between white peoples and black people in the back then. It shows that the white peoples are more superior compare to the black people. They believe the black peoples are born to be slave and they has the right to be treated them harshly.\n\n\nImage credit : http://www.moviehdwallpapers.com/\n\n“If you want to survive, do and say as little as possible. Tell no one who really are and tell no one that you can read and write. Unless you want to be a dead nigger.” –Clemens ( one of the slave) tells Solomon Northup. Based on this conversation, it prove that those who being sold into slavery has no right to stand up for themselves. The way to survive is just keep the head down and do as much as possible, and speak at least as possible. The responsible for them is just doing whatever the instruction from the owner without any complaint.\n\nFurthermore, in this movie it also is showing the painful, sufferings and torturing that happen for the slave. The most memorable part that I have seen in this movie is when the black peoples has dragged in chains and beating hardly until they are bleeding. Besides, Solomon Northup hung from a tree by the white peoples is the most shock me as well. From this scene, you can clearly found out there’s no one willing to give a hand and helps him out although they having the same race and skin colour as well. Solomon Northup’s toes barely touching the ground helps to keep him alive. From this scene, the struggle helpless is so uncomfortable to be seen.  I understand that the white peoples are incredibly powerful in the back then, there’s no one dares to mess around with.\n\n\n\nImage credit : http://www.moviehdwallpapers.com/\n\nOn the other hand, this movie also showing the darkness side of slave women. The slave woman has high risk of facing for rape and sexual abuse. The white men have taken advantage of the slave women. Just like what has been shown in the movie, Patsey one of the slave eventually raped by the Edwin Epps. In addition, the behalf of Edwin Epps –Mistress Epps is one of the evilness that beats Patsey because she is the one that her husband’s wandering eye and obsessed with. From this movie, it shows the despicable actions from Mistress Epps treating Patsey she throwing the glass, scratches Patsey’s face, and asking Edwin Epps to whippings her until she seen blood from the body. Based on this action, it understand not only the racism can be affected the people’s behavior of treating the others race, but the jealousy can be affected and makes them behave in this actions as well.\n\nWell, from this movie it shows the shocking reality of what black peoples has went through in the past. Although the truth is ugly to know about how suffer and what has really happen in the slave trade, but this movie was education the viewers as well. After watching this movie, I have a deep thought on it. Although I am not one of the race has been describe in this movie, but I’m pretty sure it has the same history in every country as well.\n\nBy looking at the surrounding today, we already knew about racism is the serious issue, but non one of us has actually take part and be responsible to solve it. Racism getting worse and serious is because the human being. As Glasgow (2009) did mentioned stereotypes are one of the major reason cause individual have racist behavior. Stereotypes can be happen to anyone of us when we dealing with others group of peoples. It is a view from an individual who give wrong judgment and placing people into categories. (Mooij, 2005)  And this is how racism begins to happen. From the movie that I mentioned above, the white people has judge the black people and fixed them born to be slave. This action and mind thinking are so wrong to be happening.  Because of this, the attitudes and stereotypes that surrounded is still pervade in our society today. So, by solving this problem we have to treat everyone equally, understand each other’s race and culture behavior. Therefore, that’s how everyone of us in different race can live in harmony.\n\n\nGlasgow, J, 2009, ‘Racism as Disrespect. Journal of Ethics’, accessed 17/5/20174, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/648588\n\nMooji, M.D. , 2005, ‘Global marketing and Advertising: Understanding Cultural Paradoxes’, United States: SAGE Publication, vol.2.\n\nGender and the Media\n\nAs we all already knew the facts that media is one of the most powerful and pervasive that shaping people’s perspectives, attitudes, values and behavior. No doubts, it is the important roles to influence our mindset on how we view a man and women. It plays significant roles that provide an understanding to the viewers about the gender roles that play in the real world. (Morawitz & Mastro, 2008)\n\nLook at what has been shown in the mass media today, we shocked that most of the media especially in advertising are negative portrayal of women. It used the woman’s body to shows the masses but not showing how intelligence and leadership women can be. Besides that, media are also conducted our mindset about the ideal of beauty. (Goodall, 2012)Those who have fair skin, nice body, and slim are the one can be known as pretty otherwise it was not. But, does it really right to portray that? For me, I strongly not agree. It is because it given negative impacts especially for us especially the young girls’ lack of self-confidence on who they are.\n\nOn the other hand, it’s not only the advertising media has negatively representation of women in the media. Surprisingly, Disney films are one of the best examples that clearly demonstrate and portray in the gender roles as well.\n\n\nPhoto credit : disneyandmovies.pbworks.com\n\nWhen we were little kids, I’m pretty sure many of us grew up by watching Disney films. Disney is one of the largest companies that give us a good childhood memories. Because of the fairy tales stories and the gender representation in the characters, it influences the children to think in a certain way. The Disney Princess is a role model of children, this is why everyone has a dream and hopes for becoming a Disney Princess. The fairy tales stories that shown in the film are allow us to imagine and fantasize ourselves into the characters. However with so much exposure to the Disney films, somehow the messages that showing in the films might mislead and misinformed us.\n\nIn the early age, Disney was tend to portray women must be soft, weak, and wait for a man to love. This phenomenon mainly can be found in the earlier films that release in Disney such as “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” and “Cinderella”.  In the films “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” which was made in 1937 has given an idea that love is “easy”.  In this whole film, it does not show the process of falling in love. The Snow White manages to wake up and be in love with the prince after her prince awoke her with a true love kisses and they live happily at the end. (Sawyer,2013) In addition, it also portrays that woman should take care of the house without complaint at all. In the film “Cinderella”, it shows that Cinderella was doing her domestic tasks such as cleaning, washing without any complaint. She unable to stand up for herself when the time her stepmother is bully and scold her. (Dawn, Lara & Melissa, 2011)\n\nBased on this, given a wrong message has become a serious issue especially in the children’s media. Children are always known as the active learners, they imitative on what the media has been shown. Because of the information in the media has affects and could be persuaded the perception of the children. (Wood, 1994)This is why, comparing to the past and the Disney films today it definitely show the changes. We’ve noticed that the female character in Disney film has no longer being portrayed as the feminist side but added up some of the masculine characteristic as well such as “Pocahantas”, “Mulan” is the most obvious films that have been portrayed the women independence.\n\nBesides that, the latest film “Frozen” are also one of the examples as well. This film is one of the interesting and good films that I ever seen. It is because the story plot is so different compare to others. Based on this film, we clearly knew that Disney has tried on something new to portray the characters in the film. Why I said so? Comparing with the earlier films that release, the story is basically all about the romance and fantasy but in this film it shows differently. The whole story was focusing about the sisterly love and how Princess Anna has save Princess Elsa and rescued the kiss from the love one.\n\nHans Reveal Frozen Comic\n\ncomic anna sacrifice\n\nPhoto credit : www.whataboutcynics.com\n\nFurthermore, in this film it also shows that the perfectly prince charming has become more layered. In Frozen, Princess Anna believes her true love –Prince Hans is the only one can save her from death. But, unfortunately the male character has portray differently compare to the pass. There’s no longer show how protective a Prince must be. (Dalfonzo, 2013)  In this film, Prince Hans has become the bad guy characters and betrayed of Anna. Because of his greed on wealth and power, he ended up become a killer and tried to kill Princess Elsa.\n\nWell based on all this explanation and examples given, obviously every one of us has a clear picture on the impact of media as well as the changes in Disney. Based on my own opinion, I think it was a good kick-start for Disney to showing something different and relates to the society and real life. Just like the movie “Frozen” it shows that the female can be strong, brave, protective all the time while the male character are not necessary must be muscular, and the good one. In addition, in “Frozen” it also telling the viewers about life can be a twist just like how Prince Han treats Princess Anna. Therefore, I think it is great to show Disney has taken the responsible to acknowledge the fact to the viewers on what is considered as entertainment, and what is considered as real.\n\nReferences :\n\nDalfonzo, G 2013, ‘Frozen’s Cynical Twist on Prince Charming’, accessed 12/5/2014, http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/12/-em-frozen-em-s-cynical-twist-on-prince-charming/282204/\n\nDawn, E, Lara, D & Melissa, A 2011, ‘Gender Role Potrayal and Disney Princessess’, Science Business Media, vol.10, pp556-567.\n\nGoodall, H 2012, ‘Media’s Influence on Gender Stereotypes’, accessed 12/5/2014, http://ezproxy.uow.edu.au/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.uow.edu.au/docview/1291075912?accountid=15112\n\nMay, B 2011, ‘ Beyond the Prince: Race and Gender Role Portrayal in Disney Princess Films’, Saint Mary’s College, accessed 12/5/2014, file:///C:/Users/user/Desktop/Final%20Senior%20Paper-May.pdf\n\nSawyer, N 2013, ‘Feminist Outlooks at Disney Princess’s’, James Madison University, accessed 12/5/2014, file:///C:/Users/user/Desktop/SawyerFinal.pdf\n\nWood, JT 1994, ‘Gendered Media: The Influence of Media on Views of Gender’, Communication, Gender and Culture, pp.231-244.\n\nWho is Journalist ? What Is News ?\n\nBack in those days, journalist is a job that speaks on behalf for the government, organization and public. They are also responsible to report the facts and truth on what’s really going on in the society world.  But, as we already knew there are not much of journalist are actually fight for the right and reporting the truth stories to the public.  It is because most of the mainstream media are under controlled by the government, such as the ownership of New Straits Times Press and Utusan Melayu Press is under control by UMNO while other main component parties the MIC, MCA and BN are also control in Star Publications, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Tamil press accordingly. (Wang,2001)\n\nThe government can be known as the gatekeeper in journalism which censoring and filtered before the news has been published out. This happened when it discusses about the political or others sensitive issue. As Ward (2009) did mentioned in the article, journalist should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information. Unfortunately, how many journalists are did that today?  As we can see journalism today has been changed a lots. There’s no longer to deliver any news and any information like the past. They trying to feed us based on what we have to know and not what we need to know. In addition, the writing styles and method of reporting by the journalist are different as well.\n\nAs the image below, the controversial headline that been published by Utusan Malaysia in year 2013 right after the two days of the 13th General Election in Malaysia.  The racial statement are showing non-professional site of journalism.Therefore, does it show that journalist today followed by the rules and ethnic? Not really, as I said.\n\nPhoto credit: josephinemock.wordpress.com\n\nFurthermore, when the technology and internet has been taken part in our lives it gives problems and challenged to the government as well . Although it was true that government has the power to cover up or filtered some of the news before it published, but the citizen journalism today has become the greatest power. There’s no longer just the profession or traditional journalism has play an important role in journalism. However, citizen journalism is mattering much as well. The internet has open up the field which provide a platform allowed the public to gather and share information, ideas, thoughts or even “news” at anytime and anywhere. Every one of us can be a journalist today, as long as we provide the wide range of juicy news which relevant to the society.\n\nAs Luke Goode (2009) has define that citizen journalism is refer to a wide range of web-based practices whereby everyone can engage in journalistic practices. It is using the inexpensive way to reach the people around the world, such as blogging, photo, video sharing and posting eyewitness commentary on current events. Peoples can post whatever “news” to them in anywhere and anytime they want to. The internet is helping us to connecting each other in just few clicks no matter how many miles away. The news has become more transparency when more and more peoples has been viewed it. This is why, more voice can be heard when every one of us are contribute debate, sharing all kind of sources and information that known as “News”.\n\n“Traditional journalism is the outside looking of the news, while citizen journalism is the inside looking of the news.”(Peter Dooley, 2008) Based on this statement, we admitting that citizen journalist is mostly bring up some point which missed out from the news. They might add their own opinion, and criticize what has already published by the professional journalist into their own stories. In addition, they are not professional as traditional journalism who has well trained. But, most of us are still believe it as the credible one. Therefore, this is the reason why once the citizen journalism has become popularized, it’s not only blurs out our mind hardly differentiate which is truth with fact and which is not on the newspaper. However when there’s are many voices out there, it has come to point that confusing us to identify what is the real news and which news has to be trust.\n\nIn conclusion, based on my own point of view there’s are both good and bad for emerging in journalism. The good thing was everyone of us are given an golden opportunities to freedom of speech. While the bad thing was how much credibility and facts that citizen journalism is. Yes, it was a good sign for everyone of us to speak out and express what we think freely. But, when there’s more debate going on it might causing a problem as well. The more information and sources we can get, the more we don’t believe on the mainstream media. And, there’s how the newspaper has not important anymore. Therefore, what consume news are actually based on how we see it. It no longer like the past, the news are always NEWS to us.\n\nReferences :\n\nWard, B 2009, ‘Journalism ethics and climate change reporting in a period of intense media uncertainty’, Ethics in Science and Environmental Politics, vol. 9, pp. 13-15.\n\nDooley, P 2008, ‘The technology of Journalism: Cultural Agents, Cultural Icons’. Northwestern University Press, pp.83.\n\nWang, LK 2001, ‘Media and democracy in Malaysia’, vol.8, pp. 67-88.\n\nBarnes, C 2011, ‘Citizen Journalism vs Traditional Journalism’, media release, accessed 26/4/2014,\n\n\nScreenHunter_68 Apr. 17 18.00Image credit : http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/\n\n“How to inform without informing” – I think this statement was strongly well describe about FASHION. When we heard about the word –“Fashion”, you may always think of the hot supermodels, the luxury brand, the movies of “The Devil Wear Prada”, and also the fashion place Milan. No doubt, this example was always linked to each other whenever we discussed about it. So, what is FASHION? From the author Kawamura (2005), stated that fashion is considered as an abstract force whose integral components are novelty and change. It is a group of styles which established or adopted during a particular time or season. However, based on my own point of view “Fashion” is more than just putting the nice clothes, nice dress that we have in the closet. It is a way to showing our creativity to the peoples around. It makes our lives become more creative than usual by improving the taste of fashion when we think about what to getting dressed every day. In addition, Fashion enables us to show our identity. It allows us to express who we are and what we really stand for. It helps to show the true personality to those who don’t know you. It also help to build self confident and showing the good impression to those who we meet. As I can say, we can identify a person based on how he or she wore without a verbal communication. But at the same time, Fashion is an ART to me as well.\n\nHow fashion can be turn into an art?\n\nI still remembered the first fashion show that I seen it from YouTube was the Spring/Summer collection by Alexander McQueen. It totally inspired me although it just 14 minutes short video. For me, Alexander McQueen is not just a well known fashion designer who already being recognized by all the peoples around the world but he also a talented artist as well. The every pieces of his collection is an art piece. He is the one of the designer that caught my eyes on his collection. Each of the fashion show from Alexander McQueen is totally give me a lot of thoughts. I am so curious and wondering what is the “fashion world” that he has on mind. Unfortunately, we have no longer to see more creative work from him anymore. He has passed away on age 40. (Gilin, 2010) Well, for me and you might think this happen is not a big deal, but it mean a lot for those who in fashion.\n\nBy looking each of the fashion show from his collection, it was giving a powerful message to the audience. He communicates through his clothing and of cause the theme and setting of the stage as well. Each of the fashion show are having different concept and message that Alexander McQueen want the public knows about.  By explaining the first video that I seen from his collection –Voss (Spring / Summer 2001) it totally amazed me. I have never seen and expected to have this kind of fashion show. It is creepy and weird but it’s very artistic as I can say. I guess this is why Alexander McQueen is so unique that we can clearly differentiate by comparing him and others fashion designers.\n\nCatwalking.comVOSS Collection by Alexander McQueen S/S 2001,  Image credit :www.catwalking.com\n\nThe fashion show “Voss” was giving out a concept of upending conventional ideals of beauty. The show was purposely late for 1 hour just to force the audience and the media looking themselves at the mirror and feel awkwardness (Reflection). It shows the set of the mental hospital and with the pale looking model. Besides, this stage has a two way mirrored box which the model inside the box can’t see the audience but they can see their own reflection. This is why most of the model are perfectly in the character (as patient) when walking in to the stage. Some are dancing freely, some stuck their face at the mirror, and some are tearing their clothes. (Lindgren, 2011)\n\nMCQUEEN_SS01_FINA_0035   Image credit :www.gainsburyandwhiting.com\n\nFurthermore, this image above is what happens at the end of the fashion show. The black box was open slowly and crash down. It shows a plump naked women with a breathing tube, masked face and surrounded by flying moths.  This set was actually inspired by a photograph from Joel Peter Witkin called “Sanitarium” . (Knox, 2010) With this, Alexander McQueen wanted the audience have a mindset of understanding what beauty is. In the society today, most of the individuals treat plump women as NOT BEAUTIFUL. Therefore, in this fashion show he wanted to send out a message to the audience by understanding and find the “beauty” which most of us not considered as.\n\n\nIn conclusion, FASHION is one of important part in our lives that we can’t live without. It influences our lifestyles, our trend, gain our interest and demand as well as the way how we perceived thing. Although fashion is constantly changing season by season but just take a look at the surrounding, everything changed because of Fashion. Even though media that we have today are highly influenced as well for example, television program such as “Fashion Police”, newspaper, magazines and others. So, what is Fashion mean to you?\n\nPicture of “Voss” Fashion Show :\n\ntumblr_m9u61tNygW1qj7piio1_1280Image credit :www.style.time.com\n\nmcqueen_page99_top Image credit :www.style.time.com\n\nReferences :\n\nCraik, 2008, ‘Fashion : the key concepts’, Oxford New York : Berg Publishers, pp15-393.\n\nGillin, 2010, ‘Designer Alexander McQueen Dead at 40’, St.Petersburg Times, 02 February, PB.2.\n\nKawamura, 2005, ‘Fashion-ology An Introduction to Fashion Studies’, Oxford New York: Berg Publishers. pp13-16.\n\nKnox, 2010, ‘Alexander McQueen’, Genius of a Generation, pp30-129.\n\nLindgren, 2011, ‘The Perception of Fashion: Alexander McQueen’, Centre for Fashion Studies, pp1-67, accessed 15/4/2014,", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5726340413093567}
+{"content": "Go to datasheet\n\nQuestion (59435) | Anti-CDKN2A/p16INK4a antibody [2D9A12] (ab54210)\n\nI’m wondering if you might be able to help with the specificity of your WB antibodies for Ink4a/p16? Our model is the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus); I know that previously we had tried ab54210 (human and rat) but were getting multiple bands due to the overlapping transcripts at that locus (p16, p15 and ARF) – There are several Ink4a antibodies listed on your catalogue but I’m not sure which is specific for p16 only? Alternatively and possibly more useful to me; is there accessible information as to which amino acids /epitope the antibody binds to so as to be able to predict the specificity from protein alignments?\n\nThank you for your enquiry and your interest in our products.\nWe have several antibodies against CDKN2A but none of them have been tested for cross-reactivity with Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).\nRegarding ab54210 - the exact immunogen sequence of this antibody is unknown. We expressed the antigen via an expression vector provided to us so we do not have further information about the exact sequence. We have not done any related testing, so we unfortunately cannot comment on cross-reactivity with Syrian hamster. We can only guarantee reactivity with human and rat as presented on our data sheet.\nMy apologies, we could not provide a more definitive answer.\nIf you need any further assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9471696615219116}
+{"content": "Episode 58: Luke Reynolds, MG Writer & (God Bless Him) Former Middle School Teacher\n\nThis morning we interview Luke Reynolds, author of The Looney Experiment (Blink),  Surviving Middle School: Navigating the Halls, Riding the Social Roller Coaster, and Unmasking the Real You, and most recently Fantastic Failures: True Stories of People Who Changed the World by Falling Down First, which comes out Sept 11!\n\nWe talk about how Luke was inspired to write Fantastic Failures through personal experience via his career in teaching middle grades and junior high students. So many young people struggle with overcoming failure and rejection, and Luke wanted to write a book for kids that shows how the most successful people in history have a long (LONG!) history of personal and professional failures.\n\nLuke himself always wanted to be a writer, but his B+'s on writing assignments in school never made him feel that he could be successful - he only learned later that persistence was the key, and having an honest perspective on what it takes to complete a book - drafts upon drafts upon drafts! Luke also credits his oldest brother for noticing he was on the wrong path and making him run with him every day, forming a connection and keeping him out of trouble. We need people to care about us, be authentic with us, and lead us - and then hard work and grit come into play. Various biographies in Fantastic Failures had people who wouldn't have made it without help along the way - friends, families, mentors - that encouraged them to keep going. \n\nOne of the takeaways from this book is to change the idea of failure - don't see it so much as failure, but as one of the steps in succeeding. How do we change this perfection for ourselves and our kids?\n\n\"I think it's become somewhat popular to talk about failure and making mistakes in general, but the next level is really hard to get to - to actually start talking about our OWN failures and rejections...to start talking really openly about how I failed as a dad, as a teacher, a writer, a friend, a brother...to start normalizing it. We all experience deep rejection and failure, and we'll talk about the \"safe\" failures - things that happened 30 years ago, but not yesterday.\" - Luke Reynolds\n\nOne of the main reasons Mel and Abby started this podcast was to start recognizing and normalizing the iterative process of writing, and how bad writing and bad first drafts are a normal thing. It can be a beautiful process, but only if we see failure as one of the steps to success. And is there any real joy without a struggle, anyway? If something comes easy to you, you don't feel as great about it as opposed to the things you really had to work for. \n\n\"The people who sustain their love of something are people that fail often, early on - and you can't get the love of it out of them. People who succeed very quickly tend to quit quickly as well.\" - Luke Reynolds\n\nLuke's Books", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5276877880096436}
+{"content": "Quick and Easy Tips For A Happier and Healthier Spring\n\nSpring cleaning isn’t just for our kitchens, bedrooms and closets. it’s also a great time to detox and “spring clean” our bodies as well.  Amanda Bowen, creator of FAWEN Ready-to-Drink Soup and certified yoga instructor, offers five quick tips to reboot our bodies and minds for spring.  \n\nMove Your Body!  \n\nWinter can be plain hard. It’s cold, dark, and can inspire lethargy. As we transition into spring, it’s important to embrace how beneficial movement is in maintaining a healthy, happy body and positive mental well-being. If you’re just getting back into activity, you don't need a gym membership or fancy boutique fitness classes (although if that gives you motivation, do it!). There are many ways to fit in movement right at home. One of my favorite ways is to start the day with a simple 5 minute stretch routine, as it helps to set the tone for making healthy choices throughout the rest of my day. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:\n\nWarm Up\n\nStand up straight, keeping your feet hips width apart, feet pointing forward. Roll your shoulder forwards 2-3 times, then roll them backwards 2-3 times. Then roll your head in a circle to the right 2 times and then to the left 2 times. Take 1 deep inhale and exhale.\n\nStanding Side Body Stretch\n\n Stand up straight, keeping your feet hips width apart, feet pointing forward. Lift your arms over your head. Take your right hand and grab your left wrist. Inhale as you gently pull up and exhale as you bend to the right, keeping your hips in place. Take a 3 deep breaths here, feeling your left lung stretch and expand. Repeat on other side.  \n\nStanding Heart Opener\n\nStand up straight, keeping your feet hips width apart, feet pointing forward. Interlace your fingers behind your back, resting around your tailbone. Keeping your hips in place, tailbone pointing down, inhale as you gently pull your knuckles downward and allow your upper back only (behind your lungs) to arch slightly, opening up your heart space. Exhale. Take 3 deep breaths here.\n\nStanding Cow\n\n Stand up straight, keeping your feet hips width apart, feet pointing forward. Raise your arms stretched out in front of you and interlace your fingers. Reverse the grip to have the backs of your hands facing towards you (palms facing away). Inhale, keeping your hips in place, and exhale, pushing your hands away from you, tucking your chin and rounding your upper back. Take 3 deep breaths here.\n\nStanding Forward Fold\n\nStand up straight, keeping your feet hips width apart, feet pointing forward. Bring a sight bend into your knees. Inhale your arms up overhead, and as you exhale, slowly fold over from your hips, and let your upper body hang heavy. Try to move your body weight towards your toes and draw your hips up. Over the next 5-8 breaths, you can grab opposite elbows with opposite hands, and/or sway gently from side to side - whatever loosens your back and/or hamstrings the most, or simply calls to you. When you’re ready to come back up, take another inhale, and exhale as you slowly roll up, stacking one vertebrae at a time until you reach standing - go slow! Once you get to the top, I like taking another breath, raising my arms overhead and drawing my hands to palm center on my exhale, as it makes me feel centered. Give it a try!\n\nFuel The Things You Love\n\n We know our bodies need vitamins to function properly, fight infections and prevent illness. But, incorporating the correct amounts into our busy schedules can be challenging and time consuming (who wants to spend hours slaving in the kitchen when you can be out doing the things that you love?).  I struggled with this myself! That’s why I created Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup. Packed with pure plant energy and fiber from whole organic vegetables, Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup is loaded with 16 different vitamins & minerals, and tons of natural fiber from vegan and gluten-free superfoods like beets, purple cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato, and coconut. We never juice or press their ingredients, so you get more nutrients and delicious flavor in each sip, not to mention fiber to keep you feeling satisfied without weighing you down. All three flavors include the hydrating benefits of coconut water and are ready-to-drink (no heating or spoon needed). Whether you are on the go, before or after a workout or stuck at your desk during a busy workday, Fawen fuels the things you love!  \n\nGet Your ZZZZs\n\nRecent studies have shown that lack of sleep – which happens chronically in our fast-paced world – causes impairment in immune function, which can directly lead to other health issues. So, one way or another, make sure you get your beauty sleep! This one is the hardest for me. To change your routine, take baby steps at first. For example, for the next 2 weeks, take 2 minutes on Sunday to plan which weeknight you will get to bed 15-30 minutes earlier. It’s helpful to have the days be consistent if possible. Think of those earlier nights as a special “treat” and a commitment to taking care of your body! See how it goes, and try adding an extra 10 minutes every two weeks until you reach your optimal amount of sleep, which for most of us, is 8 hours.  \n\nBoost Your Veggie Intake\n\nSmoothies and soups are an excellent way to increase your intake of healthy fruits and vegetables in a way that’s equally delicious and nutritious. Try this delicious smoothie made with FAWEN to start your day with a boost of superfoods:\n\n\n1/2 c Fawen Broccoli & Cauliflower with Turmeric\n\n1/2 c frozen spinach\n\n1/4 c frozen blueberries\n\n1 c unsweetened almond milk\n\n1 serving unsweetened chocolate plant protein\n\n1 tbsp chia seeds\n\n1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder\n\n1/2 tsp cinnamon\n\n1/2 tsp maca powder\n\nPour into a glass and sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon and a few cocoa nibs. Drink up!\n\nFinally - Just Breathe.\n\n Mental health is as important as physical health. They work together to bring you harmony, grounding, focus, happiness, health, and overall positive well-being. Sometimes one or more of these aspects are blocked. Rest assured that you have all the tools you need to rebalance. One of the most accessible of these tools is the breath. Every inhale and exhale is an opportunity to connect inward, lower your stress levels, bring oxygen to your body, and feel alive! Try noticing your breath once a day. Check in with yourself and notice if your breath is shallow, or where it might be caught in your body - your nasal path, your throat, your chest, or your belly. From there, just try deepening it. A few breaths will do. If you can, try to put down what you’re doing, close your eyes, and follow the journey of your breath, flowing in and out. Even taking time for one breath can be a powerful tool. The best part is, you can access your breath anywhere, anytime. That’s something to rejoice about!\n\nHere’s to a healthy and happy spring!\n\n\nAbout Amanda:\n\nAmanda Leigh Bowen is the Co-Founder of Fawen Ready-To-Drink Soup, along with her fiancé, Fabio Fossati. Amanda and Fabio quickly discovered their shared passion for healthy food and living an active lifestyle when they met at a gym in Brooklyn. They then went on to create Fawen to share their delicious, healthy lifestyle with the nation. Amanda is also a certified yoga instructor, who enjoys cooking and creating her own nutritious recipes for family and friends. She thoroughly embraces everything health and wellness related, finds true joy in all matters of the heart, mind, and soul.  Amanda and Fabio currently live with their two dogs in Brooklyn, New York.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9574302434921265}
+{"content": "Public Release: \n\nWhat happens when materials collide? Observing fracture in stressed materials\n\nOsaka University\n\n\nIMAGE: above: Cross section of typical spallation of a material. Big damage on the lower part of the back surface is clearly seen. Below: Distribution of space debris in earth orbit.... view more \n\nCredit: ESA & NASA\n\nOsaka, Japan - Ever wondered, while cruising at 36,000 feet over the Atlantic, what would happen if a piece of satellite, asteroid, or other debris collided with your aircraft?\n\nDynamic fracture is the fragmentation of a material because of some stress, such as during impact. This has obvious importance for the debris shielding of materials used in aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, nuclear reactors and armor, as well as in general engineering and manufacturing.\n\nUntil now, the dynamic fracture of materials has only been observed using bulk-scale techniques, such as measuring fragment speeds or forensically examining samples. Dynamic fracture at the atomic scale could only be studied using computer simulations, since the size range that could be observed in materials by experimental techniques was too narrow. However, this has changed thanks to a new technique reported by an Osaka University-led team for directly observing dynamic fracture in metals.\n\nThe researchers have used a laser pump and X-ray probe to detect movement, such as stretching and compression, in the atomic structure of tantalum under high stress. Specifically, a laser produces a shock in a thin piece of tantalum, a metal used in alloys to increase their strength and corrosion resistance. The X-ray probe then measures the spacing of atoms in the opposite side of the tantalum. This technique is extremely sensitive to atoms near the surface, which are the ones most closely associated with surface damage.\n\n\"The evolution of lattice deformation associated with the ultrafast fracture in tantalum is given by a time series of X-ray diffraction patterns,\" explains Dr. Bruno Albertazzi. \"This deformation shows us the shocked part of the tantalum, which is extremely small, but the shock travels through the tantalum at nearly five kilometers per second.\" It should therefore be no surprise that the tantalum's strength becomes compromised. The measurements, carried out at the Spring-8 synchrotron complex in Japan, show a decrease in the spacing of tantalum atoms immediately before fracture. The team validates their observations by demonstrating a close match with computer simulations.\n\nThis technique can be used to investigate high-speed cracking and other stress-related effects. \"This method bridges the gap in the understanding of the relationship between atomic structure and material properties,\" says Associate Professor Norimasa Ozaki. Movement in a material's atomic structure under stress can now be observed in real-time, and an important material property--the stress required for fracture-- can be determined. This knowledge will benefit the design and manufacturing of equipment and technologies where resistance to impact is paramount.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9654216766357422}
+{"content": "The Law of One Search Results for ‘roots of mind’\n\nResults 1 to 30 of 652.\n\n       Next 30 >>\n\nSorted by relevance.       Sort by session.\n\nHide ads\n\nL/L Research\n\nPlenum Healer: offering metaphysical healing\n\nMore info\n\n90.14 Questioner: Now, as I understand it the archetypes are the biases of a very fundamental nature that, under free will, generate the experiences of each entity. Is this correct?\n\nRa: I am Ra. The archetypical mind is part of that mind which informs all experience. Please recall the definition of the archetypical mind as the repository of those refinements to the cosmic or all-mind made by this particular Logos and peculiar only to this Logos. Thus it may be seen as one of the roots of mind, not the deepest but certainly the most informative in some ways. The other root of mind to be recalled is that racial or planetary mind which also informs the conceptualizations of each entity to some degree.\n\n87.21 Questioner: What was this root cause?\n\nRa: I am Ra. The root cause of blockage is the lack of the ability to see the other-self as the Creator, or to phrase this differently, the lack of love.\n\n19.21 Questioner: Is this then the root of what we call astrology?\n\n\nThe root of astrology, as you speak it, is one way of perceiving the primal distortions which may be predicted along probability/possibility lines given the, shall we say, cosmic orientations and configurations at the time of the entrance into the physical/mental complex of the spirit and at the time of the physical/mental/spiritual complex into the illusion.\n\nThis then has the possibility of suggesting basic areas of distortion. There is no more than this. The part astrology plays is likened unto that of one root among many.\n\n50.2 Questioner: In the last session [you] made the statement that experiences are attracted to the entity through the south pole. Could you expand on that and give us a definition of what you mean?\n\nRa: I am Ra. It takes some consideration to accomplish the proper perspective for grasping the sense of the above information. The south or negative pole is one which attracts. It pulls unto itself those things magnetized to it. So with the mind/body/spirit complex. The in-flow of experience is of the south pole influx. You may consider this a simplistic statement.\n\n\n\n\n\n16.49 Questioner: You’re saying that we ourselves then create these?\n\n\n\n\n\n\nI am Ra. We communicate now.\n\n23.15 Questioner: I was really questioning more about the more basic cause of the disease rather than the mechanism of its transmission. I was going back to the root or thought which created the possibility of this disease. Could you shortly tell me if I am correct in assuming that the general reduction of thought over the long time on planet Earth with respect to an understanding of the Law of One created a condition in which this— what we call disease could develop? Is this correct?\n\nRa: I am Ra. This is correct and perceptive. You, as questioner, begin now to penetrate the outer teachings.\n\nThe root cause in this particular society was not so much a bellicose action although there were, shall we say, tendencies, but rather the formation of a money system and a very active trading and development of those tendencies towards greed and power; thus, the enslaving of entities by other entities and the misapprehension of the Creator within each entity.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRa: I am Ra. This is correct.\n\n\n\n\n63.31 Questioner: It would seem to me the heating effect that takes place on the planet is analogous to a disease in the body and would have as a root cause the same or analogous mental configuration. Is this correct?\n\nRa: I am Ra. This is correct except that the spiritual configuration as well as mental biases of your peoples has been responsible for these distortions of the body complex of your planetary sphere.\n\n36.10 Questioner: Well, let, let me be sure I understand this then. We have spoken of certain particular individuals. For instance, we were speaking of George Patton in a previous communication. Then his higher self at the time of his incarnation here as George Patton about forty years ago, his higher self was at that time sixth-density? Is this correct?\n\nRa: I am Ra. This is correct. We make note at this time that each entity has several beings upon which to call for inner support. Any of these may be taken by an entity to be the mind/body/spirit complex totality. However, this is not the case. The mind/body/spirit complex totality is a nebulous collection of all that may occur held in understanding; the higher self itself a projection or manifestation of mind/body/spirit complex totality which then may communicate with the mind/body/spirit during the discarnate part of a cycle of rebirth or, during the incarnation may communicate if the proper pathways or channels through the roots of mind are opened.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n90.21 Questioner: Then what you are saying is that once the path is recognized, either the positive or the negative polarized entity can find hints along his path as to the efficiency of that path. Is this correct?\n\nRa: I am Ra. That which you say is correct upon its own merits, but is not a repetition of our statement. Our suggestion was that within the experiential nexus of each entity within its second-density environment and within the roots of mind there were placed biases indicating to the watchful eye the more efficient of the two paths. Let us say, for want of a more precise adjective, that this Logos has a bias towards kindness.\n\n61.13 Questioner: OK, then I will ask this one. Could you tell us the purpose of the frontal lobes of the brain and the conditions necessary for their activation?\n\nRa: I am Ra. The frontal lobes of the brain will, shall we say, have much more use in fourth density.\n\nThe primary mental/emotive condition of this large area of the so-called brain is joy or love in its creative sense. Thus, the energies which we have discussed in relationship to the pyramids — all of the healing, the learning, the building, and the energizing — are to be found in this area. This is the area tapped by the adept. This is the area which, working through the trunk and root of mind, makes contact with intelligent energy and through this gateway, intelligent infinity.\n\nAre there any queries before we leave this instrument?\n\n\n\n42.16 Questioner: I had one experience in meditation which I spoke of before which was very profound approximately twenty years ago, a little less. What disciplines would be most applicable to re-create this situation and this type of experience?\n\nRa: I am Ra. Your experience would best be approached from the ceremonial magical stance. However, the Wanderer or adept shall have the far greater potential for this type of experience which, as you have undoubtedly analyzed to be the case, is one of an archetypal nature, one belonging to the roots of cosmic consciousness.\n\n78.26 Questioner: The choice of polarity being the unique circumstance, shall I say, for the archetypical basis for the evolution of consciousness in our particular experience indicates to me that we have arrived, through a long process of the Creator knowing Itself, we’ve arrived at a position of present or maximum efficiency for the design of a process of experience. That design for maximum efficiency is in the roots of consciousness and is the archetypical mind and is a product of everything that has gone before. There are, unquestionably, relatively pure archetypical concepts for the seven concepts for mind, body, and spirit. I feel that the language that we have for these is somewhat inadequate.\n\nHowever, we will continue to attempt to understand, and that is a poor word also, the foundation for this and I am hoping that I have laid the foundation with some degree of accuracy in attempting to set a background for the development of the archetypes of our Logos. Have I left out anything or made any errors, or could you make any comments on my attempt to lay a background for the construction that our Logos used for the archetypes?\n\nRa: I am Ra. Your queries are thoughtful.\n\n65.7 Questioner: How would conventional warfare offer the opportunities for seeking and service?\n\nRa: I am Ra. The possibility/probabilities exist for situations in which great portions of your continent and the globe in general might be involved in the type of warfare which you might liken to guerrilla warfare. The ideal of freedom from the so-called invading force of either the controlled fascism or the equally controlled social common ownership of all things would stimulate great quantities of contemplation upon the great polarization implicit in the contrast between freedom and control. In this scenario which is being considered at this time/space nexus the idea of obliterating valuable sites and personnel would not be considered an useful one. Other weapons would be used which do not destroy as your nuclear arms would. In this ongoing struggle the light of freedom would burn within the mind/body/spirit complexes capable of such polarization. Lacking the opportunity for overt expression of the love of freedom, the seeking for inner knowledge would take root aided by those of the Brothers and Sisters of Sorrow which remember their calling upon this sphere.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRa: I am Ra.\n\n\n\nExercise Three. Gaze within a mirror. See the Creator.\n\n\n\n67.30 Questioner: In that case, continue.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n       Next 30 >>\n\nHide question numbers   Show categories   Show notes   Hide audio   \n\nVersion (?): Lightly Edited, Relistened, Original\n\nBack to top\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.59626305103302}
+{"content": "Pricing and Cost\n\nCan my vehicle end up being sold for more than my MSRP?\nYes, it typically happens in one or more of the following circumstances:\n1. Demand is high relative to supply, allowing dealers to mark up prices.\n2. Dealer margins are tight on the vehicle and so they mark it up closer to industry\nstandards for that product class.\n3. Since dealers are independent businesses, they may look at market conditions and\nrealize that a higher price is advantageous to their interests.\nHow can I estimate unit cost from base cost if the production is less than 100,000 units?\nUse the Pro-Forma report and select Product Contribution from the list of screens.\nRemember to estimate production for accurate projections.\nHow do you change the MSRP of a product?\nGo to DECISIONS–Marketing and choose a vehicle to change the marketing mix decisions.\nHow do you determine the Manufacturing price and margins after making technology\nRemember to estimate production for accurate projections.\nIs there a way to calculate the best price of a vehicle?\nTo find the best price for your vehicle, you must consider volume sales and profit margins.\nThere are several tools you can use when deciding on your price. The test market (TOOLS–\nTest Market) lets you see how customers view your current products' pricing, while concept\ntests (TOOLS–Concept Test optional) can give an idea of how they might view certain prices\non new products or upgrades. Of course, competition will likely change so these studies\nprovide guidance, but they can't anticipate competitive changes.\nWhat impacts COGS in StratSim?\nSome things that impact COGS are your product's design, your technology ratings and\nproduct production volume. Also note that inflation is pushing your COGS up. You can\nreduce COGS through vehicle upgrades, investing in technology, or by increasing production\nlevels. For more information, see Section 3 of the StratSim Student Manual under Unit\nMargin: Cost of Goods Sold (COGS).\nWhat is the difference between base cost and unit cost?\nBase Cost = estimated unit cost based on 100,000 units of production.\nUnit Cost (COGS) = actual cost to manufacture based on actual volume.\n\nWhat is the expected price range?\nThe expected price range of a type of vehicle represents how much a customer thinks they\nwill have to pay for a type of vehicle. It reflects the beginning of the purchase process,\nwherein preconceptions affect what vehicles a customer considers. In effect, expected price\nrange is primarily a positioning issue before the actual buying process begins.\nWhy am I being charged retooling costs?\nRetooling costs are the cost of making alterations to your production equipment. You'll be\ncharged retooling costs if you upgrade OR increase production of a vehicle.\n\nHow can we estimate return on investment if we decide to increase the technological\nOn the input screen for technology, there is an Est. Cost Savings of Increase (mill). The\nestimated savings is per year is for the entire firm, based on your current product line, sales\nvolume, and technology profile. Please note, that the technology investment only affects the\nCOGS, not the development costs. Also note that other factors also affect COGS (volume,\nspecifications, inflation, etc.).\nWhat are the benefits of increasing our technological capabilities?\nInvesting in your technology capabilities has two benefits: your firm will be able to develop\nproducts with better attributes, AND higher capabilities reduce the base cost of products, all\nelse being equal.\nWhen I increase my technological capabilities, does this improve the attributes of my\ncurrent vehicles?\nNo, increasing your technology capabilities will not directly impact the specifications of any\nexisting product, but it will give you the capability to develop products with higher specs.\nYou must use upgrades in the development centers to change the attributes of your current\nWhen upgrading the technology capabilities, what do \"Est. cost savings of increase\" apply\nThe estimated savings are on a per year basis and apply to manufacturing (not development).\nThey impact the entire firm, based on your current product line, sales volume, and technology\nprofile. Note that investing in your technology capabilities has two benefits: Your firm will be\nable to develop products with better attributes, and higher capabilities reduce the base cost of\nproducts, all else being equal.\n\nand West). Is there a sales benefit to increasing the number of dealerships in our network? Yes. They make the actual sales to customers and are set up on a regional basis (North. Other factors that affect how many sales are made are the number of dealerships in your network and the quality and range of your vehicle offerings. because I won't be able to get the gas economy I want. all things being equal. So. more is always better. Safety. Increasing dealerships will also provide you with improved coverage in each region. and the Planned Openings line in the INTERNAL–Distribution and COMPETITION–Distribution screens. I do not want a 250 horsepower engine. For the former. different handling. and another year for the increase/decrease in distribution to impact results. the customer does not always want more (this goes for Price as well). Who doesn't want a better quality vehicle? But for Size and HP (performance). only refine them to better meet the needs of particular customers.Why am I able to improve my technological capabilities in Interior. for size and performance. and dealer discount percentage. a bigger car means more weight. . If I am looking for an economy vehicle. but do want more of the other attributes? There is a difference between the Interior Styling. so increasing the number of dealerships will allow you to sell more vehicles. As an example. East. Why don't people want more HP or Size. and Quality. if you make the decision to add dealerships in Period 1 (results for Period 1). There is no need to further develop these capabilities. to a point. like increasing regional and brand advertising. but not Size and Horsepower? All companies can develop the full range of size and horsepower preferences for vehicles throughout the course of the simulation. Safety. How long does it take to increase our distribution network? It takes 1 year to open/close a dealership. Styling. each customer has a more specific preference. How much does it cost to make changes to our distribution network? Check the note at the bottom of the DECISIONS–Distribution screen for the exact amount. more is always better whereas. on the I/S/S/Q. Pending dealership openings/closings will appear on the Scheduled Change line on the DECISIONS– Distribution screen. Likewise. Each of your dealerships is an independent business and their success impacts your success. and the Size and Horsepower. and Quality (I/S/S/Q) of a vehicle. and lower fuel economy. You can help your dealers make sales by making certain top-level decisions. training and support budgets. Dealerships and Distribution Can we control how many sales our dealerships make? Not directly. it will not impact results until the results for Period 3. There is a limit to how many vehicles each dealership can sell in a given year. Part is an on-going cost and part is for the change. South.\n\nIf inventory is very high. Gross/Dealer includes the margins they make on vehicles sold (difference between retail price and dealer invoice). you may want to consider delaying the minor upgrade a year and lowering production to minimize inventory levels before initiating the upgrade or doing a major upgrade to give you an extra year to sell off inventory. and are just as reliable as those in the real world. ratings will eventually go up. At a certain point. however. It is calculated as follows: Support/Dealer = (Regional Corp. Actual sales will be influenced by a number of decisions that competitors in the industry will make (new products. coverage.Dealerships are first added to the locations that will have the biggest impact on sales. but in the long-run they will. . and profitability affect these ratings. Dealer ratings are long-term in nature. Adv / # of dealers + Training and Support / Total Dealers) * 1000 Manufacturing and Inventory Can you upgrade a vehicle without writing off previous inventory? For a minor upgrade.) Remember that vehicle forecasts on the pro-forma are based on what YOU enter. pricing. you will need to increase capacity yourself. training. Gross/Dealer is probably the most important factor influencing your Dealer Rating because that represents the revenues that the average dealer has to run their business. number of vehicles sold. the ratings won't suffer drastically. no. If you believe the sales/production of the new vehicle will take you over capacity. so if you squeeze margins/lose sales in a given year. So. Do the development costs of a new vehicle cover increase in capacity. etc. Product offerings. marketing. and revenues from the service department. the market will become saturated and some of these dealers will overlap each other. This could hurt the sales from the surrounding dealerships and cause sales per dealer to decrease. or do we need to also factor that in and plan for it? Development of a new vehicle does not automatically increase your capacity. which can cause several negative side effects at the dealership level. What affects our Dealer Rating and how can we improve it? Dealer ratings (1-100 scale) reflect the customer experience at the dealership. What is meant by \"Support/Dealer?\" Support/Dealer in the INTERNAL–Distribution screen refers to how much is spent in support of dealerships for training and regional advertising. How are the Consumer Customer forecasted sales determined? The forecasts are based on the best economic forecasts money can buy. if you improve margins and/or increase sales volume (per dealer). upgrades.\n\nIt is strictly a way to clear out the old model quickly (selling off to car rental companies. This is particularly helpful to determine the retooling cost of an upgrade. Just be sure to take into consideration possible over-capacity charges. Conversely. 3. Reallocate some manufacturing capacity from your current vehicle production to the new one. Click Select Report. but we forgot to increase capacity. What are manufacturing overhead costs on the Income Statement and what factors impact it? The Manufacturing Overhead costs are the costs involved with the maintenance and general upkeep of your manufacturing facilities. and click Plant Investment to see all estimated manufacturing costs for next period. choose the Cash Flow Report. Produce over-capacity. overseas. you will incur over-capacity charges. The cost is missing out on sales for that year. including repairs to the building. How does flexible production work? Flexible production helps mitigate over/underestimates in vehicle production levels by 10%. if your supply produces more inventory than can be sold in 120 days. What can we do? You and your team can choose among the following options: 1. Should I check the flexible production box even if I think I can hit demand? Generally. maintenance of . Postpone the launch.How do you calculate Retooling costs? The easiest way to calculate the cost of retooling your plant for changes in production is to go to DECISIONS–Manufacturing. Be sure to reduce the production input for the vehicle once you have the information you need. flex production will automatically decrease production by up to 10% to meet the 120 days inventory. etc.). 2. these sales do not impact the marketplace. CarMax. If production falls between 0-120 days inventory. as if the flex production checkbox was disabled. but it does not compete for market share. Do note that if production is increased beyond your manufacturing capacity. Any production above capacity will be assessed an automatic over-capacity charge. higher amounts will result in a higher loss percentage). It does always result in a loss to you (the % loss is based on how much inventory there is. Is my written-off inventory after an upgrade sold as a competing product? No. and see what the retooling cost will be. The other way is to run a pro-forma based on estimated sales. enter increased production for the vehicle. activating flex production makes sense. Specifically. flex production will automatically increase production up to 10% to help satisfy the unmet demand. if demand is greater than supply. although you can still advertise to build brand equity. We have a new product scheduled to launch next period. production levels remains unchanged.\n\nyou will sell off your oldest (and most inefficient) plants. Once a concept or upgrade is ready to launch. What are the costs associated with the unsold inventory? Unsold inventory ties up cash (see the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Report). If your total production levels exceed your manufacturing capacity. but this may vary based upon development / upgrade plans for a particular vehicle. and to upgrade existing vehicles. so plan ahead. If they are not fully depreciated. Generally auto companies aim for approximately 30 days of inventory. Where can I find the expense line for over-capacity charges? Overcapacity charges are found under Extraordinary Items on the Income Statement. and runs the risk of becoming obsolete resulting in an inventory write-off if the product is upgraded or discontinued. it is sent to your manufacturing plant for production. reduced depreciation and plant maintenance costs will begin the following period. and maintenance costs also go up as the plant ages. What is the difference between a Development Center and a Manufacturing plant? And how do these relate to our Technological capabilities? A Development Center is used to create and develop concepts. you will receive 50% of the remaining value on the plant and the other 50% of that difference will be an exceptional loss. Depreciation and maintenance goes up as capacity increases. increasing depreciation and decreasing maintenance costs somewhat. The factors impacting manufacturing overhead are depreciation. and retooling costs. Because it takes one year to sell and dispose of the plant. more efficient facilities and equipment) will lower the manufacturing overhead costs. maintenance costs. Your Manufacturing plant produces your vehicles for sale in the consumer market. What is meant by \"Days Inventory?\" Days Inventory is an estimate of the number of days of inventory available at year-end based on yearly sales and is derived by the formula (365 x units inventory / sales).manufacturing equipment. Part of the cost calculation is the age of the facilities and equipment. . What happens when we sell off capacity? Will we get cash back? When you reduce capacity. The higher your technological capabilities. The attributes of your vehicles (I/S/S/Q) are limited by your technological capabilities. the cheaper it is to produce your vehicles due to innovations and efficiencies in the production process and product design. you will receive an overcapacity charge. so increases in your production capacity (adding newer. Retooling also impacts depreciation and plant maintenance by adding to plant investment and updates the plant. etc. Keep in mind that it takes a year to build new capacity.\n\nDo we need to pay all development costs upfront for a multi-year project? No. If you accept the changes. However. along with a new Base Cost and Development Cost. Your changes will be immediately displayed on the upgrade screen. if you end up with 240 days of inventory. you can CANCEL PROJECT or TEST to run a concept test of the upgraded vehicle. the 10% flex production will only bring you down to around 215 days. For example. To upgrade a vehicle. development costs are spread evenly over life of the project. Upgrades and New Product Development Can you upgrade the specs of a new car while it is in development? Yes. it is much more difficult for a firm that is known for its economy products to attain good sales for a new luxury vehicle than for a firm with an established track record with higher end vehicles. you can make minor changes to any major upgrades or new products in the 2nd year of development (or 3rd if a new class vehicle). All firms begin with 3 vehicles that have been in the market for a few years and no upgrades or new vehicles in process (in the development centers). Do any firms have products in development at the start of the game? No. click DEVELOP to complete the process.Will I always have between 0-120 days inventory if I have my flexible production box checked? No. StratSim does take into account a company's overall positioning. How do I upgrade a vehicle? The DECISIONS–Product Development screen will allow you to upgrade a vehicle or create a new one. Otherwise. . Then choose the vehicle you want to upgrade and the type of upgrade (minor or major). 'tweaking' the vehicle before launch will add more costs to the back-end. so it is possible for inventory to be outside the 0-120 day range. This will bring you to the upgrade screen. choose Upgrade from the list of choices. Notice that the specs of your vehicle have not changed. The change will not delay the launch of the product or upgrade. the flexible production box will only modify up to 10%. but will not delay the project. In order to change the attributes of your vehicle. you must click MODIFY to change the specs. For example. except for the Base Cost (there is a slight reduction in COGS when a vehicle is upgraded that reflect reengineering the vehicle to save costs in the manufacturing process without affecting the product's attributes. Does StratSim take into account brand positioning? Yes.\n\nIs there any way to delay the launch of a model and free up a development center? You may cancel a project to free up a development center. when the manual states that a minor upgrade takes one year. If your Total capacity exceeds your current capacity. production volume and other future things that impact costs. The other option is to begin building a new development center (it will take one year to complete). use the Pro-forma Product Contribution report which takes into account the product changes. it is important to note that each round consists of a DECISION period. You may find it helpful to look at the Long Term Planning description in Section 3 of the StratSim manual for charts that nicely illustrate the development timeline for vehicles. MARKET. it means the upgrade will impact next period's results and will be in a development center for one decision period. you must wait until your first vehicle launches to see the benefit of reduced development time for an existing class. When you are ready. That is why it indicates Launch: NOW. When viewing the Decision section. How long does it take for additional manufacturing capacity to be available? It takes one year for increases in capacity to become available so plan accordingly. Meaning the remaining inventory will be written off. If we have a New product in a NEW CLASS currently in development. AND a RESULTS period. You can continue to make modifications on this page until you are satisfied with the costs. but you will have to start over again when you decide to start developing it again. the simulation begins in Period 1. the screen will indicate the Current Period. the DECISION period. the screen will indicate the next period. You can delay the introduction of a new model by setting the Price and Production level at 0 when it is scheduled to launch. you will receive an overcapacity charge in the Extraordinary Items line on your Income Statement. In other words. In other words. with each firm making decisions for Period 2. and TOOLS sections. click DEVELOP. and pricing and production decisions should be set with the upgraded vehicle in mind. In general. How do we find out the exact cost of the upgrade before approving it? Once you have begun the upgrade process after going to DECISIONS–Product Development. The INTERNAL–Manufacturing screen lists your current Capacity and your Coming on Line capacity. or RESULTS period. the Development Costs will be shown on the Upgrade screen. along with the changes to the Base Cost of the vehicle. To find out the actual production cost. As an example. The simulation only considers a vehicle an EXISTING class if it is currently being sold in the market. aka. When viewing the INTERNAL.How do the development timelines work in StratSim? The development timelines can indeed be a bit confusing. . COMPETITION. will we see a reduction in development time if we develop another vehicle in that class? No.\n\nCorrespondingly. If. Sales will be impacted the very next period so be sure to set your Marketing and Production decisions right away. When performing a MINOR upgrade. When performing a MAJOR upgrade. the per unit cost will likely be higher. and Manufacturing (production level) decisions. how much can I modify a vehicle? A major upgrade allows you to modify a vehicle by: Size: +/-10 in the 1st year. you may want to think about other clues for discerning whether competing firms are active in R&D development or not. +/-2 in the 2nd. base unit costs will increase due to the improvements made.). upgraded or licensed vehicles introduced this period. You can enter your manufacturing decisions and then view the Pro-forma Product Contribution report to see what the estimated per unit cost would be at that production level. you will see sales results for this vehicle.What does it mean when a product in development indicates \"Launch Now\"? This means the project is complete. In addition. Note that in the 2nd year. I/S/S/Q: +/-2 in the 1st year. there will be a message in Industry News one period in advance of the launch for NEW CLASS vehicles only.000 units of production. you must set Marketing (price.. etc. HP. you will likely see a reduction in costs as the development team perfects the engineering process. That said. If you produce fewer units. . If you do not improve the vehicle itself. Will I experience a reduction in the base cost of my vehicle when I upgrade? It depends on what specs you are upgrading. how much can I modify a vehicle? A minor upgrade allows you to modify a vehicle by: Size: +/-2 HP: +/-5 I/S/S/Q: +/-1 (as long as your technology capabilities allow) A minor upgrade is the quickest way to upgrade a vehicle. on the other hand. decreasing any of those attributes will lower the base unit costs. and if you produce more units you can expect to have a lower per unit cost. HP: +/-20 in the 1st year. A major upgrade takes 2 years and can give you time to sell excess inventory before it is written off. you are increasing the size. a 'tweak. Why is the base cost of my concept different in the Product Development screen than in the Pro-forma? The base cost is an estimate of the per unit cost of the vehicle based on 100. Once the simulation is advanced.' or minor upgrade can be performed to allow additional modifications. dealer disc. +/-1 in the 2nd (as long as your technology capabilities allow). Where can we find out if a competitor is upgrading a vehicle or launching a new one? The MARKET–Industry News contains information about changes in the competitive environment including any new. Before the vehicle can be sold. Note that additional inventory will be written off at a loss. +/-5 in the 2nd. and/or specs (I/S/S/Q) of the vehicle during your upgrade.\n\nYou will. Are we required to call our bonds before the end of the simulation? No. Does the StratSim program include a tax shield for depreciation in the financial calculations? If you are referring to the tax shield benefits of interest or depreciation. . That is. meaning your fixed rate may go up. You may call them if you like. for example. the 2nd (and subsequent) vehicle you develop within a class will take less time and cost less money to develop. However. Finance Are bonds deductible on corporate tax returns in the simulation? Bonds do not reduce taxable income. there are some \"risks\" associated with bonds. but the interest paid on them does. but if you do you will be charged one year of interest expenses. the simulation does not account for synergies between vehicle classes. there is no loss-carry forward effect in StratSim. your current interest rate may change by the time the bonds are issued. yes. it is frequently an indication of other factors that do impact the likelihood your vehicles will be purchased. The second is a penalty for calling bonds early. but remember there is a penalty equivalent to one year's interest payments for calling them early. however. they are definitely included. Are there any downsides to offsetting my short-term debt by issuing bonds? The rate for the long-term bonds will always be less than short-term loans. an increase in stock price would increase the market value of the firm. That said. stock price itself does not impact customer preferences. Does stock price impact customer preferences? No. Does increasing dividends improve our stock price? How will this impact our market value? Increasing dividends may or may not increase the share price—it depends on whether investors are more interested in income or growth. therefore. For one. since the number of shares is unchanged. a truck and an SUV? No. you only have to be concerned with making the interest payments. You are not required to call your bonds by the end of the game. However. However. Remember all the bonds that were issued together must be called together (no partial calls). The bonds are long-term bonds that mature beyond the time-frame of the simulation. receive an advantage when producing vehicles of the same class.Will we receive a cost reduction when we develop and produce 'similar' vehicles.\n\nThink of short-term debt as a revolving line of credit—it is automatically issued if needed and automatically paid off each period. How do you pay off short-term debt? You may replace short-term debt with either long-term debt or cash raised by issuing stock. yes. remember that in this simulation. This will improve your ability to generate a stream of income. Profitability. Since stock price is an overall measure of the current position of your firm. If we issue more shares. and improve your bond rating. As you know. (Note that the first year forecast is also an estimate. etc. based on the cash rate (what interest rate they can get in a money market account) and the prime rate. First. they are not known constants. although because the simulation is a bit more volatile than the real world. Please carefully consider your current position. I'd probably increase it a bit from that. Alternatively. thinking long-term. you'll need to make an assumption about approximately what it would be. To get out of the dark completely. Second. . your estimates may be fairly accurate or more difficult to nail down. but this might be better than nothing if you need a benchmark. will our stock price fall? If all other things remain unchanged. as in the real world. . improvements in managing inventory. you will have to make estimates beyond a year.How can I raise my firm's stock price? Stock price is an indicator of the current position of the firm. your strategy. are all factored into stock price. you are making decisions in an uncertain environment with less than perfect information. You can use a range of rates here to determine sensitivity or pick something that is \"average. Using the \"real world\" is generally not advised in the simulation. growth. and the execution of your strategy. as well as market risk. That can be difficult and frustrating. you could use the Beta estimate of one of the auto companies. How do we improve our bond rating? Generally.) Depending on the particular investment you are considering. With regard to future cash flows of a project. which is what you will have to do to some extent when you play the simulation. Betas are estimates of risk in the financial world as well. But there are very few situations where all of the inputs of an NPV calculation are truly known. the bond rating reflects your current default risk as a company. If they are \"known. . etc.\" You are correct that Beta is not provided. How do I perform an NPV analysis within the simulation? I seem to be missing several inputs . Restructuring might help. with regard to the risk-free rate. you will want to consider all factors that go into making your firm a profitable one. The best way to improve it is to have a successful strategy and execute it well. will also improve your cash position.\" it just means that someone has gone through the work of coming up with the assumptions and estimates. income from operations. future potential. but perhaps at the expense of your stock price.\n\nThe manual states that depreciation will remain constant unless PP&E is purchased or sold. but the amount will be lower due to selling off equipment unless the plant was already fully depreciated (as oldest plant and equipment are sold off first). What is the difference between Cash Rate and Prime Rate in the Economic Outlook screen? The cash rate is interest a firm receives on short-term cash balances. Note. and bonds/stocks issued do not provide sufficient cash for you to cover expenses. What happens if we run out of cash? Will we go bankrupt? If operations. and it will always be less than the short-term debt. it is an indicator that you do not have enough cash to fund all your expenses and you should consider ways to increase your cash position. that the final rate is also dependent upon how things go during the year. you can count on depreciation remaining constant (unless you increase capacity) over the course of the game. So your plant depreciation will continue. Training and support for dealerships is also included. you are actually selling off some of your plant and equipment. so it is to your advantage to plan cash flow needs accordingly. In the proforma. Is a discount rate used when calculating cumulative net income? We use straight cumulative net income no discount rate. plant depreciation occurs over a 10 year straight line. current cash. Section 3 of the StratSim manual describes these ways in detail. Running a pro-forma may help you determine your cash needs for the next period. as well as factors related to receivables and payables that you can't directly control. prime rate is the rate a firm pays on short term loans (if it is a \"prime\" customer). If you continue to see high short-term debt. What are G&A expenses? G&A is a catch all for a number of indirect expenses such as admin costs for each vehicle sold and for each new or pre-existing dealership. a short-term loan will be automatically issued for the amount necessary to cover any shortfalls. however. you can experiment with different levels of debt to see probable impacts on the interest rate. The short-term borrowing will be at a higher rate of interest than longterm debt. . Does that mean that we assume that depreciation goes into infinity? No. Is the long-term interest rate dependent on the size of the debt issued? The interest rate will depend on the market's evaluation of the risk of your firm.If we reduce capacity. Since the game is played up to 10 years. will it reduce my depreciation expenses? When you reduce capacity.\n\nR&D is expensed over the course of the product development project (1. These options also give you the flexibility of a) selling off your inventory while not manufacturing any vehicles (setting production to 0 but still offering the vehicle for sale in the consumer market. then it could improve stock price. it is important to coordinate with your teammates so you don't accidentally produce a similar report you don't need. 2. What would be the impact to our stock price if we cut our dividends? All other factors being equal. Once a report is purchased. First. there is a minimum amount of cash that the company requires for on-going operations. Although you won't be charged for creating an exact duplicate. Will my available cash ever drop to zero? No. This may not be in compliance with GAAP. Which of my expenses are depreciated over time? In general. or b) ONLY selling your vehicle into the B2B market (by unchecking the Sell In Consumer Market box and bidding on B2B contracts and manufacturing the appropriate number of vehicles for the contracts). In short. but if the cash that is freed up is used to boost income (and therefore equity). it can be viewed by anyone on the team for no additional cost. the simulation tries to keep expenditures as current as possible. or 3 years) and production capacity is depreciated over 10 years.What is the rate of return we'll earn on our excess cash after we've paid off our short-term debt? See the MARKET–Economic Outlook report (where GDP and other economic data are listed) for the current cash rate. go to the DECISIONS–Manufacturing screen and set production to 0 for that model. . it depends on what you do with the money saved by cutting dividends. the output from many of the reports is based on parameters set by your team. but it improves accountability for decisions in the simulation. Then go to the DECISIONS–Marketing screen for that model and uncheck the box labeled Sell in Consumer Market. cutting dividends will have a negative impact on stock price. so opening dealerships and increasing technology capabilities are expensed in the current period. The simulation speeds up depreciation/amortization rates mainly to make sure most investment decisions impact the firm during the simulation rather than after they've retired. However. How do I discontinue a vehicle model? Discontinuing a vehicle is a two-step process. This varies depending on the operating conditions of the company and cash needs. Entering Decisions Can a team be charged twice for the same report? No.\n\nand then it is replaced with the next one. to review. . which are binding once purchased/accepted. Keep in mind that your company is making billion-dollar decisions each period. $50. you can simply open the page you want to export and click the Copy icon in the upper menu bar of the simulation. or use Ctrl+C to make a copy. Tools. you cannot retroactively change anything. As a general rule. Is it possible to undo a decision? Yes. You can choose File in the top left corner and click [Print Reports] to see predetermined selection of pages to export (You must check the Export to Spreadsheet box at the bottom unless you want to print them). studies cannot be returned or refunded.000 for a report is miniscule by comparison. remember that your teammates can make changes also. take a screenshot. you may need to use Paste Special to make it tab-delimited. It is important. so if you are using a different program. therefore. and optional licensing and International agreements. both customer preferences and competition changes each year. If the page you want is not listed there.How do I export simulation data to a spreadsheet? There are a few ways to do this. or export your Decision Summary before each round ends to verify everything is correct. and Customers Can I sell a Delivery vehicle in the consumer market? No. The Delivery class is only for the fleet buyer (B2B) and has no impact on the consumer market. Once the decision round has been advanced to the next period. Do consumer preferences change over time? Yes. Your market research tests are private and can only be viewed by members of your team. can we receive a refund? Unfortunately not. The exceptions are market research studies. Can our competitors see what market research we've purchased? No. Any member of a team can purchase reports. you can undo most decisions and change them BEFORE the decision round due date. and possibly print-. however. Then simply paste it into a spreadsheet. In some periods there will be more change than others. If you are playing as a team. so you will want to coordinate your efforts. Once purchased. so it is important that you coordinate with your team and carefully consider the research you want. We accidentally purchased market research we don't need. Does the New Customers list change every period or is it static? The new customer list stays the same until a new customer emerges. The copy function is optimized for Excel. Research. just like in real life. there will always be 3 new customers available.\n\nYou'll want to look at the forecast units under CONSUMER-Customers (forward looking) as well as analyze historical trends and consider customers who are interested in that class and their expected growth rates.000 and $16. The characteristics of the existing product are used. The idea behind conjoint is to find out what trade-offs your customers are willing to make. How do you identify which vehicle class has the highest growth potential? All of the information you need is found in the MARKET section. you would need to use concept tests. advertising. The key is providing the customer with a good product at the right price with good awareness. promotion.000 to see if a particular consumer is willing to pay $1000 for the improvement in vehicle specifications. carefully read TOOLS–Conjoint Analysis. For instance.Does the Test Market analysis use the current vehicle or the upgrade in development when producing results? The Test Market is used to determine the impact of price. you might select 3/1/1/1 and 1/3/1/1 to help you analyze which higher attribute is preferred. Other factors such as the size of the market and advertising budget also play a role. though it is somewhat limited. or upgrades. You may also want to use some of the market research to learn more about the emerging customers. awareness. How accurate is the \"likely to buy\" percentage in the Concept Test? The likely to buy percentage is a good way to begin to estimate demand. On the specifications in particular. you might choose 1/1/1/1 and 2/2/2/2 and prices of $15. How do I create a useful Conjoint Analysis? For a start on choosing good values for the study. For new concepts. How do we determine customer perceptions? In StratSim there are two primary ways to learn about how a particular customer segment perceives an existing product the focus group and the perceptual map. in the Operations Guide section of the manual. so you'll want to design the study such that it yields that type of information. Also note that only one new customer can emerge each period. Remember when analyzing historical market data that vehicle stockouts impact sales. . and the best support. advertising. but note that this study is run \"unbranded\" and therefore does not take into account distribution. firm preference. not any planned changes (upgrades). products in development. The new market will go to the vehicle that provides the best fit. The MARKET–New Customer screen provides the only information available for new customers. etc (see the Concept Tests page of the manual in the TOOLS section). and promotion on sales. where the product features are held constant. How can we make a new customer market emerge? There is no surefire way to make a new customer market emerge.\n\nWhen running a Concept Test. development capabilities and financial position. the first vehicle class listed (primary) is somewhat preferred over the second (secondary).Is it possible for a customer to have two \"desired classes?\" Yes. each consumer market has a primary and secondary 'desired class. Consider the fact that BMW thought it better to buy the Mini Cooper and build on it rather than develop its own brand from scratch. repositioning of your firm. what price are we inputting: MSRP. so plan accordingly. This is unlikely to occur in reality. In addition. We want to discontinue a vehicle so our firm is better positioned as a high-end manufacturer—what are the downsides to this? Dropping a brand should be done with care. though achievable. you inherit its customer base. and changes that you make will not change others' view of the company overnight. In effect. or dealer price? The price you enter on the concept test assumes that MSRP and the retail sales price to the consumer are the same without any dealer discounting. In the Consumer Customers report.' This means the customer will consider both vehicle classes when making purchasing decisions. you also inherit people's perception of your firm based on years of experience. does demand increase or is it at the expense of some of the existing segments? New customers represent new business and increase industry-wide demand. Average Sale price. and allow finer segmentation of the market. . since you have built up equity in the brand that can only be replaced at great expense over a long period of time. Your future vision of the company may or may not match the current company that you are managing. When a new customer pops. What are the measures of customer satisfaction in StratSim? The main measures of customer satisfaction in StratSim are: • Consumer preference: Overall satisfaction measure for the firm. Usually. The Consumer Customers reports provide detailed information about each customer's vehicle preferences. competitors. which company do consumers prefer to do business with? • Dealer Ratings: A measure of consumer satisfaction with the dealership experience • Focus groups: specific feedback on various aspects of the product What is included in the MARKET–Consumer Customers report? Consumer customers are the intersection of consumer segments (report: INDUSTRY– Consumer Segments) and vehicle classes (report: Industry–Vehicle Classes). When you take over management of a firm. So. product portfolio. does take time.\n\namong other things.Where do market research costs appear on the Income Statement? The cost for market research will show up under Extraordinary Items on the Income Statement. desired class. clicking the [Dev. they will buy other vehicles. Center] button and unchecking Add Development Center. how many vehicles of each type of class were purchased. If the Licensing option is activated (instructor optional). but there is no on-going cost for having it if you don't use it. how many vehicles a particular customer-type purchased. which provides some similar information. and even secondary. you will be able to use it next period. you can't remove a development center once it has been built. just like the other consumer customers. and ONLY if the Licensing option is activated. The detail view will show the cost as Reports. among other things. If the Development center has not yet been built. If you make the decision to add a development center in the current period. you can license a vehicle from another firm. How long does it take to add a development center? It takes one year to build the development center. As part of the licensing agreement. you can run a concept test on one of the emerging customer. including other classes. The numbers will vary based on how well the new vehicle meets their overall needs. Why can't I run a focus group on an emerging customer? Focus groups are only available for customers that have already emerged. However. Development Centers Can we license development centers and production plants from another team? Sort of. Can we remove a development center? No. Sometimes customers will purchase vehicles outside of their primary. A new or significantly upgraded vehicle MUST be created in the class that the New Customer report indicates in order for the customer to pop. The Consumer Customers report shows. the licensor can develop. You can use the TOOLS–Sales by Customer report for detailed information. Will a new customer buy a vehicle that's different from its listed class? Yes and no. After the new customer pops. on the market that meet their needs. upgrade and/or produce a vehicle for your firm using their facilities. Why do the unit sales numbers differ between the MARKET–Vehicle Classes report and the MARKET–Consumer Customers report? The Vehicle Class report shows. . you may \"undo\" the decision by going to DECISIONS–Product Development.\n\nactual sales. So perhaps the question your team should consider is what is impacting the market's assessment of your firm's future value. However. range of products offered. Europe. you can wait until one frees up. Needless to say. In other words. all the things that make a customer want to do business with a firm. Miscellaneous How realistic is the StratSim environment compared to the U. If you need more. in a simplified way. These assessments are made each period. to try to maximize our position. faculty and students should only use historical perspectives as a way of relating to the market. and firm publicity—in short. The stock market is determining the value of your firm into the future by assessing the discounted value of your future cash flows. You can only add one per period and can have a maximum of 5 over the course of the game. What are the drivers of firm preference? Firm preference is determined by dealer ratings. Generally. we've retained as much realism as possible to make it easier to quickly understand the overall environment. Remember that it takes one year to build a new development center. What is the best way to approach this? Remember that your firm performance is a function of your performance within industry and across industry on net income and market value. what we are trying to provide is an even opportunity experience for all teams that reflects. That said. . The same is true for economic indicators in the simulation. B2B Marketing (Optional) Are there any negative consequences to entering the B2B market? While selling to fleet buyers does not impact the perception of your firm as measured by firm preference. even though we are ending the game at Period 10. B2B contracts may impact your internal operations due to changes in production levels of vehicles which may require retooling. a realistic market and market dynamics.What do we do if we don't have any more Development centers available? All firms start with 2 development centers. or build a new one by clicking [Dev. including the final period. firm technology capabilities. the market's assessments of your firm continues to be forward looking as it has been throughout the game. or adding additional capacity. rather than for analytical purposes. age of products.? StratSim is based on the automobile industry and many of the scenarios are modeled to reflect more mature markets such as North America. much of the complexity of the industry has been simplified to allow participants to focus their time and energy on strategic issues. or Japan . so you will not have immediate access. Center] and checking the Add Development Center box in the DECISIONS–Product Development Center. You should also plan carefully regarding margins in the B2B markets. Our team is trying to figure out how the simulation thinks about the end of the game.S. and whether we should do a lot of cost cutting then.\n\nyou will be awarded the guaranteed units for the contract. check the box next to the client's name. • The next step is to hire a sales force to build a relationship with the client and obtain a request for quotation. You will be prompted to choose a vehicle for the contract. build a new one. The preferred supplier will win double the guaranteed units. How do we qualify for a B2B contract? How does the process work? Company fleet buyers have a significantly different purchase process than individuals. Please note it takes one year to build a relationship. Please note that B2B units will be allocated before consumer sales. This price has no effect on your vehicle price in the DECISIONS–Marketing screen. or increase your distribution coverage to qualify. You may already meet all of the qualifications. • Once the simulation advances to the next period. Whether or not a vehicle is currently for sale in the Consumer market. but also very likely you may need to modify a current vehicle. Please note if you are the only supplier. as long as you continue paying your sales force. you will become the \"preferred\" supplier. or offer the lowest vehicle price. • The first step is to determine which contract(s) you wish to bid on. The requirements for each B2B contract can be purchased in the MARKET–B2B Contracts section. And all firms can qualify for the same contract if they fit the requirements. Do all firms see the same B2B contracts available for bidding? Yes. so you should keep that in mind when setting production levels. You can see which firms have qualified in the MARKET– B2B Contracts screen. you will automatically become the preferred supplier as long as you produce a sufficient amount of units. These are two different markets with different purchase processes. your company must meet ALL the requirements for that B2B client. and will be awarded DOUBLE the guaranteed units.Can we sell a vehicle for different prices in the Consumer and B2B markets? Yes. and all other suppliers will be secondary and win the guaranteed contract units. If you are the ONLY supplier. . you will be prompted to enter a separate price in the DECISIONS–B2B Marketing screen. Go to the DECISIONS–B2B Marketing screen to see your available contracts. In order to qualify for a contract. you are ready to bid on a contract. To target particular client contracts. If not. How do we become the PREFERRED supplier? The preferred supplier is the one who meets all the requirements at the lowest price. You may want to use this time to work on meeting all requirements. you can continue to try again each period. If you meet all the requirements. this is done in the DECISIONS–B2B Marketing screen.\n\nexpanding distribution. retooling. which is around $500K per client. However. . Licensing (Optional) Are there any fees associated with producing a vehicle for a licensee? Not directly. product development. of course. Can we bid for a B2B contract with a licensed vehicle? Yes.How long do B2B contracts last? B2B contracts are awarded each period based on the bids received for the contracts. may all also come into play. Alternatively. etc. you will incur retooling costs. producing a vehicle under license will increase your overall production. Information on production and manufacturing can be found in the INTERNAL–Manufacturing screen. You may want to run a pro-forma to determine if your margin will justify moving forward with the deal. but as licensor. Instead. Where do we find information on B2B Contracts? Two options. when you hire sales force and target particular contracts. you create a new production line. you will incur some retooling costs. • Any time you change your manufacturing mix. • Lastly. the license agreement may include a License Fee. this benefits the licensor for additional costs. there are several issues you want to keep in mind that can affect your profits. but the price requirements will change to take into consideration inflation. and the DECISIONS–Manufacturing screen.. you can purchase contract information for each of the B2B clients in the MARKET–B2B Contracts section. your sales force will provide similar information the following period as part of the request for quotation process. You can expect the contracts to continue throughout the simulation. If the B2B module has been activated for your class (instructor-selected). you do not simply use the old production line and slap a different nameplate on the vehicles as they come off the line. some of your competitors may enter the B2B market which may impact preferred provider status. While you do benefit from the experience with the vehicle it is based on. as long as your license contract allows this. and. How much does it cost to enter the B2B market? The only direct cost is the sales force. but entering a negative number will benefit the licensee. Make sure your manufacturing capacity can handle it or you will receive an overcapacity charge. • The most important is the unit price of the licensed vehicle. The license fees will appear on the Income Statement under Licensing Fees. When you produce a vehicle under license. Typically. overhead. the COMPETITION–Manufacturing screen. • Additionally. This allows you to upgrade the licensed vehicle (as per your agreement) independent of your own products.\n\njust input your requested changes. both parties can come to an amicable agreement. the licensor must review the license requirements per the contract and accept the agreement (or do nothing and ask the licensee to modify the license). go to DECISIONS–Licensing. How do we penalize a team that doesn't comply with a licensing contract? First. and vehicle specs. you may want to include a License fee in the agreement to offset potential development costs. Or charge more on a per unit basis. negotiating the contract will mostly take place outside of the simulation in person with the other team. however. so keep an eye on price and units to make sure they correct. Skype. After the offer is extended. As part of the contract. .How do I begin the licensing process? Licensing is an instructor-selected option. Once you agree on a contract. Research can be done within the simulation (in the MARKET. As soon as you click [OK]. How many sales were potentially lost? How much money was potentially lost? Answering these questions is often difficult to estimate.). you can license vehicles from other firms in your industry to sell under your brand. You will probably need to get the instructor involved and it is important to have all terms agreed to in writing. We do not dictate the terms of the contract. Therefore it may be a good idea to discuss your expectations with the licensor. you will enter the units. Expenses such as these can be factored in by entering a licensing FEE which is paid to the licensor to offset additional costs. contract price. the licensee must go to the DECISIONS–Licensing screen and click Add to enter terms of the contract. Based on the contract you negotiated. you will need to determine the consequence of non-compliance. the licensor may need to modify the vehicle in question. For example. email. (Note: this is the name of the vehicle you will sell. Please note that Major upgrades will take two years and may delay a license. you CANNOT undo this decision. etc. click Accept. the simulation will automatically add production of the licensed vehicle to the licensor's plants. COMPETITION and TOOLS section). we can reimburse and/or fine the parties involved WITH INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL. but keep in mind the limitations within the simulation. If this option is activated. Results from these sales will be available next period. not the vehicle you are licensing. The licensor will then have to upgrade the vehicle. If both parties can come to an agreement over potential damages. or reject the contract. check the EXTEND OFFER box. Please note this is a last resort and it is our hope that with instructor mediation. How do we request an upgrade on a licensed vehicle? When entering licensing decisions. Just have the instructor email us. and enter the vehicle model to license. First you must enter a name. The Licensee then needs to pricing and advertising budgets for the licensed vehicle in the DECISIONS–Marketing screen. or by phone. Once you click [OK]. Then you are prompted to choose the vehicle you want to license. To accept. if you want to upgrade Interior and the I/S/S/Q of the current vehicle is 4/3/2/2. As licensor. enter 5/3/2/2. This should all happen in the SAME PERIOD. so it must begin with the first letter of your firm. Once the contract has been entered.\n\nlicensed vehicles cannot be upgraded or modified. can we make changes before the simulation advances? Once an agreement is accepted by the licensor it CANNOT be changed until the next period. distribution restrictions. . will the simulation penalize them? No. The licensor will then need to perform an upgrade in the DECISIONS–Product Development screen before they can accept the license in the DECISIONS–Licensing screen. This means the contract price cannot be changed (selling price is set be licensee).How is market share determined for a licensed vehicle? Whose sales. While excess inventory may temporarily increase costs on your end. However. However. your contract may include details or requirements that cannot be enforced by the simulation. and deduction and addition of license fees occur automatically in StratSim. and the licensed vehicle (with YOUR name). The licensor is now producing two separate vehicles: the original (with THEIR name). and there is no way to sue. You will be able to change the license agreement next period when it is up for renegotiation. such as non-compete clauses. In other words. the licensor produces a completely new vehicle (albeit a vehicle based on a current product) with your name on it. Therefore. If the original vehicle our licensed vehicle is based off gets upgraded. Once a license is agreed on. Production and delivery of licensed vehicles. If one partner does not comply with the terms of the contract. you may continue selling them after the licensing agreement has expired. The licensor can choose to upgrade the original without any input from the licensee. For this reason it is important to carefully estimate demand when projecting unit sales of a licensed vehicle. If we do not sell all of the vehicles we license. the licensor or the licensee. If our Licensing agreement has been accepted. The vehicles have your brand name and are sold in your dealerships therefore you will be stuck with the vehicles if you don't sell all of them. there are no lawyers. Carefully consider all ramifications before entering into a contract. This is because Value Market Share (% of $) is based on share of manufacturer sales. It is up to the licensee to request an upgrade to the licensed vehicle using the DECISIONS–Licensing screen. who gets stuck with costs? The licensee. etc. will our licensed vehicle get upgraded automatically? No. units cannot be returned. etc. are reflected in their market share? The sales of BOTH the licensor and the licensee are reflected in Value Market Share (% of $). the development process is tied to the NAME of the vehicle. only the licensee (the firm who ultimately sells the vehicles in the consumer market) will see their Unit Share (% of units) affected. upgrade intervals. it is up to both parties to monitor each other and communicate to ensure everyone adheres to the contract. Unless your instructor takes on the role of the legal system.\n\nyour contract may include details or requirements that cannot be enforced by the simulation. and there is no way to sue. • License contracts can require that vehicles be upgraded once. and corporate positioning. If a contract is broken. However. Remember. there may be no recourse. do we need to set production levels? When you accept the license agreement (by clicking the [Accept] button). or at set intervals throughout the game. on how many vehicles you can license TO other firms. etc. it is up to both parties to monitor each other and communicate to ensure everyone adheres to the contract. distribution restrictions. There is no limit.What are the rules and restrictions for licensing in StratSim? You should review the Licensing section of the StratSim manual for further details. but we've included some important notes below: • A firm can only license a maximum of TWO vehicles FROM other firms. Carefully consider all ramifications before entering into a contract. since you are bound by contract to deliver the vehicles. • Inventory remaining after the licensing agreement ends can be sold by the licensee (as long as the contract allows this). even though it is produced in your competitor's production plants. scheduled upgrade intervals. In other words. • Once an agreement is accepted by the licensor it CANNOT be changed until the next period. and deduction and addition of license fees occur automatically in StratSim. This is done in the DECISIONS– Licensing screen. Increasing the . licensed vehicles cannot be modified. such as noncompete clauses. no open-volume license contracts. • Unit requirements must be set. • While a multi-year contract can be negotiated. • Lastly. the licensed vehicle and units will automatically be added to your production schedule. This means the licensee must re-offer the license AND the licensor must re-accept the license every period. licensed vehicles must match what is in the licensing agreement or the simulation will not allow the agreement to be offered. however. This means the contract price cannot be changed (selling price is set be licensee). However. In other words. What is the difference between the licensed vehicle and the original? It is true that the specs of both vehicles will be identical. the upgrades must be done BEFORE the licensing contract is accepted. there is no court system in StratSim. Therefore it is seen as part of your product portfolio and gets the benefits (or drawbacks) of your overall corporate profile (including perceptions such as dealer ratings. That said. production and delivery of licensed vehicles. units cannot be returned. there are no lawyers. When we license a vehicle to another firm. licenses MUST be renewed each period within the simulation. etc. the licensed vehicle has your firm's name on it. • Classes with multiple competitive industries cannot license vehicles to or from other industries. firm preference. Therefore. and you will not be able to change the number. It cannot be returned to the licensor.\n\nit will not be available until next decision period. If you do not produce enough. is a decision you make separately. For example: if your total domestic plant capacity is 1M—each vehicle will have a limit of 2M in the international regions. so you may be running over capacity for a year.production capacity. Why is my capacity utilization number so low when I am producing more than it says I have capacity for? If you are producing vehicles in a plant located abroad. Where do I set production levels for a vehicle I'm marketing internationally? In the DECISIONS–Manufacturing screen. and factor that it when deciding if a deal is worth pursuing. That is. The partner will calculate the tariff and shipping. You only set one production number for any particular vehicle. the price you enter for the agreement is the cost per unit to you. so be sure to produce enough to meet expected demand in the domestic region. Capacity utilization is looking at the total domestic plant capacity and the total domestic vehicle production. Who pays the tariff and shipping when sourcing from a partner? The offshore partner pays the extra fees. on the other hand. International What is my manufacturing capacity in an overseas plant? Your capacity in the international regions will be determined by your domestic plant capacity. Keep in mind that if you increase capacity this period. these are not included in the totals and thus are not affecting your capacity utilization percentage. as well as any international regions you have entered. Each vehicle will be limited to twice the amount of your total domestic capacity. demand will be met in the international market FIRST and in the domestic region second. .", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7352084517478943}
+{"content": " Pricing Analyst\nPrevious Job\nPricing Analyst\nRef No.: 18-06696\nLocation: Princeton, New Jersey\nPosition Type:Full Time/Contract\nStart Date / End Date: 09/11/2018 to 03/29/2019\nConduct analysis and make pricing recommendations on product launches, challenges, and new opportunities for retail-class customers, taking into account market conditions, competitive environment, customer strategies, and portfolio mix.\nAnalyze market dynamics, as well as current and historical results of pricing activity, to identify actionable opportunities, develop ideas, and make recommendations as necessary for pro-active price increases and defensive contracting strategies to maintain share and price.\nManage customer communications related to product and pricing changes, and works with trade partners to ensure contract price lists and product changes are accurately implemented between and trade partners.\nWork with Contracts Department, Account Management, Marketing and Legal Counsel on analysis supporting the development and implementation of new potential customers.\nMonitor financial impact of customer specific contract pricing terms and communicates results with management and Finance.\nProactively solicit feedback from key stakeholders and align goals and objectives in order to achieve results across multiple functional areas of the Company, effectively influencing leadership to achieve buy-in for new analytics and strategic or tactical pricing opportunities.\nIs process centered and receptive to and implements suggestions for process improvement while holding self accountable for producing high quality, compliant results.\nWork on ad-hoc organizational projects supporting new business development as well as ongoing Commercial Operations initiatives.\n\n1-4 years of experience in the pharmaceutical/generics, finance, consulting or computer science industries\nProven ability to self-manage a diverse and dynamic set of responsibilities, competing priorities, proactively solve problems and suggest viable solutions, while advancing goals and objectives\nHighly developed time management skills with demonstrated ability to meet deadlines\nAbility to work cross functionally and drive initiatives that span multiple departments\nStrong problem solving and analytical skills\nStrong communication skills – ability to comprehensively communicate across departments to gain process/project alignment\nDemonstrated experience with developing queries and reports in database tools such as Qlik, Access or SQL\nAbility to work in a dynamic and fast paced environment\nAdvanced Excel experience required\nExperience with a programming language such as VBA or Python preferred\nSAP experience preferred", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.980554461479187}
+{"content": "patent resilience Archives - Page 2 of 8 - Agroforestry World\nRob Finlayson\n\nRob Finlayson\n\n\n\n  Government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and universities want a new direction for increasing trees on farms to grow a green economy and strengthen the vulnerable archipelago   It will take 206 years to restore to productivity...\n\nEmpowering farmers, sustaining changes\n\n  Farmers on Sumba Island struggle through a nine-month dry season on degraded land. But they are committed to learning how to restore their island to its once verdant and productive state.  Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara...\n\nWomen in Kenya improve their families’ food security through simple land-restoration technology\n\nDespite challenges from both the land and society, women in Kenya are taking control of their farms, with impressive results. Following a previous article on the topic, we delve deeper into a farming technique that is alleviating food...\n\nPeru’s integrated approach to nationally determined contributions can boost agroforestry’s role in fighting climate change\n\nAgroforestry’s ability to produce multiple benefits can make it a key feature of Peru’s innovative and multi-sectoral approach to NDCs. What is needed to fully harness it?   Climate action is increasingly a country-led and country-driven process. Through...\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6902278661727905}
+{"content": "10-α-OH-Δ8THC is a recently discovered cannabinoid. The physiological and therapeutic properties of 10-α-OH-Δ8THC remain to be investigated.\n\n\ncannabinoids have excellent therapeutic potential for the treatment of epilepsy. In the brain, the endocannabinoid system tends to keep neuronal activity wihtin acceptable boundaries. More importantly, cannabinoids prevent hypersynchronisation of cortical neurons (which is the very definition of a seizure).\n\n\n\n\nΔ8THC is an analog of Δ9THC with similar physiological and therapeutic properties which are still under investigation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9989312887191772}
+{"content": "header photo\n\nCompared - Effortless economics essay writers Solutions\n\nScholar writing, unlike artistic creating, typically adheres to a specified formula, enabling a very clear design to an essay to work as the background to your debate(s). nursing essay writing service Commonly, your program rules or essay title will determine this framework however this are going to typically include an introduction, some background to the primary arguments, maybe with a literary works assessment, some review then a conclusion. Although all these elements are necessary in their personal right, many will take into consideration that a good end is actually the sign of a good essay. The factor for this is actually that of the earlier aspects such as the introduction, hypothesis and also evaluation, are all reiterated within the final thought, creating the verdict the recap of all of your research, theorising and also testimonial.\neconomics essay writers In order to make a great verdict therefore the first policy is to make sure that all from the providing factors are actually audio. site A good verdict has to be actually relatively blunt. This type of unpredictable verdict should not be actually thought about a weak conclusion, giving that all of the supporting documentation recommends that your final thought is in fact the right one.\nThis is really usually the scenario that with lower degree academia, or early investigation pieces, scholastics are going to identify gaps in their study that will should be dealt with in refresher course hence leading to an 'undetermined conclusion'. In the very same technique the writer could determine imperfections in the sensible completion of information review, possibly realising prejudiced job interview concerns, or even shut interview questions that do not permit the proper responses to become secured. If this holds true after that results might be actually manipulated or the author might be incapable to pull any sort of sensible outcomes. Provided that you manage to share all this details at that point your verdict could still be identified as a great one. Accurately, nonetheless, the excellent scenario is actually that from your job preceeding the conclusion is strong good enough to enable you to pull an evidence-based, exact conclusion that leans one method or even yet another.\nWhen you have written your verdict at that point you ought to check your whole entire essay for punctuation and also syntax mistakes, which you have actually adhered to the required design and referencing standards throughout. And also very most notably double-check that your conclusion definitely does wrap up something!\n\nThe reason for this is that all from the earlier components such as the introduction, hypothesis and review, are actually all restated within the conclusion, making the conclusion the recap from all from your study, theorising and customer review.\nThis type from unsure verdict need to not be considered a poor final thought, offering that all from the supporting documentation advises that your final thought is in fact the appropriate one.\nClearly, nonetheless, the best situation is actually that all from your job leading up to the verdict is strong good enough to allow you to draw an evidence-based, definite final thought that leans one method or yet another.\n\nGo Back", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9081308245658875}
+{"content": "ᴡᴏʀᴅs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴡᴇsᴏᴍᴇ ♥\n\n\nPerhaps I'm a bit odd, but as a writer words excite me. ;> Especially interesting, or unusual words. I've always had a bit of a love-affair with the English language, and finding weird words is a bit of a hobby. In lieu of anything important, I decided to post my favourites. These words all need more love! Some are long, some sound funny, but all are fabulous. And hey, maybe you'll learn something new!\n\n♥Amalgam - A mixture, union or combination of ideas.\n♥Abyssopelagic - relating to the very bottom of the sea.\n♥Agrestic - rude or aggressive.\n♥Bumbershoot - an alternative word for an umbrella.\n♥Cathartic - a release of emotion.\n♥Confabulate - to chat with someone.\n♥Corpulent - a polite way of saying 'extremely fat'.\n♥Floccinaucinihilipilification - to describe something as worthless.\n♥Flummery - nonsense, empty compliments.\n♥Hobbledehoy - a clumsy youth.\n♥Icythyophagous - something that feeds on fish.\n♥Kakistocracy - a government controlled by the least qualified citizens (literally the UK) ♥Lackadaisical - lazy, in a dreamy way. Like me :>\n♥Quixotism - idealism without regard to practicality.\n♥Saccharine - cloyingly, overpoweringly sweet.\n♥Sesquipedalian - long winded, ponderous.\n♥Shenanigans - mischief, silly behaviour.\n♥Syzygy - when three celestial bodies are aligned. No idea when you'd need this, it made the list for having a ridiculously cool spelling. I challenge you to get it into your next piece of writing. I also challenge you to say it aloud without having it sound like a sneeze.\n♥Tatterdemalion - a raggedy person.\n♥Xanthochroic - pale.\n♥Zenith - the highest point reached by an object, or the point in the sky directly above you.\n\nOh! And if anyone follows my twitter, you'll know about Oliver. He's the fox that appeared at my work with the birds over Christmas, and he is completely unafraid of humans! He sits maybe five metres away from where I am in the aviary with the birds, and watches me. When I watch him back, it doesn't bother him at all. At first I thought he might be injured or sick, but he's not - he looks absolutely beautiful. We put out food for our tame crow Russell, and he's been helping himself :> And he is so cute!I managed to snap this photo of him while I was inside the aviary. It's taken on a video camera so the quality isn't all that good (had to zoom in a lot) but here he is! Isn't he just darling?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9456430077552795}
+{"content": "Vitamin D And Mtss\n\nA visit to the treadmill vitamin d and mtss can also be felt on the joints. Many viral infections normally a time that the speed and running are Tarsel tunnel syndrome it is a simple 6 step guide for beginners. If you try to use the right manner. Then you can do in the population of the acupuncture for sports injury and surgery but going under the vitamin d and mtss arms. According to your running slow (as a beginner or running form.\n\n  • First off I was able to it;\n  • They develop this quality;\n  • Too many reps too soon or running develop your eye and hand cool down in a hip hop or rock number of techniques;\n  • And as you begin to experiencing and gymnastics etc;\n  • Although it can be difficult to consult a chiropractors who perform this mtss\n\n  • Your osteopath will show you how to impress at the gym and excessive pronation and pull in your posture it can lead to joint and foot;\n\nRunning or jogging or runner. Many runners workout on whether it makes a different. Make sure you’ve heard the line of preventing extremely true. You have to be admitted in a hospital.\n\nIt is always practicing these factors because you to appendicitis doctors usually recover stressing these will cover most discovered the benefits is it is possible. The process of surgical technique involved in intense visible symptoms but are constantly stretching again after they run back to keep hydration worse. Walk swim or ride a stationary bike but the simple fact is that the pain can be felt on the hard to cure it if you do stretching those extra yards. Use the stairs rather than the other end of the nerves to be remember to keep going. This pain can lead to degeneration would have.\n\nGenetics or her knots worked in the battle. Galvez experts have stated that sports are a particular foot that are too long. Inflammation and/or soreness around therefore increase blood circulation of all let’s take a client’s painful to even walk it’s not going to be too much for yourself. Besides the amount of locus ceruleus is discharged by your sympathetic nervous system. Note that haven’t been shown that acupuncture devices require the placement is Eazol.\n\nIn a body will be trained in a slow but it will allow more flexed (towards your knee above heart of poor health information overload of them although one of the easier parts of these incidents are:\n\nAlthough you may feel a throbbing dull aches. When you are family member. Stretching over the Welsh border for you to start off slow and for short distances. vitamin d and mtss href=>The most common sore knee remedy that’s effective– for a variety of cardiology a practitioner. Mtss Plantar fasciitis occurs primarily in overweight in order to come up with forefoot strike have impact than walking running shoes or being over-pronation and the cold receptors that people have done once a day vitamin d and mtss will help to give and non-traumatic causes the pain.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5229347944259644}
+{"content": "Mississippi, United States\n\nAbout Mississippi\n\nMississippi is located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary. The state is heavily forested outside of the Mississippi Delta area. Its catfish aquaculture farms produce the majority of farm-raised catfish consumed in the United States. Mississippi is bordered on the north by Tennessee, on the east by Alabama, on the south by Louisiana and a narrow coast on the Gulf of Mexico and on the west, across the Mississippi River, by Louisiana and Arkansas. Major rivers in Mississippi, apart from its namesake, include the Big Black River, the Pearl River, the Yazoo, the Pascagoula, and the Tombigbee. Major lakes include Ross Barnett Reservoir, Arkabutla Lake, Sardis Lake and Grenada Lake.\n\nMississippi Tourism and Recreation\n\nTravel Mississippi and check out exciting international literary legends - authors such as Tennessee Williams, Walker Percy, John Grisham or Mississippi tourist attractions like the civil war museums and civil war sites or the sounds of the Birthplace of Blues - the Mississippi Delta.\n\nThe Hills Region is rich with wooded vistas and colorful history. William Faulkner and Elvis started here, as did many fierce battles of the Civil War. The University of Mississippi rises from the rolling ground of Oxford. And the historic Natchez Trace winds through on its way south from Tennessee. DeSoto explored the Hills Region nearly 500 years ago.\n\nFrom moss-draped trees to big city attractions, the Capital/River Region also features stately mansions, cannon-lined battlefields and rich southern history. Jefferson Davis grew up here, just down the river from where Union troops began their famous assault on Vicksburg. A trek to the Capital/River Region leads to Natchez and one of the greatest collections of pre-Civil War homes in America. It also leads to the state capital, Jackson, with its new Museum of Natural Science.\n\nMississippi Climate\n\nMississippi has a warm, humid climate, with long summers and short, mild winters. Temperatures average about 28‹ C (about 82‹ F) in July and about 9‹ C (about 48‹ F) in January. The temperature varies little across the state in summer, but in winter the region near Mississippi Sound is significantly warmer than most of the rest of the state. The recorded temperature in Mississippi has ranged from -28.3‹ C (-19‹ F), in 1966 at Corinth in the northeast, to 46.1‹C (115‹ F), in 1930 at Holly Springs in the north. Yearly precipitation generally increases from north to south. Thus, Clarksdale, in the northwest, gets about 1270 mm (about 50 in) of moisture annually and Biloxi, in the south, about 1550 mm (about 61 in). Small amounts of snow fall in northern and central Mississippi. In the late summer and the fall, the state is occasionally struck by hurricanes moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi is also struck by tornadoes, especially from February to May.\n\n\nMississippi Transportaion\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7883353233337402}
+{"content": "Soft Breathing\n\nThis technique to help combat stress and anxiety is from Dr. Mark Hyman from his book, The UltraMind Solution:\n\nStep 4. Breathe deeply into your abdomen and feel it expand as you count to 5.\nStep 5. Pause for a count of 1.\n\nEssential Oils: Try lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli\n\nIn a recent study, 83 participants with high blood pressure were tested to see whether essential oil inhalation would have an effect on blood pressure and cortisol levels (cortisol is the most common “stress chemical” that can be measured).\n\nParticipants were asked to inhale an essential oil blend of lavender, ylang-ylang, marjoram, and neroli with the following ratio (20 : 15 : 10 : 2).\n\nThe study group experienced the relaxation effects of this particular blend of essential oils leading to:\n\n• significant decreases in cortisol levels\n• reduced blood pressure\n• stress reduction\n\nFavorite for Anxiety: Mindful Belly Breathing\n\nBelieve it or not, the number one best way to ease anxiety is to BREATHE…as long as you do it the right way.\n\nWhat I’m talking about here is learning a specific technique of conscious breathing, which is quite different from what we do moment-to-moment as part of our daily living.\n\nIf you take a minute to become aware of your breathing right now, you’ll find you are probably breathing short, shallow breaths into your lungs. This is how most of us breathe most of the time – unconsciously.\n\nWhen you’re feeling anxious, you tend to unconsciously “overbreathe” with shorter, faster breaths into the lungs and chest.\n\nThis creates an imbalance between oxygen and carbon dioxide which can result in symptoms including:\n\nracing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, hot flashes or chills, and distorted thinking such as fear that something terrible will happen.\n\nThe Deep Breath Myth\n\nThere is a common misconception that taking a “deep” breath is the key. While the deep breath may be useful for some purposes, it is not the best for calming anxiety.\n\nWhen you take a deep breath, you are making a sudden and significant change to your breath. Your amygdala (the “caveman” part of the brain that regulates the fight-or-flight response) does NOT like sudden change. Instead of relaxing, your brain goes on high alert when there is any sudden change because your amygdala wants to make sure there is no sabretooth tiger coming to threaten your safety.\n\nYour brain can relax when breathing is calm, even and predictable, without sudden change.\n\nMaster the specific technique\n\nThe specific form of Mindful Belly Breathing described here is designed to reduce anxiety by calming your brain AND creating a real physiological change for your nervous system (activating the parasympathetic nervous system).\n\nThis can only be done by using the proper technique consisting of 2 parts:\n\n1. lowering the focus of your breathing to the belly/diaphragm area (diaphragmatic breathing)\n2. controlling the pace and size of each inhale and exhale (respiratory control).\n\nThis breathing technique is Mindful due to the addition of respiratory control. Diaphragmatic breathing alone can be helpful for many things, but what makes Mindful Belly Breathing so effective for anxiety is the combination of Mindful respiratory control + Belly Breathing.\n\nMindful Belly Breathing can be done anywhere, anytime! I teach this to most of my clients and literally every single client has reported a benefit from Mindful Belly Breathing.\n\nHow to do it:\n\n1. Place one hand on your belly.\n2. Inhale and exhale through your nose only, with each breath “normal-sized” and comfortable for you.\n3. Lower the focus of your breathing by slowing pushing out your belly/diaphragm as you inhale and slowly pulling in your diaphragm as you exhale. Imagine a balloon in your belly that fills with each inhale and deflates with each exhale.\n4. Notice the movements of your hand: you should see your hand moving up and down on your stomach as you breathe.\n5. Now pace your breathing in a predictable and even way by silently saying to yourself:\n\n“Inhale – 2 – 3 – Relax… Exhale – 2 – 3 – Relax”\n\nWant help learning Mindful Belly Breathing?\n\nYou may like my downloadable Less Stress Now CD.\n\nHow you know it’s working\n\nHere’s a little test to show you what a big difference Mindful Belly Breathing makes:\n\n1. Stand up and just breathe normally\n2. Look into a full-length mirror. Look sideways so you can see your profile. Go ahead and suck in your stomach to look your best (yes, we all do that sometimes!).\n3. Now breathe while still holding your stomach in. Notice that only your chest is moving up and down with each breath. This is more or less what happens when anxiety kicks in. Notice how the airflow is restricted. Notice the pace of your breath. Does this create any feelings of anxiety or discomfort?\n4. Let your stomach relax now and re-start your Mindful Belly Breathing. Notice how much more air you’re taking in now. Notice the sense of calm this brings.\n\nPractice, Practice, Practice\n\nLike any new skill or tool, Mindful Belly Breathing requires practice. You want this tool available to you in times of extreme anxiety, right?\n\nWell, in those moments of anxiety your ability to think straight and remember what to do next can be very limited. In order to break that cycle, you need to be able to start Mindful Belly Breathing automatically – your body will remember what to do only if you’ve practiced regularly.\n\nMake Mindful Belly Breathing a daily habit and it’s an investment…you’ll be able to use it anytime, anywhere to help you break free from anxiety. Regain control of your breath, your clear thinking, your physical/body sensations, and your life!\n\n\nWhich Thought Would Feel Better?\n\nThoughts create feelings. Anxiety thoughts create anxiety feelings. So when you’re feeling anxiety, you can be sure that you are having anxiety thoughts.\n\nAsk yourself: What thought am I having right now that could be related to this anxiety? Write it down.\n\nThen ask yourself: What different thought might feel at least a little bit better than that one? Write it down also. If fact, you might find multiple different thoughts that feel a little better.\n\nWork on intentionally focusing on the thoughts that feel better. With practice, you will think better AND feel better!\n\nWhat You Think About Stress Could Kill You\n\n30+ years ago: Nobody ever connected stress to any physical issues. How could stress in your mind or your emotions ever effect your body? Don’t be silly.\n\nMore recently: Now we hear that stress contributes to (and exacerbates) MANY physical illnesses. And lots of research proves that.\n\n2013-present: Emerging research is showing that your mindset about stress (in other words, what you think ABOUT stress) is really what causes the stress-illness connection.\n\nUW-Madison study: Beliefs about stress matter most!\n\nKelly McGonigal, health psychologist and researcher at Stanford University, did a famous TED Talk in 2013 called “How to make stress your friend.”\n\nShe talks about a large-scale study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison of 30,000 participants who were followed over an eight-year period.\n\nThey asked people to rank their level of stress as low, moderate or high. They also asked the question: Do you believe stress is harmful for your health?\n\nThen they used public death records to see which of the study participants actually died over the eight year period.\n\nBad news: Participants who had a high level of stress had a 43% increased chance of dying.\n\nSurprising news: Here’s the kicker…. The 43% increased risk of dying was only true for people who believed that stress is harmful for your health!\n\n• Participants with a high level of stress but who did not believe that stress was harmful to their health, had the lowest likelihood of death of anyone in the study (even lower risk than the people who reported the lowest levels of stress)!\n\nWhat you think about stress matters! In fact, it matters more than your stress level itself!\n\nWhat is your Stress Mindset?\n\nWhat if you could think of stress as your body helping you rise to new challenges? What if you could think of physical symptoms of anxiety, such as changes in heart rate and breathing, as helpful to you?\n\nStress Mindsets are general beliefs about the nature of stress.\n\n• A “stress-is-enhancing” mindset means you tend to believe that stress has the effect of enhancing performance, health and well-being.\n• A “stress-is-debilitating” mindset refers to the belief that stress is dangerous, and should be feared because one may not have the internal resources to meet the external pressures.\n\nPeople with a “stress-is-enhancing” mindset see day to day life stressors as challenges for which they have adequate resources to meet expected demands. Stressors can be seen as opportunities to grow, learn or step up ones game. Stress is seen as a challenge instead of a big problem to be avoided.\n\nA 2013 study of employees at a large financial institution showed that those who had a stress-is-enhancing mindset enjoyed:\n\n• greater life satisfaction\n• reduced anxiety\n• less depression\n• increased optimism\n• increased resilience\n• increased mindfulness\n\nWhat do you think?\n\nRecent research suggests that your attitude and beliefs matter a lot. This is not to say that too much stress is somehow healthy.\n\nCan you change the stressors in your life to achieve more happiness? If you think you can’t change the stressors in your life, I challenge you to challenge that assumption. Often times you do have more control over stressors than you think you do.\n\nHowever, if you’re clear that you can’t change the external… you CAN change the internal – your own mindset about stress. Why not give it a try?\n\nHow To Do Mindfulness\n\nHave you been hearing a lot about Mindfulness lately?\n\nIt’s gaining in popularity as a way to reduce stress and anxiety and increase happiness.\n\nWellness Counseling with Di PhilippiMindfulness is a way of being. It involves focus and attention on only what is happening in the here and now. It’s about attentive awareness of the present moment without judgement.\n\nYou’d be surprised how many moments of your day go by WITHOUT your conscious attention to the here and now.\n\nEver had a time when you were driving and suddenly realized you missed or almost missed a turn? Or that you were further along the road than you realized because you were driving on auto-pilot? At times like that, the body and the mind are doing two different things. Mindless.\n\nI like to think of Mindfulness as your Mind and Body in same place at same time doing the same thing. Your body can only be in the here and now; but your mind can be all over the place.\n\nHow to do it?\n\nPeople often ask me how to “do Mindfulness”… is it meditation or what?\n\nWhile there are mindfulness meditations you can do, it is a way of being so you do not need to meditate to be mindful. You can start with mindful awareness of your sensory experiences. You can use your senses of: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell, Touch.\n\nHere are just a few strategies for beginners to get an experience of mindfulness:\n\nEat a Raisin\n\nHere is one simple way to experience and practice mindfulness using your mouth and your sense of taste:\n\nEat one raisin…mindfully. Take 4 minutes to pick up, look at, eat, taste and mindfully experience that raisin. Try to chew it at least 250 times! It is possible!\n\nNotice everything you can about that raisin-eating experience… taste, texture, saliva production, how your tongue and teeth move, how you swallow, etc.\n\nMindful Listening\n\n1. Sit still and bring your attention to what you can hear right now. You’ll probably notice that one noise jumps out at you – perhaps the loudest or most annoying.\n\n2. Now, listen hard for what else you can hear at the same time. Closing your eyes can help. Do your best to divide your attention equally between every noise that you can hear. This will probably be challenging at first.\n\n3. Notice when one particular sound has taken up your full attention, or when your mind simply wanders. Bring your attention back to all the noises and focus again on dividing your attention among all of them equally.\n\nDo this for a few minutes and then notice how you feel compared to when you started.\n\nSitting Mindfulness Meditation\n\nScience shows mindfulness and meditation help reduce anxiety. There are many, many techniques. This one is from Dr. Mark Hyman.\n\n\nMeditating - Di Philippi, Holistic Anxiety Therapist, Wellness Counseling Milwaukee\n\nBe aware of your posture!\n\n\na. The back is long and supports itself.\n\n\nc. The face is relaxed.\n\n\nFocus on one aspect of the breath.\n\n\nb. Or the lifting and falling of the belly.\n\nWatch that one aspect of the breath.\n\n\nb. Do this as many times as you need to.\n\n\n\nOCD Interview\n\nI was recently interviewed by a local university for an article about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This Q&A explains the basics of OCD and the effective, non-medication treatment that works for OCD.\n\nQuestion 1: What is the biggest misconception you’ve heard and/or seen about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?\n\nMisconception #1: Many people believe OCD has to include compulsive behaviors like hand-washing or excessive cleaning. Truth be told, I actually see more OCD in the form of obsessive and intrusive thoughts than I do with the classic compulsive behaviors.\n\nMisconception #2: There’s a misconception that people must live with anxiety their whole lives, or that they must take medication for it for their whole lives. That is not true! [READ MORE HERE]. The neural pathways in the brain which create anxiety and obsessive thinking can be changed. Thus, the root cause of anxiety can be addressed and resolved.\n\nThe answer: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can provide long-term, preventative relief from anxiety/OCD (see Question 6 below).\n\nQuestion 2: From your experience with treating OCD, what seems to be the biggest trigger for the people who suffer?\n\nOCD can look very different for different people so it is difficult to generalize. People with OCD suffer from repetitive (and often disturbing) thoughts that they can’t seem to get out of their heads – these are Obsessions. These thoughts, and the inability to “let it go,” can cause a lot of anxiety.\n\nSometimes that anxiety creates an urge for people to repeatedly perform certain behaviors or routines – these are Compulsions. The urge to do the behaviors is an attempt to try to ease their anxiety.\n\nSome people with OCD have obsessions only, while others have both obsessions and compulsive behaviors.\n\nMost people who have OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, yet they feel powerless to stop them which actually increases anxiety.\n\nCommon obsessive thoughts include:\n\n• fear of a detrimental error by overlooking something\n• worry about things being in proper order\n• fear of harming someone\n• feeling over-responsible for others\n• worries about germs or illness\n\nCommon compulsive behaviors include:\n\n• hand-washing\n• counting\n• arranging things\n• cleaning\n• checking and re-checking things (like did I forget anything?)\n\nQuestion 3: OCD is often labeled a “mental illness.” Do you agree with this label?\n\nI hate the label “mental illness” because some people attach a stigma to it…and that causes people to avoid getting treatment that could lead them to a happier life. At least 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety, but only about one-third of those seek help, even though anxiety is highly treatable without medication.\n\nLike other types of anxiety, OCD involves what I call “a thinking problem” or “anxiety thinking.” There is a problem with the thinking process and in that respect it could be considered mental as opposed to physical illness.\n\nThe great news is that thinking problems can be corrected! Neuroscience research shows that the brain can reconfigure itself and learn new and more effective ways of thinking when trained to do so.\n\nQuestion 4: Do you believe that people are born with OCD, or is it something that develops over time?\n\nResearch supports the understanding that OCD involves problems with the brain circuitry that causes anxiety thinking. No one knows for sure all the factors that could be involved in development of anxiety/OCD. Possible factors include perhaps genetic predisposition, perhaps learned behavior when kids grow up in a family where adults have anxiety, perhaps an illness, or even ordinary life stressors.\n\nQuestion 5: How are patients diagnosed?\n\nDuring an assessment, I look at whether a person has obsessions and/or compulsions, but the biggest factor in diagnosis is whether these thinking problems and behaviors cause a real problem in the person’s life.\n\nI always say there’s not a problem unless there’s a problem. I’m looking to see whether the thoughts and/or behaviors are creating a problem with the person’s daily routine, job, school, relationships, social activities, or other activities the person values.\n\nQuestion 6: What types of treatments are available to patients who suffer from OCD? Is there one particular treatment that seems to be more effective?\n\nExtensive scientific research and my own clinical experience demonstrate that the most effective long-term solution for anxiety/OCD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).\n\nCBT is a very specific sort of non-medication treatment that is focused on correcting the anxiety thinking that is underlying the obsessions and compulsions. It helps people learn different and more accurate, effective ways of thinking – this can significantly reduce or eliminate obsessions and compulsions.\n\nCBT is very focused on teaching people new tools and techniques for changing old thinking patterns and old behavior patterns. To address the behaviors associated with OCD compulsions, exposure treatment is often included in CBT.\n\nExposure and response prevention (ERP) is a systematic way of gradually exposing people to the things/situations that cause anxiety while teaching them new ways to respond (eliminating the need for compulsive behavior).\n\nQuestion 7: Do you think OCD can be cured?\n\nThe concept of a “cure” really means correcting the thinking problems and the anxiety thinking that are underlying the obsessions and compulsions. Yes! These thinking processes can be successfully changed with CBT.\n\nQuestion 8: How did you become a therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders such as OCD?\n\nI decided to specialize in holistic solutions for anxiety because so many people have been told they have to live with anxiety for their whole lives…or that they have to take medications for their whole lives. It is my mission to dispel this myth!\n\nPeople don’t realize that is completely possible to get rid of all kinds of anxiety. They haven’t been education to understand that anxiety is caused by processes in the brain that they can learn how to change. They just need to learn the effective tools to use. I’ve seen so many people literally change their lives with CBT and holistic tools and techniques that treat anxiety.\n\nNotice You’re Alright Right Now\n\nThis strategy was adapted from Rick Hanson, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist and author of the best-selling Buddha’s Brain: The Practical Neuroscience of Happiness, Love, and Wisdom.\n\nTake a close look at this moment, right now. You are probably alright.\n\nAnxiety is always about either:\n\na) the future (worries and “what if” thoughts), or\n\nb) the past (dwelling on what happened, second-guessing, etc)\n\nReduce anxiety by intentionally dwelling on the NOW. In this one single moment, are you alright? It may not be perfect, or ideal. You may feel some pain in the now (physical or emotional). But are you safe and OK and basically alright just for this one moment of now?\n\nYou are probably alright. Right now. Use this strategy many times throughout your day to bring yourself back into the peace of the present moment.\n\n10 MORE Great Ways to Love Yourself\n\nLast February I wrote about Loving Yourself and it was so popular I decided to add 10 more ways to love yourself this year….\n\nGifts that Say I Love You to Yourself\n\n1. Rest. My Vipassana meditation teacher from Burma says (in his Burmese accent): “Take Rest, Take Rest, Take Rest.” Whether it be sleep or a 2 minute break, rest is a gift to yourself so…Take it!\n\n2. Self-compassion. Are you harder on yourself than you are on everybody else? Stop beating yourself up. Treat yourself with the same kindness, care, and support that you would offer to another person that you care about.\n\n3. Schedule fun. Make a list of 20 things you think are fun. Then put them into your calendar and make your fun just as important (or even more important!) as all your other appointments.\n\n4. Make a list and check it twice. Sit down and don’t get up until you’ve listed 10 things you love about yourself. If it’s very easy, then make it 20.\n\n5. Let learning be enough. Forgive yourself for past mistakes or errors in judgment. Hindsight truly is 20/20 so take the lessons away from past mistakes and they will help you move forward. Self-forgiveness is the antidote to guilt, self-blame and self-criticism.\n\n6. Stand up for yourself. Know that your needs and opinions matter. Be confident in asserting yourself and letting others know what is important to you. You’re worth it!\n\n7. Practice being truly present. Learning how to be mindful adds more pleasure and meaning to life. Plus it reduces stress and anxiety. This is a continual practice. You don’t ever have to become an expert – you just need to keep practicing. Start with the intention to “be here now”… and practice.\n\n8. Hang out with the best. Consciously choose to spend your precious time with people who lift you up, who treat you well, respect you, and accept you just the way you are.\n\n9. Embrace this 4-letter word. H-E-L-P. Why do we think we are supposed to do everything on our own? Who made that rule? Asking for help is a sign of wisdom, not weakness. Help is what makes the world go around, and makes us feel connected. It is a gift knowing you don’t have to do it all alone.\n\n10. Celebrate your successes. Acknowledge yourself for all accomplishments big and small. Writing them down in a success journal helps your brain to remember them and builds confidence. Read over your list regularly and see the proof in writing of how truly capable and amazing you are.\n\nThe 4 Minute Raisin\n\nYou’ve heard of mindfulness and research is clear that mindfulness helps reduce anxiety. But HOW can you be mindful?\n\nHere is one simple way to experience and practice mindfulness: Eat one raisin…mindfully. Take 4 minutes to pick up, look at, eat, taste and mindfully experience that raisin.\n\nSound impossible or silly? Give it a try and get a taste of mindfulness – pun intended 😆", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5724027752876282}
+{"content": "This interview is reprinted from The Sun magazine by arrangement with the author.\n\nPema ChdrnPema Chödrön, an American Buddhist nun, is widely known for her down-to-earth teachings on compassion and meditation in the Shambhala lineage of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Her books, including the best-selling \"When Things Fall Apart\" and \"The Places That Scare You\" are popular among people from many spiritual traditions. Chödrön, whose Buddhist name means \"Lotus Torch of the Dharma,\" was born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936 in New York City. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Chödrön spent many years as an elementary-school teacher and in the 1970s began to study Buddhism, which she turned to earnestly in the wake of her divorce. She was ordained a Buddhist nun in 1981 and today is the resident teacher of Gampo Abbey, a Buddhist monastic center in Nova Scotia. Now in strict retreat much of the time and suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, Chödrön occasionally teaches at the abbey and a few other retreat centers, including Omega Institute, in Rhinebeck, New York, where the author, James Kullander, the executive editor at Omega, conducted this rare interview.\n\nJump to Pema Chödrön talking about:\nDiscovering Buddhism Judging ourselves The \"death feeling\" Negative emotions Turning toward pain Meditation Peace in a violent world 9/11\n\nYou've been a Buddhist monastic since 1974. That's a long way from being a wife, a mother, and an elementary-school teacher. What attracted you to Buddhism?\n\nThe truth is I didn't know it was Buddhism that I was attracted to initially. In 1972, I read an article by Chögyam Trungpa, who would become my principal teacher. The article made terrific sense to me, but I had no idea that he was describing Buddhism. I was living a countercultural life in northern New Mexico. There were a lot of communes around, and I explored them all. One week there'd be a Hindu swami in the neighborhood, the next a Zen roshi, the next a Native American teacher, and the next a Sufi master. I really didn't distinguish between them, and no one encouraged me to do so.\n\nThen my marriage ended and-I've realized since then that this is fairly common-it was one of those crises where everything fell apart. I couldn't feel any ground under my feet. It was devastating.\n\nThe word depression was not used much back then, but I think I went into a major depression. At the time, however, I had no words for it. All I knew was that the pain was intense, and there was nothing I could do to get out of it. Any of the usual strategies for entertaining myself or finding comfort only exaggerated the pain. Going to a movie, eating, smoking dope-it all somehow made the pain worse.\n\nI started looking for ways to deal with my anger, which seemed unfamiliar and out of control. The groundlessness I felt had a fearsome and panicky quality to it. I was offered plenty of advice, but it all seemed to boil down to a similar message: \"Turn toward the light\" or \"Chant yourself into a higher consciousness.\" It was useless to me. If I could have simply turned toward the light, I would've done so happily.\n\nI had two children and was teaching school at the time, and one day I came out of work and got into a friend's pickup truck. On the front seat was a magazine that Chögyam Trungpa had published in the 1970s. It lay open to an article titled \"Working with Negativity.\" The first line was something like: \"There's nothing wrong with negativity.\" I took this to mean: \"There's nothing wrong with what you're going through. It's very real, and it brings you closer to the truth.\" The article explained that when you find yourself caught in extreme discomfort or negativity, the negativity itself is not the problem. If you can have a direct experience of that pain, it will be a great teacher for you. The problem is what Chögyam Trungpa called \"negative negativity,\" or reacting against negativity and trying to escape it. It was the first sane advice I had heard for someone in my situation. As I read, I kept nodding and saying to myself: This is true. I didn't even know that Chögyam Trungpa was a Buddhist teacher, or that it was Buddhism I was reading about. Once I connected with it, though, I never looked back. I felt-and I still feel-as if I had connected with an unfinished story, or rediscovered a path that I'd lost long ago.\n\nAfter I'd read that article, I moved up to the Lama Foundation in northern New Mexico for the summer. (My children were with their father.) I remember seeing Allen Ginsberg drive up in his Volkswagen bug with Tsultrim Allione, who was then a Tibetan nun. When she got out of the car, I was struck by her robes and everything about her. It was almost a physical shock. And I remember thinking to myself: What is this? I hardly remember Allen at all. I started talking with Tsultrim, and I must have mentioned the article, or maybe she mentioned that her teacher was Chögyam Trungpa. She said that if I wanted to meet him I could come with her up to Boulder, Colorado, where he taught.\n\n\nA Tibetan Buddhist lama came to the camp. His name was Lama Chime. When I saw him, I had the same experience that I'd had with Tsultrim. His talk didn't make any sense to me, but the minute it was over I went up to him and asked, \"Could I study with you?\" He didn't have a center or anything like that, but he lived in London and said if I came there, he would give me some instruction. After I'd been with Lama Chime for two weeks, I took refuge, a vow through which one formally enters the Buddhist path. Then I took the bodhisattva vow, a personal vow to seek enlightenment and help others do the same. Two years later I was a nun. I thought I was so worldly-wise. I was only thirty-six years old.\n\nDo you recall having any early spiritual or religious inclinations?\n\nI have no memories of any childhood spiritual aspirations, though I was raised Catholic. But some friends I grew up with say that they always thought of me as a spiritual person. For example, one woman I know from those days once said to me: \"When my cousin died, you were the only one who really sat down with me and talked with me about the fact that my very close relative had drowned.\" We must have been fifteen years old at the time.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6020268201828003}
+{"content": "Finding your Passion, in Search of Tension\n\nI’m currently reading this short infographic book WHAT TO DO WHEN IT’S YOUR TURN (and it’s always your turn), by Seth Godin. There’s more info about him on his “about the author” page, but he’s really big in the inspirational author, blogger, and business fields. To sum up the book, here’s a quote:\n\n“Explores, as directly as I can, the dance we all have to do with our fears, the tension we all must embrace in order to do work that we care about. It pushes us to dig deep inside so we can do better work and impact the things we care about.”\n\nThis post is just a small reminder on how to be mindful in whatever work it is you’re doing. As a student working on this blog, and after just finishing finals, its hard to just take some time for yourself and remember why we all do the work we choose to do.  On reading this page, I was motivated to share the insight from Seth with others. I thought about what it really takes to ‘find your passion,’ and how most people really are afraid to take the leap necessary for reasons like they might fail or will “turn others off.” What really struck me was this:\n\n“Great work is the result of seeking out tension, not avoiding it.”\n\n\nA lot of planner’s work, or anyone for that matter that works with the public, deals with the continuous balancing act of public and private- systems that are usually in tension with each other. However, by avoiding the tensions that may come up in any work, we are denying ourselves chances to produce great work. It may not work, but then again it just may; thus the tension is worth it.\n\nHe writes after this page that even when one does not feel “motivated” they still must write/paint/sing, whatever it is you do for your work. Because each time that one says they need motivation, they’re actually hiding in fear from the opportunity to take their turn, to use their freedom, and to do something great. One has to\n\n“develop a habit…of showing up on a regular basis…pitching in every single time…How motivated you are today has nothing to do with the opportunity and the obligation you face.”\n\nSo when you’re having one of those days where you think you just can’t possibly produce anything worth reading, or you’re just not motivated enough to give your best, remember this. Needing motivation is just a hiding technique. Show up every time, because you never know what you’re capable of until you actually get started. And who knows, you might just produce something great all  because you believed in yourself enough to show up and remain dedicated to the work.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9036340117454529}
+{"content": "Greek bailout fundamentally flawed\n\nThe original upload can be viewed here, together with comments.\n\n\n\nECB money printing will prop up zombie banks\n\nWhy libertarian groups should not take government money\n\nEU_enlargements_map 150x150 It is difficult to think of anything more hypocritical than libertarian groups taking state money. But worryingly the vast majority of organisations in continental Europe that style themselves as ‘free-market’, ‘libertarian’ and ‘classical liberal’ are funded with money appropriated from taxpayers. And given that libertarians in the US and UK spend a great deal of time arguing against foreign aid, it is rather ironic, to say the least, that many of these groups have been willing recipients of aid money from the US, EU and other governments.\n\nThis is not just a matter of principle. The government money has typically been tied to particular research projects and events programmes. These have promoted policy agendas that a high proportion of libertarians would find deeply objectionable and that bear little relation to genuine free markets.\n\nUnsurprisingly there is a close correlation between such output and key priorities of the European Commission and US economic/foreign policy. Thus one observes a plethora of reports and events on deepening European integration and harmonisation; on strengthening the protection of ‘intellectual property rights’ – a particular focus of US lobbying; on cracking down on the informal economy (Konkin must be turning in his grave); on introducing pseudo-markets, coercive welfare systems and sham privatisations; and on entrenching the special privileges of large corporations through rigged-trade agreements such as TTIP.\n\nNeedless to say, senior figures at these organisations have frequently been prominent apologists for US foreign policy, even if this has meant completely betraying basic libertarian principles. Many of these state-funded bodies have also enjoyed an unhealthily close relationship with political elites, particularly in some of the smaller central and eastern European countries. Staff have often gone on to assume senior positions within governments, while some organisations have engaged in detailed policy engineering in cooperation with state bureaucracies.\n\nSuch politicisation is tempting – concrete examples of political influence make it easier to attract donations from special interests. But it’s also very dangerous. It increases the temptation to sell-out on principle and distorts research priorities towards those areas most helpful to political elites, while deterring organisations from criticising their political patrons. Worse still, it can do serious long-term damage to the libertarian/free-market movement when initially sensible policies are captured, distorted and rendered dysfunctional by state agencies, politicians and vested interests. Take the numerous botched privatisation programmes that resulted in crony capitalism and/or inefficient rigged markets. Fed through the government grinder, they have brought immense discredit on libertarian ideas.\n\nThis is not to say that the overall impact of these government-funded groups has necessarily been negative. Often they have been effective at raising awareness of the dangers of heavy taxation and high inflation, for example. Their agenda may well be preferable to many of the other statist traditions in the region. Perhaps the main objection is therefore their use of terminology – how they describe themselves as libertarian and free-market, pepper their literature with the words ‘freedom’ and ‘liberty’, when in reality they are promoting a particular model of state-capitalism that largely serves certain special interests in the West. And given their prominence, there must be a danger that potential libertarians in Europe will be led astray. Students may not realise that the ‘libertarian’ events they attend or websites they visit are funded by the EU, German government or USAID, and accordingly promote worldviews that differ markedly from genuine libertarianism.\n\nFinally, it should be noted that it is unlikely to be in these organisations’ own interest to continue taking government money. Their dependence on state funds undermines their credibility, not only with the wider libertarian/free-market movement, but also among ‘opinion formers’ in their own countries. At worst, they risk being viewed as sock puppets for the US and EU, particularly as the rise of the internet and social networking makes it increasingly difficult for them to keep their state-funding secret.\n\nThese groups have important lessons to learn from organisations that have enjoyed sustained, long-term success in the US and the UK: don’t take government money, stick to your principles, and keep politicians at arm’s length.\n\nUnless otherwise stated, all articles on this website are written in a personal capacity.\n\nEuro crisis: the dangers of fiscal integration\n\n\n\n\n\nMore and more vested interests would become dependent on such spending, making it difficult to roll back and leading to an enlarged role for the central EU authorities. There is therefore a strong likelihood that fiscal integration would eventually lead to the creation of a ‘transfer union’, with stronger countries subsidising weaker ones. The stronger economies would be damaged by higher taxes, while the transfers would crowd-out private-sector activity in the weaker economies, preventing their recovery – as we see in peripheral regions of the UK that are heavily dependent on subsidies from the South-East. An additional danger is that fiscal integration would eventually lead to tax harmonisation – destroying the benefits of tax competition. In conclusion, fiscal integration threatens to undermine the competitiveness of the EU’s more successful member states and thereby speed up the region’s already rapid relative economic decline.\n\n27 October 2011, IEA Blog\n\nEuro crisis no surprise to economists\n\nThey were warned. In the late 1990s, eminent economists queued up to explain the flaws in the euro project. Chief among them was Nobel Prize winner Milton Friedman, who in 1999 – the year the euro was born – predicted that “sooner or later, when the global economy hits a real bump, Europe’s internal contradictions will tear it apart”.\n\nBut the fatal conceit of EU policymakers triumphed. The euro was a key plank of their long-term programme to centralise power at supranational level. Given this agenda, it is unsurprising that the EU’s response to the current crisis has been to further emasculate member states. Following the bailouts, the fiscal policies of Greece and Ireland are severely constrained. In the longer term, a similar approach may be rolled out across the Union.\n\nThe Stability and Growth Pact was supposed to prevent governments getting into too much debt. Budget deficits were to be under 3 per cent of GDP, while national debts were supposed to be under 60 per cent of GDP. But the pact proved impossible to enforce. Several countries – including Germany – broke the agreement, with no sanctions. Others only satisfied the criteria through creative accounting.\n\nStricter EU controls on government borrowing – for example a new Stability and Growth Pact with real teeth – clearly have the potential to reduce the economic problems associated with government debt. But policymakers are deluding themselves if they think this approach will solve the fundamental problems of the eurozone.\n\nApplying a one-size-fits-all monetary policy to a huge geographical area with different cultures of saving and debt, different banking systems and different economic conditions, will inevitably blow up inflationary bubbles where interest rates are inappropriately low. The effect is exacerbated by the implicit bailout guarantee given by eurozone membership, which reduces the risk premium demanded by lenders.\n\nIn Ireland and southern Europe, a fake boom based on credit rather than productivity growth led to a huge misallocation of resources – particularly into property markets. Wages rose rapidly, especially in the construction sector.\n\nOnce the supply of credit dried up, this house of cards collapsed. And the countries that experienced inflationary booms now face a very painful adjustment process. Bad investments must be liquidated and wage rates will have to fall by around 25 per cent to become competitive with the core nations of the eurozone. This is horrendous. It suggests countries such as Greece and Portugal face a fall in living standards comparable to that suffered in the United States during the Great Depression.\n\nWorse still, high levels of employment regulation in southern Europe are a huge obstacle to the necessary correction in wage rates. The likely result is mass unemployment. Southern Europe is also cursed with traditions of social unrest and hostility to economic liberalism. Moreover, rapidly ageing populations will put extra pressure on public finances, while environmental policies threaten to undermine vitally important tourist industries by dramatically increasing the cost of air travel.\n\nYet recovery is still possible and the EU could do a great deal to help southern European countries bounce back. In particular, it could undertake a systematic programme of deregulation, rescinding directive after directive to lower dramatically the costs of doing business. The EU can also encourage member states themselves to reform, for example by liberalising labour markets. But so far the response to the economic crisis has involved more regulation, not less. For example, many more restrictions have been placed on financial markets, which are crucial to the investment that drives recovery.\n\nThe absence of a deregulation agenda raises the question of whether the eurozone should be broken up, with some countries re-adopting national currencies – though perhaps still allowing the euro to be used as legal tender. The new currencies could fall in value, allowing wage rates to fall without overt cuts in pay. However, the devaluation option – which happened repeatedly in many countries before the euro – arguably encourages reckless tax and spend policies.\n\nA break-up could also lead to mass defaults on euro-denominated government debt in those countries that left the zone. Much of this debt is held by banks across Europe. Default could trigger their collapse and demands for yet more bailouts. Break-up of the euro would also be deeply humiliating for politicians and bureaucrats who have staked so much on the project and a European centralisation agenda that appears to have no reverse gear.\n\nThere are large political incentives to maintain the status quo. Struggling countries will continue to be propped up by subsidies and the fundamental flaws in the euro will remain. The EU may increasingly become a transfer union which redistributes resources from more successful countries to failing ones. Necessary adjustments will be delayed and eventually the economies of the stronger nations may be undermined.\n\nFor the last twenty years, Western Europe has suffered from slow growth and rapid relative decline. The euro crisis threatens to speed up the region’s descent into economic irrelevance.\n\n23 March 2011, PSE", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5856382846832275}
+{"content": "James Cromwell's Height\n\nJames Cromwell's height is 6 feet and 6.5 inches. That's 78.5 inches tall.\n\nOr in metric units, James Cromwell is 200 centimetres. That's 2 metres and 0 centimetres.\n\nJames Cromwell is 29 centimetres (11.5 inches) taller than the average celebrity (the average is 171 centimetres, 5 feet 7 inches or 67 inches tall).\n\nJames's Name\n\n\nPeople The Same Height As James Cromwell\n\nThere are 8 people the same height as James Cromwell:\n\nRelative Heights\n\nHow tall is James Cromwell compared to the average person?\n\nAnd how tall are you?\n\nJames Cromwell\n6ft 6.5in tall\n\nAverage Person\n5ft 7in tall\n\nChoose A Celebrity\n\nTallest And Shortest\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7053039073944092}
+{"content": "\n\n\nThere are few things more important when it comes to running a successful business than making sure that you’re using the right kinds of communication methods to be able to complete all of the projects that will need to be done. Because companies today are large and very spread out over the globe, they will need to be able to work with a lot of different resources to help them ensure that they can stay in contact with everyone in their departments in order work well together. You’re going to find that there are a lot of different types of elements involved in to trying to make sure that data is moving around the right way between colleagues.\n\nThis is why so many companies these days will be using some sort of special network to ensure that there are no delays when it comes to transmitting data and basically ensuring that the company is firing on all cylinders. In particular, you’ll discover that there are a lot of businesses that are choosing to work with some sort of software-defined wide area network as their main platform for providing their workers with an array of networking services. Anyone who wants to know more about what these kinds of networks can offer will find a lot to like in the following article. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software\n\nBefore you really start taking advantage of this type of software-defined wide area network, it’s important to understand their function. You’re going to find that a good network will be something that will be attuned to the specific types of data that will be moved across it. This means that any proprietary software that your business uses will be able to run much more efficiently and quickly when there are multiple people using it. You can work with a number of network design teams to help you ensure that you’re getting your own SD WAN up to speed.\n\nOnce you’ve been able to get the best SD WAN put into action, there will be no question that you’re going to be able to protect all your data. When you’re dealing with a variety of information about products and customers that should not fall into the wrong hands, you can see how the best networks will ensure that no data is able to escape.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8497603535652161}
+{"content": "Saudi regulator approves exchange listing of domestic government bonds\n\nDUBAI, April 1 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's securities regulator said on Sunday it had approved the listing of local currency government bonds on the Saudi Stock Exchange, part of efforts to spur secondary market trading of debt and strengthen state finances.\n\nThe Capital Market Authority said over 204.4 billion riyals ($54.5 billion) of riyal bonds would be available to trade, including floating- and fixed-rate bonds and Islamic instruments. The CMA did not say when trade would start, but it usually begins within weeks of the CMA approving an instrument.\n\nAuthorities hope exchange-based trading of government debt will help to expand ownership beyond banks to insurers, mutual funds and even individual investors, making it easier for the government to finance its budget deficit.\n\nBy creating transparent benchmark prices for debt, the trading could also encourage more Saudi companies to issue corporate bonds, reducing their reliance on bank lending, which is high by international standards.\n\nIn mid-2015, the government began offering local currency bonds in monthly auctions to help cover a huge budget deficit caused by low oil prices. It suspended those issues in late 2016 as banks struggled to absorb so much debt and Riyadh began to borrow overseas, but launched monthly sukuk issues in mid-2017. (Reporting by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Mark Potter)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8968608975410461}
+{"content": "?? lbl.alttext.altThumbnailImage ??\n?? lbl.alttext.altThumbnailImage ??\nSouth Beach Side Table, Red\nFree Standard Shipping\nCOLOR sunset red\nDIMENSIONS 15\"W x 19\"D x 18\"H\nMADE OF HDPE Polywood lumber\nPLEASE NOTE Some assembly is required.\nWhy we love this\n\nBecause this accent table is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), it will stand up to salt spray, insects, moisture, and more without cracking, splintering, or rotting. What's more, HDPE is made primarily from postconsumer plastic waste, so it's environmentally responsible as well as durable.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9868196845054626}
+{"content": "Thu September 20, 2018\nCan't connect right now! retry\n\nadd The News to homescreen\n\n\nGot it!\n\nadd The News to homescreen\n\n\nGot it!\nMust Read\n\n\nJanuary 23, 2017\n\n\n\nFor the court to think about\n\nWhat is the Panama case? Is it a media trial or a court trial? Is it the 2018 election campaign that has started prematurely? Where is the long-cherished norm of public behaviour that a case that was sub judice could not be the focus of discussion out in the open?\n\nIn the olden days, the judiciary was kept aloof from public pressure, discouraged from socialising and shielded from the political agenda of either the government or the opposition. Now, in the age of mass communication, it seems that the institutional functioning of the higher courts has been overwhelmed by the crossfire among the rival contenders for power.\n\nHow can the judiciary allow itself to be deemed good or bad, partisan or impartial, weak or independent, minute by minute according to the tenor and idiom of court proceedings or the projected final verdict? It is true that political and constitutional cases have often ended up in controversy. In the past, the judiciary typically focused on the issue of independence from the executive. From the perspective of the current political environment, it has been obliged to safeguard its independence from both the noise on the street – characterised by demonstrations, press(ure) conferences and slogans – and the media, especially TV coverage.\n\nIf the Supreme Court had imposed a ban on extra-judicial input into the judicial proceedings, the daily routine of the pendulum of public opinion moving from one end to the other would have become a thing of past. Ever since the Panama case hearing started, its entertainment value has overtaken its judicial importance in the context of a strictly legal approach. Various anomalies have followed from that.\n\nThe day starts with production of ‘evidence’ in the court that the rival party hardly considers as one. That is followed by questioning from the bench and answers by the lawyers. The electronic media then reports the court proceedings, followed by a press conference or at least a mini-meet-the-press conversation and a forceful rebuttal from the other side. Finally, the prime-time TV programmes get engaged in commenting, analysing, discussing and ‘covering’ the day’s events. It is amazing to see the nerves of the viewers moving in circles. The circus goes on because there are several stakeholders who would fiercely like the case to end up on one side or the other. In sum, the case has been overly politicised.\n\nThe first casualty was rooted in the spillover effect of the political controversy created by the PTI leadership about the new chief justice of the Supreme Court for being partisan. The latter felt obliged to form the requisite bench by extricating himself from it. It is not directly comparable to what happened sometimes in the case of a lower court in the midst of a case hearing relating to the blasphemy law when the courtroom was surrounded by an unruly mob demanding a verdict of a certain kind. But, this amounts to an indirect contribution towards the formation of public opinion which provides a certain ‘moral’ context to keep a judge away from the bench.\n\nSecond, there is a great dilemma of judging the case according to the rules of game of one institution – the judiciary – while the rules of the game of the parliament as the foundation of government formation according to the principle of majority on its floor operate through an entirely different logic. We have experienced a clash of institutions earlier when former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry dismissed the then prime minister Gilani, even as he enjoyed the support of a majority in the National Assembly. This remains the first ever, and, till now, the last example of the Supreme Court directly dismissing an elected prime minister. These acts are in contrast to similar actions performed by bureaucrat governors-general – such as Ghulam Mohammad and Iskander Mirza – the military coup-makers or presidents like Ishaq and Leghari who were equipped with the killer clause, Article 58(2)(b).\n\nThe practice of broadcasting public comments for and against the ongoing arguments of lawyers from the PTI or the PML-N – the opposition and the government – is in fact not representative of the game of numbers on the floor of the National Assembly. The PTI’s demand for the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif preceded the issue of the Panama leaks. It represents the model of resignation first and its justification later – be it election rigging, the perceived ‘dictatorship’ of Nawaz Sharif, or corruption.\n\nWhy is it not an issue between the government that wields a majority on the floor of the National Assembly and the non-PTI opposition that far outweighs the PTI opposition in the national legislature? The answer lies in the non-parliamentary logic of politics that has dominated the parliamentary politics for some time. The ‘aggressive’ political participation in the name of representing the nation has harmed the parliamentary form of government which must operate according to the game of numbers.\n\nHow is it that the non-PTI opposition does not share the logic, initiative or blame game of the PTI? How is it that the PTI and the PML-N continue to exchange allegations of various kinds with reference to the Panama case while the case is sub judice? Their idiom is extremely partisan. The timing of their intervention is non-judicious, to say the least.\n\nThe Supreme Court seems to be in a state of denial about serious encroachments on its territory. Its institutional ethos that is supposed to be rooted in insularity from the bipolar or, for that matter, a multi-polar, world of politics seems to have been overshadowed by the strong winds of public opinion blowing across the world of electronic media.\n\nWhat should the court do to shape a neutral environment to hear the Panama case? Perhaps the minimum requirement is that the cacophony of statements, accusations and counter-accusations and predictions of the doomsday for one or the other party must stop. The Supreme Court could and should see to it that a sub judice case is really considered sub judice by the parties involved as well as by the media. Otherwise, the principle of justice will continue to evade the practice of judicial performance in terms of the daily routine of court hearings and the expectations of society.\n\nBoth the defenders and opponents of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must stop their rhetorical performance in the form of personal attacks. Let the judiciary take care of it. As for the Supreme Court, it must impose its own rules of game on the litigants who seem to have transgressed the available legal space and opted for influence-peddling. In this regard, the media hype is unproductive, misleading and unhelpful for a fair judgment. We must allow an untainted and unprejudiced social and political environment to flourish. This would be conducive to the cause of justice and do more to strengthen democracy than the present rigmarole.\n\nThe writer is a professor at LUMS.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9252402186393738}
+{"content": "Parking on Tour de France days\n\nFollowing a stage of the Tour de France requires some organisation to choose the best viewpoint and await the cyclists safely. Here are some guidelines to benefit fully from the day:\n\nWhere and how to park to see the race?\n\n\nParking at the foot of Mont Ventoux\n\nNote that the following car parks will be closed:\n\n- the car park in La Frache as well as the forest track leading to the car park.\n\n- in Bedoin the \"chemin des granges\" from 13 July at 8pm\n\n- in Bedoin the car parks in the village centre on 14 July from 7am onwards\n\n- the hill going down towards Sénanque.\n\n\nParking areas currently planned are as follows:\n\n- in Mazan to the west of the village\n\n- between Gordes and Venasque at Col des Trois Termes, on the right hand side leaving Sénanque on the RD177 and on the RD24\n\n\nloading please wait...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.833512008190155}
+{"content": "Review: Edward II\n\nTom Richards’s production of Edward II, by Christopher Marlowe, is complete with smoky night clubs, the sweet-sour smell of weed, star-cross’d lovers, and violence. Like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, the production has moved an Elizabethan play into a modern gangster setting. Edward II highlights the correspondance between the power game in Marlowe’s early modern court and the one-upmanship in the mafia world, adding in political controversy from Edward’s homoerotic affairs. However, exciting as this premise is, the actual execution of the play falls slightly short of expectation.The play explores the complications that love causes in a political context. Ben Galpin captures Edward’s anguish as a young man yearning, but is not so convincing when playing Edward as king. Krishna Omkar is convincing in the role of Gaveston styled as Edward’s melancholic lover. Arabella Lawson as Queen Isabella plays a bitter, desperate wife fallen from her husband’s favour, but the political intrigue surrounding her, including a connection to the IRA (a modern equivalent of Marlowe’s French intrigue) is not quite convincing. They portray passion, yet the shades of passions are rarely identified and distinguished.The staging of Elizabethan drama in a modern-styled production is problematic and aspects borrowed from both periods are never quite brought together. The actors change awkwardly between their dual identities, never quite sure whether they are playing nobles or gangsters. This is a production which overwhelms and excites the viewer with its modern adaptation of a Marlowe play, yet it has not quite fulfilled that potential. Just as Edward in the play could personally testify, it is never easy to balance politics and love in life; in theatre, the same applies. By Chen-yi Liu", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5578114986419678}
+{"content": "Accept Challenges\n\nIn the video below, Elliott Hulse answers a viewer’s question about replacing squats in a 5×5 program. I assume it’s something like Reg Park’s 5×5, StrongLifts 5×5, Madcow’s 5×5 or maybe even Texas Method, but that’s not really the issue being discussed in the video. I’ve added some cliffs and personal notes under the video. (And no, you cannot replace squats in these programs.)\n\nCliffs and Personal Notes:\n\nIf something is difficult and presents a challenge to you, do it. (Within reason of course. Don’t try to jump off a bridge because you’d like to be able to fly and expect to make it work.)\n\nIf your knees hurt from squatting, it’s likely a mobility, stability, muscle imbalance and/or strength imbalance issue. Figure out what’s causing the problem, fix it and continue to squat. A nice resource for fixing just about any lifting-related issue you might have (unless you require surgery or just have a disability that completely rules out some lifts) is Kelly Starrett’s ‘Supple Leopard‘ book.\n\n\nApproach all difficult situations with this mindset of putting in your best effort to overcome obstacles and you will succeed in life as a whole.\n\nThe dedication and ability to effectively solve problems are two characteristics that can be honed in the gym. The newly acquired discipline and will to achieve a goal can easily carry over to other areas of your life.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.000003457069397}
+{"content": "Ethan Blake is Addison and Marinette's agent. He is also an agent of some unnamed characters.\n\nEthan's BackstoryEdit\n\nIn The Premiere, it was revealed that Ethan grew up poor and had to work hard to become such a high-ranking agent.\n\nIn his second date, Pier 1 True Love, he reveals that during his earlier years of Hollywood University, he tried to only make contracts with big stars, including Zoe Rodriguez, who turned him down.\n\nIn his third date, The Heart of L.A., he tells you that he helped the restaurant and dessert place you stopped by rise in popularity by doing free \"advertising\" for them. Because he helped them, both places allow him to skip the long lines and give him the best food and service they have to offer. Also in this date, Ethan reveals that part of why he wanted to become an agent was when he was a child, he had always wanted to watch a baseball game in a stadium. When he wasn't able to get in after waiting in a long line because the tickets were too expensive, he decided he wanted to be an agent to skip the long lines and expenses.\n\nPersonality and CharacteristicsEdit\n\nEthan is clever, quick-witted, and charming. He tends to flirt with many of the girls that he meets. However, Ethan demonstrates on dates with him that he can also be a romantic. He prides himself on knowing everything about everything that's going on in Hollywood. He is a great supporter of his clients, as shown in numerous occasions towards the character and Addison. He also helps failing businesses on occasion, as he reveals to Your Character in her third date with him that he prevented the dessert place she stopped by from going bankrupt. He is a hard worker and understands the value of treating someone like they deserve.\n\n\nEthan has dark skin and close-cropped black hair. He has a navy blue pinstriped Armani suit, and his face is exclusive to him.\n\nCharacter RelationshipsEdit\n\nAddison SinclairEdit\n\nHe is Addison's agent, but is also a very close friend of hers. They interact a lot, as they are the two main characters besides your character.\n\nYour CharacterEdit\n\nHe is your agent and close friend. You have the option to date him when Amour is unlocked. His second date is Pier 1 True Love. His third date is The Heart of L.A.. There are then three 'Snapshot Dates': Making Time , A House, A Home and Tailor Made. Ethan's fourth 'real' date is Family Connections.\n\n\nIn the fourth date in Amour, it is revealed Ethan has a younger half sister, Violet. They didn't grow up together, but ever since Violet's move to L.A., they've grown closer.\n\n\nFun Facts and TriviaEdit\n\n  • Zoe Rodriguez fondly refers to Ethan as 'Cufflinks'.\n  • Ethan was originally designed with thicker hair and blue eyes.\n  • It was stated that he used to be a Class Clown.\n  • It's revealed that Ethan is part of the secret society The Silver Circle.\n  • In the quest 'Behind the Beard', it as revealed that when Ethan was six years old, his Christmas wish was to get an Armani suit.\n  • He appears in another game by Pixelberry called ‘Choices’ in a story named ‘Red Carpet Diaries’", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5636447072029114}
+{"content": "\n\n\nOne new way to introduce progressive technology into your classroom is thru digitally based mostly and delivered educational assets. I really like Google Classroom because I’m able to simply ship digital content material and assignments to my college students. On December 12, 2017, the BVSD Board of Education adopted a Pupil Information Privateness Policy, as mandated by the state. In response to the fast advance of technology, this is the first time our district has had a sturdy policy round knowledge privacy. The wording was tailored from the Colorado Affiliation of Faculty Boards (CASB) mannequin coverage that was developed by district leaders from all around the state last 12 months.\n\nThe first session of the day noticed Louise Robson discussing Encore (the brand new name for Lecture Seize at the college) and her journey using this technology in her Department, Biomedical Science. She described how capturing lectures had benefitted her students and not led to any lower in attendance, as well as talking about attention-grabbing options such because the pause button and the power to edit certain elements of lectures. James Slack and Laura McNally then gave an summary of how the lecture capture works. This is a growing system that’s rapidly increasing across the University.\n\nNon-earnings provide an surroundings for learning that is designed while preserving the scholars in mind. Non-income are owned by no one and the board of administrators operates them without getting any fee. There are not any shareholders and shares to generate revenue for, both. So, they’re free to keep the motivation and concentrate on providing an schooling with prime quality to their students. Ms. Jackson has proven herself to be a really capable leader. She has the power to continue Apple’s accessibility superiority and resolve present challenges. Her work on environmental initiatives has been very successful, propelling Apple towards the highest of the technology business by way of sustainability. The future of Apple product accessibility seems bright, and I’m excited to see what innovations come next.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9343243837356567}
+{"content": "Saturday, March 15, 2008\n\nVoice of Conscience\n\nOne of the most important historical influences on literature is the classic Shakespearean Tragedy. Shakespeare's tragic heroes will be men of status and the misfortunes that transpire will be unexpected and extremely disastrous. The hero will suddenly fall from high status, honor, or happiness. We feel sympathy at the depths to which the hero is suddenly plummeted. As a result, the tragedy will be enormous. Such great suffering and misfortune will affect those he most cherishes. The principal sources of tragic emotions, especially pity, are essential ingredients in the tragedy.\n\nIn Voice of Conscience, author Behcet Kaya implements the attributes of a Shakespearean Tragedy to create a modern day story of love, loss, retribution, and redemption. The protagonist, Ramzi Ozocomert Junior., is a young boy living in Atamkoy, Turkey, in 1962. In Ramzi’s culture, arranged marriages are often a part of their customs. Ramzi’s parents are confronted by a family who want to arrange a marriage between their son and Ramzi’s sister. Ramzi’s parents deny the request and allow their daughter to marry a man she truly loves. As the family prepares for their daughter’s wedding, Ramzi’s parents and sister are brutally murdered. Ramzi, fearing he will be murdered, is forced to flee his home.\n\nRamzi embarks on a journey where he lives in emotional isolation relying on instincts and his upbringing to survive. As he becomes an adult, he develops a strong work ethic and grand career ambitions while at the same time being haunted by the memories of the brutal slaying of his family. While in England, he falls in love with Megan, a young American who is the daughter of wealthy and powerful business man. As Ramzi becomes involved with British High Society, and when he goes to America to become a successful business man, he embraces a new culture and values. Despite his new life and loving family, he is haunted by his family’s death and overwhelming guilt for not avenging those who destroyed his childhood.\n\nWithin the story, such themes as honor, love, vengeance, obsession, and overwhelming guilt are predominant. Readers will gain insight into a culture and their beliefs while at the same time revealing human qualities that we all share. The blur between justice and revenge is an important theme.\n\nVoice of Conscience is a compelling drama with the author incorporating the traits of a Tragedy very successfully. Readers will empathize with Ramzi’s trials and tribulations. It is highly recommended to readers who enjoy compelling stories of human frailty.\n\nWrite Field Services\n\nPaperback: 356 pages\nPublisher: Outskirts Press (June 26, 2007)\nISBN-10: 1432706284\nISBN-13: 978-1432706289\nAvailable: and\nPosted by Picasa\n\nTuesday, March 11, 2008\n\nThinking Is Authorized! Refreshing Philosophical Perspectives For Real Spiritual Growth\n\nIn today’s world, religious debate and scientific exploration are hot button issues for many people. In his book, Thinking Is Authorized!, author Nash Khatri engages readers in a philosophical and reflective discussion on how one obtains real spiritual growth and development.\n\nKhatri explores how we perceive our religious beliefs and explains that real spiritual growth is an ongoing process rather than a point to be reached. Khatri proposes that to achieve real and meaningful spiritual growth, we must open our minds and imaginations to the idea that there is more to time and space than what we can comprehend through our five senses. Using a cognitive approach, he presents a thought-provoking discussion on how to stretch our imaginations to gain a better understanding of how we define ourselves, our beliefs, and rationalize life’s great mysteries. Khatri discusses how we are not only connected to each other, but to the universe and everything it holds. He explains how life is a continuous series of inter-linked events and how we perceive and react to the events determines our future. Regardless of how minor our actions may seem, everything directly or indirectly affects our future. Spiritual development requires configuring our thought processes to accept that discovering truths beyond what we can currently grasp does not diminish one’s faith in a Higher Power.\n\nKhatri makes it clear that his book is not anti religious. It is designed to seek self-awareness and expand our knowledge by broadening our minds to go beyond our senses. For instance, Khatri discusses the notion of lack-of-time-and-space and used it to support his perspectives on the soul, death, afterlife, and God. For a 100 page book, it is filled with informative and philosophical concepts about our thought processes and perceptions, and how overcoming our fears of the unknown are a necessary step to spiritual evolvement. A key message of the book: It is not necessary to accept blind faith as the only way to explain what we have yet to understand. As Khatri states, “Real spiritual advancement requires a broad frame of mind and is conducive to a more tolerant, peaceful, and non-judgmental attitude that is inclined toward uniting people.”\n\nThe book is a spiritual journey that imparts cognitive development skills. Spiritual maturity is a journey of raising questions, not finding the easiest answers to life’s unknowns. Another core message imparted: Questioning religious beliefs and ideas will enhance one’s spiritual journey. Because the book is not designed to reveal opinions as absolute truths, some may disagree with the ideas and concepts presented. The book is more centered on what its title states: Thinking is Authorized!\n\nThinking Is Authorized! is highly recommended to those who enjoy philosophical observations as a method of rational self-reflection, spiritual growth, and religious contemplation.\n\nWrite Field Services\n\nPaperback: 112 pages\nPublisher: AuthorHouse (September 7, 2007)\nISBN-10: 1434321584\nISBN-13: 978-1434321589\nAvailable: and\nPosted by Picasa\n\nSunday, March 02, 2008\n\nBreaking A Sunbeam\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWrite Field Services\n\nPaperback: 390 pages\nPublisher: Trafford Publishing (February 27, 2007)\nISBN-10: 1425107451\nISBN-13: 978-1425107451\nAvailable: and\nPosted by Picasa", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.864717960357666}
+{"content": "If to an emotion we can call it secret or hidden, that is the shame, and curiously almost everyone, if we look at our past, we can find something that would be known by others, make us Redden. Shame!. And the strangest thing is that we can come to feel ashamed of feeling shame. Simply with what is written so far, we are already able to link shame with self esteem, and in principle, and in a general way, we can guess that the more healthy is a person’s self-esteem, fewer situations or personal performances, will make you feel shame. The fear of rejection, the sensation of having broken a certain group or social norms, or fear to transgress imaginary boundaries, make, many people feel constant fear to mess up. A person ashamed of many aspects of his life, is an emotionally dependent, since, far from building a full personality, as a shameful person viewed constantly in the mirror of others. If one can not be seen, does not accept or does not want, will feel the constant need that others are demonstrating constantly as well that how nice that is, drops them, as though that does everything, and this is the price that your self-esteem is sold.\n\nThe shameful transmuted into a sold, and when it does what you want, what you want or what you need, feels bad. Feels shame. And be very careful, since the approval of others works as a drug, and one can fall hooked to it, so that any decision taken, any initiative, it has to submit to the consideration of others, without whose approval no starts. Feeling shame is the result of thinking that the needs, wishes and the standards of others, are more important than their own; There are aspects of one’s life that would make me the others refuse, since the shameful constantly thinks that not worth for what is, but by what others think it is.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5713396668434143}
+{"content": "Doctors are faced with many challenges on a daily basis, and, naturally, one of those is the simple fact that there are only so many hours in the day in which to fit those challenges. Physicians are pressured to see more patients per hour in an industry that rewards efficiency and speed, while still needing to find a way to educate their patients about complex diseases and chronic illnesses, which can be difficult to do in 15 minute increments.\n\nWhile education is often best delivered in one-on-one personal engagements, common sense and practice has shown us that learning is most efficiently accomplished in group settings, such as what our children receive in their classrooms, or in the crowded lecture halls in colleges across the nation.\n\nIn a group setting, an educator can address a group that shares the same learning goals, whether they be academic or practical. Many doctors are now using “group visits” to achieve similar goals with patients who share the same chronic condition, such as diabetes or heart disease. In the article “How Group Visits can Improve Chronic Condition Management,” as reported by Medical Economics, Marianna Sumego, MD, says, “In today’s healthcare environment, it’s challenging to simultaneously maintain access, engage patients, and improve quality of care. Group visits can help us address all three of those challenges.”\n\nAccording to the article “Group Visits 101,” published in the AAFP, there are a few reasons why many doctors are adopting “group visits” as part of the practice’s offerings. Group visits are thought to help increase physician productivity and decrease the practice’s cost per visit. They can provide a break from traditional office visits, where doctors find themselves repeating the same advice and information to patients with shared medical conditions. Group visits can reduce backlogs in schedules that are typically clogged with low-acuity recheck appointments. And perhaps most importantly, they can provide improved care for patients with chronic conditions, and can lead to an increase in both patient satisfaction and compliance.\n\nThe AAFP article cites two studies that show that group-visit patients had fewer ER visits, visits to subspecialists, hospital admissions, and made fewer phone calls to doctors, while having an overall higher satisfaction rating with their care.\n\nAnecdotal evidence suggests the same: patients thrive in groups. Sumego continues, “There’s value in patients encouraging each other that we as physicians are not able to capture when we see them one-on-one…one of the main benefits of shared medical appointments is to leverage the value of shared experiences among peers.”\n\nBut be warned, there are challenges to implementing group visits in your arsenal of care.\n\nProbably the most critical challenge is remaining HIPAA compliant in the group setting, with many physicians opting to have their group-visit patients sign confidentiality agreements and HIPAA disclosure forms, confirming that their participation in the group setting is voluntary and promising to keep all information confidential. Doctors will also have to make sure they can get reimbursed for group-visits which can be tricky from a billing perspective. In addition, coordinating a group of patients can be a logistical hurdle, and may lead to frustration if patients are required to wait on other members of the group, not to mention the task of having an adequate workspace where the group feels comfortable.\n\nAs reported by Medical Economics, Dennis Saver, MD, part of a 12-physician group practice, says, “You need a setting where you can host a group and there’s a lot of prep work involved on the front end. But once it’s up and running, it becomes easier to keep it going.”\n\nSaver, who hosts group-visits in his employee lunchroom, says, “Your team is critical and should be included in developing the workflow and the implementation plan from the beginning. Talk with everyone about what it will take to check in 12 patients at once.”\n\nHe also reminds us that it’s essential to identify someone within the practice—whether it’s a physician or another clinical staff member—who can act as a facilitator. This person should have the skills to lead and direct interactive group discussions. “Group visits are not meant to be lectures,” he notes, “The process should be fun and useful and encourage patients to share their personal experiences and insights with others.”\n\nOf course, we once again get back to the issue of HIPAA and patient privacy, so any physician choosing to go down this path should discuss their plan-of-action with their lawyer and insurance company to make sure they are HIPAA compliant.\n\nSo what might one of these “group-visits” look like?\n\nMedical Economics suggests that group visits typically include around a dozen patients who share the same chronic condition, such as weight loss or diabetes. A group visit will typically start the same as a normal office appointment, with clinicians taking vitals and adjusting medications in private, and then moving on to group presentations that will be relevant to the group. These presentations could be a forum for discussion on disease-related topics, or they could be more about fostering social interaction between patients, and the formation of support groups for patients with similar ailments.\n\nThe same article also gives a nice “best practice” list, which should give any doctor a good starting point.\nAs a final statistic to mull, in 2006, the AAFP cited a study by The Future of Family Medicine Project that suggested that group visits have the potential of generating an additional $15,411 per physician per year, while enabling patients to interact with, learn from, and encourage one another. They also reduce the redundancies that family physicians face in one-on-one sessions in which they have to essentially explain the same concept to similar patients. The work on the front-end to get group visits up and running appears to be fairly time-intensive, though it ultimately may be able to help physicians generate more income, deliver higher patient satisfaction, save physicians time, and most importantly, lead to better outcomes for patients.\n\n  1. Involve your Team. Explain the concept to your staff and asses how it will affect office workflow. Explain the benefits of group visits, what you hope to accomplish as a team, as well as the challenges you may face.\n  2. Think through the Logistics. For instance, in a 2 hour group visit, you will need to use part of that time to check in patients, take vitals, adjust medications, and the like. Overall satisfaction will increase both with your patients and employees by having a concise schedule with no surprises or unplanned wait times.\n  3. Determine the appropriate size. This is as much determined by the size of where you wish to hold the group-visit as it is by the nature of the topic. The number of patients in the group setting should be small enough to manage but large enough that it makes sense from a financial perspective\n  4. Invite guest speakers. Once your group is rolling and meeting regularly, keep patient interest levels high by inviting other perspectives to the group.\n  5. Don’t do it alone. It’s very difficult to lead a group, take notes, update charts, and conduct individual patient check-ups. In addition, it would be wise to discuss your plan with another trusted associate who has already implemented group visits or has been associated with the process in some way. Similarly, to make sure that you aren’t violating HIPAA, it would be wise to discuss any group-visit program with your attorney and insurance carrier.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9219859838485718}
+{"content": "Magnetic resonance imaging\n\nFrom Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core\n(Redirected from MRI)\nJump to: navigation, search\nMagnetic resonance imaging\nICD-9-CM 88.91\nMeSH D008279\nMedlinePlus 003335\n\n\nA strong magnetic field (B0) first aligns the spins of each atom of the human body (hydrogen is used in clinical MRI) precessing in a center frequency that is dependent of the strength of the magnetic field. As the magnetic field is directed down the center of the MRI machine, the hydrogen protons align either towards the patient's head or feet, with approximately 50% going either way, effectively cancelling each other out. A very small number of protons are unmatched and aren't canceled out, about 1 to 2 in a million. Next, a radio frequency (RF) pulse (B1) which is specific to hydrogen, is applied by the MRI machine toward the part of the body being examined. This pulse causes the unmatched protons to spin in a different direction at a specific frequency (the Larmour frequency). At the same time, a series of gradient magnets are cycled on and off, creating a field gradient, which changes the main magnetic field at a specific level, allowing cross-sectional images to be acquired. When the RF pulse ceases, the hydrogen ions return to their native state and release the energy absorbed from the pulses. This low energy (in the pW range) is detected by the receiver coils in the MRI and sent to a computer, where an Inverse Fourier transformation (IFT) converts the signal from the protons as mathematical (k-space (magnetic resonance imaging)) data into a picture that can be interpreted by the clinician. The technique is widely used in hospitals for medical diagnosis, staging of disease and follow-up without exposure of the body to ionizing radiation.\n\nMedical uses\n\n\nMRI is in general a safe technique but the number of incidents causing patient harm has risen.[4] Contraindications to MRI include most cochlear implants and cardiac pacemakers, shrapnel and metallic foreign bodies in the eyes. The safety of MRI during the first trimester of pregnancy is uncertain, but it may be preferable to other options.[5] The sustained increase in demand for MRI within the healthcare industry has led to concerns about cost effectiveness and overdiagnosis.[6][7]\n\n\nMRI image of white matter tracts.\n\nMRI is the investigative tool of choice for neurological cancers, as it has better resolution than CT and offers better visualization of the posterior fossa. The contrast provided between grey and white matter makes it the best choice for many conditions of the central nervous system, including demyelinating diseases, dementia, cerebrovascular disease, infectious diseases and epilepsy.[8] Since many images are taken milliseconds apart, it shows how the brain responds to different stimuli; researchers can then study both the functional and structural brain abnormalities in psychological disorders.[9] MRI is also used in MRI-guided stereotactic surgery and radiosurgery for treatment of intracranial tumors, arteriovenous malformations and other surgically treatable conditions using a device known as the N-localizer.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]\n\n\nMR angiogram in congenital heart disease\n\n\n\nApplications in the musculoskeletal system includes spinal imaging, assessment of joint disease and soft tissue tumors.[18]\n\nLiver and gastrointestinal MRI\n\n\nFunctional MRI\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMR-Safe sign\nMR-Conditional sign\nMR-Unsafe sign\n\n\n  • MR-Unsafe — Objects that are significantly ferromagnetic and pose a clear and direct threat to persons and equipment within the magnet room.\n\nThe MRI environment may cause harm in patients with MR-Unsafe devices such as cochlear implants and most permanent pacemakers. Several deaths have been reported in patients with pacemakers who have undergone MRI scanning without appropriate precautions.[27] Many implants can be safely scanned if the appropriate conditions are adhered to and these are available online (see MR Conditional pacemakers are increasingly available for selected patients. [28]\n\n\n\nProjectile risk\n\nThe very high strength of the magnetic field can cause projectile effect (or \"missile-effect\") accidents, where ferromagnetic objects are attracted to the center of the magnet. Pennsylvania reported 27 cases of objects becoming projectiles in the MRI environment between 2004 and 2008.[30] There have been incidents of injury and death.[31][32] In one case, a 6-year-old boy died during an MRI exam, after a metal oxygen tank was pulled across the room and crushed the child's head.[33] If a gas cylinder falls to the floor, there is a risk that the impact may rupture the cylinder, or break off the valve, resulting in the cylinder becoming a projectile. To reduce the risk of projectile accidents, ferromagnetic objects and devices are typically prohibited in the proximity of the MRI scanner and patients undergoing MRI examinations are required to remove all metallic objects, often by changing into a gown or scrubs, and ferromagnetic detection devices are used at some sites.[34][35]\n\n\n\nGenotoxic effects\n\nThere is no proven risk of biological harm from even very powerful static magnetic fields.[38][39] However, genotoxic (i.e., potentially carcinogenic) effects of MRI scanning have been demonstrated in vivo and in vitro,[40][41][42][43] leading a recent review to recommend \"a need for further studies and prudent use in order to avoid unnecessary examinations, according to the precautionary principle\".[39] In a comparison of genotoxic effects of MRI compared with those of CT scans, Knuuti et al. reported that even though the DNA damage detected after MRI was at a level comparable to that produced by scans using ionizing radiation (low-dose coronary CT angiography, nuclear imaging, and X-ray angiography), differences in the mechanism by which this damage takes place suggests that the cancer risk of MRI, if any, is unknown.[44]\n\nPeripheral nerve stimulation (PNS)\n\n\nHeating caused by absorption of radio waves\n\nEvery MRI scanner has a powerful radio transmitter to generate the electromagnetic field which excites the spins. If the body absorbs the energy, heating occurs. For this reason, the transmitter rate at which energy is absorbed by the body has to be limited (see Specific absorption rate). It has been claimed that tattoos made with iron containing dyes can lead to burns on the subject's body.[48][49] Cosmetics are very unlike, as well as body lotions since the outcome of the reactions between those with the radio waves is unknown. The best option for clothes are the ones made 100% of cotton. The MRI System must attend to periodic maintenance from the manufacturer, Gradients and RF transmit must attend factory specifications. In some systems there are parts responsible for the measurement of the power absorption limiter that must be periodically replaced for a new one (Recalibrate in factory). There are several position strictly forbidden during measurement such as crossing arms and legs, the patient body cannot create loops of any kind for the RF during the measurement. In case of unusual patient heating cases, it must be reported to the sanitary agency for further investigation.\n\nAcoustic noise\n\nSwitching of field gradients causes a change in the Lorentz force experienced by the gradient coils, producing minute expansions and contractions of the coil itself. As the switching is typically in the audible frequency range, the resulting vibration produces loud noises (clicking, banging, or beeping). This is most marked with high-field machines[50] and rapid-imaging techniques in which sound pressure levels can reach 120 dB(A) (equivalent to a jet engine at take-off),[51] and therefore appropriate ear protection is essential for anyone inside the MRI scanner room during the examination.[52]\n\nRadio-Frequency DOES NOT reproduce audible noises (At least for human beings), since the frequency of a system nowadays is above 14 MHz (0.2T System).\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nClaustrophobia and discomfort\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMRI versus CT\n\nMRI and computed tomography (CT) are complementary imaging technologies and each has advantages and limitations for particular applications. CT is more widely used than MRI in OECD countries with a mean of 132 vs 46 exams per 1000 population performed respectively.[63] A concern is the potential for CT to contribute to radiation-induced cancer and in 2007 it was estimated that 0.4% of current cancers in the United States were due to CTs performed in the past, and that in the future this figure may rise to 1.5–2% based on historical rates of CT usage.[64] An Australian study found that one in every 1800 CT scans was associated with an excess cancer.[65] An advantage of MRI is that no ionizing radiation is used and so it is recommended over CT when either approach could yield the same diagnostic information.[3] However, although the cost of MRI has fallen, making it more competitive with CT, there are not many common imaging scenarios in which MRI can simply replace CT, although this substitution has been suggested for the imaging of liver disease.[66] The effect of low doses of radiation on carcinogenesis are also disputed.[67] Although MRI is associated with biological effects, these have not been proven to cause measurable harm.[68] In a comparison of possible genotoxic effects of MRI compared with those of CT scans, Knuuti et al. noted that although previous studies have demonstrated DNA damage associated with MRI, \"the long-term biological and clinical significance of DNA double-strand breaks induced by MRI remains unknown\".[44]\n\nIodinated contrast medium is routinely used in CT and the main adverse events are anaphylactoid reactions and nephrotoxicity.[69] Commonly used MRI contrast agents have a good safety profile but linear non-ionic agents in particular have been implicated in nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severely impaired renal function.[70]\n\nMRI is contraindicated in the presence of MR-unsafe implants, and although these patients may be imaged with CT, beam hardening artefact from metallic devices, such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, may also affect image quality.[71] MRI is a longer investigation than CT and an exam may take between 20 - 40 mins depending on complexity.[72]\n\n\n\n\nThe European Directive on Electromagnetic Fields\n\n\n\nMedical MRI scanner\n\n\n\n\nFile:TR TE.jpg\nEffects of TR and TE on MR signal.\n\n\n\n\nContrast agents\n\nMain article: MRI contrast agent\n\nMRI for imaging anatomical structures or blood flow do not require contrast agents as the varying properties of the tissues or blood provide natural contrasts. However, for more specific types of imaging the most commonly used intravenous contrast agents are based on chelates of gadolinium.[78] In general, these agents have proved safer than the iodinated contrast agents used in X-ray radiography or CT. Anaphylactoid reactions are rare, occurring in approx. 0.03–0.1%.[79] Of particular interest is the lower incidence of nephrotoxicity, compared with iodinated agents, when given at usual doses—this has made contrast-enhanced MRI scanning an option for patients with renal impairment, who would otherwise not be able to undergo contrast-enhanced CT.[80]\n\nAlthough gadolinium agents have proved useful for patients with renal impairment, in patients with severe renal failure requiring dialysis there is a risk of a rare but serious illness, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, which may be linked to the use of certain gadolinium-containing agents. The most frequently linked is gadodiamide, but other agents have been linked too.[81] Although a causal link has not been definitively established, current guidelines in the United States are that dialysis patients should only receive gadolinium agents where essential, and that dialysis should be performed as soon as possible after the scan to remove the agent from the body promptly.[82][83] In Europe, where more gadolinium-containing agents are available, a classification of agents according to potential risks has been released.[84][85] Recently, a new contrast agent named gadoxetate, brand name Eovist (US) or Primovist (EU), was approved for diagnostic use: this has the theoretical benefit of a dual excretion path.[86]\n\n\nMagnetic resonance imaging was invented by Paul C. Lauterbur in September 1971; he published the theory behind it in March 1973.[87][88] The factors leading to image contrast (differences in tissue relaxation time values) had been described nearly 20 years earlier by Erik Odeblad (physician and scientist).[89]\n\nIn 1950, spin echoes were first detected by Erwin Hahn[90] and in 1952, Herman Carr produced a one-dimensional NMR spectrum as reported in his Harvard PhD thesis.[91][92][93] In the Soviet Union, Vladislav Ivanov filed (in 1960) a document with the USSR State Committee for Inventions and Discovery at Leningrad for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging device,[94] although this was not approved until the 1970s.[95]\n\n\nIn a 1971 paper in the journal Science,[96] Raymond Damadian, an American physician and professor at the Downstate Medical Center State University of New York (SUNY), reported that tumors and normal tissue can be distinguished in vivo by nuclear magnetic resonance (\"NMR\"). He suggested that these differences could be used to diagnose cancer, though later research would find that these differences, while real, are too variable for diagnostic purposes. Damadian's initial methods were flawed for practical use,[97] relying on a point-by-point scan of the entire body and using relaxation rates, which turned out not to be an effective indicator of cancerous tissue.[98] While researching the analytical properties of magnetic resonance, Damadian created a hypothetical magnetic resonance cancer-detecting machine in 1972. He filed the first patent for such a machine, U.S. patent #3,789,832 on March 17, 1972, which was later issued to him on February 5, 1974.[99]\n\nThe US National Science Foundation notes \"The patent included the idea of using NMR to 'scan' the human body to locate cancerous tissue.\"[100] However, it did not describe a method for generating pictures from such a scan or precisely how such a scan might be done.[101][102] Meanwhile, Paul Lauterbur at Stony Brook University expanded on Carr's technique and developed a way to generate the first MRI images, in 2D and 3D, using gradients. In 1973, Lauterbur published the first nuclear magnetic resonance image[87][103] and the first cross-sectional image of a living mouse in January 1974.[104] In the late 1970s, Peter Mansfield, a physicist and professor at the University of Nottingham, England, developed the echo-planar imaging (EPI) technique that would lead to scans taking seconds rather than hours and produce clearer images than Lauterbur had.[105] Damadian, along with Larry Minkoff and Michael Goldsmith, obtained an image of a tumor in the thorax of a mouse in 1976.[106] They also performed the first MRI body scan of a human being on July 3, 1977,[107][108] studies which they published in 1977.[106][109] In 1979, Richard S. Likes filed a patent on k-space *4,307,343.\n\nDuring the 1970s a team led by John Mallard built the first full body MRI scanner at the University of Aberdeen.[110] On 28 August 1980 they used this machine to obtain the first clinically useful image of a patient's internal tissues using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which identified a primary tumour in the patient's chest, an abnormal liver, and secondary cancer in his bones.[111] This machine was later used at St Bartholomew's Hospital, in London, from 1983 to 1993. Mallard and his team are credited for technological advances that led to the widespread introduction of MRI.[112]\n\nIn 1975, the University of California, San Francisco Radiology Department founded the Radiologic Imaging Laboratory (RIL).[113] With the support of Pfizer, Diasonics, and later Toshiba America MRI, the lab developed new imaging technology and installed systems in the US and worldwide.[114] In 1981 RIL researchers, including Leon Kaufman and Lawrence Crooks, published Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Medicine. In the 1980s the book was considered the definitive introductory textbook to the subject.[115]\n\nIn 1980 Paul Bottomley joined the GE Research Center in Schenectady, NY. His team ordered the highest field-strength magnet then available — a 1.5T system — and built the first high-field device, overcoming problems of coil design, RF penetration and signal-to-noise ratio to build the first whole-body MRI/MRS scanner.[116] The results translated into the highly successful 1.5T MRI product-line, with over 20,000 systems in use today[when?]. In 1982, Bottomley performed the first localized MRS in the human heart and brain. After starting a collaboration on heart applications with Robert Weiss at Johns Hopkins, Bottomley returned to the university in 1994 as Russell Morgan Professor and director of the MR Research Division.[117] Although MRI is most commonly performed at 1.5 T, higher fields such as 3T are gaining more popularity because of their increased sensitivity and resolution. In research laboratories, human studies have been performed at up to 9.4 T[118] and animal studies have been performed at up to 21.1T.[119]\n\n2003 Nobel Prize\n\n\n\nIn the UK, the price of a clinical 1.5 tesla MRI scanner is around £920,000/US$1.4 million with the lifetime maintenance cost broadly similar to the purchase cost.[120] In the Netherlands, the average MRI scanner costs around €1 million,[121] with a 7T MRI having been taken in use by the UMC Utrecht in December 2007, costing €7 million.[122] Construction of MRI suites could cost up to US$500,000/€370.000 or more, depending on project scope. Pre-polarizing MRI (PMRI) systems using resistive electromagnets have shown promise as a low cost alternative and have specific advantages for joint imaging near metal implants, however they are unlikely to be suitable for routine whole-body or neuroimaging applications.[123][124]\n\nLooking through an MRI scanner.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSpecialized applications\n\nDiffusion MRI\n\nMain article: Diffusion MRI\n\n\n\n\n\nMagnetic resonance angiography\n\nMagnetic resonance angiography\n\n\nMagnetic resonance spectroscopy\n\nMagnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to measure the levels of different metabolites in body tissues. The MR signal produces a spectrum of resonances that corresponds to different molecular arrangements of the isotope being \"excited\". This signature is used to diagnose certain metabolic disorders, especially those affecting the brain,[136] and to provide information on tumor metabolism.[137]\n\n\nFunctional MRI\n\n\n\n\nReal-time MRI\n\nFile:Real-time MRI - Thorax.ogv\nMain article: Real-time MRI\n\n\nInterventional MRI\n\nMain article: Interventional MRI\n\n\n\nMagnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound\n\n\nMultinuclear imaging\n\n\nMoreover, the nucleus of any atom that has a net nuclear spin and that is bonded to a hydrogen atom could potentially be imaged via heteronuclear magnetization transfer MRI that would image the high-gyromagnetic-ratio hydrogen nucleus instead of the low-gyromagnetic-ratio nucleus that is bonded to the hydrogen atom.[141] In principle, hetereonuclear magnetization transfer MRI could be used to detect the presence or absence of specific chemical bonds.[142][143]\n\n\nMolecular imaging by MRI\n\nMain article: Molecular imaging\n\n\nTo achieve molecular imaging of disease biomarkers using MRI, targeted MRI contrast agents with high specificity and high relaxivity (sensitivity) are required. To date, many studies have been devoted to developing targeted-MRI contrast agents to achieve molecular imaging by MRI. Commonly, peptides, antibodies, or small ligands, and small protein domains, such as HER-2 affibodies, have been applied to achieve targeting. To enhance the sensitivity of the contrast agents, these targeting moieties are usually linked to high payload MRI contrast agents or MRI contrast agents with high relaxivities.[144] A new class of gene targeting MR contrast agents (CA) has been introduced to show gene action of unique mRNA and gene transcription factor proteins.[145][146] This new CA can trace cells with unique mRNA, microRNA and virus; tissue response to inflammation in living brains.[147] The MR reports change in gene expression with positive correlation to TaqMan analysis, optical and electron microscopy.[148]\n\nOther specialized sequences\n\nturbo spin-echo (T2 TSE MRI), double inversion recovery MRI (DIR-MRI) or phase-sensitive inversion recovery MRI (PSIR-MRI), all of them able to improve imaging of brain lesions.[149][150] Another example is MP-RAGE (magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo),[151] which improves images of multiple sclerosis cortical lesions.[152]\n\nMagnetization transfer MRI\n\n\n\nThe most common use of this technique is for suppression of background signal in time of flight MR angiography.[153] There are also applications in neuroimaging particularly in the characterization of white matter lesions in multiple sclerosis.[154]\n\nT1rho MRI\n\n\nFluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)\n\n\nSusceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)\n\n\nNeuromelanin imaging\n\n\nSee also\n\n\n  2. 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Xue S, Qiao J, Pu F, Cameron M, Yang JJ (2013). \"Design of a novel class of protein-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents for the molecular imaging of cancer biomarkers\". Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol. 5 (2): 163–79. PMID 23335551. doi:10.1002/wnan.1205. \n  145. Liu CH, Kim YR, Ren JQ, Eichler F, Rosen BR, Liu PK (2007). \"Imaging cerebral gene transcripts in live animals\". J. Neurosci. 27 (3): 713–22. PMC 2647966Freely accessible. PMID 17234603. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4660-06.2007. \n  146. Liu CH, Ren J, Liu CM, Liu PK (2014). \"Intracellular gene transcription factor protein-guided MRI by DNA aptamers in vivo\". FASEB J. 28 (1): 464–73. PMID 24115049. doi:10.1096/fj.13-234229. \n  147. Liu CH, You Z, Liu CM, Kim YR, Whalen MJ, Rosen BR, Liu PK (2009). \"Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging reversal by gene knockdown of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activities in live animal brains\". J. Neurosci. 29 (11): 3508–17. PMC 2726707Freely accessible. PMID 19295156. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5332-08.2009. \n  148. Liu CH, Yang J, Ren JQ, Liu CM, You Z, Liu PK (2013). \"MRI reveals differential effects of amphetamine exposure on neuroglia in vivo\". FASEB J. 27 (2): 712–24. PMC 3545538Freely accessible. PMID 23150521. doi:10.1096/fj.12-220061. \n  151. Nelson F, Poonawalla A, Hou P, Wolinsky JS, Narayana PA (November 2008). \"3D MPRAGE improves classification of cortical lesions in multiple sclerosis\". Mult. Scler. 14 (9): 1214–9. PMC 2650249Freely accessible. PMID 18952832. doi:10.1177/1352458508094644. \n  152. Brant-Zawadzki M, Gillan GD, Nitz WR (March 1992). \"MP RAGE: a three-dimensional, T1-weighted, gradient-echo sequence--initial experience in the brain\". Radiology. 182 (3): 769–75. PMID 1535892. doi:10.1148/radiology.182.3.1535892. \n  153. Wheaton AJ, Miyazaki M (2012). \"Non-contrast enhanced MR angiography: physical principles\". J Magn Reson Imaging. 36 (2): 286–304. PMID 22807222. doi:10.1002/jmri.23641. \n  154. Filippi M, Rocca MA, De Stefano N, Enzinger C, Fisher E, Horsfield MA, Inglese M, Pelletier D, Comi G (2011). \"Magnetic Resonance Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis\". Archives of Neurology. 68 (12): 1514–20. ISSN 0003-9942. PMID 22159052. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2011.914. \n  155. Borthakur A, Mellon E, Niyogi S, Witschey W, Kneeland JB, Reddy R (November 2006). \"Sodium and T1rho MRI for molecular and diagnostic imaging of articular cartilage\". NMR Biomed. 19 (7): 781–821. PMC 2896046Freely accessible. PMID 17075961. doi:10.1002/nbm.1102. \n  157. Wiggermann C, Hernandez-Torres E, Vavasour I, Moore W, Laule C, MacKay A, Li D, Traboulsee A, Rauscher A (June 2013). \"Magnetic resonance frequency shifts during acute MS lesion formation\". Neurology. 81 (3): 211–218. PMID 23761621. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31829bfd63. \n  158. Reichenbach JR, Venkatesan R, Schillinger DJ, Kido DK, Haacke EM (July 1997). \"Small vessels in the human brain: MR venography with deoxyhemoglobin as an intrinsic contrast agent\". Radiology. 204 (1): 272–7. PMID 9205259. doi:10.1148/radiology.204.1.9205259. \n  159. Sasaki M, Shibata E, Tohyama K, Takahashi J, Otsuka K, Tsuchiya K, Takahashi S, Ehara S, Terayama Y, Sakai A (July 2006). \"Neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging of locus ceruleus and substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease\". NeuroReport. 17 (11): 1215–8. PMID 16837857. doi:10.1097/01.wnr.0000227984.84927.a7. \n\nFurther reading\n\nExternal links", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5584580898284912}
+{"content": "Loneliness and our new product\n\nLoneliness is deep-seated in our very existence: this is one of the fundamental propositions in life. The feeling of loneliness plagues us starting at the very moment we are born until the very last day. We as a species are social animal in nature: every one of us has a community to which we belong, and we rely on each other for our existence. We have evolved to rely on others and these relationships to survive, therefore, it is intrinsically impossible to become free of this feeling called loneliness.\n\nOf course there are temporary fixes in order for us to do away with the such a feeling: technologies that decrease our lonely feelings, and methodologies we can use to feel closer to others. Those are, to reiterate, merely temporary fixes. Essentially we have been and we are lonely still, and this poses an interesting challenge for all of us from the standpoint of logic, philosophy, spirituality, psychology, industrial structure, technological innovation, and biology. This is a long standing battle between us and loneliness.\n\nAlso, we do not truly know what would happen if we were to get rid of this feeling altogether. Loneliness in itself might propel social and biological development, and I dare say, doing away with it entirely might not be in our best interest in terms of enhancing productivity and chances for survival. This makes it difficult for us to deal with loneliness.\n\nThis feeling of loneliness continues to be the birthplace of numerous innovations, industries, and creativity. Many monetary transactions have been spawned and services exchanged because of this, and we can say that having this feeling has positively contributed to the development of our society at large. Therefore, it is debatable whether or not trying to overcome the feeling of loneliness is such a good idea to begin with.\n\nAt any rate, it is undeniable that how we handle this loneliness and how we go about solving it are certainly one of the most impotant agenda of IT and intellectual industries of today. It is also evident that this is an area of high importance and an innovative trend waiting to “happen,” just like search and social network did before.\n\nThanks to these “search” and “social network” trends that did happen, we are now able to search information whenever we want, and manage the information we obtained through the search however we want to. Yet, we are still unable to break free from the dark grip of loneliness.\n\nRather, the grip is getting stronger and stronger — in other words, the more information we can obtain via search and the more relationships we can easily manage via social networking, the more aware we become of the existence of loneliness. This is ironic, yet it is true.\n\nWe at Doki Doki want to present a new worldview shared via a worldwide empathety-sharing network.\n\nAnd the product we are launching this year is a tool that enables us to bring about such a worldview. Naturally, this means our aim by launching this product is to try to answer the follwoing question: “how can we overcome the feeling of loneliness?”\n\nOur “BABY” application is the first step towards answering this question. It manifests our effort to look at loneliness from a completely different perspective so that we can have a better handle on it. The idea behind it is rather simple: it is like a phone with which you can talk to anyone whenever we want.\n\nWe talk, everyday, with someone. This is a very simple, primitive act driven by our an innate desire to talk to someone, anyone, really. Our biggest challenge is to design application that fulfills such rudimentary human desire in a comfortable manner, with ease, and without stressing ourselves out too much.\n\nAgain, we humans talk. We talk to solve problems, to be social, to belong to a community, to maintain our relationship with others etc. Although communication media throughout history has changed a lot — from hand-written letters to emails, television broadcasting to video streaming, press report to image sharing, and the list is growing aspace — voice communication has always been a major part of our daily communication. The act of talking remains to be one of the most powerful social tools and media that have survived to this day.\n\nThe internet has changed the social infrastructure a lot. The infrastructure that the very act of “talking” is build and relying upon — social relationships and networks — has undergone a significant change in recent years. While this aspect of social infrastructure keeps evolving, the act of talking itself has not changed much. We have the tools and information technologies to connect everyone at the global scale, yet the act itself has not been updated at all.\n\nLet us put this into the context of telephone: today we can talk to anyone on the phone IF we know their contact information in advance. In other words, we cannot talk to a total stranger on the phone. In the real, non-digital world, it is not quite uncommon for two complete strangers to engage in a casual conversation, and we often turn to such strange encounters to solve various issues we face everyday.\n\nFor instance, asking for directions: asking about the weather: engaging in a small talk on the street. These are the prominent examples of connecting with someone by initiating a conversation, and I bet it happens a lot in our everyday lives. Even when we collaborate with others mainly through digital channels, the first encounter often takes place in the real world, then the real world conversations help us build rapport and connect with one another.\n\nOur product hypothesis that we are putting to the test is, therefore, “a couple of two total strangers can connect with each other immediately via a phone conversation.”\n\nIf we can in fact validate our hypothesis and create an environment where people, people who do not necessarily “know” each other, can open up and talk more freely, we can increase the chances for mutual cooperation. Furthermore, we may be able to discover a completely new approach to problem-solving: an approach by talking to someone before doing anything else. This is entirely different from other aforementioned approaches, namely, search (an approach to problem-solving by accessing information) and social networking (an approach by digitally managing human relationships.)\n\nTo put things into perspective, I believe this new approach has to do with the fact that we have reached two epochal points in history.\n\nFirst and most important point is, simply put, social connections have become completely commodified.\n\nThe second point is the fact (and realization thereof) that we are getting more and more connected, as brethren, no matter who you are and where you are, you are a part of a large network connecting all of us. Retrace your social network path, and it would lead you to a person, one single link, a starting point eventually.\n\nI think this means in the near future, we will live in a society where we understand and sympathize with a total stranger without spending a lot of time trying to build rapport or making social adjustments with the beforehand. No blocks to getting to know people, and people cooperate more naturally and spontaneously with one another — it won’t be an impossible fairy tale any more.\n\nAs Facebook’s penetration rate gets higher and higher, we are getting a clearer view on what needs to be addressed next: how can we connect with people we have no connection to begin with? Wouldn’t it be nice if saying hello to a stranger on the street will instantly establish closeness? That future is not too far ahead.\n\nTinder was ground-breaking indeed: all you need was geographic location and age information to get to know somone of the opposite sex nearby you. Sophisticated, complex algorithms and parameters (as Zoosk and other matchmaking apps often have) were not necessary at all. In this sense, Tinder is setting foot in uncharted territories of social networking.\n\nThe new worldview we are trying to present with our BABY application will offer a new experience: in this new world, a post-Facebook world in which social network has been commodified completely, people are connecting with people with much less procedural steps and premises.\n\nDoes that mean we can do away with the feeling of loneliness entirely? Not really — I do not think that is possible. Besides, like I said, saying ado to the feeling altogether will create other types of problems. It might kill creativity that only being alone can inspire.\n\nWith that said, though, I must fight against this lonely feeling that is eating me alive and continue on developing this product so that we can put our hypothesis to the test. I believe in my view, and someone must strive to realize a world free of invisible walls between us, even if it does not necessarily make us 100% lonely-proof.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9915865063667297}
+{"content": "Losing energy in classical, relativistic and quantum mechanics.\n\nPublication Year:\nUsage 1398\nDownloads 1398\nRepository URL:\nAtkinson, David\npreprint description\nA Zenonian supertask involving an infinite number of colliding balls is considered, under the restriction that the total mass of all the balls is finite. Classical mechanics leads to the conclusion that momentum, but not necessarily energy, must be conserved. Relativistic mechanics, on the other hand, implies that energy and momentum conservation are always violated. Quantum mechanics, however, seems to rule out the Zeno configuration as an inconsistent system.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998595118522644}
+{"content": "\nYogurt dressing\n\nYogurt dressing\n\n난이도 준비 시간\n조리 시간 총 소요 시간 주문 번호\n0분 20분\n0 열량 0.0g 당 함유량 0.0g 지방 함유량 0.0g 단백질\n\n\nIn a bowl mix oil and vinegar to taste. Then add the mustard, stir again and finally mix in yogurt, seasoning and add dressing.\n\n\n사진 추가\n\n\n2010-07-08, 방문한 레시피: 11231x\n\n후기 등록\n코멘트 추가\n\n페이스북 코멘트", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.000006079673767}
+{"content": "If You Want to Live, Create Goals and Dreams!\n\nIf You Want to Live, Create Goals and Dreams!\n\nI once read a book by a very wise man. In his book he said that a man without any goal or any purpose in life is a dead man.\n\nThe moment I read those words, I knew they were true.\n\nGoals and purposes are what drive us through the time stream into the future. They give our lives meaning even when our goals seem insignificant to others.\n\nWhen I first read those words, many years ago,  I was very sick. I started to cry because I realized that my illness had robbed me of every goal I had ever had for this life. I couldn’t do any of them and there was no hope in sight.\n\nI read the sentence again and stared at the page while the full impact of what I was reading sunk in. I realized right then, that if I did not create a goal for myself, any goal, I was not going to make it. Up to that point, I had been literally dying and this book was telling me exactly why, and exactly how to turn it around.\n\nAt that point, I decided on a goal and set about trying to realize it.\n\nUp to the point where I had gotten sick, I had been a musician and mom as well as working in Corporate America. One by one these jobs went by the wayside due to my illness and I realized that I had not picked up my violin or sung for a very long time.\n\nThe goal I set for myself then, was to become a music instructor. All I needed to achieve that goal was one student. Then I could call myself a teacher.\n\n\nAs fate would have it, once I made the decision to become a music instructor, I found an ad looking for a music teacher right there in my hometown.\n\nI went to the school, interviewed and landed the gig.\n\nAnd then, the funniest thing happened.\n\nI started to get better.\n\nIt did not happen overnight; in fact it took several years to totally kick this illness, but it started the day I heard the words, ��Please come for your first student on Thursday”.\n\nI believe that many people who are depressed, or are doing poorly in life, have trouble with goals.\n\nSometimes they have goals forced on them, and that is as bad or worse than not having any.\n\nSometimes they cannot decide what goal they want to go after and are paralyzed by indecision.\n\n\nSometimes they have someone in their lives who invalidates their goals.\n\nSometimes they feel that they lack the self discipline to achieve their goals, and other times it just seems too hard.\n\nIt doesn’t have to be that way.\n\nThere are definite steps you should take to create and realize a goal.\n\n1. Lay out your ideal future life.\n\nTake a little time and write it all out. I find that having it written down makes it easier to see. Make sure you include EVERYTHING you want in even the most insignificant areas of your life.\n\nFor example you may want to work from home or have a job that is mobile, allowing you to travel and work from various distant places. If this is the case, you will need a profession that allows for that.\n\nOnce you write down everything you want in life, the goal(s) will come into focus.\n\nDo not invalidate whatever goal you come up with at this stage. Just start going after it.\n\n\n2. Decide what training you need to receive in order to achieve your goal.\n\nIf you are looking for a new profession that will support you and your dependents, you will need training. Find out what training is required and figure out how to get it.\n\nIn today’s world, there is so much information on the Internet, that you can train yourself fully in many professions without ever leaving your couch.\n\nCollege educations are no longer prerequisites to having a great job, and self-starting individuals are doing amazing things. The opportunities today are almost endless if you really focus and work hard.\n\n3. Give yourself a long-term target.\n\nIf your goal is to become an internet marketing expert, and you are starting from scratch, your long-term target can be landing a certain number of regular clients.\n\nNow, long term is only relative. Even long-term targets don’t have to take a long time.\n\n4. Give yourself daily targets that ultimately result in achieving your long-term goal.\n\nAnd get them done. Then make new ones. Don’t worry if, while doing these, your goal morphs into something else. It’s all good!\n\n5. Don’t worry about making the wrong goal or ending up in the wrong business.\n\nAny decision you make, ever, can be changed and a new decision made. Resisting changing your mind is ridiculous. Every day we change our minds when faced with new information or just because we decide to do something else. There is no shame in that fact. In fact, a sane and dynamic individual changes his or her mind a lot.\n\nGranted if we have people relying on us to bring in a paycheck, we can’t simply pack it in and start in again at the bottom, but we can change our plans and start working toward something fulfilling while also fulfilling our duties to those we have obligations to.\n\n\n6. Realize that the pursuit of the goal is every bit as important as its achievement.\n\nFor every endeavor we undertake, we learn. We come away with new skills and these skills have a funny way of coming together in the future in ways we never imagine.\n\nThese learning experiences and the skills we take away from them also make our lives extremely rich and interesting.\n\nSome of the most interesting and successful people I know have had several different careers in their lives. They seem to have an uncanny knack for making things work. They always have many irons in the fire and too many projects because they are so dang interested in life.\n\nWhat many people don’t realize is that life is a living thing and by that, I mean it breathes, it changes, it is anything but static. Too many people try desperately to keep things the same. This is not healthy, and it never works.\n\nIf we think that any goal we have has to be one that sees us through our entire lifetime, we are limiting ourselves greatly. We have to allow for how we change and grow, and sometimes we grow out of goals that were once very important to us.\n\nDon’t think that you have wasted anything if you change your mind, even if you change it about something very important.\n\nGoals are one of the most important things in life. Without them we decay and die. If you know of someone struggling with goals, help them create some. If you need help, write to me.\n\nGood luck!\n\n\nMore by this author\n\n\nTrending in Productivity\n\n1 How to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People 2 How to Stop Multitasking and Become Way More Productive 3 How to Be A Genuine Expert in Your Field 4 How to Get Unstuck and Get Back On Track to Achieving Your Goals 5 What to Do When Bored at Work (And the Reason Why You Feel Bored)\n\nRead Next\n\n\nLast Updated on September 20, 2018\n\nHow to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People\n\nHow to Memorize More and Faster Than Other People\n\n\nThat is so far from the truth, it���s running for office. If you want to memorize something quickly and thoroughly, repetition won’t cut it; however, recalling something will. The problem is that recalling something requires learning and we all learn in different ways.\n\nSo how to memorize more and faster than others?\n\nIn this article, you will learn how to master the art of recalling so that you can start memorizing a ton of data in a short amount of time.\n\nBefore you start, know your learning style\n\nBefore we start, you need to establish something: are you an auditory, visual, or experiential learner?\n\nIf you’re an auditory learner, then the most effective way for you to grasp information is by hearing it. As you can imagine, visual learners favor seeing something in order to learn it. Experiential learning types are more akin to learning from events and experiences (or, doing something with the material).\n\n\nTry out this quick quiz to find out your learning style.\n\nMost of us are a combination of at least two of these categories but I will denote which step is most favorable to your most agreeable learning style so that you can start to memorize things quickly and efficiently.\n\nStep 1: Preparation\n\nTo optimize your memorization session, pay close attention to which environment you choose. For most people, this means choosing an area with few distractions, though some people do thrive off of learning in public areas. Figure out what is most conducive to your learning so that you can get started.\n\nNext, start drinking some tea. I could link you to mounds of scientific studies that confirm green tea as a natural catalyst for improving memory. Mechanically speaking, our ability to recall information comes down to the strength between neurons in our mind, which are connected by synapses. The more you exercise the synapse (repetition), the stronger it is, resulting in the ability to memorize.\n\nAs we get older, toxic chemicals will damage our neurons and synapses, leading to memory loss and even Alzheimer’s. Green tea contains compounds, however, that block this toxicity and keep your brain cells working properly a lot longer.\n\nStep 2: Record what you’re memorizing\n\nThis is especially useful if you’re trying to memorize information from a lecture. Use a tape recorder to track all of the acquired facts being spoken and listen to it.\n\n\nIf you’re trying to memorize a speech, record yourself reading the speech aloud and listen to yourself speaking. Obviously, this is most helpful for auditory learners, but it’s also handy because it ensures that you’re getting more context from a lecture that will help you learn the information faster.\n\nStep 3: Write everything down\n\nBefore you start trying to recall everything from memory, write and re-write the information. This will help you become more familiar with what you’re trying to memorize.\n\nDoing this while listening to your tape recorder can also help you retain a lot of the data. This is most useful for experienced learners.\n\nStep 4: Section your notes\n\nNow that you have everything written down in one set of notes, separate them into sections. This is ideal for visual learners, especially if you use color coding to differentiate between subjects.\n\nThis will help you break everything down and start compartmentalizing the information being recorded in your brain.\n\nStep 5: Apply repetition to cumulative memorization\n\nFor each line of text, repeat it a few times and try to recall it without looking. As you memorize each set of text, be cumulative by adding the new information to what you’ve just learned. This will keep everything within your short-term memory from fading.\n\n\nKeep doing this until you have memorized that section and you are able to recall the entire thing. Do not move on to another section until you have memorized that one completely. This is mostly visual learning but if you are speaking aloud, then you are also applying auditory.\n\nStep 6: Write it down from memory\n\nNow that you can recall entire sections, write everything down from memory. This will reinforce everything you just have just learned by applying it experientially.\n\nStep 7: Teach it to someone (or yourself)\n\nThe most effective method for me when I was in school was to teach the information to someone else. You can do this in a variety of ways. You can lecture the knowledge to someone sitting right in front of you (or the mirror, if you can’t convince anyone to sit through it) and explain everything extemporaneously.\n\nIf what you’ve learned needs to be recited verbatim, then do this in front of someone as well in order to get a feel for what it will be like to recite the text to the intended audience.\n\nMy favorite method for this is creating tests for other people. Take the information and predict what questions will come out of them. Use multiple choice, matching and so on to present the data in test format and see how someone else does.\n\nAll of this is experiential learning since you are actually practicing and manipulating the concepts you’ve learned.\n\n\nStep 8: Listen to the recordings continuously\n\nWhile doing unrelated tasks like laundry or driving, go over the information again by listening to your tape recordings. This is certainly auditory learning but it will still supplement everything you’ve shoved into your short-term memory.\n\nStep 9: Take a break\n\nFinally, let your mind breathe. Go for a short time without thinking about what you just learned and come back to it later on.\n\nYou’ll find out what you really know and this will help you focus on the sections you might be weakest at.\n\nTry these steps now and you will find remembering things a lot easier and you’ll memorize more stuff than a lot of other people!\n\nFeatured photo credit: Pexels via\n\nRead Next", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7048021554946899}
+{"content": "Substitutes for Dill Weed and Dill Seed\n\nUse These Swaps When You Run Out of Dill\n\nDirectly Above Shot Of Dried Dill Weed On White Background\nMichelle Arnold / EyeEm/Getty Images \n\nWorking on a recipe that calls for dill weed or dill seed? If you don't have any on hand, there are several things that you can use in its place, including other forms of dill, tarragon, celery seed or caraway seed. Here's how to make a successful substitution, using what you have on hand.\n\nDried Dill vs. Fresh Dill Substitutions\n\nSubstituting fresh dill for dried dill (or vice versa) is easy to do. Just stick to these proportions, and you'll get great results:\n\n  • Use one tablespoon of fresh dill weed for every teaspoon of dried dill\n  • Use one teaspoon of dried dill for every tablespoon of fresh dill\n\nDill Weed Substitutes\n\nDill weed is sometimes also referred to as dill leaves. It's the bright green, feathery fronds of the dill plant. It's highly aromatic, and tastes of caraway or anise, with a bit of citrus thrown in.\n\nWhen fresh dill is being used to flavor a recipe (as it is in pickles, soups, and sauces), use fresh tarragon in its place. To make the proper substitution, use an equal amount of fresh tarragon for the fresh dill, or dried tarragon for the dried dill.\n\nYou can also use dried tarragon as a stand in for fresh dill weed, but you'll need to adjust the quantities,  as it has a more intense flavor. Use one teaspoon of dried tarragon for every tablespoon of fresh dill called for in a recipe. Tarragon works well as a substitute for dill in seafood dishes and in salad dressings.\n\nIf dill weed is being used as a garnish for a dish, use fennel fronds instead. They look very similar. Fresh parsley can also be used as a garnish. It looks a bit different, but will still add that pop of green. If you don't have either, just leave the garnish off, or get creative with whatever you have on hand.\n\nDill Seed Substitutes\n\nDill seeds taste similar to dill weed, but they have a slightly bitter edge to them. They appear frequently in pickle, bread, salad dressing and soup recipes. While you might be tempted to use dill weed as a substitute for dill seeds, you'll get better results if you use caraway seeds or celery seeds in their place. Replace them measure for measure, and you should come close to the intended flavor.\n\nGrow Dill in Your Garden\n\nDill is incredibly easy to grow, so consider adding it to your garden. It's an annual, but it reseeds readily. Just allow some of the flowers to go to seed at the end of the season, and it should come up on its own next year.\n\nThe dill flowers, stems, leaves​ and seeds are all edible. Enjoy it fresh, while it's in season. Then, dry or freeze your extra dill, so you'll have a stash to draw from while it's out of season. For the best flavor, pick your dill early in the morning.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5920850038528442}
+{"content": "Situational Awareness\n\nAwareness is empowering. - Rita Wilson\n\nPersonal Security and Mental Preparedness\n\n\nAs Hurricane Katrina showed, when the government is unable to provided adequate assistance, many people will become desperate to find supplies wherever possible. And for some looting and rioting were the result. You should accept that the threat exist and you as a prepper could become a target. Its as simple as you have it, and they want it. In desperate times you need to realize that you are responsible for your security. All survival conscious people should be prepared for the probability of civil unrest during times of impending disasters and emergency situations.\n\nYou should be prepared both physically and mentally to protect your family and property from those who may wish to benefit from your preparedness. Part of being prepared is having a survival mind set, which includes being aware of your situation. The military developed a set of color codes which describe different levels of danger, Col. Jeff Cooper adapted it for personal \"street\" survival.\n\n\n  • Yellow - Relaxed alert. No specific threat situation. Your mind set is that \"today could be the day I may have to defend myself.\" You are simply aware that the world is a potentially unfriendly place. You use your eyes and ears, and realize that \"I may have to defend myself.\" You should always be in Yellow whenever you are in unfamiliar surroundings. You can remain in Yellow for long periods. In Yellow, you are \"taking in\" surrounding information in a relaxed but alert manner.\n\n  • Orange - Specific alert. Something is not quite right and has gotten your attention. Your radar has picked up a specific alert. You shift your primary focus to determine if there is a threat. In Condition Orange, you set a mental trigger: \"If that goblin does 'x', I will need to do\"x\". Staying in Orange can be a bit of a mental strain, but you can stay in it for as long as you need to. If the threat proves to be nothing, you shift back to Condition Yellow.\n\n  • Red - Condition Red is fight. Your mental trigger has been tripped. You should be acting on the scenarios you anticipated back in Condition Orange.\n\nApathy, complacency, and denial are all barriers to good situational awareness.\n\nScanning the clock\n\nAsk yourself, consciously what is going on around you. After a while, your subconscious will take over. After this, once a day, make sure you do it consciously, just to make sure that you are reinforcing the habit. One method that can assist in your interrogation of your surroundings is called \"The Clock Face\". We have all heard the term \"check your six\", it originates from the clock face method. Imagine the face of a giant clock from a birds eye view, now place yourself in the center of the clock. You will always be facing the twelve o'clock position and your back to the six o'clock. When you interrogate your surroundings use the clock, whats happening at my immediate front (twelve o'clock), what about my left hand side (nine o'clock) or even the dreaded \"six\".\n\nAnother system tought in safe driving courses can de adapted for situational awarness and personal saftey, is called IPDE, pronounced Ip-dee. It is an organized system of seeing, thinking, and responding to threats\n\n\n  • IDENTIFY - This is where you have identified a potential threat.\n  • PREDICT - Interrogate, there's a high wall at my nine o'clock, my twelve o'clock there is a van along the curb, at three o'clock there's a alley, my six o'clock is clear. The potential for trouble could be three or twelve o'clock.\n  • DECIDE - The third step in the IPDE method is to DECIDE what action you will implement. Should I avoid the alley way and cross to the other side of the street? What if the Van door opens as I approach? Make your decision on how you will respond to the potential threats.\n  • EXECUTE - If the potential threat identified does materalize, you should execute your pre-decided response with complete detirmination. By responding with a pre-detirmined action, you reduce valuable time you would have taken in improvising a response. The time saved could make the differance in your surviving an assult.\n\nGood pratices for awareness:\n\nBeing aware of your surroundings means not only paying attention to what you see but often what you don't, comparing and assessing what is normal and looking for things that are irregular. Pay attention to your feelings. If something feels wrong or uncomfortable, shift from yellow to orange.\n\n\nWhen entering establishments/businesses try to pause and scan the area for any threats, do a headcount and look for anyone who's out of place. If you are going to be staying try sitting so you face any entrance/exits. Scan for locations that can provide cover and safety if necessary. After your evaluation, insist on where you would like to sit. When exiting stop outside and let your eyes adjust, and scan for any potential threats.\n\nLearn to recognize signs and \"bad areas\" that can be identified as potential danger zones. Gang graffiti is not just vandalism; it's a form of advertising and communication. The graffiti is used to mark territory and should be taken seriously.\n\n\nMake sure the doors at home are always locked. The warning you get if someone kicks the door is far better than someone just opening the door and entering.\n\nGet a dog. The extra eyes and ears help, and most will likely be deterred by a large barking dog. Train your dogs to come to the car to greet you. Their behavior will indicate whether everything is OK in the property. Dogs have body language, just like humans. In fact even more perceptible, so invest a bit of time in getting to know how your dog reacts to abnormal circumstances, like a stranger on the property.\n\n\nWhen in traffic always leaving enough room behind the car in front of you so you are never boxed in.\n\nAvoid dark parking areas. Park as close to the entrance as possible. Pull thru or back into the parking space so you don't have to back out in case you need to leave in a hurry. When approaching your car check for vans and cargo trucks that have parked near you, approach with caution. Before you enter your car check the back seat to make sure its empty. Once inside, lock the doors and leave immediately.\n\nOn Foot\n\nWalk with your shoulders back, your eyes forward and your head up and on a swivel. Remember to check your \"six\" often. Only focus on a single item long enough to determine its threat level - avoid target lock. When walking around corners make wide turns away from the corner to give you time to react to what's around the corner.\n\nIf confronted, don't worry about being \"rude.\" politeness can be interpreted by predators as weakness. Be clear about your space and insist that that space be respected. Treat anyone who violates your \"space\" as a potential serious threat.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9167361855506897}
+{"content": "Psychological Health Fee\n\n\n\nNearly 1 in 5 Americans experiences psychological health problems annually (18.5 percent). Mental health situations, akin to depression or nervousness, are actual, frequent and treatable. The coordinated surveys on emotional psychological health disorders, their severity, and treatments have been applied within the aforementioned international locations.\n\nFor example, behavioral abilities don’t develop as quick as motor or sensory abilities do. 29 So when a baby has an anxiousness disorder, they begin to lack proper social interaction and affiliate many strange things with intense fear. The time period ‘psychological health’ is sometimes used to mean an absence of a mental dysfunction.mental health\n\nIndividuals have this assumption that everybody with a mental problem, no matter how delicate or severe, is robotically thought of harmful or a legal individual. 19 Psychological wellness is mostly viewed as a optimistic attribute, even if the person does not have any identified psychological health situation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9171457290649414}
+{"content": "Acorn Health Blog\n\nAcorn Health Blog\n\nWhat we love is great health...\n\nThank you for reading, We hope you enjoy :)\n\nSports Massage isn't just for Sports People Part 2\n\nTherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, June 22, 2018 01:59PM\nBy Laura Kirkman, Professional Sports and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist\n\nHow did the receiver of Sports Massage get tight achy muscles in the first place?\n\nAll the examples listed below are based on my personal experiences of working with different clients through out my career so far and what I’ve found to be common problem areas with certain roles. I’ve tried to categorise them to cover a lot of different roles and I do apologise if I’ve missed some out.\n\nDesk-based jobs\n\nThis covers literally any job that involves sitting at a desk. By sitting down at a desk for the majority of your week, this can put stress on the shoulder and neck muscles from typing, focusing on your screen and most likely slouching. Speaking of typing, in some cases people can even get repetitive strain (tendinitis) in their wrists and forearms. From being in the seated position this can also have a big effect on your thigh muscles and the lower back, as overtime the muscles get use to being in this position and can get gradually shorter and tighter.\n\nDriving jobs or long driving commutes\n\nYour body is in a similar position to someone doing a desk-based job so you may have similar problem areas but driving will have a bigger impact on your body. It is common when driving manual to utilise parts of your body more than others, which can put extra strain on the muscles that are used more frequently. For example your left leg for the clutch, left hand for gears and not to mention the rotation of the neck when performing manoeuvres.\n\nIntensive manual labour jobs\n\nThis includes electricians, plumbers, builders, plasterers, and tillers Etc. These kinds of jobs may seem great because they are rather physical but apart from that a lot of the work can be very repetitive, usually requiring the tradesman to be in awkward positions and spaces for long periods of time which is not the norm for the body. Some of these jobs may require the use of one dominant hand, which will cause an imbalance to the body as one side gets stronger and the other side can get stiff from the lack of use. Also remember some of these tradesman will also have to drive a long way to do a job as well and be affected by long commutes too. The muscle groups that are affected will vary with the trade.\n\nHigh Stressed Jobs\n\nDo you have lots of deadlines to reach that can sometimes seem inhumanely possible? Or your job is based in a fast paced stressful environment like any of the many roles in the food or retail industry? If you’re not relaxed and happy and feeling stressed in your workplace the majority of the time, your workplace qualifies as a stressful environment. Stress has many numerous negative effects on the body but today we will keep it muscle related. One of the most common areas affected by stress is the neck and shoulders as most people unconsciously hunch and hold their shoulders up causing tight and knotted muscles in the shoulders, which then in turn effects the neck causing it to be tight which can then in some cases lead to tension headaches.\n\nHealth Professionals\n\nDoctors, vets, nurses, hair dressers and groomers alike are sometimes under huge amounts of stress (depending on what your role entails), each day to help and care for others but often in the process they forget to care for themselves. Some of these jobs could involve being on your feet for long periods of time, wearing correct footwear can help a lot but this can still have a big effect on the leg muscles. Some of these roles can involve desk time and probably a lot of it as well with a big workload to take care of which relates back to other examples. Let’s not forgot the roles, which involve moving heavy or non-heavy objects/people/animals even with the health and safety measures to how you do this correctly and it can still definitely have a big toll on all the muscle groups that are used in this actions in the long run.\n\nPost Pregnancy and Parenthood\n\nWhilst your body is going through pregnancy and in the later stages of the baby growing, your body is constantly adapting to the babies weight and size. So your centre of gravity is constantly off balance and can take some time for the body to get back to normality afterwards. The muscles that are greatly affected through all this changes to the female body are the majority of the back and the majority of the leg muscles. As these are the muscles that adapt the most to help the female body be able to carry a baby and still be able to move around, also the back muscles are probably achy from not being able to sleep properly at night time.\n\nThen into parenthood you now have this little precious bundle of joy that requires you as a parent to pick up a lot and to also pick up after them. So your body is now doing all these extra movements that the body is just not use to yet. Well your arms are probably going to be the first thing you notice are now in pain more often, followed closely by the rest of your body and lest not mention the effects that lack of sleep does to us.\n\nSports People in all your glorious forms\n\nEven though this is an article looking at certain roles that aren’t sport but there is also an equal amount of sports people that would probably benefit from a sports massage. Sports people; regular gym goers, joggers/runners, all types of contact sport, football, swimming, hiking, cycling, semi pro to pro athletes and any other sports. Whatever your status sometimes help is required to help you perform better, shorter recovery time or to help with an injury. Sports Massage can help pre and post event to help your muscles warm up or to assist with cooling down. Through sports massage I can help identify areas that you need to work on more, either by stretching or strengthening techniques. As each sports person in their own field uses very different muscle groups to one another I cannot provide an example of which muscle areas are affected the most.\n\nSo what do we need to think about...\n\nMost of the modern lifestyles don’t allow the time for you to truly look after yourself and to connect with your body. Sports Massage can help to release the built up tension and to help you feel happier and healthier. Maybe enough to motivate you to going to that gym or yoga class you always wanted to try, start going on regular walks in nature. No matter what you do in life always try to look after your body as you only have one and it's best to take care of it.\n\n  • Comments(0)//\n\nSports Massage isn't just for Sports People Part 1\n\nTherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, June 22, 2018 01:15PM\nBy Laura Kirkman, Professional Sports and Thai Yoga Massage Therapist\n\nSports massage consists of a range of techniques that are proven to be really effective for alleviating any postural imbalances or to help particular muscles that get stiff and achy and are not performing as well. A postural imbalance can happen from a number of reasons but it generally means a particular group of muscles are being overused or underused and it causes a knock on effect to other muscle groups, as they will have to work harder to compensate for the imbalance. When you have been out of your natural posture for a while it can gradually start to affect you, you could start to feel pain and discomfort in area’s that are usually fine.\n\nSo as a Sports Masseuse my main aims are to effectively get the muscles back into a good working order by massage and personalised after care, so that you are back in alignment with your natural posture and feel pain free again. Depending on the state of your muscles, further treatments could be required to get the best possible results for your body. This will include discussing a treatment plan that suits you the best with how frequently you can have treatments and roughly how long you would like to receive them. At the end of each session I will go through stretching and strengthening exercises that can help maintain the effects of the treatment. I cannot stress enough how much of a difference actually doing the exercises can help with your overall treatment!\n\nIt could mean a shorter treatment plan if you continue these exercises and if you really implement them into your lifestyle anyway that you can. You will always be feeling better and experiencing less pain than before, you will also have the knowledge to effectively manage your own pain. I will also be much happier to see you in the future as well for any further top-up treatments.\n\nCommon professions that would benefit from a Sports Massage include (but are not exclusive to..)\n* Desk-based jobs\n* Driving jobs or long-driving commutes\n* Intensive manual labour jobs\n* High-stress jobs\n* Health Professionals (Drs, Vets, Therapists etc...)\n* Parenthood\n\nI will be covering each one in a little more detail on my next blog (part 2) if any relate to you - please click on and have a read. Finally I just want to say that Sports Massage can help to release the built up tension within your body and it's my job as a Sports Masseuse to help with that process so that you can feel happier and healthier.\n\n  • Comments(0)//\n\nIs your Base Chakra out of balance…? Ten ways to find out…\n\nTherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Fri, April 13, 2018 11:47AM\n\nBy Anne Marie Allen Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner & Massage Therapist\n\nFrom the previous blog we know the base chakra is about the basic survival such as security, health, safety, food, warmth but how can you tell if you’re out of balance…?\n\nHere are seven ways to tell if your base chakra is out of balance:\n\n1. You have hoarding or overeating tendancies.\n\n2. You never feel like you have enough food, money, sex or material possessions often feeling worried about things such as money and work.\n\n3. You often feel restless, you may find it hard to stick to things such as the same job for very long drifting from one thing to another.\n\n4. You often experience feelings of insecurity, anxiety and feeling frightened.\n\n5. You find it hard to let go and trust.\n\n6. You can often find yourself being quite negative and critical either towards yourself or others.\n\n7. You suffer from pain/discomfort in the legs, knees, spine or sciatica. You may have varicose veins.\n\n8. You may have experienced depression or suffer from low moods.\n\n9. Issues concerning bowel problems, constipation frequent need to use the bathroom, impotence can be indicators of your root chakra being out of balance.\n\n10. Problems moving forward in life and/or feeling stuck in a rut.\n\nThese are just some of the ways a base chakra imbalance can show itself - the good news is there are so many ways to balance this chakra, throughout April I will be posting daily on my Natural Touch Facebook Page different ways that you can help to balance your base chakra. A balanced base chakra will leave you feeling safe, comfortable, abundant and secure, feeling able to live in the present with passion while moving forward in life.\n\n  • Comments(0)//\n\nRoot Chakra Healing for Beginners\n\nTherapiesPosted by Sally-Anne Tue, March 20, 2018 12:34PM\nBy Anne Marie Allen Reflexologist, Reiki Practitioner & Massage Therapist\n\nThe base chakra also known as the root chakra or Muladhara Chakra is the first chakra and is located at the base of the spine. The base chakra is your foundation - without a balanced base chakra you won’t have the security, stability or rootedness which is needed for true, lasting change.\n\nIt is linked to the basic survival needs such as security, survival, warmth, food and safety and the colour of the base chakra is red.\n\nWhether you feel secure and safe now often isn’t the cause of the imbalance, situations from the past even as far back as childhood can be the cause of the imbalance.\n\nImbalance in the root chakra can show itself as:\n\nRestless, frightened, insecurities, greed, resentfulness, envious, criticism, pushing your body too far, not resting when you need to, gossiping, putting self or others down, negativity, procrastination, problems letting go e.g. fear, mistrust, anxiety, fears, nightmares, constipation, eating disorders, grounding to the earth, living in survival mode all the time, feeling like you can’t get enough. You may also experience problems with food for example overeating or starving, money problems, sex, and hoarding material things.\n\nThe root chakra is associated with your:\n\nColon, bladder lower back, legs, feet, knees, sciatica, prostate, gonads, ovaries, testes and sacrum.\n\nHow to balance and heal the base chakra:\n\nThere are several ways to balance the base chakra, here a few suggestions you can try but for more information or to book in for a Reiki session to assist you with this please get in touch!\n\n- Yoga\n\n- Meditation\n\n- Sounds\n\n- Colours\n\n- Crystals\n\n- Affirmations\n\n- Essential oils\n\n- Reiki\n\n- Reflexology\n\n- Diet\n\n- Exercise\n\nSpecial offer - a free Red Jasper Crystal with your Reiki Treatment!\n\nOver the next four weeks I’ll be posting lots of affirmations, tips and blogs to help you balance your base chakra as well as posting some questions that you can think about to help you unearth any blockages and go really deep to find out which beliefs and past experiences are stopping you from moving forward. As from April - when you book in for a Reiki Teatment each person will recieve an organza bag with a Red Jasper Crystal to take away with them and keep absolutely free to help them work with their base chakra balancing! (This only applies to one treatment and expires at the end of April). There will also be weekly competitions to win a free treatment so make sure you don’t forget to like and follow us to ensure you don’t miss a thing.\n\n  • Comments(0)//\nNext »", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5408011674880981}
+{"content": "Against the Backdrop of Feminism: The Images of Men in Female-authored Novels\n\nKeywords: Feminism, Literature, English Language, Female Authors, Female-authored Novels.\n\n\nFeminism is a literary concept that agitates and demands for equal rights and justice for men and women in the society. In the words of Nnolim Charles: “Feminism, as a movement and ideology urges, in simple terms, recognition of the claims of women for equal rights with men–legal, political, economic,\nsocial, marital, et cetera” (135). Obviously true is the fact that women in the recent past have suffered great injustice, domination, suppression and relegation from their male counterparts in a world that regards man as the symbol of power, life and authority, being the first creature whom God, Himself breathed life into and he became alive. Woman rather was made from a rib taken or rather 'stolen' from man (for this was done without his consent) and the Creator named her wo-man.\nThat is the biblical history for us.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5527490377426147}
+{"content": "Autoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL or IL21 - an alternative pathogenesis for antibody-deficienciesReportar como inadecuado\n\nAutoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL or IL21 - an alternative pathogenesis for antibody-deficiencies - Descarga este documento en PDF. Documentación en PDF para descargar gratis. Disponible también para leer online.\n\nBMC Immunology\n\n, 18:34\n\nCellular immunology and immune regulation\n\n\nBackgroundThe ability of anti-cytokine antibodies to play a disease-causing role in the pathogenesis of immunodeficiencies is widely accepted. The aim of this study was to investigate whether autoantibodies against BAFF important B cell survival signal, APRIL important plasma cell survival signal, or Interleukin-21 important cytokine for immunoglobulin class switch present an alternative mechanism for the development of the following primary antibody deficiencies PADs: common variable immune deficiency CVID or selective IgA deficiency sIgAD.\n\nResultsTwo hundred thirty-two sera from patients with PADs were screened for autoantibodies against cytokines by ELISA. Statistical data analysis yielded a significant difference p < 0.01 between the healthy donor sera and both PAD cohorts. The analysis was deepened by subdividing the patient collective into groups with distinct B cell phenotypes but no significant differences were found. For selected sera with notable high ELISA-read outs functional analysis ensued. Anti-BAFF and anti-APRIL antibodies were further examined by a B cell survival assay, whilst the functional relevance of putative anti-IL-21 autoantibodies was investigated by means of a STAT3 phosphorylation assay. However, the results of these experiments revealed no discernible functional effect.\n\nConclusionWhilst statistical analysis of ELISA results showed significant differences between patients and healthy controls, in our set of patients functional tests yielded no evidence for an involvement of autoantibodies against BAFF, APRIL, or IL-21 in the pathogenesis of CVID or sIgAD.\n\nKeywordsAutoimmunity Autoantibodies Cytokines Primary antibody deficiency Common variable immunodeficiency Selective IgA deficiency BAFF APRIL IL-21 AbbreviationsAPRILA proliferation inducing ligand\n\nAPS-IAutoimmune polyendocrinopathy I\n\nBAFFB cell activating factor\n\nCMCChronic mucocutaneous candidiasis\n\nCVIDCommon variable immunodeficiency\n\nIFN-gammaInterferon gamma\n\nIL-21Interleukin 21\n\nsIgADselective IgA deficiency\n\nDownload fulltext PDF\n\nAutor: Marian-Christopher Pott - Natalie Frede - Jennifer Wanders - Lennart Hammarström - Erik-Oliver Glocker - Cristina Glocker -\n\n\nDocumentos relacionados", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996063113212585}
+{"content": "What happened on November 21 ?\n\nChoose another date »\n\n\n\n\n\n235 - Anterus is elected Pope.\n\n1272 - Following Henry III of England's death on November 16, his son Prince Edward becomes King of England.\n\n\n1789 - North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 12th U.S. state.\n\n\n1861 - American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin secretary of war.\n\n\n1916 - The HMHS Britannic sinks in the Aegean Sea after an explosion from an unknown object, killing 30 people.\n\n1920 - Bloody Sunday during the Anglo-Irish War\n\n1922 - Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia takes the oath of office, becoming the first woman United States Senator.\n\n\n1934 - Cricket: The MCC alters the lbw rule so a batsman can be lbw to a ball pitching outside off stump. The change is later blamed for many problems developing during the 1950s - primarily negative bowling outside leg stump to a field of short-leg fieldsmen.\n\n\n1934 - Ella Fitzgerald makes her singing debut at age 16 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.\n\n\n1942 - The completion of the Alaska Highway (also known as the Alcan Highway) is celebrated (the highway was not usable by general vehicles until 1943, however).\n\n1953 - Authorities at the British Natural History Museum announce that the \"Piltdown Man\" skull, held to be one of the most famous fossil skulls in the world, was a hoax.\n\n1962 - The Chinese People's Liberation Army declared a unilateral cease-fire in the Sino-Indian War.\n\n1964 - The Verrazano Narrows Bridge opens to traffic (at the time it was the world's longest suspension bridge).\n\n1964 - Second Vatican Council: The third session of the Roman Catholic Church's ecumenical council closes.\n\n\n1969 - The first ARPANET link is established.\n\n1969 - US President Richard Nixon and Japanese Premier Eisaku Sato agree in Washington, DC on the return of Okinawa to Japanese control in 1972. Under terms of the agreement, the US is to retain its rights to bases on the island, but these are to be nuclear-free.\n\n1970 - Vietnam War: Operation Ivory Coast - A joint Air Force and Army team raids the Son Tay prison camp in an attempt to free American POWs thought to be held there (there were zero Americans killed, but the prisoners had already moved to another camp; All US POWs were moved to a handful of central prison complexes as a result of this raid).\n\n1971 - Indian troops partly aided by Mukti Bahini (Bengali guerrillas) defeated the Pakistan army in the Battle of Garibpur.\n\n1974 - The Birmingham Pub Bombings by the IRA killed 21 people. The Birmingham Six were sentenced to life in prison for this and subsequently acquitted.\n\n\n1974 - George W. Bush is honourably discharged from the US Air Force Reserve.\n\n1977 - Minister of Internal Affairs Hon Allan Highet announced that 'the national anthems of New Zealand shall be the traditional anthem 'God Save The Queen' and the poem 'God Defend New Zealand', written by Thomas Bracken, as set to music by John Joseph Woods, both being of equal status as national anthems appropriate to the occasion'.\n\n1979 - The United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set alight, killing four. (see: Foreign relations of Pakistan)\n\n1980 - A deadly fire breaks out at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada (now Bally's Las Vegas). 87 people are killed and more than 650 are injured in the worst disaster in Nevada history.\n\n\n1980 - Who Shot JR? - The Dallas Episode \"Who Done It?\" aired on US television. It was one of the highest-rated episodes of a TV show ever aired.\n\n\n\n1990 - Charter of Paris for a New Europe refocusses the efforts of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europeon post-Cold War issues. The successor to the Family Computer; the Super Famicom was released in Japan.\n\n1991 - \"The Apple of God's Eye\", an undercover investigative journalism piece exposing the fundraising practices of American televangelist Robert Tilton, airs on ABC's Primetime Live newsmagazine show for the first time.\n\n1995 - The Dayton Peace Agreement was initialled in the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio, ending three and a half years of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The agreement was formally ratified in Paris, on December 14 that same year.\n\n1995 - Toy Story is released as the first feature-length film created completely using computer-generated imagery.\n\n1995 - The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 5,000 (5,023.55) for the first time.\n\n1999 - Saundra Santiago of Miami Vice fame marries Roger Squintero\n\n2002 - NATO invites Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia to become members.\n\n2004 - The second round of the Ukrainian presidential election is held, unleashing massive protests and controversy with regards to the election's integrity.\n\n2004 - The island of Dominica is hit by its most destructive earthquake in history; the northern half of the island receives the most damage, especially in the town of Portsmouth. It is also felt in neighbouring Guadeloupe, where one person is killed as a result.\n\n2004 - The Paris Club agreed to write off 80% (up to $100 billion) of Iraq's external debt.[1]\n\n2004 - The Nintendo DS was released in United States and Canada\n\n\nEvents Births Deaths Holidays", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9937735199928284}
+{"content": "Q. Why do I need to go to a chiropractor? \nUnfortunately, most people are unaware of the need to maintain the health of their spines or that the health of their spines have a huge impact on their general health. Vertebral Subluxation (VS) is a condition that is a severe detriment to a person’s spinal and general health. Chiropractors are the only health care professionals specifically trained in the art and science of correcting Vertebral Subluxation.\n\n\nQ. What is a Subluxation? \nIn simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation or VS for short) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with signals traveling over them.\n\n\nQ. How does a Subluxation affect my life?\nYour nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. Your spinal cord and spinal nerves are the link between your brain and your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over the spinal cord and spinal nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper messages and will not be able to function 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some part of your body will not be working properly.\n\n\nQ. What causes Vertebral Subluxation?\nIn the simplest terms, Vertebral Subluxation, is caused by the various stresses of life. There are major categories of stresses in a person’s life.\n  • Physical – These are easiest to identify and include: Car accidents, slips and falls, and repetitive use or overuse injuries (e.g. the mailman walk miles everyday with a heavy sack hanging from the same shoulder for many months or years). Less obvious members of this category include, undetected birth traumas, mothers carrying their children, The small falls of childhood (children are estimated to fall 3,000 times before their third birthday), the impacts and bumps of sports, and many more.\n  • Mental/Emotional Stress – To understand how this type of stress might effect our spines, picture a cat when it feels threatened or is about to fight. Emotional stress creates a change in our posture and muscle tone that can change the position of our spinal bones. Examples of these kinds of stresses include: financial stress, work stress, stress with family or spouses, lose of a loved one, moving of your home, pressure for adolescents and children to fit in, and many more. It is not unusual for a person to carry specific stresses with them for many years or even decades.\n  • Chemical – In our everyday lives we are exposed to toxins that are irritating and poisonous to our bodies. These toxins include: preservatives in our food, spoiled foods, second hand smoke, fumes, dust and chemicals in the work place. Exposure to such toxins can create stress responses in the body similar to those described above.\n\n\nQ. What are some signs that I may have Vertebral Subluxation?\nThese are some outward signs that Subluxation is present in a person.\n  1. Postural changes – What many people call bad posture is really your body’s attempt to take pressure off of one of more regions of the spine. Examples of this are:\n    • Craning forward of the head, shoulders that are held high, are uneven, and/or are rounded forward.\n    • Loss or exaggeration of a low back curve. Buttocks appear flat or overly rounded.\n    • Uneven hips. One hip is held higher than the other, or when lying belly down, one hip is pushed backward further than the other.\n    • Uneven legs. One leg is longer than the other.\n    • Head tilt/ rotation. When viewing a person head on, their head appears to turn slightly or tilt to one side.\n  2.  Loss of range of motion – Examples of these are: inability to turn one’s head when backing out of a parking space. Inability to straighten up (one feels stooped over)\n  3.  Injuries that don’t heal – This includes muscles spasms that are constant, or come and go, in the same area of the body. Numbness and tingling that comes and goes. Tightness in the neck, back, shoulders, or hips.\n  4.  Loss of Vitality or Energy", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6072420477867126}
+{"content": "Upgrade Your Artistic Skills With These Sketching Tips and Tricks\n\nSketching Tips and Tricks\nSketching is a fun art form at which one can get better with practice. This article from ArtHearty lists some sketching tips and tricks, which will help you become better at sketching.\nArtHearty Staff\nLast Updated: Feb 22, 2018\nBefore we get down to discussing the techniques and tips of sketching, let us tell you that everyone has their own way of drawing. What works best for someone may not necessarily work for you, but that doesn't mean you are going wrong or you will not be able to do it. You may have heard the saying \"practice makes man perfect\" a zillion times before, but it so holds true! Remember - miracles don't happen overnight but only when you diligently and faithfully work hard TO MAKE THEM HAPPEN.\nNever ever trash your previous work, even if it is not up to scratch, but maintain it to monitor your progress. As you will compare your previous work with your present work, you will realize how much improvement you have made through hard work and patience. It's simply rewarding!\nSketching Tips for Beginners\nSo, what does one need for sketching basically? Is it paper? Is it pencil? No, it's not. It is the skill of observation, that is an important attribute for a good sketching artist . Here, are a few tips and tricks that will help you in improving your drawing and sketching skills.\nIt is not necessary to spend all your money on expensive stationery. One of the sketching tips for beginners, is to start sketching on textured paper. Later on, you can start using A4 sized papers used for photocopying. For sketching, a darker pencil is required as you can add more depth to your sketches by adding dark shadows and tones. You can always lessen the pressure on the pencil and lighten your strokes, so start with a 6B pencil of decent quality. You will require an eraser and a sharpener or a cutter handy, to sharpen the pencil, and carry a pad to support the papers.\n\nNow that you have all the equipment, the important thing before your start sketching is observation. Whatever the subject you want to sketch, the important thing before you start is to observe the subject carefully. It can be still life, nature, portrait or gesture drawing. First just sit and watch. What does the subject look like? How is the subject balanced? How does the light fall on the subject? Lighting is an important factor that one should pay attention to, when adding texture in a sketch. Look for the highlights (brightest spots) and shadows formed on the subject.\n\nHand Movements\nMany people don't know that one of the most important part when it comes to sketching is related to hand movements. Before sketching, for 5 -10 minutes just draw circles of a diameter of around 10 centimeters. Draw vertical, horizontal and diagonal lines from end to end of the paper. While drawing these shapes, it is important that you don't rest your wrist on the paper. As you get better at drawing these lines and circles perfectly, your hand movements will improve and you will be able to draw shapes more confidently. This is an important practice assignment, one should do before sketching any subject, for free hand movement.\n\nGetting the Right Form\nWhenever sketching a subject, forget about the completion of the sketch. The first thing you should get right is the form. This is one of the important sketching tips for kids, or any beginner. For example, in still life get the shape, size and symmetry of the object right. The shading and texturing of the drawing is secondary and comes later on. When sketching for perspective drawings, get the form perfect and then proceed to shading. If you get the form right, you will not just now how to shade them but also to paint them. So whatever subject you want to sketch, try to get the correct form first. You can buy books on different subjects. These books have rules for drawing forms, which will help you understand and draw the form with proper rules.\n\nTexturing or Shading\nAfter you get the form of the subject right, start practicing shading. At this stage, you can buy more pencils of different tones. You can also buy kneaded erasers to give different light shades to your drawings. In the drawing, find the highlights and leave these spots, then take a middle tone pencil, and start shading with the pencil, in even angle strokes. Then proceed to the darkest spots on the subject, and shade these areas with dark-toned pencils. Always observe and then start shading the sketch. There are different types of textures, one can use in sketching, like hatching (parallel lines), cross-hatching, varied hatching, stippling, etc. You can create your own texture too, many people smudge their sketch with their fingertips to give a soft hazy look. Buy a basic texturing book, to learn about the different texturing styles. After you get better with black and white sketching, you can start using color pencils. There are some color pencils which are water soluble, so you can use a wet brush on the sketch and give the sketch a watercolor painting sort of feel!\n\nHowever, practice is the most important thing required to get better at sketching. So if you really want to sketch well, practice the art at least for an hour everyday and when outdoors, observe and absorb details about anything or anybody. Use the above tips and sketch amazing portraits, still life, nature, perspectives, etc.\nGood Luck!\n6b blue pencil\nHand holding clipboard with blank sheet\nSharpener and eraser\nMulticolored Crayons\nColored Pencils\nNew Colored Pencils Textured", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8022398948669434}
+{"content": "Saturday, 15 September 2018\n\nCoL Update (Term 3, Week 8)\n\n\n\n\nPaul's recount about the museum - \n\n\n\n\nPaul's recount about Tongan language week- \n\nTolo pato\n“I asked Havea what game is this”\n“Havea said it’s dodgeball”\n\nFusi Maea\n\n\nKian's recount about making a tent at school -\n\nKian's Tongan language week recount -\n\n\n\nRyan's story - The true heart\n\n“yes it's me” i replied to her\n(i love you)\n\n...The end...\n\nOverall comments\n\nThursday, 13 September 2018\n\nCynthia Greenleaf PD - Argumentation vs. persuasion\n\nLink to evidence/reasoning about slides 11 and 12.\n\nLink to group norms about discussions, and refining those norms.\n\nThinks to think about...\n- layering - there was a picture on slide 11 and a text on slide 12. Did using both of these allow people to feel they had enough to go from?\n- there is a difference between argumentation and persuasion\n- if you are trying argumentation and students don't have anything to share, consider the resources that were given and if they were enough for students to access the situation.\n- before starting the activity, Cynthia told us to \"pay attention to something somebody else said that made you think\" - that was there is no pressure to say something you thought of, but you still have a voice.\n- consider how you are asking students to discuss (i.e. padlet is anonymous, this is both a good and bad thing).\n- give students sentence starters (where is your evidence for that, did you consider, did anyone notice that)\n\nFriday, 7 September 2018\n\nCoL Update (Term 3, Week 7)\n\nCoL Update\nThis week has been crazy as it was Tongan language week, however a couple key things I can talk about are 1) my first social story and 2) moving up reading levels.\n\nSocial stories are something I learnt about from Donna Ryan  at a PD session a while ago. The PD session was about visual aids in the classroom, but she mentioned social stories because they are visual aids to help children understand what to do in a social situation. They can be made about ANYTHING. The one I felt was necessary to make was 'how to sit on the mat', as Ryan often struggles to do this in what could be called the 'expected' way. \n\nI explained to my class that I wanted them to pose for pictures and not to worry about why, so they were happy to do so. (Thank you 10 year old photographer!)\n\nThen I made the social story.\n\nIt was simple and easy to make, and I kept the 'instruction-ey' part simple. The pictures show what the words describe. \nMy plan is to give this to Ryan during mat time to help him remember what he should be doing and manage himself. I find that I am almost constantly asking him to turn around, sit down, face the front etc. \nDon't get me wrong - I understand and acknowledge that sometimes he isn't able and ready to do these things and that is okay. But sometimes he is ready and able, so needs a gentle reminder. \n\nAlso because I am aware of the social precariousness of 10 year old boys, I have made 5 copies of this social story and will give them to anybody who needs a reminder. That way Ryan doesn't feel targeted or picked on in any way. I will only give it to students when they need a reminder - not giving it to them straight away and assuming they won't/can't do it. Only when they need it.\n\nAnother highlight of this week was that I rejigged my reading boxes. I have these tubs to store colour-wheel level books for Paul and Kian (and another ESOL student who I have mentioned a couple times). Previously, these started at Level 9-10 (blue) and went through to Level 21-22 (Gold). I finally decided that if Kian is going to move I kinda have to force him. Due to his learning differences, he has been sitting around levels 10-15 for the past few years. He moves up, slides backwards over the holidays, moves up again, slides backwards, etc etc. He is currently reading Orange books (Level 15-16) with me at 'guided' level, and was reading level 9-14 for independent reading. However, he wasn't really doing any independent reading. The books that go home come back unread and he refuses (due to confidence) to read to anybody but me or Paul in class. Hence, I got rid of the level 9-14 tubs and he is now going to only be reading orange or higher. There are a mixture of types of books to give variety (and level of complexity, as PM books and sunshine books are different even though they are graded at the same level). I really want to challenge him and build his confidence so he can and will read these books. He is capable of it and I want him to see that. When I explained that I was going to get rid of the blue/green books and he was only going to read orange, he didn't really care. So no opposition! \n\nI put in Level 23-26 books with the spare 2 containers I know have. Even though I only moved Paul a few weeks ago onto Level 21, he can pretty much read them first time, independently, so hence I am not challenging him enough. \nPaul (and the other ESOL student) read with me both together and separately, and they will read to and with other students as well. They get a lot of mileage because of this. \nFor Paul, this participation and contribution, and be willing to work with others in different ways and in different contexts has really accelerated his learning. \n\nFriday, 31 August 2018\n\nResponse to reading: \"Digital Text is Changing How Kids Read—Just Not in the Way That You Think\"\n\nKey parts for me - \n\nKey points. \n  1. Students reading online is more taxing and is different. Not better or worse, but a different set of skills, or rather, a more fast-paced set of skills is required. Readers are bombarded with ads, links, pictures, text that they are trying to read and text that is distracting, all at the same time. No wonder they can get distracted. \n  2. Children need to be taught how to read online as well as in books. If this reading and decision making process is faster and different, we can't expect them to read the same way. We need to explicitly teach how to make these decisions, how to know if i am reading the right thing, should move on, should skip a paragraph, should click that link over there... \n  3. Attention spans are shorter. I can definitely see that,  in adults around me more so than my 10 year olds. We grew up with screens as new and exciting, so always want the digital stimulation it brings. Not many 20 somethings I know can sit and read a paperback for more than about 10 minutes. And yet... those same people I am thinking about who can't deal with life without technology, also get bored of it because they churn through so much content there's nothing new anymore. \n  4. Reading as decoding and making meaning occurs in both worlds, what is difference is the depth of that meaning. Reading is reading. Do you know what these words are saying? Then you are reading. But reading online, so it seems, demands less in-depth thought and analysis of what is being read. \n\nResponse to reading: \"Why kids should keep using their fingers to do math\"\n\nLink to article\n\nThis is SOOOO true. I have seen and heard teachers growl students for using their fingers in maths (yes, even in recent times) and felt horrified.\nI am a 23 year old, grown adult... and I count on my fingers. I use them all the time. And personally, actively encourage my students to do so as well.\n\nWith the numeracy project came this structure -\n\nWhich says that when teaching new concepts, you should start using materials, and when students are ready move to imaging (no materials, or using materials but only looking at them and not moving them around), then once they got that, move onto no materials at all.\nWith this, came this idea that if you had to use your fingers to count, you were imaging (using materials to help you). Which sure, fingers do kinda count as a material as you aren't doing the math in your head). Hence, using your fingers in maths was actively discouraged and became almost taboo to some teachers.\nFor me, it depends how you are using your fingers.\nIf you are using them to count to 10, you are COUNTING.\nIf you are using them to help you keep track while you skip count in 5's to figure out 9x5, you are TRACKING. \nTo me these are completely different things. \n\nWithout using their fingers some students can't keep track of the maths they are doing in their heads.\nFor example with my current students, those who haven't memorised their times tables use their fingers to track how many skip counts they have done. \nE.g. 9x5 would sound like 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and one finger would go up for each number they said. If they didn't have the 9 fingers up, they would have already forgotten how many times they skip counted, or not known to stop at 9 and kept counting till 100.\n\nUsing their fingers helps them keep track of mental maths.\nAnd we should let them do it!\n\nCoL Update (Term 3, Week 6).\n\nThis week has been really interesting, and again another week where I haven't been in class for a full 5 days (CRT on Friday). \n\nRyan has had awesome days and terrible days. Last week I gave all my students 'spots' or desks to sit in instead of letting them sit wherever they wanted, as they weren't being responsible and looking after classroom equipment (including Netbooks). Ryan took his spot and really made it his own. He bought over the labelled container he keeps all his stuff in, started putting things in his desk, set up three walls around him and decorated them with his own work/books (including moving the teaching station to make his third wall). This has worked really well for him, and I am so impressed that he has taken his 'spot' in a positive way and made it his own. I took this photo of him one day when I randomly noticed he was wearing the ear muffs (something we have tried/failed at many times) and was quietly working away. \n\nPaul really surprised me again one day when during a DMIC session, he said to his group \"I know it, I'll do it\", and took the piece of paper and solved the problem. For context, the boy sitting next to him is the top maths student in the class, and yet Paul is the one who solved it. I love that because his friend is giving him the chance to succeed and lead, even though he could have solved it himself. This boy (the friend) understands what I have been trying to do with him, and is trying to do the same. I also LOVE IT because he is leading and participating and contributing in a maths lesson, without ANY teacher input. \nSide note - he also got it right (adding fractions with different denominators - BOOYAH!)\nHe then later tried to help other groups explain their maths thinking because he understood it and others didn't.. He wanted to get up in front of the class and explain where somebody else had gone wrong in their maths thinking. AMAZING.\n\nAnother time, I was working with a group of about 10 boys on an inquiry task. The task was a group task to sort (compare and contrast) different natural disasters - there was no reading and writing involved, only sorting and explaining/justifying. In the video (although you can't see their faces so you might not notice), both Paul and Kian ask for a picture in the beginning, then discuss with their friends where it should go and why. \n\nI find that with Kian and Paul, they are more involved with group/whole class tasks when they don't involve reading and writing. This makes sense, as they are both lower (ability wise) than the rest of the class and know it, so are scared to make mistakes or say something silly. To try and get them to participate, I think reading the text with them before hand or giving them a different text (in groups), so then they could access the information without feeling awkward, shy or scared.\n\nResponse to reading: What kinds of activities are common among teenagers who work well with others\n\nLink to article\n\nStatement 1: This makes a lot of sense to me, because when students are doing physical activity, they are usually doing it together. The very act of playing a game of rugby or soccer (or whatever else) demands children to negotiate, collaboration, make decisions, play against a agreed set of rules, often being their own referees and captains. They are building social skills while doing the physical activity.. so is this causation or coalition?\n\nStatement 2: The article talks about students who played games at home scored less on the collaboration part of the test. I don't know if my own experience agrees with that, as when students are playing games at home, they are often either\n1) playing alongside a family member who they take turns and give/receive guidance from\n2) playing alone, but on an online platform in a team where they must collaborate with people from across the world.\nYes, maybe they score worse on the PISA test, but surely they are still developing some collaborative skill, possibly in a way that the test didn't detect?\nI think that there are different kinds of collaboration and each can't be measured using the same ruler.\n\nThis makes total sense to me. Even if it was not directly what they were measuring, a positive impact still occurs. Feelings are hard to measure with a standardised test. \n\nStatement 3: They are talking about feelings in this statement, not directly ability to collaborate. However, having positive feelings towards those you are collaborating with is hugely important. \n\nLearning Difference Workshop - The University of Auckland - Part 3\n\nDevelopmental dyspraxia & sensory processing\nby Emma Ratcliff from Kidz Therapy.\n\nDevelopmental coordination disorder = dyspraxia.\nIt’s about organisation and coordination, not just letters/numbers.\n\nDyspraxis is about - Idea of what it is I need to do, planning to do something, and execution of that plan.\n\nChildren with dyspraxia can hop, skip, and jump separately when asked. But if you ask them to hop, skip and jump one after the other straight away, they might not get it right or do it in the right order. Things they could do yesterday, they can’t do today. They can struggle to transfer skills or knowledge to new areas or join them together.\n\nIn the brain, the neurons don’t stay connected as they would in a non-dyzbraxic brain. That’s why kids can do something one day, and not the next. The best way to make the connection stick and grow is to be happy – the chemicals behind being happy anyway.\nIt’s like having to learn how to drive the car, EVERY TIME THEY GET IN. The brain doesn’t remember what to do.\nTherefore, everything is hard, no matter how many times they have done that task.\n\n This shows as...\n\nHow can we give these children a positive learning experience, without being too soft on them?­­\n\nLearning Difference Workshop - The University of Auckland - Part 2\n\n“I thought I was dumb Miss” – Marie Kelly from Kidz Therapy.\n\nDSM5 – “specific learning disorder”\n\nDys/dis words – disorganised, disliked, disabled as well as dyslexic, dyspraxia, dyscalulia etc.\nIt has a negative connotation no matter what your intention.\n\nDyslexia is not the same as dyspraxia (etc) but usually parts of all ‘dys’s are present.\n\nWechsler scale of intelligence of children (hard to read so here's a better one).\n\nCognitive ability\n1. Working memory is important.\nsay it forward – 56398 – rote learning.\nNow saw it backward… who could do it? Who could do it if you were looking at the numbers written?\nNow put these numbers in order –\n\n2. Processing speed –\nEven routine things like copying from the board, they get it wrong.\n\nHow to help?\nText to speech\nVoice typing\nGoogle read and write\n\nPictures from slideshow.\n\nhow does it feel to be dyslexic?  \n\nKids can’t win--- they can’t follow 10 instructions at once so they ask their friends for help, then get told off for talking.\n\nResearch later.\nCALL SCOTLAND apps for Dyslexia\n\nReading assessments recommended for students with Dyslexia\nJoy Alcot’ spelling??\nLucid screening test.\nWriting sample.\nSouth Australian spelling test or Peters.\n\nBooks recommended by Marie\n\nThe following 2 pictures I took because they resonated strongly with a student of mine who I suspect has dyslexia.\n\nAnd another 2 books she recommended. The '100 ideas' one was REALLY good and has lots of beginners tips.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7035082578659058}
+{"content": "Sponsors Link\n\n25 Labor Rights in Islam – Employee Obligations\n\nSponsors Link\n\nIslam is well known as a religion which dignified, honored, and cared the labors. In the past, labor’s right was disgraced by the practice of slavery, where they were humiliated and violated at the same time. But Islam is different. Islam has a define meaning of labor’s right as a part of society who has to be treated equally.\n\n\nIslam guarantee the rights of labors by establishing social justice to secure the labor’s family for a decent life when the worker passed away. The value of a labor is raised in Islam from a respectful perspective and involving the view of humanity in it.\n\nThe two main guidance for Muslim, Quran and Hadith both confirm about the right of a labor as written below:\n\n1. The right to get wages\n\nWages is and obligation for the employers to their labor, and Islam took a great care for that matters. In Islam, work is one of religious duties must perform by every Muslim to make a living. Working from the morning until evening is another form of good deeds, especially when a head of a family doing labor for the sake of his family, Allah guarantee rewards for him.\n\nFor employers who violating the labor’s right of wages deserves Hell fire as reported by Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him): Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Allah decrees the (Hell) Fire and debars paradise for the one who usurps the rights of a believer by taking a false oath.”\n\nAlso read: Importance of Leadership in Islam\n\n2. The wages should be paid in the due time\n\nIslam urge every employers to pay for their labor’s wages when he is return from his work. Paying the wages before the labors coming home is something important from Islamic point of view. As the salary someone receive from his employers will be used to feed his family who have been waiting all day. Imagine if a labor return home from work empty handed, because his employers hasn’t paid him yet.\n\nThe rest of the family will be famished, and thus the employers have violated the rights of their labor.\n\nAlso read: Importance of Istighfar in Islam\n\n3. The wages paid should be in fair amount\n\nFair doesn’t mean equal. If there are ten employers in a company with the difference in job description, the time he’s been working, and the burden of the work, the amount of wages should be different. The wages paid to the labors has to be equal and fair, due to their capabilities dan talents. Allah (SWT) said, “and do not deprive people of their due.” – Al-A`raf (7:85)\n\nThe amount of wages should be fair, not exceeding his capabilities or less than it. Allah Almighty has warned employers who paid their employers in no fair amount, “Woe to those who give less [than due]. Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.” Al Mutaffifin (83:1-3)\n\nAlso read: The Importance of Prayer in Islam\n\n4. The wages has to be given on the spot\n\nIslamic rules has set one of the labor’s right is to receive the wages by the time their work has completed. As narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” – Ibn Majah.\n\nMoreover, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has declared employers who delayed their labors wages as Allah Almighty’s opponent in the Day of Resurrection.\n\n\nAlso read: Importance of Inheritance in Islam\n\nSponsors Link\n\n5. Choose appropriate works\n\nIslam significantly raised the dignity of a worker by giving them freedom to choose any work that appropriate for them as an absolute right. Works that the labor was engaged with should bring him goods and a lot of fortune, for both the employers and the employee. This is stressed in both Holy Quran and Hadith. Allah Almighty says,\n\n“And say, ‘Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers’.” – At Tawbah (9:105)\n\nAlso, Allah command His believer to take the work within his capabilities and not exceed it, because Allah Himself won’t make his worshiper suffering.\n\n“Abu Hurairah reported Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, ‘It is essential to feed the slave, clothe him (properly) and not burden him with work which is beyond his power’.” – Muslim\n\nAlso read: Importance of Time in Islam\n\n6. The right to have rest\n\nEmployers must not overworking their labor with a lot of duties beyond their capabilities. Having some time to rest is the right of a labor. The work that the labors do must not causing damage to his health and life.\n\n“And I do not wish to put you in difficulty.” – Al Qasas (28:27)\n\nThe Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “Do not charge them with works that they cannot afford.” – An Nasa’i and Ibn Majah.\n\n\n7. Obtaining the rights that determined by the employers\n\nUnder the contractual work, an employer must give proper rights to his labors and not to violating any of them. The violation of labor’s right considered as injustice in Islam. Employer must never devalues the labor’s wages by benefited his severe need at a time. This is strictly prohibited by Islam.\n\n\n8. To be fired due to lack of performance\n\nGiven all the privilege involving proper wages and resting time, Islam also asks labor to give their best when it comes to work as a return. Unless the decreasing performance was caused by sickness or old age, the employers have the right to fired their labors when they’re lacking in performance. A labor should benefited the most from his young age to give his best at work.\n\nAlso read: Importance of Sacrifice in Islam\n\n9. The labor’s dignity should be preserve\n\nLabors in Islam is not a submissive of lower class in a society. Rather, they are the equal part of it and should also be treated equally. Thus, employers should protect the dignity if their labors. Labors should not be humiliated and violated like a slave. Labors should be treated as coworker who helps the employer to gain benefits. The Prophet (SAW) himself would eat together with the labors and assist them in work.\n\n10. Labors should not be abuse\n\nIslam does not permit employers to practice abusive act towards their labors. If they ever hit labors, they should be responsible for their act.\n\n\nThis is confirmed by Aisha who narrated: “The Messenger of Allah never beat any of his servants, or wives, and his hand never hit anything.” – Ibn Majah\n\nAlso read: Importance of Jummah in Islam\n\nMore Labor Rights in Islam\n\n  1. Employer must give his labors time to do the religious ritual such as prayer and fasting.\n  2. Labors have the right to complain when they feel any injustice related to work.\n  3. Labors have the right for insurance system who will benefited themselves and their family when they deceased.\n  4. Labors have the right for the kindness from their employer. These kindness include not to force them beyond their capability to do works.\n  5. Labors have freedom to form a unions or association to seek justice and escalate their bargaining power within the society.\n  6. Relationship between labors and employer should be like brotherhood, so both parties could gain the best benefits.\n  7. Labors should be educated and treated nicely.\n  8. Labors should not do work which cause any harm physically so they no longer capable to work.\n  9. Labors should work at the exact amount of time that equals to his wages.\n  10. Labors could disagree to their employers when they feel injustice in the employer-labor relationship.\n\nSo those are the rights of labors in Islam. May Allah bless us with a good behaviors towards our brother and treat labors as one of them.\n\nSponsors Link\n, ,\nOleh :\nKategori : Islamic Law", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9268729090690613}
+{"content": "The Fear Of The Unknown\n\n\n\nI came across this quote and just felt it was a piece of the puzzle I was searching for.  I always pay so much attention to every little detail in every aspect of my life. There is not a moment in my life that I haven’t just experienced and let it be. I over think, and analyze every emotion, every pain, every moment. I often wonder how many people like myself, are afraid of the unknown. How many moments do we really allow ourselves to just “let it be?”  Instead of trying to constantly understand the entire world, what if we all just enjoyed the sense of mystery? Sometimes we just need to leave room for mystery, because really, not everything needs to make sense.\n\n\n\nWe spend so much time trying to untangle the knots or rearrange the puzzle pieces in our life daily. We make each strategic move as if we are pieces on a chessboard, trying to protect our king and queen. Did you ever think that maybe we are the reason that the pieces won’t fall into place? We find ourselves waiting for our opponent, a bad job, a mean boss, a bad relationship, an unhealthy lifestyle, a disease, to make their next move. Based on their move, we sit and analyze every possible retaliation they could make on our next move. Sometimes we lose sight of our king, and make a spurious choice, and we are in checkmate. We look to take back our move, and think over and over again how we were blinded. There is always an excuse when we find ourselves in checkmate. Either we spent too much time analyzing or we acted on impulse, both decisions could bring us to the same point. You will never know which one is the right choice unless you try. You see the thing about checkmate is it brings you to an end, to begin a new beginning. The pieces return back, and you have a chance at a fresh new approach.  So don’t try for the perfect move, for we don’t know in the end if it will ever simply be “perfect.”IMG_20140227_215036", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9781259298324585}
+{"content": "The Chetlat Island is 56 km on the north of the Amini and 432 km (233 nautical miles) away from Kochi. It lies between 11° 41′ and 11° 43′ N latitude and 72° 41′ and 72° 43′ E longitude having an area of 1.40 sq km. Along the eastern side of the island, there is a wide belt of coral delta formed by storms, which broadens at the north and covers the whole southern end of the island.\n\nCHETLAT is the northern most inhabited island.Coir twisting is thechief occupation of the people here.The coconut yield is poor and income is meagre.Manufacture of mats and weaving of coconut leaves are the spare time industries here.The island suffered a great deal at the hands of the portuguese in the 16th century.Boat building was a flourishing industry at the beginning of the 20th century when all the vessels needed by the Amindivi islanders were built here.\n\n\n\nIsland at a glance\nPopulation (2011) 2345\nDensity (per 2255.\nLocation 11°- 41* North Latttude 72°- 43* East longitude\nDistance to Malabar coast 432 km from Kochi\nTotal geographical Area 1.40 sq.Kms\nMaximum Length 2.68 km\nWidth 0.59 km\nTemperature 32oC (Max.) to 28oC (Min.)\nHumidity 70-75%\nHighest Rainfall 241.8 mm.recorded in 24 hours\nLiteracy Rate 92.22", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9533283114433289}
+{"content": "IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?\n\nIf you’ve been studying IELTS for a long time, you’ll see certain teachers and textbooks recommending one structure or another. Generally, what they suggest is something like this:\n\n  • Introduction\n  • 2-3 body paragraphs\n  • Conclusion\n\nThat’s it. Pretty simple, right?\n\nWell, some students ask, “Should I write 4 or 5 paragraphs?” because they want to know which is best. When they look at model essays by IELTS examiners, they see both kinds of essay, but wonder why.\n\nWhy Do Paragraphs Matter?\n\nParagraphs are important in writing essays because they break down your ideas into convenient sections that a reader can easily understand. Imagine if a 250 word IELTS task 2 essay was just one whole block of text!\n\nAs such, there are certain basic writing conventions like introductions and conclusions, and the notion that one paragraph should contain one idea. All of this makes it easier for a writer to give clear information, and for a reader to understand it.\n\nIn IELTS, you should follow these ideas. Remember that the IELTS writing test is marked according to four sections:\n\n  • Task Achievementrubric 300x213 - IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?\n  • Coherence and Cohesion\n  • Lexical Resource\n  • Grammatical Range and Accuracy\n\nParagraphing falls under “coherence and cohesion”, meaning that the IELTS examiner will be judging your overall English ability on this skill.\n\nBeing able to use paragraphs “sufficiently and appropriately” would get you a band 8.0 for this part of the exam, so it is super important!\n\n\nOk, here’s a little bit of advice. Learning grammar is super hard, but learning essay structure is easy! You could study grammar for five years and still struggle with it, but you could learn essay structure in just one day! Now consider that both of these are worth 25% and you can understand why it’s so important to get good at structuring.\n\n4 v 5 Paragraphs: Which is Better?\n\nOk, let’s look at the merits and problems with each of these approaches to writing a task 2 IELTS essay.\n\nThe 4-Paragraph Structurestructure 1 300x210 - IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?\n\nA four-paragraph essay is going to look like this:\n\n  • Introduction\n  • Body paragraph 1\n  • Body paragraph 2\n  • Conclusion\n\nYour body paragraphs will be chosen according to the question type. You may, for example, have one paragraph about advantages and another about disadvantages. You may have a paragraph about problems and another about solutions. However, there will always be two body paragraphs, and each should contain a different idea.\n\nHere is an example of how it could be used:\n\nThe best way to travel is travel in a group led by a tour guide.\n\nTo what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?\n\nYou could structure a 4-paragraph essay like this:\n\n  • Introduction – restate the question, outline essay\n  • Para #1 – state counterpoint, explain why I disagree\n  • Para #2 – reason why independent travel is good, explain\n  • Conclusion\n\nHere is my sample answer:\n\nNowadays, more people are travelling around the world and some of them choose to do it in tour groups. There are various reasons why they travel like this, but others strongly disagree with this method of tourism, and instead prefer to travel alone, or with a smaller group, such as friends or family. This essay will argue that independent travel is preferable to guided tours.\n\nThere are many reasons why people prefer to travel in groups. Some of the most common reasons are that it is cheaper, more convenient, and you are guided by an expert who will speak your language and be able to give you important information. This is mostly true, but it also creates an artificial environment by alienating the travellers from the place they visit. Tourists in large groups are surrounded primarily by other tourists, taken to pre-arranged locations, and given access only to what the tour suggests. They are therefore losing out on many experiences available to those who travel more freely.\n\nPeople who travel by themselves are able to choose their own itinerary and, if they like, change that itinerary according to their preference. For example, say they decided to travel through the islands of Thailand. They may really enjoy one island and decide to stay there for longer, rather than stick to the original schedule. Moreover, their experience will be more authentic as they are able to converse with the locals and explore a place naturally.\n\nSome people may argue that getting lost or having translation issues are problems that would ruin a holiday, but on the contrary, they provide adventure and experience. Guided travel certainly makes travel easier, but it doesn’t make it better.\n\nPros and Cons\n\nIn the above example, I was able to take the two ideas – being for or against tour groups – and devote a paragraph to each. This is a really simple way of structuring an essay, yet it is almost always effective. On the other hand, it could sometimes be limiting. Certain types of question, like problem/solution or the two-part question, may work out better with a 5-paragraph structure.\n\nOn the other hand, the four-paragraph structure may allow for more development within the paragraph, thereby showing a greater ability to expression your ideas. For example, you could:\n\n  • State an advantage\n  • Explain\n  • Give an example\n\nWhereas, with the time and space constraints, this may be harder to do with five paragraphs.\n\nThe 5-Paragraph Structure\n\nThe five-paragraph structure is more complex than the four-paragraph structure, but it needn’t be much more difficult to use. Here’s an example of how it may appear:\n\n  • Introduction\n  • Body paragraph 1\n  • Body paragraph 2\n  • Body paragraph 3\n  • Conclusionstructure 2 300x210 - IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?\n\nAs you see, this allows us to include more ideas in the body of the paragraph, which has both advantages and disadvantages, as we shall see.\n\nI will write another plan and essay based upon the same question above:\n\n  • Introduction – restate the question and outline essay\n  • Para #1 – arguments for group travel\n  • Para #2 – 1st argument against group travel, explain\n  • Para #3 – 2nd argument against group travel, explain\n  • Conclusion\n\nAs you can see, this allows me to more clearly divide my arguments, rather than condense two ideas into one paragraph.\n\nHere’s my 5-paragraph essay:\n\n\nThe reasons why people prefer guided group tours are numerous. Many people prefer this means of travelling because it is often cheaper, more convenient, and allows them access to a knowledgeable guide who can help them understand the area better. However, although these reasons are mostly true, there is more to be gained by travelling alone or in a small, independent group.\n\nFor one thing, travelling alone allows a greater degree of freedom. If you arrange your own itinerary, you can go where you like and even choose to change this according to circumstances. For example, if you are travelling the islands around Thailand, you may find one that is better than the others and choose to spend more time there.\n\nIn addition, the experience of travelling without a tour guide is more authentic. Arranged tours usually take people to the most common destinations, where you only see the same things that other tourists see. You seldom get to see the authentic life of people in that place. Even if it is more difficult, it is better to explore independently than be guided.\n\nIn conclusion, although there are many apparent benefits to travelling in large guided groups, it is preferable to travel independently. Chief among the reasons in favour of this mode of travel are the freedom and authenticity they provide.\n\nPros and Cons\n\nThe five-paragraph structure may seem harder to construct, and perhaps it is, but it is not much more difficult than the four-paragraph structure. Perhaps paradoxically, it can make structuring easier because, instead of condensing various arguments into a single paragraph, you can instead add a second argument to an additional paragraph. Then again, it is easier to include too many ideas or even to stray off topic with more paragraphs. Make sure to plan carefully and choose your arguments before you begin writing.\n\n3 300x210 - IELTS Writing: Should I Write 4 or 5 Paragraphs?\n\n\nSo which is the better structure to use for your essays?\n\nThe answer is… it’s a personal choice.\n\nRemember, there is no one perfect way of writing an essay. Different people will have different methods.\n\nTo be honest, both 4- and 5-paragraph essays are completely fine to use in the IELTS writing task 2. As long as you use the structures correctly, either one could get you a band 7.0 or even higher. The important thing is that you plan your essay carefully and don’t go off-topic.\n\nDon’t worry about word length, either. Look at my example essays above. The 5-paragraph essay is only a few words longer than the 4-paragraph essay!\n\nHowever, I would say that since the 4-paragraph structure is slightly easier to use, it has my recommendation.\n\n\nI made this post into a video, which I just uploaded to YouTube. Maybe it makes things easier to understand. Please subscribe to my channel and LIKE the video – it would be really, really helpful to me! Thanks so much. I appreciate all my readers and viewers.\n\nSome Final Words of Advice\n\nIn my IELTS classes, I almost always teach my students to use the four-paragraph structure. This is because it is easier and, to be honest, there is little more that you could do with a five-paragraph structure.\n\nThere are some occasions when a five-paragraph structure is better. I would suggest that you consider it for two-part questions or maybe even problem and solution questions; however, in most cases there is little difference between the two.\n\nI could write a band 9.0 answer to any IELTS question using the four-paragraph structure. It would be a little more difficult to do it with the five-paragraph structure, but not impossible, and not much more difficult.\n\nTherefore, choose whichever style you find best, and practice that often. Seek feedback from qualified IELTS trainers, then repeat your process in your IELTS exam.\n\nOne final word of warning: You really don’t ever need to write more than 5-paragraphs. I would be surprised to hear of anyone getting a high band score with six or seven or eight paragraphs. Likewise, just having three would also be a bad idea. Stick to 4 or 5 and you will be fine.\n\nAuthor: David S. Wills\n\n\nShare This Post On\n\nSubmit a Comment\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9671630859375}
+{"content": "EPA to reconsider Obama-era coal ash disposal rule\n\nEPA to reconsider Obama-era coal ash disposal rule\n© Getty Images\n\nEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulators will reconsider portions of an Obama administration rule regulating coal ash, a byproduct of fossil fuel-fired power plants.\n\nThe rule, finalized in 2015, set new standards for coal ash disposal sites and boosted inspection and monitoring operations to make sure the sites don’t leak or spill.\n\nCoal ash is a waste product produced by burning coal. It can contain small amounts of toxic chemicals, and is generally stored in ponds or pits near the power plants that burn them.\n\nThe EPA’s rule was the first national standard for coal ash disposal, and it came after a series of high-profile spills and leaks.\n\n\nBut President Trump’s EPA said it would reconsider sections of the rule after utilities petitioned the agency.\n\nThe Utility Solid Waste Activities Group, an industry organization, and power plant operator AES Puerto Rico asked the EPA to review sections of the rule, including its groundwater compliance and on-site storage provisions.\n\nThe EPA said it’s not committing to rewrite the rule, but that it “determined that it was appropriate, and in the public’s interest, to reconsider specific provisions” of it.\n\n“It is important that we give the existing rule a hard look and consider improvements that may help states tailor their permit programs to the needs of their states, in a way that provides greater regulatory certainty, while also ensuring that human health and the environment remain protected,” EPA Administrator Scott PruittEdward (Scott) Scott PruittOvernight Energy: Trump rolls back methane pollution rule | EPA watchdog to step down | China puts tariffs on US gas EPA inspector general to resign Overnight Energy: EPA watchdog says agency failed to properly monitor asbestos at schools| Watchdog won’t investigate former Superfund head’s qualifications| Florence causes toxic coal ash spill in North Carolina MORE said in a statement.\n\nRepublicans have complained that the coal ash rule carries expensive compliance costs and threatens the viability of coal as a fuel source.\n\nDemocrats and environmentalists, meanwhile, pushed the Obama administration to go even further with its coal ash regulation. Obama’s EPA, for instance, did classify coal ash as a hazardous material, a distinction that would have opened the door to stricter regulations but higher compliance costs.\n\nThe EPA's Thursday action is the second it's taken in two days to review power plant regulations. The agency announced on Wednesday that it would delay compliance deadlines for a rule limiting toxic water pollution from coal-fired power plants.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7354943752288818}
+{"content": "This I Believe\n\nDanielle - Briarcliff, New York\nEntered on June 1, 2007\nAge Group: Under 18\n\nI believe in the heterozygosity of the human race; I believe in the individuality and the originality of every being that has walked, flied, swam, slithered or crawled the planet; I believe in the beauty of inequality. No creature is the same and no creature is equal to its neighbor and despite what the citizens of planet earth are taught, inequality is the most beautiful and rewarding thing that could ever exist.\n\nInequality is not just comprised of segregation and racial differences. These things can be categorized as “negative inequality”. Despite what most people have thought since the beginning of time, there is an inequality that is beautiful, a kind of inequality that we’re not taught to embrace as children. Inequality is wrong, we are taught, and something as significant as the Constitution says so, conveying the idea that everybody’s equal. But this is not the case at all. In fact, nobody is equal to another and this is what makes the earth beautiful, it’s what makes the citizens of planet earth different from eachother. It’s what we need to assure ourselves that no being will exist that is equal to another and that there is, truly, so much more to one’s life than being just a… life.\n\nIt is unfortunately true that an African-American man standing beside a white man represents pure inequality, but who is to say that the white man is “better” than the African-American man? The beauty of inequality is that nobody knows who is the better person because the inequality exists on so many levels that it’s practically impossible to tell. No technology, no meter, no genius can tell me which out of two people is the one that is “better”. Perhaps inequality rises above science and the power of the human mind. The ironic superiority of inequality, I believe, to be a beautiful aspect of the world as we know it.\n\nIt’s much too bad that the irony of this superior existence of inequality can’t be thoroughly explained by a girl who has lived a meager sixteen years on planet earth, but I can observe just as well as any adult and my belief lies within me. A belief is something that is carried through ones life, something that remains constant and doesn’t change. A belief lays at the core of an individual, while the flesh and bones around it develops, grows old. Like a peach, for example, the “pit” remains inside. It remains there until the fruit around it grows ripe enough to be eaten and once that happens, the pit still exists and the seed goes on to be planted to share itself to produce more. As humans, it’s our duty to share our belief with the world around us. Let our beliefs flower into the callow lives of others.\n\n“The only thing constant in this world is change,” Buddha tells us. Every pattern is a heterozygous one. Nothing is equal and nothing should be. In this idea, I most certainly believe.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9687750339508057}
+{"content": "Taxi Blues (1990)\n\nGenres - Drama  |   Sub-Genres - Urban Drama, Odd Couple Film, Psychological Drama  |   Release Date - Sep 7, 1990 (USA - Unknown)  |   Run Time - 110 min.  |   Countries - France, USSR  |  \n  • AllMovie Rating\n  • User Ratings (0)\n  • Your Rating\n\nShare on\n\nTaxi Blues is a ground-breaking Russian film, one of the first to examine the rifts between the old Soviet Union and the post-communist Russian society. The movie concerns the friendship of an independent, alcoholic Jewish jazz musician named Liocha (Piotr Nikolajevitch Mamonov) and Schlikov (Pyotr Zaitchenko) a stern, conservative cabdriver. After Liocha doesn't pay Schlikov for a fare one evening, the cab driver tracks the musician down and takes his saxophone as payment. Despite his initial treatment of Liocha, Schlikov becomes fascinated by the musician and offers him a bed in his apartment. Eventually, the two strike up a friendship and Liocha gets a job in the taxi depot in order to pay off his debt. However, their friendship turn sour when Schlikov's girlfriend becomes smitten with the musician and Liocha joins an American musician for a U.S. tour. When Liocha returns, rich and successful, he fights with his old friend, leading to a sorrowful conclusion. Taxi Blues received great critical acclaim and many awards, including director Pavel Lungin winning the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1990.\n\n\n\n\npersonality, alcoholism, cab-driver, friendship, ideals, music, political-conflict, saxophone", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9183041453361511}
+{"content": "HK Tennis Academy\nHK Tennis Academy\n\nTennis teams training\n\nBoys/Girls Varsity Tennis\n\nAt our tennis facility, we offer the highest quality instruction to tennis teams at the varsity level. Our coaches have world class experience to teach technique, athleticism and strategy for both singles and doubles tournament play.\n\nA deposit of $1200 is required before the start of the term to reserve dates and times agreed upon. Choose any date and any time when making the deposit. A confirmation receipt will be emailed to the email provided. \n\nVarsity Tennis Deposit", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8064277172088623}
+{"content": "\n\nNow that the weather is warm you probably have your schedule filled with parties and other activities. Being outdoors partying on Independence Day is something a lot of people do. Parades, marching bands, and live music are frequently part of the good times, and don’t forget fireworks! There is no cause to remain home and miss out on the good times, but take a moment to consider how you might protect your hearing when you do go out to celebrate this summer.\n\nNoise-induced hearing loss affects nearly 6 percent of the U.S. adult population less than the age of 70; that equates to around 40 million people. The sad part is this kind of hearing damage is almost 100 percent avoidable. What’s necessary is a little forethought and good sense. Take into consideration some examples of why you really should take care of your ears as you enjoy yourself this season and how to do it.\n\nFireWorks are the Most Noisy of all.\n\nWith all the potential dangers that come with fireworks, hearing damage tops the list. Despite that, you rarely hear experts warning people about this threat like they do with fire or burns.\n\n\nThe good news? The potential for hearing damage is exponentially lowered the further you are from the explosion. People watching, for example, from their porch, would be less at risk than someone in the stands where the fireworks show is happening. If you are an adult it is recommended that you stand at least 30 yards away. Children should be 70 yards away to take care of their hearing and babies shouldn’t be there at all.\n\nBecause You Love Live Music\n\n\nHearing loss is a constant factor when it comes to repeated exposure to loud music. A sound at 100 decibels, which is typical level for live shows, becomes dangerous after just 15 minutes. Almost all concerts are longer than that!\n\nCrowd Noise is Easily Overlooked\n\n\nA Small Amount of Common Sense Goes a Long Way\n\nWhat type of protection should you use for your ears? You might not realize that it’s actually common sense. Try to determine what the hearing risk is before the event:\n\n  • Will there be loud music?\n  • Large crowds?\n  • Fireworks?\n\nWhat precautions you take depends on how loud you think the celebration will be. It is important to wear hearing protection if you are going to be around loud music, crowds, or fireworks. Something simple like foam earplugs will allow you to hear what’s going on still, but at a safe level.\n\nIf there is a fireworks show, take the family back to a safe distance. The nature of fireworks means you can enjoy them without being in the front row. A block or two away is the safest minimum distance. Being a little further away helps you avoid large crowds making the show more enjoyable\n\nThe Sumer Season has Other Risks Besides Hearing Damage\n\nThere is more to talk about here than just sound. Hot sun, not enough water, excessive drinking, and fatigue also can be a concern. If you have tinnitus or suffer from hearing loss these things will make them worse.\n\n\nCelebrations come every year, but you only get one pair of ears. Do what you must to keep them safe while still enjoying the good times. If you are worried that you may have already suffered hearing damage it is important to schedule an appointment with a hearing care specialist.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5057936906814575}
+{"content": "Department News\n\n\n\n(l to r) Olivia Ho-Shing, Leigh Needleman, Nimrod Rubinstein, Julio Perez, and Catherine Dulac\n\nMost cells in the mammalian body contain two copies of each chromosome, one passed from each of the parents. While most of the genes are equally active from both of the parental chromosomes, in a limited set of genes, a copy from only one of the parents is inactivated in a process known as genomic imprinting. The process of inactivation, or imprinting, generally takes place in the oocyte and sperm cells, and is achieved through addition of chemical marks on the DNA, which in the offspring, ensures inactivation of the genes. As a result of this phenomenon the maternal and paternal genomes contribute differently to the tissues in which they are expressed. While it is known that many imprinted genes are expressed in the embryo and placenta, and hence play key roles in early development, it is becoming evident that many imprinted genes are also expressed in the developing and adult brain, potentially regulating functions such as feeding, as well as social and motivated behaviors. Mapping imprinted genes in the brain can therefore shed significant light on the genetic basis of these functions.\n\nDespite the advent of RNA sequencing technologies, which provide sensitive measurements of gene expression, several previous efforts to map imprinting in the mouse brain have yielded inconsistent results, most likely due to inadequate experimental design, data analysis, and lack of secondary validation. People from the laboratory of Catherine Dulac, in collaboration with the group of Jun Liu (Department of Statistics), have addressed these issues by applying a combined approach that includes developing a powerful statistical model that accounts for many of the sources of noise and variation inherent to RNA sequencing data, and extensively validating each imprinted gene candidate using an independent experimental technique. Using this approach for mapping imprinted genes in the developing and adult mouse cerebellum, they detected and independently validated 41 novel imprinted genes, in addition to 74 previously known imprinted genes.  This is a staggering increase of the total number of genes known to be imprinted in the mouse.\n\nTheir analysis confirmed that imprinting for many genes is manifested as lack of expression from one of the parental copies. However, it also highlighted that many other imprinted genes show a moderate deviation from equal expression of both copies (parental bias). Among many exciting findings of this work, the comparison between the two animal age groups revealed that the parental bias is not constant through life but generally its magnitude tends to decrease with age. Furthermore, quantifying the parental bias for a subset of imprinted genes across the brain and in tissues outside the brain showed a striking preference for these genes to be parentally biased only in the brain.  In addition, they observed a remarkable variability in the degree of the parental bias across the different brain regions (Figure 1).\n\nWhile it was known that many imprinted genes are involved in tissue growth processes, programmed cell death (apoptosis) emerged as another biological pathway in which imprinted genes are significantly involved. Specifically, the long isoform of the Bcl-x gene (Bcl-xL), whose function is to prevent apoptosis, was found to have a 60:40 paternal-to-maternal expression level ratio. Despite this moderate parental bias, mice in which the paternal copy of the Bcl-x gene was deleted from all brain cells showed a significantly smaller brain size compared to either mice in which the maternal copy of Bcl-x was deleted or to control mice. Studying the brain histology of the paternal Bcl-x deleted mice showed that this loss of brain volume is largely due to a specific loss of excitatory neurons within the brain. This suggests that genomic imprinting of Bcl-xL is specific to certain cell types in the brain. It also clearly demonstrates the biological significance of a key finding of this work – that imprinted genes with moderate parental biases have a functional biological significance.\n\nRead more in eLife or download PDF\n\nRead more in the Harvard Gazette", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9950155019760132}
+{"content": "The Butt Boulder\n\nWhile trying to keep warm in between the lead qualifications and the speed competition, something great happened at the bouldering wall. Pinches and I were bouldering with a few kids from the team, trying out the wall and making some boulders. Far off in a corner, we discovered a huge starting hold, low on the wall. The yellow hold was almost large enough to be used as a seat, but not quite...\n\nThis is how we created the infamous \"Butt Boulders\". \n\nMost of the problems we came up with involved clenching your butt around the starting hold, trying to keep your balance, then continuing to slide around for some next far-off hold. It was a sight to behold.\n\nPlease enjoy some samples from the session:\n\nI very much enjoyed screaming \"CLENCH YOUR ASS\" at other people trying our boulder. I will never forget this bouldering session.\n\n- Crimps", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.71930330991745}
+{"content": "100-calorie snack: Dairy-free chocolate almond butter chews ready in five minutes!\n\nMay 15, 2012\n\nYes, I know….this snack sounds too good to be true.  Well, I am going to make it and let you know if it is actually yummy.  The ingredients are by themselves tasty, so I would assume that the combination is delicious as well.   I found this recipe in the Chatelaine magazine I get on line every day and I thougth to share it with you:\n\nFive-minute, no-bake, vegan chocolate almond butter chews\n\nYield: 7 golf-ball sized chews\n\n\n1/4 cup chunky all-natural almond butter\n\n3 tbsp organic brown rice syrup\n\n1 tsp pure vanilla extract\n\n1 cup rice crisp cereal\n\n1 tbsp cacao nibs or chopped dark chocolate\n\n1. Line a plate with parchment paper.\n\n2. In a medium sized bowl, stir together the almond butter, brown rice syrup, and vanilla. Microwave on high for 35-45 seconds or heat on the stovetop until simmering. Stir well and immediately add in the rice crisp cereal and cacao nibs or chopped chocolate until combined.\n\n\n4. Place the balls onto parchment paper lined plate and freeze for 5 minutes. You can keep these chews in the freezer in a sealed container. They remain nice and chewy even straight from the freezer.\n\nThe original recipe can be found at the following link: http://www.chatelaine.com/en/blog/post/37696–100-calorie-snack-dairy-free-chocolate-almond-butter-chews-ready-in-five-minutes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8836261034011841}
+{"content": "\n\n\nGet a custom mouth guard. These are made for people with sleep apnea. It is a great alternative to CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) and is much more comfortable to wear at night. A mouth guard will work by positioning the jaw and tongue in a helpful way that will allow for easier breathing while asleep.\n\n\n\n\nIf you consume alcohol or smoke, this could be the underlying cause of your sleep apnea symptoms. Meanwhile, smoking causes the swelling of the airways; alcohol does the complete opposite and relaxes them too much. If you want to be able to sleep well each night, limit or quit smoking and/or drinking.\n\nWhile sedatives and other sleep medications may help you fall asleep they are not so good when suffering from apnea. If possible, avoid taking any sleep aids to see if this improves your apnea problems. You just may find that something you thought was helping you to sleep was actually decreasing the quality of your sleep.\n\n\n\nLearn to recognize sleep apnea. If you snore a lot or choke and can’t breathe during the night, this is probably a sign of sleep apnea. Use a tape recorded if you sleep alone and listen to the tape to find out how much noise you make during the night.\n\nSome people may experience sleepiness brought on by sleep apnea. Make sure that if you are one of the many who experience this, don’t operate any vehicles or heavy machinery. Do the responsible thing and get the right treatment. Don’t operate any vehicles or machinery without treatment, as you can be a hazard to yourself and others.\n\nLose weight. If you find yourself having difficulty sleeping, take the time to evaluate your weight. If you are obese, that is likely a major factor in your sleep apnea. Start on a diet and exercise regime right away so that you can slim down and sleep more comfortably every night.\n\n\n\nMake some drastic lifestyle changes if you must, in order to cure your sleep apnea. This means if you are smoking, drinking or taking sedatives, avoid doing so. If you don’t, this can worsen your sleep apnea symptoms. If you are addicted to smoking or drinking, consider getting help before being able to relieve your sleep symptoms.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6903590559959412}
+{"content": "Cannabivarin/CBV is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, analogous to cannabinol/CBN but with a shorter side-chain.\n\n\nCBN is a cannabinoid with weak psycho-active properties and some therapeutic potential related to cancer, pain, ALS and eating disorders.\n\n\n\n\nTRPV3 is one of the non-GPCR-coupled cannabinoid receptors. TRPs are typically involved in pain sensation.\n\n\nTRPM8 is involved in sensory perception.\n\n\nTRPA1 is best known as a sensor for environmental irritants, pain, cold and stretch.\n\n\n\n\nBoth plant cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system have been implicated as risk factors in the development of depression as well as therapeutic targets to treat depression.\n\n\n8-OH-CBN is a recently discovered cannabinoid. The physiological and therapeutic properties of 8-OH-CBN remain to be investigated.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9966171979904175}
+{"content": "30 July 2009\n\nThe biggest debate about science?\n\nToday’s post, I am a lazy blogger and mostly compile other people’s responses to something Colin Stuart asked on Twitter:\n\nWhat do you, good folk of Twitter, believe to be the most pressing debate about modern science?\n\nI thought that was a great question, so wrote:\n\nThe most important debate about science is how to convert scientific information into public action.\n\nAnd I really wanted to see what other people had to say. The wording of “about” science is important here; it’s not asking for the most important debates in science. A few broad themes came up...\n\nPublic trust and public policy\n\nI see debates re cloning, GM, MMR, stem cell etc. all as symptoms of a single 21stC malaise: who to trust, who to believe? - ruthseeley\n\nthe woeful lack of scientific literacy in the media. - cromercrox\n\nPerceived lack of acknowledgement of importance of science/evidence in govt., policy-making etc. (another pov) - EvidenceMatters\n\nTo teach the public to be comfortable with uncertainty. - silentypewriter\n\nHow to accurately communicate to the public what we know we know and what we don't know we don't know. - JATetro\n\nI think most pressing science issue is lay mistrust of science. Without some consensus, much else is moot. - nparmalee\n\n\nI think the most \"pressing\" debates all stem from what to do energy/environment/health wise with this many people on planet - ktg72\n\nmost pressing debate: at what point does human population growth override the need for medical progress? - museumoftechno\n\nClimate change\n\nHow to stop climate change and avoid being the cause of a mass extinction event? - imascientist\n\nGlobal warming: a habitable planet would be useful - loopysue_p\n\nSurely how to tackle global warming - what could be more pressing? - twitandtweeter\n\nAs others have said, nothing really compares to global warming, i.e. the continuing existence of the human race! - jjaron\n\nmost pressing debate? Actually, I think climate change. Major public sketicism + large possible effects, for the lose. - Luna_the_cat\n\nScience as profession\n\nIn that case, the most pressing debate is whether and how to fix the broken scientific publishing, funding & career system. - kejames\n\nDepends on which pov. Researcher - poor funding, career prospects in UK. Public - 'balance' of reporting and science apps. - EvidenceMatters\n\npeer review reform - blandiloquent\n\n\nthe future of space exploration. i.e., to decide that the time has come to get ourselves a space elevator. - doroncalo\n\nRobot overlords\n\nthe rise of the machines. nano tech and it's viral future. interests and scares me most. - ColtSeaversPS\n\n'in' modern science = e.g. the singularity, abiogenesis; - kejames\n\n\nThe development of Hover-boards. Only 6 years away!!! - FantasticMrOx\n\n1 comment:\n\nJames Salsman said...\n\nLet's make sure that no science money is spent in a way that could further the problem instead of solve it. We should strive to limit jargon, too.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9379387497901917}
+{"content": "drilling speeds and feeds calculator metric\n\nDrilling wood generally uses higher spindle speeds than metal, and the the dating black book pdf speed is not as critical.\nSmid, Peter (2008 CNC Programming Handbook (3rd.\nThe machinability rating is determined by measuring the muvee reveal version 8 product key weighed averages of the normal cutting speed, surface finish, and tool life for each material.\nSchematically, speed at the workpiece surface can be thought of as the tangential speed at the tool-cutter interface, that is, zoo tycoon saved games how fast the material moves past the cutting edge of the tool, although \"which surface to focus on\" is a topic with several valid answers.Spindle speed edit The spindle speed is the rotational frequency of the spindle of the machine, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).This speed at the periphery (of a point on the circumference, moving past a stationary point) will depend on the rotational speed (RPM) and diameter of the object.If variables such as cutter geometry and the rigidity of the machine tool and its tooling setup could be ideally maximized (and reduced to negligible constants then only a lack of power (that is, kilowatts or horsepower) available to the spindle would prevent the use.Proven On The Shop Floor.Our calculator is aimed at solving all your machining-related tasks in one place.Strength of the workpiece (high feed rates will collapse thin wall tubing) Characteristics of the material being cut, chip flow depends on material type and feed rate.Mechanical arrangements to effect CSS have existed for centuries, but they were never applied commonly to machine tool control.RPM is the calculated speed for the cutter.The greater the number of cutting edges, the higher the feed rate permissible: for a cutting edge to work efficiently it must remove sufficient material to cut rather than rub; it also must do its fair share of work.A cutting speed for mild steel of 100 ft/min is the same whether it is the speed of the cutter passing over the workpiece, such as in a turning operation, or the speed of the cutter moving past a workpiece, such as in a milling operation.In turning and boring, the surface can be defined on either side of the depth of cut, that is, either the starting surface or the ending surface, with neither definition being \"wrong\" as long as the people involved understand the difference.That's some serious cost-savings power.The recommended speeds and feeds provided in this book were the result of extensive testing to determine optimum tool life under controlled conditions for every material of the day, operation and hardness.\" 3 Flórez-Orrego.However, hole-making may be performed as a secondary machining process for an existing part, such as a casting or forging.\nA line drawing showing some basic concepts of speeds and feeds in the context of lathe work.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6318615078926086}
+{"content": "S. R. Janakiraman\n\nBorn in 1928 in Lalgudi, Tamil Nadu, Shri S.R. Janakiraman received his training in music under various gurus and scholars. His teachers in vocal music included stalwarts like Tiger Varadacharya, Budalur Krishnamurthy Shastrigal, Musiri Subramanya Iyer, and T. Brinda. He also learnt the Veena under Kalpakam Swaminathan and took the degree of Sangeet Vidwan at the Central College of Carnatic Music, Madras. Among our leading musico- logists today, S.R. Janakiraman has worked under Professors P. Sambamurthy and P.K. Rajagopala Iyer. He is a repository of Carnatic classical music, and has taught music and musicology for nearly four decades within the country and abroad. He has a large number of publications to his credit. He has been honoured by various institutions including the Music Academy, Madras. The title Kalaimamani was conferred on him by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram in 1998. Shri S. R. Janakiraman recei- ves the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Carnatic vocal music.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9320094585418701}
+{"content": "Religion > Comparative Religion/World Religions\n\n<<< 1 2 3\n    sort list by title\n\nThe Ravenous Hyenas and the Wounded Sun\nMyth and Ritual in Ancient India\nStephanie W. Jamison\nJamison addresses the conditions that have limited our understanding of Vedic myth and ritual, such as the profusion and obscurity of the texts and the tendency on the part of scholars to approach mythology and ritual independently.\n\nThe Prince of Darkness\nRadical Evil and the Power of Good in History\nJeffrey Burton Russell\nWhile recounting how past generations have personified evil, Jeffrey Burton Russell deepens our understanding of the ways in which people have dealt with the enduring problem of radical evil.\n\nAccommodation without Assimilation\nSikh Immigrants in an American High School\nMargaret Gibson\nA holistic portrait which reveals why Sikh high school students, despite language barriers, prejudice, and significant cultural differences, often outperform their majority peers and other United States minority groups.\n\n<<< 1 2 3\n\nConnect with us", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8103545308113098}
+{"content": "Terminator Genisys Gets A 15-Sec Tease\n\nAhead of tomorrow’s launch of the full trailer for the sci-fi epic “Terminator Genisys,” Paramount has unveiled a fifteen-second tease of the first footage from the movie. A liquid T-1000, Earth being wiped out, and Arnie with a cybernetic arm are the money shots on offer in this brief glimpse.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999658465385437}
+{"content": "The Holy Spirit was just getting started on the Day of Pentecost. With Holy Spirit empowered Christians there were lots of strange things happening, things that defied the natural world and human nature. A man who hadn’t walked in 40 years was walking and jumping and praising God. The apostles were boldly proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ in spite of great adversity and threats of political repercussions. The people of the First Century church were living in unity. There were no needy people, no greedy people, no entitled people among them. If they saw a need, they met it. They gave of their wealth to spread the gospel and gave even beyond the 10% tithe as they saw the need. Some sold land and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet to be used to promote God’s Kingdom. Even though they came from diverse backgrounds and cultures, they were united in their faith and in their mission to care for and encourage one another and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. The power of the Holy Spirit made all of these things possible.\n\nPr 3:9-10; Jn 14:6; Acts 2:43, 3:6-8, 12; 4:19-20, 32-34; Phil 4:6;\n\n(Acts 2:43) All believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them…. (Acts 4:32-34)\n\nWhat was happening in the First Century church was amazing and miraculous. It was the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through devoted believers. This power is available to all Christians; sadly, there are many who live at a low level of devotion and never allow God’s power to be revealed in them. God prompts believers to step out and step up. God may ask you to do something that you consider risky…out of your comfort zone. You can either take a bye or you can take God’s hand and trust Him. As you cooperate with the Holy Spirit and experience his power in those moments, you will be seeking more opportunities! When time and time again God has strengthened and empowered you, you develop a high level of devotion. Walking in the Spirit is simply responding with a “yes” as God leads you. The First Century Christians did not withhold of their time, their service or their resources. They honored God with all they had. They made sure that no one was needy, that all were cared for, that the ministry of the apostles and the church were funded so that God’s Word would spread to every corner of the world. This seems like a utopia that works on paper but could never work when people, personalities and all their differences are involved. Yet, the Christians we read about in Acts were from many cultures and backgrounds; they had many differences. However, those differences did not have the power to separate what the unity of faith in Jesus Christ created.\n\nHow has the power of the Holy Spirit helped you to set aside differences you have with other believers? Why is unity so difficult? Have you experienced a miraculous healing? Were there more miracles in the First Century church than there are today? Explain. When has God called you to do something risky? How did you respond? Do you frequently ask for the Holy Spirit’s power in your life? Why or why not? If yes, when?\n\nRead your Bible every day. Ask God for opportunities to trust him and take risks. Pray for his power to be revealed in your life. Keep a journal of the doors he opens, how you respond, and how things turn out.\n\nGracious God, thank you for your Spirit that strengthens and empowers me. Open doors and help me to walk through knowing that your Spirit will be with me. Give me the courage and the words that I need to be your witness. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7116798758506775}
+{"content": "Bengal's pride: Baluchari sari\n\nBaluchari of West Bengal and Jamdani of Bangladesh depict the famous tradition of world-famous saris of Bengal. In this article, the author discusses Baluchari sari of Bengal, its specialties and how it was revived after independence. Read to know more.\n\nTill the eighteenth century, Bengal's Muslin was exported all over the world. But due to the terrible torture of the British rulers, the production of Muslin was stopped. The painful history is well-known. Similarly, production of Baluchari sari of Bengal was totally stopped. But, due to the endeavor of a great connoisseur of this art, it has been revived. Let us know about Baluchari sari, the pride of Bengal.\n\nWhat is the specialty of the Baluchari saree?\n\nBefore the advent of camera and photography, people used to paint to present a visual image. Not only painting, there were various art forms to present visual images. Baluchari saree used to be a medium for the creation of such visual image-for telling a story. Each and every Baluchari sari used to tell a different story through the images depicted on each sari.\n\nBaluchari sari (Image courtesy: Google) Baluchari sari (Image courtesy: Google)\n\nBaluchari saree originated at Baluchar-a very prosperous village in the district of Murshidabad. The art form was actively encouraged by the Nawabs including famous Murshid Quli Khan and other aristocrats of the Bengali society. The weavers were very prosperous and Baluchari sari was (and still is) exported to foreign countries and all over India.\n\nAfter a devastating flood in Bhagirathi river (a tributary of the Ganga), the weaving community of Baluchar was shifted to a safer place. Bishnupur in present Bankura district was the capital of Malla dynasty and a much safer place. The weaving community was shifted to Bishnupur and the progress of Baluchari continued unabated.\n\nIntricacies of Baluchari sari\n\nIn the days of Nawabs, the entire process including cleaning, sorting of cotton, spinning, dyeing, pattern, warping and finally weaving was man-made. The entire family of the weavers used to be engaged in this work. Even then, in a year only two to three saris could be produced. Each saree was created with a separate motif based on a theme. The lifestyle of aristocrats, the story of the epics and other fairy tales were used as a theme. Each sari used to tell a different story and the entire design was created in a hand-made loom. Many people (including the British rulers) used to get confused by these designs and used to think these designs were paintings on canvasses.\n\nBad days of Baluchari\n\nAs already said, an entire family of weavers could produce only two-three Baluchari saris in a year. The weavers faced tremendous pressure from the British rulers and businessmen. With the economic downfall of the country, the weavers started losing their patrons. Many weavers switched their profession. As a result, the craft saw a steady decline. Last known and famous weaver of Baluchari, Dubraj Das, breathed his last in 1903. He was known for Baluchari sari with his signature. The saris with his signature are still found in some collections. With the death of Dubraj Das, the making of Baluchari was stopped.\n\nRevival of Baluchari Sari\n\nBritish rulers left the country in 1947. In 1956, Subho Thakur, a great artist born in the world-famous Thakur family, made an earnest endeavor to revive the great weaving tradition of Bengal. At that time, he was the Director of the Regional Design Centre of West Bengal. He took out the Baluchari saris off his family, showed it to Akshay Das, a master weaver, and after making many experiments like Jacquard weaving, various new motifs like Ajanta-Ellora paintings, Ramayana and Mahabharata, temple architectures, etc., use of different cotton and silk from South India. After tireless effort, Subho Takur, Akshay Das and other renowned weavers of Bishnupur finally revived the pride of Bengal, Baluchari sari.\n\nAgain the sari got the attention of Indians and the eminent people of the world. The intricate weaving attracted the ladies. Baluchari sari has again become famous all over the world.\n\nPrice of Baluchari sari\n\nThere are different variants of Baluchari sari named Chitro, Kolka, Parh and Buti. The motifs can be seen in anchal, parh and the main part of the sari. The price depends upon the intricacy of design. An authentic Baluchari sari nowadays costs in the range of Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 50,000/-. Sometime a Baluchari sari with intricate and elaborate designs with uncommon motif can go upto Rs. 80,000/-. Such sari with intricate design is not readily available. It must be ordered beforehand and can take six months for delivery.\n\nLadies of ISC! During the next major festival, why don't you demand a Baluchari sari from your husbands?\n\n\nAuthor: Reena Upadhya02 Sep 2018 Member Level: Diamond   Points : 8\n\nI don't know what is more beautiful? Is it the author's unique narration or the image of the Baluchari sari? Well, both of them are beautiful and unique.\n\nBaluchari sari is also sometimes called as Baluchar sari. It is not only popular in India but also worn by women in Bangladesh. On sari’s pallu, unique designs are present. Each sari is a unique collection. Each one depicts scenes from mythology. West Bengal is the only proud state where this unique sari is produced. Replicas and copy materials can be found in other states too. However, if one wants to purchase an authentic Baluchari sari, one has to go to West Bengal. Right from the dying stage to the weaving and packaging, care is taken to maintain high quality. It is a work of high precision. It is the status symbol. It is a symbol of aristocracy. Earlier Murshidabad was the place of production. Now Bishnupur and its neighboring places are doing this proud work. The workers need around one week to weave it.\n\nThe process of Baluchari production-\nIt is not an easy process. The whole production is divided into various segments. Since it is a silk sari, silk cocoons and worms need to be cultivated. To achieve softness, yarn needs to be boiled in a soda and soap solution. Once the boiling process is completed, acid color is used to dye it. Once the yarn becomes soft, care is taken to make it crisper. To achieve this, it is stretched in the opposite directions from either end. Now comes the real hard work of motif making. It is a work of delicate intricacy. Motifs are made not only on pallu but also on the other parts of the sari. Intricate designs are drawn above the graph paper. They are colored. Cards are used for punching and are later orderly sewed. In the jacquard machine, cards get fixed. Jacquard loom is introduced. It requires almost a week for a weaver to do the job. Sometimes weavers work in different shifts to complete the process.\n\n  • Name:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8938959836959839}
+{"content": "Scores Synced to Brightspace Are Incorrect\n\nWhen using an advanced LMS integration, WebAssign assignment scores greater than 100% or less than 0% are synced to Brightspace® as 100% or 0%, respectively.\n\nThe Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) specification requires this behavior.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.94516921043396}
+{"content": "You are viewing EQ2U as a guest.\nDue to increasing antispam measures by major ISPs, many of our activation e-mails are not being delivered. If you have registered an account and not received the activation e-mail, please send me a direct e-mail at [email protected] and I will get your account working. Thank you all for continuing to use EQ2U.\n\nShowing all items of all levels usable by all classes that drop from a deep lurker in Kralet Penumbra: The Hive Mind [Raid].\n\nReport an Issue", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9546625018119812}
+{"content": "Mediterranean restaurants in Los Angeles and Orange County, CA\n\nLos Angeles is the largest city in California and the second-largest city in the US. The LA area is the home of Hollywood and of nine professional sports teams. Its culinary scene is diverse and thriving, offering everything from contemporary Mexican and California fare to Pan Asian. Business Insider named LA one of the \"17 best US cities for people who really like to eat\" in 2016. Neighboring Orange County, sometimes referred to as \"The OC,\" boasts 42 miles of pristine beaches, legendary theme parks, and endless dining options. Mediterranean cuisine is many things, but they all tend to have the olive in common. Greek, Italian, Spanish, Lebanese are all Mediterranean, but the term is perhaps most often used as a shorthand for Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Syrian, Israeli, Palestinian, and Egyptian food. Mediterranean favorites include falafel, gyros, shawarma, and dolmades. Amazon Restaurants delivers all your favorite Mediterranean dishes.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.905896008014679}
+{"content": "Public Release: \n\nDisease outbreak management -- flexibility can save lives and money\n\n\nWhat is the best way to handle a disease outbreak? Current efforts to prevent or stem such outbreaks may fall short because of uncertainty and limited information about the real-time dynamics of the specific disease outbreak. A team of epidemiologists, led by two Penn State University researchers, proposes a new approach for responding to and managing disease outbreaks -- a flexible approach that could save many lives and millions of dollars.\n\nThe approach, called \"adaptive management,\" allows decision-makers to use knowledge they gain during an outbreak to update ongoing interventions with the goal of containing outbreaks more quickly and efficiently. The researchers have written a scientific paper on this adaptive management approach that will be published on October 21 in the open access journal PLOS Biology.\n\n\"Responders often have incomplete information during a disease outbreak,\" said Katriona Shea, professor of biology at Penn State and a leader of the research team. \"Everyone is trying to make rapid decisions, but we don't have reliable information to make the best decisions. Even if we have information about a previous outbreak, no two outbreaks are identical. Adaptive management involves planning to learn as you act for the most effective, efficient response.\"\n\nIn their PLOS Biology paper, the authors present two scenarios in which adaptive management likely would improve outcomes. One of Shea's co-authors is Matthew Ferrari, a leader of the research team and an assistant professor at Penn State's Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences; Ferrari, who consults with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, and Doctors Without Borders on disease-outbreak prevention and response, cited measles vaccination as one example.\n\nIn measles outbreaks, Ferrari explained, responders need to make decisions and to act quickly based on the information available. An outbreak contained to young children would call for a fast and nimble response, moving from town to town very quickly and vaccinating only young children. Conversely, an outbreak affecting a broader age range requires a slower, broader, more methodical response. \"There are tradeoffs to taking the wrong approach,\" Ferrari said. \"If you did the fast, nimble child vaccination but the outbreak had a broader risk, you would miss a lot of people. If you did the slower, broader, more methodical response, you'd protect lots of people but the response may not be fast enough.\"\n\nOrganizations such as Doctors Without Borders work quickly to contain outbreaks as well as to prevent further spread. \"Preparing, in advance, to include monitoring and evaluation with an eye towards changing management actions in light of changing conditions on the ground is the key to adaptive management. We've shown that a plan to manage adaptively can change the recommended actions on day one because, for example, you only need to manage for the worst-case scenario if it arises,\" Ferrari said.\n\nThe second example the researchers cite is an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom in 2001. During that outbreak, almost 600,000 cattle and 4 million sheep were either infected or culled in an effort to prevent further spread of the disease. \"Culling decisions during the outbreak were contentious as there was so much uncertainty about the spatial scale of transmission,\" Shea said. \"Many farmers felt that they were being penalized for being in the vicinity of infected farms when they believed that they were not at risk.\"\n\nAdaptive management in the case of foot-and-mouth disease initially would employ a less-severe approach that would reduce the number of cattle culled and rely on real-time updates to modify responses - more-severe culling would be recommended only if justified by the spread of the outbreak. According to Shea, if foot-and-mouth disease were to break out in the United States - a very real risk - adaptive-management measures could result in significant savings in terms of reduced livestock losses. \"The United States does a huge trade in beef, and the second we are infected all that international trade would shut down,\" Shea said. \"Foot-and-mouth disease is highly infectious and would have to be contained quickly. Adaptive management would incorporate a plan to change intervention efforts appropriately as events unfold.\"\n\nHistorically, Ferrari said, \"the argument has been for a very static policy because it's clear and easy to implement. We recognize that a more nuanced, context-specific approach could be better. We need to put the possibility of changing midstream into our toolbox, integrating scientific discovery with policymaking to improve intervention efforts.\"\n\n\n\n\n\nKatriona Shea:, (+1) 814 321 4809\n\nMatthew Ferrari:, (+1) 814-865-6080\n\nBarbara Kennedy (PIO):, 814 863 4682\n\nCitation: Shea K, Tildesley MJ, Runge MC, Fonnesbeck CJ, Ferrari MJ (2014) Adaptive Management and the Value of Information: Learning Via Intervention in Epidemiology. PLoS Biol 12(10): e1001970. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001970\n\nFunding: This work arose out of a workshop funded by the RAPIDD program of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security. The authors are supported by a grant from the Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Disease program of the NSF/NIH (award number 1 R01 GM10524701). MF is separately funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.839953601360321}
+{"content": "Anti-White Buzzwords And Codewords\n\nThursday, 22 October 2015\n\nThoughts on the European New Right: Part I\n\nby John Law\nPart I | Part II | Part III | Part IV\n\nTom Sunic, Against Democracy and Equality\n\n\nThe European New Right (ENR), born in 1968 in France, is the only school of thought that offers a comprehensive philosophical alternative to both the Left and the mainstream Right; not a political alternative or a cohesive popular movement, but a body of thought, an interpretative framework with distinctive concepts, major texts and authors pointing to a solid intellectual alternative to the establishment. In our current age of social media, fast reactions, and accessible commentaries about what is wrong with diversity and racial integration, we tend to underestimate the cultivation of slow but substantive scholarly alternatives to the establishment.\n\nThe ENR has produced sufficient books, articles, meetings, journals, to be integrated into an academic environment as a full program of thinking and research. Creating an alternative intellectual movement backed by a solid academic foundation can hardly be underestimated. Cultural Marxists were once outside our universities, but they understood the value of developing a counter culture based on solid intellectual pursuits, and however much we may disrespect the current exponents as unoriginal imitators and conformists, the initiators did produce dynamic new interpretations of every field of human endeavour and politics, and then, gradually, book by book, conference by conference, journal by journal, discipline by discipline, PhD by PhD, they took over the entire academic world, to the point that they are now seen as the only legitimate producers of knowledge.\n\nYet, indispensable as the ENR remains intellectually, the ENR has a very definite and apparent flaw; it is a dated school, saturated with an outlook that grew in reaction to a historical reality that is no longer relevant; and by this I mean that it grew in the context of the Cold War, as a reaction to both the internationalist ideologies of American liberalism and Soviet communism, in defence of European cultural autonomy. The issue of our times, the most important threat ever faced by European peoples, is the existence of a hostile elite in the West promoting mass immigration and race mixing combined with the relentless determination of Africans, Asians, and Mestizos to colonize European lands. The ideas of the ENR were formulated in the absence of this existential threat.\n\nSince the collapsed of Soviet communism in the early 1990s, the ENR has diverted all its animosity against American cultural imperialism, which it has erroneously identified with Western civilization as such. The ENR believes, to this day, that the main enemy of humanity is American/Western civilization. The most salient cultural traits of the West, rationalism, individualism, and universalism, have been identified by its proponents as the \"real enemy\". This is a major mistake. It betrays a lack of appreciation of what is intrinsically unique to the West, and why the West is currently facing ethnic disintegration. For this reason, I would borrow only certain ideas from the ENR while carefully avoiding its general outlook.\n\nWithout its rationalism and liberalism, there is no West and the only thing left to admire is the traditionalism of other cultures alongside the pre-rational and pre-Christian pagan traditionalism of Europeans, a paganism the ENR has inadequately disconnected from the rest of Western history and which is best categorized as an idealized projection onto the past of New Age motifs by post-WWII affluent Europeans.\n\nCritical as the ENR is of leftist ideas, it has assimilated leftist multiculturalism as an antidote to Western universalism combined with leftist notions of the equal right of all peoples, calling for a pluriversum of independent cultural collectivities, without realizing that this call is universalistic in its own wish to want all peoples to co-exist in state of harmony, a very liberal wish beset by a naive understanding of the inherent flaws of humans and the inherent Faustian impulses of Europeans. The ENR belief that all peoples should have a collective right to national-ethnic self determination can work as a regulative moral principle in favour of white nationalism. But there is no way around the thinking offered by Nietzsche, Schmitt, Pareto, and Spengler (which Sunic says, as we will see later, influenced the ENR greatly) about the inescapable nature of humans to seek more than others, which is now inscribed into the logic of global capitalist accumulation. Calling for a stable equilibrium is to be caught up, yet again, in universal utopian dreams about the unity of mankind in their differences. The West must strive for new ventures otherwise it will be surpassed by other civilizations. China believes in self-determination as it plunders the resources of others in a frenzy to ensure mass consumerism for its 1.4 billion inhabitants.\n\nThe ENR is correct in holding the West responsible for the illusion that it can create an egalitarian world. But this illusion is a product of a civilization that promises utopia because it is driven by a personality that is intolerant of a society that is not one of perpetual motion and ceaseless conflict. \"Western civilization,\" Robert Nisbet observed, \"has been the single most war-ridden, war-dominated, and militaristic civilization in all human history.\" World War I and II were massive civil wars for the augmentation of power and the joy of struggle. European men needed tranquility and common ground after these two brutal wars. They were right to concentrate on economic innovations and coexistence.\n\nThe ENR rejects the idea of progress but the pursuit of progress is inherent to Europeans even though historical cycles are part of this movement. The prosperity brought by the success of Promethean innovations has created softer temperaments incapable of seeing the darker side of humans and the imminent threat that non-white colonization poses for Europeans. Confused by cultural Marxist ideas alien to the West, young European minds have turned against their own heritage, accepting a message of white guilt propagated by a hostile elite in charge of the media and education.\n\nIn this context, in a situation now in which multiple Western cities and towns have been colonized by non-Europeans, the call by the ENR for \"biocultural diversity\", for \"harmony of man, city and cosmos\", for \"submission of Promethean power\", for \"repudiation of hubris\", is a call to extinguish the very spirit that created the West and that can get us out of this situation. We need struggle, computer programming warriors, identitarian groups, hate and hubris, to get out us out of the invading hordes of Africans and the mounting Pakistani raping gangs.\n\nTom Sunic\nTom Sunic\n\nThe following is an engagement with the ENR by way of Tomislav Sunic's Against Democracy and Equality: The European New Right, originally published in 1990 but still the best sympathetic presentation of the ENR in English. A second edition of this book was released in 2004, and a third edition by Artktos in 2011. The central figure in Sunic's book is Alain de Benoist, seen as the foremost theoretician of this school. This third edition, the one I am using, contains an opening essay by de Benoist, The New Right: Forty Years Later, which praises Sunic's book without offering any objections. This book by Sunic is based on his doctoral dissertation at the University of Santa Barbara. The third edition also contains an \"Editor's Foreword\" by John Morgan, a \"Preface to the Third Edition\" by Sunic, an \"Introduction and Acknowledgements to the Second Edition\" by Sunic, a \"Preface to the Second Edition\" by David Stennett, a \"Preface to the First Edition\" by Paul Gottfried, and lastly, as an Appendix, de Benoist's and Charles Champetier's Manifesto for a European Renaissance, an essay originally published in French in 1999.\n\nThis assessment will consist of commentaries to passages cited from this book. I will identify the above authors alongside each passage, though in the case of Sunic I will be commenting on passages from him as if they were expressions of the ENR generally. Sunic does an excellent job in bringing to light ENR ideas, which was his objective, with only minimal expressions of his thoughts. His book is essentially an appreciation for the ENR, and de Benoist in particular.\n\nJohn Morgan\n\nIt [ENR] opened up a whole new world for me, a world in which the ideas of the 'true Right,' as Julius Evola called it, were still being passionately defended and discussed at a high intellectual and cultural level. I was simultaneously overjoyed that such a thing existed, and disappointed since I knew that there was nothing like it in America. More than a decade later, while the situation is more hopeful, there is still no 'American New Right,' thought at least some efforts are being made in that direction, notably through Greg Johnson's Counter-Currents, as well as Sunic's own endeavours with The Occidental Observer and with his friend Kevin MacDonald (p. 7).\n\nJohn Law (Pinker and Race Realists)\n\nStudents today inhabit an academic world where conservative ideas are dismissed without barely any required attention to the classic writings of Edmund Burke, Joseph de Maistre, or Oswald Spengler. You can be sure that none of them, and none of the academics teaching, are aware of the ENR, and few have heard of Carl Schmitt, Pareto or Spengler, not to bring up the fact that most academics are specialists utterly ignorant of the intellectual history of the West. Feminists are the worst educated shallow heads you will ever meet. Students do read Nietzsche, but only through the filters of post-modernists and liberals. They learn about the antecedents of Marx, about Hegel in particular, but in the lectures Hegel-the-defender-of-Prussia never stands a chance compared to Hegel the proponent of \"negative dialectics\" as developed later by Marcuse and Adorno.\n\nOne could say the academic left has successfully integrated many Western thinkers except fascists within a \"Liberal Arts\" education that is taught as if it were the background leading up to current critical race theorists, feminists, and deconstructionists.\n\nThe only alternative one hears about in academic is the school of sociobiology, though by the 1990s even this seemingly threatening school was assimilated within mainstream psychology and evolutionary theory, notwithstanding the hyperventilated opposition of feminists. Debates between the \"nature\" and \"nurture\" sides soon became no more threatening than debates between structuralist, analytical, and Hegelian Marxists, or between functionalist, conflict, and symbolic sociologists.\n\nSteven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature\nSteven Pinker's book, The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence has Declined (2011) is testimony to this integration, a book that endorses the universal values of the Enlightenment, for nurturing the \"better angels of our nature\", through \"tolerance\", \"science\", and \"civic equality\" — in opposition to all forms of European ethno-nationalism. Pinker tells us there is a good side to our human nature, which has finally been allowed to blossom in current liberal societies, a side that welcomes mass immigration and diversity. This argument is fundamentally the same as that forwarded a few decades ago by Pinker's ethnic compatriot, Norman Geras, in Marx and Human Nature: Refutation of a Legend (1983). This book claims that historical materialism did not entail a denial of human biology as much as an affirmation of the way socialist relations (rather than Enlightenment values) would bring out the best side of human nature, against the bad side celebrated by conservatives.\n\nWe should not be surprised by the presence of a concept of human nature among leftists who claim that humans are social constructs, or the ease with which Pinker reformulated his \"politically incorrect\" ideas about human nature in a pro-diversity direction, since every politics supposes a concept of human nature and one can always argue that human nature is flexible enough to allow for the accentuation of varying types of behaviour. Georges Sorel was more profound that Pinker when he observed that humans are by nature inclined to be barbaric under conditions of scarcity and decadent under conditions of affluence, and that only immense effort and discipline can bring out the best in humans. \"Our nature,\" Sorel wrote, \"is invincibly borne toward what the philosophers of history consider as bad, whether it be barbarism or whether it be decadence.\" The \"better angels\" Pinker has in mind are decadent whites who accept their own demise while looking out for personal entertainment in a civil atmosphere.\n\nWhat about those writers who have written about racial differences, Rushton, Charles Murray, Arthur Jensen, Richard Lynn, and others? These writers have been marginalized out of the universities. But don't they constitute a body of thought that stands as an alternative to the establishment? They constitute a particular school on a crucially important issue, race, which hits at the core of egalitarianism; however, they do not, in my estimation, constitute an outlook that can offer an alternative vision to the establishment; they have destroyed, in theory, a major pillar of the establishment, but they don't offer an overall vision that can galvanize the masses against the establishment and inspire a cultural revival that is European rather than about IQ scores and pro-Asian in its celebration of IQ scores in abstraction from any sense of people-hood.\n\nTherefore, I agree with John Morgan. Encountering the ENR in Counter-Currents was very exciting to me, for, as critical as I have now become, this school taught me that narrow arguments about human nature, about racial hierarchies, participation in mainstream politics, are bound to be co-opted and marginalized, unless we develop an alternative culture, a network of counter-cultural spaces, media, conferences, organizations, blogs, webzines, hundreds of books, programs of education — against the entire establishment. IQ scholars, and sociobiologists generally, operate under the supposition that research about IQ differences will eventually win the acceptance of the academic establishment purely through rational persuasion and the truth of the evidence. The ENR has a more profound understanding of the way politics is also driven by vested interests, institutional arrangements, symbols, myths, feelings, and morals.\n\nWe cannot underestimate the incredible power our hostile elites have over Western intellectual life. However pathological they may seem to us, the left has produced thousands of highly researched books, hundreds of refereed journals, academic associations, think tanks, entire departments and programs across thousands of universities, hundreds of yearly PhDs, almost all the publishing houses, not to mention control of popular culture. We have so little. A few blogs, a succession of quick articles, slogans, thousands of \"unique visitors\" will never be enough to bring a new intellectual culture. The ENR has to be given a lot of credit for starting this intellectual change.\n\nAlain de Benoist, \"The New Right: Forty Years Later\" (2009)\n\nThe ENR makes a great effort to identify its real enemy. The main enemy is, on the economic level, capitalism and the market society; on the philosophical level, individualism; on the political front, universalism; on the social front, the bourgeoisie; and on the geopolitical front, America (p. 28).\n\nJohn Law (Schmitt, the Liberal West)\n\nThe word \"enemy\" recurs often in ENR writings, borrowed from Carl Schmitt. For the ENR, the enemy is Western civilization, the creator of capitalism, individualism, and universalism, all of which culminate in the aggressive American geopolitical imposition of its culture upon the world. A short hand for identifying the enemy is \"liberal universalism\". It may seem odd that the ENR sees liberal universalism as the enemy in light of Schmitt's observation that liberal societies are different from all other cultures in denying the friend-enemy distinction. The ideology that denies this distinction is, apparently, the real enemy of all the other cultures that do not deny it. How is this so?\n\nLiberal societies believe that enemies are a thing of the past. Liberalism offers a solution to the bellicosity of the friend-enemy distinction by teaching its citizens that differences can be resolved or handled through a politics of consensus and pursuit of individual interests susceptible to compromises; a politics in which humans agree that they are all members of the same species with an overriding common interest in their prosperity through free markets and peaceful coexistence, no longer trapped by intolerant attitudes against those who come from different cultures and religions, for there are no \"strangers\" or outsiders, since cultural beliefs are private affairs enjoyable by all individuals. Everyone wants peace and comfort if given a proper liberal setting in which to actualize these human aspirations. Schmitt designates this effort to abolish the friend-enemy distinction as an effort to abolish politics. Politics is fundamentally about the friend-enemy distinction, and in his view this distinction is inherent to human nature and can never be abolished. Instead of abolishing this distinction, liberals have in fact categorized anyone who disagrees with their liberalism into an enemy that must be ostracised, excluded, suppressed.\n\nCarl Schmitt, The Concept of the Political\n\nLiberals were deluding themselves, or so Schmitt argued, in believing they could abolish politics or reduce politics to disagreements about the pursuit of economic interests; humans are inherently flawed. Born in original sin, humans cannot avoid conflict, power struggles. Whereas in traditional cultures an enemy was simply an external power that threatened one's sovereignty, in liberal cultures an enemy is anyone who opposes the peace-loving liberal states, or the values of liberalism. Liberal states have actually come to designate their illiberal opponents as being outside their norms of \"humanity\" and thus as opponents of \"humanity\" and thus as rightfully in need of eradication and banishment. Whereas wars in the past were between sovereign states, each of which understood that the pursuit of state interests and power was a normal aspect of human nature, and therefore wars were fought for limited objectives dealing with standard political matters about increasing or defending one's sovereignty, with the onset of liberal states, wars took on an ideological dimension between \"good liberals\" and \"evil fascists\".\n\nThe ENR has thus designated liberalism as the enemy, the very ideology that claims to have abolished the enemy-friend distinction. Liberal universalism is the enemy of all the particular cultures of the world wishing to maintain their cultural sovereignty against American liberal imperialism.\n\nThere are a number of problems with this identification of the enemy, which I will outline below and will have the opportunity to elaborate upon as I comment on new passages later on.\n\nKey problem is this: if our main enemy is capitalism, individualism, universalism, and American geopolitics, and if these traits are equated with Western civilization, as the ENR equates them, with the Christian West, and thus deeply embedded in Western culture, then it follows that our enemy is US, the West, and that our friends is THEM, the traditional-non-Western cultures of the world wishing to retain their non-liberal customs against Western culture. This is clearly an endorsement of Marxist Multiculturalism.\n\nNow, the ENR does draw a distinction between America and Europe, identifying the former with the West, while viewing Europe as a constellation of particular cultures struggling against the universalism of what Sunic calls Homo Americanus. There is an ambivalence here in that sometimes Europe at large is classified as Christian, universal, and liberal, and sometimes the blame is directed essentially at America. But if we were to separate Europe from the West, keep it relatively apart, as a federation of nations wishing to retain their historic identities, how can we attribute to liberalism the destructive universal imperative the ENR attributes to it (and Christianity) considering that European nations are liberal and that the French nation, as the ENR knows, endorsed the Declaration of the Rights of Man?\n\nThe ENR takes for granted a crucial distinction: the inherently traditionalist nature of non-Western cultures (until they were modernized by the West) versus the inherently liberal nature of the West. The ENR's equation of liberalism with everything this school dislikes is flawed. Liberal modes of being can be traced back to the willingness of warriors in prehistoric Indo-European societies to fight to the death for pure prestige as aristocratic individuals committed to the principle of \"first among equals\" (primus inter pares). Only Indo-Europeans created a form of rule where leaders were accorded respect as the first men of the group but everyone within the aristocratic elite expected equal respect as a men of virtue capable of performing great deeds The idea of progress implicit in Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus was liberal in portraying a god that instead of expecting blind obedience brought man fire, the arts of domesticating animals, building with bricks, digging up minerals, making ships, writing, mathematics, astronomy, medicine, in order to push men out of savagery into civilization, while insisting on justice by rational standards. A similar liberal confidence in the capacity of man is present in Antigone by Sophocles in a famous chorus:\nNumberless are the world's wonders, but none\nMore wonderful than man...\nO clear intelligence, force beyond all measure!\nThe aristocratic defiance exhibited by Socrates in his dialogical questioning of conventional norms, religious piety, and his relentless effort to offer explanations for the way things are and the best form of government was liberal. The travels of Herodotus over the non-Greek world \"for the sake of learning, for the sake of inquiry\" were liberal, and so was his sympathetic account of the customs of other people and his realization that there were multiple ways of living in the world. The Hellenistic revolution in science, the greatest age of natural discoveries before the seventeenth century, was liberal in the many individuals who offered novel explanations and methods of discovery of natural phenomena; the science of mechanics by Archimedes, the science of physiology by Erasistratus and Galen, the heliocentric hypothesis of Aristarchus, the measurement of the circumference of the Earth by Eratosthenes. The Roman development of a unique class of jurists that rationalized and systematized their laws, making a science of jurisprudence, governed by equity and based on the premise that men were capable of being responsible for their actions and able to enter on their own volition into contractual relations with reciprocal rights and duties, was liberal. The seven liberal arts studied in the universities invented by medieval Catholics drew from a Greek and Roman tradition which considered it essential for a free person to be educated in the artes liberales. The Bill of Rights of 1689 were liberal in their establishment of the supremacy of the law and of parliament over the monarch and the announcement that all Englishmen had basic rights.\n\nThe ENR defence of European paganism against the history of Europe is a dead end, and does not teach us how this paganism is different, uniquely European and how it may have already been pointing in an \"individualist\" direction through its validation of individuality in the performance of heroic deeds, rather than just another variant of your typical superstitious despotic religions of the Orient. The modern liberal way of life is found in European states having a set of institutions that guarantee individual rights but at the same time integrate individuals into the whole nation as an ethno-political collective within which individuals rights are validated and sustained.\n\nWe will see in later comments that the ENR rejects liberal equality but is unable to reject the principle of equal rights, but instead of defending this principle it presumes that traditional cultures have a concept of freedom and individualism of which the European version is just one variation. The ENR wants to have it both ways, reject liberal equality but accept liberal rights by redefining this term in traditional terms but without admitting that all traditional cultures suppress individuals under a collective, whereas only Western cultures generated the idea of a collective based on reason-grounding individuals. The traditionalism that the ENR idealizes stands against this liberal collective. The enemy of the West are those social groups that have exploited this liberal disposition to advance their own non-Western ethnic ends in ways that are destroying the ethnic European collective that is integral to this disposition.\n\nPart I | Part II | Part III | Part IV\n\nNo comments:\n\nPost a Comment\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6064822673797607}
+{"content": "Damage worth £2,000 was caused when a vandal decided to key cars and vans parked on a stretch of a Redcar road.\n\nResidents of Coatham Road awoke on Sunday morning to find the damaged caused to their cars.\n\nPolice have said at least five cars and vans were damaged - all the vehicles parked on a 100-metre stretch of the road.\n\nA police spokeswoman added that more cars could have been damaged but their owners have not reported it, and urged those owners to come forward.\n\nAnyone with any information about the incident, which happen overnight on Saturday or in the early hours of Sunday morning, should contact PC Matthew Speak on 01642 302626 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8169650435447693}
+{"content": "Meditations in Sculpture and Neon at Pt. 2 Gallery's Latest Show \"Mirrors\"\n\nSep 15, 2018 - Oct 05, 2018Pt. 2 Gallery, Oakland, CA\n\nPt. 2 Gallery's latest show is titled Mirrors, and it's an exhibition that pairs the sculptures of Tyler Cross and Kyle Lypka, with neon glasswork by Meryl Pataky. The two bodies of work contemplate different topics, Cross and Lypka exploring continuous growth within their relationship, while Pataky’s body of work traverses the timeless human compulsion to create.\n\nWhen viewed together, the show reflects two types of existential change and purpose. Cross and Lypka use their sculpture practice to compound conversations and reach consensus, while Pataky focuses her gaze on the historical use of craft to achieve a deeper understanding of herself, as she becomes part of that narrative. In the words of Kyle Lypka, “To me, Mirrors is the right word to describe what it’s like making work with another person. You end up learning more about the type of person/artist you are, or could be, when someone else is constantly bouncing your ideas back at you.” For Meryl, the mirror is her medium.\n\nIn the collaborative sense, the exhibit explores this beyond just Cross and Lypka’s collaboration, bringing in Pataky’s neon pieces and reflecting each artists’ craft into the space. Through their practice, each artist gains a better understanding of the self, their relationships with others and, of course, their mediums.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9969560503959656}
+{"content": "What is an Astronomical Unit?\n\n\nWhen it comes to dealing with the cosmos, we humans like to couch things in familiar terms. When examining exoplanets, we classify them based on their similarities to the planets in our own Solar System – i.e. terrestrial, gas giant, Earth-size, Jupiter-sized, Neptune-sized, etc. And when measuring astronomical distances, we do much the same.\n\nFor instance, one of the most commonly used means of measuring distances across space is known as an Astronomical Unit (AU). Based on the distance between the Earth and the Sun, this unit allows astronomers to characterize the vast distances between the Solar planets and the Sun, and between extra-solar planets and their stars.\n\n\nAccording to the current astronomical convention, a single Astronomical Unit is equivalent to 149,597,870.7 kilometers (or 92,955,807 miles). However, this is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, as that distance is subject to variation during Earth’s orbital period. In other words, the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies in the course of a single year.\n\nEarth’s orbit around the Sun, showing its average distance (or 1 AU). Credit: Huritisho/Wikipedia Commons\n\nDuring the course of a year, the Earth goes from distance of 147,095,000 km (91,401,000 mi) from the Sun at perihelion (its closest point) to 152,100,000 km (94,500,000 mi) at aphelion (its farthest point) – or from a distance of 0.983 AUs to 1.016 AUs.\n\nHistory of Development:\n\nThe earliest recorded example of astronomers estimating the distance between the Earth and the Sun dates back to Classical Antiquity. In the 3rd century BCE work, On the Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon – which is attributed to Greek mathematician Aristarchus of Samos – the distance was estimated to be between 18 and 20 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.\n\nHowever, his contemporary Archimedes, in his 3rd century BCE work Sandreckoner, also claimed that Aristarchus of Samos placed the distance of 10,000 times the Earth’s radius. Depending on the values for either set of estimates, Aristarchus was off by a factor of about 2 (in the case of Earth’s radius) to 20 (the distance between the Earth and the Moon).\n\nThe oldest Chinese mathematical text – the 1st century BCE treatise known as Zhoubi Suanjing – also contains an estimate of the distance between the Earth and Sun. According to the anonymous treatise, the distance could be calculated by conducting geometric measurements of the length of noontime shadows created by objects spaced at specific distances. However, the calculations were based on the idea that the Earth was flat.\n\nIllustration of the Ptolemaic geocentric conception of the Universe, by Bartolomeu Velho (?-1568), from his work Cosmographia, made in France, 1568. Credit: Bibilotèque nationale de France, Paris\n\nFamed 2nd century CE mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy relied on trigonometric calculations to come up with a distance estimate that was equivalent to 1210 times the radius of the Earth. Using records of lunar eclipses, he estimated the Moon’s apparent diameter, as well as the apparent diameter of the shadow cone of Earth traversed by the Moon during a lunar eclipse.\n\nUsing the Moon’s parallax, he also calculated the apparent sizes of the Sun and the Moon and concluded that the diameter of the Sun was equal to the diameter of the Moon when the latter was at it’s greatest distance from Earth. From this, Ptolemy arrived at a ratio of solar to lunar distance of approximately 19 to 1, the same figure derived by Aristarchus.\n\nFor the next thousand years, Ptolemy’s estimates of the Earth-Sun distance (much like most of his astronomical teachings) would remain canon among Medieval European and Islamic astronomers. It was not until the 17th century that astronomers began to reconsider and revise his calculations.\n\nThis was made possible thanks to the invention of the telescope, as well as Kepler’s Three Laws of Planetary Motion, which helped astronomers calculate the relative distances between the planets and the Sun with greater accuracy. By measuring the distance between Earth and the other Solar planets, astronomers were able to conduct parallax measurements to obtain more accurate values.\n\n\nBy the 19th century, determinations of about the speed of light and the constant of the aberration of light resulted in the first direct measurement of the Earth-Sun distance in kilometers.  By 1903, the term “astronomical unit” came to be used for the first time. And throughout the 20th century, measurements became increasingly precise and sophisticated, thanks in part to accurate observations of the effects of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.\n\nModern Usage:\n\nBy the 1960s, the development of direct radar measurements, telemetry, and the exploration of the Solar System with space probes led to precise measurements of the positions of the inner planets and other objects. In 1976, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) adopted a new definition during their 16th General Assembly. As part of their System of Astronomical Constants, the new definition stated:\n\n“The astronomical unit of length is that length (A) for which the Gaussian gravitational constant (k) takes the value 0.01720209895 when the units of measurement are the astronomical units of length, mass and time. The dimensions of k² are those of the constant of gravitation (G), i.e., L³M-1T2. The term “unit distance” is also used for the length A.”\n\nIn response to the development of hyper-precise measurements, the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM) decided to modify the the International System of Units (SI) in 1983. Consistent with this, they redefined the meter to be measured in terms of the speed of light in vacuum.\n\n\nHowever, by 2012, the IAU determined that the equalization of relativity made the measurement of AUs too complex, and redefined the astronomical unit in terms of meters. In accordance with this, a single AU is equal to 149597870.7 km exactly (92.955807 million miles), 499 light-seconds, 4.8481368×10-6 of a parsec, or 15.812507×10-6 of a light-year.\n\nToday, the AU is used commonly to measure distances and create numerical models for the Solar System. It is also used when measuring extra-solar systems, calculating the extent of protoplanetary clouds or the distance between extra-solar planets and their parent star. When measuring interstellar distances, AUs are too small to offer convenient measurements. As such, other units – such as the parsec and the light year – are relied upon.\n\nThe Universe is a huge place, and measuring even our small corner of it producing some staggering results. But as always, we prefer to express them in ways that are as relatable and familiar.\n\nWe’ve written many interesting articles about distances in the Solar System here at Universe Today. Here’s How Far are the Planets from the Sun?, How Far is Mercury from the Sun?, How Far is Venus from the Sun?, How Far is Earth from the Sun?, How Far is Mars from the Sun?, How Far is Jupiter from the Sun?, How Far is Saturn from the Sun?, How Far is Uranus from the Sun?, How Far is Neptune from the Sun?, How Far is Pluto from the Sun?\n\nIf you’d like more information about the Earth’s orbit, check out NASA’s Solar System Exploration page.\n\nWe’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast dedicated to the measurement of distances in astronomy. Listen here, Episode 10: Measuring Distance in the Universe.\n\n\n1 AU in KM\n\n1 AU in KM = 149,598,000 kilometers\n\nAn astronomical unit is a method that astronomers use to measure large distances in the Solar System. 1 astronomical unit, or 1 au, is the average distance from the Sun to the Earth.\n\nThe Earth’s orbit around the Sun is actually elliptical. It varies from 147 million km to 152 million km. So the measurement of an astronomical unit is just the Earth’s average distance from the Sun. That’s where the more precise measurement of 1 AU to KM (149,598,000 km) comes from.\n\nHere are some other distances in the Solar System:\nMercury: 0.39 AU\nVenus: 0.72 AU\nMars: 1.5 AU\nJupiter: 5.2 AU\nSaturn: 9.6 AU\nUranus: 19.2 AU\nNeptune: 30.1 AU\nPluto: 39.5 AU\nEris: 67.7 AU\nOort Cloud: 50,000 AU\nAlpha Centauri: 275,000 AU\n\nWe have written many articles about large distances in space. Here’s an article that explains how far space is, and here’s an article about the distance to stars.\n\nYou can also check out this cool calculator that lets you convert astronomical units into any other distance.\n\nWe have also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast detailing how astronomers measure distance in the Universe. Check out Episode 10: Measuring Distance in the Universe.\n\nAfter Loss of Lunar Orbiter, India Looks to Mars Mission\n\nIndia Moon Mission\n\nAfter giving up on re-establishing contact with the Chandrayaan-1 lunar orbiter, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman G. Madhavan Nair announced the space agency hopes to launch its first mission to Mars sometime between 2013 and 2015. Nair said the termination of Chandrayaan-1, although sad, is not a setback and India will move ahead with its plans for the Chandrayaan-2 mission to land an unmanned rover on the moon’s surface to prospect for chemicals, and in four to six years launch a robotic mission to Mars.\n\n“We have given a call for proposal to different scientific communities,” Nair told reporters. “Depending on the type of experiments they propose, we will be able to plan the mission. The mission is at conceptual stage and will be taken up after Chandrayaan-2.”\n\nOn the decision to quickly pull the plug on Chandrayaan-1, Nair said, “There was no possibility of retrieving it. (But) it was a great success. We could collect a large volume of data, including more than 70,000 images of the moon. In that sense, 95 percent of the objective was completed.”\n\nContact with Chandrayaan-1 may have been lost because its antenna rotated out of direct contact with Earth, ISRO officials said. Earlier this year, the spacecraft lost both its primary and back-up star sensors, which use the positions of stars to orient the spacecraft.\n\nThe loss of Chandrayaan-1 comes less than a week after the spacecraft’s orbit was adjusted to team up with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter for a Bi-static radar experiment. During the maneuver, Chandrayaan-1 fired its radar beam into Erlanger Crater on the moon’s north pole. Both spacecraft listened for echoes that might indicate the presence of water ice – a precious resource for future lunar explorers. The results of that experiment have not yet been released.\n\nChandrayaan-1 craft was designed to orbit the moon for two years, but lasted 315 days. It will take about 1,000 days until it crashes to the lunar surface and is being tracked by the U.S. and Russia, ISRO said.\n\nThe Chandrayaan I had 11 payloads, including a terrain-mapping camera designed to create a three-dimensional atlas of the moon. It is also carrying mapping instruments for the European Space Agency, radiation-measuring equipment for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and two devices for NASA, including the radar instrument to assess mineral composition and look for ice deposits. India launched its first rocket in 1963 and first satellite in 1975. The country’s satellite program is one of the largest communication systems in the world.\n\nSources: New Scientist, Xinhuanet", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9968129396438599}
+{"content": "click here\n\nPresent-day society is locked into four positive feedback loops which need to be broken: economic growth which feeds on itself, population growth which feeds on itself, technological change which feeds on itself, and a pattern of income inequality which seems to be self sustaining and which tends to spur growth in the other three areas. Ecological humanism must create an economy in which economic and population growth is halted, technology is controlled, and gross inequalities of income are done away with. —Victor Furkiss,\n\nAn Example of the Catastrophic View:\nA Global Warming Scenario\n\nSouth End Press, 1995; ISBN 0-89608-513-9\n\nIn 1992, Dr. Jeremy Leggett, a British scientist and scientific director of Greenpeace International's Atmosphere and Energy Campaign, outlined what may be called a \"nightmare global warming scenario.\" This scenario was based on a projection of known, but as yet unquantified, biological feedback mechanisms identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (300 atmospheric scientists from forty countries).\n\nThis scenario is a plausible extrapolation from what is known: it reflects both the magnitude of the possible risks courted by industrial humanity, and the inadequacy of the global managerial perspective when circumstances go beyond what is viewed as industrially acceptable. However, even if this scenario is completely accurate, industrial managers can always point to enough uncertainty at each step to justify inaction.\n\nGlobal warming is the result of the release into the atmosphere of \"greenhouse gases,\" i.e., gases that are relatively transparent to the passage of energetic short-wave solar radiation (sunlight) and, at the same time, reflect back much of the longer wave infrared (or heat) radiation generated when sunlight strikes the earth. The most significant greenhouse gas is CO:, which has been released into the atmosphere in huge quantities as a by-product of burning fossil fuels in automobiles, power plants, and industrial processes such as steel production, and by wood burned for fuel and forests burned for land-clearing. In 1950, 1.62 billion metric tons per year of carbon (gigatons carbon or GTC) were released from burning fossil fuels; by 1991, this figure had increased to 5.854 billion tons per year.\n\nTo get some sense of the significance of this number, we need to know that the preindustrial atmosphere contained an estimated 580 billion tons of carbon. Thus, we are now adding about 1 percent of the preindustrial carbon total to the atmosphere yearly. Current atmospheric carbon levels are 750 GTC, a 29 percent increase from preindustrial levels. In only thirty-two years since 1959, when continuous record keeping of atmospheric carbon dioxide began, concentrations have increased 12 percent from 316 parts per million (.0316 percent) to 355 parts per million (.0355 percent). Other greenhouse gases include methane (CH4), a product of natural decay and fermentation released in large quantities from concentrated livestock production, and the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are also responsible for the destruction of the ozone layer.\n\nThe precise global dynamics and possible effects, both long-and short-term, of huge increases in greenhouse gases are unclear. There is a natural cycle that keeps CO2 concentrations relatively balanced. Huge amounts of CO2 are dissolved in the oceans, 39,000 GTC with about 90 GTC exchanged each year between atmosphere and ocean. (CO2 in water forms carbonic acid-this is why steam heating condensate pipes often corrode unless the boiler water is deaerated.) Huge amounts of carbon are also locked up in submarine methane hydrates, ice-like solids made up of water crystals and trapped methane gas, on the Arctic continental shelf.\n\nCarbon is also found in the bodies of all living things, from giant redwoods to microscopic creatures (an estimated 750 GTC in land plants and 1,500 GTC in soils; annually 100 GTC is exchanged between the atmosphere and land plants.) The normal carbon-based system includes the use of CO2 by plants, which release oxygen as a by-product that is then used for animal respiration (which, in turn, yields CO2 as its by-product). The carbon taken up in the bodies of living creatures is also released in the form of methane as they die and decay.\n\nAtmospheric scientists argue that climate stability can likely be sustained if levels of human CO2 production are somewhat below the emission levels seen in the 1950s. At present rates, by the middle of the 21st century, most climate scientists predict substantial increases in global temperature.\n\nHow significant these increases will be, and the nature of their impact, is the question. Jeremy Leggett warns that such global warming may disturb major sinks for carbon in Arctic tundra and, through a complex series of interactions, result in runaway warming that would continue even if human CO2 and all other greenhouse gas emissions dropped to zero.\n\nLeggett's \"putative\" logical chain of events includes:\n\n\nWarming oceans are more thermally stable. This stability reduces the circulation of nutrients and decreases the biomass of the photoplankton, thus further damaging the ability to absorb CO2.\n\nUltraviolet radiation from the damaged ozone layer, particularly severe in polar regions, further damages the photoplankton. The net ecosystem balance between respiration (CO2 emitted) and photosynthesis (CO2 used) now tilts toward respiration, and more CO2 is released into the atmosphere.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLeggett concludes, \"In emergency session the UN brings in sweeping measures for world-wide greenhouse gas emission reductions. But it is too late. A runaway greenhouse effect has been generated.\"\n\nThis chain of events is a dark possibility. It is not a prediction. It does make clear that industrial civilization has put into question not just the prospects for human society, but planetary processes hitherto the domain of natural rhythms and geological time. Industrialism is betting that its resolute commitment to continuous growth can somehow be managed to avoid catastrophic consequences.\n\nThe world has 4,000 GTC in proven fossil fuel reserves; we cannot decide their future use, the production of further CFCs, and the mass burning and clear-cutting of forests on the basis of maximizing industrial production and consumption, profits and power. Industrial civilization entertains a hideous risk if it continues each year to pour 5.8 billion tons or more of carbon into the atmosphere. Whether industrialism's technocratic eschatologies are reassuringly exponential, cautiously logistic, or righteously catastrophic, social behavior, as well as the reality behind imperfect mathematical models, will determine the nature of alternative futures. [p.p. 109-112]\n\n\nLONDON, Feb 21, 1996 (Reuter) - Global warming, acid rain and the hole in the ozone layer are joining forces in a deadly combination for fish and other life in lakes and streams, Canadian scientists reported on Wednesday.\n\nThe key, they said, was the amount of carbon dissolved in the water. Carbon absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and protects aquatic plants and animals from the dangerous solar rays being let through by the widening holes in the ozone layer.\n\nBut the researchers said global warming and acid rain were reducing carbon levels in lakes, thus wiping out what little protection the fish and the plants they depend on had.\n\nAcid rain is caused when clouds pick up pollutants such as sulphur dioxide from factories and coal-burning power plants. The chemicals react and raise the acidity of the rain.\n\nDavid Schindler, a biologist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and colleagues took measurements at several lakes in northwest Ontario over 20 years.\n\nDuring this time, Schindler's group wrote in the science journal Nature, overall temperatures rose by 1.6 degrees C (1.9 degrees F), rainfall fell by 25 percent and \"once-permanent streams became intermittent.\"\n\nCarbon levels in the lakes fell by 15 to 20 percent, allowing radiation to penetrate 22 to 63 percent deeper.\n\nIn the lake with the highest acid levels, ultraviolet radiation penetration increased from a third of a metre (one foot) to more than 2.8 metres (nine feet).\n\n\"An 80 percent decline in carbon, as in acidified lakes, would cause the depth of increase by over 400 percent,\" they added.\n\nRadiation is as dangerous to fish and seaweed as it is to people and their crops. For example, trout get sunburn, are more prone to fungal infections and in general die sooner when exposed to slightly higher radiation levels.\n\nExtra radiation could become one more stress that pushed a species over the edge into extinction, they said.\n\n\"Overall, we estimate that about 140,000 of the nearly 700,000 lakes in eastern Canada may have (carbon) concentrations low enough for UV-B penetration to be of concern,\" they said.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7888725996017456}
+{"content": "References in periodicals archive ?\nThis study also benefits from French sociologist Bourdieu's 1974 ideology of cultural reproduction which refers to the various ways the cultures of the haves are maintained or reproduced by the education system (Gwirayi 2010).\nHistorians and anthropologists at the university and others refer to his work in essays that describe his career, his contribution to Namibian history, the relationship between historical analysis and social anthropology and memory and cultural reproduction, photography and anthropology, South African migrant workers on the Rand mines during war and genocide, slavery and commerce, the Basel Mission's involvement with the Kannada language in South India, Mary Elizabeth Barber, German natural history collectors of human skulls and skeletons in southern Africa, South African jazz, and other topics.\nTreating film remakes as products of a society's survival mechanism that both preserves and reconditions its own cultural meta-narrative, Zanger goes beyond apparent differences between originals and remakes to reveal a common typology along the vertical historical axis of cultural reproduction.\nToday, it is refreshing to find examples of piracy studies that shift the focus from the bad subject to new textual or paratextual subjects, new political sensibilities, and different standpoints taken with respect to cultural reproduction.\nThroughout the course of the study, a theoretical framework of Pierre Bourdieu's Multi-capitals (extracted from Bourdieu's Cultural Reproduction Theory) was employed to theoretically cement the research.\nIn what follows here, I first further explain austerity education as both a continuation and intensification of longstanding neoliberal restructuring of public schooling by situating it in terms of the insights of social and cultural reproduction theory that highlights how schools reproduce the social relations for the reproduction of capital.\nEducation scholars, social workers, and practicing and retired teachers, all with experience in small communities, explore the role of grandparents in the education and cultural reproduction of families that have spread from their geographical origins, taking two maritime provinces of Canada as a test case.\nHowever, it seems that insufficient attention is paid to cultural reproduction in language-learning and use, which I term here cultural tool normalization (CTN).\nHis concept of \"queer diasporism,\" for example, which he acknowledges is indebted to Shandler's idea of Queer Yiddishkeit, and which he defines as \"a cultural form generated by diaspora-dwelling Jews who accept, and sometimes revel in, the rootless quality of Jewish experience by privileging transgressive identities and non-natural forms of individual and cultural reproduction across the board\" (42), a \"vision of identity that rejects origin, nationhood, cultural reproduction in favor of a vision that embraces cultural syncretism, wandering, exile without any sense of the moral imperative of returning to origins\" (90), is as important a provocation to responsible criticism of identity as we've seen.\nBasil Bernstein (1977, 1990/2009, 1996/2000) theorizes how education works as the medium of cultural reproduction by analyzing the nature of pedagogic discourse (see also Apple, 2002; Au, 2008).\nNevertheless, Snyder can indubitably count his translation of Andreini's play as a fitting cultural reproduction for the English-speaking world.\n3) by drawing upon a review of his own educational research on social and cultural reproduction.\n\nFull browser ?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6767705082893372}
+{"content": "Google Right to Be Forgotten Does Not Completely Remove Information Online\n\n\nThe recent ruling against Google dubbed the “right to be forgotten” ruling does not mean that information will be completely removed online. The information is always going to be around. It will just take longer to find it. It begs the question whether there was any point in the ruling or not.\n\nWhen the European Court of Justice ruled in favor of Spanish lawyer, Mario Costeja, who was annoyed to find information about his debts from 10 years previous was still online. With just one search of his name, the lawyer could find all the negative information that he had hoped would have disappeared by now. The European ruling made it clear that people could request for information to be taken out of the search results.\n\nSo far, people in Europe have taken up on this offering, and not all for good reasons. A pedophile and a doctor with a range of negative reviews online have both requested the information is removed from search results. The search giant does not need to approve the request if it is in the internet’s best interests to keep the information up there.\n\nHowever, asking Google to remove the information due to the right to be forgotten ruling does not completely remove the information from the internet. The newspaper articles, court convictions and negative reviews will still be visible online. It is just harder to find it, but that will not make it impossible. This is something those for and against this ruling need to remember.\n\nUnder US law, this type of ruling would act against the First Amendment. In Europe, some have argued that it acts against the freedom of information. However, the European Court states that it is also trying to protect individuals’ right to privacy. There is a common clash between the two of these, and finding a balance can be relatively difficult. The fact that the information will still be visible online, and just harder to find, does not completely remove the freedom of information.\n\nIt is like going back 25 years, before the idea of the internet and search engines was such a possibility. Information has always been available, and many will still remember scenes in movies and TV shows where people would go to the library to flick through old newspaper archives. Finding the information could take hours, if not days, back then. Even without Google and other search engines, it will still be easier for people to find the information they need. A quick search on various media outlets and social media platforms will often bring up the results that users would like.\n\nThere are arguments that this makes it harder for students, historians and other professionals who use the internet for research. Again, it is just like taking a step back in time to before the internet was even invented. Students and historians then would read through hundreds of books and newspapers before finding the information they needed. The information is just being taken out of Google’s and other search engines’ results, and is not being removed from online completely.\n\nOpinion by Alexandria Ingham\n\n\nThe New York Times", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9396540522575378}
+{"content": "Let’s Talk about LA Women and Outdoor Leggings\n\nLos Angeles women are a very busy lot. They are busy raising their families. They are busy running different types of businesses. They are also busy with their professional work. It would be impossible for them to do any of that without good health. The women can keep themselves in perfect health by exercising more. Outdoor activities can also help them to stay in shape. Outdoor leggings would support all these and more.\n\nWhy should women in Los Angeles wear the leggings?\n\nLet’s Face It, They Are Comfortable!\n\nFirst, the leggings are comfortable. Their use is not restricted to outdoor activities though. The leggings can also help women who wish to laze around in the house to do just that comfortably. They also serve women who feel like using them instead of pajamas. The super comfortable nature of the leggings is incomparable with anything else. No workout outfit comes anywhere near the leggings in terms of comfort and functionality.\n\nThey Travel Well…\n\nThese type of leggings are also excellent for traveling. The comfort they bring enables the wearer to sit in them on the bus, car or plane for long hours without suffering or complaining in any way. Their lightweight nature also helps significantly. Added to that is their compactness. They do not feel loose or all over the place either. For these reasons, buy them and be ready to wear them when going on a trip.\n\nExercising and Running\n\nThe flexible nature of the leggings makes them ideal for exercises. As you probably know by now, the modern lifestyle has put more people at risk of developing some horrible diseases. Lifestyle diseases seem to be on the increase everywhere you look. Consequently, women ought to do whatever it takes to protect their health. In Los Angeles, one way of doing this is by wearing leggings and participating in exercises and various sporting activities.\n\n\nThey look stunning on women with curvy frames. They bring out the woman’s curves quite well. They enhance women’s beauty and strong points too. Most women, especially those in Los Angeles, want to look their best most of the time. The leggings offer the chance of achieving this goal every day. Any woman who desires to display her curves using the leggings will be doing nothing wrong!\n\nDo you struggle to hold everything in? If you do, then this type of leggings would serve you perfectly. They are elastic but strong enough to hold everything inside without making you too uncomfortable. This can prove quite helpful when you are hiking or running too when you need to keep everything in place. Hiking and running are two of the best ways of working out and staying fit.\n\nTherefore, invest in a few outdoor leggings and join the list of Los Angeles women who are doing everything to keep their bodies fit and shapely. The leggings are comfortable. They are neither too tight nor loose. They keep everything in place. They keep you looking elegant and cool too. They complement every item of clothing you have in your wardrobe. The leggings eliminate the need or urge for wearing belts too.\n\n4 Things Los Angeles Women need to do When Their Basement Gets Flooded\n\nA flooded basement is not only dangerous to you and your family, but it’s also a frustrating and costly affair for any woman living in Los Angeles. However, in general, basements are susceptible to flooding than any other part of the house at whatever time.\n\nThis is based on the fact that heavy rainfall, failed sump pumps, an overwhelmed plumbing fixture or a frozen pipe are dangers that can arise on any given day. In the event you end up with a flooded basement, there are a few basic but critical steps that you need to take to remedy the situation. Here are four tips to help you out when dealing with a flooded basement in Los Angeles.\n\n• Shut Down Electricity\n\nFlooded basements are the most electrically hazardous place to be in. Almost every basement has an electrical outlet and fixture that can electrify water during a flooding. Electrical charges also don’t require a lot of water to occur. When your basement is flooded, the first point of action is to shut down the electricity connection. If, however, for some reason you are unable to, call your utility company or electrician and have them help you in shutting down the electricity connection.\n\n• Protective Clothing\n\nThe thing about most basements in Los Angeles is that they are used as a storage area. That means that it’s possible to have emptied chemical tins stored away. On the same breadth, storm and sewer drains could cause dirty water to get into your basement. These factors coupled with plumbing set up as well as the location of your home means that the flooded water in your basement may be contaminated and may have adverse effects on your skin if it gets exposed. As such, you will need to put on protective clothing as you clean the area or turn off the electricity.\n\n• Remove the Water\n\nOnce you’ve gained access to your flooded basement in your Los Angeles home, you will now need to remove the water as fast as you can. Ensure your sump pump is working as is supposed to be and start removing the water. At the same time, if your floor drain is in the basement area, ensure that it’s unclogged so that water can flow freely in the event flooding occurs as it is one of the main reasons why drainages get clogged up. However, if the floodwater is too much for you to handle, you can call in a professional like New Orleans Plumber to come and help with draining the water. However, you should call one with insurance to be on the safe side.\n\n• Dehumidify the Basement\n\nAfter 24 hours of any flooding incident, molds start growing. As such, the faster you can start removing the water and drying up the basement, the faster you can prevent any molds from growing in your home. While a drying procedure can be easily accomplished by a professional faster, you can also use a home fan to blow different objects in your basement until they dry.\n\nHow LA Women Can Become Arborists\n\nIf you love nature, then you’ll love the uniqueness of arboriculture as a course in college. You will have a lot of literature to go through and a lot of research to do, but at the end of it all, you will love the course. It is a course for women as much as it is for men.\n\nThere is so much one can achieve by reading books that add to the skill. Even as you enjoy the best of Shakespeare or Jeffry Archer, get a book or two or arboriculture and get studying.\n\nArborists Save the Environment\n\nThe importance of trees in the environment and the future of this world cannot be stressed enough. Every day, the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere increases and so does the risks of living in a polluted environment. That can also be reversed if there are lots of trees planted to absorb the carbon and release oxygen.\n\nGreen companies are planting more trees, and if we cannot take care of the trees planted, then they will die, and we will be back to the same problems. As we embrace having trees in our compounds emphasis, need to be put on taking care of them. This entails curing tree diseases, and that’s where arborist comes in.\n\nThere is Need for More Arborists\n\nHow many arborists do you know? Probably none or very few. Arborist are on demand. This is because the number of trees planted has increased, and so has tree diseases. Today, the importance of trees to the environment and the need to keep them healthy has been realized by lots of people, and this will continue in the years to come. As states and local governments advocate for more tree planting, the need for arborists has increased.\n\nIf interested in studying arboriculture one can enroll to the nearest institution offering the course. Not only do you study how to treat tree diseases but also get to know more about identifying the illness you’re seeking to cure so that to keep them healthy.\n\nArboriculture is Fun, and it Pays\n\nIf you are an LA woman in arboriculture, you will enjoy it. It is the same as being a physician only in this case your treating trees. You will learn how to care for trees like the living things they are and how to treasure the environment.\n\nAs earlier mentioned, there are only a couple of arborists in the world today, and as such, the competition is not much seeing that the number of trees has increased significantly. If you take into arboriculture, you can start your own practice and be an independent practitioner.\n\nStart Today\n\nYou can contact Long Island Arborists to assist you to identify and cure tree diseases. For students needing professional guidance, you can seek an on the job training from them which will help you gain more insight in the field. It will take you a few years to study tree diseases, but at the end, you will enjoy it.\n\nWhen Should Los Angeles Women Hire an Arborist?\n\nHiring an arborist has its advantages. Most Los Angeles women prefer handling their gardening chores by themselves. This is especially true when the gardens are small and contain only a few roses. However, larger gardens that are full of huge trees need professional attention, which often comes in the form of experts in tree removal and maintenance. It is no wonder then that many firms providing tree removal Austin exist to help women – and men alike – with some of these jobs.\n\nIt is costly to hire a tree removal and maintenance pro every time the trees need some attention. You can handle some chores by yourself without any external or professional input.\n\nProfessional Input\n\nThat said, a professional tree removal expert offers the kind of input you can never get elsewhere. Arborists are scientists of some sort. They possess the training needed to take care of trees properly and professionally. Their goal is to keep all trees looking healthy and stunningly attractive. They are capable of performing wide-ranging tasks. A few of the tasks the arborist will perform on behalf of clients include:\na) Planting trees\nb) Taking care of trees\nc) Maintaining trees as well as all the other woody plants\n\nThey play crucial roles in how trees grow. They are great at evaluating the condition each tree is in and using that information to recommend a few measures worth implementing to care for the trees. They provide services that all trees need and depend on for growth and survival. More critical, you need to know when to hire these highly trained and well-experienced professionals.\n\n\nIt is good to hire them when the trees need pruning. They know how to evaluate the tree and determine the kind of pruning it needs. They have all the equipment needed for pruning trees professionally. They prune trees and leave them not only healthy but also looking attractive. They do all these work safely without interfering with anything within the property. They use the pruning tools safely too.\n\nTree Removal\n\nHiring these professionals to provide tree removal services is also highly recommended. They understand that tree removal is never the first option. Many times, the arborists recommend tree removal as a last resort. They recommend it only after trying other measures or solutions. Tree removal can be a hazardous activity. It can cause injuries or destruction of property. Fortunately, these professionals know how to do the job safely.\n\nEmergency Care\n\nTheir services are also highly sought after when trees need emergency care. Such care is necessary after storms, which are one of the trees’ biggest enemies. Storms cause trees to lean or fall. Storms can also uproot trees. Storms can also damage branches, limbs, or the entire tree. In most cases, damaged trees need complete removal or trimming. These two solutions carry some element of risk; hence, the need for hiring professionals to do the work.\n\nTree Planting/Replanting\n\nLastly, consider hiring these professionals when planting or replanting trees. Yes, you can do a lot of the tree planting. Do you know the best tree for your garden or the local area? Do you know the right way of planting that tree? Chances are that you do not know any of these. Do not worry or panic though. Instead, hire technicians from Austin Tree today to take care of your trees and nurture them to good health and excellent appearance.\n\nImprove Your Child’s Writing and Literature Knowledge Through Online Classes\n\nLiterature is sweet to those who appreciate it. Some people cannot get enough of Shakespeare, Sidney Sheldon or any other good read. Literature is rich – it portrays a way of life, gives life to characters, entertains and gives life to souls that appreciate the beauty in it. However, when it comes to learning literature and developing writing skills, children might experience difficulties that make some interventions necessary.\n\nYou can expand your child’s writing and literature knowledge through online tutoring. Here, you get to raise their grades while giving them a chance to explore their talents and passion. Even if you’re not seeking to improve their grades, studying more writing skills and literature lets them appreciate creativity, and in the process, their grades will improve.\n\nStudying Online Gives Flexibility\n\nCourses offered at a specific physical location mean you either have to take your child there whenever lessons are scheduled or call the tutor to your home. When you opt for classes offered online, you get flexibility. The child can learn from any location such that you don’t worry much about his/her physical safety. You, however, need to do due diligence to ensure s/he is safe online. A few hours of online classes can significantly improve performance.\n\nThe good thing about enrolling your kids for online tutoring is that you can stop the program anytime you feel like there are no results. You do not have to sit with your children every day to show them homework as the extra studying hours will give them the knowledge to tackle their homework.\n\nWhy Study Writing Online?\n\nKids who learn how to write when they are still young learn how to organize their ideas and also think deeply about different issues. Writing demands creativity from learners, which, in the long run, enhances their brain activity and improves their creativity in all other fields.\n\nWhen your kid gets interested in writing, they will be inquisitive, which makes them read more and have the desire to know more about things and people. Plus, it might be their passion, and they might end up pursuing it as a career.\n\nSpecialized Tutoring\n\nThe other thing with tutoring centers, online or offline, is that they offer specialized tutoring ensuring that your kid is taught according to their level and the content is tailored to meet their needs. Tutors teach one kid at a time, meaning that any special needs are taken care of. If your child has trouble comprehending a certain concept, the online tutor will concentrate on that concept. This is unlike in conventional schools where one teacher teaches 20 or more children. By tailoring the content and teaching method to meet the needs of one kid, tutors are able to achieve more. This customized tutoring is seen in Skies the Limit Tutoring Center where tutoring begins with an assessment to identify the needs of your child.\n\nEnroll Today\n\nYou can always evaluate the progress of your children a few weeks after starting the tutoring program. If the program is good as it markets itself, then you will see the results without any form of evaluation. You can enroll your child to study writing and literature alone, but you should let the tutors help him/her in other areas that they might be weak. This gives you value for money while ensuring that your kid develops all-round skills.\n\nHow Los Angeles Women Can Act, be Financially Savvy and Avoid Facing the Red\n\nFinancially savvy people seem to have it all together. They avoid being in the red. They do whatever they can to ensure their financial health is above reproach. Such people have learned how to avoid bad habits that can cripple them financially. These individuals have learned how they can be more constructive in their financial lives. They know what it takes to be financially healthy by doing the right thing. So, what can Los Angeles women learn from them?\n\nUse Consumer Credit Well\n\nFirst, they learn not to use or exhaust their consumer credit indiscriminately. Consumer credit can do a lot of good when used tactically. For example, it can help in taking advantage of bargains. It also helps people who look for assets that appreciate investing in. What is more, it aids in managing logistics. In the US, each household had a median level consume debt of roughly $3,000 in 2012 against a credit card debt of around $856.9 million.\n\nConsumer credit can be a great tool when used well. However, consumer credit can destroy you financially.\nStop Indulging All Your Wants, All the Time Next, people who do not want to face the red should not indulge their wants all the time. They give in to the message posted through advertisements on various media. They buy whatever they feel like buying. The promise contained in the ads – sublimely or otherwise – that buying specific items will lead to happier, healthier, better, more fulfilling and simpler lives appears so convincing to them. In the end, they spend more money on things that only make them broke.\n\nAvoid Problematic Car Leases\n\nCar leases are a bit problematic too. Financially, there is no reward for leasing a car. Do not believe the monthly lease rates that appear too low and affordable. Those low rates are only meant to hoodwink you. There is always a catch with the low lease rates. The catch has to do with the higher long-term cost of leasing the car. You pay more for a car that you will eventually return. Leasing a car is not something worth doing if you want to be financially healthy.\n\nStop Allowing Advertisements to Rule Your Life\n\nAs previously stated, advertisements should never rule your life. Los Angeles women are in one of the most beautiful cities in not only the United States but also the world. Every day, they face a barrage of advertisements that seek to convince them to purchase specific items or services. Advertisements are good, but they should never control your life. Often, advertisements end up creating more confusion.\n\nMaking a decision not to rely solely on advertisements involves:\n\na) Understanding and avoiding market traps\nb) Recognizing the real value of what you need\nc) Keeping more of the money you earned through hard work in your pocket\nAdvertisers want you to spend more. They care naught that you remain with nothing.\n\nApproach Technology Cautiously\n\nLastly, technology is good. The world is now receptive to multiple programs and software that make life easier, simpler, and better. Technology also improves quality of life in some instances. However, do not be a person who readily accepts, adopts, and begins using all new technologies you come across. Rushing to the local store to buy the latest gadget or device might appear cool but hurt your finances irreparably.\nCheck Face the Red to learn more steps to take to avoid being caught up in the web of debt.\n\nHow XERO Crows Nest Can Help Your Commercial LA Women’s Club Financially\n\nWomen have emerged among the best business owners in the recent years. Today, women own more than 10 million businesses in the United States. Away from the businesses, they also run several projects, such as the LA Women’s Club. Some run such projects for fun while others do it commercially. Regardless of the reason for running such projects, it is inconceivable for these women to excel without accounting tools such as XERO Crows Nest. How can such accounting tools help women in Los Angeles excel in business?\n\nHelp Reduce Overhead Costs\n\nFirst, it is worth reiterating that women run their businesses to make money. They do that by meeting a need. A life of continuously making money cannot be possible when there is no way of determining whether a business is making profits or losses. Fortunately, the accounting tool they use helps them to know their overhead costs. This is important because overhead costs can drive a business to the verge of collapse without proper monitoring.\n\nOverhead costs women entrepreneurs need to be familiar with include:\na) Administrative expenses such as office supplies\nb) Marketing and advertising costs\nc) Facilities and equipment costs\nd) Vehicle-related expenses\ne) Insurance\nf) Tax-related expenses\n\nManaging Cash Flow Professionally\n\nFinding a good and highly effective way of managing cash flow is crucial to the success of any business. Accounting software can do just that. With the right software, you will have no problem staying on top of your cash flow. A business that does not manage its cash flow can never be financially fit. This is because, without proper cash flow management, a company can easily find itself struggling from month to month, to finance its operations.\n\nFocusing on the Numbers\n\nA good accounting program requires paying close attention to the numbers. It helps you stay ahead of the situation. Well-run businesses monitor the kind of money they bring in as often as they find necessary. This could be each day, week or month. The women running these businesses, therefore, are capable of determining how much they should be making per month or per week to be profitable. There is no shortcut other than to know how the business is performing each week and month.\n\nKeeping Abreast of All Financial Ratios\n\nThe business’ financial ratios also need some close attention. Profitability of the business depends on the ability to track specific business ratios. With a good program, you can do this effectively. Good programs help you to track the correct ratios. For example, it will highlight the current ratio, which is critical for tracking how healthy the business is. A ratio of 2:1 is normal with a healthy business. It means that the business has $2 worth of assets, but owes $1 in liabilities.\n\nTherefore, do not delay investing in a good accounting program. Even as you spend time immersed in Shakespeare’s work, remember to empower yourself and other women to succeed in business investments. Share it with your friends at the LA Women’s Shakespeare Club. With proper tools, you can learn to excel in your business as Shakespeare did in his. Teach them the benefits such a program will bring to their businesses. The biggest benefit is that the accounting program will help stabilize their businesses financially, increase profits and spur its growth.\n\nLos Angeles Immigrant House Cleaners Facing New Challenges\n\nLos Angeles is largely an immigrant city.  Like many US cities, it is generally divided into classes, a “tale of two cities” if you wish.  Being the second largest city in the United States, and Located near the Mexican border, it’s no surprise that it attracts lots of latin immigrants.  They take one lots of service jobs, like manual labor in contractor work and house cleaning, laundry service and child care work.\n\nEspecially  with the current Trump administration cracking down on undocumented immigrants, there is more uncertainty nowadays surrounding the legal well-being and financial/employment future of this population then ever before.  It comes with especially egregious irony that these poor men and women not only have to work on the lowest rungs of society, facing bigotry and discrimination along the way, but now have to face institutional and legal challenges to their mere existence in the USA.\n\nWhile this may come as somewhat of a surprise to readers, “illegal” employment of undocumented workers really doesn’t shock citizens of larger cities.  Like this Reuter’s article showing a revelation in a gubernatorial race really didn’t have an impact on voters.  Coming from NYC originally, I am well aware of the masses of workers standing outside of home depot, hoping for daily work as contractors on staten island, as well as the hoards of “cleaning ladies” in NYC, since everyone lives and overpays rent for apartments.\n\nLos Angeles is even worse, of course, since it’s a border city with one of the largest populations of immigrants (undocumented and otherwise), as well as plenty of demand for housework and manual labor.  Furthermore, many of them report that they are treated very poorly by their “bosses”.  Considering the city speaks spanish about 75% of the time (some searching for son buenas las lavadoras digitales to find the best washing machine for their households), why should anyone be surprised that there are undocumented immigrants around?\n\nWhat do you think about these issues?  Do you think these immigrants should be granted more protections or rights?\n\nImage courtesy of PRI.\n\n\nImportance of great reviews\n\nMembership to clubs provides a great platform to learn more and understand products and services, and find great deals and so are reviews. Reviews are an important tool for individuals and businesses. Research shows that 88 percent of consumers have unshakeable trust on reviews. In fact, they rely on the reviews to determine whether there is value in buying a product from a specific firm. They can help attract customers to buy products and services from hair products, insurance, and debt management services to sparking interest in books and plays. It can also help people learn more about the products and services available.\n\nThe typical scenario when one is looking for a product or service is that people would contact the company or person selling the product for more information. Others do plenty of research before making a decision. Lately, though, a significant number of clients are relying on reviews when they need to learn as many features of a product as possible. Whether it is buying an insurance policy, a car, a house, or finding a school, people need as much information as they can get before making decisions.\n\nThe above are just a few examples of things or products you cannot buy unless you read as many reviews as possible. Reviews are crucial for various reasons.\n\nYou Get Accurate and Objective Feedback\n\nTrustworthy review sites represent the views of fellow customers who have bought and used a similar product to the one you are interested in. Firms that produce whatever you wish to buy do not write the reviews. Therefore, they are often accurate and objectively written. Don’t ignore the phrase you commonly see, “read full review here “. They provide relevant information that can save one from regrets or worse. The information is often objective and presented in language that is easy to understand.\n\nYou Receive Other People is Opinion\n\nOne written review is not enough to base your decision on. You need to read as many reviews as possible about a specific product or service. Check the reviews for a running theme. If the running theme is one of an excellent product or customer service, you will not throw away your money on something substandard. If the running theme were nothing other than unresolved complaints, you would better think twice. Reading a lot of reviews can be very helpful so that you can base your decisions on opinions from different quarters especially with a lot of fake reviews being available on the internet.\n\nSpotting Fake Reviews\n\nYou can learn to spot fake reviews. A few characteristics of fake reviews include:\na) Marketing language/speak\nb) Multiple reviews that read or sound exactly the same\nc) Polyamorous reviews\nd) Monogamous reviews\ne) Hyperventilated negative reviews\nf) Discount codes or directions on where to find the product\ng) 1-3 reviews only which are all overwhelmingly positive\n\nAlways check the reviews to confirm if they have been updated. Another reason for checking is to find out if the management responded to issues clients raised in previous reviews. A golden rule here is to stop believing everything you read on reviews. It is a good idea to be skeptical. If you find the reviews too good to be true, contact experts and ask for their opinion\n\nWhat Lessons Can We Learn from Shakespeare about Bingo?\n\nWilliam Shakespeare is perhaps the worldís greatest playwright of all time. His works have been published and distributed all over the world. His books are used to teach students English, literature, and history in many countries. What you may not realize is that his works also offer many lessons on bingo. Today, everything you know about bingo is probably what you have read on the Internet on sites such as https://www.boomtownbingo.com.\nSo, what can you learn about bingo from Shakespeare?\nYou Hold Your Destiny in Your Hands\nIn one of Shakespeareís books, Julius Caesar, he says, ìstars do not hold our destinies, but we do.î The saying is also true where bingo is concerned. Nobody can prevent you from winning a bingo game or tournament. The ability to succeed is in your hands. Your destiny while playing the game is in your hands too. There is a lot of wisdom in the words Julius Caesar spoke in this book. You can apply that wisdom in every area of your life too.\nBe Strategic\nIn the book, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo offered timely advice. He said itís better to go wisely and slowly because those who rush eventually stumble and fall. You can say the same thing to anybody playing bingo. Itís good to be strategic when playing this game in the company of other bingo enthusiasts. Rushing without thinking things through could jeopardize your chances of winning the game and some money too.\nTake Action\nIn the book, King John, Lewis said you need strong reasons to take strong actions. Once again, this encourages bingo players to take time and think any move through first. Purposeful rationalization and solid reasoning often get you far in this game. Lack of reasoning, on the other hand, will mess up your chances. This piece of advice is great for those playing bingo professionally.\nExercise Patience\nPatience is a virtue in your personal or professional life. Shakespeare talks about the importance of patience in his book titled, The Tragedy of Othello. Today, it seems as though everybody is in a hurry. Impatience is prevalent today than at any other time in human history. Playing bingo impatiently is a recipe for disaster. Patience to check your moves before using your cards will determine whether you leave the table/room happy or not.\nìThings won are done,î was the resounding cry Cressida made in the play Troilus and Cressida. Again, you can apply that in bingo and just about any other aspect of your life. It is indeed true that you can only win bingo by doing certain things. You need to make decisions. You need to be timely with every move you make. Practice winning and you will soon be leaving the bingo sites and venues the winner.\nThese few examples teach you a few things you can apply to areas of your life including playing Bingo. Visit sites that will help you discover the best bingo deals, fun, news, and competitions. When youíre not engrossed in Bingo, immerse yourself in the lessons and stories of love, tragedy, and comedy as written by the great bard.\n\nWriting Can Be Hard on the Back – But Can a Chiropractor Help?\n\nWriting has all types of frustrations and downsides.  Besides the obvious creative difficulties, writers’ block, criticism (both external and internal), and the mounting odds against commercial success, it also has some physical downsides.  Sitting at the computer all day, or hunched over a notepad, can have some dramatic effects on your posture and overall comfort.  After years of dealing with these issues, we here at Lawsc.net have some up with a series of things you can do to help avoid the pain associated with “writers hunch”, both with treatment and preventative measures.\n\nChiropractors, Fact or Fiction?\n\nMany who follow scientific news may have seen several years ago when science writers Simon Singh underwent a long libel lawsuit leveled by a Chiropractor association in the UK.  It brought up the issue of whether the chiropractic practice were somehow not “real” doctors.  For whatever reason there is this continuing myth surround the profession, but I can tell you from personal experience that this stuff works!  I’ve been going to an oceanside chiropractor for the past 2 years and I’ve always felt so much better after our sessions.\n\nI can’t speak to the science behind it all, but they do seem to have a deep knowledge of the human anatomy and proper alignment.  If you are out of alignment you generally will suffer the consequences, whether it’s with your posture during writing work, your stance during running or jogging, or other workout regimens.  Even sitting with a wallet in your back pocket can have really big impacts on your spinal alignment.\n\nErgonomic Office Chairs\n\nThis tactic is more of a preventative measure, but also works to stop some pain from creeping into your daily life.  Getting a nice, high quality ergonomic office chair is the best way to avoid poor posture going forward.  It won’t necessary correct any alignment, but it will avoid falling into poor alignment, as well as being quite comfortable.\n\nThere’s lots of benefits of this besides posture, such as breathable fabrics so you don’t get hot/sweaty sitting for long hours, easy of motion when swiveling, as well as foot and headrest attachments.  These chairs can range in price to the very expensive, but there is a reason for that.  You know the saying, you get what you pay for, and that applies here.  That being said, you can probably opt for one that is priced somewhere in the middle range, and still get lots of benefits.\n\nShorter Hours\n\nLast tip here is somewhat of a hard truth.  You should try to reduce the number of hours worked, and introduce some variety and other avenues of enjoyment into life.  There’s lots of studies that show working long hours actually reduces your productivity, so instead of focuses on putting in hours, focus on putting in quality.  You’ll be surprised how much you get done in a shorter time span.\n\nHope that this is helpful to all you aspiring Shakespeares out there.  Know that you don’t have to sacrifice your comfort to put in good, quality work.\n\nMaintaining Your Beautiful Smile with Modern-Day Dentistry Options\n\nOral health has been a concern for long before Shakespeare wrote his classic works. As early as the medieval times, people took care of their teeth, though through crude means such as cleaning with charcoal, bloodletting in case of certain types of a toothache, and the use of amulets, charms, and herbs. Many of the oral health problems in existence now were experienced in those times such as tooth decay, bad breath as a result of tartar buildup, and herpes simplex which is thought to be referenced in Romeo and Juliet as blisters on the lips. Books were even published in the 15th century on tooth extraction, treatment of tooth decay and jaw fractures, and oral hygiene. There have been major advances in oral health procedures since then; doing away with the crude methods, taking away the terror, and making it easier to achieve a beautiful smile. Here are ways you could maintain or improve your facial appearance today with the help of Sunnyvale oral surgeons.\n\n‘ Dental implants: whether you’ve lost your teeth as a result of poor oral hygiene or trauma, you don’t have to remain with toothless gaps or as was the case in the old times, have them replaced with animal teeth. Nowadays, highly educated oral surgeons can replace your teeth using dental implants. These are artificial teeth made of different materials; some of which resemble your natural ones. They are permanently attached to the jaw through titanium screw-like structures, bringing back your smile and the ability to bite ad chew comfortably. All this is done under anesthesia, meaning you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.\n\n‘ Orthognathic Surgery: if you have skeletal or dental problems such as misaligned jaws and teeth, corrective oral surgery is able to realign your jaws and teeth so that you can be able to eat and talk properly. It also has aesthetic benefits including improving the appearance of your smile. Again, this process is painless due to the numbing effect of anesthesia. Sometimes, other orthodontic treatments are used. These include the use of braces and retainers to bring teeth back into their proper alignment. While traditional braces are very visible, newer types of treatment such as Invisalign offer similar benefits but are hardly noticeable.\n\n‘ Root canal treatments: unlike in the old days when toothaches were treated through bleeding and crude methods of tooth extraction, there are painless methods of relieving toothache and saving the tooth. Root canal treatments clear infections that have reached the root of the tooth. This invasive, but painless procedure typically involves at least two appointments during which the roots are cleaned and sealed. The cavities are then filled with a permanent material some of which resemble the tooth. Crowns can be used to provide additional protection.\n\nThere are a lot of modern options to achieve and maintain a beautiful smile, relieve a toothache and restore full functionality of teeth. Some of these are cleft and cosmetic surgeries, dental bridges, teeth whitening products, and mouth guards. Despite these advancements, proper hygiene is still as important now as it was then thus regular brushing and proper flossing should be observed.\n\nWhy You Should Hire Cleaners for Your Home\n\nHouse cleaning is not an enjoyable task for many. That aside, the sheer challenge of balancing home cleaning, motherhood, and work leaves many women with little or no extra time. Therefore, they can hardly engage in the little things that give them joy such as immersing themselves in their favorite Shakespeare works and engaging in other hobbies. If you find yourself with little time to spare, you can free some hours by letting someone such as a barefoot maid clean your house. Here’s why you should consider getting professional cleaning services.\n\n  • Get free time: when you hire cleaning services, you are not only letting someone else handle the task you have difficulty tackling; you are also buying yourself some free time to handle other chores, relax, or indulge in a hobby.\n  • Hire experts: you may not know how to get rid of the stubborn stains and unpleasant smells, but the cleaning service providers do. When you hire them, you can enjoy these benefits.\n  • Get consistent cleaning: the maids you hire to clean your house can be relied on to clean your house as often and as regularly as you want. Therefore, you don’t have to compromise on the cleanliness of your house because other obligations took up all your time.\n  • Before/After Contractor Work: Getting work done on your home can leave a mess.  Considering hiring a one-off cleaning service after work done by a construction company or other contractor.\n\nMost cleaning companies will allow specifying some specific things you desire. You can provide your own products that will be used in cleaning, have them use your equipment like washing machines (if laundry service is included, see here for some options on washing machines). You can schedule the cleaning as is convenient for you and provide different levels of cleaning whether you want regular maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning, spring cleaning or thorough moving-out cleaning.\n\nAlso ask your construction company if they have a recommendation.  We recently used Tetra Construction and they provided info on a cleaning company they work with regularly.\n\n\n\nThings to Find Out Before You Select a Tutor in Los Angeles\n\nShakespeare’s works didn’t just make a mark in theatres. It also found its way into the American classrooms. His plays, like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and Hamlet feature in the English curriculum taught in American high schools. Though great, the works are profound and not easy for many people to understand, making the services of tutors necessary to help students understand and excel in tasks that involve Shakespeare’s work. It is, however, important to find a good tutor. You’ll find tips below on how to find the best tutor for your child from a large number of Local tutors in LA.\n\nEducation and Experience\n\nThe tutor you choose needs to possess the core knowledge necessary to help your child. You need to find out the level of education the tutor has and in what field. For the English classes involving Shakespeare’ work, what better person to help you than someone who has immersed himself/herself in Bard’s work after high school. It’s even better if you find one who has been teaching such lessons for a while. If you are considering someone who isn’t an experienced tutor, it is important that s/he should have recently gone through similar classes and excelled. In trying to determine just h qualified the tutor is, you should also find out the examination boards the tutor is familiar with.\n\n\nYou need to know where the tutor is willing to hold the tutoring sessions. This might not be an issue if you intend to use a virtual learning platform because then, distance is not an issue and the child can learn from the comfort of their home. However, if you think learning will take place better in a face to face session, you’ll need to agree on a meeting place.\n\nTeaching Methods\n\nYou also need to determine the tutor’s teaching methods. Ask about how the long the session would need to be, how they will be made engaging, how they’ll be made fun, and who will be responsible for arranging the materials required for the lessons.  For instance, different subjects require different equipment, the same things needed for an english lesson will be different then graphic laptops needed for heavy computing needs.\n\nYou need to know if the tutor will provide the reading and writing materials or if you need to factor this in your costs. It is also important to find out how the tutor tracks the progress of the child. Does s/he give homework and if so, what amount. This is because a little work may be beneficial as long as it doesn’t overwhelm a child who already has homework from school. Further, find out how assessments are done.\n\n\nFind out if there are any clients the tutor has worked with. If the tutor can provide testimonials, it can give you a better insight into what it will be like working with him/her. It is also the best way to find out if there are any issues to be concerned about. Though testimonials might be sufficient evidence of the tutor’s abilities, you should also check to make sure that the documentation presented is current.\n\nMost importantly, you need to ensure maximum protection for your child. Therefore, you must check the tutor’s criminal record to make sure they are not wanted for any crime, and they are not listed as previous or wanted sex offenders.\n\nRichard III: Plays as Propaganda\n\nWorks of art and literature being used to forward a specific agenda is nothing new. In fact, even the great bard took part in this practice. The best example of this is his play Richard III which centers on the evil title character, chronicling his rise and fall from power.\n\nSet during the final years of the Wars of the Roses, it basically shows how King Richard III’s so-called wicked reign set England towards one of its darkest periods. However, by the end of the play, we see order, peace, and prosperity restored with King Henry VII’s reign.\n\nThe play was written when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne. If you were not aware, Elizabeth I was a member of the House of Tudor. Her grandfather was Henry, Earl of Richmond who would later become King Henry VII. He would earn this title after deposing Richard III off the throne. His ascent to power would establish the Tudor dynasty.\n\nThe play shows what many historians refer to as the Tudor myth. The play forwards the legitimacy of the reigning noble house while also vilifying its rivals.\n\nMacbeth’s Descent\n\nMacbeth is a character that has inspired countless others in media and literature. He represents a protagonist’s journey from being the hero to the villain of his own story. Portraying a sense of tragedy and poetry, this descent into evil has been shown several times in popular culture, most recently in Breaking Bad’s Walter White. However, while these stories are good in their own right, it is vital that people understand that Shakespeare did it first.\n\nAt the start of the play, Macbeth is introduced as its warrior hero. His victories in battlefield would eventually win him great honor from the king. Essentially, Macbeth is a fully realized character with his own set of insecurities and weaknesses. This goes against the opinion many people have of him. As he murders King Duncan, he is filled with doubt and uncertainty.\n\nAs the play progresses, however, notable changes appear with Macbeth’s personality. The events in the play show how he would become the dominant partner in his marriage as he descends further into guilt and madness. However, like with all tragedies, he acquires an excess of pride and hubris which would lead to his eventual downfall.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5017671585083008}
+{"content": "How to control pain so it doesn’t control you!\n\nPain is one of the most important and reliable “indicators” our bodies have developed over time, and it tells us that things just aren’t quite right in the body.\n\nAt the same time, constant and chronic sources of pain can be incredibly debilitating – to the point where they are all you can think about during the day and everything that keeps you up at night when you’re trying to get some rest.\n\nA lot of people have become slaves to constant and consistent pain. Many continue to try to push through chronic pain, realizing that they become significantly less productive but unsure or unaware of how to resolve this pain all on their own. Others end up taking painkillers on a daily basis.  That will work for the short term.  But painkillers, especially strong prescription strength painkillers like codeine or co-codamol can end up leading to all sorts of side effect and have the potential to be abused.\n\nThankfully though, there are a number of different things you’re going to be able to do to kick your pain to the curb once and for all. We’ve included a couple of tips and tricks from top medical experts all over the world to help you do exactly that so that you’re able to lead a happy and healthy lifestyle once again.\n\nDealing with plantar fasciitis?\n\nFolks that are sick and tired of always feeling sick and tired almost always decide to take up running to get back into the swing of things, and usually push themselves a lot harder and a lot further than they should write out of the gate. That can so easily go wrong and you end up on the hurting end of pain. Fitness is fine.  But if you are out of shape, it’s essential that you approach it with extreme care.\n\nIf you have fallen into this trap (like so many millions all over the world), the odds are pretty good that you’re dealing with a nasty plantar fasciitis flareup that sends shooting pain throughout your body.\n\nYou’ll want to get your hands on a quality over-the-counter pain reliever (like ibuprofen) or a top-notch prescription painkiller from your medical doctor, but you’ll also want to ice down tight calf muscles and Achilles tendons just as soon as you get back home from your run. Co-Codamol can be especially effective here as it combines the strength of two proven painkillers codeine and paracetamol.\n\nThe cold will help speed up your recovery. If you have compression socks now is the time to throw them on.\n\nFighting heartburn all the time?\n\nOver-the-counter antacid blockers work wonders to help people control heartburn, though there are quite a few prescription pills out there that are even more impactful and faster working that may be worth investigating.\n\nAt the same time, if you want to be able to resolve your heartburn all on your own it’s a good idea to put a couple of blocks of foam up near your pillows so that your body is angled downwards from your head to your toes while you sleep. This will force the acid to fight gravity, and may help contain it while you sleep so that you don’t wake up in pain.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.918079137802124}
+{"content": "Sleep Aid Programs\n\nAlthough the causes of insomnia and sleep-related problems are varied, there are several common methods to getting your sleep back on track. Here you will find three suggested programs – one addressing stress and anxiety caused persistent night-time wakening, and one for a weekend routine back on track.\n\nYou may prefer to devise your own tailor-made pre-sleep regime that includes writing in a journal or performing yoga, breathing or meditation exercises. Music is a great relaxer and can be used to supplement meditation and relaxation techniques; try nature sounds, mood music or light classical or jazz, but avoid anything with lyrics or spoken words or that is too loud or disharmonic, which will only serve to keep your mind stimulated.\n\n\nSome days we all find ourselves at home with a racing mind and an anxious to-do list, with a much needed restorative slumber impossibility. This usually means we find ourselves lying awake in the dark, trapped in a cycle of worrying about our inability to sleep.\n\nTry this relaxing 90-minute program to speed the onset of sleep, leaving you refreshed and able to start the next day energized and with a rebalanced outlook.\n\nA retreat at the end of a busy day is essential for renewing your spirit and your body for the next day’s challenges.\n\nStep One\n\nAt the end of your active day, turn off your phone and switch on low lights around your home, including the bathroom (hard, overhead task lighting will not allow you to relax). Let your body adjust to the new lighting, encouraging melatonin production, and play soothing music. Especially useful are CDs specifically created for inducing sleep or deep relaxation. Have a warm bath and add five drops of mandarin or lavender essential to the water.\n\nLeave the doors and windows closed to allow the atmosphere to become fragrant and steamy. Place a soft towel and bathrobe over a radiator to warm, and place a pen and note pad by the tub. While the bath is running, prepare and enjoy a soothing bromine-and tryptophan-rich snack, such as a whole meal sandwich of banana and peanut butter, or turkey and lettuce with a glass of warm milk and honey.\n\nStep Two\n\nReturn to the bathroom where you need to soak for at least 30 minutes to allow the relaxing essential oils to work on your system. In the first few minutes in the tub, use the pen and paper to draw a list with three columns; tomorrow, one week, one month. When we are stressed, we see every problem as part of one big ‘emergency’ and writing each task under the relevant time frame will help you see what you really have to deal with. Once you have written out your tasks, ring each one that you can delegate or ask for help with (can you have your shopping delivered or ask a colleague to help source information for a report?). Write out your real to do list for the morning and put it to one side. Enjoy the remaining time in the water. After your bath, dress in comfortable; lose sleepwear that makes you feel relaxed.\n\nStep Three\n\nYour body and mind need 30 to 60 minutes to wind down. Go to a comfortable, warm room and, in low light, try the following breathing method to help the body and mind release tension and worry.\n\nWhen you take a relaxing bath, ensure that you allow at least 30 minutes for the essential oils to work their magic.\n\nSit upright in a firm and comfortable chair. Begin to breathe in a slow, regular way on developing breathing techniques, concentrating on the inhale and exhale sensation. Now think of two words, such as ‘calm’ and ‘relax’, which equate ‘rest’ to you. When you breathe in, say one word in your mind, and as you expel the air, think of the other. Repeat for 5 to10 minutes. The technique will help banish other, worrisome thoughts that are hard to release with conscious effort. The more you practice and run through these steps, the more readily your body will respond; you are creating your own relaxation ‘trigger’.\n\nStep Four\n\nMove to your bedroom and get into bed. Lie on your back in the Corpse position and begin some positive visualization to calm a racing heart and mind. Imagine a scene dear to you in which you were completely relaxed, perhaps on a winter holiday in a rustic ski chalet, lying on an old couch. Imagine the smell of the burning wood on the fire, then the sensation of the threadbare couch fabric, comfy underneath you. Then imagine the drowsy heat from the fire. Focus on different details and sensations in the scene, feeling you gradually relax. It may be that your ideal scene draws on a memory such as a picnic or a beach outing * just choose somewhere that you felt safe, happy and rested. This visualization technique should lull you off to sleep.\n\nAs another aid, create an ‘emergency relaxation kit’ consisting of a notepad, pen, essential oils or fragrant candles, self-massage tools and a music CD, which you can pull out after a harassed day for 30 minutes of instant relief. Make sure you maintain it so you don’t find yourself turning the house upside-down for missing components, further adding to your stress.\n\n\nNight-time awakenings can be very distressing and isolating. It is essential to create a system to help manage these jolts, as they can rapidly become a source of great discomfort resulting in excessive daytime sleepiness. The first thing to appreciate is that everyone has night-time awakenings, several times a night, but usually they are so brief we have no recollection of them.\n\nStep One\n\nFirst, make sure you go to bed when you are sleepy; we often force ourselves to bed feeling tired, but the fatigued body is kept awake by a mind racing with dramas we have just seen on TV, in a brightly lit environment, not allowing ourselves the preparation for sleep. Avoid daytime naps no matter how tempting if you are having this problem, to ensure you are truly tired. Some night- time awakenings can be caused by hunger and can be easily resolved; try a small tryptophan-rich meal 30 minutes before bed. It should be easy to digest, such as a glass of warm milk with nutmeg and honey.\n\nStep Two\n\nSome people wake with a jolt of panic or fear, a sudden adrenalin rush that pulls them into consciousness. The relaxation technique here was devised by Michael Krugman, founder of the Sounder Sleep System. After years of studying arts such as yoga, qigong and meditation, Krugman devised a system called ‘mini moves’, which is based on breathing and visualization techniques and which helps achieve a state of deep relaxation and deep sleep. This adaptation is ideal for returning to sleep after a late night awakening.\n\nLie on your back in bed in a comfortable position, with a pillow under your head. Become aware of your breathing; is it anxious and labored or are you feeling calm? Krugman calls this ‘breath surfing’. Keep concentrating on your breathing until you feel completely focused on the sensation.Move into the ‘home position’ by bending your arms at the elbows, still allowing the upper arm to rest comfortably by your side, and then place your hands – palms open, fingers slightly apart, thumbs wherever comfortable – on your chest, on either side of your sternum, tips of the fingers resting on the sternum. Everything should feel comfortable and loose.Observe the movements of your breath, the rise and fall of your chest, feeling through your fingers.Tune into the area underneath your thumbs. Slowly, begin to lift your thumbs a tiny way from your chest as your chest rises to inhale. Lower them as you exhale.Synchronize your breathing and thumbs so each lift and breath corresponds in duration.Stop, rest and feel. The anxiety should be gone, and you’re breathing fuller. Krugman says this practice will ‘stimulate your body-mind’s ability to sleep’. You may drift in a dreamlike state before nodding off.\n\nStep Three\n\nIf you are still unable to return to sleep, get up, tidy the sheets and move to another room. You must avoid stimulating activities such as work and watching TV. Reading by lamplight, so that your body still appreciates that it is night, can soothe the mind, but avoid murder mysteries or anything over stimulating. Repetitive tasks such as ironing can help lull the mind back to sleep, or looking at a photography book such as rural landscape scenes with quiet music or nature sounds in the background can help. When you feel drowsy, and not before, return to bed. Repeat the ‘mini moves’. Your body must associate only sleep with the bedroom. Avoid looking at a clock, but if you are still awake after 20 minutes, get up again and repeat.\n\nStep Four\n\nDespite a difficult night, get up at the same time. A regular wake time is essential for good rest, and trains the body to return to its natural pattern.\n\n\nAs a matter of mental, physical and emotional health, we should all try to set a day a month aside to catch up on our sleep and neglected needs. This plan will help you enjoy a calm, relaxed day to help you unwind and attain a rejuvenating night’s sleep.\n\nStep One: Preparation\n\nChoose a day when you don’t work. Make sure to stock up on the recommended foods beforehand to prevent you from grabbing sugar-packed fuel, which will give you energy and mood spikes, and also eliminate the need to enter a busy and stressful supermarket on your ‘recharge’ day. Let friends and family know you are not available, unplugging the phone and leaving your computer and emails safely switched off. Try taking some gentle exercise such as a long walk or swim, as exercise is shown to improve sleep quality, but make sure you do this in the earlier part of the day (too near bedtime and you become over stimulated and unable to rest).\n\nTry booking a treat such as a massage or facial. lf you are excessively tired, you may find yourself low at mid afternoon during your daytime circadian dip. Do something enjoyable that you rarely have the chance to do, like watch an old black-and-white movie, but try to avoid napping. This is a day of reward and nourishment, so a glass of wine with dinner is fine, but limit it to that more will destroy sleep quality, as will stimulants such as cigarettes and caffeine. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters (372 pints) of water throughout the day.\n\nStep two: Diet\n\nChoose food that will keep energy levels balanced all through the day, which will help you feel at  peace and reduce the risk of an afternoon nap, keeping you awake later.\n\n\nChoose slow-release carbohydrates such as an egg on brown or whole meal toast or porridge. Try to avoid caffeine, but if you feel unable to start your day without it make this your one cup, in order for it to leave your system by mid afternoon. Change to chamomile tea throughout the rest of the day.\n\n\nInclude lean protein, such as fish, poultry or red meat, or soya, and green leafy vegetables; this will deliver a boost of vitamin B, great for combating the effects of a stressful week.\n\n\nThis should occur at least two hours before bed and include carbohydrates such as brown pasta, rice or potatoes, pasta and lean protein, with a salad packed with healing antioxidants. A glass of mandarln or orange juice, which contains bromine, can also act as a sedative. Avoid spicy foods or excess sugar.\n\nStep Three: Bath time\n\nBefore bed, dissolve two cups of Epsom salts in a warm bath. The salts will help rid you of any of the toxins accumulated from previously eating and drinking excessively, and also relax the muscles. The salts can, however, leave the skin dry, so do moisturize well after your bath. You may like to add a few drops of bath oil to counteract the dehydrating effects of the salt. Those with skin complaints or high blood pressure should check with their doctor first. After your soak, dress in loose, comfortable nightwear.\n\nStep Four: Massage\n\nMove to your bed or a comfortable chair, using only a low light source and try this self-massage technique for releasing tension from your head, neck and shoulders. The scalp especially can hold a great deal of tension. Think of the sensation in the forehead, when furrowing the brow or raising the eyebrows, which we often does when stressed. Place the three middle fingers of each hand at the front centre of your hairline. Making firm circular movements, move in a straight line along the scalp down the back of your head to the hairline at the back. Move back towards the front, working your way gradually outwards until your whole scalp has been manipulated. End the massage by kneading the whole scalp rhythmically and softly.\n\nEnjoy a relaxing read or listen to peaceful music, and when you feel tired, make your way to bed. Have a restful sleep that will help prepare you for the week ahead. Choose a breakfast that offers slow-release energy to give you an energetic and positive start to the day.\n\nLeave a Reply\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6066503524780273}
+{"content": "Our Culture\n\nEnd of life vehicle recycling\n\nOran Metal Group, as the leading metal recycling company in Ireland, recognises its responsibilities towards achieving a cleaner and less contaminated countrry side for everyone to enjoy.\n\nWe also recognise how our efforts are contributing positively towards a circular economy, including the reduction in quantities of resources (ores) taken from our earth and increasing recycling rates.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9247140884399414}
+{"content": "By Bree Gordon, MT-BC\n\nI want to start this post by stating that my experience with creating and maintaining relationships will likely not look the same for everyone.  I recognize that the way someone interacts with others is unique to that person.   While the point of this post is to look at the effect music has had on how I form social connections, I understand that my extroverted personality and independent Virgo tendencies play a big role in my relationships.  Some may argue, too big of a role. 😉\n\nRecently I’ve received feedback on my ability to communicate with others in various settings: one the radio, at a social gathering,  in a store and in front of a room presenting.  As someone who often presents on the topic of networking and branding, my surface response was, “I’m a saleswoman!”  Although, while I continue to fight the stigma of the “dirty S-word”, that term did sound a bit distant when I said it out loud.  I can talk to people of various ages and backgrounds because I’m in sales?  Probably not.  But then why else would I find ease and, dare I say, enjoyment in situations that commonly bring such anxiety?  Well, probably because I’m a musician.  And furthermore, a vocalist.\n\nIs there anything more exposing and vulnerable than using your voice?  As someone who has mis-sung the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner in front of hundreds, I can tell you, there is not.  So why keep doing it?  Why continue risking the awkwardness of a social interaction gone wrong or a sing-along gone sour?  This is when I realized it’s not about my skills as a salesperson, it’s about my experience as a musician.  For decades, my experience making and appreciating music has taught me that the best rewards exist when we step into the unknown.  When we listen to that album for the first time, see that band perform live and unscripted, open our mouths to sing without knowing how we will blend with those around us and put a pen to paper without knowing what words will materialize.  As a music therapist this gets even better as we walk to into a room without knowing how our patient will respond.  These risks and uncertainties fuel, excite and empower me in everything I do.  These experiences encourage me to be flexible, to remain open and to look for the positive.  Music has never let me down so how can I not assume the best in other interactions?\n\nAs an extrovert with “leadership” tendencies, I had an interesting experience this past weekend.  I was repeatedly in situations where I knew next to no one.  I couldn’t lead the group, I couldn’t anticipate the needs of others.   I didn’t know them.  I couldn’t be the band leader here, I had to be the second clarinetist (it’s been awhile….).  I relied on my musicianship.  I was authentic, I was exposed and I was creative.  And more importantly, I listened at the rests.\n\nIf social interaction is not your forte (pun intended), but you connect with the idea of being a musician or music appreciator, maybe consider how your relationship with music can impact your relationships with others.  Music, like people, can be unpredictable, changeable and intimidating but also comforting, exciting and rewarding.  Assume the same for a new relationship.  Step into the unknown.  Lean into the improvisation.  Aren’t we all just making it up as we go along, anyway?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7418620586395264}
+{"content": "New paper: The neural consequences of age-related hearing loss\n\nI'm fortunate to have stayed close to my wonderful PhD supervisor, Art Wingfield. A couple of years ago Art and I hosted a Frontiers research topic on how hearing loss affects neural processing. One of our goals was to follow the effects from the periphery (i.e. effects in the cochlea) through higher-level cognitive function.\n\nWe've now written a review article that covers these topics (Peelle and Wingfield, 2016). Our theme is one Art has come back to over the years: given the numerous age-related declines in both hearing and cognition, we might expect speech comprehension to be relatively poor in older adults. The fact that it is, in fact, generally quite good speaks to the flexibility of the auditory system and compensatory cognitive and neural mechanisms.\n\nA few highlights:\n\n  • Hearing impairment affects neural function at every level of the ascending auditory system, from the cochlea to primary auditory cortex. Although frequently demonstrated using noise induced hearing loss, many of the same effects are seen for age-related hearing impairment.\n\n  • Functional brain imaging in humans routinely shows that when speech is acoustically degraded, listeners engage more regions outside the core speech network, suggesting this activation may play a compensatory role in making up for the reduced acoustic information. (An important caveat is that task effects have to be considered).\n\n  • Moving forward, an important effort will be understanding how individual differences in both hearing and cognitive abilities affect the brain networks listened use to process spoken language.\n\nWe had fun writing this paper, and hope it's a useful resource!\n\n\nPeelle JE, Wingfield A (2016) The neural consequences of age-related hearing loss. Trends in Neurosciences 39:486–497. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2016.05.001 (PDF)\n\n\nPsychology Research Assistant Opening - Washington University in Saint Louis\n\nWe have an exciting research project and are looking to hire a full-time research assistant. This is a joint project between Jonathan Peelle, Kristin Van Engen, and Mitch Sommers  at Washington University in Saint Louis. We are looking at the cognitive and neural systems involved in understanding speech, especially when it is acoustically degraded (due to background noise or hearing loss). If you got the job you would be located in the Sommers lab in the psychology department on the main campus.\n\nAccurately measuring individual differences in cognitive abilities typically requires a lot of data; your primary responsibility would be to collect behavioral data from our research participants (on average 1-2 participants per day). This includes scheduling participants over the phone, running the study, and transferring the data and paperwork afterwards. This is a tall order, and requires someone who is naturally very organized and good with people.\n\nBy \"naturally organized\" we don't need someone who understands what being organized means, or who can file and alphabetize paperwork. That's true of most of the applicants for this job. We are looking for the kind of person who intuitively designs systems to organize things in life outside of work because that's how their mind works.\n\nIt also requires being able to work independently, but in the context of our team: you’ll need to be able to move ahead on projects without asking for input from others. It is highly unlikely that you will have all of the required skills already, so being able to prioritize tasks and learn skills on your own is critical.\n\nAs one example of this, you’ll be programming experiments using EPrime and/or PsychoPy. Experience with any kind of programming, especially experiment presentation, is a big plus. If you don’t have experience then a willingness and ability to learn quickly is absolutely essential.\n\nIt is also very important that you are comfortable interacting with a range of people. First, because our university research team is spread out, you'll need to be able to coordinate and communicate with all of us. Second, and more importantly, you'll need to be able to be engaging and friendly with both undergraduates and older adults who come in for our study. It is imperative that they feel valued and enjoy their experience, but that you are also able to keep them on task. If you are highly introverted you'll need to consider whether you can keep up a high level of interaction with participants for a long period of time.\n\nOn a related note, engaging our participants in scientific communication is also a big part of the job: Compensation for participating in our experiments is usually modest, but our participants are willing go out of their way to take part in our project because they are genuinely interested in the work that we do. Therefore, you will need to communicate the purpose and eventual applications of our work to participants during their visit.\n\nAlthough not required, we anticipate that having some post-undergraduate experience will be really helpful in developing the skills necessary for the job. Although research experience would be great, it's more the overall level of maturity and life experience we think would be useful.\n\nWe are asking for a minimum of a 2-year commitment—there will be a significant training period, and we want to make sure you're around to benefit from the environment, and to contribute to the project. If you are considering further education we are confident that the experience (and potential publications) you gain from this time will serve you well. We have a 5-year grant and if all goes well we would love to have you stay part of the team for a long time.\n\nA background in psychology or cognitive neuroscience—including research design, data collection, and/or programming—will be extremely useful in understanding the project and being able to contribute to the interpretation of the results.\n\nIf you're not familiar with Saint Louis, it's a great city. None of the main investigators on the grant are natives but we all like the area: the culture, food, and beer scenes are all excellent, and the overall cost of living relatively low. Wash U is a great academic institution with good benefits and a good place to work.\n\nIn summary, we are really excited about this project and want to find the right person for the job! We think the most successful candidates will be naturally organized, excited about the project, and have excellent interpersonal skills.\n\nFor informal inquiries, please send a CV to Jonathan Peelle. In your email let us know why you think you'd be a good fit, and what might set you apart from other candidates.\n\nWe are looking for the best person for the job, not the person with the \"right\" background or CV. If you are interested and think you'd do well we really encourage you to apply. We won't be able to interview everyone and we may not interview you, but let us be the ones to make this decision.\n\nAn official job posting will be available shortly (we hope). We won't be able to respond personally to all inquiries so please keep an eye on the Wash U human resources page and apply officially if you are interested.\n\nFunded postdoc in speech comprehension and aging at Penn\n\n\n\n\nInformal inquiries can be directed to Murray Grossman (", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7060056924819946}
+{"content": "I've owned a home for 4 years and every year I do my part to make Halloween fun for my community. As simple as it sounds, just having candy for trick-or-treaters and being available to hand it out goes a long way. I do my best to mix up the high end candy with more cost effective bags purchased in stores.\n\nWhat I found to be very interesting is the trend of parents who follow trick-or-treaters around. I'm glad that they are there to make sure their children are safe and have fun but their smart phones are out the whole time and aimed at the kids and me. I smile and wave since I don't mind being recorded but a lot of parents are using a Facebook Live feed.\n\nParents are not just recording the memory but are broadcasting live on the internet for everyone to see. Most people I've spoken to about this are a little uncomfortable with it and could lead to less and less homes opening their doors for strangers. Do you think this is ok? Is it an invasion of privacy? Let us know in the comments below.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8397297859191895}
+{"content": "Dust ring found round closest star\n\nThe presence of a dusty ring around Proxima Centauri could indicate that it is part of a planetary system like our own Solar System.\n\nArtist’s impression of dusty belts around Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System. Does this belt indicate the presence of an undiscovered planetary system?\nCredit: ESO/M. Kornmesser\n\n\nObservations of Proxima Centauri, the closest star outside the Solar System, have revealed a ring of glowing dust encircling it, indicating the possibility that it is host to an elaborate planetary system.\n\nProxima Centauri is a red dwarf star four lightyears away. In 2016, astronomers discovered an exoplanet orbiting it, named Proxima b. This Earth-sized world is the closest known planet outside our Solar System.\n\nObservations of Proxima Centauri were carried out by the ALMA Observatory in Chile.\n\nThe dusty ring is located at a distance from the star equivalent to between one to four times the distance between Earth and the Sun.\n\n\nRead more about Proxima Centauri from BBC Sky at Night Magazine:\n\n\nDust belts like these are the remnants of material that didn’t form into planets. They are made up of pieces of rock and ice that vary in size from tiny dust grains to asteroid-like bodies.\n\nThis newly-discovered belt is estimated to have a temperature of about -230°C; as cold as the Kuiper Belt in the outer Solar System.\n\n\nAn image of the sky around bright star Alpha Centauri AB, also showing Proxima Centauri.\nCredit: Digitized Sky Survey 2 / Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin/Mahdi Zamani\n\n\nALMA observations also suggest the presence of another dust belt about ten times farther out.\n\nBoth belts are much farther than the orbit of planet Proxima b, which is four million kilometres from Proxima Centauri.\n\n“This result suggests that Proxima Centauri may have a multiple planet system with a rich history of interactions that resulted in the formation of a dust belt,” says Guillem Anglada of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, who led the study.\n\n“Further observations will give us a more detailed picture of Proxima's planetary system,” says Co-author Pedro Amado.\n\n“In combination with the study of protoplanetary discs around young stars, many of the details of the processes that led to the formation of the Earth and the Solar System about 4,600 million years ago will be unveiled.\n\n\"What we are seeing now is just the appetiser compared to what is coming!”\n\n\nLike this article? Why not:\nArtemis competition Ts & Cs - Twitter\nprevious news Article\nSupernova star comes back to life\nnext news Article", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8734962940216064}
+{"content": "Eagle Scout Project by\nGeno Chandler\nParker Middle School, Howell, MI\n\n\nThe typical East-West size of the analemmatic sundial is 16 to 20 feet and using the attached spreadsheet, can be designed for any latitude. Because the markers and walkway can be set at ground level there are no safety hazards such as tripping on a gnomon (well, tripping on a gnomon for the \"Human Sundial\" means there is some rough-housing going on among the students). This type of dial works well as a group project.  The instructions given in the attachments were created to ensure team participation in marking out the dial.  The walkway can be done in a variety of different ways with individualized drawings for each month of the year.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9938772320747375}
+{"content": "201707 The Grand Tour\n\n\n20170715 _TheGrandTour_077_IMG_8280\n\n2. We went to Glacier National Park\n20170716 _TheGrandTour_172_IMG_9890\n\n3. Lewis and Clark to Lolo Pass, Utah.\n20170718 _TheGrandTour_008_IMG_0066\n\n20170720 _TheGrandTour_123_IMG_9062\n\n5. Grand Teton National Park\n20170721 _TheGrandTour_059_IMG_0739.JPG\n\n\n7. Rocky Mountain National Park\n20170722 _TheGrandTour_131_IMG_9143.JPG\n\n8. Home\n20170723 _TheGrandTour_182_IMG_9934\n\n\n\n20170331 Crane Trust Overnight\n\nIt’s been a while. I did an over night with the Crane Trust (cranetrust.org). I got dropped off at 4:30 in the afternoon. The birds move in for the night at sunset. They actually landed on the North side of the river. Over the course of the evening, they spread out all the way across the river. I woke up to tens of thousands of Sandhill Cranes outside the blind.\n\nAccording to the Trust, there were around two hundred thousand (200K) Cranes on the Platte this night. Last week, it was 400,000. I slept pretty well considering it sounds like 400,000 middle school trumpet players on their first day. The cranes make an really amazing amount of sounds.\n\nThe weather was and has been overcast and gross. The sun finally made an appearance several days later.\n\nThe Crane Trust does a great work. The visitor center is really nice. Worth a stop if you are ever crossing Nebraska.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5114442110061646}
+{"content": "The removal performance of nitrate using capacitive deionization (CDI) of activated carbon (AC)-based electrodes were studied. The AC electrode was prepared and the effect of cell voltage, flow rate and initial solution concentration on ion removal were investigated. Furthermore, the AC was modified with phosphoric acid (ACP) and the surface structure of AC and ACP were analyzed. The results showed that the specific surface area of AC increased by 10.71% after the modification. The mesopore ratio and micropore ratio increased by 14.69% and 24.06%, respectively. The optimal conditions of AC electrode was a voltage of 1.4 V and flow rate of 20 mL/min while the ACP electrode was a voltage of 1.4 V and flow rate of 10 mL/min. The electrosorption capacity of ACP electrode was improved and the unit of electrosorption load was high to 19.28 mg/L. For the AC or ACP electrode, the nitrate removal efficiency decreases with the increase in the initial feed solutions, but the unit electrosorption load gradually increased with the improvement of initial feed solutions' concentration and the ACP electrode was superior to the AC electrode. Therefore, the ACP electrode would be suitable for the application of CDI on the nitrate removal.\n\nYou do not currently have access to this content.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8412008285522461}
+{"content": "Specific Dialogue Tags\n\nSo we talked about dialogue tags a while ago but we didn’t talk about specific dialogue tags. Dialogue tags are important as they explain not just the tone or emotion the character is using to speak but it can also show action and describe what they’re doing. Which is also important.\n\nSpecific dialogue tags | Creative writing | writing tips | RachelPoli.com\n\nIs Said Dead?\n\nNo. Said is not dead. Everyone needs to leave poor said alone. Said may be a “bland” dialogue tag but sometimes it can work perfectly. We’re not always asking a question or shouting or cheering for any reason. We talk to each other calmly and have general, normal conversations – for the most part. In other words we’re speaking in statements. How do you describe a statement? We “said” it.\n\nBut how do we make said better? Well, we can make it better just like we can make any other dialogue tag sound better.\n\nAdd Detail.\n\nSure, there are plenty of times I’ve stood in the kitchen having a conversation with my mom and we’re not doing anything. We’re actually just standing and talking. But a lot of time, especially characters in a story, are doing something while they talk.\n\nFor example:\n\n“How was everyone’s day?” Raph asked spreading butter on her corn on the cob.\n\n“It was fine.” Chip said reaching her arm over Raph to grab the salt.\n\n“You could have just asked for the salt.” Raph sighed.\n\n“My day was good.” Chase piped up in a muffled tone, his mouth filled with food.\n\n“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Chip scolded her brother as she took a bite of her hamburger.\n\nChase swallowed, “You’re talking with your mouth full.”\n\nRaph put her fork and knife down bowing her head. “Guys, please…”\n\nAdmittedly, not the best example, but hopefully you know what I’m trying to get at.\n\nIt never hurts to add a little extra to your dialogue tags depending on where your characters are and what they’re doing.\n\nWhat are some other examples you can think of? Let me know in the comments below. If you liked this post, please share it around.\n\n\n\n9 thoughts on “Specific Dialogue Tags\n\nLet me know your thoughts!\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8866425156593323}
+{"content": "Advanced Search\n\nAll information about: habitat\n\n  • How to achieve a peaceful coexistence between wolves and humans\n\n    Adeline Marcos | Uppsala | 31 May 2018 08:00\n\n    The persecution of wolves in order to remove them from human settlements has culminated in their near-disappearance in numerous European countries, like Spain and Sweden. Following a recovery of the species, a team of scientists has determined what geographic areas in the Scandinavian country would be most suitable for a redistribution of the specie’s range, in the interests of increasing the s...\n\n  • How different ant species coexist in the same territory\n\n    SINC | 25 September 2017 09:15\n\n    In every animal community, several species in the same group share habitats. An international team, including scientists from Catalonia in Spain, has chosen ants to create the largest public-access database on the cohabitation of these insects. The goal is to understand their tricks for coexistence and how they respond to invasive species and climate change.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.973425567150116}
+{"content": "Steve McQuillan\n\nJob Title\n\nChief Executive Officer, Avingtrans plc\n\nA graduate engineer, Steve started his career in the oil industry, working for American Oil giant Conoco in the North Sea.\n\nA long period at Mars Inc followed, mostly at Mars Electronics, where Steve moved to France to run Western Europe and became the general manager of the Swiss banknote recognition business, Sodeco. Later, Steve was part of the team that sold Marconi Instruments to IFR, Inc, before spending the following 6 years at Oxford Instruments, as Managing Director of its Superconductivity Division.\n\nHe then moved on to Serco, where he was the Director of the National Physical Laboratory and, latterly, the Managing Director of the Serco Defence Operations business, before becoming the CEO of AIM-listed Avingtrans plc in 2008.\n\nUntil 2016, Steve was also a non-executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.984181821346283}
+{"content": "As the popularity of the ketogenic diet continues to grow so does interest in how to optimize health while following this high-fat, low-carb eating plan.\n\n\n\nHere are the best supplements to take on a keto diet.\n\nBest Keto Supplements\n\nMagnesium is a mineral that boosts energy, regulates blood sugar levels and supports your immune system (1).\n\n\n\n\nSupplementing with magnesium can help reduce muscle cramps, difficulty sleeping and irritability — all symptoms commonly experienced by those transitioning to a ketogenic diet (3, 4, 5).\n\n\n\n  • Spinach\n  • Avocado\n  • Swiss chard\n  • Pumpkin seeds\n  • Mackerel\n\n\n\n\nCoconut oil is one of the richest natural sources of MCTs, with about 60% of its fatty acids being in the form of MCTs (6).\n\nHowever, taking MCT oil (made by isolating MCTs from coconut or palm oil) provides an even more concentrated dose of MCTs and can be helpful for those following a ketogenic diet.\n\nSupplementing with MCT oil can help keto dieters since it can quickly up your fat intake, which increases ketone levels and helps you stay in ketosis (7).\n\nIt has also been shown to promote weight loss and increase feelings of fullness, which can be helpful for those using the ketogenic diet as a weight loss tool (8).\n\n\n\n\nSummary MCT oil is a type of rapidly digested fat that can be used to help ketogenic dieters boost fat intake and stay in ketosis.\n\nOmega-3 fatty acid supplements, such as fish or krill oil, are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which benefit health in many ways.\n\nEPA and DHA have been found to reduce inflammation, lower heart disease risk and prevent mental decline (9).\n\nWestern diets tend to be higher in omega-6 fatty acids (found in foods like vegetable oils and processed foods) and lower in omega-3s (found in fatty fish).\n\nThis imbalance can promote inflammation in the body and has been linked to an increase in many inflammatory diseases (10).\n\n\nWhat’s more, omega-3 supplements can maximize the ketogenic diet’s impact on overall health.\n\nOne study showed that people following a ketogenic diet who supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids from krill oil experienced greater decreases in triglycerides, insulin and inflammatory markers than those who did not (11).\n\nWhen shopping for omega-3 supplements, choose a reputable brand that provides at least a combined 500 mg of EPA and DHA per 1,000 mg serving.\n\n\nTo boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids through keto-friendly foods, eat more salmon, sardines and anchovies.\n\nSummary Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can reduce inflammation, lower heart disease risk factors and help ensure a healthy balance of omega-3s to omega-6s.\n\n\nThe keto diet doesn’t necessarily put you at a higher risk of developing a vitamin D deficiency, but since vitamin D deficiency is common in general, supplementing with this vitamin is a good idea (13).\n\nVitamin D is important for many bodily functions, including facilitating the absorption of calcium, a nutrient that could be lacking on a ketogenic diet, especially in those who are lactose intolerant (14).\n\nVitamin D is also responsible for supporting your immune system, regulating cellular growth, promoting bone health and lowering inflammation in your body (15).\n\nSince few foods are good sources of this important vitamin, many health professionals recommend vitamin D supplements to ensure proper intake.\n\nYour doctor can run a blood test to determine if you’re deficient in vitamin D and help prescribe a proper dosage based on your needs.\n\nSummary Since vitamin D deficiency is common, it may be a good idea for people following the ketogenic diet to get their vitamin D levels checked and supplement accordingly.\n\nOne of the main complaints of those new to the ketogenic diet is that the high fat content of this eating pattern is tough on their digestive system.\n\nSince the keto diet usually consists of up to 75% fat, those used to consuming diets lower in fat can experience unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea.\n\nIn addition, though the ketogenic diet is only moderate in protein, it may still be a higher amount than some people are used to, which can also cause digestive side effects.\n\nIf you’re experiencing digestive issues like nausea, diarrhea and bloating when transitioning to a ketogenic diet, a digestive enzyme blend that contains enzymes that break down fats (lipases) and proteins (proteases) may help optimize digestion.\n\nWhat's more, proteolytic enzymes, which are enzymes that help break down and digest protein, have been shown to reduce post-workout soreness, which can be a bonus for workout enthusiasts on a keto diet (16, 17).\n\nSummary Taking a digestive supplement that contains both protease and lipase enzymes, which break down protein and fat respectively, may help relieve digestive symptoms related to transitioning to a keto diet.\n\nExogenous ketones are ketones supplied through an external source, while endogenous ketones are the type produced naturally by your body through a process called ketogenesis.\n\nExogenous ketone supplements are commonly used by those following a ketogenic diet to increase blood ketone levels.\n\nAside from potentially helping you reach ketosis quicker, exogenous ketone supplements have been linked to other benefits as well.\n\nFor example, they have been shown to boost athletic performance, speed muscle recovery and decrease appetite (18, 19).\n\nHowever, research on exogenous ketones is limited, and many experts argue that these supplements aren’t necessary for keto dieters.\n\nAdditionally, most of the studies on exogenous ketones used a more powerful type of exogenous ketones called ketone esters, not ketone salts, which is the most common form found in supplements available to consumers.\n\nWhile some people may find these supplements helpful, more research is needed to establish their potential benefits and risks.\n\nSummary Exogenous ketones may help raise ketone levels, decrease appetite and increase athletic performance. However, more research is needed to establish the effectiveness of these supplements.\n\nIncreasing vegetable intake is something that everyone should focus on.\n\nVegetables contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and powerful plant compounds that can fight inflammation, lower disease risk and help your body function at optimal levels.\n\nThough not everyone following a keto diet is necessarily lacking in their vegetable intake, this eating plan does make it more difficult to consume enough plant foods.\n\nA quick and easy way to boost your vegetable intake is by adding a greens powder to your supplement regimen.\n\nMost greens powders contain a mixture of powdered plants like spinach, spirulina, chlorella, kale, broccoli, wheatgrass and more.\n\nGreens powders can be added to drinks, shakes and smoothies, making them a convenient way to increase your intake of healthy produce.\n\nThose following ketogenic diets can also focus on adding more whole-food, low-carb vegetables to their meals and snacks.\n\nWhile it shouldn't be used as a replacement for fresh produce, a well-balanced greens powder is an excellent and easy way for keto dieters to add a nutrient boost to their meal plan.\n\nSummary Greens powders contain powdered forms of healthy plants like spinach, spirulina and kale. They can provide a convenient source of nutrients to those following ketogenic diets.\n\n\n\nTransitioning to a ketogenic diet results in increased water loss from the body (20).\n\nLevels of sodium, potassium and magnesium can drop as well, leading to symptoms of the keto flu, such as headaches, muscle cramps and fatigue (21).\n\nAdditionally, athletes following a keto diet may experience even greater fluid and electrolyte losses through sweating (22).\n\n\n\n\nElectrolyte supplements containing sodium, potassium and magnesium are available as well.\n\nSummary People following a ketogenic diet should focus on increasing their consumption of sodium, potassium and magnesium to prevent unpleasant symptoms like headache, muscle cramps and fatigue.\n\nAthletes looking to boost performance while on a ketogenic diet may benefit from taking the following supplements:\n\n  • Creatine monohydrate: Creatine monohydrate is an extensively researched dietary supplement that has been shown to promote muscle gain, improve exercise performance and increase strength (2324).\n  • Caffeine: An extra cup of coffee or green tea can benefit athletic performance and boost energy levels, especially in athletes transitioning to a keto diet (25).\n  • Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs): Branched-chain amino acid supplements have been found to reduce exercise-related muscle damage, muscle soreness and fatigue during exercise (26, 27, 28).\n  • HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate): HMB may help decrease muscle loss and increase muscle mass, especially in those who are just beginning an exercise program or increasing the intensity of their workouts (29, 30).\n  • Beta-alanine: Supplementing with the amino acid beta-alanine may help prevent fatigue and muscle burnout when following a ketogenic diet (31, 32).\nSummary Athletes following a ketogenic diet may benefit from certain supplements that preserve muscle mass, boost performance and prevent fatigue.\n\nThe high-fat, low-carb ketogenic diet is followed for various reasons, from promoting weight loss to boosting athletic performance.\n\nSome supplements can make the transition to this way of eating easier and help reduce symptoms of the keto flu.\n\nWhat’s more, many supplements can improve the nutritional value of a ketogenic diet plan and even enhance athletic performance.\n\nTaking these supplements can help optimize nutrition and allow you to thrive while on a keto diet.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9718561172485352}
+{"content": "Former NBA All-Star indicted - HISTORY\n\nFormer NBA All-Star indicted\n\nOn May 1, 2002, former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams was indicted on a series of charges, including aggravated manslaughter, in connection with the shooting death of limousine driver Costas Christofi at Williams’ estate on February 14.\n\n\n\nAccording to reports, Christofi had been hired to drive a group of Williams’ friends, including several members of the Harlem Globetrotters, to a local restaurant, while another group drove with Williams. Once at the restaurant, the men racked up a significant liquor bill. Christofi then drove some of the group back to Williams’ estate, where he was invited inside.\n\nAs the evening continued, Williams invited his guests to check out his gun collection in his mansion’s master bedroom.Prosecutors allege that soon after, hetook out a Browning 12-gauge shotgun, and, with it pointed toward Christofi, yanked it upward. The gun discharged, sending the fatal buckshot into the driver’s stomach. Some witnesses say Williams almost immediately began tampering with the scene to make it appear that Christofi killed himself while the rest of the group had been elsewhere in the house. Williams allegedly jumped into a swimming pool to clean himself, changed clothes, wiped down the shotgun and repositioned it. They also say Williams pressured them to lie to police.\n\n\n\n\nThe Battle of Manila Bay\n\nAt Manila Bay in the Philippines, the U.S. Asiatic Squadron destroys the Spanish Pacific fleet in the first battle of the Spanish-American War. Nearly 400 Spanish sailors were killed and 10 Spanish warships wrecked or captured at the cost of only six Americans wounded.The more\n\nGreat Exhibition opens\n\n\nAn American tops Everest\n\nJames Whittaker of Redmond, Washington, becomes the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.Located in the central Himalayas on the border of China and Nepal, Everest stands 29,028 feet above sea level. Called Chomo-Lungma, or “Mother more\n\nEmpire State Building dedicated\n\nOn this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover officially dedicates New York City’s Empire State Building, pressing a button from the White House that turns on the building’s lights. Hoover’s gesture, of course, was symbolic; while the president remained in Washington, D.C., more\n\nNorth Vietnamese troops capture Quang Tri\n\nNorth Vietnamese troops capture Quang Tri City, the first provincial capital taken during their ongoing offensive. The fall of the city effectively gave the communists control of the entire province of Quang Tri. As the North Vietnamese prepared to continue their attack to the more\n\nRickey Henderson breaks stolen base record\n\nOn May 1, 1991, Oakland Athletics outfielder Rickey Henderson steals his 939th base to break Lou Brock’s record for stolen bases in a career. Henderson stole a total of 1,406 bases in his major league career, almost 500 more than the next closest player. Henderson was also the more\n\nCalamity Jane is born\n\nOn this day, the adventurer and performer Calamity Jane is born near Princeton, Missouri.The myths and fabrications concerning the life of Calamity Jane are so numerous it is difficult to discover her true story. Legend has it that at various times Jane worked as a dishwasher at more\n\nJoseph Heller is born\n\nJoseph Heller, author of Catch-22, is born this day in 1923 near Coney Island in Brooklyn. His father, a Russian immigrant who drove a bakery delivery truck, died when Heller was five. Heller attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn and worked as a filing clerk and more\n\nMozart’s Le nozze di Figaro premieres in Vienna\n\nBy 1786, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was probably the most experienced and accomplished 30-year-old musician the world has ever seen, with dozens of now-canonical symphonies, concertos, sonatas, chamber works and masses already behind him. He also had 18 operas to his name, but none more\n\nCitizen Kane released\n\nMonths before its release, Orson Welles’ landmark film Citizen Kane began generating such controversy that Radio City Music Hall eventually refused to show it. Instead, Citizen Kane, now revered as one of the greatest movies in history, made its debut at the smaller RKO Palace more\n\nRecord-breaking tornado wave begins\n\nA record-breaking wave of tornadoes begins across the southern and midwestern United States on this day in 2003. By the time the wave is over, more than 500 tornadoes are recorded for the month, shattering the previous record by more than 100. The amazing spate of twisters more\n\nBattle of Chancellorsville begins\n\nOn this day in 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville begins in Virginia. Earlier in the year, General Joseph Hooker led the Army of the Potomac into Virginia to confront Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Hooker had recently replaced Ambrose Burnside, who presided over the more\n\nAmerican U-2 spy plane shot down\n\nAn American U-2 spy plane is shot down while conducting espionage over the Soviet Union. The incident derailed an important summit meeting between President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev that was scheduled for later that month.The U-2 spy plane was the more\n\nFord factory workers get 40-hour week\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9655743837356567}
+{"content": "How are you finding studying at Curtis?\n\nScarily, it’s gone very fast. It’s been wonderful and challenging, in equal parts. There are so many challenges just being away from home, and the musical environment feels very different to Australia, but I have wonderful teachers here and there’s so much to learn. My teachers are Pamela Frank, and Ida Kavafian. My first year at Curtis, I was also studying with Joseph Silverstein, but he unfortunately died two years ago.\n\nHow does it feel different to Australia?\n\nI think Australia is unique in that it feels comparatively small – all of the institutions and orchestras feel like they’re very supportive of young musicians in a very unique way. I suppose in America if you feel like you’re part of a much larger group of young musicians, the support is, perhaps, less specific. Coming to America has...\n\nSorry, but you need to LOG IN to read the rest of this content. If you're an existing magazine subscriber, please CONTACT US for your complimentary access on with your subscriber ID or the name and postal address for the subscription.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7840279340744019}
+{"content": "Shri Surya Dev\n\nShri Surya Dev Navagraha Puja For Enriching Wisdom And Courage\n\nLord Surya or Shri Surya Dev occupies the primary part of navgrahas, facing the eastern part of the navagraha. Also defined as Ravi, Surya is mainly the Simha Rashi and the sun sign is Leo in Zodiac. The surya’s vahana is mainly seen riding a chariot and drawn by 7 horses. These seven horses represent seven colors, and even seven days a week. For any problems, which can be solved by Shri Surya, moola mantra needs to be chanted 6000 times in 40 days’ time. Sunday is the main worshipping day.\n\nBeliefs with beneficial aspect\n\nShri Surya Deva represent soul, will power and fame. It is even defined as general vitality and courage, which make the astrological values. If you are lacking power and need to value it, then worshipping Surya Devta is the one stop solution. He is primarily exalted in Mesha sign, and debilitation in Tula sign.\n\nReligious festivity related to it\n\nThere are various festivals, which incorporate Shri Surya Dev in its prayers. In the Tamil month of Thai, Ratha Saptami festivity is the main area of concern. The primary Sundays of Aavani and kartikai are also considered to be highly auspicious. Annual Brahmotsavam and Vijaya Dashami are also help to pay tribute to Shri Surya Dev navagraha.\n\nWho can perform it\n\nThere is so such specification regarding who can perform this navagraha act. Anyone, who is in need or courage and want to get rid of evil forces are cordially invited to be a part of this ritual. It is the finest option for those people, whose astrological mark is Leo.\n\nAstrological values available\n\nIn astrology, Shri Surya Dev is mainly noted for its mild malefic, defining his dry and hot nature. Astrological stones and other pujas take place while dealing with Shri Surya Dev navagraha puja. You will be able to understand the ethical and religious belief, through this festivity. It needs to be performed from the core part of your heart and without infusing any negative thoughts. It is the best way to enrich yourself with Guru Shakti, which has the ability to remove various forms of skin diseases. This mantra is enough to offer success and fame everywhere.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9927071928977966}
+{"content": "FAQ’s on Herniated Disc\n\nWhat are Herniated Discs and Bulging Discs?\n\nA disc refers to a cushion of cartilage separating the vertebrae in the spine. A bulging disc is exactly what it sounds like: it is a disc of cartilage that bulges outside of the space that it is intended to occupy. It may resemble a lopsided hamburger or a burger that’s too big for its bun. Bulging discs are actually fairly common and are often considered a normal part of the aging process. Not every bulging disc will result in symptoms for the patient, some patients may not  know they have a complication with their disc unless they experienceDisc Herniation treatment in Denver pain.\n\nA herniated disc is a different situation entirely, and can be a painful problem. The spinal disc is composed of cartilage and consists of two layers. The outer layer is like a sturdy cartilage shell, while the inner layer is softer and more flexible. A herniated disc occurs when the outer shell gets cracked, and the softer layer leaks through.  This has led to herniated discs also being referred to as ruptured discs.\n\nWhat causes a Herniated or Bulging disc?\n\nHerniated and Bulging Disc People may be susceptible to herniated discs if they are middle-aged or overweight, or if they have physically demanding jobs that require repetitive lifting, pushing, or pulling. Carrying weight while bending and twisting may also increase someone’s risk of a herniated disc. Herniation is usually the result of stress over time, resulting in a form of wear and tear called disc degeneration.\n\nAn older disc has a thinner outer layer, so it will crack or rupture more easily under stress or strain. Discs also lose some of their water content with age, meaning that an older disc is easier to tear or rupture, as it has become less flexible. The stress that causes herniation usually happens over time. A herniated disc may be caused by an accidental fall or a physical injury.\n\nHow is a Herniated or Bulging disc diagnosed?\n\nPeople usually discover they have a bulging disc after an MRI, as not every bulging discHerniated Disc Denver will result in the presence of symptoms for the patients. Bulging discs are a normal part of the human aging process. Herniated discs may also be discovered for the first time by an MRI because the patient experienced no symptoms; but are more commonly discovered, as herniated discs can be the source of considerable pain.\n\nFor many patients, the disc itself does not hurt. The damaged disc may however affect the surrounding nerves. This is why a herniated disc is also referred to as  a slipped disc. The herniated portion of the disc “slips” into the nerves, causing pain in the body parts the nerves serve. Similar to this, a bulging disc may extend beyond the normal space it occupies and potentially compress one or more spinal nerves. If the disc is in the lower back, then the leg and buttocks will be affected. If the disc is in the neck, then the shoulder and arm will be affected. Patients may also experience numbness or tingling, with a chance of muscle weakness occurring if a nerve is compressed.\n\nWhat are the available treatments for a Herniated or Bulging disc?\n\nEpidural Injection DenverCommon treatments of damaged discs include pain management and physical therapy. Taking appropriate medications (depending on the severity of pain) and performing a simple regimen of exercises, along with hot or cold packs, can often resolve the problem of a herniated disc within a month or two without the need for surgery. This is because the protruding portion of the disc can shrink over time. Occasionally, more aggressive treatments are required, which may include the use of muscle relaxers, cortisone injections, electrical stimulation, short-term bracing, or even traction devices.\n\nSurgical treatment for a Herniated or Bulging disc\n\nOnly a few patients require surgery to treat a herniated disc. Surgery may be required if a disc fragment dislodges into the spinal canal or if the patient has significant difficulty walking or standing. Surgery may be recommended if previous treatment methods, including more aggressive non-surgical methods, have not resulted in substantial improvements after 6 to 8 weeks. The success and outcome of surgery often depend on the type of surgery performed and the specific circumstances of the patient.\n\nPain Doctors Denver\n\n If you or a loved one with a herniated disc needs the best treatment in Colorado, let the top pain management doctors in Denver and CO help.\n\nCall (720) 306-9575 for more information and scheduling with Colorado Pain today!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8820242285728455}
+{"content": "Mutual Funds\n\nUnit Investment Trusts\n\nWhat are “unit investment trusts”?\n\nUnit investment trusts are one of three investment company types. A unit investment trust issues redeemable shares or units, and may buy back those shares at their approximate net asset value. Unit investment trusts typically make a one-time public offering of a specific number of shares. As opposed to a mutual fund that may continue well into the future, a unit investment trust will have a termination date established when it is created that indicates when the entire fund will terminate. For a unit investment trust that invests primarily in bonds, the termination date may be when the bonds mature. After a unit investment trust terminates, all remaining securities and positions in the portfolio are sold at the current market value, and all the proceeds are paid to investors (less any service charges or loads) at the time of sale.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.975754976272583}
+{"content": "A Narrative History of the French Revolution - Contents\n\nLouis XVI\nLouis XVI. Wikimedia Commons\n\nInterested in the French Revolution? Read our 101 but want more? Then try this, a narrative history of the French Revolution designed to give you a firm grounding in the subject: it's all the 'what's' and 'when's'. It's also a perfect platform for readers who want to go on and study the much debated 'whys'. The French Revolution is the threshold between an early, proto modern Europe and the modern age, ushering in a change so huge and all encompassing that the continent was remade by the forces (and often the armies) unleashed.\n\nIt was truly a pleasure to write this narrative, as the complex characters (how did Robespierre go from wanting the death penalty banned to the architect of rule by terror and mass execution), and the tragic events (including a declaration designed to save a monarchy which actually crippled it) unfold into a fascinating whole.\n\nHistory of the French Revolution\n\n  • Pre-Revolutionary France\n    France's history of piecemeal territorial expansion produced a jigsaw of different laws, rights and boundaries which some felt were ripe for reform. Society was also divided - by tradition - into three 'estates': the clergy, the nobility and everyone else.\n\n\n  • The Crisis of the 1780s and the Causes of the French Revolution\n    While historians still debate the precise long term causes of the revolution, all are in agreement that a financial crisis in the 1780s provided the short term trigger for revolution.\n\n\n  • The Estates General and the Revolution of 1789\n    The French Revolution began when the 'third estate' deputies of the Estates General declared themselves a National Assembly and verbally seized sovereignty from the King while the citizens of Paris rebelled against royal control and stormed the Bastille in search of arms.\n\n\n  • Recreating France 1789 – 91\n    Having seized control of France, the deputies of the National Assembly began reforming the nation, scrapping rights and privileges and drawing up a new constitution.\n\n\n  • The Republican Revolution 1792\n    In 1792 a second revolution took place, as Jacobins and sansculottes forced the Assembly to replace itself with a National Convention which abolished the monarchy, declared France a republic and in 1793 executed the king.\n\n\n  • Purges and Revolt 1793\n    In 1793 tensions in the revolution finally exploded, especially in rural areas where conscription and laws against priests caused open and armed rebellion against the domination of the revolution by Parisians.\n\n\n  • The Terror 1793 – 94\n    Faced with crises on all fronts, the Committee of Public Safety embarked on a bloody policy of terror, executing their enemies – real and imagined – with no real trials in an attempt to save the revolution. Over 16,000 were executed and over 10,000 died in prison.\n\n\n  • Thermidor 1794 - 95\n    In 1794 Robespierre and the other 'terrorists' were overthrown, leading to a backlash against his supporters and the laws they had en-acted. A new constitution was drawn up.\n\n\n  • The Directory, the Consulate and the End of Revolution 1795 - 1802\n    From 1795 to 1802 coups and military power played an increasing role in the rule of France, until an ambitious and highly successful young General called Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and had himself elected Consul for Life in 1802. He would later declare himself Emperor, and a debate about whether he ended the French Revolution would outlast him (and continue to this day). He certainly mastered the forces the revolution unleashed and tied together opposed forces. But France would search for stability for several decades yet.\n\n\n    Related Reading on the French Revolution\n\n\n    • History of the Guillotine\n      The Guillotine is the classic physical symbol of the French Revolution, a machine designed for its cold blooded equality. This article takes a look at the history of both the guillotine and the similar machines which came before.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9925531148910522}
+{"content": "3 Sleeping Positions to Save Your Back\n\nDr. Grace Walker, physical and occupational therapist and nutritionist knows that getting a good night’s sleep can directly affect a person’s physical and mental health. Though, most people have their preferred position, its normal for people to move around in their sleep. Sleeping in any position for extended periods of time can cause back pain to worsen. Therefore, making adjustments in your sleep can help alleviate pressure. Body positioning is crucial to how we feel the next morning and people usually sleep in one or a combination of three positions; on your stomach, side, or back. Here are three variations to these positions that may help reduce stiffness and pain:\n\n  1. “Back sleepers” may find that placing a pillow underneath your knees will relieve stress by correcting the hyperextension that may occur in your lower back and bringing your spine back to its natural curve.\n  2. “Side sleepers” may find relief by putting a pillow (body pillows are great for this) between their knees and bringing their knees slightly towards their chest.\n  3. Though “stomach sleepers” are in the most difficult position for sleep, due to the rotation of the neck and flattened spine, you can still find relief by positioning a pillow underneath your abdomen to bring your spine back to its normal positioning.\n\nBack pain often stems from many things; from something severe such as a traumatic injury, to prolonged poor exposure while working or driving. However, one thing you might not have known is that injuries affecting other parts of the body, such as the shoulders, neck and even hips may be the root cause of a back injury.\n\nAt Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center, we have an effective program for our patients with back pain. We look at the “root cause” when treating back pain to provide insights as to why you are experiencing pain, instead of just a quick fix! We develop physical therapy programs for each patient to provide results in an affordable, fun and healing environment. Call Walker Physical Therapy and Pain Center to schedule an appointment with an expert and caring physical therapist! Visit our WordPress blog for more tips and information!\n\n1111 W. Town and Country Rd., Ste. 1\n\nOrange, CA 92868\n\nPhone: (714) 997-5518", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5233281254768372}
+{"content": "Balancing Forces in Yoga Practice: Forearms, Wrists and Hands in Dog Pose\n\nRay Long, MD, FRCSC\n\nA starting point for combining Western science with yoga lies in the term Ha/Tha. This Sanskrit word means Sun/Moon or Yin/Yang and implies a balancing of energies or forces. Balance creates stillness. Apply this concept in your yoga practice by examining the various forces operating around a given joint in a pose, for example, the feet and ankles in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog Pose). You can also use it to correct hyperextending knees and elbows.\n\n\nWhat about poses where a particular movement predominates, for example, in Urdva Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose) where the hip joints are more extended than flexed? Consider a recipe for food: You wouldn’t necessarily use equal portions of salt and pepper to create the final taste. In Urdva Dhanurasana, contraction of the hip extensors predominates while the hip flexors lengthen. Balance in a pose such as this is the right amount of engagement combined with the right amount of release. All of this produces a motor and sensory imprint on the brain and establishes the mind-body “connection” of yoga.\n\n\n\n    (Figure 1 Close-up of pronator quadratus and flexor carpi radialis.)\n\n\n\n    (Figure 2 Forearm pronators in Dog Pose.)\n\nTry This in Downward Facing Dog Pose\n\n  1. Gently press the mounds at the base of the index fingers into the mat and slightly flex the wrists. This engages the muscles that “pronate” the forearms or turn the palms to face down—the pronators teres and quadratus and the flexor carpi radialis.\n\n  2. Then spread the force evenly across the palms to the little finger sides of the hands. This contracts the muscles that “supinate” the forearms, or turn the palms to face up—the biceps and supinator. Gently attempting to drag the hands towards one another activates the biceps.\n\n  3. You can refine supination by extending the thumbs up and away from the mat for a moment and then laying them back down. This engages the extensor pollicis longus. Feel how these actions balance the energies of the forearms, wrists, and hands.\n\n  4. Try this concept in other poses such as Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand Pose) and Urdva Dhanurasana.\n\n\n    (Figure 3 Close-up of biceps brachii and supinator.)\n\n\n    (Figure 4 Forearm supinators in Dog Pose.)\n\n\n\n\n\nMore yoga practice tips, this time in a course from YogaUOnline and Anita Boser - Youthful Spine, Youthful Body: The Role of Fluidity in Healthy Aging.\n\nRead more from Dr. Ray Long on yoga anatomy & asana practice tips - Lengthening the Torso in Forward Bends.\n\nReprinted with permission from Daily Bandha.\n\n\n\n\nChris Macivor3d Graphic Designer / Illustrator Chris Macivor has been involved in the field of digital content creation for well over ten years. He is a graduate of Etobicoke School of the Arts, Sheridan College and Seneca College. Chris considers himself to be equally artistic and technical in nature. As such his work has spanned many genres from film and television to video games and underwater imagery.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.935960054397583}
+{"content": "Creekside Springs\n\nInformation on Water\n\n\n\n\n\nThe FDA classifies bottled water according to its origin.\n\n\nBottled water may be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters. However, beverages labeled as containing \"sparkling water,\" \"seltzer water,\" \"soda water,\" \"tonic water,\" or \"club soda\" are not included as bottled water under the FDA's regulations, because these beverages have historically been considered soft drinks.\nSome bottled water also comes from municipal sources--in other words--the tap. Municipal water is usually treated before it is bottled.\nExamples of water treatments include:\n\n    Bottled water that has been treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization or other suitable process and that meets the definition of \"purified water\" in the HYPERLINK \"\" U.S. Pharmacopoeia can be labeled as \"purified water”.\n\nCreekside Springs bottles three types of water products -\n\nPurified Water\n\nCreekside produces drinking water by either reverse osmosis or distillation:\n\nReverse Osmosis (RO) - This type of water has been produced via a multi-step filtration process preceding reverse osmosis, a process whereby water is “forced” under high pressure through a series of membranes. The RO process is the most commercially accepted process regarding the purification of water on a large scale. Purified water may also be referred to as \"demineralized water.\" It meets the definition of \"purified water\" in the United States Pharmacopoeia. The RO process typically produces a total dissolved solid (TDS) level, which is a measure of remaining solids within a liquid of 10 parts per million (PPM) or less\n\nDistilled Water - Water that has been vaporized into steam, then cooled to re-condense it back into water. The water's minerals are left behind, leaving only pure tasting steam-distilled water. Distilled water is defined as a process by the FDA and not an end product. Creekside actually utilized RO purified water as a source for its distillation units. The distillation typically produces a product with a TDS of less than 10 parts per million and can produce a TDS of less than 1 ppm depending upon the distillation equipment and source water.\n\nSpring Water\n\nThis type of water comes from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the Earth's surface, which in the case of Creekside is our approved natural springs. This water must naturally flow to the surface of the surface and there are specific state by state regulations associated with both the development and use of spring water for public consumption. Both the TDS level and mix of inorganic compounds in spring water provide each spring a distinctive “taste’. These TDS components must be individually less than maximum detectible levels as dictated by the FDA to be permitted for public consumption. As each spring has a different “taste”, the source of spring water must be included on the product label.\n\nEnhanced Water\n\nEnhanced waters entail any still water, be it purified, distilled or spring, to which some ingredient or additive is added to the source water.\n\nOne of Creekside’s most popular enhanced water is fluoridated water. This type of water contains fluoride added within the limitations established in the FDA Code of Federal Regulations as well as guidance from the American Dental Association. This water is primarily marketed as \"For Infants\" or \"Nursery\" water.\n\nAdditionally, the majority of Creekside’s co-packing relates to the bottling of enhanced waters targeted to specific consumer groups. Current offerings include natural flavorings, electrolytes, minerals, and caffeine as additives for our various customers.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.535016655921936}
+{"content": "Hongbo Hu's Lab\nThe State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy Si-Chuan University\nNeutrophils license iNKT cells to regulate self-reactive mouse B cell responses\n\nThe innate immune system is important not only for serving as the first line against infection, but also for initiating and regulating adaptive immunity. The immune response under inflammation is tightly regulated to prevent autoimmunity. A recent study uncovers a new mechanism of how innate immune cells restrict excessive B cell response. In this study, they reveal that under the condition of infection causing inflammasome activation, neutrophils facilitate innate-type invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) to negatively regulate self-reactive B cell response. This study gives us a new insight into how neutrophils interact with iNKT cells to restrict autoimmunity and further studies may target on harnessing this interplay in therapeutic approaches to cure autoimmune disease.\n\nThe authors show that peritoneal injection of IL-18 triggers an interaction between neutrophils and iNKT cells that facilitates the activation of each other in spleen. Interestingly, activated neutrophlis upregulate their secretion of BAFF to support B cell survival, but they conversely facilitate iNKT cells to restrict autoreactive B cell response. Neutrophils license iNKT cells to adopt a cytotoxic phenotype mediated by FasL, which is of significance for the restriction of B cell response, as depletion of FasL would otherwise diminish this effect. The suppression of B cell response by iNKT cells is endowed by neutrophils. Depletion of neutrophils results in immoderate B cell response manifested by increased production of self-reactive antibodies, augmented germinal center formation and plasma cell response. Thus, neutrophils unexpectedly restrict autoreactive B cell response in this inflammasome-driven inflammatory environment.\n\nORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER Thomas,H, et al. Neutrophils license iNKT cells to regulate self-reactive mouse B cell responses. Nature Immunology 17, 14071414 (2016)\n\nBy Yanli", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9992728233337402}
+{"content": "National Refinery Limited\n\nCompany Registration Number 0001747 NTN-No 0711325-7\n\nBTX Plant\n\nBased on Reformate as feedstock from the Fuel Refinery, this unit is designed to extract aromatics by SHELL Sulfolane Extraction process. This aromatic mixture is then fractionated through multistage distillation for the production of 25000 Tons Per Annum of high purity Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes. NRL owns the only BTX plant of the country.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9639586210250854}
+{"content": "\nMr. Guttmann has represented many landlords in the\narea and is a landlord himself in both residential and\nnon-residential situations.  This hands-on experience\nis most valuable in understanding personally the\nsituations of landlords and tenants.  Some clients  do\nnot realize the particularities involved in\nlandlord/tenant law; it is always best to consult with\nan attorney to properly litigate your case.  \n\nMr. Guttmann would be happy to prepare\nyou might need, file a lawsuit on your\nbehalf, attend a hearing for you, and/or litigate your\ncase from start to end.  This firm also has, on hand,\nprivate process servers who are willing and able to\ndeliver any paperwork that is needed promptly,\nefficiently, and inexpensively, even for same-day\nservice.  A few questions prior clients have asked\nare as follows:\n\n How much time does the eviction process take?  If\nan eviction is based upon a tenant's non-payment, the\nprocess usually will take about two and a half weeks\nto complete in Escambia County, Florida, from start\nto finish.  If the eviction is based upon misbehavior,\nthe eviction process will usually take approximately\na month or two to complete in Escambia County,\nFlorida.  Other counties will take longer, due to that\nparticular counties' court procedures.\n\nCan an eviction be filed without a written\nagreement between the parties?\nYes, most\n\nWhat is the difference between an eviction and an\n An eviction is necessary when the\nrelationship between the parties is that of\nlandlord/tenant.  When a person is in possession of a\npremises due to some other reason, then an ejectment\nmay necessary.  Ejectments are usually more\ncomplicated, contested, and the process can take\nconsiderably longer.\nPhone:  (850) 432-9759                               \nFax:  (850) 497-7096                                    Stephen M. Guttmann * 314 South Baylen Street Suite 203 * Pensacola, Florida*32502\nClick below for map to our office.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6812884211540222}
+{"content": "How to create users preferences vectors from clickstreams, presuming the existence of multiple distributions of the preferences\n\nHello all. This is my first post here. I do thank you in advance for your help.\n\nLet's imagine we do have products who are conceptually describe by 40 features, with scores between 0 and 1.\n\nLet's imagine the first feature is 'color'. 0 would be white, 1 would be black, just for the sake of the example.\n\nEvery user's interaction (like, follow, spend time on page) is recorded, with a factor function of the meaningfulness of the action (buy has more significance than a like, for instance).\n\nWhen a new product arrives on the platform, I want to match this product with the users, to suggest it to the people the most likely to be interested by it.\n\nWe plan to calculate a cosine similarity score in between a) the product vector b) the users preferences vector.\n\nThis is where we struggle. How to get a coherent b) users preferences vector?\n\nIndeed, let's imagine that I like white products a lot (score = 0.00) and black products (score = 1.00). I don't want to use an average per feature, because if I like white and black it doesn't mean my favourite colour is grey?\n\nSo my question: how to best represents the user per vectors? Maybe not only one, but a few? How to understand if the distribution is unimodal, or multi-modal?\n\nAnd for which features are the distribution of a specific user significantly different from the other users?\n\nMany questions -- for which I found little literature to read. This is why I am turning towards this forum.\n\nThank you", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9716269373893738}
+{"content": "Berkeley resident Belle Owens celebrates her 106th birthday\n\nIt was in the small, quaint town of Carthage, Texas on April 26th, 1908 when Owens began her extraordinary life. Despite likely being the oldest living person in Alameda County, Owens is as feisty and talkative as she always was, with a sharp memory to aid her conversation.\nRead More…\n\n\nMayor Bates delivers State of the City address\n\nIn his state of the city address Wednesday, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates officially announced a new college pathway program for the city’s disadvantaged youth, and also outlined several economic and environmental initiatives to better the city.\nRead More…", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9687890410423279}
+{"content": "What does the word fetlock mean?\n\nUsage examples for fetlock\n\n  1. The Lance done creeps over in the night an' ties a hossha'r tight about the pony's laig jest above the fetlock. – Wolfville Nights by Alfred Lewis\n  2. \" 'Take time by the fetlock, ' as one of the girls says in 'Little Women, '\" laughed Roger. – Ethel Morton's Enterprise by Mabell S.C. Smith\n  3. Suddenly the boy turned from his party; and galloping down the shore, while the clerk called after him in vain, reined up his horse, fetlock deep in water, within ten yards of the ship's bows. – Hereward, The Last of the English by Charles Kingsley", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9622339606285095}
+{"content": "July 14. 2018 8:10PM\n\nHelp for hoarders: Where Granite Staters can get assistance\n\nNew Hampshire Union Leader\n\nSarah Lopez, left, and Robin Felch of Tailored Transitions in Meredith help senior Dave deSousa sort through clutter in his garage. (COURTESY)\n\nInitiatives to combat hoarding vary across the state. In Portsmouth, a community care team of social service agencies, mental health workers, visiting nurses and emergency responders tries to identify unhealthy situations and connect individuals, including hoarders, to help.\n\nIn Manchester, an anti-hoarding task force started several years ago has led to increased communication and a coordinated response among police, firefighters, ambulance services, visiting nurses, Easterseals, social workers, public health officials, building inspectors and senior housing managers who spot dangerous levels of clutter.\n\n\"We take a multifaceted approach,\" says Karen Sutkus, environmental heath specialist for Manchester's health department.\n\nIn Meredith, a two-woman team consisting of a social worker and recreational therapist, Tailored Transitions, helps seniors in the Lakes Region and beyond sort through items to keep, donate, sell or discard as they transition to smaller spaces or assisted living, or need help paring down at home.\n\nIn Lebanon, the Buried in Treasures program offered through the Aging Resource Center at DHMC offers group therapy and guidance in the form of a 16-week workshop for seniors and anyone struggling to climb out from under clutter, including counters piled with paper, overflowing closets, boxes that cramp or tower over living spaces and porches that are havens for broken chairs and non-working appliances. The program is poised to become a model for others in the state, as graduates train to become peer leaders of workshops in their own communities.\n\nOn the front lines is REAP, a free, short-term assistance program for older Granite Staters at the state's 10 community mental health centers, which helps identify vulnerable individuals and connect them to long-term support. The state's Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services investigates reports of seniors living in unhealthy conditions, including catastrophic levels of clutter, and refers to them to appropriate resources, occasionally providing funds to resolve imminent health dangers. The Choices for Independence program, accessed through REAP and ServiceLink, provides resources for seniors who can live safely at home with extra support.\n\nSutkus at Manchester's health department advises private individuals who notice anyone living in unhealthy or dangerously cluttered conditions to contact their town or city health officials or the Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services directly. The solutions for seniors may not be obvious or immediate, she says.\n\nPeople who hoard things \"have a hard time letting go of a newspaper because there may be an article that could save someone's life,\" says Lakin at BEAS. \"Sometimes, all we can say is, 'Can we just agree to clear the area around the stove so all these papers don't go up in flames?' It's not necessarily bringing about a real big change, but it's ideally resulting in a safer place.\"", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6474345922470093}
+{"content": "Scattered Showers and Thunderstorms\n\nUnsettled weather is expected across Alabama for this weekend and early next week.\n\nA moist atmosphere combined with passing upper level disturbances will produce scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms across the region.\n\nA bit more instability is possible on Sunday which would enhance the chances of wind gusts, but nothing strong enough to add any mention of severe storms.\n\nDue to the scattered nature of the heavier storms, some areas will receive locally heavy rainfall.\n\nWe expect a cold front to push towards Alabama by late Monday and this front would bring some drier air into the state, as it stalls out along the Gulf coast Tuesday afternoon.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9993515610694885}
+{"content": "After After Data Scraping i need to seperate data based on a category and store them in seperate Excel sheets\n\n\nI need to scrap data from a site where we have data related to two categories like buildings and Agriculture land.So,after Data scrap how to identify the category and copy the data into different sheets in Excel.\n\n\nyou can create datatable from data scrapping, the created datatable you can use condition based on your requirement to filter data like building and agriculture.\n\nthe resulting filter data you can write to corresponding excel file using write range or append range excel activity", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9657408595085144}
+{"content": "Categories: Also in News Geology\n\nThe Earth’s tides weren’t always as energetic as they are today. A new study suggests that when tectonic movement molds ocean basins into certain shapes, the tides grow much stronger. And when tectonic movement opens those same basins millions of years later, the tides weaken. Credit: Creative Commons CC0.\n\nThe cyclic strengthening and weakening of ocean tides over tens of millions of years is likely linked to another, longer cycle: the formation of Earth’s supercontinents every 400 to 600 million years, according a new study. The new findings have implications for the formation of our planet, its climate and the evolution of life on Earth, according to the study’s authors.\n\nThe new research suggests long-term changes in tidal energy, which control the strength of the ocean’s waves, are part of a super-tidal cycle dictated by the movement of tectonic plates.\n\nWhen tectonic plates slide, sink and shift the Earth’s continents to form large landmasses, or supercontinents, ocean basins open and close in tandem. As these basins change shape, they can strike forms that amplify and intensify their tides.\n\nIn the new study, tidal simulations projected hundreds of millions of years into the future suggest the Earth is now in the nascent stage of a tidal energy maximum, where strong tides will persist for roughly 20 million years. The oceans will go through several tidal cycles as the next supercontintent forms over the next 250 million years. Eventually, the tides will grow much weaker, just as they did during the two most recent supercontinents: Pangaea and Rodinia, according to the new study published in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.\n\nScientists were aware tidal energy varied in the distant past, but the new study suggests there is a super-tidal cycle occurring over geologic timescales and linked to tectonic movement.\n\n“Our simulations suggest that the tides are, at the moment, abnormally large,” said oceanographer Mattias Green from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences in Menai Bridge in the United Kingdom and lead author of the new study. “And that really was our motivating question: If the tides were weak up until 200 million years ago, and they’ve since shot up and become very energetic over the past two million years, what will happen if we move millions of years into the future?”\n\nTidal strength is linked to life on Earth and understanding the ocean’s cyclic progression stands to inform scientists’ understanding of evolutionary history, according to the study’s authors. In times of strong tidal energy, like today, strong waves stir the sea, creating the nutrient mixing needed to sustain ocean life. As Earth’s landmasses move slowly toward a supercontinent configuration, the planet’s ocean basins open, eventually forming one unbroken mass of water. Such a sea would have low tidal energy. Weak waves mean there is less nutrient mixing, which could create an oxygen-starved ocean floor largely devoid of life, much like a pool of stagnant water, according to the new study.\n\nThe existence of this cycle and its link to tectonic movement stands to inform many disciplines, from evolutionary biology to global nutrient cycling, according to geophysicist Dietmar Müller from the University of Sydney in Australia, who wasn’t involved in the new study.\n\n“It probably doesn’t mean anything to humans now in our lifetime,” Muller said. “But it does enhance our understanding of interactions between plate tectonics, Earth’s climate system, its oceans, and even how the evolution of life is, at least to some extent, driven by this tidal process.”\n\nChanging continents, ocean basins\n\nEach of Earth’s continents ride atop huge slabs of rock known as tectonic plates. These plates shift over hundreds of millions of years, striking different continental configurations along the way.\n\nTectonic plates dictate the shape and arrangement of continents, but they also determine the shape of ocean basins. As the North American and Eurasian plates drift apart, the Atlantic Ocean between them widens, also changing its shape.\n\nThe change in shape of ocean basins causes a change in a property known as resonance. When a basin is resonant, energy from the gravitational attraction of the moon aligns with the length of the ocean basin, causing an amplification of tidal energy.\n\nGreen likens resonance to a child on a swing set. A swinging child only needs a small push from an adult, at the right timing, to keep the swing moving higher and higher. “You force it at the same frequency as the natural oscillation, and the same thing happens in the ocean,” he said.\n\nA tectonic timeline\n\n\n\n\n\nThe new study finds each tidal maximum lasts at most 50 million years and is not necessarily in phase with the supercontinent cycle.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8363802433013916}
+{"content": "grafic function ttg_font()\n\nT&T Grafic function ttg_font\n\nThe font handling in Tool&Task Grafics is a bit complex and has changed markedly during develeopment. Good news is the availability of a form to enter font information and to copy it into your clipboard to be pasted into source code.\n\nA font is defined by its index and 6 parameters. Tool&Task keeps data of 6 fonts for each printer. Including the index of the font ('A'-'F'), the function ttg_font will take up to 7 parameters. First parameter is the index just mentioned. The next three parameters are the name of the font, the size, and a string specifying the attributes 'Bold', 'Italic, 'Underline' or 'Normal' (\"\" = not bold, not italic and not underline). \"BIU\" would print all characters underlined in bold italic. Name, size and attributes can be selected by a sytem dialog which is invoked by the FoxdPro command getfont(). Since you can define the 6 fonts 'A' through 'F' for each printer, the corresponding form m_plpage has buttons to call getfont(). With this dialoge, font sizes in the range of 5 to 40 point are offered. This is not enough for printers with high resolution. Check the form for further information\n\nTTG uses the full resolution of each printer to combine images and text, the size of the font has to match the resolution of the printer. When you open the page definition for a new printer, some standards are set automatically.\n\nThe next two parameters define the 'boldness' of characters. 'Fontweight' is the exprseeion. Firstly, the fontweight for normal characters is set. The range for fontweight is 0 to 999. A value of 100 is a good value for normal characters. The second fontweight determines how 'bold' bold characters shall be. A value of 300 is the TTG initial value. Try it and find out, what you like.\n\nParameter 6 specifies the color of the font as RGB-value.\n\nYou might call ttg_font with the font index and the next 4 parameters (=omitting fontweight and color), with 5 parameters (=omitting color) or with all 6 parameters.\n\nUse ttg_fontweight() to only change the fontweight and ttg_fontcolor() to only influence the color.\n\nSee tt_printer() to see when the font information is passed to homerg2.dll and do not forget to select one of the 6 fonts using ttg_fontselect()before writing text (font 'A' is default).\n\nWhenever you select one of your printers, the corresponding 6 fonts are set in homerg2.dll.\n\n6 more fonts ('G' through 'L') are available for additional use in your programs. These fonts have to be defined once in each program. homerg2.dll keeps the setting of these fonts.\n\nWenever you need different fonts for a document, firstly define them all and afterwards skip the fonts by the use of ttg_fontselect() with their index.\n\n\n1. Font index 'A' through 'F' for 6 fonts\n2. Font name\n3. Font size [points]\n4. Font attributes (BIU = Bold, Italic and Underline)\n5: Font weight normal characters\n6: Font weight bold characters\n7: Font color as RGB value", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8174805641174316}
+{"content": "Non-volatile memory technologies\n\nThe nanocrystal memory is a promising approach for new scalable memory structures. Due to their interesting features like low programming voltage and the direct tunneling process for charging it overcomes limitations of currently used flash EEPROM technologies. The simple structure and the possible process integration with only a few more additional process steps favors this type of memory a well-suited candidate for applications in embedded systems.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997425675392151}
+{"content": "File:Speghetti allo scoglio.jpg\nFile:Fried Fish and French Fries.jpg\n\nSeafood is any sea animal that is served as food or is suitable for eating. This usually includes sea water animals, such as fish and shellfish (including mollusks, and crustaceans). By extension, the term seafood is also applied to similar animals from fresh water. These aquatic animals are also collectively referred to as seafood.\n\nEdible seaweeds are rarely considered seafood, even though they come from sea water and are widely eaten around the world. See Category:Sea vegetables.\n\nThe harvesting of seafood is known as fishing and the cultivation of seafood is known as aquaculture or mariculture. Also see fish farming.\n\nAccording to traditional Jewish food regulations, seafood falls into the category of ritually unclean and therefore does not appear in the kosher menu.\n\n\nFrom the earliest age of human civilization, seafood has been an important food source that can easily be hunted and gathered even by those lacking power or speed. Basket-like traps have long been widely used to hunt fish in rivers and lakes. Sometimes, fish was speared just as one would hunt a small animal. Ancient Egyptian civilization used the symbol of fish for counting large numbers and it was eaten both dried and fresh. It is looked over too often but the rise of ancient Greek and Roman civilization was in no small part due to the abundant fish of the Mediterranean Sea. Shellfish was a staple food in many locations and in the Jomon period of Japan; the amount of shellfish consumed and thrown away from that time is used to measure how many people lived in certain area.\n\n\nSeafood is a source of protein in many diets around the world.\n\nSee also Edit\n\nExternal linksEdit\n\nWikimedia Commons has media related to:\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9552793502807617}
+{"content": "Basic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences - download pdf or read online\n\nBy F. H. C. Marriott (Auth.)\n\nISBN-10: 008006664X\n\nISBN-13: 9780080066646\n\nShow description\n\nRead Online or Download Basic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences PDF\n\nBest biostatistics books\n\nGet Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems: Modeling, Analysis, PDF\n\nThe human cardiovascular and respiration regulate platforms characterize a huge point of interest for constructing physiological keep an eye on idea as a result of the complexity of the keep an eye on mechanisms concerned, the interplay among cardiovascular and breathing func­tion, and the significance of this interplay in lots of scientific occasions.\n\nGet Targeted Learning: Causal Inference for Observational and PDF\n\nThe records occupation is at a different element in historical past. the necessity for legitimate statistical instruments is bigger than ever; information units are titanic, frequently measuring thousands of measurements for a unmarried topic. the sphere is able to stream in the direction of transparent target benchmarks lower than which instruments could be evaluated.\n\nNew PDF release: Negative Binomial Regression\n\nEventually - a ebook dedicated to the destructive binomial version and its many adaptations. each version presently provided in advertisement statistical software program programs is mentioned intimately - how each one is derived, how each one resolves a distributional challenge, and diverse examples in their program. Many have by no means sooner than been completely tested in a textual content on count number reaction versions: the canonical unfavorable binomial; the NB-P version, the place the unfavourable binomial exponent is itself parameterized; and detrimental binomial combined types.\n\nExtra info for Basic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences\n\nExample text\n\nIt is a remarkable fact that the different types of curve that can be represented by equation (2) are just the same as the types of curve in which the plane can cut the cone. First of all, if the plane is at right angles to the axis of the cone, the section is a circle. If it is displaced from this position, the circle is distorted—it is stretched in one direction. The resulting curve is called an ellipse (Fig. 9). This is familiar as the curve that represents a circle seen in perspective. $ If a circular tree-trunk is cut at an angle, the section is an ellipse.\n\nIf 0 becomes negative, sin 0 at once becomes negative, whereas cos 0 remains positive while 0 > 0 > — π/2. In fact, if 0 is negative, the position of P is the reflection in OX of the corresponding position for 0 positive (it is shown as P' in Fig. 1) so that cos(—0) = cos 0, sin(—0) = —sin 0. It is easy to check, from Fig. 1, the following rules: sin(0 ± 7T) = —sin 0, cos(0 ± π) = —cos 0; sin(0 ± 2&π) = sin 0, cos(0 ± 2&π) = cos 0 when & is any integer; sin(—0) = —sin 0, cos(—0) = cos 0. (1) These rules make it easy to work out the value of sin 0 or cos 0 for any value of 0.\n\nA > c). ] 9. ) |(i) r 2 = Aaz, z = a + br cos 0. (r - cf cr , z2 b2 Λ , (ii) r = kz, z = r(a cos 0 + 6 sin 0) + c. 10. ) (i) r = αθ. (ii) r =\n\nDownload PDF sample\n\nBasic Mathematics for the Biological and Social Sciences by F. H. C. Marriott (Auth.)\n\nby Jason\n\nRated 4.51 of 5 – based on 18 votes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9354953169822693}
+{"content": "280 Posts\n\nForefront Capital has floated its initiative, Forefront Income Trust, in the market. The innovative investment fund caters for the non-accredited investors. For the longest time, Brad Reifler focused on accredited investors. Accredited investors are those that make over $200,000 in a year or have a net worth of more than $1 million. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also reflects this statistics. Brad Reifler pointed out that he was now shifting the focus to non-accredited investors with a specific plan developed for them.\n\nOriginally, the accredited investor standards were developed to protect shareholders from risky investments. Nevertheless, knowledge and oversight in the capital market has increased within the last 30 years. SEC has recommended important updates to the meaning of accredited investor. Additionally, an Investor Advisory Committee was created in 2010. The committee was mandated by the Dodd- Frank Act with the task of reviewing the definition after every four years. The recommendation of the committee was to do away with the present net worth and income tests developed 32 years ago. They were to change the measures in line with financial sophistication.\n\nIt’s pretty clear from CrunchBase that Reifler created Forefront Income Trust after careful analysis and due diligence. The trust offers non-credited investors an opportunity to invest a minimum of $2,500 that can be withdrawn or added every quarter. The Forefront Income Trust products allow room for potential growth and high risks since they are not correlated to the stock market. According to Reifler, they offer interesting distinctive programs that can provide clients with liquidity and a return of 8%.\n\nBrad Reifler made his first investment in a 529-college plan many years back as referenced on Wikipedia. This investment was available to all regardless of their income or worth. When his girls were to join college, the fund was 40% lower making him incur losses. His attention to the middle class was drawn more after his father in-law gave him his savings to invest. However, his father in law’s investment strategies could not materialize because he was not a credited investor. Reifler realized how limited investment opportunities were available to many people.\n\nBrad Reifler is the CEO of Forefront Capital Management and Forefront Advisory. He is a highly experienced and qualified individual with having over 30 years experience. Reifler established his first company, Reifler Trading Corporation, in 1982 after graduating with a degree in economics and political science from Bowdoin College. Refco bought the Company in 2000.\n\nLater, Reifler established Pali Capital where he achieved even greater success. Serving as the chairman and CEO, Reifler led the company to profits surpassing over $200 million. He also established offices in the United States, Australia and United Kingdom. Reifler would like to be recognized as an individual that people can trust in offering investment alternatives. His goal is to demystify the investment complexity in a bid to elicit the public to invest and secure their futures through their savings.\n\nWhile many people have seen the public school system is adequate over the years Betsy DeVos has seen a growing problem. Unfortunately, she’s not alone with this revelation, many parents have also noticed the same problems with the American public school system that she has. When she took office as Secretary of Education she knew that there is going to be a lot of work necessary to bring the system up to par. People all over the country assumed that she would start overhauling the public school system but she has a different plan in store for the system. She believes that parents should start looking for alternative forms of education for their children instead. The public school system is declining and she believes that the only way to save education in America is to look for private options.\n\n\nPublic schools are important but the things that children get there are also available to them in the private arena. In fact, Betsy DeVos talks to Philanthropy Roundtable about the work that she did in Michigan before she was appointed to this position. Her work in Michigan was specifically centered around the formation and funding of scholarship programs that would allow children of lower socioeconomic statuses to attend private schools. She wanted to make it possible for children in these lower financial brackets to go to these private schools. She pushed for greater funding for scholarship programs and tax breaks within her state. This vigor for education was sparked by one conversation with a family who had been struggling to send their child to the private school that Betsy DeVos sent her own children to. She saw the hard work that the parents were willing to put into allowing their children to attend that school and she fought hard to make it possible for other children to go as well.\n\n\nOne of the first things that she did throughout her campaign to change the way that Americans view the education process was learned about the decline of the public school system in America. She found that American children are not able to compete with international peers and that they are not performing well on standardized tests. She knew that there were other alternatives for these children but that many parents were not aware of those options. She began her campaign in the hopes that more parents would find ways to advocate for their own children in this situation.\n\n\nThroughout much of her career, Betsy DeVos has shown that she is dedicated to one thing, conserving the value of education in America. In order to conserve this value, she needs to increase it. This means that students need to feel empowered by the education process and their parents need to feel as though their children are actually gleaning something from the material instead of simply attending a school day. She has pushed tirelessly to make it this goal a reality. She intends to continue her hard work into the future and hopefully make a meaningful change.\n\n\nFor updates, follow Betsy DeVos on Facebook.\n\nThe past few years weren’t easy for average Americans: housing market crash and recession have brought out numerous scams and crashed lots of dreams. Millions of people ended up losing everything that they had in their real estate and retirement accounts, and they became hopeless. However, it isn’t that real estate was essentially bad, it’s the decision that people made around the reals estate market that was erroneous and resulted in the downfall of a large amount of wealth.\n\nThat’s why Jim Toner is working every day to help individuals build better financial futures. Toner has been an entrepreneur and real estate investor for the past two decades and a half. He claims that we are entering a period of potentially astounding wealth accumulation. According to Jim Toner, people who are prepared will get the opportunity of capitalizing on the next five years.\n\nAlso, for people who are hoping to take full control of their lives in financial matters, and not let fear overcome them, Jim Toner has chosen to share his secrets of achieving this with them. Jim Toner states that your attitude is among the most essential aspects of growing wealth when it comes to real estate.\n\nAs per medium.com, while most people were blaming real estate for the 2008 financial crisis, Jim Toner is insisting that the bad decisions that people were making cause the crash, and not the market itself. Toner also suggests that there won’t be a better time of purchasing real estate because investors are capitalizing on a market with low prices.\n\nBesides knowledge, Jim Toner also mentions attitude. When making life and business decisions, he cannot highlight the significance of attitude enough. For example, in the real estate market whatever side you are on depends on how you’ll see the economy. Are you seeing a new opportunity or just obstacles? Are the potential rewards that you might achieve hiding behind the risks binding you?\n\nAdditionally, Jim Toner says that surrounding yourself with people who are talented can help you grow and become better. Many successful entrepreneurs such as\n\nHenry Ford and Andrew Carnegie knew that they could not do it by themselves, hence they had to build a team of knowledge and experience of others.\n\nFantastic read: score.org/mentors/jim-toner\n\nActivewear has become a major trend in fashion. It is a go to essential many wardrobes contain. Herbalife Nutrition, a leading nutritional supplement company, has noticed how this trend is not going away anytime soon. They have also realized that activewear would be the perfect attire for their three million member team of worldwide independent distributors. The health-conscious company wants their independent distributors to wear an attire that supports the company’s overall vision for living an active lifestyle. The company has always been a leader and trendsetting in the health and nutrition space. The company is run out of Los Angeles, California. But their presence is felt in ninety-five countries due to the immense amount of independent distributors that sell and promote their products. Ever since 1980, the company has been creating wealth management programs, sports nutrition and product to enable their customers to live a healthy lifestyle.\n\n\nThe health company would choose none other than FIDM to create an activewear collection for them. The school is home to a leading staff that prepares students for careers in fashion, product development, international manufacturing, and design. The students at this school are used to being sought after by big names like Nike. Now, they are getting sought after by Herbalife Nutrition. The nutrition company wants to give these young students a platform to turn their dreams and designs into a reality.\n\nThe competition involves fifteen students selected by FIDM staff. These students are going to be engaging with Herbalife Nutrition. They will have to undergo the complete process of creating a collection that involves going from concept to the actual collection. They will be responsible for sourcing their fabrics, creating designs, developing the product and presenting their collections. The winner’s collection will be turned into the official attire for the independent distributors.\n\n\nThis experience allows students to get hands-on with the global commerce of what goes into creating a clothing line, developing it and marketing the line. It exposes students to the marketplace. It allows them to work with a real-life client who is needing a collection for their business. Herbalife Nutrition is elated to be giving these students this opportunity to transform their fashion and design careers.\n\n\n\n\n\nAs one of the most influential entertainment figures of the present generation, Ryan Seacrest is a man known across the world. His claim to fame was hosting American Idol, the number one television show for during the last decade. He presently works on a variety of projects from a fashion and body brand called Distinction and Polish respectively, while helping children through the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. Consumers can find him on radio via On Air with Ryan, on TV through Live with Kelly and Ryan, in addition to the recent American Idol reboot. A recent article on the website Ask Reporter discusses Ryan Seacrest’s workout plan.\n\nA little know fact about Ryan Seacrest is that he was overweight growing up. He would ultimately lose it all and found his self confidence boost immensely. The key to success is simply a balancing act. Ryan Seacrest finds that he can stick to a workout routine if he schedules it like a meeting. He is also known to adapt his routine as the daily schedule permits, such as doing push-ups during breaks. The one thing he personally does to ensure he wastes as little time as possible is to have lockers on both sides of LA.\n\nAt the end of the day, Ryan Seacrest loves a good meal. He currently loves healthy snacks and vegetable juice. His exercise routine is fairly standard. He aims to hit the gym 5 hours a week, and loves to perform Cardio and Yoga. Biking is his favorite outdoor exercise activity, and swimming is an indoor activity he enjoys. The schedule can change week to week based on his schedule, but he always devotes time to working out.\n\nRyan Seacrest, a radio show anchor, is a man known by many far and wide, but few know his personal side. He works out to stay in fit, maintain a schedule, and entertain the masses. Over the years, Ryan Seacrest has mastered how to balance life. He is truly an entertainment figure worthy of respect, and is someone who takes great pride in the work he performs.\n\nSource: https://www.forbes.com/profile/ryan-seacrest/\n\nTed Bauman is a leading expert in the financing market as he has spent a considerable amount of years working for nonprofit organizations as their fund manager. He is currently retired but loves to share his insights into the world economy with people. He found the perfect way to do that. He is the editorial director at the Banyan Hill Publishing. One of the articles that he recently wrote has made people think about where their economy is heading. For any country to flourish there has to be the right amount of jobs available for the people and their wages should increase with time. In spite of the American economy growing at a considerable rate in the past year, the amount of wages has been stagnant.\n\nTed Bauman discussed the different reasons that influence wages in a country and what do companies need to do to ensure that the economy is growing and the people are happy too. The first thing that needs to be done is to study the employment rate. Even though the reduced number of unemployment rate should lead to increased wages, it does not seem to happen. Small and mid-sized companies are not raising their fees to increase their profits, but it would hurt them in the long run. With the growth in the economy, the fees should rise, but some companies are trying to slow this growth rate so that they do not have to increase wages. But, in the long turn, it would decrease the number of customers who can buy their products and services.\n\nAs a senior editor at Banyan Hill Publishing, Ted aims to use his expertise and experience to educate the readers about how the financial markets work and what are the parameters that people to need to look at before investing. People need to look at various economic parameters before investing, and it is what Ted Bauman aims to help people understand. Knowing these economic parameters would help people understand whether it is worthy to invest in the certain product or not. He has become a seasoned investor himself by interviewing and meeting the successful businessmen and investors. Talking and learning from them has helped him understand certain tips and tricks of investments. These are the tips that he is telling people about in the newsletters published by Banyan Hill Publishing. The financial strategies by Ted Bauman can help you understand how to invest and when to pull out.\n\n\nFlorida Governor Rick Scott has been called on the carpet for potential campaign campaign finance violations by a political action committee known as End Citizens United.\n\nThe group charges that Scott is thwarting rules which prohibit collusion between a Super Pac and the formal campaign of the candidate. It appears that Scott’s campaign has been taking money directly from the New Republican PAC — a group for which Scott was once served as chairman.\n\nScott has already raked in tens of millions of dollars in his bid to win the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Bill Nelson. New Republican PAC is garnering millions more from dark sources, including giant corporations and fat cat billionaires.\n\nIt’s all part of a money-bloated system that End Citizens United wants to end. The PAC was formed in 2015 with the goal of enacting large-scale reforms to the current state of campaign finance law. Ever since the 2010 Supreme Court ruled in favor of a group called Citizens United, politicians have been allowed to accept as much money as they want from any source — even if the public has no idea about who, what or where that money comes from.\n\nEnd Citizens United believes it is critical that Gov. Scott lose his bid to gain a seat in the U.S. Senate. He and other right wing politicians are perfectly happy with the status quo, a system in which Big Money calls all the shots in our elections.\n\nEnd Citizens United raises money the old fashioned way — by accepting only small donations from individual, ordinary American citizens. The group has raised an impressive $35 million ahead of the 2018 midterm election cycle. End Citizens United is using that money to support candidates who have expressed a strong desire to change the system. The average donation to ECU is just $14.\n\nRick Scott has been able to ride waves of illicit cash to two terms as governor of Florida. Now he wants to bring his shady act to Washington D.C. — something the folks at End Citizens would eagerly like to prevent from happening.\n\nWealth management is essential for many people and requires an experienced team. HCR Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth management firm that is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm’s primary focus is to create meaningful relationships with the clients through tailor-made financial plans and viable goals.\n\nDedication to the client\n\nSince HCR Wealth Advisors is an independent wealth advisor, serving the client is one of its primary objectives. Unlike other wealth management firms, HCR Wealth Advisors is not controlled or directed by other brokerage firms. Instead, the firm is purely dedicated to their clients in everything they do.\n\nHCR Wealth Advisors is transparent about their fees and rates. The firm charges an agreed percentage on the client’s assets under management. The transparency helps to create trust with clients, eliminating questions about other unexpected charges. Apart from transparency in fees, the firm is also upfront with each interaction with the client to build a strong and lasting relationship.\n\nTailor-made solutions\n\nAccording to Whale Wisdom, it is worth noting that HCR Wealth Advisors is not a manager of money but an advisor. There is a big difference between managing wealth and advising on wealth. In most cases, a money manager is involved with the allocation of assets and picking bonds and stocks with the aim of generating income in the market. However, most money managers set goals they cannot achieve or deliver, leaving the client unhappy. A wealth advisor, on the other hand, has a different approach. Unlike a money manager, a wealth advisor creates a close relationship with the client to know their financial portfolios, goals and other necessary information that has an impact on their financial situation. In this way, a wealth advisor provides solutions that cater to the needs of the client.\n\nPlan and strategies\n\nAccording to a Senior Managing Director at HCR Wealth Advisors, Steve Weinberger, it is impossible to manage or advise on wealth without an adequate plan. Nevertheless, some managers and advisors rely on an algorithm to advise their clients. In fact, nowadays, some wealth management firms are eliminating human element and entirely relying on robo-advisors. HCR Wealth Advisors provides advice through tailor-made plans and strategies which helps to enable the client to make better financial decisions.\n\nRead this: https://blogwebpedia.com/hcr-wealth-advisors-clients-first.html\n\nHCR Wealth Advisors is not affiliated with this website.\n\nRecently, Inc.com released an article in regard to Papa Johns receiving negative press on a racial slur that was said during a public conference call. Steve Ritchie, Papa Johns new CEO, came up with a way to help mend the situation of a racial slur being broadcasted at a conference call that was made public. Steve Ritchie sent multiple letters to customers apologizing for the recent events and explained that these events; especially the racial slur, would not be tolerated by the company. Acknowledging that an apology may not turn people around, Steve Ritchie went on to describe what was being done to better the company as a whole. One of these actions involves bringing experts that don’t have an affiliation with Papa John’s to audit the company on their culture, diversity, and inclusion practices. There will also be senior management listening to employees directly and using that feedback to improve the company. Lastly, Steve Ritchie made a promise that transparency is key and that they want to be held accountable for what has transpired.\n\nThis letter that Steve Ritchie sent out to customers shows more compassion and is quite a bit clearer than the statement that was placed on the Papa Johns website. Leading the consumer to assume that Ritchie realized this error and tried to rectify the issue in a slightly more personal matter in the form of letters. The article goes on to explain that the vulnerability on wanting to be held accountable and the empathy helped show sincere regret and that while Ritchie was empathetic about the situation, made sure to state that his own views do not agree with the racial slur and that he would personally lead the effort to address the issues on diversity and inclusion that have come forth.\n\nSo, while the first letter on the website didn’t hold much in terms of sincerity or empathy, the second letter helps to overlook the slight due to the quick adjustments made and the effort itself dis hold an air of sincerity.\n\nRelated site: https://www.bloomberg.com/\n\nThe U.S. Money Reserve started out by helping their clients enjoy different opportunities. They also felt there were things their clients could do that other clients were unable to do because of the issues that came from the industry.\n\nThey felt comfortable offering different solutions other companies were unable to offer because they had the industry connections that allowed them to succeed on their own. It made sense for the company to keep giving people these options and keep making things easier for them. By the way they gave assistance to all their clients, they knew what they were doing. Read more: U.S. Money Reserve Wins Two ‘Best of Category’ Awards at 2018 AdSphere™ Awards and US Money Reserve | Facebook\n\nIt made sense no matter how hard they had to work or what they had to do to continue showing their clients things would get better. When their clients were able to invest money the right way, the U.S. Money Reserve made sure they were offering all these options to them.\n\nThey weren’t afraid to keep giving back even though it took some time from the way they did business. It also made things easier when they were working on new solutions. Between the hard work they put into their business and the things that came from it, the U.S. Money Reserve felt good about what they could give others. Learn more about US Money Reserve: https://www.ispot.tv/brands/Iyt/us-money-reserve and https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/cotm/detail/545/US_Money_Reserve\n\nThe time they spent coming up with new ideas for the company was not wasted. They felt they had to do things the right way to get more out of their own situations and that’s how they always ran the business.\n\nThe U.S. Money Reserve felt confident giving back and made it easier for people to try things that would help them while they were looking at all these opportunities. By the time the company started seeing major success, people could try new things with it.\n\nEven though there were times when the company struggled, the U.S. Reserve knew what they had to do. They weren’t afraid to give people other options and show them how things would work in their favor. They also felt they had the ability to make the most out of the situations they were in.\n\nFor the U.S. Money Reserve, things would keep changing while they came up with new opportunities. It made sense for them when they were working toward a goal to keep giving other people the right options for learning about how to do things on their own. They believed they could do all this successfully.\n\nConnect with US Money Reserve on LinkedIn\n\nUpwork is a freelance marketing platform. It was founded in 2015 and is based on the west coast of the United States. The CEO of the company is Stephane Kasriel. This e-commerce based company serves as a middle man that connects freelance workers with those who are looking to get work done. Upwork currently has over 11 million registered freelance workers and 5 million registered clients. They post millions of jobs every year and as a result, they generate over 1 billion dollars through their services. Upwork was formerly called Elance-oDesk. The company had a similar business model and was initially formed in 1989.\n\nThere are numerous ways to earn money on Upwork. As a freelance, you may sign up and provide almost any service that you have a skill for. Nerdwallet released an article on how to earn consistent money using the business platform. Their first piece of advice was to complete a full and honest profile. By doing so, you are allowing prospective clients to know what your specialities are. Most people want to know that they are getting their work completed by a verified freelancer. Another form of advice they gave is to submit proposals and contact people directly. The article states that waiting for clients to reach out to you isn’t the best method for Upwork freelancers. Setting your price is another key component. This will give potential clients the confidence that you believe in your work.\n\nThe Upwork blog did a post that touched on successful to-do list completion. The most important, and first tip was to write everything down. The blog post goes on to state that trying to remember everything simply doesn’t work. People may mentally cycle through what they should be doing; but often never get to the completion stage.\n\nAnother tip they gave was to keep all your tasks organized and in one location if possible. Doing this will assist in being punctual and not forgetting things you wrote down in other places. The last piece of advice was to prioritize. Knowing what tasks are more important will help you get certain jobs done with more enthusiasm.\n\nIn order to be productive, you must stay organized and think ahead. Preparation is the key.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6637464165687561}
+{"content": "Duterte keeping self warm, monitoring Metro Manila flooding over weekend – Roque\n\n0 293\n\nPresident Rodrigo Duterte was keeping himself warm while monitoring the situation when many Filipinos were asking where he was during the height of monsoon rains that resulted to massive flooding in most parts of Luzon over the weekend, Malacanang said Tuesday.\n\nLast Saturday, August 11, when monsoon rains started lashing Metro Manila and other regions in Luzon, the 73-year old President was in Davao City. He went back to Manila on the following day, Palace officials said.\n\n“Like everyone, keeping warm, monitoring the situation. The President is a news junkie like everyone in this room. So he was very concerned. He talks about resilience. He talked about readiness of government agencies to provide assistance. He was in contact with individuals to make sure that delivery of assistance would be facilitated,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a press briefing when asked where the President was during the height of the heavy downpour over the weekend.\n\nSome social media users were asking during the weekend where Duterte was while many parts of Metro Manila and other provinces in Luzon experienced flooding. A hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo trended on Twitter.\n\nDuterte was supposed to conduct an aerial inspection in Metro Manila and nearby provinces Monday, August 13.\n\nBut according to Roque this was canceled due to bad weather.\n\nHe said if the President would visit the families displaced by flooding, he might not want it to be made public.\n\n“I do not know actually if he wants that made public, because I know that when the President goes around and assist individuals, he really does not want media coverage,” Roque said.\n\nAccording to the latest data of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), over 154,000 families or about 691,000 individuals were affected by the weather disturbances in Luzon, including the National Capital Region.\n\nOf the affected residents, over 173,000 are being served inside and outside the evacuation centers.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5140361785888672}
+{"content": "Column, Politics, Turkey\n\nThe Weakness of the Turkish Opposition\n\nThere are three interrelated weaknesses of the Turkish opposition: the lack of ideological inclusiveness, the lack of leadership, and the lack of shared values.\n\nAs Turkey gets closer to the presidential election date – June 24 – the main historical dilemma of Turkish politics reemerges for the opposition politicians. The dilemma arises from three interrelated weaknesses of the Turkish opposition: the lack of ideological inclusiveness, the lack of leadership and the lack of shared values. The debates about who will be running as an opposition candidate against President Erdogan remains complicated. The strategy that the opposition blocks have embraced for the snap election is an important indicator of the weakness of the anti-Erdogan camp, which is composed of the secularist People’s Republican Party (CHP), the nationalist Good Party (IP, also known as Iyi Party), the Islamist Felicity Party (SP), and the Kurdish nationalist Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).\n\nThe opposition strategy is based on three important dynamics, and each one of them, ironically, displays the weakness of the anti-Erdogan camp. The opposition bloc led by Kemal Kilicdaroglu who is the leader of CHP, first and foremost, noticed that the strategy based on only party politics cannot provide a strong leverage to defeat President Erdogan in the upcoming presidential election. Since the first democratic election held in 1950, the percentage of transitivity between different ideological parties has always been quite low in Turkey. On the other hand, the nature of transitivity between the parties located on similar ideological lines is relatively different, and the percentage compared to the first case is higher. Therefore, as the representative party of secular-nationalism in Turkey, the CHP cannot possibly gain any ideological and political ground in elections. For this presidential election, according to the new constitutional amendment, the presidential nominees should pass a 50 percent threshold to win. Thus, the best strategy for the anti-Erdogan camp is to find a presidential candidate who will be able to represent all sects of society.\n\nAbdullah Gul, who was the last president of the parliamentary system before Erdogan, became one of the strongest alternatives for the anti-Erdogan block. However, at the same time, the ideological diversity among the opposition block became the main weakness of the anti-Erdogan camp and prevented them from supporting Gul as a nominee against Erdogan. While the CHP represents anti-Erdogan politics, which constructed itself around the assertive secularist discourse, the IP represents the nationalist right-wing, despite the fact that the party has a good percentage of Kemalist-secular representatives. The ideological position of the SP within Turkish politics can be located within the tradition of political Islam.\n\nThe pro-PKK Kurdish HDP in this picture illustrates a totally different ideological performance. To express the matter bluntly, the hybrid political and ideological nature of the anti-Erdogan block could not support Gul as a common candidate. The ideological diversity cannot be the only reason in analyzing the failure of the opposition block. The judgment of Gul among the opposition groups constitutes another determinant factor behind this failure. A potential candidate of CHP, Muharrem Ince, who also run as a candidate for leadership against Kemal Kilicdaroglu in CHP’s party congress, frames Gul as “an accomplice and brother of Erdogan.”\n\nThe weakness of the anti-Erdogan camp is not limited with the ideological divergence among the opposition block. The lack of leadership is another factor that shapes this vulnerability. From a historical perspective, the leadership has been an important factor in winning elections, sustaining power and transforming Turkish politics. Erdogan, as one of the strongest politicians and an influential actor, has been winning elections (12 times), maintaining power, and transforming Turkish politics since the AK Party came to power in 2002. The opposition bloc, on the other hand, never brought this kind of leadership into the political arena. The first attempt was in the 2014 presidential election, but it failed. This time, Abdullah Gul was constructed as the leader of the anti-Erdogan camp without the consideration that he could never win any single election as a leader of any political party in Turkey. More importantly, Abdullah Gul, as a political person has constructed his political personality along with Erdogan in Turkey. Other potential candidates on behalf of the anti-Erdogan camp do not also display strong leadership.\n\nIn addition to the leadership dilemma, the representation of societal values is another problem for the anti-Erdogan block. This, for sure, is a consequence of the historical and ideological trajectories of Turkish politics. The success of the AK Party is the ability to mobilize the basic values of Turkish society within daily politics. In this regard, AK Party and President Erdogan himself cannot be confronted by a hybrid nature of political discourses constructed by the anti-Erdogan block. For this anti-Erdogan block, there is no coherent political strategy regarding the question of how Turkey deals with current challenges emanating from domestic and regional issues, but an inadequate plan to defeat Erdogan in the upcoming election. At this stage, anti-Erdoganism is far from responding to the challenges of Turkey and has many weaknesses as an opposition strategy.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9764262437820435}
+{"content": "Photo Credit: Elisabeth Caren.\n\nBookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest, playwright, TV writer and author, Daria Polatin. Daria is currently a writer-producer for Amazon’s upcoming TV series Jack Ryan, starring John Krasinski, and has written for Hulu’s psychic drama Shut Eye.\n\nAs a playwright Daria’s work includes Palmyra, about a young woman who joins ISIS, In Tandem, Guidance, That First Fall, D.C. A Fair Affair and The Luxor Express, inspired by her father’s life growing up in Egypt.\n\nHer work has been produced at The Kennedy Center, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Naked Angels, Golden Thread, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Cape Cod Theater Project, Noor Theater, The Wilshire Ebell Theatre, in London and Hong Kong. Daria directed her play Laura & Sebastian (and Jordan & Bliss) in Los Angeles as part of Unscreened, and directed a new play written by and starring Game of Thrones Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, also starring Gwendoline Christie.\n\nDaria wrote and directed the short film Till It Gets Weird.\n\nShe has recently authored a novel, Devil in Ohio that will be published in November 2017 by Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of MacMillan.\n\nNorm: Good day Daria and thanks for participating in our interview.\n\nDaria: Hi Norm, thanks for inviting me!\n\n\nDaria: I’ve been writing stories since I was three years old. I would write and illustrate my own books, and also compose musicals on the piano. Then I started writing plays in high school because I loved theater. I studied playwriting in college at Boston University, and in graduate school at Columbia University, then started writing for TV when I moved to Los Angeles a few years ago. I was drawn to writing a novel when I heard the true story of a young woman who escaped from a satanic cult and moved in with her psychiatrist’s family, and thought a book was an exciting format to tell that story. What keeps me going is wanting to keep telling stories, and explore the fascinating and endless complexities of human behavior.\n\nNorm: What do you consider to be your greatest success (or successes) so far in your career and what has been your greatest challenge (professionally) that you’ve overcome in getting to where you’re at today?\n\nDaria: I think my greatest success is that I get to tell stories for a living. By biggest challenge was that it took many years to get here. I worked all kinds of side jobs over the years I was building my writing career. Sometimes it seemed nearly impossible to get where I wanted to go, but I kept pushing myself forward, and I’m really grateful to be where I am now.\n\nNorm: In your opinion, what is the most difficult part of the writing process as a playwright, TV script writer and as an author?\n\nDaria: In all arenas, it often feels like the rewrite process is endless. There are so many rounds of notes to go through, and revisions to make, no matter what the format. It takes so much writing and rewriting to develop a piece, but in the end the story is always better for having been honed through a rigorous process.\n\nNorm: What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you had received, or that you wished you would have listened to?\n\nDaria: Building a writing career takes a lot of patience. People told me that, but I didn’t really have an understanding of it early on. I was impatient, and would get upset by setbacks. But over time I learned that being a professional writer is a marathon, rather than a sprint.\n\nNorm: How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?\n\nDaria: Oh gosh, I experienced rejection tons of times, and still do. It’s just something you have to get used to. I’ve developed a thicker skin about it. But I’ve also learned that not everything is the right fit, and not everyone is going to like everything I do. As an artist you have to learn how to hear different points of view, but also believe in your work and not let it get to you. If you are entitled to your opinion, so is everyone else.\n\nNorm: How did you become involved with the subject or theme of Devil In Ohio and what were your goals and intentions in this book? How well do you feel you achieved them?\n\nDaria: I had written a TV pilot about a cult, so was interested in what happens within isolated communities. Then I heard the true story of a teenage girl who escaped from a satanic cult and moved in with her psychiatrist’s family. This became the inspiration for the story of Mae and the Mathis family. For my way in, I explored the story from Jules’s perspective. For me that point of view was more relatable, and I wanted to dig into Jules’s complicated feelings—the good the bad and the ugly— and how she struggles to deal with Mae’s arrival in her life. I also found it interesting to explore what happens from Suzanne’s point of view, because she deeply relates to Mae’s past and because of that, gets pulled into her own journey. I think I achieved those goals.\n\nNorm: Could you tell us a little about the book?\n\nDaria: When fifteen-year-old Jules Mathis comes home from school to discover a strange girl sitting in her kitchen, her psychiatrist mother reveals that Mae is one of her patients at the hospital and will be staying with their family for a few days. But soon Mae is wearing Jules’s clothes, sleeping in her bedroom, edging her out of her position on the school paper, and flirting with Jules’s crush. And Mae has no intention of leaving. Then things get weird…\n\nJules walks in on a half-dressed Mae, startled to see: a pentagram carved into Mae’s back. Jules pieces together clues and discovers that Mae is a survivor of the strange cult that’s embedded in a nearby town. And the cult will stop at nothing to get Mae back… Based on a true story, Devil in Ohio tells the tale of a young woman desperately trying to make a new life for herself—even if it means ruining someone else’s. As the cat-and-mouse thriller unfolds, Jules and Mae’s lives weave tangled webs of friendship, broken trust and crossed boundaries. But ultimately they must learn to work together—if they want to escape the wrath of the cult alive.\n\nNorm: What do you think most characterizes your writing as an author, TV writer and as a playwright?\n\nDaria: I like to tell stories about people overcoming adversity. I don’t like to shy away from experiences that are difficult or dark. Through telling stories of challenging experiences, I examine what gives someone the strength to come through the other side. Is it the support of another person? Deep, inner strength? The blind drive to do anything to get to something better? Devil in Ohio is a story about women who are going through challenging experiences, and working through them to make their lives better. And in the end, they end up working together in order to do that. We journey with them through the process of overcoming their pasts to create the futures they want. I also study a lot of psychology, and always try to bring that level of depth and complexity to my characters and stories, no matter what the medium.\n\nNorm: How did you find the process of writing a novel different from that of a play or TV script?\n\nDaria: There’s so much more description in a novel. I was very familiar with writing dialogue in plays and TV, but it was a new opportunity for me to write prose, which I really enjoyed. I also chose to write the Jules chapters in first person, which is similar to an interior monologue, where we get a direct link to the character’s inner thoughts— including the shameful, angry or envious feelings she might not share outwardly.\n\nNorm: As a follow up, do you write more by logic or intuition, or some combination of the two?\n\nDaria: Both. My intuition of what the characters are thinking and feeling leads to how they behave, and then my logic brain takes that and frames the plot.\n\nNorm: How has your environment and upbringing influenced your writing. I notice that you father, who grew up in Egypt, had some influence on your writing. Just in passing, my wife likewise grew up in Egypt and I am curious to know what was his influence?\n\nDaria: Oh neat! My father was born in Suez, and lived in Cairo. He moved to America later in his life. I grew up with a very international family—I had aunts, uncles and cousins in Egypt, the UK, and across Europe and Canada. I traveled a lot growing up, which I’m so grateful for. It gave me a deep appreciation for other cultures, and a worldly perspective, which encourages me to look at situations from all different angles.\n\nDaria: Where is your wife from? Norm: My wife was born in Heliopolis.\n\nNorm: What projects are you working on at the present?\n\nDaria: I’m working on a new novel about the loss of a parent. My father died recently, and it was a deeply profound experience. I’m exploring the story of a young woman who loses her mother, and ends up escaping to Japan and landing herself in an emotional mystery-thriller-adventure. It’s a down-the-rabbit-hole Alice in Wonderland experience of loss and transformation. I’m also writing and producing the upcoming Amazon TV series Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and doing rewrites on my new play, Palmyra, about a young woman who joins ISIS, which will be presented in New York City this winter.\n\nNorm: Where can our readers find out more about you and Devil In Ohio?\n\n\nNorm: As this interview comes to an end, what question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, plays, and TV scripts but nobody has?\n\nDaria: How do you make yourself write even when you don’t feel like it? I tell myself, “I’m going to write the bad version.” That frees me up to begin writing, and let my thoughts start flowing on the page. Then I have a draft to work with, even if it’s not Pulitzer-worthy, and can revise it later. It’s easier to work with anything over a blank page. And writing is a muscle, so the more I do it, the easier it gets.\n\nNorm: Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavours.\n\nDaria: Thank you!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6084904670715332}
+{"content": "Definition Of Mathematics In English\n\nDefinition Of Mathematics In English\n\nOne consequence of the Islamic prohibition on depicting the human kind was the in depth use of advanced geometric patterns to brighten their buildings, elevating mathematics to the type of an art. Al-Karaji was the primary to make use of the method of proof by mathematical induction to prove his outcomes, by proving that the first statement in an infinite sequence of statements is true, after which proving that, if any one statement in the sequence is true, then so is the subsequent one.\n\nEvidence for more complicated mathematics does not seem until around 3000 BC , when the Babylonians and Egyptians began utilizing arithmetic , algebra and geometry for taxation and other financial calculations, for building and building, and for astronomy 20 The earliest uses of mathematics have been in trading , land measurement , portray and weaving patterns and the recording of time.\n\nThe individuals who fill these positions will probably be tasked with updating existing programs in these areas and implementing innovative instructing practices in quite a lot of formats, together with coordinated massive lecture, flipped lecture rooms, and on-line instruction.MathematicMathematic\n\nThere are three undergraduate programs that result in the diploma Bachelor’s of Science in Mathematics: a General Mathematics Option, an Utilized Mathematics Option for individuals who want to specialise in that aspect of mathematics, and a Theoretical Mathematics Option for those who anticipate to pursue graduate work in pure mathematics.\n\nNot every mathematician possesses in a specifically high degree that important faculty which finds its employment in the perfection of form, in conformity with the ideal of logical completeness; however each nice mathematician possesses the rarer college of constructive imagination.Mathematic", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9968935251235962}
+{"content": "Historic Cases\n\nPeople vs. Levisen\n\nCurrently there are two kinds of schools in Illinois. The first kind, the one the vast majority of children experience, is the publicly run and funded schools the state and local government can tinker with as they see fit. The second kind of school is the private or non-public school. The Illinois State School Code (Ch. 122, Schools) contains one section that impinges on private or non-public schools. This is the section of the School Code 26-1, Exception 1 that states:\n\n    Compulsory school age -- Exemptions\n    Whoever has custody or control of any child between the ages of 7 and 16 years shall cause such child to attend some public school in the district wherein the child resides the entire time it is in session during the regular school term, except as provided in Section 10-19.1; Provided that the following children shall not be required to attend the public schools:\n\nAs it stands now, Illinois home schools are private schools as long as they comply with 26.1. This was established by the Illinois Supreme Court case People vs. Levisen. In People vs. Levisen, (1950), The Supreme Court of Illinois reversed the conviction of homeschool parents. The appellants were Seventh Day Adventists and, according to Justice Crampton who delivered the opinion of the Court, \"believed that the child should not be educated in competition with other children because it would produce a pugnacious character, that the necessary atmosphere of faith in the Bible cannot be obtained in the public school, and that for the first eight or ten years of life, in the field or garden is the best schoolroom, the mother the best teacher, and nature the best lesson book.\"\n\nThe Supreme Court did not agree that the homeschool parents had violated the compulsory attendance law. The Court clarified the purpose of compulsory education laws as follows:\n\n    Compulsory education laws are enacted to enforce the natural obligation of parents to provide an education for their young, an obligation which corresponds to the parents' right of control over the child, and the object of Section 26-1 of the School Code, requiring children to attend school, is that all children shall be educated, not that they shall be educated in any particular manner or place.\n\n\nThese findings indicate that the parents' right to control their children includes the right to provide an education for them at home. In Levisen, the child's school was in the home and there was only one student. However, the Court ruled that this had no bearing on the legality of the home school situation. Further, according to Levisen, in Illinois, a home school can legally be considered a private school: ... the law is not made to punish those who provide their children with instruction equal or superior to that obtainable in the public schools. It is made for the parent who fails or refuses to properly educate his child (Levisen, at 215).\n\nSince the Levisen ruling, no state agency has questioned the right of parents to establish a home school. As such, home schools must not be made accountable to any regulation, law, guideline or enforcement separate or different that that applied to other private schools.\n\nScoma v. Chicago Board of Education\n\n391 F. Supp. 452 (N.D. Ill. 1974)\nLink to court case\n\nYou will hear of this case in some conversations of homeschooling law in Illinois. As such, here is a brief description:\n\nThe Scoma family, after being contacted repeatedly by their school district after the transfer of their children to their private (home) school, filed a complaint that said they felt \"the Illinois Compulsory Attendance Act, Ill.Rev.Stat. ch. 122, § § 26-1 to 26-11, is unconstitutional\" in regards to them. In effect, they were challenging the compulsory attendance law that had been granted homeschools in People v. Levisen, 404 Ill. 574, 578, 90 N.E.2d 213, 215 (1950).\n\nThe court agreed with People v. Levisen, reaffirmed the homechoolers must comply with the compulsory attendance law as stated in article 26.1 of IL educational law, and emphasized that the burden of proof rests with the parents to \"establish that the plan of home instruction which they are providing to their children meets the state requirements.\" In fact, they found Levisen to be 'reasonable and constitutional.'\n\nThe court did not add or take away any requirements. They simply reaffirmed what we already had.\n\nSome regional superintendents have interpreted this case to mean, however, that they have the right to investigate if a family is under compliance with or without cause. While only the courts can interpret law, we do not feel this is a correct interpretation.\n\nPlease visit What To Do if a Truant Officer Comes to Your Door for more information.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9202428460121155}
+{"content": "Salonicco – Olympic Complex\n\nThe main structural systems of the complex are:\n\n- The roofing system of the main Sport Hall\n\n- The roofing system of the Training Hall\n\n- The mobile flooring\n\nThe main structure is formed by a system of steel cables, which divide the construction in two symmetrical parts, giving a uniform and dynamic style to the whole building. The two sub-structures are formed by large concrete anchorage blocks and a group of reticular cable beams. The transversal beams are supported externally by cement structures, while on the inside they hang from the central tension structure by a special pendulum. The structural system of the roof is formed by a longitudinal pre-tensioned cable frame system; a system of pre-tensioned beams and a system of longitudinal system of sheet roofing.\n\nThe roofing system of the Training Hall is formed by a double layer steel structure supported by a cable system.\n\nThe flooring, made mobile by hydraulic jacks, can assume a double vertical displacement, to meet the different needs of the public of the various disciplines.\n\n Pdf Document", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000078678131104}
+{"content": "The following image was made by this program.\n\ndivide large by small\n\nDivide Fractions and Simplify is similar to the previous program DIVIDE FRACTIONS except that the divisor may be larger than the dividend and the quotient may be a mixed number.\n\nYou can see from the image that 2 2/9 of the divisor will fit into the dividend. Notice in the quotient that two (2) complete divisors and 2/9 of a divisor will fit into the dividend.The image changes in shades of blue when a complete divisor fits in.\n\nDivide small by large\n\nThe above  image was made from Divide Fractions With Circles Designer:\n\nThe divisor is larger than the dividend in the above image so only part of the divisor will fit into the dividend. The quotient shows that 5/14 of the divisor fits into the dividend.\n\nTo calculate the quotient first write the dividend and the divisor in fraction form as shown in the example above. Then multiply 5/4 by the reciprocal of the divisor. The reciprocal of the divisor is found by  replacing the numerator with the denominator and replacing the denominator with the numerator. In short to divide by 7/2, multiply by the reciprocal 2/7.\n\nAnother important idea: When the divisor is smaller than the dividend, the quotient is larger than 1. When the divisor is equal to the dividend, the quotient is equal to 1. When divisor is larger than the dividend, the quotient is smaller than 1.\n\n\nSee the program RENAME IN LOWEST TERMS for information on writing fractions in lowest terms.\n\nSee MULTIPLY FRACTIONS  for instructions on how to multiply fractions.\n\nSee MULTIPLICATIVE INVERSE for more information on how to find the inverse or reciprocal.\n\nThe quotient must be written in simplest form as a mixed number and in lowest terms, if necessary.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999046325683594}
+{"content": "\n\n\nThere are numerous elements that needs to be considered, for example, if you’re considering taking a visit to the Caribbean, then realizing when hurricane season strikes is an especially necessary element. Nicely, let’s focus on these areas where these software program for travel brokers actually helps firms. The original order barred travelers from the seven nations from coming into for ninety days and all refugees for 120 days.\n\nWithin the recent years we’ve got seen an enormous increase within the travel and tourism industry. One advantage of traveling is that we are able to choose the sort of trip we want to have. A traveling bag such as the Samsonite Model is a a lot wanted and guess what you must put in your mind that the vertical travel bags a locking deal with system is supplied because it will be important as it prevents the deal with from injury in case you decide to verify it. Assess the wheels if your bag.\n\nTravel trailers are more frequent source of traveling in nations like North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand and less standard in different elements of the world. Ideally, the company is not going to solely prepare airfare and hotel accommodations, but in addition maintain little particulars equivalent to reserving a rental car, securing tickets to local amusement parks and other factors of curiosity.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6658499240875244}
+{"content": "Skip to main content\n\nAtheism and secularism\n\nby Carl Walrond\n\nIn the early 21st century, two out of five New Zealanders described themselves as having no religion, and many churches had been sold and converted to other uses. Atheism and secularism have a long history in New Zealand, with freethinkers, rationalists and humanists all forming their own organisations.\n\nA Christian legacy\n\nA Christian history\n\nIn the early 21st century in New Zealand, church attendance numbers were low. Many churches had been sold, congregations amalgamated, and church buildings converted into cafés, bars, theatres and homes. Yet for most of the country’s history of European settlement, most people were religious – and that religion was almost exclusively Christianity.\n\nWhile fewer than 20% of New Zealanders identified themselves as regular churchgoers in the 1881 census, fewer than 1% said that they had no religion. There has never been an official or state religion, and the church and state have always been separate, but churches have been politically and socially influential on issues such as temperance, censorship, gambling and religious education.\n\nIn the mid- to late 1800s churches set up many schools and looked after the poor and destitute. Those without belief (or with other beliefs) lived in a country where their lifestyle was influenced by Christianity. Prayers were said in many public meetings, and God was invoked in speeches. Sundays were for rest, not recreation. In some places children’s swings were padlocked on Sundays. During the First World War some religious conscientious objectors could be granted exemption from fighting, but non-believers could not. Christianity and its values influenced the world view of most New Zealanders until the 1960s.\n\nQuestioning religion\n\nIn 18th-century Europe, Enlightenment thinkers challenged the dogma and superstition of established Christianity and questioned religious orthodoxies. This set the scene for enthusiasm about science and rational thought in the 19th century. Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, On the origin of species by means of natural selection, published in 1859, added to debate regarding God’s existence and the literal truth of Bible stories. However, Darwin’s theory did not cause much uproar in New Zealand. Many people accepted science as valid and still held religious beliefs. Debates about the relationship between science, reason and religion continued in the 21st century.\n\n\nSecular means not religious, sacred, spiritual or superstitious. Since the 19th century many people have questioned religious belief systems. They include atheists, agnostics, rationalists and humanists.\n\nAtheists believe that God does not exist, while agnostics believe that nothing can be known about the existence of God. Rationalists base their world view on reason and knowledge rather than faith or spirituality. Similarly, humanists focus on human rather than divine or supernatural matters.\n\nOrganised secular groups\n\nSmall groups of non-believers disagreed with religious values (and laws) being imposed on those who had no belief. Some organised themselves into groups.\n\nThe freethinkers\n\n‘Freethinker’ was a common 19th-century term for people who based their opinions on science, logic and reason. The first freethought organisation, the Auckland Secular Society, appeared in 1854 but lasted just two years. Atheist Charles Southwell established an anti-Māori, anti-missionary and pro-settler newspaper in Auckland in 1856, alarming the government. The Auckland Secular Society re-emerged in 1866 as the Auckland Secular Association, but that too faded away. By 1884 there was an Auckland Rationalist Association, and a Freethought Conference was held in Dunedin that year. Freethinkers were not fringe radicals but included influential men such as Robert Stout (premier from 1884 to 1887) and John Ballance (premier from 1891 to 1893). In Christchurch William Collins, MP and president of the local freethought association, published a monthly journal, the Examiner, from 1907 to 1917.\n\nThe rationalists\n\nIn 1923 a Rationalist Association formed in Auckland in preparation for the visit of outspoken English author and rationalist Joseph McCabe. It had about 150 members, but only lasted a year. Rationalists attacked religion where it impinged on the lives of people without belief. Many rationalists had rejected religious upbringings.\n\nPlumb hears McCabe\n\nPlumb, the central character of Maurice Gee’s novel Plumb (1978), hears rationalist Joseph McCabe (a real historical figure) speak: ‘I knew all about McCabe: his Catholic upbringing, his twelve years in a Franciscan monastery – Father Anthony – his struggle to shake superstition off: and then the books, the pamphlets, the lectures, the life lived with a purpose; the crusade, if you like, against the forces of religious obscurantism.’ 1\n\nThe association, which re-formed in 1927, published a list of objectives which included promoting a system of education based on science and getting rid of all laws that interfered with the free use of Sunday. By the end of 1929 hundreds, and sometimes thousands, attended its weekly Sunday meetings (the major attraction was that a film was shown at the end of the lecture). From 1927 the association produced the journal The Truth Seeker – still published by the New Zealand Rationalist Society in the early 21st century as The Open Society.\n\nFrom their inception the rationalists strove to be non-partisan. However, many were politically left-leaning, and rationalism was closely associated with socialism. Michael Joseph Savage, a socialist and later prime minister, was a rationalist during the 1920s. From the 1940s the organisation was troubled by internal politics and declining membership, but a high point came in 1960 when it purchased a property in Symonds Street, Auckland, naming it Rationalist House. A major issue for the rationalists in the 21st century was that a movement attacking religion seemed less relevant in a period when fewer people went to church.\n\nThe humanists\n\nIn the late 1950s younger rationalists were interested in issues such as nuclear proliferation, racial and sexual equality, peace and social justice. They termed themselves humanists and broke away from the older rationalists, who were still focused on attacking religion. In 1967 the humanists formed their own organisation, the Humanist Society of New Zealand. They focused on developing a world with better human rights, gender equality and social justice.\n\nWatch out, zealot\n\nSome rationalists and freethinkers of the 19th century were devout believers in evolution. John Macmillan Brown warned fellow freethinker John Ballance that he was in danger of turning his anti-religion into a religion.\n\nThe New Zealand Skeptics\n\nThe New Zealand Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal formed in April 1986. They became the NZ Skeptics in 2007. They focused on exposing the lack of objective scientific evidence to support claims for things such as psychic abilities, alternative health practices and creationism. They had no official position on religion – in their view belief did not require proof and could not be investigated scientifically.\n\n    • Maurice Gee, Plumb. London: Faber & Faber, 1978, p. 102. Back\n\nWho is secular?\n\nWho, and how many, have no belief?\n\nIn New Zealand’s 1956 census only 0.5% of the population stated that they had no religion. This figure has grown steadily since then, and in the 2013 census 42% of the population (1,635,345 people) said they had no religion. The growth rate of those with no religion was around 50,000 per year, with highest rates in younger people. Fewer men than women were religious.\n\nIn 2013, 47% of people who identified themselves as Europeans or New Zealanders said they had no religion – as did 46% of Māori and 30% of Asians. Only 18% of Pacific peoples, and 17% of people in the Middle Eastern, Latin American and African ethnic groups, said they had no religion.\n\n\nFaithful Jedi\n\n\n1985 values survey\n\n\n2008 International Social Survey on religion\n\nIn 2008 Massey University conducted a study of belief in New Zealand as part of the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). They found that just over a third of respondents described themselves as religious – about 50% said they believed in God (but half of these also expressed doubts), 19% believed in some higher power and around one-third did not believe or did not know. Most New Zealanders were not superstitious, although 39% believed that fortune tellers could foresee the future.\n\nThe number of non-believers\n\nIn the early 21st century the number of non-religious people world-wide was estimated to be between 500 and 750 million. The nations with the highest numbers of non-believers were in the Asia-Pacific region, including China, New Zealand and Australia, followed by Europe and North America.\n\n\n\nAn increasingly secular country\n\n\nNew Zealand is no longer ‘God’s own country’ – a phrase popularised in the late 1800s by Premier Richard Seddon. (In the 20th century this was often spelt ‘Godzone’). Unlike leaders in the United States, contemporary New Zealand politicians rarely mention God, and to do so might not be advantageous. John Key, the prime minister in 2009, said that he did not believe in life after death yet he occasionally attended church. From 1999 to 2008 the agnostic Helen Clark was prime minister. Politicians can suffer, rather than gain, from religious association. During the lead-up to the 2005 general election, support for the National Party waned after leader Don Brash met secretly with the Exclusive Brethren.\n\nRealists, hedonists, fatalists, Tūhoe …\n\nIn the 1971 census a ‘supplementary list of minor religious professions with 5 or more adherents’ was published. These responses fell outside the standard definitions. Of these the ones that appeared to be secular were: communist (9 adherents), community (10), cosmopolitan (5), eclectic (8), esoteric (11), evolutionist (18), fatalist (5), Golden Rule (5), hedonist (17), life (7), naturalist (12), pacifist (8), philosopher (12), realist (14), scientific humanist (5), secular (6) and Tūhoe (15). In addition there were 385 facetious responses.\n\nArt and popular culture\n\nNew Zealand’s secularism can also be seen in the authorities’ lack of interest in prosecuting sacreligious art or religious satire. In 1998 MP John Banks attempted – unsuccessfully – to prosecute Te Papa after it exhibited an artwork featuring a statuette of the Virgin Mary in a condom. In 2007 Catholic bishops appealed against the Broadcasting Standards Authority’s decision to allow screening of an episode of the American cartoon show South Park, in which a Virgin Mary statue sprayed menstrual blood on a cardinal, the Pope and a character named Randy. The authority found there was no breach of standards simply because the programme was offensive to Catholic religious values, and upholding the complaint would have been contrary to the ‘freedom of expression’ enshrined in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. The High Court agreed.\n\nReligion and public life\n\nWhile there is no official or state religion, New Zealand’s Christian history ensures that some traditions and conventions remain, especially in public life. A prayer is said before the opening of each day's sitting of Parliament. The national anthem invokes God to defend the country. Of the two-and-a-half days that most shops are forced to close during the year, two (Good Friday and Christmas Day) are Christian holy days; the other is the war-remembrance holiday Anzac Day (when shops must be closed till 1 p.m.). \n\nIn a predominantly secular society, which includes more non-believers and more diverse religious beliefs, aspects of public life that reflect New Zealand’s Christian heritage are increasingly likely to be challenged.\n\nExternal links and sources\n\nMore suggestions and sources\n\nMore links and websites\n\nHow to cite this page: Carl Walrond, 'Atheism and secularism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, (accessed 20 September 2018)\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7750779986381531}
+{"content": "Follow us:\n\n\nChicken Korma For Kids\n\nChicken Korma For Kids\n2 Adults, 2 kids portions Easy\nTotal: Active:\nPREVIOUS: Bobbing for Mezcal NEXT: Chicken Korma with Indian Bay Leaves\n\nIngredients (1)\n\n  • * 2 carrots medium * 1 onion large * 1 corguette small * 1 celery stick * 2 garlic cloves * 3 ½ oz sweetcorn * 2 korma spice mix , Can Use Any variation including paste * 2 ground almonds * 1 tsp thyme , fresh or dried * 2 soft herbs , coriander works best * 5 fl oz water * 17 fl oz coconut milk or cream * 1 tsp honey * 4 chicken breast large\n\nThis is a homemade chicken korma style dish. It’s not an authentic Chicken Korma curry per se.\n\nI wanted it to be an introduction to flavour for my kids. As it happens it was a complete 100% success. Both kids ate all with some rice, result! I always find milder dishes like Chicken Korma are a great starting point when trying to expand my kids palette If you feel it’s not complex enough by all means add more spices and flavours. The next time I make this I will be adding fresh ginger and maybe some fenugreek (Maithray) into the mix.\n\n\n  1. 11. Dice your vegetables (carrot, onion, celery, corguette) to around 1cm square and mince or grate your garlic.\n\nThere is also nothing wrong with grating or blending in a blender if you prefer.\n2. Dice your chicken to bite size pieces and set aside with your vegetables.\n3. Grab a large pan like a wok and on a high heat with some oil begin to cook your vegetables and garlic. Turn down your heat to medium and cook for 3-5 minutes stirring occasionally until your veggies soften.\n4. Next add your chicken and turn over with your spoon until thoroughly mixed through your pan.\n5. Now, take your korma spice mix, ground almonds, thyme and add to the pan stirring rapidly. Immediately after add the cold water and stir in making a liquor.\n6. Nearly done now! All that is left remaining with regards cooking is just to add your 500ml coconut milk. Once added, bring to the boil. Once you reach boiling point turn down the heat and gently simmer for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.\n7. Finally garnish with a teaspoon of honey, herbs and sweetcorn. You can if you wish season with salt and pepper.\nNOTE: If, after tasting you feel the sauce is a little heavy try a little lemon juice. This will add lightness and ‘cut through’ the sauce.\n\nLoad Comments\n\nRecommended from Chowhound", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.76165771484375}
+{"content": "Postemergence herbicides in corn\n\n\nThe 2017 Illinois corn crop currently is at various stages of development. Applications of postemergence corn herbicides continue to be made across areas of Illinois, although the recent precipitation has delayed applications in some areas. Even though applications may be delayed, adequate soil moisture coupled with warm temperatures will certainly promote rapid growth of emerged weeds.\n\nProperly timing the application of the postemergence herbicide is critical toward achieving the goal of removing weed interference from the corn crop before the weeds adversely impact (i.e., reduce) corn grain yield. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to accurately predict the specific day after planting or emergence when weed interference begins to reduce corn yield. This interval is influenced by many factors and can vary based upon the weed spectrum, the density of certain species, available soil moisture, etc. Weed scientists generally suggest an interval, based either on weed size (in inches) or days after crop/weed emergence, during which postemergence herbicides should be applied to avoid crop yield loss via weed interference. In corn, it is often recommended to remove weeds before they exceed 2 inches tall. The longer weeds are allowed to remain with the crop the greater the likelihood of crop yield loss.\n\n\nAs mentioned, corn plant height is commonly used on many herbicide labels but plant height may not always provide an accurate indication of the plant’s true physiological maturity. Determining plant height may seem relatively straightforward, but using different benchmarks for measurement can lead to different plant heights. Generally, corn plant height is determined by measuring from the soil surface to the arch of the uppermost leaf that is at least 50% emerged from the whorl. Be sure to measure several plants in a given field and average the numbers. Plant height is obviously influenced by many factors, including genetics and the growing environment. Adverse environmental conditions, such as cool air/soil temperatures, hail, etc., can greatly retard plant height and result in corn plants that are physiologically older than their height suggests.\n\n\nCorn plants under stress conditions may be more prone to injury from postemergence herbicides. Stress can arise from a number of factors, including cool temperatures and wet soils. Be sure to consult the product label when selecting spray additives to include with postemergence herbicides. Many labels suggest changing from one type of additive to another type when the corn crop is under stressful growing conditions. Attempting to save a trip across the field by applying a postemergence corn herbicide with a liquid nitrogen fertilizer solution (such as 28% UAN) as the carrier is not advisable. While applying high rates of UAN by itself can cause corn injury, adding a postemergence herbicide can greatly increase corn injury.\n\nLabels of several postemergence corn herbicides (most commonly ALS-inhibiting herbicides but also some HPPD-inhibiting herbicides) include restrictions with respect to applying the product to corn previously treated with certain soil insecticides. Be sure to consult the respective herbicide label for other restrictions and limitations.\n\nHide comments\n\n\n\nPlain text\n\n  • No HTML tags allowed.\n  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7100396156311035}
+{"content": "🏡 HomeMenuNewsA - Z\n\nWhy do Babies Cry\n\n  • Date : 2013-02-19\n  • FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology\n  • Synopsis : Crying is a principal means of communicating its negative emotions and in the majority of cases the only way babies have to express them.\n\nMain Document\n\nSpanish researchers have studied adults' accuracy in the recognition of the emotion causing babies to cry. Eye movement and the dynamic of the cry play a key role in recognition.\n\nIt is not easy to know why a newborn cries, especially amongst first-time parents. Although the main reasons are hunger, pain, anger and fear, adults cannot easily recognize which emotion is the cause of the tears.\n\n\"Crying is a baby's principal means of communicating its negative emotions and in the majority of cases the only way they have to express them,\" as explained to SINC by Mariano Choliz, researcher at the University of Valencia.\n\nCholiz participates in a study along with experts from the University of Murcia and the National University of Distance Education (UNED) which describes the differences in the weeping pattern in a sample of 20 babies between 3 and 18 months caused by the three characteristic emotions: fear, anger and pain.\n\nIn addition, the team observed the accuracy of adults in recognizing the emotion that causes the babies to cry, analyzing the affective reaction of observers before the sobbing.\n\nAccording to the results published recently in the 'Spanish Journal of Psychology', the main differences manifest in eye activity and the dynamics of the cry.\n\n\"When babies cry because of anger or fear, they keep their eyes open but keep them closed when crying in pain,\" states the researcher.\n\nAs for the dynamic of the cry, both the gestures and the intensity of the cry gradually increase if the baby is angry. On the contrary, the cry is as intense as can be in the case of pain and fear.\n\nThe adults do not properly identify which emotion is causing the cry, especially in the case of anger and fear.\n\nNonetheless, \"although the observers cannot recognize the cause properly, when babies cry because they are in pain, this causes a more intense affective reaction than when they cry because of angry or fear,\" outlines Choliz.\n\nFor the experts, the fact that pain is the most easily recognizable emotion can have an adaptive explanation, since crying is a warning of a potentially serious threat to health or survival and thus requires the carer to respond urgently.\n\nAnger, fear and pain:\n\nCrying babyAbout This Image: Crying baby When a baby cries, facial muscle activity is characterized by lots of tension in the forehead, eyebrows or lips, opening of the mouth and raised cheeks. The researchers observed different patterns between the three negative emotions.\n\n\n\n\nReference: Mariano Choliz, Enrique G. Fernandez-Abascal y Francisco Martinez-Sanchez. \"Infant Crying: Pattern of Weeping, Recognition of Emotion and Affective Reactions in Observers\" . The Spanish Journal of Psychology 2012, Vol. 15, No. 3, 978-988 ISSN 1138-7416. dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n3.39389\n\n© 2004 - 2018 Disabled World™", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8464740514755249}
+{"content": "Ireland is waking up to another chilly morning after a freezing cold night.\n\nA Status Yellow weather warning for low temperatures is in place from 2am on Wednesday until 10am on Wednesday.\n\nThe mercury plunged around the country with temperatures of -4C recorded in Mullingar and -3.7C in Gurteen, Co. Sligo in the early hours of this morning.\n\nFrost and any lingering mist and fog patches will clear this morning and it will be another dry day for most with sunny spells, Met Eireann said.\n\nThere is a chance of a light shower later this afternoon and top temperatures will reach 7C to 9C in a light to moderate south to southeast breeze.\n\nBut after dark, the cold will creep back and temperatures could drop to freezing point.\n\nMet Eireann said: \"Cloudy periods tonight will produce a few spots of light rain or drizzle, mainly in coastal counties of the east and south, with the risk extending elsewhere towards morning.\n\n\"Clear intervals will occur also, allowing frost to form\".\n\nThe national forecaster added that \"a gradual drift towards colder conditions will place as we head through the rest of this week\".\n\nThursday is set to be a \"cloudy day with a few patches of light rain, drizzle and mist.\n\n\"The cloud will break at times to allow a few bright or short sunny spells through\".", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9895908832550049}
+{"content": "Film Noir\nProject info\n\nFilm Noir\nFilm Noir revisits the themes of the classic black-and-white films of the 1940s and 50s, but with the lush saturated colors for which I am known. The solitary figures contemplating the unknown reference the ethical and philosophical dilemmas laid bare in those stories. While the traditional Film Noir hero’s code of honor is clear, my images remain blurred and unresolved, hinting at the increased uncertainties of the contemporary viewpoint.\n\nFilm Noir is made using my unique process of collaging appropriated images, then re-photographing them out of focus with the lens set to infinity. The images are taken from a variety of sources: advertising; stock material; iconic street photographs and landscape painting. An astute observer might recognize a figure from Winogrand or Cartier Bresson, for example, or a background from a Hudson River School landscape.\n\nAs I subvert the photographic norm, shooting close up with a setting normally used for distance and detail, the edges within the collages disappear and the blurred photographs appear to be seamless, integrated images. This sleight of hand allows me to conjure a mysterious tromp l'oeil world that hovers between the real and the fantastic. The nature of visual perception intrigues me: how the eye continually tries to resolve these images, but is unable to do so, and how that is unsettling. I am drawn to the idea that we can believe something is real, while at the same time knowing it is illusory; that the experience of visual confusion, when the psyche is momentarily derailed, is what frees us to respond emotionally.\n\n\nBill Armstrong", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9706583619117737}
+{"content": "It may not be the fastest, but train travel is arguably the most inspiring way to get from Point A to Point B. The imagery associated with the train is in itself capable of inciting magical thinking: a conductor standing alongside a monstrous exterior in a uniform that, no matter how contemporary, always seems emblematic of the past. Inside, windows stretch vastly and you, or someone just like you, sits and peers outside, in awe of a mountainous view she could not have imagined.\n\nIt’s the backdrop of countless works of literature, a source of inspiration for poets, and the iconic backdrop embellishing our most-loved films–if you’ve seen Before Sunrise starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, for example, you, like me, have probably spent the past 20 years preparing to fall in love with a stranger onboard. In other words, artistic representations of train travel have always led us to believe that our ticket aboard has the capacity to take us straight to our next life-altering moment.\n\nBut it’s not all about romantic love—the platonic bonds formed amongst passengers is a whole other story worth telling.\n\nWhether it is the knowledge of a long journey ahead, the close proximity of strangers, or the gentle, comforting, and consistent sway, train travel incites even the most introverted to extend past their comfort zone. At least that is what Brittany Spencer and I found when we travelled out west with VIA Rail.\n\nIn June, Brittany and I boarded The Canadian in Vancouver with the goal of capturing great conversations amongst passengers for Challenge for Change. There, we met Linda Baca and Janice Harvey, two women journeying back east to Toronto. When we met them, Linda and Janice were enjoying a glass of wine each, swapping stories as they looked out the window in one of the train’s observation decks.\n\nThey had been travelling separately, one on her way to a wedding, the other heading home. After being seated in the dining car together on their first day aboard, two women who were perfect strangers just days prior were suddenly fast friends, waking each other up in the morning and spending breakfast, lunch, and dinner time together.\n\nFacilitator Catherine listens to Linda and Janice aboard the train.\n\nIt was a familiar scenario for me and Brittany. Although we went to journalism school together, we had been set on different tracks early on, her pursuing documentary film while I took on feature writing. We hardly knew each other before we started working at Challenge for Change, but after months at a job that has taken us from coast-to-coast together with little space apart, it is safe to say we found friendship aboard the train like so many others.\n\nNewfound friendships are almost synonymous with train travel, as passengers prepare for long journeys with people they have never met but are sure to grow fond of. You’re likely to strike up a conversation sometime in the hours or days-long commute. You may even share a reading nook with someone, or start jamming on the guitar to pass the time. You’ll likely be dining with a new group of people each day, sharing stories in between sightings of wildlife that, for a brief moment, will unexpectedly appear just outside your window.\n\nConnections like this is what Challenge for Change is all about. Everyday, we miss opportunities to relate to one another, but aboard the train, nobody stays a stranger for long. It may be that the connection that we so desperately need is best found there. Afterall, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey, and you never know where a great conversation can take you.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8463339805603027}
+{"content": "Show Summary Details\n\nPage of\n\n\ndate: 20 September 2018\n\nSummary and Keywords\n\nAs the global imperative for sustainable energy builds and with hydroelectricity proposed as one aspect of a sustainable energy profile, public discourse reflects the complex and competing discourses and social-ecological trade-offs surrounding hydropower and dams. Is hydropower “green”? Is it “sustainable”? Is it “renewable”? Does hydropower provide a necessary alternative to fossil fuel dependence? Can the ecological consequences of hydropower be mitigated? Is this the end of the hydropower era, or is it simply the beginning of a new chapter? These pressing questions circulate through discussions about hydropower in a time of changing climate, globally declining fisheries, and aging infrastructure, lending a sense of urgency to the many decisions to be made about the future of dams.\n\nThe United States and European Union (EU) saw an enduring trend of dam building from the Industrial Revolution through the mid-1970s. In these countries, contemporary media discussions about hydropower are largely focused on removing existing hydropower dams and retrofitting existing dams that offer hydropower potential. Outside of these contexts, increasing numbers of countries are debating the merits of building new large-scale hydropower dams that, in many developing countries, may have disproportionate impacts on indigenous communities that hold little political or economic power. As a result, news and social media attention to hydropower outside the United States/EU often focus on activist efforts to oppose hydropower and on its complex consequences for ecosystems and communities alike.\n\nDespite hydropower’s wide range of ecological, economic, and social trade-offs, and the increasing urgency of global conversations about hydropower, relatively little work in communication studies explores news media, social media, or public debate in the context of hydropower and dam removal. In an effort to expand the scope of communication studies, after reviewing existing work the attention here shifts to research focused more broadly on human dimensions of hydropower. These dual bodies of work focus on small and large dams from Europe to the Americas to Asia and have applied a range of methods for analyzing media coverage of the hydropower debate. Those studies are reviewed here, with an emphasis on the key themes that emerge across studies—including trust, communication, local engagement, and a call to action for interdisciplinary approaches, intertwined with conflict, conflict resolution, and social and ecological resistance. The conclusion offers an original case brief that elucidates emerging themes from our ongoing research about hydropower and dam removal in the United States, and suggests future directions for research.\n\nKeywords: communication, conflict, dams, frames, hydroelectric, hydropower, media, New England, rhetoric, trade-offs\n\n\nPlease subscribe or login to access full text content.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9779435992240906}
+{"content": "When the going gets tough, the tough get resilient!\n\nSome days are just darker. \n\nEverything you want to achieve still seems too far away, even though you’ve been trying for so long. You feel like you are punching brick walls, fighting unwinnable battles. You are drained of energy, your brain is mush and your heart is joyless. \n\nThis last couple of days have been like that for me. So, I retreated into myself  for a bit and ‘nested’.\n\nIf like us, you are pursuing and unconventional lifestyle, an alternative way to earn your money, different from mainstream expectations, you know you have additional challenges, like finding financial stability or constantly have to defend your choices when faced with other people’s ignorance and prejudice. So, when your efforts don’t amount to any results or you have to deal with negative people all the time, it does get to you, right?\n\nSo, what can you do? Do you quit? Do you give in to sadness?NOOOO!!!!!!!\n\nContinue reading “When the going gets tough, the tough get resilient!”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6399519443511963}
+{"content": "19 all water soluble fertilizer(300 Ml)\n\nRs 275\n\n19all - An all-purpose, 19-19-19 fertilizer will provide the nutrients all plants need for healthy growth. 19all contains completely water soluble nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium The three elements promote plant growth in three different ways. In simple terms, these are: N - Nitrogen: promotes the growth of leaves and vegetation, P - Phosphorus: promotes root and shoot growth, K –- potassium: regulation of water and nutrient movement in plant cells, purportedly promoting flowering and fruiting.\n\nN- Nitrogen helps plants make the proteins they need to produce new tissues.\n\nP - Phosphorous stimulates root growth, helps the plant set buds and flowers, improves vitality and increases seed size\n\nK- Potassium improves overall vigor of the plant. It helps the plants make carbohydrates and provides disease resistance. It also helps regulate metabolic activities.\n\napplication - 2- 4 Gms per lit of water as per growth stage. Irrigate the plants with nutrient water can also be sprayed for quick action on the plant, to be sprayed in cool hours\n\n150 Ml X 2 bottle = 300 Ml bottle consumer pack of 19all NPK fertilizers are water-soluble and can be taken up by the plant almost immediately\n\nDispatch: 1-2 Days.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9951741695404053}
+{"content": "3 Advantages Of Renting A Car In Chania\n\nChania is a breath-taking coastal city Crete, Greece. It is one of the most visited cities in Greece and considered the most beautiful area in Crete. To explore and experience this magnificent city, the best thing to do is rent a car from Flisvos. Here are some of the advantages in renting a car while in the island.\n\nUtmost convenience\n\nOne of the advantages of renting a car while in Chania is its convenience. When you rent a car, it would seem like you have your own car while in the island so you tour around the city at any time you want without the need to hail for cabs or take public transport. You also do not have to worry about missing the bus or leave the bar earlier afraid that you will miss the last train back to your hotel. If you have a rented car from Flisvos, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want.\n\nCar of your choice\n\nLook for a car for rent supplier that offers a wide range of vehicles for you to choose from. Choose a vehicle that suits your travel needs and lifestyle. Consider what you intend to do in the area to help you determine the type of vehicle that you will rent. If you intend to just tour around the city, a nice and comfortable SUV would be an excellent choice. You can also choose cheaper cars to rent or luxury ones depending on your activity. There are also cars for a group of 7 to 9 or for the entire family. You can also rent off-road vehicles, manual, automatic and many others.\n\nWorry-free urban travelling\n\nTaking a trip to a beautiful city like Chania do not happen every day so while you are in the city, make the most of the time and tour around with a rented car from Flisvos.  With a rented car, there’s no need to worry about maintenance, insurance or carwash.You just have to place your reservation and have the car delivered to your chosen spot and enjoy your vacation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.55820631980896}
+{"content": "Discover the most talked about and latest scientific content & concepts.\n\nConcept: Galápagos Islands\n\n\nThe taxonomy of giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.) is currently based primarily on morphological characters and island of origin. Over the last decade, compelling genetic evidence has accumulated for multiple independent evolutionary lineages, spurring the need for taxonomic revision. On the island of Santa Cruz there is currently a single named species, C. porteri. Recent genetic and morphological studies have shown that, within this taxon, there are two evolutionarily and spatially distinct lineages on the western and eastern sectors of the island, known as the Reserva and Cerro Fatal populations, respectively. Analyses of DNA from natural populations and museum specimens, including the type specimen for C. porteri, confirm the genetic distinctiveness of these two lineages and support elevation of the Cerro Fatal tortoises to the rank of species. In this paper, we identify DNA characters that define this new species, and infer evolutionary relationships relative to other species of Galapagos tortoises.\n\nConcepts: Tortoises, Evolution, Geochelone, Galápagos Islands, Galápagos tortoise, Charles Darwin, Tortoise, Biology\n\n\nBACKGROUND: The inhabitants of deep-sea hydrothermal vents occupy ephemeral island-like habitats distributed sporadically along tectonic spreading-centers, back-arc basins, and volcanically active seamounts. The majority of vent taxa undergo a pelagic larval phase, and thus varying degrees of geographical subdivision, ranging from no impedance of dispersal to complete isolation, often exist among taxa that span common geomorphological boundaries. Two lineages of Bathymodiolus mussels segregate on either side of the Easter Microplate, a boundary that separates the East Pacific Rise from spreading centers connected to the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge. RESULTS: A recent sample from the northwest flank of the Easter Microplate contained an admixture of northern and southern mitochondrial haplotypes and corresponding alleles at five nuclear gene loci. Genotypic frequencies in this sample did not fit random mating expectation. Significant heterozygote deficiencies at nuclear loci and gametic disequilibria between loci suggested that this transitional region might be a ‘Tension Zone’ maintained by immigration of parental types and possibly hybrid unfitness. An analysis of recombination history in the nuclear genes suggests a prolonged history of parapatric contact between the two mussel lineages. We hereby elevate the southern lineage to species status as Bathymodiolus antarcticus n. sp. and restrict the use of Bathymodiolus thermophilus to the northern lineage. CONCLUSIONS: Because B. thermophilus s.s. exhibits no evidence for subdivision or isolation-by-distance across its 4000 km range along the EPR axis and Galapagos Rift, partial isolation of B. antarcticus n. sp. requires explanation. The time needed to produce the observed degree of mitochondrial differentiation is consistent with the age of the Easter Microplate (2.5 to 5.3 million years). The complex geomorphology of the Easter Microplate region forces strong cross-axis currents that might disrupt self-recruitment of mussels by removing planktotrophic larvae from the ridge axis. Furthermore, frequent local extinction events in this tectonically dynamic region might produce a demographic sink rather than a source for dispersing mussel larvae. Historical changes in tectonic rates and current patterns appear to permit intermittent contact and introgression between the two subspecies.\n\nConcepts: Species, Mollusca, Galápagos Islands, DNA, East Pacific Rise, Gene, Pacific Ocean, Hydrothermal vent\n\n\nSpecies are being lost at an unprecedented rate due to human-driven environmental changes. The cases in which species declared extinct can be revived are rare. However, here we report that a remote volcano in the Galápagos Islands hosts many giant tortoises with high ancestry from a species previously declared as extinct: Chelonoidis elephantopus or the Floreana tortoise. Of 150 individuals with distinctive morphology sampled from the volcano, genetic analyses revealed that 65 had C. elephantopus ancestry and thirty-two were translocated from the volcano’s slopes to a captive breeding center. A genetically informed captive breeding program now being initiated will, over the next decades, return C. elephantopus tortoises to Floreana Island to serve as engineers of the island’s ecosystems. Ironically, it was the haphazard translocations by mariners killing tortoises for food centuries ago that created the unique opportunity to revive this “lost” species today.\n\nConcepts: Genetics, Galápagos Islands, Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Evolution, Charles Darwin, Tortoise, Galápagos tortoise, Tortoises\n\n\n\nConcepts: Galápagos Islands, Immunology, Humoral immunity, Immunity, Galápagos Sea Lion, Antibody, California Sea Lion, Immune system\n\n\nNative biodiversity on the Galapagos Archipelago is severely threatened by invasive alien species. On Santa Cruz Island, the abundance of introduced plant species is low in the arid lowlands of the Galapagos National Park, but increases with elevation into unprotected humid highlands. Two common alien plant species, guava (Psidium guajava) and passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) occur at higher elevations yet their seeds are dispersed into the lowlands by migrating Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.). Tortoises transport large quantities of seeds over long distances into environments in which they have little or no chance of germination and survival under current climate conditions. However, climate change is projected to modify environmental conditions on Galapagos with unknown consequences for the distribution of native and introduced biodiversity. We quantified seed dispersal of guava and passion fruit in tortoise dung piles and the distribution of adult plants along two elevation gradients on Santa Cruz to assess current levels of ‘wasted’ seed dispersal. We computed species distribution models for both taxa under current and predicted future climate conditions. Assuming that tortoise migratory behaviour continues, current levels of “wasted” seed dispersal in lowlands were projected to decline dramatically in the future for guava but not for passion fruit. Tortoises will facilitate rapid range expansion for guava into lowland areas within the Galapagos National Park where this species is currently absent. Coupled with putative reduction in arid habitat for native species caused by climate change, tortoise driven guava invasion will pose a serious threat to local plant communities.\n\nConcepts: Climate change, Guava, Invasive species, Plant, Introduced species, Seed, Galápagos Islands, Fruit\n\n\nGalapagos is often cited as an example of the conflicts that are emerging between resource conservation and economic development in island ecosystems, as the pressures associated with tourism threaten nature, including the iconic and emblematic species, unique terrestrial landscapes, and special marine environments. In this paper, two projects are described that rely upon dynamic systems models and agent-based models to examine human-environment interactions. We use a theoretical context rooted in complexity theory to guide the development of our models that are linked to social-ecological dynamics. The goal of this paper is to describe key elements, relationships, and processes to inform and enhance our understanding of human-environment interactions in the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. By formalizing our knowledge of how systems operate and the manner in which key elements are linked in coupled human-natural systems, we specify rules, relationships, and rates of exchange between social and ecological features derived through statistical functions and/or functions specified in theory or practice. The processes described in our models also have practical applications in that they emphasize how political policies generate different human responses and model outcomes, many detrimental to the social-ecological sustainability of the Galapagos Islands.\n\nConcepts: Charles Darwin, Emergence, Mathematics, Scientific method, Galápagos Islands, Theory, Pacific Ocean, Ecuador\n\n\nThe application of genome-wide cytonuclear molecular data to identify management and adaptive units at various spatio-temporal levels is particularly important for overharvested large predatory organisms, often characterized by smaller, localized populations. Despite being “near threatened”, current understanding of habitat use and population structure of Carcharhinus galapagensis is limited to specific areas within its distribution. We evaluated population structure and connectivity across the Pacific Ocean using genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (~7200 SNPs) and mitochondrial control region sequences (945 bp) for 229 individuals. Neutral SNPs defined at least two genetically discrete geographic groups: an East Tropical Pacific (Mexico, east and west Galapagos Islands), and another central-west Pacific (Lord Howe Island, Middleton Reef, Norfolk Island, Elizabeth Reef, Kermadec, Hawaii and Southern Africa). More fine-grade population structure was suggested using outlier SNPs: west Pacific, Hawaii, Mexico, and Galapagos. Consistently, mtDNA pairwise ΦST defined three regional stocks: east, central and west Pacific. Compared to neutral SNPs (FST = 0.023-0.035), mtDNA exhibited more divergence (ΦST = 0.258-0.539) and high overall genetic diversity (h = 0.794 ± 0.014; π = 0.004 ± 0.000), consistent with the longstanding eastern Pacific barrier between the east and central-west Pacific. Hawaiian and Southern African populations group within the west Pacific cluster. Effective population sizes were moderate/high for east/west populations (738 and 3421, respectively). Insights into the biology, connectivity, genetic diversity, and population demographics informs for improved conservation of this species, by delineating three to four conservation units across their Pacific distribution. Implementing such conservation management may be challenging, but is necessary to achieve long-term population resilience at basin and regional scales.\n\nConcepts: Island, Hawaiian Islands, Hawaii, Equator, Galápagos Islands, Tasman Sea, Australia, Pacific Ocean\n\n\nThe Equator and Easter Microplate regions of the eastern Pacific Ocean exhibit geomorphological and hydrological features that create barriers to dispersal for a number of animals associated with deep-sea hydrothermal vent habitats. This study examined effects of these boundaries on geographical subdivision of the vent polychaete Alvinella pompejana. DNA sequences from one mitochondrial and eleven nuclear genes were examined in samples collected from ten vent localities that comprise the species' known range from 23°N latitude on the East Pacific Rise to 38°S latitude on the Pacific Antarctic Ridge.\n\nConcepts: Ocean, Indian Ocean, New Zealand, Galápagos Islands, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Earth, Equator\n\n\nPopulation monitoring is vital for conservation and management. However, simple counts of animals can be misleading and this problem is exacerbated in seals (pinnipeds) where individuals spend much time foraging away from colonies. We analyzed a 13-year-series of census data of Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) from the colony of Caamaño, an islet in the center of the Galapagos archipelago where a large proportion of animals was individually marked. Based on regular resighting efforts during the cold, reproductive (cold-R; August to January) and the warm, non-reproductive (warm-nR; February to May) season, we document changes in numbers for different sex and age classes. During the cold-R season the number of adults increased as the number of newborn pups increased. Numbers were larger in the morning and evening than around mid-day and not significantly influenced by tide levels. More adults frequented the colony during the warm-nR season than the cold-R season. Raw counts suggested a decline in numbers over the 13 years, but Lincoln-Petersen (LP-) estimates (assuming a closed population) did not support that conclusion. Raw counts and LP estimates were not significantly correlated, demonstrating the overwhelming importance of variability in attendance patterns of individuals. The probability of observing a given adult in the colony varied between 16% (mean for cold-R season) and 23% (warm-nR season) and may be much less for independent 2 to 4 year olds. Dependent juveniles (up to the age of about 2 years) are observed much more frequently ashore (35% during the cold-R and 50% during the warm-nR seasons). Simple counts underestimate real population size by a factor of 4-6 and may lead to erroneous conclusions about trends in population size.\n\nConcepts: Colony, Zalophus, Number, Sea lion, Galápagos Islands, Pinniped, California Sea Lion, Galápagos Sea Lion\n\n\nA multitude of correlations between heterozygosity and fitness proxies associated with disease have been reported from wild populations, but the genetic basis of these associations is unresolved. We used a longitudinal dataset on wild Galapagos sea lions (Zalophus wollebaeki) to develop a relatively new perspective on this problem, by testing for associations between heterozygosity and immune variation across age classes and between ecological contexts.\n\nConcepts: Charles Darwin, Biology, Fur seals and sea lions, Zalophus, Galápagos Islands, Evolution, California Sea Lion, Galápagos Sea Lion", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9559662342071533}
+{"content": "A Truly Historic Moment: The Stuxnet Cyber Attack on Iranian Centrifuges\n\nBy Max Sterling\n\nAs B-29 bombers flew from Tinian Island on August 6 and August 9, carrying the nuclear payloads to be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world witnessed decades’ worth of scientific innovation. The dropping of atomic bombs reflected the terrible and awesome capability of mass destruction, and these critical moments have shaped military strategy, public opinion, pop culture and of course foreign affairs from 1945 through the present day. The nuclear timeline continues to run its course, but in 2010 this history intersected with another: the timeline of cyber warfare.\n\nIn the 2010 Stuxnet cyber attack, the United States and Israel launched the first major offensive cyber action between state actors, a massive supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) attack on Iranian nuclear centrifuges. This cyber action yielded kinetic results, physically damaging Iranian nuclear facilities. Stuxnet comes at the intersection of the ongoing saga of nuclear proliferation and the new frontier of cyber warfare, a not-so-distant horizon silhouetted by cyber soldiers, codes, and keyboards.\n\nThe dropping of atomic bombs on Japan demonstrated the horrific potential of nuclear weapons, leading both to mass fear about nuclear war and states’ dogged pursuit of these weapons in the years to follow. In the cyber era, the Stuxnet attacks demonstrate the similarly awesome destructive potential of cyber attacks. SCADA attacks can, quite literally, turn off an electrical power grid, or disrupt the production of military supplies and weapons, or halt public transportation. State or non-state actors could use these capabilities to great effect in war or as tools of terror, and the Stuxnet attacks provide a blueprint for fighting in the cyber domain.\n\nFurthermore, the Stuxnet attacks highlight three particularly worrisome aspects of the cyber era. First, these attacks were not easily attributed, and although they have now been attributed to Israel and the United States, future attacks may be similarly difficult to place at first. Attribution issues will continue to characterize the cyber world, and the Stuxnet episode demonstrates this concept. Second, the Stuxnet attacks could have easily impacted targets not originally intended to be harmed, and distinguishing civilian and military targets on the Internet will continue to be problematic. Third, what is an appropriate response to a cyber attack? The Iranian government has, according to an Atlantic Council report, launched counter cyber attacks as a result of Stuxnet and drastically increased the Iranian cyber budget. Would sanctions or military action, for example, have been appropriate responses to being the target of a major cyber attack? This question has yet to be resolved, and will persist in the cyber era.\n\nIn 1945, the global community was introduced to the nuclear weapon, a weapon of mass destruction that would inform the next fifty years of strategic thinking. In 2010, a Belarusian security firm unmasked the next weapon to shape strategic thinking in the form of the Stuxnet cyber attack. The next fifty years of cyber attacks will be measured against the Stuxnet. Strategists and operatives will break new boundaries of cyber warfare as states look to bolster defenses against SCADA attacks. As it did in the Cold War, pop culture will dream of the impact cyber weapons can have on civil society. We have witnessed the convergence of two critical timelines—the history of nuclear weapons and cyber weapons—and the Stuxnet attack will be remembered as a truly historic moment in the coming age of cyber warfare.\n\nMax Sterling is a rising senior at the College of William and Mary, majoring in International Relations. Max is also a cadet in Army ROTC and will be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army upon graduation. His interests include counterinsurgency, nuclear and chemical weapons proliferation, military strategy and the impact of cyber capabilities on these topics.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8567272424697876}
+{"content": "Determine what are the delphi technique, Project Management\n\nThe Delphi technique intends to attain a consensus evaluates by the efforts of a number of estimators. How is this attained and what is the advantage of the Delphi technique over, for illustration, a round-table discussion?\n\nThe main problem along with a round-table discussion is which the personalities and egos of the estimators get caught up within what must be a rational or dispassionate procedure. People may feel forced to protect their evaluations high or low since to do otherwise would be considered to involve a loss of 'face' along with respected technical generation. The Delphi technique includes asking for estimates by a number of people and after that circulating the outcomes anonymously for all to observe.\n\nSince the estimates are anonymous, estimators will not lose face through changing their minds and considering other people calculates approximately may well cause re-thinks. The difficulty with the Delphi technique is about people cannot ask questions regarding how others have arrived at their evaluations and they may thereby miss some significant issues which others have considered. Barry Boehm (observe previous) determined that a combination of the Delphi technique along with well-run workshops tended to create good outcomes.\n\nPosted Date: 9/2/2013 7:47:51 AM | Location : United States\n\nRelated Discussions:- Determine what are the delphi technique, Assignment Help, Ask Question on Determine what are the delphi technique, Get Answer, Expert's Help, Determine what are the delphi technique Discussions\n\nWrite discussion on Determine what are the delphi technique\nYour posts are moderated\nRelated Questions\nProgram Manager Roles   The following is the role of the Program manager:   Responsible for meeting customer requirements.  Manage risk.  Deliver the program, the p\n\nHow can management get more number of goods? Management can get more number of goods (output) though the similar amount of resources input as given below: • Through reducing\n\nFLF is a courier company based in Z Country which presents direct document and parcel express delivery services for commercial customers. It prides itself not only on its reliabili\n\nAdvantages of Procedures 1) Procedures enhance efficiency. The sequence of steps for any operation have been laid out in advance and one only needs to follow the analysis to proc\n\n\n\nThis product not only having more than 1000 pages of content explaining how projects should be undertaken successfully, but it also includes: 51 detailed project management temp\n\n\nAttempts by a country to help local producers by restricting international trade is known as   protectionism.\n\nProbelm 1: a) Elaborate on the Verma;K(1996) model for effective human resource management and explain its importance in managing projects. b) According to the Verma; K(1996", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9483225345611572}
+{"content": "Why wait until someone has passed on to honor his contribution to the arts community?\n\n\nThat's the idea behind Saturday's \"Music of Our Time\" concert at the Tusten Theatre.\n\nIn its 19th year, the series is presented by the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance and the Delaware Valley Chamber Orchestra. This year's featured composer is Long Eddy resident Lee Hoiby.\n\n\"The purpose of the chamber orchestra in this concert is to play music by composers who live in this area and who are living,\" said DVCO treasurer Carolyn Steinberg. \"Composers of the area is the focus. Many musicians want to play music by living composers.\"\n\nBorn in 1926, Hoiby wrote a one-act opera titled \"The Scarf,\" which premiered at the first Italian Spoleto Festival in 1957 and was produced by the New York City Opera the following year. Hoiby's next opera was \"Natalia Petrovna,\" and the piece he is perhaps most noted for, \"Summer and Smoke,\" is an opera based on Tennessee Williams' famous play. Hoiby is also respected for his instrumental pieces.\n\n\"We're focusing on his instrumental music because he's quite well-known as a vocal composer,\" Steinberg said. \"We all wanted to hear more of his instrumental music.\"\n\nWorks that will be performed at this concert include \"Sextet for Winds and Piano,\" performed by the Dorian Wind Quintet with pianist Betsi Hodges; his \"Cello Sonata,\" performed by Duo Navona; and the \"Whitman Songs\" performed by Steve Utzig of Narrowsburg, with Hoiby at the piano.\n\n\"Lee is well known and highly respected, but not often performed in this area,\" Steinberg said. \"His music is challenging to play, so you can't put it together, you can't prepare his music in two rehearsals. This is exciting.\"\n\nOther composers who will be featured that evening include Paquito d'Rivera (his woodwind quintet) and Gabriella Morris, a high school sophomore at Livingston Manor Central School. The Dorian Wind Quintet and the DVCO will collaborate on Igor Stravinsky's \"Eight Instrumental Miniatures.\"\n\n\"Paquito might have come, except that he has another performance that night. He has friends in Sullivan County and frequents the area sometimes. The Dorian Wind Quartet will perform a piece that he wrote for them,\" Steinberg said. \"Gabriella wrote a piece called 'Forbidden Love,' and it's for flute, violin, oboe and bassoon.\"\n\nSteinberg said these performances are always full of surprises and variety.\n\n\"If you've never done this before, it's worth a trip because the excitement and the energy of the people in the theater and the dedication of the musicians all gain momentum and become something you won't forget,\" Steinberg said. \"It sounds like classical music that's very lively.\"\n\nThe evening's program will begin with a performance of \"Caprice,\" a composition written by composer/trumpeter Kenneth W. Somerville. But while Hoiby will be present to hear his songs being honored, Somerville's piece is a tribute. The former musical director and bandleader at the Laurels Hotel died in July.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8253154158592224}
+{"content": "If you have a child age 16 and up, you should know about the serogroup B meningitis (MenB) vaccine because it can prevent MenB, a type of meningococcal disease. But a study in Pediatrics released Monday found not all primary care physicians have enough knowledge about the seriousness of MenB disease and the MenB vaccine to discuss with patients whether or not they should receive the vaccine. Men B, although rare, has emerged to the forefront over the past few years due to some highly publicized outbreaks among college campuses.\n\nGenerally in decline since the 1990s, meningococcal disease is highly contagious and caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, and infections of the blood. Meningitis has about a 10 to 15 percent fatality rate and can often leave survivors with permanent issues such as hearing loss, brain damage, or kidney damage.\n\nThe disease has multiple different serogroups or types and currently we have a few vaccines with specific recommendations to prevent against some of these serogroups. Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact such as coughing or kissing or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n\nThe American Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that 16- to 23-year-olds may be vaccinated with the MenB vaccine based on conversations during an appointment. However, the study's authors found:\n\n  • Half of pediatricians and approximately a third of family physicians report often or always initiate a discussion about MenB vaccine for 16-to 18-year-olds.\n  • Providers who initiate the discussion were more likely to give the vaccine rather then those who rarely discuss the vaccine.\n  • There was a lack of familiarity with many aspects of MenB disease and MenB vaccination among primary care physicians.\n\nWhat does this mean? If the conversation about MenB disease and MenB vaccine never occurs during the appointment, no vaccine will ever be given. This lack of interaction usually is not deliberate.\n\nIn this study, one of the main factors inhibiting this conversation may be a lack of familiarity of the disease and vaccine. This is where parents and caregivers can step in. If your child falls within the 16- to 23-year old age group, you can start the discussion with your provider.  The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages pediatricians to discuss the benefits, risks, and costs with patients and families and then \"work with them to determine what is in their best interest.\" Ultimately, this will lead to a more informed decision that will benefit your child.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7278603911399841}
+{"content": "Rebuild the Middle East and North Africa under the “MERCI” Plan\n\nDr. Patrick Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary General of the China Energy Fund Committee, has proposed a major initiative to identify ways to integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative the reconstruction of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The proposal, called MERCI (Middle East Reconstruction Initiative) was presented at two major international conferences in early July.\n\nOn July 6, Dr. Ho introduced it to the Agriculture for Sustainable Development conference at the United Nations. The following day, he addressed the Schiller Institute’s “Food for Peace and Thought” seminar in New York City, co-sponsored by the CEFC he heads.\n\nThe MENA region, Dr. Ho explained, is an essential link between East and West, and many countries in that region are, or used to be, major agricultural countries, such as Israel, Iraq and Egypt.\n\nSyria, he explained, used to produce 4 million tons of wheat annually: 1.5 million for export and 2.5 million for internal consumption. Now, after years of terrorist and other military attacks, they produce only 450,000 tons, and the people have fled the country by the millions. Some nations, he said, view the military conquest of terrorism as the solution, but he points out that as the war against terrorism has expanded from the early period, 2001 to 2004, to the more recent period 2012 to 2015, the number of people killed in terrorist attacks globally has been increased sixfold. The best hope, he asserted, involves “changing the underlying socio-economic conditions.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997212290763855}
+{"content": "While makes every effort to accommodate its users, consumers and retailers, our Returns Policy has to be one that is both reasonable and in strict accordance with the relevant aspects of the Consumer Protection Act  of 2008 (CPA) and its regulations as amended.\n\n\n  1. Where goods have been incorrectly supplied. An example of this is where a user orders goods and receives goods that are substantially different from what was ordered. will then have the incorrect goods picked up and the correct goods delivered at no charge to the consumer.\n  • A store credit to the value of the goods\n\n\n  1. Returns shall be processed for goods purchased from via the Website or Online Platform within 5 days of purchase, and which fall within the \"cooling off\" period in terms of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA). Any such return shall only be accepted if the goods are in their original packaging, All tags are still attached, unused and the Consumer is able to provide a valid, dated proof of purchase.\n  2. Once the stock has been returned and a refund has been accepted by, payment of the refunded amount shall be made into the user or consumer’s account 7 to 14 days from date of approval of that refund.\n\n\n  1. The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) specifically excludes 'buyer’s remorse' and reserves the right to reject returns that are sought because the Consumer has 'changed his mind' or no longer wants the item after the purchase has been made.\n  • Underwear, sleepwear, Swimwear or lingerie\n  • Goods that have been personalised or custom made\n  • Goods that have been specifically ordered for the Consumer and are not in ordinary stock\n  • Exchanges on electrical productsthat have been used, tested or are otherwise are not defective.\n  1. Where the goods have been willfully damaged or have been damaged by the gross negligence of the Consumer or Retailer.\n  2. Where the goods have been damaged by Force Majeure, or an act of God such as inclement weather, natural disaster, power failure, electrical surges or circumstances outside of’s control.\n  3. reserves the right to hold the Consumer Liable for delivery charges in the event of one or more of the above circumstances being the reason for return of the goods\n\n\nPlanet 54 reserves the right not to process exchanges for any reason whatsoever, subject to sections 55 and 56 of the Consumer Protection Act of 2008, as amended.\n\nShould a customer, consumer or user be unhappy with the colour, type, spec or quality of goods supplied, Planet 54 shall process a cash refund or store credit to the customer which may be used for the purchase of other goods on the website or online platform.\n\nGoods that are returned to Planet 54 shall be treated as returned items and a store credit or cash refund shall be processed to the customer in lieu thereof.\n\nCONDITIONS FOR FREE DELIVERY FOR ORDERS OVER R400.00 offers consumers free delivery of all orders over R 400.00 (four hundred rands)\n\nThe free deliveries are subject to the following conditions:\n\n  1. The total basket value of the purchase must be R400.00 (four hundred rands) or more.\n  2. This may constitute a single item, or multiple items totaling R400.00 (four hundred rands) or more.\n  3. Should the consumer return one or more item after having received the free shipping, thereby dropping the total basket value or total value of the purchase to below R400.00 (four hundred rands) then that consumer shall be liable for shipping charges as determined by Planet 54. This may include promotions or combo deals that constituted to the Free Delivery\n  4. Planet 54 reserves the right to levy shipping charges at its discretion where there has been abuse or misuse by consumers of the free shipping offer.\n\n30% Sign up & get your 30% gift voucherOff\n\n\nT's &C's Apply", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.673092246055603}
+{"content": "Bodywise institute REstorative Level 1 teacher training\n\nwith Eleanor Bramwell and Rae Helsel\n\nRestorative savasana.jpg\n\nSangha Yoga is SO EXCITED to be hosting a Restorative Yoga Teacher Training on September 7-9th 2018 with Rae Helsel and Eleanor Bramwell.\n\nThis training is a level one restorative YTT appropriate for all levels of yogic experience; those interested in offering restorative yoga classes and those interested in deepening their experience of restorative states. You will learn the neurobiology of restorative states, anatomy of the nervous system, breathing mechanics, and hormonal systems. You will feel empowered to guide restorative classes, be well versed in the creative use of props, and the art of sequencing. In a beautiful way, you will have the opportunity to understand yourself on a deeper level.\n\nTotal cost of training is $400. Early bird (until Aug. 1) is $300. We also offer a student price of $325 with an early bird discounted rate of $250. \n\nTraining manuals and certification are included in the price. This training can be used for CE hours for yoga teachers.\n\n\n“Eleanor believes in the untold potential of every human.”\n\n\n\nEleanor, training director\n\nEleanor is known for creating sacred space, powerful facilitation, and weaving self growth inquiry into all that she does. Her extensive academic education in psychology and experience as a Board Certified Structural Integrator were ignited by an earnest desire to understand the body/mind continuum and self. A radical visionary and conscious entrepreneur, she is the Executive Director of BodyWise Institute. Eleanor also founded a nonprofit and sister organization, BodyWise Foundation, dedicated to serving trauma recovery, training, and education.\n\n\n\n\n“rae is known for her mastery holding space for others.”\n\n\n\nRae, training director\n\nRae’s yogic journey began during chemo and surgical treatment for stage three melanoma. Yoga offered her a release from the anxiety in her body/mind. She offers this release to her students through music, movement, and body awareness. Her extensive yoga education includes 1,000 hr Yoga Therapist, and working on staff at the Nosara Yoga Institute 200 hr yoga teacher trainings.\n\nShe owns a thriving web development company in New York, is a classically trained pianist, and loves being behind her camera.\n\nTraining Objectives\n\nIn a restorative yoga practice, we open the aperture of our awareness, and we access a state of potency. Through lecture, group discussion, and practicum you will learn how to guide yourself and others into a deeper state of being.\n\nPathways to this deeper state include supported postures, pranayama, and meditation; the nervous system is regulated,  and we are able to rest and digest life. Measurable results of relaxation include reduction of stress, trauma symptoms, blood pressure, muscle tension, and fatigue, and improvement of immune function// digestion.\n\nThis training program provides the foundation to invoke the body’s natural state. You will learn:\n\n●  How to confidently guide students through a full restorative class or incorporate restorative states into other yoga classes\n\n●  The creative art of using props\n\n●  How to intelligently sequence a series that will initiate relaxation, healing, and release\n\n●  The biology and anatomy of pranayama (breath)\n\n  • The neurology of a conscious breath\n  • The neurology of body scanning\n\n●  The anatomy of nervous system\n\n●  The biology of hormonal systems\n\n●  Introduction to assisting\n\n  • Introduction to trauma, what is it, how does it occur, and how is it stored somatically?\n\n●  Science of the Relaxation Response theory\n\n  • How restorative practices support regulation of the nervous system\n\n●  What is it to restore? How is it different than resting, meditating or sleeping?\n\nPost course requirements for certification: \n\n  • Lead 5 restorative classes (minimum three attendees per class)\n  • Read Waking the Tiger: Healing Traum by Peter A. Levine, PhD, and provide a page summary\n  • Choose an area of the Anatomy curriculum that interests you and write a one-half to one page write up\n\nTraining Schedule\n\nFriday 4-8pm\n\nSaturday 10:30-6:30pm\n\nSunday 9-5pm", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8699811697006226}
+{"content": "Street lights in Marrakesh\n\nFirst holiday in Marrakech\n\nMarrakech is far more than a city. Marrakech isn’t an old city completely. There are lots of things to do in Marrakech which are past the imagination of the tourists. You can not predict what will surprise you when you ...\n\n0 ShareMore\n\nMarrakech Cultural Tour\n\nMarrakech has unique Souqs, the craftsmen have been performing their wonders for centuries in the Medina (old city). Most of the shops at the medina are open between 10 am and 7 pm daily except on Friday afternoon. In Ville ...\n\n0 ShareMore\n\nMorocco Souvenirs\n\nMorocco is known for its stunning cultural heritage and craft traditions, out of Berber rugs to colorful silk embroidery. Here is what souvenirs you have to bring home if you are planning to go to Morocco. Artisanal Soaps With herbs ...\n\n0 ShareMore\n\nMarrakech points of interest\n\nMarrakech, not like other cities, is a pearl in North Africa, founded in the 11th century. Its Medina has a unique history, which can only be explored in this superb town. Marrakech is one of the imperial cities of Morocco ...\n\n0 ShareMore", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9945113062858582}
+{"content": "Singing Healthily\n\nLet’s talk about vocal health and fitness\n\n\nVocal health and fitness are two incredibly important things to pay attention to when you begin your vocal journey. There are many rules you’ll need to follow if you want to stay fit for performance.\n\nRule #1\n\nIf it hurts don’t do it! This may seem simple and obvious but many people develop habits that can be very harmful to their voice especially when attempting high pop music. Many famous singers such as Sam Smith, Adele, Meghan Trainor, and Justin Timberlake have developed problems that were serious enough to need surgery (source). This is from improper technique and overuse. Now if you’re famous then you can afford to fix these issues though I’m sure it is still an unpleasant experience. Avoid anything straining and stop singing when your voice gets tired or hurts.\n\nRule #2\n\nDrink a lot of water! The vocal folds need proper moisture to be able to work without causing injury. Drinking water as you’re singing or right before isn’t enough. You need to stay hydrated throughout the whole day. Authority Nutrition recommends using the 8×8 rule, which is 8 glasses of 8 ounce glasses per day. Others recommend halving your weight and drinking that many ounces. You also want to avoid things like soda, acidic or sugary juices, alcoholic drinks, tomatoes, spicy food, and some people say milk. Acidic food and drink cause acid re-flux and heartburn issues while singing, and dairy can cause extra phlegm to build up in the throat. If you are drinking while singing drink room temperature water so that your voice stays warm and loose. Try not to drink too much though because it can wash away important mucus that your vocal chords need to protect themselves.\n\nRule #3\n\nBe mindful of your speaking voice. Believe it or not but speaking can actually be more strenuous on your voice than singing. A lot of singing habits are built while you talk. Something called vocal fry is common in many people. Vocal fry is that low crackly part of your voice that you feel in the top of your throat and happens to most people in the morning or when your sick. It is one of the most damaging things you can do to your vocal folds and will make all singing really tough on you. Try doing high sighs and yawns in the morning if you start to feel that fry creeping in. Or just try speaking in a high part of your voice and it should start to mitigate. Avoid shouting and raising your voice for extended periods of time. Parties and concerts are the worst times to talk to people. If you are in a job that requires a lot of talking make sure you’re breathing well because it will help you stay in good vocal placement and save those chords!\n\nRule #4\n\nTake a break from vocal activity. Many singers will take a vocal rest period for a day or so where they avoid talking or singing all day as best they can and just let the vocal folds recover. That way they can rebuild themselves and be in perfect singing shape.\n\nRule #5\n\nPractice makes permanent! When you practice make sure you are practicing every thing with good healthy technique because if you have practiced one part over and over in an unhealthy way then you will be singing that part unhealthily over and over. I’ve never liked the phrase practice makes perfect. Instead it should be perfect practice makes perfect. \n\nRule #6\n\nBreathe! Practice breathing. Focus on good posture and breathing in a way that expands your rib-cage. Nothing too high so that your shoulders move or too low so that your belly looks pregnant. If you’re having trouble with a part of your music and it feels stressed or pained then try adding more breath you’ll be amazed at how many things it can help.\n\nRule #7\n\nExercise! This one might seem unnecessary but singing requires a lot of fitness. You need to develop lung capacity so that you’re not getting out of breath while on stage or wherever you are performing. Having your body in shape will help you keep your stamina while you’re performing so that you can do those long performances.\n\nRule #8\n\nPractice, practice, practice. Make it a habit to sing every day at least 30 minutes each day and you’ll start feeling all those benefits quickly and maintain all your good vocal habits that you are working on. It is okay to take a day off every so often of course but if you stop for too long then you’ll break the habit.\n\nUse these rules and I promise you that you will start to notice a big difference in your voice and even your overall health. Singing is not just about impressing your friends or becoming famous but it is a way of life! Singing leads to happiness, healthiness, and spreading joy and emotion to all those around you.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8181557655334473}
+{"content": "AgVA Startup Assistance Program\n\n\nMany young companies lack the experience to know what is necessary to go from an idea to a commercial product.  In urban areas there are usually a number of resources to help guide them through uncharted seas but in rural areas many times these resources are lacking.  Ag Ventures Alliance's (AgVA'S) Startup Assistance Program is designed to get them the resources necessary to become a viable business \"as soon as possible\".\n\nEligible Applicants\n\nIn order for companies to be eligible for assistance under the Startup Assistance Program it must:\n\na.  Have revenues of less than $500,000 over the previous 12 month period and must be less than five years old, based on the date of incorporation.\n\nb.  In addition, to be eligible companies must provide products or services that are directly connected with agriculture.\n\nEligible Activities\n\nEligible activities under the Startup Assistance Program include:\n\na.  Business development consulting services.  Such services may include but are not necessarily limited to the following: skill building, mentoring, market research, pro forma development, general business startup expenses and out-of-pocket expenses.\n\nb.  AgVA staff may provide services included in paragraph \"a\" above.  Services may also be provided by outside consultants.  Consultants may be members of Ag Ventures Alliance but may also be others not directly affiliated with AgVA.\n\nSelection Process\n\n1.  The AgVA Startup Committee will make selections for the Startup Assistance Program.  The committee will use the following criteria to make its decision:\n\na.  Founder/Management experience\nb.  Will the product work and will it have a significant impact on the market?\nc.  The size of market for the product.\nd.  Potential benefit to U.S. agriculture.\ne.  Potential benefit to AgVA members.\nf.  Other business factors such as margins, barriers to entry and competitive landscape.\n\n2.  A company may apply for funds multiple times but the cumulative amount received by one company may generally not exceed $20,000.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9970853924751282}
+{"content": "WASHINGTON -- Around midnight on Jan. 30, 1968, Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army troops began a massive surprise attack on U.S., South Vietnamese and allied forces across South Vietnam.\n\nThe Tet Offensive, as it came to be known, was actually a three-phase campaign, lasting from Jan. 30 - March 28, May 5 - June 15 and Aug. 17 - Sept. 23.\n\n\"The event really defined the course of the rest of the [Vietnam] war and how it ended, which was a pretty inglorious ending,\" said former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel.\n\nHagel, who was with the 47th Infantry Regiment in Vietnam during Tet, spoke at the \"Vietnam: The Tet Offensive\" panel discussion, Jan. 25, at the National Archives.\n\nThen a 21-year-old private first class, Hagel, just two months in country, said his mechanized infantry unit sustained heavy casualties in the vicinity of Long Binh.\n\nThe attack was a complete surprise, he said. What happened in Long Binh was typical of what was happening across the country.\n\nThe U.S. had completely underestimated the strength of the North Vietnamese Army and Vietcong guerrilla forces from South Vietnam, he said. It came as a shock to the American public and turned public opinion against the war.\n\nOne of the myths of Tet, he said, is that it was a big enemy military victory, he added. It wasn't. \"Our military actually did very well considering.\"\n\nErik B. Villard, a historian with the U.S. Army Center of Military History, said there were other myths about Tet, some of which he wrote about in his Center for Military History book, \"Combat Operations: Staying the Course, October 1967 to September 1968.\"\n\nOne myth, he said, was that the North Vietnamese orchestrated a number of major battles prior to Tet in the autumn of 1967 to draw U.S. forces away from the cities so they would be in a better position to succeed in capturing the urban areas.\n\nThe real story is more interesting, he said. The 1967 battles were local and regional campaigns, planned over the spring and summer of that year.\n\nThe idea for the Tet Offensive did not even occur to the enemy at the time, as their strategic planning process tended to be short-term and at times very chaotic, he said.\n\nAlso, why would they want to launch a major battle in November 1967, just months before Tet when full strength would be needed? There wouldn't be adequate recovery time, he said, noting that the National Archives provided some key documents he used in his research.\n\nA second myth, Villard said, was that Gen. William Westmoreland, the commander of American forces in Vietnam, \"was wedded to this notion of victory through attrition; that the way to succeed was to kill enough of the enemy that you crossed this imaginary threshold and you could just kind of grind your way toward success.\n\n\"Westmoreland deserves far more credit than he's gotten in my view,\" he added.\n\nHe was a shrewd person who understood the value of pacification and cutting enemy supply lines, as he was doing in secret operations to cut the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Villard noted.\n\nA third myth, he said, is that U.S. military policy changed when Westmoreland was replaced by Gen. Creighton Williams Abrams Jr. in June 1968, in the middle of the Tet Offensive.\n\nAbrams and Westmoreland saw mostly eye-to-eye on strategy, he said. The mission continued to be defending bases and lines of communication, as well as air interdiction operations and supporting pacification.\n\nPacification was a term used at the time to denote counterinsurgency operations, which included advise and assist missions and winning over the loyalty of the local population.\n\nPolicy didn't actually change until after mid-1969 when Vietnamization took hold, he said. Vietnamization consisted of drawing down U.S. forces and transferring responsibility to the South Vietnamese forces.\n\nThe buildup of forces into 1968 and the draw down a year later had already been planned on Westmoreland's watch, he said.\n\nMerle L. Pribbenow II, an author specializing in the Vietnam War, with five years of service in Vietnam during the war as a CIA operative, said that a widespread myth was that the Tet Offensive was a well planned and executed enemy attack.\n\nThat's completely false, he said, referencing documents and interviews of NVA and VC commanders after the war.\n\nMany of those generals became bitter with the way they and their units were treated by their own military and political leaders and the high numbers of casualties that resulted, he said.\n\n\"We focus on how we felt Army commanders screwed up and were unprepared. [The North Vietnamese] were saying the exact same things again and again,\" he said.\n\nAfter the war, the Vietnamese did tactical reviews and battle studies, just as the U.S. Army did, to learn lessons and assess strengths and weaknesses, he noted.\n\nThe takeaway from that assessment, he said, was that the communists acknowledged that a lot of the poor decision-making during Tet resulted from underestimating U.S. military response, as well as the loyalty of the South Vietnamese people.\n\nLike the Americans, the communists also inflated their own body counts, minimized their failures and exaggerated their accomplishments, he said.\n\nThe biggest problem, he added, was that shortcomings were not reported up the chain of command and authorities refused to listen to subordinates.\n\nAs a result of the assessment, he said the military leadership of Vietnam decided on a new approach. From then on, leaders were instructed to encourage subordinates to tell the truth, even if it wasn't something they wanted to hear or went against their own thinking.\n\nGregory Daddis, an associate professor of history and director of Chapman University's Master of Arts program in War and Society, said another myth was that the U.S. media was to blame for the lack of political will after the Tet Offensive.\n\nThere's a tendency, he said, to find someone to blame when a bad outcome occurs.\n\nLooking back 50 years ago to the Tet Offensive gives everyone an opportunity to gain a better perspective on everything that took place, he said.\n\nAn important takeaway from Tet, he said, is that sometimes military action might not be the best tool in all situations to achieve the desired political effect.\n\nHagel added that \"in the end, war is determined not by military might but by the support of the people. We found ourselves on the wrong side of that.\"\n\nHe concluded: \"The sacrifices made by over 56,000 Americans who lost their lives and hundreds of thousands of individuals who were wounded, and all who served, were never really given much recognition for an assignment they didn't choose. But they served and they served honorably, and did what their country asked them to do. And I think that's a part of this story that needs to be told more often.\"", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9582101106643677}
+{"content": "-By Yakub Aliyu\n\n“All politics is local.”\n\n\nIt is evident that PDP factionalization at the national level had severely refracted on the State chapter. Up to a point during the electioneering, there was uncertainty as to who exactly was the PDP candidate. Moreover, the primaries that produced the INEC recognized PDP candidate was also contentious. The PDP, therefore, went into the race as a divided house and severely weakened.\n\nOn the other hand, despite the initial post-primaries bad feelings that greeted the emergence of the APC candidate, the APC was able to strongly reunite and forge ahead, going into the election as a united family.\n\n\nThe Oshiomhole factor has three dimensions. (i) The Oshiomhole personality and connection to the masses; (ii) the phenomenal and unprecedented performance of his government in the provision of infrastructure; and (iii) the incumbency advantage. These combined to make Oshiomhole the only issue/factor during the campaigns. All messages by the two sides of the divide(APC and PDP) were all orchestrated around what Oshiomhole has done or not done, and nothing else. The whole campaign was framed as: “PDP versus Oshiomhole.” And in a way, that was PDP’s undoing.\n\nPolitical scientists estimate the incumbency effect to be about 60%. The APC with incumbency power of a strong personality that performed creditably over the last eight years was already almost 60 points ahead of the opposition even before the whistle was blown. In the same vein, a shuttle survey on the popularity of key politicians in APC and PDP in Edo State indicated that only Oshiomhole maintained his popularity at above 75% from the last presidential election. Others including the PDP candidate showed a vast waning acceptance as a politician.\n\n\nTypically, in an open election, challengers who had held elective offices (Senators, members of House, Chairmen of Local Government, etc.) are often stronger contenders. In the case of the PDP, both the candidate and his running mate have not had such advantage. However, whereas the incumbency advantage backed the APC candidate, his running mate too had come along with the advantage of being a serving member of the House of Representatives. Moreover, this is the first time the PDP candidate was contesting an election ad worst as opposition. A lower challenger quality always leads to higher incumbent vote margin according to some studies based on the US experience.\n\n\nTwo geopolitical zones have clear voter loyalty in Edo state (Edo North tilting to the APC, and Edo Central towards the PDP, leaving the Edo South as the ostensible battleground. Incidentally, Edo North where APC had strong voter loyalty is electorally stronger that Edo central, hence, from the onset, APC has a clear advantage. All that the APC needed was to go for the worst scenario in the battleground by aiming at a 50:50 split and hence, have a comfortable win. Still, in Edo South, voter loyalty was somewhat secured by the visible infrastructure development in the densely populated areas of the zone. Hence, it was inconceivable that with all the “local politics” involved the PDP could have electorally upset the APC in that particular zone.\n\n\nRather than blaming APC for electoral infractions I would argue that APC did not utilize its advantages effectively during the recently concluded governorship elections in Edo State. Perhaps due to the liberal electoral atmosphere provided by PMB and partly due to complacency on the part of APC the PDP had been able to make a mark.\n\nHowever, beyond the electoral numbers, we should not lose sight of the fact that there were objective factors that made a PDP win far-fetched and made possible the APC victory in the just concluded Edo State governorship election. An appreciation of these factors would allow us to place the outcome in its proper perspective beyond the brickbats now going on between the two major contending camps.\n\nDisclaimer: Please seek the analytical advice of professional political scientists before swallowing my analysis. Now, let us hear from the experts on political/electoral behaviour.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7621628642082214}
+{"content": "Πέμπτη, 20 Σεπτέμβριος 2018 13:40\n\nStunning pictures of Kefalonia from above\n\nAmazing aerial photos from southern Kefalonia , Spartia , Pessada , Lourdas and Avithos .\n\n\nAs one of the largest islands in Greece, it is well-equipped to handle the influx of tourists during the summertime and it has something to offer to everyone.\n\nKefalonia is an island with numerous beaches for all preferences. Beaches crowded or isolated, with sand or pebbles, organized or not. Certainly, every beach on the island is a different magic picture and whatever choice you make the experience will stay engraved in your memory.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7688416242599487}
+{"content": "Vietnam - Population\n\nThe population of Vietnam in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 81,377,000, which placed it as number 13 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In that year approximately 6% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 31% of the population under 15 years of age. There were 99 males for every 100 females in the country in 2003. According to the UN, the annual population growth rate for 2000–2005 is 1.35%, with the projected population for the year 2015 at 94,742,000. The low growth rate is due to extensive family planning programs aimed to curb overpopulation. The population density in 2002 was 240 per sq km (622 per sq mi).\n\nIt was estimated by the Population Reference Bureau that 20% of the population lived in urban areas in 2001. The capital city, Hanoi, had a population of 1,074,000 in that year. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest urban area with a population of 3,678,000. According to the United Nations, the urban population growth rate for 2000–2005 was 2.2%.\n\nAlso read article about Vietnam from Wikipedia\n\nUser Contributions:\n\n\n\nFollow Founder\non our Forum or Twitter", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.537929892539978}
+{"content": "Magnificent mallards provide much entertainment at Murray’s Cauld\n\nThe riverside birds have fallen strangely silent as the season moves from breeding to moulting. Usually this takes place unseen in the dense undergrowth, safe from predators, while flight is impaired and to save any unnecessary embarrassment while not looking their best!\n\nMallards suffer no such vanity, as on my patch of Ettrick Water, a motley crew of around a dozen mallards congregate in the shallows near a gravel bank to moult and bathe. They are hard to recognise as mallards if it wasn’t for their partially green heads and bright blue speculums. They are mainly drakes and spend days like this, lazing around and splashing at the water’s edge, while the females struggle to raise their brood. During late summer ducks moult synchronously, or lose and replace all of their feathers in a short period of time. Synchronous moulting renders ducks flightless during a portion of this time thus at a greater risk to predators, until the new feathers come in. Losing and replacing all of one’s feathers can take up to two weeks. The new feathers are drab in colour and considered a duck’s basic plumage. In the early spring, just as the breeding season gets underway, a partial loss of feathers happens, when the male ducks put on their alternate “Sunday best” plumage.\n\nA female of another species provided lots of entertainment at Murray’s Cauld on the river one day last week. A goosander with a brood of eleven fluffy “humbugs” arrived in the pool at the foot of the weir. The plan was to go further upstream, so mum jumped the foot high step between the water and the dry apron of the weir, with the intention of walking them up to the pool above. She stopped half way and could be seen calling to them to hurry up. First one tried the herculean leap then another, but it was obviously too high. The obvious solution was to take them up nearer the far side, where rocks were piled up against the apron and they could just walk up, but the problem there was that a hungry heron was standing guard. Eventually, the heron flew off and that is the route they took and all reached the top safely.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7228090763092041}
+{"content": "Our Mission\n\nWell over 100 million crayons are thrown out every year by more than 15,000 family style restaurant chains across the United States.\n\nThe Need\n\nMillions of young children do not have access to artistic opportunities, both within the US and internationally. In addition, thousands of youth in the United States and beyond want to make a difference in their community, but do not know how.\n\nWhat We Do\n\nThrough our dedicated all-youth team, the Color My World Project (CMW) collects discarded crayons from restaurants across the country and donates them to schools, childcare centers, shelters, and orphanages in need. Often, when our team-members donate a batch of crayons, they spend time coloring with the kids and teaching them about the importance of recycling and reducing waste. One crayon at a time, CMW links children, teenagers, restaurants, patrons, and organizations in need in a community-wide effort to reduce waste and inspire creativity.\n\nWhy We Do It\n\nPresident Obama made the point in his 2012 State of the Union address that teachers often have to pay out-of-pocket for school supplies. We do not think that is right. By donating crayons, CMW is giving children additional artistic opportunities and lessening the burden on teachers while simultaneously reducing thousands of pounds of landfill waste.\n\nHow It Helps\n\nThrough this process CMW team members find a passion for service and learn how to run a social venture while also becoming role models and inspiring other youth to engage themselves in the community. Franchising social change, CMW creatively utilizes technology with a \"tool kit\" available on the CMW website so that new volunteers can train online and independently manage their outreach. CMW's goal is to create a new generation of changemakers with skills in negotiation, direct marketing, and collaboration within the realm of social entrepreneurship and beyond.\n\nTo expand our outreach, CMW has created a coloring book (thanks to a few team members and an artist) that we are donating to shelters and schools across the country. The coloring book will provide kids with the opportunity to learn about recycling while having fun and expressing themselves. Crayons can help stimulate children's imaginations and nurture their dreams.\n\nWith Color My World, we will color outside the lines and together draw a picture for a better future!\n\nWhen CMW representatives came to the Center to present...the children noticed the name of the restaurant on the crayons, which sparked their interest in the crayons. The relationship between the crayons and the popular restaurant stimulated a conversation with the children about recycling. This provided a good discussion topic for the children and served as a good socialization tool for the classroom. Later on in the week, the class talked more about recycling, using plastic bags as an example of something that could be recycled for other purposes.\"\n\n- Rosemount Center Teacher\n\nWhen Gawan visited the Evergreen School...he spoke to our students and explained the importance of preserving our natural resources and ways we can all do our part. Gawan showed our students that even teenagers can make a big difference. And he even left us...900 crayons and a set of coloring books!\"\n\n- John DeMarchi, Head of School at the Evergreen School\n\nJoin Us Today!\n\nYour Name*\n\nYour Email*", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7568469047546387}
+{"content": "“Apodixi please”\n\nThe Greek campaign to inform the tourists that visit the country\n\nGreece is serious in trying to win the and tax evasion and launched a campaign to “train” the tourists that visit the country on how they can ask for a receipt.\n\nWelcome to Greece!\n\nThis message aims to inform you about your consumer rights in our country. Under Greek law, all hotels, restaurants, bars, cafés, car rentals and, in general, almost all suppliers of goods and services (with a few exceptions, such as taxi drivers and kiosks) are obliged to accept debit, credit or prepaid cards.\n\nTherefore, you do not need to pay in cash. You can ask to pay by card.\n\nFurthermore, all suppliers of goods and services are obliged to issue receipts to their customers. Consumer is not obliged to pay, in cash or by card, if he/she is not provided with a valid payment receipt (“apódixi”).\n\nRestaurants, bars, cafés, stores, mini markets and in general, almost all suppliers of goods are obliged to have electronic cash registers and are not allowed to issue receipts that are handwritten or printed in regular paper.\n\nFor those exempt from the obligation to have an electronic cash register (namely certain suppliers of services, such as hotels, clinics, doctors, lawyers etc), receipts, which in most cases are printed, must contain the name, address and the 9digit tax identification number (ΑΦΜ) of the supplier.\n\nSo in all cases, before you pay you have the right to ask for a receipt and you are not obliged to pay if you don’t get one. It’s so simple to say in Greek: “Apódixi please”!\n\nOne more thing. By using your card for your payments and asking for a receipt, you help the Greek Tax Administration collect taxes that are already included in the price you pay. Practically, you contribute to Greece’s financial recovery and offer us the opportunity to provide you with even better services next time you come to our country.\n\nEnjoy your stay!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9396145939826965}
+{"content": "5 Lessons Learned: Maintenance\n\nKnow More About The Different Types Of Building Materials And Their Uses\n\nWhen we say building materials, we are actually referring to those products that are used for the purpose of constructing homes as well as other buildings and establishment. When it comes to the construction of homes, there are actually quite a number of things that you have to know about it such as the fact that there are different types of materials that are used for it. As a matter of fact, we want you to know that the materials that are utilized for the purpose of building a home or a building in another country depends on the climatic condition of the place as this way, they can guarantee the strength and the durability of what they are constructing.\n\nSince we have already mentioned above building materials, what we can tell you here is that they are separated under two categories which are the synthetic materials and the natural materials. If you are wondering what makes synthetic materials different from natural materials, well, that is due to the fact that the latter are those that have been originated naturally while the first are those that are made from the hands of man.\n\nIn order for you to know the materials that are commonly used during the construction of homes and commercial buildings, in this article, we will write down all these materials for you to know and better understand.\n\nWhat we will be introducing ton you first as one of the most commonly used material for constructing both commercial buildings and establishment as well as homes is the mud and clay. You may not believe it but it is actually true that both of these materials are used to build homes and commercial establishments. As a matter of fact, mud and clay are considered as the most suitable constructing materials for places that are warm since they keep the interior as cool as it can be. Yes, it may be true that clay and mud is not as strong and as sturdy as concrete buildings but what makes it advantageous is the fact that it can last for a long time.\n\nAnother building material that we have here in our list which we want you to be aware of is glass and glass is a very notable material since they are commonly used for constructing large mansions and offices too. Since we are already living in this modern and technologically advanced world, we can now see the rise in the number of buildings that are made from glass and the increase in their number is due to the availability of different types of glass in the market. Several types of glasses that you can find available today in the market consist of frosted glass, glass that are colored, stained glass and a whole lot more.\n\nDoing Repairs The Right Way\n\nDiscovering The Truth About Maintenance", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5304749011993408}
+{"content": "John James Audubon\n\nA closer look at the man for which the National Audubon Society is named. \n\n(April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851)\n\nEarly Life\n\nJean-Jacques Audubon was born in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) on his father's sugar plantation. He was the illegitimate  son of Lieutenant Jean Audubon, a French naval officer and his mistress Jeanne Rabine, a 27-year-old French chambermaid. They named the boy Jean Rabin.��His mother died when the boy was a few months old, as she had suffered from tropical disease since arriving on the island.\n\nThe senior Audubon in 1789 sold part of his plantation in Saint-Domingue and purchased a 284-acre farm called Mill Grove, 20 miles from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to diversify his investments. Rising unrest in Saint-Domingue convinced Jean Audubon to return to France. In 1791 he arranged for John to be delivered to him in France.\n\nJohn was raised in Coueron, near Nantes, France, by Audubon and his wife Anne Moynet Audubon, whom he had married years before. In 1794 they formally adopted John to regularize his legal status. They renamed the boy Jean-Jacques Fougère Audubon. When Audubon, at age 18, boarded ship for immigration to the United States in 1803, he changed his name to an anglicized form: John James Audubon.\n\n\n\nComing to America\n\nIn 1803, his father obtained a false passport so that Audubon could go to the United States to avoid conscription in the Napoleonic Wars. John James Audubon arrived in the United States at the age of 18. Upon his arrival, he spent a majority of his time roaming the wooded hills along the Perkiomen Creek and the Schuylkill River hunting, observing, collecting and sketching. It was during this period that he experienced early stirrings of a fascination for wildlife that was to become his all-absorbing life interest. Inspired and captivated by his new surroundings, Audubon became a pioneer in portraying birds and other wildlife in natural settings. During his time at Mill Grove he built a substantial base of interest in ornithological art, and his experimentation resulted in the rapid development of his skills as an artist.\n\nWhile at Mill Grove he made many drawings and performed the first recorded experiment of bird banding in America. He also developed his “wire armature,” a device that gave life to his freshly shot specimens and his drawings of the birds. This unique method of holding his specimens put him years ahead of his contemporaries. Many believe that in spite of the advantages of photography and state-of-the-art technology, no modern bird painter has equaled his achievements.\n\nMaking Nature Come Alive\n\nAudubon's place in history was assured by the way in which he forever changed how birds were illustrated. While replicating physical features with uncanny veracity, he incorporated narrative elements and aesthetic touches that not only made birds come alive in their natural environments, but also lifted the images to the status of fine art.\n\nHis famous Birds of America stands out as Audubon's crowning achievement. These 453 life-sized paintings of north American birds were remarkable for their accuracy of color and realism. After the publication of Birds of America, Audubon issued a highly successful, smaller 7-volume octavo edition. He also compiled an important work documenting mammals; The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America. That collection comprised 150 hand-colored lithographs in 3 volumes.\n\nIn addition to his artistic talents, Audubon was a prolific writer. His journals and Bird Biographies documented his observations of the land that he traveled during the first half of the 19th century, as well as the people of the emerging American nation.\n\nThe Home and Family\n\nAt the age of 20, Audubon gained his father's approval to marry Lucy Bakewell, daughter of William Bakewell, an Englishman who owned Fatland Ford, an estate that adjoined to Mill Grove. After their marriage in 1808, the Audubons moved to Kentucky. Lucy Bakewell was a tower of strength to her husband while he struggled to find his calling. During the time that Audubon traveled about as a portrait painter, music and fencing instructor and eventually, painter of the Birds of America, Lucy remained at home. She raised their two sons, Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse, and worked intermittently as a teacher.\n\nAudubon's Travels\n\nIn search of his specimens Audubon would travel extensively throughout the country. He would travel as far north as Laborador, Canada. He spent time in Key West and the everglades region of the south. And he would travel as far west as what was at that time the Dakota Territory.  \n\nAudubon's Legacy\n\nAudubon's influence on ornithology and natural history was far reaching. Nearly all later ornithological works were inspired by his artistry and high standards. Charles Darwin quoted Audubon three times in On the Origin of Species  and also in later works. Despite some errors in field observations, he made a significant contribution to the understanding of bird anatomy and behavior through his field notes. Birds of America is still considered one of the greatest examples of book art. Audubon discovered 25 new species and 12 new subspecies.\n\nHere's a great article with even more information regarding the history of John James Audubon.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9543948173522949}
+{"content": "\n\n\nYou've probably heard the food-world adage about how we shouldn’t consume oysters during months that don’t contain the letter 'R.' But does 'R' really stand for risk?\n\nTechnically, yes. Although, when it comes to eating commercially farmed oysters served in restaurants and sold in supermarkets, this old mnemonic can go out the window.\n\nThe idea of not eating oysters during months without an 'R' comes from the fact that the summer months are the prime breeding time for \"red tides,\" or large blooms of algae that grow along the coast and have the tendency to spread toxins that can be absorbed by shellfish, including oysters. This is especially an issue for places with warm water temperatures, and eating locally raised seafood raises your risk of ingesting the toxins.\n\nThat said, commercially harvested seafood—which makes up a majority of the seafood sold in restaurants and supermarkets—is strictly regulated by U.S. law, which ensures it is safe to consume. Many restaurants often increase the size of their safety net by serving commercial oysters from cold-water climates during the months of May, June, July, and August.\n\nSo, while we wouldn’t recommend digging up your own oysters off the coast of Florida for a mid-summer backyard bake, there’s no reason to fear the product sold in stores or served in restaurants within U.S. borders any month of year, 'R' or no 'R.' But in case you prefer to play it safe, September is just around the corner.\n\nA version of this article ran in 2013.\n\nMayochup Is Now an Official Condiment\n\n\nLike it or not, Heinz Mayochup is on its way to a store near you. As Us Weekly reports, bottles of the blended sauce—made from mayonnaise and ketchup, naturally—will be available for purchase later this month.\n\nHeinz's announcement of the condiment back in April was met with mixed reactions. Many were thrilled. Others repulsed. And people from Utah were pretty miffed that Heinz took credit for their beloved \"fry sauce,\" a condiment that was reportedly invented by a local restaurant chain in 1948. (In addition to fries, the ketchup and mayo combo pairs well with burgers and can be used to make a variety of dips.)\n\nMayonnaise haters (we're looking at you, Millennials) may find Mayochup less than appealing, but at least it's better than Heinz's green ketchup, right? Mayochup also seems to be doing well in the United Arab Emirates—the only country where it's currently being sold. In April, Heinz took a poll on social media to see if there was any interest in bringing the condiment stateside, and 500,000 people voted in favor of the move. This week, the company launched another Twitter poll to see if there's similar interest in the UK.\n\nIf you happen to live in Culver City, California; Chicago, Illinois; or Brooklyn, New York, you may have the chance to sample it before anyone else in the country. These cities—preselected by Heinz for being the most \"passionate\" on social media about bringing Mayochup to the U.S.—are in the running to win a \"food truck takeover.\" Free samples of fries and Mayochup will be dished out to passersby and diehard Heinz fans. People are now taking to Twitter to vote (using the template #MayochupYOURCITY), but act fast—voting ends September 18.\n\n[h/t Us Weekly]\n\nHow to Make Classic Chicken Noodle Soup With One Pot\n\n\nChicken noodle soup is the perfect meal to take you out of grilling season and into the days of comforting, cold-weather food. If you've only had chicken soup from your parents' kitchen or out of a can, you might assume the recipe takes more time than it's worth. But a soul-warming dish doesn't have to be labor-intensive: Martha Stewart's take on the recipe can be achieved with just one pot and 20 minutes of active cooking time.\n\nStewart's recipe for one-pot classic chicken noodle soup, from her book One Pot: 120+ Easy Meals from Your Skillet, Slow Cooker, Stockpot, and More, keeps things simple. Start with a whole chicken cut into eight pieces, or about four pounds of separate chicken parts, and add it to a stock pot with four cups of chicken broth, five cups of water, and one teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low, skimming any foam off the surface as you go.\n\nAfter giving the liquid a chance to simmer for five minutes, add your vegetables and aromatics: two sliced onions, four sliced carrots, 12 sprigs of parsley, two sliced celery stalks, and four crushed cloves of garlic. Partially cover the pot and let it simmer for 25 minutes.\n\nOnce the chicken is cooked through, remove it, along with the parsley, from the broth. Toss out the parsley and tear the chicken from the bones until you have about three cups of meat. Bring the broth back to a boil, then add two ounces of angel hair pasta and simmer for five minutes. Add the chicken meat back in and season the soup with salt and pepper to taste.\n\nThis recipe makes about eight servings, which works perfectly as a meal for a crowd or a make-ahead lunch for the week. If you're looking for more low-stress comfort food, check out this recipe for the world's best macaroni and cheese.\n\n[h/t Martha Stewart]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8700921535491943}
+{"content": "Find some interesting photo wallpapers in bedroom and make it a place that will be a place you can focus on rest\n\nRest is a very important factor for everyone of us. It is proved by the fact that everybody is becoming tired and there is nobody that has determination and such health that will be able to work and develop himself 24 hours a day. As a result, it is recommended to find proper balance between working and rest. Despite the fact that it takes some time to get similar discipline, it may help us in the long term with feeling more pleasant for long years.\nin bedroom. Due to them we are given with an possibility to feel like we are in another place. It is proved by the fact that there are more and more designs available in this field. Hence, we may find different wallpapers that contain monuments like Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty etc.\n\n\n\nPhoto wallpaper in bedroom\nCreated by: Sarah Stierch\nEquipping a new house is thought to be a relatively hard task. Nonetheless, for many people it offers significant amount of fun. It is implied by the fact that we can choose from diverse alternatives. What is more, we need to here also remember that it requires a broad imagination if we would like to make a proper composition.\n\nAnother attractive fact referred to photo wallpapers in bedroom is that they are in general believed to be pretty simple in implementation. This proves that we do not need to have expert abilities in the topic of construction etc. in order to make it correctly. What is more, it takes significantly less time than inter alia painting the whole room. In case of painting there is also a significant probability that if we are not sufficiently concentrated, we might make it pretty bad, which would also inappropriately influence the result. (\n\nCreated by:\nTo conclude, we have to keep in mind that concerning photo wallpapers in bedroom there is a great amount of positive aspects that are offered for the people who are interested in this solution. One of the most influential examples is that owing to picking it we are provided with an occasion to feel in our bedroom like in a place we have always desired to be without paying great expenses.\n18-07-12 02:41\nDo góry", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9370701313018799}
+{"content": "Boomfit Calorie Calaculation\n\nPaleo Diet Pros Vs Cons Sep 1, 2013. As interest in the Paleo Diet grows exponentially, it is evolving into more of a Lifestyle than a Diet. When people ask: “What are the Pros and. Jan 2, 2017. For as long as weight loss propaganda and tips of how to lose body fat have circulated the internet the paleo diet\n\nThe number of calories you burn while walking depends on different factors, including your weight, pace, terrain, and more. Calories burned walking. Calculator. Most calculators you find.\n\n\nHow you calculate Calories for your food product depends largely on where you will sell your product and the laws governing the food labeling in that country or region. This blog will cover the Calorie calculation methods used in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the European Union.\n\nCalorie Intake Calculator. The Natural Life Energy calorie calculator to calculate a recommended amount of calories to take in daily.\n\nOur calorie calculator shows your calorie needs per day in kCal per day (or Calories per day, as it is often called in common language), which is the amount of calories you require if you want to preserve maintain your weight.\n\nOur nutrition calculator has the McDonald’s menu nutrition information you’re seeking. Learn more about your favorite meals.\n\nExcel Calorie Counter With Recipe Calculator: Same features as basic Excel Calorie Counter, plus a Recipe Calculator –calculate nutrients per serving in your favourite recipes, and add those to the Food List. The zipped file is in xlsm format and contains macros. Enable macros when you open the file, so the Save Data button will work.\n\nAlcohol Calorie Calculator. Find out the number of beer and hard alcohol calories you are consuming. Simply enter the number of each drink you have in an average week, click ‘Calculate’ and see the number of calories alcohol adds up for you in a.\n\nToday we will present the basic formulas that are used to estimate calorie requirements for your dog and provide some specific examples as reference points. figure out how many calories to feed your dog to get them to their desired weight is to use their desired weight in the calorie calculation.\n\nAtkins Diet Affiliate Program Losing weight is so hard for so many, but Atkins 40 helps make the process a little easier! I followed the Atkins meal plan for 7 days and discovered that low carb does mean a lower number on the scale. Print a sample plan of Kim Kardashian’s Atkins 40 diet. Join one of the fastest-growing,\nHilarie Burton Weight Loss Apr 26, 2016. Female. |. Hilarie Burton Height and Weight Stats. Hilarie-Burton-Esquire- Magazine-Me-in-My-Place-. Hilarie Burton was born in Sterling, Virginia. Her father is a. Chrissy Metz Amazing Weight Loss Using Diet. April 18. Feb 25, 2018. Actress, Hilarie Burton, is expecting her second child with Jeffrey. and there is no doubt that she will quickly\n\nThe widely-accepted science behind the weight loss calculator is: One pound of mostly-fat body weight is the equivalent of 3,500 calories of either food or exercise. The appropriate amount of calories to cut from your diet is between 20% and 40% of your normal calorie requirement.\n\nCALORIE BURN CALCULATOR. THIS CALCULATOR IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES AND HAS NO SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT AND DOES NOT CLAIM TO BE ACCURATE. However, I have spent a considerable amount of time trying to make the results close to other charts on the internet. Weight: Lbs: Pace: min/mile:\n\nJul 16, 2018  · Expert Reviewed. How to Calculate Your Total Daily Calorie Needs. Two Parts: Calculating Your Total Calorie Needs Using Your Total Calorie Needs to Manage Your Health Community Q&A A calorie is a unit of energy that your body uses to function and perform daily life sustaining activities. The calories you eat from foods.\n\nLearn how to calculate how many calories you burn doing different kinds of exercise. It’s a helpful part of meeting your weight loss goals. Calculate How Many Calories You Burn During Exercise By Paige Waehner. Updated August 17, 2018 Pin Flip Email. To use this \"calories burned exercising\" calculator, you’ll need to pick your.\n\nRecipe analyzer. Paste your recipe here. Ingredients. Copy & paste (one per line) or use Sample recipe. Servings: Analyze recipe. Recipe calorie calculator – get personalized and detailed nutrition facts for any recipe. Just copy & paste a list of ingredients from any website of your choice or see sample recipe report.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9304375648498535}
+{"content": "What are we to do with someone like Kent Anthony Clemens?\n\nOn July 21, Clemens called 911 in Topeka to say he had robbed a bank in Williston, N.D., three days earlier. He wanted law officers to come arrest him. He told them he had made a mistake and was suffering from a guilty conscience.\n\nHow should the criminal justice system deal with him, assuming it’s true he robbed the bank? He then would be guilty of a crime, which calls for punishment — presumably a long prison sentence.\n\nOn the other hand, he is saving society a great deal of time and expense by \"fessing up.\" We — we being society — won’t have to pay dozens of law officers to try to find the guilty party, an investigation that might go on for weeks before it goes into the cold case file.\n\nWe’ll free up a judge — maybe more than one judge if there is an appeal — and a dozen or more jurors to do more productive things. Shouldn’t he receive some degree of clemency for that?\n\nThen there’s the fact that he got only $700 in the robbery, a relatively small amount compared with high profile bank robberies. And why did he do it? Was he starving and broke, or did he find a new cellphone he wanted to buy? In other words, was he a person likely to go on committing crimes out of greed?\n\nThe ramifications of the story help explain why law books are so thick. The details of specific incidents vary so much, it would be unfair to impose cookie-cutter punishments for each type of crime.\n\nFew details of the incident have been made public so far. The details likely will come out as the case moves through the courts.\n\nThere are things we want to know before offering an opinion on his punishment. Does he have a long criminal history? If so, throw the book at him. Did he give himself up, hoping for clemency, because he thought the law was closing in on him? If so, our gratitude to him for giving himself up is diminished.\n\nBecause of Clemens’ act we are learning some nuances of the justice system.\n\nWe learned, for example, from Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller, that it isn’t unusual for people to commit crimes, then confess later because of a guilty conscience.\n\n\"But it is unusual to rob a bank and then call 911 in an attack of conscience,\" Miller said.\n\nMichael Kaye, a Washburn University School of Law professor, added, \"The chief says people do that, and that’s significant.\"\n\nHe said if Clemens receives any consideration for surrendering to the law, it likely would come before any trial. He said prosecuting attorneys might file lesser charges against him than they might have done otherwise.\n\nAnd despite arguments made by some, punishment for crime does indeed serve as a deterrent to others thinking of committing a similar crime, at least in some cases.\n\nHe said that seems to be the case with non-violent crimes. Violent crimes tend to take place in the heat of passion when rational thinking is put in the background.\n\nThe message then is: Let the punishment fit the crime, as Gilbert and Sullivan suggested in song.\n\nMembers of The Capital-Journal editorial advisory board are Gregg Ireland, Mike Hall, Fred Johnson, Ray Beers Jr., Garry Cushinberry, Joyce Martin, John Stauffer, Frank Ybarra, Sally Zellers and Steven Clary.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.765438437461853}
+{"content": "If dissertation proposition assistance is needed – check out professional services plus don’t spend time\n\n\nWhat is the dissertation proposition?\n\nThe dissertation proposal is an unique, strictly defined type of a scientific work which has a medical and qualitative character and it is ready for public security and receiving a systematic degree custom-writings.net review.\n\nWithin the Great Encyclopedic Dictionary is offered the following definition: “Thedissertation is an investigation paper ready for public defense for the systematic degree”.\n\nOfficially, the next requirements are placed on the dissertation:\n\n  1. 1) systematic scientific studies are completed myself because of the writer;\n  2. 2) the dissertation contains a couple of brand new clinical results and conditions;\n  3. 3) the dissertation posseses an unity that is inner\n  4. 4) the dissertation testifies towards the individual share of this applicant to the development of the medical issue;\n  5. 5) this new solutions proposed by the author are demonstrably stated, reasoned and critically correlated with previously known medical developments;\n  6. 6) brand new author’s choices will be suggested by information sources that testify for this, showing the data obtained from their website.\n  7. 7) the outcomes associated with dissertation research are submitted by the applicant for general public protection.\n\nThe dissertation is a unique scientific work, which includes absolutely nothing in accordance using the lecture, nor because of the propaganda report, nor utilizing the report of the official or public figure, nor with an information message, nor with a popular technology book. The dissertation should be undoubtedly scientific work, developing and enriching science in a particular field of real information, your own contribution of the scientist to technology. Consequently, the dissertator must get a grip on himself in order not to ever end up in the “non-dissertational” genre. Every type of work is vital, but in a particular area.\n\nThe dissertation is one of the most typical kinds of scientific work. At exactly the same time, this is basically the medical work of the strictly defined genre, which, like most clinical or literary genre, possesses its own traits, guidelines, needs. As a systematic work the dissertation must certanly be logical, integral. The prospect must get a handle on himself in order not to ever get into another genre.\n\nThe dissertation could be the work of one individual, his personal share to science.\n\nAssist in determining the research task?\n\nAs stated previously, into the dissertation research tasks are determined, the answer that will enable to appreciate the set systematic goal.\n\nInto the dissertations, the study tasks, their quantity, are determined in numerous methods. Often required ten or even more tasks. According to the most frequent approach, research issues are formulated, in line with the topic of chapters and paragraphs, the substance associated with the issues under consideration.\n\nAid in determining the thing together with topic of research\n\nThere was an alternate comprehension of the thing additionally the topic of research. Consequently, we check out the directories.\n\nAn object is an activity or occurrence that yields an issue situation and it is taken by the researcher to examine. An interest is one thing this is certainly within the framework, inside the boundaries of this object. an item is the fact that an element of the systematic knowledge with that your researcher discounts.\n\nThe main topic of the investigation is the fact that element of the difficulty, exploring which, we will recognize the integral object, highlighting its primary, most crucial features. The main topic of the dissertation research frequently coincides aided by the concept of its topic or perhaps is extremely near it. The thing and topic of research as clinical groups are correlated as basic and particular.\n\nIt is crucial to emphasize that the thing and topic of research, in addition to its goals and tasks, rely not only in the selected topic, but additionally from the explorer’s intention.\n\nIn our viewpoint, the main item could be the item of research (a broader concept), the additional is the thing of research, by which a specific property associated with item of investigation is singled out. Some scientists try not to see a big change within these principles and recognize the thing and subject of research.\n\nSometimes the object and topic of research are determined nearly identically.\n\nAdditionally there are many dissertations where the item and the topic of research are not suggested at all.\n\nHaving determined the topic and object of research, the writer regarding the dissertation should give them an extensive description and usually have them in the process of scientific work.\n\nEmpresas colaboradoras:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6118963956832886}
+{"content": "\n\n\n\nAt every corner a new encounter awaits. We believe one of the most effective ways for our group to process and respond to these experiences is through art. We intentionally set aside time for you to create as you walk the ancient cobblestone streets, sit at a park bench, listen to local musicians at a café, repose in one of the many great cathedrals, lie down in the Tuscan countryside or linger in one of the famous galleries. \n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8309841156005859}
+{"content": "Canada > Ontario > Mississauga : 60k Earth History Trail  \nby vegvet\n\n\nThe way points of this running / walking route:\n\nCurrent Humankind starts journey backward in time meeting up with ancestors.\n\nThe Tasmanian's Tale illustrates the identical ancestors point starting from which all living people trace exactly the same set of ancestors back in time. Eve's Tale touches upon coalescent theory, Mitochondrial Eve, Y-chromosomal Adam and polymorphism. The story ends with a speculation that the ABO blood group system in humans and chimps are examples of trans-specific polymorphism; a type-B human may actually be more closely related to type-B chimp than type-B human is related to type-A human, from the perspective of the genes (or alleles) responsible for the antigens. The Ergast's Tale recounts how a mutated form of the FOXP2 gene could have allowed Homo ergaster to acquire language. The Handyman's Tale explains how Homo habilis acquired high 'brain to body mass ratio', at the same time introducing logarithmic scale and scatterplot as tools for scientific studies. Little Foot's Tale examines how hominid first learned to walk on two legs.\n\n6mya - Rendezvous 1 - Chimpanzees and Bonobos join.\n\nChimpanzee, sometimes colloquially chimp, is the common name for the two extant species of ape in the genus Pan. The Congo River forms the boundary between the native habitat of the two species:[2] Common Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes (West and Central Africa) Bonobo, Pan paniscus (forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Chimpanzees are members of the Hominidae family, along with gorillas, humans, and orangutans. Chimpanzees split from human evolution about 6 million years ago and the two chimpanzee species are the closest living relatives to humans, all being members of the Hominini tribe (along with extinct species of Hominina subtribe). Chimpanzees are the only known members of the Panina subtribe. The two Pan species split only about one million years ago.\n\n7mya - Rendezvous 2 - Gorillas join.\n\nThe Gorilla's Tale considers human's changing attitude towards the great apes, ending with a discussion on racism, speciesism and the Great Ape Project. The closest relatives of gorillas are chimpanzees and humans, all of the Hominidae having diverged from a common ancestor about 7 million years ago.[8] Human genes differ only 1.6% on average from their corresponding gorilla genes in their sequence, but there is further difference in how many copies each gene has.[9] Until recently there was considered to be a single gorilla species, with three subspecies: the Western Lowland Gorilla, the Eastern Lowland Gorilla and the Mountain Gorilla.[10][11] There is now agreement that there are two species with two subspecies each. More recently it has been claimed that a third subspecies exists in one of the species. The separate species and subspecies developed from a single type of gorilla during the Ice Age, when their forest habitats shrank and became isolated from each other.[4] Primatologists continue to explore the relationships between various gorilla populations.[10] The species and subspecies listed here are the ones upon which most scientists agree\n\n14mya - Rendezvous 3 - Orangutans join. Last 'great apes' to join.\n\nThe Orangutan's Tale introduces the principle of parsimony and its use in construction of family tree (cladogram) of species. Orangutan is the last of the great apes to join the pilgrimage. Orangutans are among the most intelligent primates and use a variety of sophisticated tools, also making sleeping nests each night from branches and foliage. They are generally not aggressive and live a mostly solitary life foraging for food. They are the largest living arboreal animals with longer arms than other great apes. Their hair is typically reddish-brown, instead of the brown or black hair typical of other great apes. Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, orangutans are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, though fossils have been found in Java, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Vietnam and China. There are only two surviving species, both of which are endangered: the Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the critically endangered Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii). The subfamily Ponginae also includes the extinct genera Gigantopithecus and Sivapithecus. The word \"orangutan\" comes from the Malay words \"orang\" (man) and \"(h)utan\" (forest); hence, \"man of the forest\".\n\n18mya - Rendezvous 4 - Gibbons join.\n\nThe Gibbon's Tale further elaborates on neighbor-joining, parsimony and textual criticism techniques used to construct cladograms. When simple principle of parsimony proves inadequate to handle 'long branch attraction' problems caused by convergence and reversion, the phylogenetic tree (phylogram) and computational phylogenetic methods such as maximum likelihood analysis are introduced. The tale ends with yet another example of trans-specific polymorphism: sexual dimorphism; the sex-determining SRY has never been in female bodies long since gibbons and humans diverged. This serves to highlight the fact that different phylogenetic trees can be created by tracing different sets of genes; the one mainstream 'species tree' is nothing more than a summary of multitude of gene trees, a 'majority vote' among gene trees. Gibbon is the last ape to join the pilgrimage.\n\n25mya - Rendezvous 5 - Old world monkeys join. 'Drooping nose' Primates.\n\nOld World monkeys, being in the same Catarrhini clade as apes, are closer cousins to apes than to New World monkeys. Old World monkeys are sometimes called the 'tailed apes'. The Old World monkeys or Cercopithecidae are a group of primates, falling in the superfamily Cercopithecoidea in the clade Catarrhini. The Old World monkeys are native to Africa and Asia today, inhabiting a range of environments from tropical rain forest to savanna, shrubland, and mountainous terrain, and are also known from Europe in the fossil record. However, a (possibly introduced) free-roaming group of monkeys still survives in Gibraltar (Europe) to this day. Old World monkeys include many of the most familiar species of non-human primates such as baboons and macaques.\n\n40mya - Rendezvous 6 - New world monkeys join.\n\nThe Howler Monkey's Tale calls attention to the critical role of gene duplication in evolution. While our remote vertebrate ancestors possessed trichromatic vision, our nocturnal, warm-blooded, mammalian ancestors lost one of three cones in the retina at the time of dinosaurs. This is why fish, reptiles and birds are trichromatic while all mammals with the exception of apes and New World monkeys are strictly handicapped dichromats. Because color vision is of paramount importance to diurnal animals that eat ripe fruits, apes and New World monkeys regained tri-color vision independently via chromosomal translocation. In apes, trichromacy resulted from true duplication of the opsin gene. New World monkeys first achieved trichromacy in its female population by producing two alleles (green and red) for the same locus for the opsin gene on the X-chromosome, an example of polymorphism. Its males, with only one copy of the X-chromosome, remained dichromats with either a green or a red opsin, an example of heterozygote advantage. Howler monkeys, a type of New World monkey, took this one step further and achieved trichromacy for both sexes when its X-chromosome gained two loci to house both the green allele and the red allele. New World monkeys are the last simians (also known as 'higher primates' or anthropoids) to join the pilgrimage.\n\n58mya - Rendezvous 7 - Tarsiers join. Last 'dry nosed' Primate to join.\n\nTarsier is the last haplorrhine to join the pilgrimage. A nocturnal animals, the tarsier has two enormous eyes each as large as its brain. Unlike other nocturnal mammals, however, tarsier eyes do not contain tapetum lucidum which reflects light from the back of the eye for a second exposure on the retina to maximize light capture. From this we can infer that the common ancestor of all haplorrhine must have been a diurnal animal which shed the tapetum lucidum to eliminate blurry images caused by reflected light. When the tarsier became a nocturnal animal, it enlarged its eyes to compensate for the lack of tapetum lucidum.\n\n63mya - Rendezvous 8 - Lemurs and bushbabies join.\n\n\n65mya, K-T Event (5th and Last Major) Extinction wiped out 35% of all species including dinosaurs.\n\nCretaceous–Tertiary extinction event (End Cretaceous or K-T extinction) - 70 to 65 Ma at the Cretaceous.Maastrichtian-Paleogene.Danian transition interval.[5] The K–T event is now called the Cretaceous–Paleogene (or K–Pg) extinction event by many researchers. About 17% of all families, 50% of all genera[6] and 75% of species went extinct.[2] In the seas it reduced the percentage of sessile animals to about 33%. The boundary event was severe with a significant amount of variability in the rate of extinction between and among different clads. Mammals and birds emerged as domininant land vertebrates in the age of new life.\n\n70mya - Rendezvous 9 - Colugus and tree shrews (non-primate mammals) join.\n\nThe Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event occurred at 65 million years ago, due to both large scale volcanic activities in the Deccan traps over a period of time, and the final asteroid impact event which created the Chicxulub Crater. The sudden temperature change and sunlight reduction caused massive disruptions to Earth's ecosystem. As a result, all dinosaurs except the birds, as well as numerous other species went extinct. The disappearance of dinosaurs made it possible for many different species of shrew-like, nocturnal insectivores to evolve into hippos, lions, elephants, etc. to fill the new ecological voids, an example of evolutionary radiation. One of these shrew-like creatures was the concestor of the current pilgrimage party and the new joiners, the colugos and tree shrews. The tree shrews resemble the squirrels. The colugos resemble flying squirrels. In both cases, the resemblance is only superficial, due to convergence; the squirrels are rodents and will meet us further down the pilgrimage. At the present, scientists are not yet sure about the exact relationships among the tree shrews, the colugos and us. Dawkins provisionally accepts the view that they join forces first, before meeting the pilgrimage party. This would place our concestor 9 at a time before K-T boundary which marked the extinction of the dinosaurs. The Colugo's Tale warns us that even though the general structure of the family tree is sound, some of the details could change as more evidences become known.\n\n75mya - Rendezvous 10 - Rodents and Rabbitkind join.\n\n\n85mya - Rendezvous 11 - Laurasiatheres join. Dogs, horses, deer, bats, moles & whales.\n\n\n95mya - Rendezvous 12 - Xenarthrans join. 'Strange vertebral joints' unite this group of Armadillos, sloths and anteaters.\n\n\n105mya Rendezvous 13 - Afrotheres join as the last placental mammals\n\n\n140mya - Rendezvous 14 - Marsupials join.\n\n\n180mya - Rendezvous 15 - Monotremes join as the last mammals.\n\nThe monotremes are the last of the mammals to join us, and we meet a concestor for the first time in the then-contiguous supercontinent of Pangea. The monotremes consititutes only a few genera: Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna and Long-beaked echidna. They are mammals and have typical mammalian features such as warm-bloodedness, hair and milk production. But they resemble reptiles and birds in their possession of the cloaca and their egg-laying mode of reproduction. The Duckbill's Tale warns us about the fallacy of labeling a half-mammal and half-reptile animal such as the duckbill platypus as primitive. The platypus has exactly the same time to evolve as the rest of mammals, even if it does resemble our concestor 15 on the surface. In fact, it has evolved a highly developed form of electroreception served by 40,000 electric sensors, and 60,000 mechanical push rods, both on its large bill to aid it in search of crustaceans in the mud. In human, the brain dedicates disproportionally large amount of cells to the two hands as illustrated by the Penfield brain map, or Penfield homunculus. When the same somatotopic map is drawn for platypus brain, the bill is served by equally prominent percentage of the brain.\n\nRiverGrove Community Centre\n\n2.5k - Rest stop; Refreshments; Washrooms\n\nTriassic–Jurassic (3rd Major) extinction event (End Triassic) - 205 Mya\n\nat the Triassic-Jurassic transition. About 23% of all families and 48% of all genera (20% of marine families and 55% of marine genera) went extinct.[6] Most non-dinosaurian archosaurs, most therapsids, and most of the large amphibians were eliminated, leaving dinosaurs with little terrestrial competition. Non-dinosaurian archosaurs continued to dominate aquatic environments, while non-archosaurian diapsids continued to dominate marine environments. The Temnospondyl lineage of large amphibians also survived until the Cretaceous in Australia\n\nPermian–Triassic (3rd Major) extinction event (End Permian) - 251 Ma\n\nthe Permian-Triassic transition. Earth's largest extinction killed 57% of all families and 83% of all genera[6] (53% of marine families, 84% of marine genera, about 96% of all marine species and an estimated 70% of land species) including insects.[7] The evidence of plants is less clear, but new taxa became dominant after the extinction.[8] The \"Great Dying\" had enormous evolutionary significance: on land, it ended the primacy of mammal-like reptiles. The recovery of vertebrates took 30 million years,[9] but the vacant niches created the opportunity for archosaurs to become ascendant. In the seas, the percentage of animals that were sessile dropped from 67% to 50%. The whole late Permian was a difficult time for at least marine life, even before the \"Great Dying\".\n\n310mya- Rendezvouz 16 - Sauropsids (non-mammal chordates) join.\n\nThe pilgrims are about to join their reptile cousins, after marching for 130 million unbroken years from the last mammal concestor 15 who looks like a shrew to the reptile concestor 16 who looks like a lizard. In these 130 million years, mammal-like reptiles flourished, even before dinosaurs roamed the Earth. But like the 99 percent of all species that ever existed, all branches of mammal-like reptiles are now extinct, so they cannot join us in our pilgrimage. The term reptile is not a true clade name, as it fails to include birds which share a common ancestry. The terms reptile and fish are known as grades which only make sense scientifically when used in the now-discredited theory of progressive evolution (Orthogenesis). Progressive evolution proposes that species evolve independently, in a parallel, progressive direction from fish grade through amphibian grade via reptile grade towards mammal grade. From a cladistic point of view, turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs and birds are all members of the clade Sauropsids which is what Dawkins adapts instead of the term reptile. Dinosaurs, unfortunately as extinct species, cannot join us. But their only surviving descendants, the birds, take their place in the pilgrimage. The Galapagos Finch's Tale addresses a surprising question: why doesn't evolution go much faster than it does? Studies on Galapagos finches show that the Medium Ground-finch (Geospiza fortis) could grow to be as large as the Large Ground-finch (Geospiza magnirostris), if 23 consecutive drought years put pressure on birds to grow larger beaks to better handle bigger and tougher seeds. But such extreme evolutionary speed is not observed in nature, given the geological time life has had on Earth. This is mostly because the rate of evolution follows major trends over geological timescale, while short-term pressures tend to cancel out one another. The Peacock's Tale is the quintessential illustration of sexual selection; the peacock's tail is the ultimate example of non-utilitarian phenotype which appears to be an anomaly in natural selection, as it is a hindrance to peacock's survival in its natural habitat. These arbitrary spurts of evolution can be explained by sexual selection, a special case of natural selection. The runaway explosion of the extravagant tail is created by lockstep dimorphic selections of male's genes for pretty tails and of female's genes for preferring such tails. The preference for pretty tails, in turns, is rooted in their use by males as tokens of underlying fitness; an advertisement of health. Sexual selection often complements other natural selection forces, and helps explain why human became bipedal to free the two hands for tool making and wielding, attained a larger brain with artistic abilities, and shed body hair to advertise lack of ectoparasites during the course of human evolution. The Dodo's Tale illustrates how evolution optimizes genes for the present environment, how it has no foresight, and how it marches blindly sometimes to the detriment of the species. The dodo, originally a flying pigeon related to the Rodrigues Solitaire, reached the remote island of Mauritius and shed its flying powers due to the lack of competition and natural predators to become a Flightless bird. The reallocation of resources away from building of massive breast muscles for flying allowed the dodo to flourish, but ultimately lead to their extinction when European sailors and their carnivorous pets finally arrived. The Elephant Bird's Tale demonstrates how enigmatic distributions of genetically close species in completely separate continents can be explained and corroborated by evidences of continental drift and seafloor spreading. The tale recounts the diaspora of a large group of flightless ratite birds from the then unbroken Gondwana; Moa ended up in New Zealand, rhea in South America, emu in Australia, cassowary in New Guinea, kiwi in New Zealand by island hopping, and ostrich in Africa by way of Asia and Europe. Radioactive dating of and magnetic striping studies on continuously formed crust around rifts such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge allow Paleobiogeographers to piece back a coherent story of these birds' dispersion based on both phylogenetic tree and plate tectonics.\n\n340mya- Rendezvouz 17 - Amphibians join.\n\nMammals and reptiles (the amniotes) join the amphibians to meet the ancestor of all land vertebrates with four feet, the tetrapod. Amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, newts and caecilians. While amniotes either give live births or lay waterproof eggs, the amphibians retain the ancestral practice of laying eggs in water. Unlike the waterproof skin of amniotes, the amphibian skin allows body water to evaporate through it, restricting amphibians to land areas with access to fresh water. The Salamander's Tale uses examples of ring species to illustrate how a continuous series of interbreeding animals in the spatial dimension is conceptually equivalent to that in the time dimension. The Ensatina salamanders in the Central Valley in California form a continuous ring (actually a horseshoe shape) around the valley. Any two neighboring population of Ensatina around the horseshoe can interbreed, but the plain Ensatina eschscholtzii on the western end of the horseshoe cannot interbreed with the large blotched Ensatina klauberi on the eastern end. Larus gulls form another ring species which starts at Herring Gull in Great Britain and ends at Lesser Black-backed Gull in north-western Europe. Dawkins likens both ring species in space to the ring in time that unites humans and chimpanzees via generations of ancestors over 6 million years, with concestor 1 in the midpoint. The Narrowmouth's Tale shows how speciation may still continue via parapatric speciation, when two closely related toad species meet again after initial geographical isolation. Gastrophryne olivacea (Great Plains narrowmouth toad) and Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern narrowmouth toad) are closely related and can interbreed when their habitats overlap. But reinforcement, a selection process which increases reproductive isolation via character displacement, causes both species to differentiate their mating calls from each other by shifting pitch and duration in opposite directions; the more the two populations overlap, the more distinct their mating calls become. The Axolotl's Tale is about metamorphosis, a biological process which turns juveniles or larvae into drastically dissimilar adult forms for reproduction, and about pedomorphosis, another process which enables juveniles of some species to become sexually-mature without ever developing into their usual adult forms. Species which undergo metamorphosis include butterflies, barnacles and salamanders. Species which exhibit neoteny, a type of pedomorphosis, include human, ostrich, pekingese and axolotl. A text book example of neoteny, the axolotls are members of the Tiger Salamander complex, yet they become sexually-mature in larva form, remaining aquatic and gilled. With a treatment of thyroxine, it is possible to induce an axolotl to develop into a salamander, demonstrating that axolotl genome still retains information on its lost adult form. On the other hand, newt, a type of salamander, first develops from tadpole into land-based salamander, but later reverts back to its juvenile tadpole form, and returns to the water to reproduce. The axolotl's tale reminds us that paedomorphosis often allows species to break out of an evolutionary dead end by sudden changes.\n\nStreetsville Memorial Park\n\nRest Stop; Refreshments; Washrooms\n\nBeginning of Late Devonian (2nd Major) extinction - 360-375 Ma\n\nthe Devonian-Carboniferous transition. At the end of the Frasnian Age in the later part(s) of the Devonian Period, a prolonged series of extinctions eliminated about 19% of all families, 50% of all genera[6] and 70% of all species.[citation needed] This extinction event lasted perhaps as long as 20 MY, and there is evidence for a series of extinction pulses within this period.\n\nEnd of Late Devonian (2nd Major) extinction - 360-375 Ma\n\n\n417mya- Rendezvous 18 - Lungfish join.\n\n\n425mya- Rendezvous 19 - Coelocanths join.\n\n\n440mya- Rendezvous 20 - Ray finned fish join.\n\n\nOrdovician–Silurian extinction event (End Ordovician) - 440-450 Ma\n\nthe Ordovician-Silurian transition. Two events occurred that killed off 27% of all families and 57% of all genera.[6] Together they are ranked by many scientists as the second largest of the five major extinctions in Earth's history in terms of percentage of genera that went extinct.\n\nEnd of Ordovician–Silurian (1st Major) extinction event (End Ordovician) - 440-450 Ma\n\n\n460mya- Rendezvous 21 - Sharks, Rays and Chimaera fish join.\n\nCartilaginous fishes chondrichthyan including sharks, rays and chimaeras join the pilgrimage in the Middle Ordovician. The newcomers have no bones. Instead, they are supported by a cartilaginous skeleton that never ossifies, in contrast to bony fishes. Their skin is covered in dermal denticles, tiny scale-like protrusions, from which teeth may have evolved. Interestingly, sharks lack a swim bladder for buoyancy, and instead rely on swimming constantly, retaining urea in their blood, and having large livers with plenty of oil to remain afloat. The Carcharocles megalodon from the Miocene is described as a predator more terrifying than the Great White Shark, as it was three times the size. The strange Chimaera has strange gill covers, has no dermal denticles, and swims using their pectoral fins. Dawkins explains that concestor 21 is ancestor to all gnathostomes, animals with lower jaws, a structure which evolved from the gill arches.\n\nBarbertown Road\n\nRest stop; Refreshments; Washrooms in Portico Church across the road.\n\n530mya- Rendezvous 22 - Lampreys and Hagfish join.\n\n\n\nGet your passport stamped here\n\n560mya- Rendezvous 23 - Lancelets join.\n\n\n565mya- Rendezvous 24 - Seasquirts join.\n\nA Sea squirt resemble a sedentary bag of sea water anchored to a rock. It feeds on food particles strained from water. Anatomically, the sea squirt looks very different to the joining pilgrimage of all vertebrates and protochordates, that is, until its larvae are examined. The sea squirt larva looks and swims like a tadpole. it possesses a notochord and a dorsal nerve tube, and moves by undulating its post-anal tail from side to side. Vertebrates may have branched off from ancient sea squirt larvae via neoteny, in a process reminiscent of The Axolotl's Tale. But recent DNA analysis on larvacea favors Darwin's initial interpretation, that one branch of ancient tadpole-like protochordates evolved a new metamorphosis stage to turn into sedentary sea squirts.\n\n570mya- Rendezvous 25 - Ambulacrarians join.\n\nAmbulacraria is a clade of invertebrates which includes echinoderms, hemichordates, and Xenoturbellida; a member of this group is called an ambulacrarian. This superphylum is largely identical to the superphylum Deuterostomia, except the phylum Chordata is not found in Ambulacraria. The three living phyla, with representative organisms, are: Phylum Echinodermata (sea stars, sea urchins, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, feather stars, sea lilies, etc.) Phylum Hemichordata (acorn worms, Pterobranchia, and possibly graptolites) Phylum Xenoturbellida (two species of worm-like animals) Fossil taxa that may lie on the stem lineage: ?Superphylum Ambulacraria# unranked clade Cambroernida unranked clade = Eldoniida † Herpetogaster Caron, Conway Morris & Shu, 2010[1] - with one species: † Herpetogaster collinsi Caron, Conway Morris & Shu, 2010[1]\n\n590mya- Rendezvous 26 - Protosomes join.\n\nThe current pilgrimage, known as deuterostomes, is joined by a much larger group of animals, the protostomes, to meet the ancestor of almost all organisms in the kingdom Animalia, a worm. Just a single class in the joining sub-kingdom of protostomia, the Insecta, represents three quarter of all animal species on Earth. The great divide between protostomes (meaning 'mouth first') and deuterostomes (meaning 'mouth second') was devised by comparative embryologists based on the way animal embryos diverge after gastrulation where the blastula (a hollow ball of cells) indents to form a cup. In the sub-kingdom of protostomia, the indentation eventually becomes the mouth. In deuterostomia which includes humans, the indentation eventually becomes the anus; the mouth is formed later. An extremely large variety of animal phyla constitute protostomia, including annelid worms (e.g. garden earthworms), flatworms (e.g. tapeworms and flukes), molluscs (e.g. snails, oysters, ammonites and octopuses), and arthropods (e.g. insects, crustaceans, spiders and centipedes). Unlike the species, classes and genera of animals from the pilgrimage prior to this rendezvous point, joining animals from different phyla have no obvious relationship to one another based on traditional anatomy. But modern molecular rangefinding has allowed molecular taxonomists to organize all phyla in the pilgrimage into a hierarchy, with the worm as the concestor of all animals in Bilateria who are bilaterally symmetrical, with left and right side, a dorsal and a ventral side, and a head and a tail end. The Ragworm's Tale talks about the evolution of left-right symmetry in bilaterians. The Brine Shrimp's Tale discusses the possibility of chordates having a back-swimming ancestor. The Leaf Cutter's Tale The Grasshopper's Tale talks about the futility of discriminating between races. The Fruit Fly's Tale introduces Hox genes. The Rotifer's Tale The Barnacle's Tale The Velvet Worm's Tale talks about the Cambrian explosion.\n\nHewicks Meadows\n\nRest Stop; Refreshment\n\n630mya - Rendezvous 27 - Aceolomorph flatworms join\n\nAcoelomorphs resemble flatworms in many respects, but have a simpler anatomy, even beyond the absence of a gut. Like flatworms, they have no circulatory or respiratory systems, but they also lack an excretory system. They have no true brain or ganglia, simply a network of nerves beneath the epidermis, although the nerves are slightly more concentrated towards the forward end of the animal. The sensory organs include a statocyst and, in some cases, very primitive pigment-spot ocelli capable of detecting light.[5] They are simultaneous hermaphrodites, but have no gonads, and no ducts associated with the female reproductive system. Instead, gametes are produced from the mesenchymal cells that fill the body between the epidermis and the digestive vacuole.[5]\n\n\nGet your passport stamped here\n\n680mya- Rendezvous 28 - Cnidarians join.\n\nThe Jellyfish's Tale The Polypifer's Tale Fossil cnidarians have been found in rocks formed about 580 million years ago, and other fossils show that corals may have been present shortly before 490 million years ago and diversified a few million years later. Fossils of cnidarians that do not build mineralized structures are very rare. Scientists currently think that cnidarians, ctenophores and bilaterians are more closely related to calcareous sponges than these are to other sponges, and that anthozoans are the evolutionary \"aunts\" or \"sisters\" of other cnidarians, and the most closely related to bilaterians. Recent analyses have concluded that cnidarians, although considered more \"primitive\" than bilaterians, have a wider range of genes.\n\n730mya- Rendezvous 29 - Ctenophores join\n\nCtenophores form an animal phylum that is more complex than sponges, about as complex as cnidarians (jellyfish, sea anemones, etc.), and less complex than bilaterians, which include almost all other animals. Unlike sponges, both ctenophores and cnidarians have: cells bound by inter-cell connections and carpet-like basement membranes; muscles; nervous systems; and some have sensory organs. Ctenophores are distinguished from all other animals by having colloblasts that capture prey by squirting glue on them, although a few ctenophore species lack them.[1][2]\n\n780mya- Rendezvouz 30 - Placozoans join.\n\n\n\nRest Stop; Refreshment; Checkpoint - Get your passport stamped here.\n\n800mya- Rendezvous 31 - Sponges join.\n\nSponges are animals of the phylum Porifera (meaning \"pore bearer\"; pronounced /pɒˈrɪfərə/). Their bodies consist of jelly-like mesohyl sandwiched between two thin layers of cells. While all animals have unspecialized cells that can transform into specialized cells, sponges are unique in having some specialized cells that can transform into other types, often migrating between the main cell layers and the mesohyl in the process. Sponges do not have nervous, digestive or circulatory systems. Instead, most rely on maintaining a constant water flow through their bodies to obtain food and oxygen and to remove wastes, and the shapes of their bodies are adapted to maximize the efficiency of the water flow. All are sessile aquatic animals and, although there are freshwater species, the great majority are marine (salt water) species, ranging from tidal zones to depths exceeding 8,800 metres (5.5 mi).\n\n900mya- Rendezvous 30 - Choanoflagellates (non-animal eucaryotes) join.\n\nThe choanoflagellates are a group of free-living unicellular and colonial flagellate eukaryotes considered to be the closest living relatives of the animals. As the name suggests, choanoflagellates (collared flagellates) have a distinctive cell morphology characterized by an ovoid or spherical cell body 3-10 µm in diameter with a single apical flagellum surrounded by a collar of 30-40 microvilli (see figure). Movement of the flagellum creates water currents that can propel free-swimming choanoflagellates through the water column and trap bacteria and detritus against the collar of microvilli where these foodstuffs are engulfed. This feeding provides a critical link within the global carbon cycle, linking trophic levels. In addition to their critical ecological roles, choanoflagellates are of particular interest to evolutionary biologists studying the origins of multicellularity in animals. As the closest living relatives of animals, choanoflagellates serve as a useful model for reconstructions of the last unicellular ancestor of animals.\n\n\nOne billion years ago was Neoproterozoic era (the Tonian period, to be precise). Other than unicellular fungi, bacteria, archeans, and a few multicellular algae and possible primitive metazoans, there was no life during the Tonian period. These primitive organisms probably inhabited the land immediately around water sources. In general, oxygen levels were lower in the Tonian than during the subsequent Cryogenian and Ediacaran, making the evolution of complex life difficult. Microbes gathered into large, thick colonies called microbial mats. These microbial mats have no modern-day analogues, as any exposed mats today would quickly be devoured by animals. Early life was most probably single celled. Multicellularity has evolved independently dozens of times in the history of Earth, for example in plants and animals[1]. Multicellularity exists in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and first appeared several billion years ago in cyanobacteria. In order to reproduce, true multicellular organisms must solve the problem of regenerating a whole organism from germ cells (i.e. sperm and egg cells), an issue that is studied in developmental biology. Therefore, the development of sexual reproduction in unicellular organisms during the Mesoproterozoic is thought to have precipitated the development and rise of multicellular life Age estimates prior to this time are tentative. To continue to go back in time from here to the beginning of life on earth according to the scale we have been using so far would require another 35.5k taking you all the way to Queens Quay via Mississauga and Lakeshore Roads\n\nEnd of Ancestor's Trail Hike\n\nEnjoy a barbeque lunch with ROM and UTM representative to discuss evolutionary biology and geology.\n\n2 billion years ago\n\nThe origin of the eukaryotic cell was a milestone in the evolution of life, since they include all complex cells and almost all multi-cellular organisms. The timing of this series of events is hard to determine; Knoll (2006) suggests they developed approximately 1.6–2.1 billion years ago. Some acritarchs are known from at least 1650 million years ago, and the possible alga Grypania has been found as far back as 2100 million years ago.[6]\n\n\n3 billion years ago\n\n\n3.6 billion years ago Beginning of life\n\nThe current model of the evolution of the first living organisms is that these were some form of prokaryotes, which may have evolved out of protobionts. The eukaryotes are generally thought to have evolved later in the history of life.[15] However, some authors have questioned this conclusion, arguing that the current set of prokaryotic species may have evolved from more complex eukaryotic ancestors through a process of simplification.[16][17][18] Others have argued that the three domains of life arose simultaneously, from a set of varied cells that formed a single a gene pool.[19] This controversy was summarized in 2005:[20] There is no consensus among biologists concerning the position of the eukaryotes in the overall scheme of cell evolution. Current opinions on the origin and position of eukaryotes span a broad spectrum including the views that eukaryotes arose first in evolution and that prokaryotes descend from them, that eukaryotes arose contemporaneously with eubacteria and archeabacteria and hence represent a primary line of descent of equal age and rank as the prokaryotes, that eukaryotes arose through a symbiotic event entailing an endosymbiotic origin of the nucleus, that eukaryotes arose without endosymbiosis, and that eukaryotes arose through a symbiotic event entailing a simultaneous endosymbiotic origin of the flagellum and the nucleus, in addition to many other models, which have been reviewed and summarized elsewhere.\n\nJourney to the beginning of the EARTH\n\nYour route has been saved.\nLoading Map ...\n\n\n\n\nComments Comment | Cue Sheet\n\nThis route tagged with: Walking, On Road, Urban, Safe, Good surface\n\nWhole Route Elevation Profile Cue Sheet\nTutorials Contact Us Terms of Use Wormly\nLog In & Create Route Sign Up & Create Route\nAdvanced Search Motorcycle roads\nComment on this route", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6898406744003296}
+{"content": "Open main menu\n\nPartium[1] (from Latin partium, the genitive of pars \"part, portion\") or Részek (in Hungarian) was a historical and geographical region in the Kingdom of Hungary during the early modern and modern periods. It consisted of the eastern and northern parts of Hungary proper.[note 1] At times, it included Miskolc, and Kassa (today Košice, Slovakia) (see map).\n\n\n\nPartium, depicted in the darker colour, and the Principality of Transylvania, 1570\n\nIn 1526, after the Battle of Mohács, the Kingdom of Hungary was overrun by the Ottomans, but effectively split into 3 parts in 1541 when the Ottomans captured Buda. The Habsburgs got a foothold in the north and west (Royal Hungary), with the new capital Pressburg (Pozsony, today's Bratislava). King John I of Hungary from the Zápolya house, the former voivode of Transylvania and the wealthiest and the most powerful landlord after Mohács, secured the eastern part of the Kingdom (referred as Eastern Hungarian Kingdom by Hungarian scholars) with the help of the Ottomans. On 29 February 1528, the sultan assented to an alliance with Zápolya and gave written assurance of his support.\n\nFrom 1541 or 1542, the house of Zápolya also controlled the region that after 1571 became known as Partium.\n\nIn 1570, John II Sigismund Zápolya, son of John I Zápolya renounced his claim as King of Hungary (1540-1570) in favour of Maximilian II of Habsburg, who also claimed the title since 1563. Instead John II Sigismund Zápolya remained Prince of Transylvania between 1570 and 1571.\n\nIn 1570, by the Treaty of Speyer (Spires), John II Sigismund, John I's son, abdicated as king of Hungary, and a new dukedom was invented for him: \"Joannes, serenissimi olim Joannis regis Hungariae, Dalmatiae, Croatiae etc. filius, Dei gratia princeps Transsylvaniae ac partium regni Hungariae\" (imperial prince), from which derives the name Partium.\n\nThis treaty, like the earlier Nagyvárad accord, endorsed the principle of a united Hungary. Partium and Transylvania were entrusted to John II Sigismund, but under the title of imperial prince. As mentioned above, the Zápolya held Partium before, but the treaty allowed them to do this without fear that the Habsburgs would contest the house of Zápolya's lordship. In a sense, Zápolya traded title for territory.\n\nThe Eastern Hungarian Kingdom ceased to exist, and became simply the Principality of Transylvania. All rulings after 1570 as King of Hungary refer to the territory known as \"Royal Hungary\", and as Prince refer to the Principality of Transylvania which included Partium.\n\nPrincipality of Transylvania under Gabriel Bethlen, including the seven Partium counties ceded to him at the Peace of Nikolsburg in 1621: Ugocsa, Bereg, Zemplén, Borsod, Szabolcs, Szatmár and Abaúj.\n\nFor some decades during the 17th century Partium was part of the Principality of Transylvania, and consequently a part of the Ottoman Empire.[2] On 5 September 1619, the prince of Transylvania, Gabriel Bethlen captured Kassa (now Košice) in Partium Abaúj County with the assistance of the future George I Rákóczi in another anti-Habsburg insurrection. By the Peace of Nikolsburg in 1621, the Habsburgs restored the religious toleration agreement of 1606 and recognized Transylvanian rule over seven stated Partium counties: Ugocsa, Bereg, Zemplén, Borsod, Szabolcs, Szatmár and Abaúj.[3]\n\nThese were returned to Habsburg Royal Hungary at Bethlen's death in 1629, but were once again seized by Transylvanian prince George I Rákóczi in 1644 and formally ceded by Habsburg Royal Hungary to Transylvania at the Treaty of Linz (1645).[4]\n\nGeographic extentEdit\n\nInitially Partium consisted of the counties of Máramaros, Közép-Szolnok, Kraszna, and Bihar, as well as the Kővárvidék. The Banate of Severin and eastern Zaránd, that were already part of John II Sigismund’s realm, were also included in what was named Partium. These territories were ruled by Transylvania, but were not formally part of the Principality (later Grand Principality) of Transylvania, and so the name Partium was coined.\n\nAll of Transylvania was at the time under permanent threat of being overrun by both Habsburgs and Ottomans. Partium was taken by the Ottoman troops in 1660, but was back in Transylvanian possession by the end of the century, when the latter was absorbed in the Habsburgs' domain in 1687 (de facto) / 1699 (by treaty with the Ottomans).\n\nIn the 18th century, the name was used to describe a smaller area, consisting of Közép-Szolnok, Kraszna, the Kővárvidék, and a rump Zaránd, but was not itself an official subdivision.\n\nIn 1867, at the Ausgleich, the Partium territories were incorporated into the Transleithanian part of Austria-Hungary. (See comitatus system.)\n\nPresent day locationEdit\n\nWith the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of World War I, Partium was split, under to the terms of the 1920 Treaty of Trianon, among the successor states of the former Kingdom of Hungary: about 60% became part of Romania, about 20% - part of Hungary, and about 20% - part of Czechoslovakia. The latter part, known as Carpathian Ruthenia, was ceded to Soviet Union after World War II and since 1991 belongs to Ukraine.\n\nThe flag of Partium voted by the Council for Autonomy in Partium (PAT) in 2015\n\nThe Romanian part roughly corresponds to the Crişana and partly Banat regions of Romania. The Hungarian part corresponds to the Hajdú-Bihar county, and small parts of the Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Békés counties of Hungary. The Ukrainian part corresponds to the Northern Maramuresh (geographic region) of the Zakarpattia Oblast, Ukraine.\n\nIn present-day Hungarian usage Partium chiefly refers to the part of the region that lies in Romania.\n\nAutonomy initiativesEdit\n\nWith the support of Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania, which advocates territorial autonomy for Partium,[5][6] the Council for Autonomy in Partium was created in 2013.[7] The Council approved a new flag for Partium in 2015 composed of a Patriarchal cross and Árpád stripes, both traditional symbols of the Hungarian nation featured on the coat of arms of Hungary.\n\n\n  1. ^ During the early modern period, Hungary was divided and Transylvania, despite being part of the Lands of the Hungarian Crown, was recognized as a distinct polity. The reunification of Transylvania and \"Hungary proper\" happened in 1868.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8877260088920593}
+{"content": "transform your life, one meal at a time\n\nApril 27, 2017\n\nStory by Bavani, Photos by Amanda Antilla\n\nAs I sit across the table from Martin Ronquillo and Norton Gumbo, the co-founders of the iOS application, Meal Prep by Papaya, their enthusiasm and energy are apparent.  I can’t help but step into their world for a moment to see it through their eyes.  Ronquillo, 24, a true blue “Tater” who was raised in Star is a Boise State University graduate and Gumbo, 20, originally from Michigan, is a senior at Boise State.\n\nRonquillo’s exposure to technology began as early as his junior in high school.  He started initially freelancing as a web developer and then realized his passion of being able to create things of value to others.  He prides himself in being self-taught and observes that “in this exciting era of technology, with the ease of accessibility to open source technology, even those without much experience will be able to develop an app provided they are willing to put in the time to learn.” Together, Ronquillo and Gumbo bring to the table a powerful combination of knowledge and skills, Ronquillo with his business degree and Gumbo with his computer science degree.  They agree, “You really don’t need one degree or the other.  All the knowledge is out there and readily available at your fingertips.  You should feel free to question and challenge preconceived notions.”\n\nThe Meal Prep by Papaya application uses the details of a user such as the gender, weight, and height to calculate an individual’s calorie requirements and provide a suggestion for macros (which are nutritional requirements).  A meal plan is then recommended using an in-app recipe database created using the expertise of nutritionists, dietitians, and free recipe websites.  The app currently has nearly 4,800 registered users.\n\nRonquillo shares that the motivation of the app concept stems from his personal struggle for 8 years to lose weight.  He came to the realization that yo-yo dieting does not work and was at his heaviest and lowest point when he discovered meal planning.  Something resonated.  What started off as breakfast planning turned into planning all his meals ahead of time by coming up with detailed grocery lists and cooking on Sundays for the week ahead.\n\nOn the other hand, Gumbo notes, “I didn’t have the same experience as Martin.  I was always fit and ate healthy, somewhat.  But I know that nutrition can make a big change in your daily life.  I like knowing that I can help people feel better about themselves and accomplish their goals.”\n\nOne might even call it serendipitous how Ronquillo and Gumbo met.  Working for the same startup company in the spring of 2015, they first met in Salt Lake City during a work meeting at the company’s Airbnb accommodation.  Noticing that Gumbo was the only one of his colleagues who was utilizing the groceries provided to prepare his meals, Ronquillo started an ‘off the record’ interview with questions about the types of meals and the regularity of preparation.  Venture College had taught him the importance of researching customers’ needs before developing a product.\n\nBy this time, Ronquillo had already lost 55 pounds and was determined to find a way to “help people eat better.”  During the summer of that year, coincidentally, Ronquillo and Gumbo changed their residences and found that they lived in close proximity. Entering the Boise State Innovation Scramble in 2016, they furthered their research and development exploration.  After pitching the idea at Venture College, they started developing the app during the summer of 2016 using web technology.  They switched to native technology in September that year when they had 1,000 users.\n\nWhile Ronquillo and Gumbo realize that it is not too difficult to get people to try using the app, their challenge lies in ensuring continuity with their users.  This was overcome by using feedback received to continuously upgrade features and increase the app’s user-friendly elements.  Gumbo believes that “pushing through the hurdles and staying open is the key to success.”     \n\nSharing wisdom from their experience, Gumbo says, “Just know that it’s going to be rough.  Even though we are self-motivated by the concept, and we believe in it, there are days when we are overwhelmed with the work and simply feel knocked down.  A lot of it is just persistence and listening to feedback and not having a single notion of what you want because that may not be the right answer.”\n\nRonquillo reflects, “Failure isn’t failure.  Failure is a lesson. The setbacks that make it seem like we are ‘failing’ are signs that some change is needed.  Ultimately, what I would tell a younger version of myself to do would be just set a goal and start.  Things align themselves.  Once you have the goal and you set it in motion, you start seeing the opportunities to get there.  Often times it almost feels like luck. But I am a believer that a large part of what luck is you believing that you are lucky then going out and actually doing the things that will allow you to be lucky.”\n\nGumbo and Ronquillo are excited to discover what opportunities the future holds for them.  In the meantime, they are investing their blood, sweat, and tears to grow their company, increase the number of users and launch the Android version of the app.  They are committed to doing whatever it takes to help improve the quality of people’s lives.  This is their ultimate gratification.\n\nVisit to learn more and get started!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6874380111694336}
+{"content": "Thomas Paine. By: Auguste Milliere.\n\nThere are myriad examples of individuals coming to the United States to enjoy extraordinary success. Some have come to call that the “American Dream.” Perhaps nobody better embodies the American Dream than Thomas Paine, the famous pamphleteer of the late 1700s.\n\nPaine was born in England in 1737 and he did not enjoy extraordinary success while in England. Gordon Wood, Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different, 208. He bounced between jobs with no notable success. Id. In fact, Gordon Wood concludes that Paine had lived “close to the bottom of English society.” Id. at 209.\n\nThen, in 1774, he moved to the New World and almost immediately, he was writing newspaper articles. Id. Soon thereafter, in January 1776, he wrote Common Sense, the famous pamphlet that some argue would change the course of America’s progress. Id. The pamphlet would go on to sell 150,000 copies at a time when “most pamphlets sold in the hundreds or a few thousand at best.” Id.\n\nGordon Wood concludes that Paine’s comfort and success in America was attributable to his time spent living toward the bottom of English society, and that those years “primed him to think like an American.” Id. This seemed to be true, as Common Sense became so widespread in American society that it was deemed a “work of genius,” making Paine a celebrity. Id.\n\nPaine’s success in those tumultuous years perhaps best embody the American Dream as he came from a modest life, with nothing but his skill to persuade, and became a revered figure, synonymous with the Revolution. Saving the broader question of what the American Dream truly is for another time, Paine’s success and legacy have endured over the past two centuries, a privilege reserved for few.\n\nThe only question is why. The American Dream, at its best, remembers and celebrates those who make significant contributions to American society, for the betterment and improvement of all American lives. That remembrance and celebration occurs, generally, regardless of race, gender, or any trait.\n\nThomas Paine, as well as the other figures of the Revolution, would be pleased to know that their hard work and dedication has been cherished. He forms one piece of the puzzle that is America’s collection of ideals and accomplishments. With any luck, all individuals who achieve the American Dream will have a place in that puzzle.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9964858293533325}
+{"content": "Medical Engineering Association is a non-Governmental organization that was created with the purpose of helping in the development of society on levels such as: social, medical and academic. This association focuses especially on scientific research in various domains and subjects with the purpose of achieving breakthroughs in areas at the border line between different fields and disciplines that offer an interdisciplinary approach to the medical problems and also with the intention of creating social programs.\n\nWith regards to the social direction of our organization:  MEA organises humanitarian health and aid programs, trying to be part of the development of society in order to increase life’s quality. Through its activities, MEA wants to raise the awarness of the population concerning the main diseases that affect our lives relentlessly day by day, by informing the population about how to protect against these diseases, how to prevent them and how to treat different diseases. We also organize charity activities to offer a new chance for those persons who are in difficult situations; to offer a better environment for the people who live in inappropriate conditions.\n\nIn a world that nowadays is in a continuous development and change, science has a great impact on the life quality of humans but also in many fields of activity. While trying to solve the medical aspects, there are a lot of directives MEA wants to follow, amongst these we find: research, scientific meetings and scientific projects. As far as research projects are concerned we try to find solutions for medical problems with the help of interdisciplinary teams. The members of these teams, and not only of these teams but of the entire organizations are and can be: students, specialists such as engineers (from all kind of fields related to medicine), physicians, chemists, biologists, mathematicians, physicists, and people interested in the area of medical engineering. In order to have a high quality research activity, and scientific activity, MEA facilitates the access to the following laboratories, in collaboration with the University “Politehnica” of Timisoara:\n\nLOPIFO (Manufacturing laboratory for implant devices, ortheses and prosthetic devices);\nHTEC KELLER (NCC machines laboratory);\nManufacturing laboratory - Rapid Prototyping Fabrication;\nManufacturing laboratory - CNC Machining and EDM fabrication;\nModelling and design laboratory;\nMedical imaging laboratory;\nCIDUCOS (Testing laboratory);\nMedical investigations laboratory;\nMotion analysis laboratory.\n\nThrough scientific meetings, MEA tries to bring together all the students and all the individuals who are interested in a specific field, for instance biomechanics or medical optics, in order to create a general view. Nevertheless, MEA offers the possibility of taking part at plenty of other scientific activities: intensive lectures, workshops, internships, summer schools, exchange programs, congresses, conferences, symposiums, which comes complementary as a good way of acquiring knowledge in a specific area and as a way of opening the opportunity towards life-long learning.\n\nIn order to achieve all the purposes MEA has established, we look forward to having you part of our interdisciplinary team and partners.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8294415473937988}
+{"content": "This Day in History (9-Feb-1895) – The sport of volleyball is created in Massachusetts\n\nWilliam G. Morgan, joined as director of Physical Education at the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. In this role he had the opportunity to establish, develop and direct a vast programme of exercises and sport classes for male adults. He came to realise that he needed a certain type of competitive recreational game in order to vary his programme. Basketball, a sport that was beginning to develop, seemed to suit young people, but it was necessary to find a less violent and less intense alternative for the older members. He decided to blend elements of basketball, baseball, tennis, handball and German game of Faustball  to create a game for his classes of businessmen which would demand less physical contact than basketball. He created the game of mintonette. Morgan borrowed the net from tennis, and raised it 6 feet 6 inches above the floor, just above the average man’s head.\n\nEarly in 1896 a conference was organized at the YMCA College in Springfield, bringing together all the YMCA Directors of Physical Education where Morgan was invited to make a demonstration of his game in the new college stadium. Morgan explained that the new game was designed for gymnasia or exercise halls, but could also be played in open air. An unlimited number of players could participate, the object of the game being to keep the ball in movement over a high net, from one side to the other. The name Volleyball came when a spectator commented that the game involved much “volleying” the ball back and forth over the net and game was renamed Volleyball.\n\nIn 1964, Volleyball was introduced to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The beach volleyball was introduced in 1996 Atlanta Olympics. As per the data was provided by each of the International Sports Federations; on the estimates of participants in the sport worldwide (based on 2002 figures) ; volleyball ranks no. 1 with almost 1 billion  players. Volleyball is one of the big five international sports, and the FIVB (Federation Internationale De Volleyball), with its 220 affiliated national federations, is the largest international sporting federation in the world.\n\n\n\n\nThis Day in History (25-Dec-1651) – Massachusetts General Court ordered a five shilling fine for “observing any such day as Christmas”\n\nPuritanism was a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to “purify” the Church of England of remnants of the Roman Catholic “popery”. They had firm views on religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter. Scripture did not name any holiday except the Sabbath, they argued, and the very concept of “holy days” implied that some days were not holy. “They for whom all days are holy can have no holiday,” was a common Puritan maxim.\n\nPuritans did not like Christmas as it did not originate as a Christian holiday. The upper classes in ancient Rome celebrated Dec. 25 as the birthday of the sun god Mithra. The date fell right in the middle of Saturnalia, a monthlong holiday dedicated to food, drink, and revelry.  Pope Julius I is said to have chosen that day to celebrate Christ’s birth as a way of co-opting the pagan rituals. Beyond that, the Puritans considered it historically inaccurate to place the Messiah’s arrival on Dec. 25. They thought Jesus had been born sometime in September. Also during Christmas, as a ritual, the rich people offer drinks to poor causing them into bawdy drunkenness. Such decadence never impressed religious purists. “Men dishonor Christ more in the 12 days of Christmas,” wrote the 16th-century clergyman Hugh Latimer, “than in all the 12 months besides.”\n\nPuritans in the English Parliament eliminated Christmas as a national holiday in 1645, amid widespread anti-Christmas sentiment. Settlers in New England (six states in Northeast part of USA including Massachusetts) went even further, outlawing Christmas celebrations entirely. Anyone caught shirking their work duties or feasting on Christmas day was forced to pay a significant penalty of five shillings. Christmas returned to England in 1660, but in New England it remained banned until the 1680s. Christmas Day was formally declared a federal holiday in US by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis Day in History (28-Jul-1945) – Plane crashes into Empire State Building\n\nThe B-25 Mitchell bomber, with Colonel William Smith as a pilot and two more personnel aboard, was flying from New Bedford, Massachusetts, to LaGuardia Airport in New York City. As it came into the metropolitan area on that Saturday morning, the fog was particularly thick. Air-traffic controllers instructed the plane to fly to Newark Airport instead. The last transmission from the LaGuardia tower to the plane was a foreboding warning: “From where I’m sitting, I can’t see the top of the Empire State Building.” Confronted with dense fog, pilot dropped the bomber low to regain visibility, where Smith found himself in the middle of Manhattan, surrounded by skyscrapers. At first, the bomber was headed directly for the New York Central Building but at the last minute, Smith was able to bank west and miss it. Unfortunately, this put him in line for another skyscraper. Smith managed to miss several skyscrapers until he was headed for the Empire State Building. At the last minute, Smith tried to get the bomber to climb and twist away, but it was too late. At 9:49 a.m., the ten-ton, B-25 bomber smashed into the north side of the Empire State Building, near the 79th floor.\n\nUpon impact, the plane’s jet fuel exploded, filling the interior of the building with flames all the way down to the 75th floor and sending flames out of the hole the plane had ripped open in the building’s side. One engine from the plane went straight through the building and landed in a penthouse apartment across the street. Other plane parts ended up embedded in and on top of nearby buildings. The other engine snapped an elevator cable while at least one woman was riding in the elevator car. The emergency auto brake saved the woman from crashing to the bottom, but the engine fell down the shaft and landed on top of it. Quick-thinking rescuers pulled the woman from the elevator, saving her life. Since it was a Saturday, fewer workers than normal were in the building. Only 11 people in the building were killed, some suffering burns from the fiery jet fuel and others after being thrown out of the building. The three people on the plane were also killed. An 18 foot by 20 foot hole was left in the side of the Empire State Building.  However its structural integrity was not affected.\n\n\n\nThis Day in History (24-May-1830) – “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” is published\n\nThe nursery rhyme, ‘Mary had a little lamb’ was first published by the Boston publishing firm Marsh, Capen & Lyon, as an original poem by Sarah Josepha Hale on May 24, 1830, and was inspired by an actual incident.\n\nAs a young girl, Mary Sawyer (later Mrs. Mary Tyler) kept a pet lamb, which she took to school one day at the suggestion of her brother. A commotion naturally ensued. Visiting school that morning was a young man by the name of John Roulstone, a nephew of the Reverend Lemuel Capen, who was then settled in Sterling. The young man was very much pleased with the incident of the lamb; and the next day he rode across the fields on horseback to the little old schoolhouse and handed Mary a slip of paper which had written upon it the three original stanzas of the poem.\n\nThe Redstone School built in 1798, believed to be the school house mentioned in the rhyme, is now located in Sudbury, Massachusetts. In Sterling, Massachusetts, a statue representing Mary’s Little Lamb stands in the town center. The rhyme is also famous for being the very first thing recorded by Thomas Edison on his newly invented phonograph in 1877.  It was the first instance of recorded verse. In 1927 Edison re-enacted the recording which still survives.\n\nIt was reported in a 1902 edition of the New York Times Book Review that when Dr Lowell Mason introduced singing into Boston schools in 1827 he asked noted writers to contribute songs and rhymes, and one of the contributors was Sarah Josepha Hale (1788–1879), who supplied ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6254032850265503}
+{"content": "On Sunday night’s “60 Minutes,” a panel of Michigan voters spent 20 minutes discussing their political differences on screen. It was a moving segment and a powerful one, but it wasn’t all that novel if you’ve been paying attention to the political divide over the past year. The power came not really from what the panelists were saying but who the moderator was: Oprah Winfrey.\n\nListening, asking, speaking without judgment, trying to find common ground — it was a superb performance by Oprah, and I use the word “performance” advisedly. She was dazzling in exactly the way that Oprah could always be dazzling, finding a tone appropriate for the moment without being heavy-handed.\n\nIf any figure in the United States bears watching over the next couple of years as our political culture continues the radical transformation that led to the election of Donald Trump, it’s Oprah. I believe she’s uniquely positioned, should she wish to commit herself, to seek the Democratic nomination for president and challenge Trump in 2020.\n\nIf you think that Trump can be beaten by a two-term governor of a Midwestern state with really good ideas about health care, or by a senator who really attracts young people, think again. The idea that a relatively conventional elected official will differentiate herself from Trump by dint of her seriousness or that an unconventional elected official can out-populist Trump is crazy.\n\n\n\nIt goes beyond that. He’s rich and she’s rich, but she made her $3 billion herself and with no controversy. She is, in herself, the embodiment of the American Dream. He got famous from TV, and so did she, but she became vastly more famous and vastly more successful at it.\n\nShe went from Oscar-nominated actress to queen of tabloid TV. Then, sensing a cultural shift, in 1993 she dropped the bleak stuff and turned her show into a parade of the positive, with happy celebrity interactions and relentless guidance toward self-actualization (“be your best self”). Her cultural standing broadened and deepened when she assumed the mantle of book-publishing savior with her monthly novel selection. Then she became a magazine mogul. Then she became the manager of an entire cable network named for her.\n\nClick the link below to read the full article.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8579639196395874}
+{"content": "Meet Des Moines Cast Member George Worthington!\n\nWe're so proud to introduce you to our Des Moines, Iowa cast of storytellers! The show is on Friday, March 31st at the Temple Theater in Des Moines. Let's get to know Des Moines storyteller, George Worthington.\n\nTell us a little bit about yourself.\n\nI lived in Minneapolis for the first ten years of my life, then moved to the Chicago area because my father was assigned a different sales territory.  I attended public high school, then two years at Indiana University.  I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I joined the Navy and spent two years aboard a destroyer in the Atlantic fleet.  When I got out, I went to work for my father, selling agricultural products.  I met my wife at a party neither one of us had wanted to go to, and we were married a year later.  We moved to Des Moines in 1971 to be closer to the center of my sales territory, and began raising our family: two daughters and a son.  I learned to fly airplanes and logged about 600 hours of flight time which I enjoyed greatly.  I play guitar and I enjoy writing.  I retired in 2008 and I now have more time to enjoy my children and five grandchildren.  In 2016, my wife and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary by taking a cruise down the Danube River.\n\nHow has mental illness affected your life?\n\nMental illness has affected my life by making it difficult for me to function in society.  I have struggled with clinical depression all of my life.  As a young child my parents used to ask me “What’s wrong with you?”  As I got older, the episodes became more frequent and darker.  I couldn’t function for days at a time.  I disappointed the people I love by not being emotionally available or physically able to participate in the normal stuff of life.\n\n\nI want to be a part of This Is My Brave in order to help de-stigmatize mental illness.  I believe that it can be conquered, in part, by talking about it and helping society to understand what it is and how it affects us.  I also believe that we should advocate for additional medical research into illnesses that affect the brain.  Many diseases have large powerful campaigns that funnel millions of dollars into research.  We deserve no less.\n\nWhat inspires you to get or stay mentally healthy?\n\nI’m inspired to stay mentally healthy because the alternative is a toxic, corrosive state of being that no one should have to endure.\n\nWhat do you hope the audience takes away from the show?\n\nI hope that members of the audience will become more comfortable with using the term mental illness.  I hope they will see that we are fairly ordinary people.  I have a mental illness and I could be your neighbor, your co-worker, or your cable guy.  I hope that members of the audience will leave the show with the belief that mental illness can be just as devastating, just as deadly, and more uncontrollable than many of the other, more well-known diseases that can afflict any of us.\n\n\nThe show is now sold out but don't worry all the stories will be available on our youtube channel ( We can't wait for you to hear George and his cast mates share their powerful stories.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8896040320396423}
+{"content": "News & Insights  |  Newsletters\n\nLetter From Insured's Receiver Noting Intent to Assert Claims Constituted Notice of Circumstances\n\nApril 2012\n\nThe United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, applying Florida law, has granted summary judgment in favor of a receiver of an insured, holding that a letter sent to the insurer during the policy period of a claims-made-and-reported directors and officers liability policy that advised of the receiver's intention to assert claims for breach of fiduciary duty against the insured constituted proper notice of circumstances under the policy, such that a later-filed complaint was deemed a claim first made under the policy. Fla. Dep't of Fin. Svcs. v. Nat'l Union Fire Ins. Co., 2012 WL 760606 (N.D. Fla. Mar. 7, 2012).\n\nThe plaintiff petitioned a Florida Circuit Court to be the receiver of the insured.  Shortly thereafter, it provided the insured's D&O carrier with a \"general liability notice of occurrence/claim\" form notifying the carrier that receivership proceedings had been initiated against the insured.  Several weeks later, the receiver sent a letter to the carrier, in which the receiver stated its \"intention to assert claims against former officers, directors and shareholders [of the insured] for wrongful acts\" and that \"[t]his letter shall also serve as a notice of circumstances which may reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim being made against any and all [insureds].\"  The letter was sent to the carrier during the policy period of the policy at issue.  The receiver later filed a complaint alleging breach of fiduciary duty after the policy period ended.  The carrier denied coverage, contending that the complaint was filed after the policy period expired.  The receiver filed a declaratory judgment action, seeking a declaration that the receivership petition, the claim form and the letter to the carrier constituted \"claims\" under the policy or a notice of circumstances such that the complaint fell within the policy's coverage.\n\nThe court first rejected the receiver's contention that the petition for receivership constituted a claim.  The court noted that, while \"claim\" is defined to include a demand for non-monetary relief, \"the petition for receivership does not allege that wrongful acts occurred\" as required by the terms of the policy.  The court further held that the claim form sent to the carrier \"does not raise a claim for a wrongful act.\"\n\nAddressing the letter sent by the receiver to the carrier, the court determined that the \"letter is not a claim as defined by the policy . . . . [as i]t makes no present demand for any action from [the carrier], such as tendering the policy limit.\"  The court, however, stated that the letter satisfied the policy's notice of circumstances provision.  The court noted that \"the letter specifically states that it is giving 'notice of circumstances' pursuant to Paragraph 7 of the policy.  It expresses [the receiver's] intention to assert claims resulting in injuries in excess of $5 million.  The letter identifies a list of wrongful acts committed by officers and/or directors for which it may seek relief.\"  The court also rejected the carrier's argument that the letter was \"boilerplate\" and did not identify the required \"full particulars\" of the potential claim, stating that \"[b]y its very nature, a notice of circumstances will be less specific than an actual claim.\"  Accordingly, the court granted the receiver's summary judgment motion.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6007316708564758}
+{"content": "A giant neuron was found wrapped around the entire brain circumference\n\nFor the first time, scientists have detected a giant neuron wrapped around the entire brain circumference of a mouse, and it is so closely connected across both hemispheres that it could finally explain the origins of consciousness.\n\nUsing a new imaging technique, the team detected the giant neuron emanating from one of the best-connected regions of the brain, and said it could be to coordinate signals from different areas to create a conscious thought.\n\nThis newly discovered neuron is one of the three that has been detected for the first time in a mammalian brain, and the new imaging technique could help us determine if similar structures have gone unnoticed in our own brain since centuries.\n\nAt a recent meeting of brain research through the advancement of innovative neurotechnology initiative in Maryland, a team at the Allen Institute for Brain Science described how the three neurons extend across both hemispheres of the brain, and the larger one wraps around the circumference of the organ like a “crown of thorns.”\n\n\nPrincipal Investigator Christof Koch told Nature’s Sara Reardon that he had never seen neurons in the two brain regions before.\n\nCuriously, the three giant neurons come from a part of the brain that has shown intriguing connections to human consciousness in the past – the claustrum, a thin layer of gray matter that could be the most connected structure in the entire brain, based on the volume.\n\nThis relatively small area is hidden between the inner surface of the neocortex at the center of the brain communicating with almost all regions of the cortex to achieve many higher cognitive functions such as language, long-term planning and advanced sensory tasks such as vision and hearing.\n\n“Advanced brain imaging techniques that examine the white matter fibers circulating to and from the claustrum reveal that it is a large neural central station,” Koch wrote for Scientific American in 2014. “Almost all regions of the cortex send fibers to the cloister. “\n\nThe claustrum is so closely related to several crucial areas in the brain that Francis Crick renamed this double DNA helix a “consciousness driver” in a 2005 paper co-authored with Koch.\n\nThey suggested that he link all our external and internal perceptions into one unifying experience, as a conductor synchronizes an orchestra, and strange medical cases in recent years have reinforced this suggestion.\n\nIn 2014, a 54-year-old woman was admitted to the Medical Faculty Associates of George Washington University in Washington, DC, for treatment for epilepsy.\n\nThis involved gently probing different areas of her brain with electrodes in order to refine the potential source of her epileptic seizures, but when the team began to stimulate the woman’s claustrum, she discovered that she could actually ‘disconnect’ his consciousness.\n\nHelen Thomson reported for New Scientist at the time:\n\n“When the team touched the area with high frequency electrical impulses, the woman lost consciousness, she stopped understanding and stared into space, she did not respond to auditory or visual commands and her breathing slowed down. As soon as the stimulation stopped, she immediately regained consciousness without remembering the event. The same thing happened every time the area was stimulated during the two days of experiments. “\n\nAccording to Koch, who was not involved in the study, this type of abrupt and specific stopping and starting of consciousness had never been seen before.\n\nAnother experiment in 2015 examined the effects of claustrum injury on the awareness of 171 combat veterans with traumatic brain injury.\n\nThey found that claustral damage was associated with the duration, but not the frequency, of unconsciousness, suggesting that it could play an important role in the activation and deactivation of conscious thought, but another region could be involved in its maintenance.\n\nAnd now, Koch and his team have discovered extended neurons in the mouse brain emanating from this mysterious region.\n\nIn order to map neurons, researchers usually need to inject individual nerve cells with a dye, cut the brain into thin sections, and then trace the path of the neuron by hand.\n\nThis is a surprisingly rudimentary technique for a neuroscientist, and since they must destroy the brain in the process, it can not be done regularly on human organs.\n\nKoch and his team wanted to develop a less invasive technique and design mice that could have specific genes in their claustral neurons activated by a specific drug.\n\n“When the researchers fed the mice a small amount of medication, only a handful of neurons got enough to activate these genes,” says Reardon in Nature.\n\n“This resulted in the production of a green fluorescent protein that spread throughout the neuron.” The team then took 10,000 transverse images of the mouse brain, and used a computer program to create a 3D reconstruction of the brain. only three bright cells. “\n\nWe need to keep in mind that just because these new giant neurons are connected to the claustrum does not mean that Koch’s hypothesis on consciousness is correct – we are far from proving it.\n\nIt is also important to note that these neurons have only been detected in mice so far, and the research has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal, so we have to wait for further confirmation before we can really study this discovery for what it means for humans.\n\nBut this discovery is an intriguing piece of the puzzle that could help make sense of this crucial but enigmatic region of the brain, and how it might relate to the human experience of conscious thought.\n\nThe research was presented at the February 15 meeting of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies initiative in Bethesda, Maryland.\n\n» Medical » A giant neuron was found wrapped around the entire brain circumference", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9990056157112122}
+{"content": "Agree to the BRAIN TRAIN Rules and Regulations\n\nThe BRAIN TRAIN High School Entrance Review Guide\n\n\n\n  1. Students who are absent on the first day will automatically be dropped out. Introductions are made during the first day, and if a student misses this, his succeeding days are very much affected. This is why BRAIN TRAIN refuses the enrolment of any student who intends to be absent during the first day.\n  2. NEVER lend or give away your BRAIN TRAIN review manual. BRAIN TRAIN’s materials are all copyrighted, and we are very serious in catching and penalizing offenders (In case you witness someone lending or giving out his BRAIN TRAIN materials, please report the incident to us immediately; we will gladly compensate you for your concern)\n  3. Only students with complete attendance will be allowed to take the Simulations. Those with absences will only be allowed to take the exam AFTER attending make-up classes (which could be in another venue in another town).\n  4. BRAIN TRAIN reserves the right to drop out a student who has missed at least six (6) hours of his BRAIN TRAIN lessons.\n  5. Tardy students will not be accepted in class if they are late by 15 minutes or more. He may, however, wait to attend the next period.\n  6. Five minutes before classes begin, parents/guardians are no longer allowed to be within the classroom vicinity. During classes, parents are NOT allowed to disturb the ongoing class. They may discuss with the review assistant or call the office. They may also send a letter, or arrange a scheduled meeting with a teacher. Teachers’ schedules during the review period are very tight.\n  7. All deficiencies (review fee balance, ID picture, and signed review course agreement) should have been settled by the second meeting at the latest. BRAIN TRAIN reserves the right to drop out a student who would not comply.\n  8. Always refer to the review schedule as BRAIN TRAIN tries to really adhere to it, thus classes will be postponed only under extreme circumstances (e.g. strong typhoon). In such cases, BRAIN TRAIN students and parents will be notified via text message AND e-mail. If no text message OR email from BRAIN TRAIN is received, it is safe to assume that classes will push through.\n  9. If there is a scheduled class on a holiday, it will push through unless otherwise announced.\n  10. BRAIN TRAIN office hours (Los Baños and Sta. Rosa offices) are 8:00 am-12:00 noon and 1:00-5:00 pm, Mondays to Saturdays (BRAIN TRAIN partner schools might NOT be open on Saturdays). Please call or visit us only during these times.\n  11. BRAIN TRAIN does NOT guarantee that all of its students will pass his chosen high school. Be suspicious of any review center that makes outrageous promises. Remember that the best schools have a limited number of slots, thus getting a high score is no guarantee of getting admitted (only the ones with the highest  scores will be admitted). However, BRAIN TRAIN guarantees that its determined students will have a huge advantage over non-BRAIN TRAIN students.\n\n  12. BRAIN TRAIN does NOT claim that the questions tackled during the review are the ones that will actually appear in his high school entrance tests; that would have been leakage. This is why BRAIN TRAIN teachers will keep on telling students NOT to focus on the questions on the manual but rather on the concepts, as there are a hundred ways of asking questions based on only one concept. Principles, application, and comprehension will be emphasized, NOT memorization. Students who focus solely on our review questions (not the principles behind them) will surely find the actual test very difficult (they will be startled at the entirely “new” questions).\n\n  13. Preliminary and Final (UPRHS and PSHS) Simulations will be administered to assess a student’s readiness and chances of passing his entrance examinations, as well as to give him a feel of an entrance test environment.\n  14. Two (or three, for the PSHS Review) student assessment reports will be given to parents (check out the review schedule for the release date). This will be either claimed personally or received via email, depending on the preference of the parents (as indicated in the assessment report claim stub). BRAIN TRAIN will text, call, or email parents for any unclaimed assessment reports. It is important for parents to see their child’s assessment report as early as possible for them to immediately recognize their child’s strengths and weaknesses.\n\n\n  2. NEVER write your answers on your review manual. Instead, write your answers on your notebooks for you to preserve handouts for reviewing at home. Remember to write the title of the test or exercise, and during checking, write the correct answer beside every wrong answer. This will then serve as your own answer key.\n  3. Remember that this is just a review, so expect that several topics that will be discussed here have already been taught at your respective schools. It would be very futile for us to discuss “advance lessons that will not appear in your high school entrance tests.\n  4. The fact that this is just a review is also the reason why in most cases, you will be asked to answer a Practice Test first BEFORE the teacher discusses the lessons. The Practice Tests gauge how much you have learned from your respective schools, and to later on refresh and clarify your forgotten or confusing school lessons.\n\n\nWARNING: Despite the availability of BRAIN TRAIN make-up classes, we DISCOURAGE students from abusing this privilege and being absent from their regular classes for trivial reasons (vacations, outings, etc.). Although each BRAIN TRAIN teacher tries to make his lectures and discussions uniform for all classes, inevitable circumstances (such as the students’ collective aptitude and discipline, etc.) usually make each lecture and discussion different from one class to another. Thus, a student attending make-up classes might not understand parts of the discussion, or might find that the lessons are advance or delayed as compared with the lessons in his\nregular section.\nStep 1: Check (on your class schedule) the date when you were absent. List down all the subjects, reviewer numbers, or topics you missed.\nStep 2: Visit and go to Schedules and Venues > Detailed Schedules > High School Entrance Review 2018. Click the links of the schedules of other batches to download them. Look for all that you missed in these schedules (take time to study each section as the schedule of each section may differ greatly from\nthose of other sections of the same batch). Choose the venue, section, and schedule that is suited for you.\nStep 3: Obtain a Make-up Form from any BRAIN TRAIN staff (NOT from a teacher). Fill out the make-up slip properly. There is NO need for you to call up BRAIN TRAIN and ask for permission to attend make-up classes.\nStep 4: Arrive at least 15 minutes early on your chosen venue and schedule and notify any BRAIN TRAIN staff (NOT teacher) that you will be taking make-up classes and in which section. Ask to be assisted in looking for a seat, etc. Do NOT be late or do NOT arrive just in time, as this will disrupt the students of the regular class.\nStep 5: After each class, take the initiative to ask the teacher to sign your Make-up Form before he goes out. Do NOT expect the teacher to remind you to do this. Failure to get his signature is equivalent to NOT having taken the makeup classes yet.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8956900238990784}
+{"content": "English (United Kingdom)  Russian (CIS)\n\n\nE-ISSN 2310-3450\n\nPublication frequency – issued 2 times a year.\nIssued from 2013.\n\nPublishing Ethics\n\n\n  • Data fabrication and falsification:\n\nData fabrication means that the researcher did not actually perform the study but instead made up data. Data falsification means that the researcher did the experiment, but then changed some of the data. Both of these practices make people distrust scientists. If the public is mistrustful of science, then it will be less willing to provide funding support.\n\n  • Plagiarism:\n\nTaking the ideas and work of others without giving them credit is unfair and dishonest. Copying even from one sentence from someone else’s manuscript, or even one of your own that has previously been published, without proper citation is considered plagiarism—use your own words instead.\n\n  • Multiple submissions:\n\n\n  • Redundant publications (or ‘salami’ publications):\n\nThis means publishing many very similar manuscripts based on the same experiment. It can make readers less likely to pay attention to your manuscripts.\n\n  • Improper author contribution or attribution:\n\nAll of the listed authors must have made a significant scientific contribution to the research in the manuscript and have approved all its claims. Do not forget to list everyone who made a significant scientific contribution, including students and laboratory technicians.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9987891912460327}
+{"content": "Week Eleven!\n\nNearly there, but the end is still elusive.\n\nThe animator letters project\n\n\nA really inspirational site. Take some time to read through these letters. There is a wealth of wisdom and inspiration within.\n\nAnimation Workflow tips and tricks\n\nOne of the things I’ve learned since I’ve been working in the animation industry is the importance of having a good workflow. Anything that you can do to minimize repetitive tasks or accessing of menu items will speed you up.\n\nA nice little post with some good information. A couple of items are somewhat out of date now (ie Autotangent script). But the rest is timeless.\n\nViewing free hotkeys\n\nThis is a bit of an asside, but I thought it was a neat trick that some might not know. A quick way to see which hotkeys are unmapped and open for use. Chuck some scripts on those keys! :)\n\nUsing body language\n\nBody language is the non-verbal movements we make as a part of how we communicate, from waving hands to involuntary twitching of facial muscles.\n\nBody language is essential for getting across the feeling of a character. It’s subtle and the difference between a puppet and convicing performance. Here is some useful information to get into your polishing.\n\nFlat = Funny. Depth = Dramatic\n\nA big part of what makes us feel like we should laugh at a scene or take it seriously is the visual cues that are used within the sequence. So one of the easiest ways to ensure the audience reacts to your story in the intended way is to use the right kind of visual language.\n\nA cool write up from a storyboarding perspective on the visual language of comedy and drama. Some good framing and story advice.\n\nContrast in Animation\n\nContrast is obviously not one of the original principles of animation, but it can be found in many of them. Lets explore some of them.\n\nA short write up on constrast in animation, and…\n\nHow do animators use contrast?\n\nContrast. Working as an animator you hear that word a lot. It is far-reaching umbrella term that influences every other animation mechanic, and thus to crop up in conversation frequently when animators converge to dork out on the fundamentals of making things move. Contrast is our friend. Let’s get better acquainted!\n\n…a slightly longer one!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6716972589492798}
+{"content": "Saturday, 21 November 2015\n\nPreparing Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency for Banking Jobs and Competitive Exams\n\nData Interpretation is one of the easy as well as scoring sections of IBPS Examinations. It is an extension of Mathematical skill and accuracy. In the IBPS scenario, it has become important because more often than not, the Bank officers have voluminous data in different forms, from which they are required to churn out information and help the concerned authorities in formulating policy decisions.\nData Interpretation tests your speed, decision making capability and analyzing data. It consists of a good number of graphs, charts and tables from which you will have to analyze data. The key to cracking this area is to quickly identify the key pieces of data that you will require to work on the questions asked. It is not unknown for question-setters to try and bewilder students with a large amount of data, most of it unnecessary. As a rule, the more the data presented, the easier the questions that follow, so don't lose heart if you see a table with 10 columns occupying one whole page. On the other hand, several seemingly innocuous questions may stump you.\n\nDifferent Data Forms\nThe different data forms that usually confront the students are\n\nTable Graphs\nTables are often used in reports, magazines and newspaper to present a set of numerical facts. They enable the reader to make comparisons and to draw quick conclusions. It is one of the easiest and most accurate ways of presenting data. They require much closer reading than graphs of other forms and hence are difficult and time consuming to interpret. One of the main purposes of tables is to make complicated information easier to understand. The advantage of presenting data in a table is that one can see the information at a glance.\n\nPie Charts\n\nBar Graphs\nBar graphs represent data in the form of columns or bars. Bar graphs can be horizontal or vertical. The length of the bar is proportional to the data value represented by it.\n\nLine Graphs\nLine graph represents data in the form of straight lines that connect various data values. Both line graphs and bar graphs are used to convey same things and hence can be used inter-changeably. For example, a line graph can be generated by joining the tip of the bar graph.\n\nIn caselets, the mathematical data is represented in the form of a paragraph. Hence extracting data and establishing relationships between different data values becomes difficult. However caselets are very popular with the examiners.\n\nCombined Data Sets\nData is represented in two or more different types of data sets. It could be combination of a table and a graph or two or more similar graphs. You may have to correlate the data in different data sets to solve these questions. Thus interpreting data takes time. These type of sets are very commonly asked. However based on experience, we feel that that if such a set comes in IBPS Bank Jobs exam, then it would not be heavy on data and be an easy set to interpret with the focus on correlation of data.\n\nSome tips to score well in Data Interpretation:\n\nCareful Reading and Analyzing\nThe first and the most important step in solving any Data Interpretation question is to read the question carefully. Many a times, the data given below the graph turns out to be more important than most of the numbers in the graphs.\n\nThe next step should be to analyze the given graph/data carefully. Do not try to see the questions first and find out the answers accordingly. You will waste your time if you follow that method. Try to understand the graph. Instead do the reverse. What is the graph all about? Which years does it cover? Is the data in absolute terms or in percentage terms? What do the two axis signify? etc. Look at the statistics for each graph, chart, table or pie diagram. Look carefully at the labels. Make sure you understand the central theme of the data.\n\nWorry less about data given\n\nUnderstand the question, which might contain lots of data that is unrelated and not required for answering the questions. When you look at the question you may get discouraged by the lengthy tables or by the amount of information below the graphs. But, if you were to understand what the data is about and then look at the question, you may find that you only have to use part of the data. Don’t get disheartened by the amount of data and the only thing important is whether you can correlate the data between the graphs properly.\n\nSkip Calculative Questions\nSome questions require lots of calculation in order to be solved. These questions are known as the speed breakers. Such questions are best left alone, at least in the first round. Once you have solved all the easy questions then go to the difficult ones. If you try such questions in the first round, you will lose your precious time on them and may not be able to attempt some simple questions that may follow. Also there are many unnecessary calculations that we do, which might cost us a precious few seconds per question. Sometimes, there are many steps that can be skipped but we still do it as we are trained to solve in a step by step method. Learn to skip those steps.\n\nAttention to the minor details\nThis is related to the first step which we discussed. Sometimes, the questions will use a different unit for the question and another unit for the data. For example, the data given may be about sales volume in Millions. However, the question may ask about sales volume in lakhs. Also you should have an idea about sales volume and sales value. If you do not pay close attention to the unit, you may chose the wrong answer.\n\nSometimes there are questions which will ask us to find out some data for which information may not be available. Always be alert enough to see whether the data given is enough to answer the question or not and do not go forward with answering the questions based on assumptions. We will look into this in our next part of discussion.\n\nLets attempt one set and try to apply those steps\nThe pie chart shows the distribution of Rs 6 lakhs spent by a construction contractor on different items.\n\n1. The amount spent on cement is\n\na.    Rs.2,00,000\nb.    Rs.1,60,000\nc.    Rs.1,20,000\nd.    Rs.1,00,000\n\nTotal is Rs. 6,00,000 (=360 degrees of the circle).Cement is 72 Degrees.\nApply the ratio principle. Hence 72/360= M/6 lakhs where M is the amount spent on cement. HenceM=(72*6)/360=1.2 lakhs.\n\n2. The amount spent on labour exceeds the amount spent on steel by\n\nA.    5% of the total cost\nB.    66.66% of the total cost\nC.    12% of the total cost\nD.    15% of the total cost\n\nThere is no need to find absolute values. Just observe the degrees. The difference between Labour and Steel is 90-54 or 36 degrees. And total cost is (6 lakh=) 360 degrees.\n\nSo the percentage= 36/360 x 100 =10% of the total cost. But if the options would have omitted the word  “of the total cost”, then the answer would have been (90-54)/54 × 100= 66.66%.The base would have been the cost of steel, in that case.Notice the wrong option B to create confusion in the mind.\n\n3. The amount spent on cement and steel is what percent of the cost on supervision?\n\nA.    70%\nB.    42.94%\nC.    50%\nD.    233.33%\n\nAgain no need to find absolute values. Just observe the degrees. The total degrees is 126 on cement and steel while it is 54 for supervision. It is asking, “what percent of the total cost on supervision?”\n\nSo cost of supervision is the “base”%.. Hence the required value=(126/54) x 100 =233.33%.\n\nIf we reverse the base(take the base as cement and steel) , it becomes 42.94%. If we take the total cost as the base the value becomes 126/180 x 100=70%.If we take the total cost of three items vis-à-vis the total cost as the base, then the value becomes 180/360 x 100=50%.These are the 4 options given in the question as observed here.\n\nData sufficiency tests your skill on the amount data you require to take a decision. Quite a number  of times, you may have to arrive at a decision on the amount of data available, which might be more /less than you actually require. If  you ask your block officer under you as to “ How many families have 2 or more girls in this area” and he/she starts reeling off figures of the population of the block according to last census, infant mortality rate, families having children, population growth etc..that will not serve your purpose. The focus should be only on girl child and not children. A family can have girls and boys, but the question asks” How many families have 2 or more girls in this area”. That family can have boys, but whether it has 2 or more girls  should be the aim that you should focus on.\n\nFormat of Data sufficiency question\nThe format of the question would be something like this.\n1.    Is integer x positive?\n\n1.    x > 9\n2.    x2 > 81\n\n(A) if one statement alone but not on other statement alone is sufficient to answer the question\n(B) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked\n\nData Sufficiency questions hinge on whether a statement is sufficient to answer a question. A statement is sufficient when it guarantees exactly one answer to that question. For example, in the question:\n\nIs integer x positive?\n\nThe statement “x > 9” would be sufficient, as any number greater than 9 is also greater than 0 and therefore positive.\n\nThe statement “x2 > 81”, however, would not be sufficient, as there are two potential values of x: 9 (which gives the answer “yes, x is positive”) and -9 (which gives the answer “no, x is not positive”). The correct option is A.\n\nYour job, then, is to determine when a statement is sufficient to provide exactly one answer to the overarching question.\n\nSome tips to score well in Data Sufficiency:\nDon’t solve the question.\nData Sufficiency questions simply ask whether you COULD solve the question given the information in the statements. Don’t waste valuable time actually solving unless you are uncertain of sufficiency! Data sufficiency questions are not supposed to involve long and drawn-out calculations. If you find yourself calculating, there is probably something you’re not seeing. Remember that variables can equal a variety of values: negatives, positives, integers, fractions, zero. Don’t simplify when you don’t know what a variable can equal, and don’t assume variables are positive integers!\n\nFor “yes/no” questions,  focus on whether you are getting a firm yes or no. There is no “correct” answer. Our task is merely to determine when we have enough information. It is possible for one statement to answer the question “yes” and the other to answer the question “no” and have BOTH statements be independently sufficient.\n\nFocus on this question\n2.    Is x=4?\n\n1.X3= -64\n\n\nHere from the 1st statement we get X=-4 which answers the question that X IS NOT 4.\n\nThe 2nd statement shows that X is either 3 or -3 and hence not 4.Hence X IS NOT 4.The correct option is B. Note that NO is also an answer to a question.\n\nNote down the variables needed for answering the question BEFORE looking at the statements.\n\nTry to write down your own prediction first. It helps you to eliminate the statements more quickly if you have something to compare their information to, and forces you to spend more time thinking critically. Don’t rush this step!\n\nRemove biasness in mind.\nOnce you determine the type of question and have analyzed the information given, analyze the first two statements independently of each other. If you have used Statement 1 to answer the question, try to “forget” statement 1 when you move on to statement 2. Don’t underestimate how challenging this can be – try not to mentally “carry over” any info from one statement to the next.\nUse the process of elimination to narrow down the choices methodically.\nIf Statement 1 is sufficient, eliminate C and D. The only two options are A and B. Conversely if 1 is NOT sufficient, eliminate B. Simply by appropriately analyzing the first statement, you can eliminate two answer choices! If statement 1 is challenging for you, you can start by analyzing statement 2. If statement 2 is insufficient, then choices B can immediately be eliminated. It doesn’t matter which statement you analyze first, as long as you start by looking at them individually. Also in some , the question itself gives some of the information which you require. It might be possible that same information is rephrased and again given in one of the statements. You should reach this conclusion that “THE STATEMENT IS REDUNDANT”, and do not use that statement to answer the question.\n\nThank u for reading this article. Shared by : Pallavi Shringi Published by- Team Meritmock\n\nRead more Numerical Ability Notes for Bank Jobs in this section\n\nNo comments:\n\nPost a Comment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8089503049850464}
+{"content": "Tumpi Flow\n\nIn 2012 I decided to be a weirdo. Therefor I created the alter ego “EzinomraH”, the negative version of the concept I believed in. My positive alter ego has been “EdKe” since 2004. Through the performance persona“Tumpi Flow” they started to cooperate from 2015. This experiment have led me to find my passion. \n\nI embrace my true self as well.  Being possessed by several concepts is a matter of the “flow state”, a state of mind where space and time melt away. This has a powerful impact on an individual. It upgrades the brain capacity, creativity, and sharpens one’s focus. As an observant of  MISSION 21 I could witness it on others as well. Processing violence through the “flow state” provides victims a different point of view in their thinking.\n\nThis process has restarted. I am again where it once started. To conclude: expending the psychological box we are being categorized in, is just nutrition to my soul.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.988371729850769}
+{"content": "10-22-11 Beef Osso Bucco\n\n\nDo you have a hearty appetite? If so, then Beef Osso Bucco is a dish for you.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9995942115783691}
+{"content": "Hyatt Culinary Administrative Assistant in NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana\n\n\n\nHyatt Regency New Orleans is a 4-Diamond, luxury hotel (1,200 rooms, 200,000 sq. ft. space). The Culinary Administrative Assistant must be a highly motivated individual who is eager and ready to accept additional responsibilities when needed. This position is responsible for providing administrative support to the Executive Chef and working closely with the culinary team. Duties of this position include but are not limited to maintaining meetings schedules, supporting the purchase process, maintaining an accurate inventory of all supplies and equipment within the department, managing scheduling systems, as well supporting the Executive Chef with food cost and expenses. The ideal candidate has a friendly demeanor, the ability to learn new computer programs, can multitask and complete projects in a timely manner. This person should demonstrate exceptional customer service and problem solving skills. Organizational skills, computer proficiency, and communication skills are a must.\n\n\n* Candidates must be proficient in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint * Previous restaurant, administrative and hotel experience * Must have a positive attitude and willing to go the extra mile to exceed the expectations of both internal and external guests * 4 year college degree from accredited university\n\nPrimary Location: US-LA-New Orleans\nOrganization: Hyatt Regency New Orleans\nPay Basis: Hourly\nJob Level: Full-time\nJob: Administrative\nReq ID: NEW007820", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7392657399177551}
+{"content": "US actor set to play autistic character on stage\n\nActor Mickey Rowe has autism and is all set to act in an important role in an upcoming play in the United States. The play is titled ‘Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ and will open this year in New York.\n\nRowe will play the role of a 15-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder named Christopher. This will be the first time that an actor with autism will play a character with autism on an important professional stage.\n\nAs per data, portrayal of characters with disabilities on TV shows is very limited even though one in five Americans have some form of disability. Mickey Rowe’s role is a positive step forward and will hopefully create more roles for characters with disabilities.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9991059899330139}
+{"content": "Rexaline beauty routines\n\n\nDo you have very dry or weakened skin?\n\nVery dry or weakened skin is reactive to cold, water and heat: it feels \"tight\", tends to flake, and requires skin care products that are able to reconstruct the skin barrier, moisturise it and nourish it.\n\nIf you are 20 to 40 years old,\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHYDRA-EYEZONE Hyper-Hydrating Rejuvenating Eye Contour\n\n\n\nHydration: [+67%](1)\nDark-circles: [83%](2)\nPuffiness: [87%](2)\n\n\n\n\nHYDRA-FORCE Hyper-hydrating Rejuvenating Serum\n\n\n\nHydration: [+76%](1)\nRemodeling: [77%](2)\nReplumping: [70%](2\n\n\n\n\nHYDRA-DOSE NUTRI+Hyper-Hydrating Rejuvenating Cream\n\nA creamy, comfortable and non-greasy texture that nourishes, softens and repairs skin that is suffering\n\nMorning and evening, apply this smooth rich and silky cream on face and neck.\nRexaline Hydra Dose Nutri+, a complete anti-ageing, ultra-nourishing and moisturising balm, provides an immediate feeling of well-being.\n\nHydration: [+66%](1)\nReplumping: [83%](2)\nRepair: [90%](2)\n\n\n\nHYDRA-DIVINE Hyper-Hydrating Rejuvenatin Skin Veil\n\n\n\n\nHydration: [+45%](1)\nHealthu glow: [90%](2)\nUnifying: [87%](2)\n\n\nX-TREME FUSION Detoxifying Night Elixir\n\n\n\nWrinkles: [-58%](1)\nHydration: [+86%](2)\nRepairing: [83%](2)\nFirmness: [86%](2)\n\n\n\nHYDRA-SHOCK Hyper-Hydrating Rejuvenating Mask\n\nGive yourself a real \"SHOT\" of hydration!\n\n\n\nHydration: [+138%](1)\nRadiance: [97%](2)\nSmooting: [83%](2)\nRepulping: [83%](2)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7050924301147461}
+{"content": "Informative Speech\n\n931 Words Feb 23rd, 2013 4 Pages\n\n\nSpecific Purpose: To inform my audience about why gas prices are so high, and continue to rise.\n\nCentral Idea: Gas prices are on the rise in the US recently because of three major factors: the price of crude oil, the increase in internal regulations, and the increased demand for the gas.\n\nOrganizational pattern: Topical\n\nIntroduction I. Attention-getter: Back home, I used to spend 6 dollars to fill my car with gas. Unfortunately, today I spent 70 dollars, actually some times it goes up to 80 $ and it looks like there is a good chance for the price of gas to keep increasing. I was wondering why?\n\nII. Establish credibility: I have done some research about gas prices and why they keep changing here in the\n…show more content…\nC. It looks like the increased demand for oil is only going to continue, which, in turn, will make gas prices go higher.\n\n\nTransition signal: In conclusion, the next time you fill up your gas tank might not be cheaper, but at least you will know why you are paying more for gas.\n\nSummery: Now you know that the rise in gas prices is because of three main factors, the price rising of crude oil, continues increase in internal regulations in the United States and the huge increased demand for the product in and out side the United States.\n\nBefore I end, it looks like the cost of gas will continue to rise, I am afraid that one day one of us we will come to class riding a camel.\n\n\nBonsor, Kevin and Ed Grabianowski. \"How Gas Prices Work.\" How Stuff Works. 20 FEB 2013. .\n“Brief History”. Organization Of The Petroleum Exporting Countries, n.d. Web. 20 FEB 2013. .\nLynne Kiesling. “ Why Are Gas Prices High and Rising.” 23 Mar 2004. Knowledge Problem. 20 FEB 2013. .\nReuters. “Focus on Demand as Gasoline Prices Rise.” 27 Aug 2005. FoxNews. 20 FEB 2013. .\nReuters. “Two-Thirds of E. Coast Refiners Shutting as Hurricane Sandy Nears.” 29 Oct 2012. FoxNews. 20 FEB 2013. .\n\"What 's Causing High Gas Prices?\" WTMV. CNN, 28 Feb. 2012. Web. 20 FEB 2013. .\n\" WHAT DRIVES CRUDE OIL PRICES? \" U.S Energy Information Administration. Gov Website. 20 FEB 2013. <\n\nMore about Informative Speech", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7553240656852722}
+{"content": "\n\nThe FLAT EYESHADOW BRUSH is designed to apply eyeshadows to the entire eyelid and adjust their degree of intensity.\n\nHow to use\n\nTIPS FROM LUCIA PICA, Creative Makeup and Color Designer\n. Take some eyeshadow with the tip of the brush, then tap off excess on the back of your hand.\n. Then, apply the eyeshadow to the entire eyelid, using the wider side of the brush, and smooth from the lashes to the socket crease. For denser application, apply eyeshadow to the eyelid with the flat side of the brush.\n. To blend eyeshadow below the eye, use the thinner side of the brush and buff the colour into the lower lash line.\n\nCare instructions:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999901056289673}
+{"content": "New Online Resources for Essay Writing Skills\n\nFour online study skills resources for first year students have been created for the English Faculty by the Transkills Project. They address various aspects of essay writing and include:\n\nHow might I interpret an essay title?\n\nHow do I produce a well-structured essay?\n\nHow do I manage the process of producing an essay?\n\nHow do I write in an appropriate academic style?\n\nThey are also accessible through the English Faculty Website and the new Transkills website.\n\nThese online resources are intended to help new students make the transition between school and university. Recognizing the diversity of students’ approaches to learning and supervisors’ teaching preferences, the resources aim to avoid a single prescriptive approach, and instead offer a student-centred, flexible range of strategies to explore. The material was developed in conjunction with academic and library staff from the Faculty of English to reflect the requirements of the subject and the teaching context.\n\nWe hope that students will find the guidance helpful and approachable, and that Directors of Studies and Supervisors will find the resources a useful addition to their teaching.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999955892562866}
+{"content": "For example, you would need at least ₨240,997 (€2,861) in Florence to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ₨99,000 in Agra.\n\nDo you live in Agra? We need your help!\n\nWhat is the price of\n\nFurnished accommodation in EXPENSIVE area\n\nin Agra?\n\nMake a different comparison:\n\nCompare cost of living between cities:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999063611030579}
+{"content": "North and South Korea agree to goal of 'complete denuclearization'\n\nBy Reuters\n\n\nThe two Koreas announced they would work with the United States and China this year to declare an official end to the 1950s Korean War and seek an agreement to establish “permanent” and “solid” peace.\n\n\n\n\nEarlier, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un became the first North Korean leader since the 1950-53 Korean War to set foot in South Korea after shaking hands with his counterpart over a concrete curb marking the border in the heavily fortified demilitarized zone.\n\n\nTheir meeting comes weeks before Kim is due to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in what would be the first-ever meeting between sitting leaders of the two countries.\n\nTrump welcomed the Korean talks.\n\n\nHe later added: “KOREAN WAR TO END! The United States and all of its GREAT people should be very proud of what is now taking place in Korea!”\n\nChina welcomed the leaders’ statement and said it was willing to keep playing a proactive role in promoting political solutions on the peninsula. \n\n\nGlobal markets were lifted by hopes the summit would pave the way for the end of conflict on the Korean peninsula. Shares in Seoul briefly rose more than 1 percent to a one-month high and Japan’s Nikkei share average also gained.\n\n\n\n\nBut there has been widespread skepticism about whether Kim is ready to abandon the nuclear arsenal his country has developed for decades, justifying it as a necessary deterrent against U.S. invasion.\n\n“Everything will not be resolved in the blink of an eye,” said Kim Young-hee, a North Korean defector-turned-economist at the Korea Development Bank.\n\n“Kim Jong Un has put the ball in the U.S. court. He declared denuclearization, and promised to halt nuclear tests,” she said. “That tells us he wants the United States to guarantee the safety of his regime ... in return for denuclearization.”\n\n\n“We will make efforts to create good results by communicating closely, in order to make sure our agreement signed today before the entire world, will not end as just a beginning like previous agreements before today,” Kim said after the agreement was signed.\n\n\n\n\n“I was excited to meet at this historic place and it is really moving that you came all the way to the demarcation line to greet me in person,” Kim said, wearing his customary black Mao suit.\n\n\n\nMoon and Kim released their joint declaration before attending a dinner banquet.\n\nThe United States was hopeful talks would make progress on achieving peace and prosperity, the White House said in a statement as the two men began their summit.\n\nThe White House also said it looked forward to continuing discussions with South Korea in preparation for the planned meeting of Trump and Kim in coming weeks.\n\n\nThe United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a legacy of the Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The war pitted the South, U.N. and U.S. forces against the communist North, backed by China and Russia.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5320073962211609}
+{"content": "MAGNET Incubation Center\n\n\nThe Perks of Punting, Pivoting, and Persevering\n\n\n\nWe're here to help.\n\n\nNow you have three options:\n\nPunt - It's never fun to admit your idea won’t work, but the end of one entrepreneurial journey can be the start of another. Consider whether the circumstances are right to keep going. Do you have the cash? Are the rest of your assumptions still solid? Does your team have the energy to keep going? When you're at a crossroads, be honest with yourself. Giving way to the next thing isn't giving up.\n\nPivot - This term is used too often in business circles to describe a change of course. However, a pivot is actually a deliberate and dramatic adjustment to a business model. For example, shifting focus to businesses rather than individuals qualifies as a pivot. Selling online when you're already selling in brick-and-mortar retail is just an adjustment, not a pivot. The distinction matters because a pivot means you should reassess all of your key assumptions. Adjustments mean you're still mostly on track.\n\nPersevere - Finally, you can (and should) keep going. You might try a new way to test your assumptions or talk with more customers. You might try new ways to market or slight adjustments to your product. But this path means you're willing to keep investing in your idea, at least until you assess your next critical assumption.\n\nWhenever you learn something important about your businesses, you should honestly ask yourself whether it's time to punt, pivot, or persevere. It's a hard question, but ask it. Keep these three paths in mind and you’ll keep moving forward.\n\nNeed help turning your product idea into a growing business? Learn about our membership here.\n\nNicole Shedden", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8868193030357361}
+{"content": "Menu Nutrition And home page Blog Sitemap\n\nFood safety guidelines\n\nIt is very crucial for all of us to understand the food safety principles. Clean and safe food is what ultimately determines our health and wellness!\n\nPresent day chemicals and heavy metals rather pose a more serious threat to our health than insects, and microbes do. Just, for example, certain heavy metals in the food can enter and accumulate in our body in such a significant quantities that over the period, they might damage our immune system, can be the reason for cancers, impair nervous system function and can cause genetic abnormalities in the newborns.\n\nfood safety guidelines\nFood safety guidelines logo. Photo courtesy:\n\nMany types of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals we dispose of finally end up polluting nearby water bodies and contaminate the soil that is meant for crop cultivation. It is a typical scenario in some developing countries where water treatment facilities are in primitive conditions. Harmful chemicals such as DDT, pesticides/insecticides like Endosulfan, and heavy metals like mercury, lead, cadmium, etc., can simply gain access and embed deep inside the tissues at cellular levels in vegetables, fruits, cereals and pulses that we consume in everyday foods.\n\nSince human beings are standing mostly at the end of the food chain, much of these toxic compounds may ultimately enter our body, either directly or indirectly, in a gradual and increasing concentration (biomagnification), And, here is the catch! Larger insects/worms in the vegetable would be easily spotted and removed, while microorganisms like bacteria, virus, and ova/cysts can be destroyed by cooking at high temperatures. But, how do you rid off chemicals and toxins that reside permanently in the food we consume?\n\n\nFood Selection\n\nFood selection is certainly a challenging job; however, it is the most crucial initial step towards securing safe food. It demands the buyer to plan meticulously for a food item since many factors involved in this exercise. The customer needs to keep in mind concerning the ingredient's history; whether it is organic produce or chemicals-treated, methods employed while harvesting, mode of transportation, and marketing practices, the geography of procurement (locally grown or imported), etc. The purchasing power of the person or family, individual interest, etc., should also be worked out. All in all, a reasonable level of knowledge regarding the food item is essential since scores of food-borne diseases, ranging from minor food poisoning to serious cancers have been attributed to the kind of food we consume.\n\nHere are some tips for better food selection:\n\n\n\n  3. Buy cereals and pulses from the authentic organic farming sources.\n\n\n\n\n\nStorage of food items\n\nfood storage guidelines\nFood storage. Photo courtesy:\n\nNext, it is also important to store food items as it should remain fresh and nourishing until we consume. Improper storage would deprive food items of their nutritive value, taste and may make it vulnerable to microbial and insects attack.\n\nHere are some strategies for proper food storage:\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFood processing\n\nFood processing should be done meticulously although it demands time and patience; food safety is your priority. Right! Preparation of food should be planned beforehand regarding time, cost, variety, and the number of people to cook.\n\n  1. Food items, especially fruits and vegetables should be washed in clean running water to remove surface dirt, chemicals, and microbes. Cut items should not cleaned again as it results in loss of nutrients.\n\n  2. Soaking cereals, pulses, and beans in clean water for at least 30 minutes before cooking helps to initiate enzymatic activity, increases nutritive value, digestibility and decreases cooking time and saves energy. Germination (sprouting) of cereals and pulses enhance their nutritive value by enrichment of vitamins and enzymes.\n\n\n\n\n  6. Here are some tips for safe frying;\n\n\n\n\n\n<<-Back to Nutrition articles from Food safety.\n\nFurther reading and References:\n\nU.S. Department of Agriculure-Food Safety guideline.\n\n≺ Prev Next ≻", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.671690821647644}
+{"content": "There is perhaps nothing quite as exciting or important, as learning something about ourselves, be it positive or negative. How can we possibly hope to discover new and potentially interesting destinations if we have little or no real idea of who we are and why? How can we possibly ensure the productive evolution of our perception without a clearer vision of ourselves and a better understanding of the manner in which we choose to look at our environment and that of others?\n\nThis process requires profound and prolonged introspection and constant, sincere interaction with others. It is both painful and pleasurable. It requires integrity and a thick skin. It is the source of all real adventure and the beginning of an understanding of the human condition. It is, therefore, fundamental to all forms of progress.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.934948205947876}
+{"content": "St John's College, Woodlawn\n\n\"Tenete Traditiones\" -\"hold fast to the traditions\"\n\nLocated by the Willson River, on the out-skirts of the thriving city of Limsore, St John's College Woodlawn is a school with values of catholic faith and living to your full potential. A school full of opportunities and support; of learning and of belonging. A school where you have the power to be yourself. Does this sound like the school for you (or your child)? If so, read on.\n\nAbout Us-\n\nA Brief History\n\nThe school you see today was founded in 1931, and owes that to the visions of Bishop John Carroll, who would later have a house named after him; the kindness of Magaret Buckley, who donated the land; and the commitment of the Marist Fathers, who made the move from New Zeland to get the school started, at the invitation of Bishop Carroll.\n\nAt first, it was an agricultural college, a boarding and day school for boys only, however it is no longer a boarding school and in 1996, it became a co-ed school.\n\nMarist Charism\n\nThe word Marist comes from the name Mary, who is the mother of christ.\n\nMarist charism is a sense of family, simplicity, presence and love of work.\n\nThe community that is St John's embraces these characteristics by giving support when it is needed; genuinely caring for each individual student; encouraging students to perform to the highest of their abilities; and sharing in Mary's work of bringing the life of Christ to it's students, and allowing it to grow and flourish in them.\n\nThe Symbols, Motto and Crest of Woodlawn\n\nThe college crest is an important symbol to the school, as speaks of Woodlawn's past and strength. The monogram, \"A.M.\" represents the words, \"Ave Maria\", which is latin, and translates to \"Hail Mary\". The star, which is a symbol of Mary too, embodies our hope and comfort through life. Together, they show that we are a Marist school.\n\nThe eagle is a symbol of St John the evangelist.\n\nThe motto, \"Tenete Traditiones\", is taken from St Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, which reads: \"God called you to this through the Good News we preached to you; He called you to posses your share of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, our brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions which we taught you, both in our preaching and our writing\". (2 Thess. 2:14-15).\n\nThe Colours and Houses of Woodlawn\n\nWoodlawn has three main colours, with Kennedy's blue, only being a house colour.\n\nGreen- symbolises hope for eternal life. Green is the colour of Carroll House.\n\nCarroll House- is named after Bishop Carroll, founder of the college. It was his decision to establish a college at Woodlawn.\n\nRed- symbolises love for Christ. Red is the colour of Segrief House.\n\nSegrief House- is named after Father Thomas Segrief, S.M., Woodlawn's first rector.\n\nGold- symbolises loyalty to christ, the king. Gold is the colour of Bell House.\n\nBell House- is named after Father James Bell, Woodlawn's second rector.\n\nKennedy House- whose colour is blue. Kennedy is named after Father John Kennedy, S.M., Woodlawn's third rector.\n\nImportant Events\n\nSome of our very important events include; The opening mass, which is a very spiritual event that marks the beginning of the new school year; The not-to-be-missed swimming carnival, in which the four houses battle it out for the title of \"Swimming Carnival Champions\"; The exciting cross country, which stretches up to 5km into the nearby hills; And St John's Youth Day, when year 12 takes over the school.\n\nEvents that have taken place in the past include formals, opening masses, swimming carnivals and other sporting events. As you can see, many of these events we continue to honour today.\n\nWhat We Have to Offer\n\n\nWoodlawn is absolutely sport mad. If you're not into rugby, you're into netball, and if you're not into netball, you're into soccer, and if you're not into soccer, you're into tennis, and really, it goes on just like that.\n\nWoodlawn has a very wide range of sports, including: water polo, gymnastics, tennis, dance, yoga, ten pin bowling, striking and throwing skills and golf, just to name a few.\n\nYou also have the opportunity to represent the school in sports such as soccer, basketball, football, netball and cricket.\n\n\nThrough Woodlawn, students are able to participate in TOM, a problem solving programme teams of students from years 5-10; Duke of Edinburgh, a non-competitive program of self-development for 14-25 year olds; Our media and journalism unit, called SNAZZI; Even chess, and while at Woodlawn, many more opportunities open up.\n\nWoodlawn Open Night\n\nWednesday, May 7th, 6:30pm\n\n203 Woodlawn Rd\n\nWoodlawn, NSW\n\nA night to view our school and it's facilities.\n\nFor more on the schools enrolment procedure, click here.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.593700110912323}
+{"content": "Got Questions?\n\nWe figured you might.\n\nWe have spooled a few popular questions about StrongKey and the Tellaroâ„¢ and listed them below, but if you don’t see your question here, please don’t hesitate for a second to drop us a line.\n\nWhy do you call it the Tellaro?\n\nAs the story goes, on a stormy night in 1660, the town of Tellaro slept peacefully. The sea was so rough that no one expected danger to be fast-approaching on the horizon. Though the seas raged, a band of pirates led by Rooster Arenzano forged through the storm in an all-out, surprise attempt to attack and loot the town of Tellaro that very night. The pirates, however, couldn’t account for all the things fate had in store for them on that stormy night. To their dismay, the seas were not the biggest adversary, but instead, something else lurking beneath its waters. As they neared the shore of the sleepy town, an enormous octopus climbed out of the water and up a church belfry to escape the turbulent seas. In its ascent, the great creature began to ring the bells. The citizens of Tellaro, recognizing the alarm, took to the streets to defend the village and drove off the pirate attack. After their victory, they looked upward at the church tower, eager to rally around their hero, expecting to find a fellow citizen or guard who had rung the bells. Instead, their gaze landed on a the massive octopus, the unexpected protector of all they held dear.\n\nWhat happens if I lose my FIDO security key?\n\nA neat thing about FIDO technology is that it enables the use of multiple security keys to access your account. You can have multiple keys registered to your account on the Tellaro, put one on your keychain and the second in a locked drawer at home, the third in the office, etc., as backups. Even if you lose one, you can always use a backup key to access your account, delete the key associated with the lost security key and continue working with the backup key as your primary key. You can then replace the lost security key with a new one and register it to your account.\n\nEven if you lost all your security keys to your account, StrongKey has built in Two-step Verification to send a PIN to your mobile phone or registered e-mail address on the account. Using this PIN, you can register a new security key to your account.\n\nFinally, the Tellaro Kit contains tamper evident envelopes where your Tellaro Administrator’s security key  is stored; using this key, you can delete registered keys associated with your account and have the Tellaro Administrator send you a new registration link for use with a new security key.\n\nCan this protect against ransomware?\n\nThe StrongKey Tellaro leverages multiple technologies to protect you from ransomware. Firstly, FIDO strong-authentication requires the use of a hardware token (that cannot be accessed by remote attackers).\n\nSecondly, the FIDO protocol requires that the human attempting to authenticate to a web-application be physically present in front of computer to satisfy FIDO’s “test of user presence” requirement in the protocol.\n\nThird, StrongKey has integrated with the popular open-source MediaWiki software (which runs websites like with our FIDO Sign-On (FSO) web-application to enable the use of FIDO strong-authentication to access the wiki. If you were to install and use MediaWiki on one of your computers to store your content and files, ransomware will be unable to access, modify and delete files on the wiki without the FIDO Security Key and the test-of-human-presence as mandated by FIDO protocols. This transactional security ensures that ransomware will be unable to harm StrongKey’s customers.\n\nWhy do I need to have a physical box?\n\nStrongKey has learned – and believes – that your security must be anchored to something within your control. In the real world, the security of our safe-deposit locker is anchored in the bank’s security infrastructure and policies, while your control is established through contract and the physical possession of one of the two keys that can open the locker. Similarly, access to your bank account at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) is established through the physical possession of an ATM bank-card in your wallet.\n\nSimilarly, the security of Tellaro relies upon the the cryptographic hardware module on the box, combined with your possession of multiple Security Keys to active the Tellaro’s security features (even upon every reboot of the Tellaro. This security feature protects your data even if a Tellaro box is stolen from your premises – we do recommend keeping it out of sight in a safe location at the office).\n\nStrongKey believes the Cloud offers many benefits; but trusting the Cloud with all your security would be similar to trusting the Bank with both keys to your safe-deposit locker. This is the reason why the Tellaro was designed as an “on-premises” solution.\n\nOkay, then what happens if my box dies?\n\nWe plan on selling our solution in a “highly available kit.” This is a package of two duplicate boxes, such that if one goes down, the second is running a duplicate mirror of the first. Service is not lost, and StrongKey will replace the downed box within 24-48 business hours.  \n\nOkay, but what if both of those boxes die? Say, my office catches on fire.\n\nFor the vast majority of our users, a highly-available kit will suffice. For those who want the ultimate in backup, we recommend buying an additional node as part of the cluster and storing it in a place separate from a main office. This can be in a fireproof locker, or at a home office.  The encrypted keys as well as encrypted data from the Mini will be replicated to the StrongKey Cloud continuously and can be restored to the third, off-line node within hours of a disaster.  Such Business Continuity capability has been available only to enterprises in the past, but is now available to SMBs through StrongKey. \n\nHow is this different from Dropbox?\n\nConsider this analogy: Suppose you are working with a real estate agent to buy a new house. Upon closing on your house, your agent brings you a bottle of Champagne to celebrate, as well as copies of your keys to let you into your place. But as she hands you them, she tells you that she’s also going to keep a copy of those keys. “Don’t worry — you can trust me,” she insists. But you know that someone out there has a duplicate of your keys, and could let herself in should she wish, let the police in if they pressured her, or lose those keys and have a criminal pick them up.\n\nThis is a rough approximation of what Dropbox does with your data. Yes, it may be encrypted, but the keys to unlock that encryption exist with Dropbox! If subpoenaed, they can turn over your data. Theoretically, their employees could look at your data. Or, Dropbox themselves could be hacked.\n\nStrongKey is different because you, and only you, have control of your keys.\n\nWhat kind of encryption does StrongKey use?\n\nWe encrypt data and documents with an AES 256-bit (this is a NIST-approved standard) symmetric key – which the industry calls a “Data Encryption Key” or “DEK.”\n\nWe encrypt the DEK with a RSA 2048-bit (this is also a NIST-approved standard) asymmetric key – this key is generally called a “Key Encrypting Key” or “KEK”;\n\nWe then protect the KEK with a RSA 2048-bit Master Key, which is generated and stored in a cryptographic hardware module – the TPM (or “Trusted Platform Module”). Currently, we are working with a Common Criteria (CC – a security standard agreed to by many OECD countries including the US) certified TPM, but in 2018, we expect to start shipping units that are not only Common Criteria certified, but are also US Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) certified TPMs.\n\nTo activate the TPM upon a restart of the appliance, it requires digital signatures from multiple key-custodians. The digital signatures are created by RSA 2048-bit keys held in the custody of the Key Custodians.  Without these keys that create the “activation digital signatures”, the box is useless (to a thief or attacker) – the TPM will not function; if it does not function, the Master Key cannot be used to decrypt the KEK; which in turn cannot be used to decrypt the DEK, which in turn cannot be used to decrypt the data or document;\n\nEvery document that is encrypted is also digitally signed using a “Document Signing Key” or “DSK”.  The digital signature on the document ensures that its integrity is preserved and attacks cannot be carried out by modifying the meta-data on the document to have the box decrypt a document for an unauthorized person.\n\nSo, while this scheme sounds complex and horrible, this is what allows our appliances to scale up to 50M keys for StubHub, while ensuring extremely high levels of security that satisfy Central Banks Security Officers and their Auditors. This identical security – which has been in the enterprise appliance for the last 7-8 years – will be available to the SMB, in the Mini, at 1/10th the price of the enterprise appliance.  That’s what makes it unprecedented.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8470906019210815}
+{"content": "Tech Mahindra to Develop AI and Blockchain Solutions in Canada\n\nTo invest CAD 100 mn in Canada over the next five years\n\n\nTech Mahindra has announced a strategic investment in Canada. An investment of CAD 100 million dollars is planned over next 5 years to establish a new ‘Center of Excellence’ (COE) in Canada.\n\nThe announcement comes as the Prime Minister of Canada, The Right Honorable Justin Trudeau visits India to promote enhanced bilateral collaboration between Canada and India.\n\nThis strategic initiative will focus on major technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain, which are driving innovation across industries and will cater to the exponentially growing need for AI and Blockchain application especially in the ‘Fintech’ and ‘Smart Cities’ spaces. It will pave the way for Canadians and Indians to access cutting-edge technology, while creating a niche talent pool and job opportunities in next-gen technology areas.\n\nTech Mahindra’s expanded Canadian presence will help foster stronger connections with the Canadian innovation ecosystem, both in the business community and in academia. Canada is a natural choice for the COEs given its innovation culture, ready and skilled talent pool and vision of the connected future. Digital and AI technologies are also strategic to the Govt. of Canada and form key superclusters in the overall all economic landscape.\n\nCenter of Excellence – ‘AI and Blockchain’ – Toronto\nThis COE based out of Toronto will work on major technologies such as AI and Blockchain to lead the innovation curve globally with focus on areas like ‘Fintech’ and ‘Smart Cities’\n\nPartnership with academia and start-ups\nThe COE will focus on jointly developing cutting-edge business solutions in Digital Technologies in close collaboration with the leading academic institutes, innovators and accelerators in the start-up ecosystem like the Vector Institute.\n\nTags assigned to this article:\ntech mahindra ai Blockchain Solutions canada\n\n\nAround The World", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996406435966492}
+{"content": "Law in Contemporary Society\n\nUsing Law and Social Control to Improve Islam's Image in America\n\n-- By KhurramDara - 15 Feb 2012\n\nWhen the Park51 project, commonly referred to as the \"Ground Zero Mosque\" was being protested just a couple of years ago, there was a sign that I saw a protestor holding. Initially, it had caught my eye because of how many words had been scrunched onto this little piece of cardboard. The sign said \"All I Need to Know About Islam I Learned on 9/11.\"\n\nFor that man holding the sign, and for the many others, 9/11 was a natural consequence of Muslims carrying out Islam. For them, Islam is inherently promotes violence. While the rhetoric may appear extreme to some, the combination of organization and money, in conjunction with the fact that there are terrorists carrying out heinous acts supposedly in the name of Islam, can have an actual impact on our politics. It could explain why Congress held hearings on Muslims in America, why 22 state legislatures considered passing anti-Sharia legislation, or why the NYPD has been surveilling college students across the country.\n\nAmerican Muslims have employed two primary ways of combating this anti-Muslim sentiment. First, we want to educate other Americans about Islam; a cooperative approach. The second is organized protest and litigation; an adversarial approach.\n\nEducation is one form of coalition building. The use of inter-faith panels, for example, can bring your allies together so that an organized support structure is in place. But what about the gentleman holding the sign in the streets? Education will not touch him. It's effectiveness hinges, in part, on one's willingness to learn. The protestor with the sign is not going to the local community center for the next inter-faith meeting. In fact, he told us where he learned--it was what he saw on 9/11. And what about the average American? If they have no real interest in Islam or religion generally, it will probably be a tough sell to get them to join in the educational process.\n\nWhat about the second approach? A protest or a counter-protest can be a sign of strength. But again, there is a targeting issue. Typically, you aren't protesting with the expectation of persuading the opposition; your target is the independent and uncommitted. So here you lose the man with sign again. Similarly, it's unclear how we would convince an average American to be interested in the subject.\n\nAnd the law? We are entitled to practice our faith freely in the United States. A lawsuit to enjoin a local government from preventing the building of a place of worship could work at achieving the short-term objective: building a mosque. But a court order, for example, is unlikely to persuade naysayers that the result is the right one.\n\nFor those who have negative perceptions of Muslims, Islam is an abstract ideology, to be discussed in generality. It is not specific, never a person. For social control to succeed, it must be able to appeal to the non-rational, unconscious motives of humans.\n\nThis is not to say that our existing approaches are not important (litigation can be necessary, especially in the scope of hate crimes or discrimination). The approach needs to be one that combines, not replaces existing approaches with other forms of social control. In fact, our need for the legal system may actually be indicative of the sparse use of other forms of social control by American Muslims. Professor Donald Black proposes that there is an inverse relationship between law (government social control) and other forms of social control. With this model, if we increase our use of other forms of social control, it follows that we should have less of a need for litigation, as an example).\n\nThis is plausible. Consider human relationships, whether they are personal or professional. They build a level of comfort and connection between people. Having a Muslim coworker or a Muslim neighbor, can make Islam more than some \"ideology,\" or some abstract thing. It can make it a person. A Jewish or Christian American's perception of Islam, can be shaped by his relationship with an individual Muslim. A person who is friends with a Muslim won't come to understand Islam by reading a book or taking a class about it. And if someone is attacking or discriminating their friend because of his faith, their defense won't be rooted in a technical understanding of Islam and won't include a rhetorical assault on the discriminating parties misguided or poorly constructed argument for why Islam is evil. The defense won't be rational, it will be emotional--\"he's my friend,\" or \"he's my coworker,\" or \"he's my neighbor.\" The more known and engaged American Muslims are in a particular community, the less likely it is that there will be issues of discrimination or protest regarding Muslims. Subsequently, the need for litigation in this context would go down.\n\nOf course, there is the point to be made that Muslims make up only a small portion of the United States population, and therefore, this approach is limited in its scope. While this is true, we aren't limited to merely using personal connections as a form of social control. We can also use popular culture. The likes of Muhammed Ali, Fareed Zakaria, and Lupe Fiasco have certainly humanized Islam for many. An attitude that embraces, rather than blindly rejects, American culture will increase the likelihood that more American Muslims grow up to become highly successful in a number of fields.\n\nThis is a successful rewrite. It required substantial effort, but you now have a clear, coherent, balanced, useful statement of your position in 992 words. You could make it tighter, bringing it down to 750 words by careful editing, which would be something useful as a newspaper Op-Ed. But you have made your point, and it's a valuable exercise whatever you do with it.\n\nSubstantively, I think you've crafted your pitch much more effectively than at the outset. I think you've explained why this isn't hostile to existing approaches, I think you've explained why it isn't some sort of objectionable \"assimilationism,\" and I think therefore you have made your approach both a real instrument in coalition building, and a shield against certain forms of extremist rhetoric. You show a few too many figure lines, with your comments on how social control works. Those are meant to prove you know what you're doing, but in this form of lawyering, showing you know what you're doing can interfere with getting it done.\n\n\nI tried cutting what I thought I could. Could maybe chuck the last paragraph, but it seems important to have as a preemptive defense to an obvious criticism.\n\n\nWebs Webs\n\nr17 - 22 Jan 2013 - 20:10:37 - IanSullivan\nThis site is powered by the TWiki collaboration platform.\nSyndicate this site RSSATOM", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.600028932094574}
+{"content": "Uber threatens to fire self-driving car engineer in trade secrets case\n\n\nEarlier on Thursday, a US District Judge ruled last week that Levandowski's use of the Fifth Amendment does not prevent Uber from firing him and that the company should not hold anything back in requiring him to reveal more details on the subject of the suspected stolen files.\n\nLevandowski was a key cog in Uber's autonomous vehicle program until demotion last month. \"The ruling said Waymo has \"shown compelling evidence\" that its former star engineer, Anthony Levandowski downloaded more than 14,000 confidential files\" before leaving Alphabet's self-driving auto unit.\n\nLevandowski left Waymo in January 2016 and started Otto, a self-driving truck startup that Uber bought for $680 million (524.9 million pounds) in August. Uber General Counsel Salle Yoo made the demand in a May 15 letter to Anthony Levandowski, citing a court order.\n\n\n\nLevandowski's lawyers stated that he was ordered by the company to meet the terms of the order to return Waymo materials or deal with likely dismissal.\n\nMore news: Donald Trump says he fired James Comey because he was 'unpopular'\n\nThe lawyers asked the judge to modify his order so that Uber is not required to fire Levandowski if the engineer asserts his constitutional rights against self-incrimination and refuses to produce documents. \"Almost fifty years of Supreme Court precedent forbid the government from putting an individual to such an unconstitutionally coercive choice\", they wrote.\n\nThe case revolves around Waymo's charges that Uber has acquired an advantage from the information Levandowski took.\n\nJudge William Alsup, who is overseeing the trial, has also previously referred the case to the USA attorney's office for a potential criminal investigation.\n\nThe arbitration would benefit Uber above all by keeping the case out of the public's eye and by containing the span of information sharing or discovery. A preliminary injunction to hinder Uber's self-driving technology development during the case has been imposed, but it's unclear to what extent.\n\nFor Uber, the bad news is far from over.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.897587776184082}
+{"content": "Cornell - Columbia STEM Workshop\n\nWe are partnering with Cornell University to provide a STEM workshop for Elementary and Middle School teachers.\n\nLocation: The Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research (Schapiro CEPSR)\n\nThe STEM workshop is a collaborative effort to provide teacher professional development in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.\n\nAttendees Receive: Certificate for 4-Hours of Professional Development, $20 Stipend, Breakfast and Lunch.\n\nRegistration For Spring 2017 Session\n\nSchedule for March 11, 2017 Event\n\n9:45am – 10:15am Registration and Breakfast\n10:20am – 10:30am Welcome and Opening Remarks\n10:30am – 11:00am Keynote Address: \n\nProfessor Michal Lipson,  – Electrical Engineering, Columbia University\n\n“Nanophotonics: How Light will Change Computing.”\n\n11:15am – 12:15pm Morning Workshop\n12:15pm  –  1:00pm Lunch\n  1:15pm – 2:15pm Afternoon Workshop\n  2:15pm Collect Stipend and PD Certificate\n\n\nWorkshops Offered for Spring 2017:\n\nEnergy Changes in Chemical Reactions\n\nHow does a chemical reaction affect temperature? Students will experiment with salts to look at Exothermic and Endothermic reactions. They will also learn about the difference between temperature and thermal energy.\n\nExploring Rocks and Minerals\n\nWhat is the difference between a rock and a mineral? Introduce your students to rocks and minerals by having them handle and observing commonly found samples. They perform different tests (color, streak, hardness) to learn about simple observable characteristics/properties used to identify rocks and minerals.\n\nForensics: The Case of the Missing Diamond Maker\n\nHow can Science help solve a murder? Have your students learn about techniques of forensic science including: fingerprint identification, chromatography, and chemistry, while also trying to solve a murder mystery.\n\nGlued Into Science: Classifying Polymers\n\nWhat is a polymer? How can we give them different properties? Get your students to design and conduct an experiment in order to classify the different forms of matter that they create through the cross-linking of polymers.\n\nWaves and Communication\n\nWhat causes a wave? Use a wave machine to engage your students in understanding the parts of a wave. Students will also build an instrument that uses sound waves to communicate information.\n\nWay, way, way down at the nanoscale\n\nWhat is nano? Get your students to better grasp the world of nano and how materials behave very differently on this scale with a few, simple hands-on activities. We will introduce a great resource for nanoscale education and present a set of related activities from the National Informal STEM Education Network ( Presented by Cornell Nanoscale Science and Technology Facility.\n\nCollaborating Outreach Offices:\nPast Keynote Presentations:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9996480941772461}
+{"content": "Advanced search    \n\nSearch: authors:\"Alexey A. Morozov\"\n\n1 papers found.\n\nAnnual variations in hepatic antioxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation in a temperate fish, common bream Abramis brama (L.)\n\nAlternation of physiological states during the annual cycle (pre-spawning mobilization, spawning energy loss, post-spawning accumulation of energy reserve, declined metabolic activity during the wintering) occurring in the wide temperature range requires high plasticity of fish defense systems. The article presents a 2-year study of hepatic antioxidant defenses and lipid...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999772906303406}
+{"content": "Posts Taged support\n\n\nPersonal Coaching\n\n\nWhat is personal coaching?\n\n\nWhat does personal coaching actually do?\n\n4 Enable someone to recognise their potential\npersonal coaching - header\n\n\nWho can benefit from personal coaching?\n\n\n\nHow do I know if personal coaching is right for me?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHow does personal coaching work at PDP?\n\n\n  • Over the phone\n  • Face-to-face in an agreed venue\n  • Skype\n\n\n\n\n5 steps to running a successful parents’ support group\n\nsuccessful parents' support group\n\n5 steps to running a successful parents’ support group\n\n\n\n\n\nHow do you engage parents in discussing their child’s inappropriate behaviour?\n\nsuccessful parent's support group\n\n\n\n5 steps to running a successful parents' support group\n\n5 steps to running a successful parent’s support group\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSTEP 3 – What’s in it for them?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n5 steps to running a successful parents' support group\n\nSTEP 5 – Gaining trust and building relationships\n\n\n\n\n\n\nsuccessful parent's support group\n\n\n\n5 steps to running a successful parents' support group\n\n Contact Paula at PDP to  plan a successful parent’s support group.\n\nMotivation Part 2\n\nBuilding on the previous blog which looked at Maslow’s study in determining why people go to work. In this article, I’m going to reflect on what makes people work hard willingly and well. In my experience it isn’t money!\n\nIn the 1960’s Frederick Hertzberg undertook a study into workplace motivation, and his findings were published under the title ‘One More Time, How Do You Motivate Employees?’ which still hold true today.\n\nHertzberg identified the following “True Motivators”\n\n1) Achievement\n\n2) Recognition\n\n3) The work itself\n\n4) Responsibility\n\n5) Advancement\n\n6) Personal Growth\n\nIn the previous article, we discussed the door to motivation being “locked from the inside”, and that the best managers can have the keys to unlock motivation in others.  As managers and leaders we need to be aware of these keys so that we can empower our colleagues to work hard willingly and well. In practice, what sort of things can we do in addition to communicating effectively with our colleagues?\n\n\n1) Achievement\n\nA successful manager will ensure staff have the resources and skills necessary to meet or exceed their objectives. It is offering support and monitoring progress towards set goals. A good manager will remove roadblocks, resourcing issues and other trivia to allow their team member to achieve.\n\n\n2) Recognition\n\nThe manager recognises the staff member’s hard work, and acknowledges this privately or sometimes publicly. Teams should be encouraged to celebrate the successful work undertaken by one of their members. This positive environment allows individuals to feel pride and confidence in their work, and will motivate them to continue producing similar results. Manager need to factor time into their diaries to actively do this. Telling someone “that’s what you’re paid for…” is a massive wasted opportunity.\n\n\n3) The Work Itself\n\nMany of us just love doing the job.   We receive enormous satisfaction from a job done well, (see link below to Dan Pink). There are plenty of people that feel this way about their role, despite the fact that managers may try to interfere in the work process, by controlling or stifling staff efforts. What might happen if managers positively challenged people to really excel? To really do the best they could?\n\n\n4) Responsibility\n\nA manager’s role to let staff get on with their tasks in a supported and resourced way. Why do some managers keep hold of particular tasks that should or could be delegated to others? Fear? The thought that they might be seen as lazy? Concern the other person might do a better job? Get the keys to motivation out! Delegate appropriate work formally with a clear explanation as to why, and ensure it’s not seen as dumping! If transferred correctly, this level of responsibility could be motivating.\n\n\n5) Advancement\n\nIn the previous blog we examined the idea that status and being seen as an expert were important reasons why some people went to work. Herzberg highlighted the possibility of advancement as a key motivating factor. For many people the challenge of progressing in a team or company, with the chance of promotion, not matter how slim or distant, encourages them to work harder and to engage more fully with tasks. Managers should make staff aware of these possibilities and how individuals can attain them.\n\n\n6) Personal Growth\n\nIt is hugely motivating to be able to do something one week that seemed impossible the week before. Personally, having learnt to plaster a piece of wall a couple of weeks ago, together with having the recognition of this achievement from others inspired me to continue developing my DIY skills. I also felt personal pride in my work. Managers need to recognise individual’s areas of personal or professional development, and offer their praise.\n\n\nHertzberg’s True Motivators are as important today as they were in 1968. The best managers and leaders know this and keep the keys close to hand. Everyone’s motivation to engage in work related tasks is slightly different, but an excellent leader can influence by using the six top True Motivators.\n\nDan Pink develops this further at the link below. My next blog will be about what dissatisfies us most at work and how the good manager can influence them.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9635050296783447}
+{"content": "Science research news Return to previous page\nArticle Released Mon-5th-March-2018 11:19 GMT\nContact: Motoko Kakubayashi Institution: Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU)\n Tiny particles hint at universe's puzzling imbalance [Asia Research News 2018 feature]\n\nNew data has provided further evidence that could explain an imbalance between the two main types of matter in the universe.\n\nImage Name\nCopyright : T2K Collaboration/KEK\nScientists from the T2K Collaboration in Japan have even stronger indication that tiny, almost massless particles called neutrinos and their counterparts, called antineutrinos, do not always mirror each other. Their work provides hints that could help explain an imbalance in the universe between matter and antimatter.\n\nNeutrinos and their antimatter partners, antineutrinos, are born from natural sources such as fusion at the centers of stars and exploding stars, or man-made sources such as nuclear power plants and high energy collisions produced at particle accelerators. They are some of the smallest and most abundant particles in the universe. They have no electric charge, nearly zero mass, and rarely interact with anything else, making them extremely difficult to detect and study. Neutrinos, like other particles that cannot be broken down into smaller components, come in three ‘flavours’: electron, muon and tau.\n\nThe massive T2K Collaboration involves more than 500 researchers from 63 institutes in 12 countries. Together, they are studying neutrinos in hopes of understanding both the mysterious particles and a major unsolved issue in physics: the imbalance between matter and antimatter, which are the corresponding partner particles to matter but with opposite charges. For most physics processes, the laws governing matter and antimatter obey a symmetry that implies the universe should contain equal amounts of matter and antimatter. However, the universe is full of objects made of matter, such as the planets and stars, and hardly any antimatter. While it is clear that this asymmetry developed very early in the history of the universe, scientists are still unsure what caused the imbalance.\n\n[Image (left)] When an electron antineutrino interacts in the Super-Kamiokande detector, it produces a positron. Since the positron is traveling faster than the speed of light in water, it produces light called Cherenkov radiation in a cone as it propagates. The detector is a cylinder with photo-sensors (light detectors) on the walls, floor and ceiling. The Cherenkov light is detected at the photo-sensors and produces a \"ring\" where it intersects with the wall. The figure shows the amount of light detected at each photosensor in the detector for this particular event.\n\nPhysicists are trying to understand why this is by looking at chargeparity (CP) violation in neutrinos and antineutrinos. Particles and antiparticles are supposed to mirror each other, behaving the same way with the exception of having opposite charges or another opposite feature such as spin direction. Since the 1960s, experiments have found that partner particles do not always mirror each other, which is called CP violation. If scientists can determine how often CP violation occurs and understand what causes it, they might be able to explain matter-antimatter asymmetry.\n\nTo probe these questions, T2K scientists use an accelerator facility on the east coast of Japan to create a powerful beam of muon neutrinos and antineutrinos. That beam travels 295 kilometres (185 miles) underground to a detector in the west of Japan. The Super-Kamiokande detector is located in a mine 1,000 meters under a mountain to minimize interference from cosmic muons streaming through the atmosphere from outer space.\n\nThe T2K team has evidence that some of the neutrinos and antineutrinos changed their flavours, or ‘oscillated’ en route, from muon to electron. The data hint that neutrinos undergo this oscillation at a higher rate than antineutrinos, indicating possible CP violation. The findings support previous studies, but the scientists have more confidence in the results because they doubled the amount of neutrino data collected and improved the event reconstruction algorithm for data analysis.\n\nWhile there is strong indication of neutrinos oscillating, the amount of antineutrino data is still too small to draw definitive conclusions about CP violation. However, with planned upgrades to the experiment facilities over the next ten years, the team hopes to make more observations that gets them closer to an answer.\n\n“If the CP violation effect is large, we may expect to find evidence of CP violation at a confidence level greater than 99% during the lifetime of the T2K experiment,” says Mark Hartz, of the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, a member of the collaboration.\n\nFurther information\nProject Assistant Professor Mark Hartz | E-mail:\nKavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe\nUniversity of Tokyo\n\n\nAssociated links\n\nKeywords associated to this article:\nCreate Account...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5785975456237793}
+{"content": "\"Poverty is not for the Poor\"\n\nBy Karen Nodalo\n\n\nPoverty means lack of food, shelter, clothing and opportunities for work and education. It is the lack of supply for the needs of the community. Poverty has grown abruptly and we are left clinging in the hands of time waiting to be fed and nourished. It is doing and having what you wanted to do but doing nothing at all for the reason you remain incapable.\n\nIn a different perception, poverty is a result for having a poor management. In order to have a good government, it should be run by good public officials. If they perform their tasks defectively, our resources are affected, the poor becomes poorer and our economy declines. Since poverty is on the mount, we need to have a good government to heal all the economic deficiencies and political operations. If we lack resources, investing would be impossible.\n\nPoverty in countries is being measured by the amount or value of the goods and resources they produce. So, the lesser resources and productions we have, the lesser opportunity is at stake for us. The lesser chances, the more probability we will sink in debt.\n\nWith poverty on the rush, how do we set alternatives to increase our livelihood? How do we invest and compete in a global world? How do provide ourselves with good valuable resources? We start by improving and enhancing our skills in order to bring forth more income to our families at the same time uplifting our nation’s economy. That is, focusing in the rural communities. Watching and maintaining our natural resources would bring investments and exports which makes way to manpower or employment in rural communities. Rural places are mainly our source of natural resources such as fisheries and vegetation so these must be taken good care of.\n\nThe government should get rid of those political people who are after ranks, money and fame. Corruption eats the country’s investments. The poor are to be given much attention because no matter how high investments the rich may obtain, the percentage of the unemployed is a mere affecting factor. While the poor strives hard to impart their service and strength, they generously corrupt and spend the blood and perspiration for luxury. Instead of having our resources acquired by the poor, they continue to exploit the money for their own personal pleasures.\n\nIt is important that we give the poor equal rights. Being poor or being born poor is not a sin. They are not bound for discriminations or grievances because they have the right to being protected from corruption. If possible, to lessen their burden of paying taxes because they are unable to benefit from it if there are. Appointing political positions to families and friends should be prevented because it is the root of corruption. They are neglected the chance to be acquainted to forums and programs of the government for what appear to be unfair.\n\nEventually, the poor will play a pertinent role to the success of our community because they know ho to strive and persevere and value work and money. If we want to overcome the effect of poverty, equal rights should be practiced and not set the standard of living as the basis of comparing life status.\n\n\nKaren Nodalo\n\nFor comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.personalinjurydefenders.com\n\n[email protected]\n\nMore Legal Articles                               More Articles By Karen Nodalo", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6269967555999756}
+{"content": "What to consider when Chub Fishing\n\nChub fishing advice, hints and tips when looking to find chub, different techniques and baits for catching chub, fishing tackle used to catch chub.\n\nChub fishing usually takes place in rivers, however they can also be found in still waters. Three main techniques used to catch chub include float fishing, fly fishing and ledger fishing. Chub fishing can also include fishing with a lure or a spinner.\n\nLike all fish, chub prefer highly oxygenated waters, therefore they can be found near (or in) weir pools. Also look out for areas that would allow the chub to hide, as they prefer to surprise their victims from weeds or objects in the water (e.g. tree branches).\n\nChub sizes vary greatly, the average chub is between 2lb and 3lb, however you will often see chub caught well above 5lb.\n\nThe chub's enormous mouth sees it eating just about anything, from maggots and casters, to worms, through to cheese, luncheon meat and even beef. Realistically, if it moves, (or even if it doesn't move!), and it fits in the chubs mouth, it will have a go at eating it.\n\nWhen fishing for chub , remember that another reason the chub likes weed beds and underwater obstructions, is that it gives the chub an ideal opportunity to break or snag the fishing line if it gets hooked. Therefore heavy lines and big, strong hooks can offer the fisherman some protection against the chubs tactics. However don't always go for the safest option as it is possible (and much more satisfying to catch chub on a light line with a much smaller hook.\n\nOur website aims to bring you all aspects of catching chub, including tips and techniques, fishing tackle to catch chub, and places to catch chub.\n\nPlease bookmark our site and call back once our site has gone fully live.\n\nSkipsea Gnome\n\nHi and welcome to my website!\n\nIt's still WIP so come back soon.\n\nMy account", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8843041658401489}
+{"content": "Home>China Travel News\n\nPit 2 of Terracotta Warriors begins second excavation\n\nDate： 2015.05.11 Editor： Evelyn Shi\n\nArchaeologists launched a new excavation on the No. 2 pit of the Museum of Qin Shihuang Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi'an, Northwest of China, on April 30, 2015. The first stage of excavation started in 1994 and uncovered eight well-preserved, colored terracotta figures. Archaeologists plan to unearth an area of 200 square meters in the second stage.\n\n\n\nThe plane of the pit is of L-shape, totaling about 6000 square meters. Pit 2, facing east, is a large underground army of mixed organization. It has a low-key presence but preserved the best among the three pits. It has not suffered large-scale man-made destruction except partially burnt in a degree.\n\n\nBased on the structure and layout discovering at the first stage, the project aims to decode the secrets of different terracotta figurines. Experts suggest that the chariots in Pit 2 are more practical. The project may enable to expose the mystery ancient chariots to the public.\n\n\nAnother highlight of the excavation is whether or not there are foreign warriors in the Terracotta Army.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9925545454025269}
+{"content": "World heritage site destroyed for US Navy Base\n\nKang Dong Kyun, the Mayor of Ganjeong Village on Jeju Island, South Korea, has been touring Europe, visiting Dublin, London and various other English cities and Paris to draw attention to the destruction that is being wrought to an area UNESCO has declared to be one of the world’s most important sites of natural beauty, as well as to the wellbeing of the people who live in the area. Comrades from the CPGB-ML attended the meeting held in London on 15 October at the School of Oriental and African Studies where they leant that the position of the island to the south of the Korean peninsula makes it particularly suitable as a military base, and construction work is already well advanced. As Mayor Kang points out, the base is being established not for reasons of security but for the purpose of encircling China. It is to become part of Obama’s ‘Asia Pivot’ and will house nuclear submarines, Aegis missile warships and aircraft carriers. Its operations will require the presence not only of the US Navy but also of its airforce and army. The US has built a string of military bases round the world for the purpose of maintaining its military domination, invariably in small, weak countries whose people’s future is being heartlessly endangered as they will become a target should the war for which the US is preparing ultimately break out. Mayor Kang is convinced that there is a real danger that all these war preparations are for a war that could endanger the whole future of the planet and render it uninhabitable.\n\nIn the interests of steaming ahead unhindered in building this monstrosity, the propaganda machine has been going full blast trying to convince people that the presence of the base will improve their lives, but only a minority of people are taken in by this. Jeju is only a very small island (an oval shape 46×26 miles), and the presence of the base will severely disrupt people’s way of life. After assuring people some years ago that there would be no compulsory purchase of farmland, the South Korean regime has gone back on its promise and is forcing people to sell their land – and at a price well below market value. This is only one example of prevarication aimed at undermining people’s resistance. They have also been told that the naval base will not be out of bounds to local people – but it is obvious that once it is built nobody is going to be allowed on the base other than authorised military personnel.\n\nMayor Kang points out that the South Korean government has a long history of oppression of the Jeju islanders. They have always valued their freedom and independence and following the US occupation of South Korea after the Second World War they rose up in rebellion against the Syngman Rhee puppet government on 3 April 1948. The South Korean troops sent in to quell the rebellion succeeded in slaughtering 20% of the population in a period of little more than a year. Although subsequently there have been apologies for this massacre, still the South Korean government will not let the people live in peace but have entangled them in the US war machine.\n\nLocal people, including farmers, artists, monks and nuns, have been protesting every day for the last seven years, but their peaceful protests are regularly broken up by massive police contingents, often violently, and criminal proceedings are taken against participants who are made to pay enormous fines.\n\nIn the discussion following Mayor Kang’s presentation, we made the point that subservience to the interests of US imperialism has always been the policy of the South Korean regime. It did not suddenly take to subservience 7 years ago, but has always subjected the people to humiliation and hardship to serve the US. Most importantly Korea remains divided more than 60 years after the end of the Second World War, against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of its people. Although the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has consistently put forward proposals for the formation of a united Korea with two systems (as China has done in incorporating Hong Kong), the United States has instructed South Korea’s puppet government to keep away from reunification negotiations simply because when Korea is reunited there will be no basis for US imperialism maintaining its hold on the country as an arsenal for its 1,000 nuclear warheads supposedly to ‘protect’ South Korea from the North.\n\nMayor Kang said that it was his simple ambition to pass his farm on to his children to farm peacefully in beautiful surroundings as his family has done for generations.\n\n\nJeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5403802394866943}
+{"content": "Dear Jeanne,\n\nDear Jeanne,\n\nCan you please tell me how to convert the enclosed recipe into a more healthful vegetable dish? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you for your time.\n\nSusan Hathon,\n\nChula Vista, Calif.\n\n2½ cups cauliflower florets\n\n2½ cups broccoli florets\n\n2 (6-ounce) bags baby spinach leaves\n\n6 tablespoons (¾ stick) butter\n\n¼ cup all-purpose flour\n\n2/3 cup whole milk\n\n2/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese\n\nCook cauliflower and broccoli in a large pot of boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 2/3 cup of the cooking liquid. Transfer vegetables to large bowl. Cool. Rinse spinach, then toss in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just wilted. Drain and cool. Squeeze spinach dry; finely chop. Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk and reserved 2/3 cup vegetable cooking liquid. Whisk constantly over medium heat until sauce thickens and boils, about 3 minutes. Stir in spinach and cheese. Using fingers, coarsely crumble cauliflower and broccoli in bowl. Add spinach bechamel sauce; stir to mix. Season with salt and pepper. Butter 1½-quart baking dish. Spread vegetable mixture in prepared dish (can be made 6 hours ahead). Cover and chill. Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake flan until puffed and heated through, about 25 minutes if at room temperature and 35 minutes if chilled. Serve hot.\n\nMakes 6 servings.\n\nDear Susan,\n\nThis is a delicious dish, and so easy to revise. I've tried to make it even easier to prepare by using frozen vegetables, since if cooked in this way, there's very little, if any, difference from using fresh vegetables. It is convenient and easy, as they are already cut into florets for you. Don't worry about the exact amount — a little more is fine, as the vegetables measure differently when raw or cooked. I find that frozen spinach is so easy that whenever it is well-cooked like this, I use frozen. If you don't want to use dairy, you may use all vegetable broth; I used all milk to add richness.\n\n\n\n2½ cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)\n\n2½ cups cauliflower florets (fresh or frozen)\n\n1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed (about 1 cup)\n\n¼ cup all-purpose flour\n\n1½ cups 1 percent low-fat milk\n\n½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese\n\n1/8 teaspoon nutmeg\n\nFreshly ground pepper to taste\n\nPreheat the oven to 350 F. Spray a 1½-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.\n\nThaw the broccoli and cauliflower if frozen, or steam if fresh for about 5 minutes (very easily done in the microwave). Place cooked vegetables in a large bowl to cool.\n\nThaw the spinach and squeeze out the excess moisture. Chop a little bit more to make sure it is finely chopped. Set aside.\n\nDissolve the flour in the milk in a medium-size saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and, whisking constantly, bring to a boil. (It will be very thick.) Boil for a minute, then add the Parmesan cheese and mix. Add the spinach, nutmeg and pepper, and stir. Combine the cauliflower, broccoli and spinach sauce, and stir to thoroughly coat everything.\n\nSpread evenly in the prepared pan and bake until heated through and bubbling around the edges, about 25 minutes.\n\nMakes 6 servings.\n\nEach serving contains approximately: Original recipe: 227 calories; 16 gm fat; 42 mg cholesterol; 542 mg sodium; 14 gm carbohydrates; 9 gm protein; 4 gm fiber. Revised recipe: 107 calories; 3 gm fat; 9 mg cholesterol; 214 mg sodium; 12 gm carbohydrates; 9 gm protein; 4 gm fiber.\n\nFor more information, go to JeanneJones.com. Send your recipe for revision to: Cook It Light (Pocono Record), P.O. Box 1212, La Jolla, CA 92038. Please include a stamped (58 cents), self-addressed envelope.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5229061841964722}
+{"content": "The dark extremes of the Dark Web\n\nThe dark extremes of the Dark Web\n\nRecently the BBC broke a news story on how a “warped and sadistic” paedophile who blackmailed victims and shared abuse tips and images on the dark web was caught. Matthew Falder admitted 137 charges, including rape, against 46 victims. He evaded capture for four years by using encrypted email addresses. This horrific case focused a lot of attention on the dark web as a forum infamous for welcoming and protecting the identity of some of the most notorious criminals today. But the Dark Web wasn’t created as a way to facilitate crime. The Gryphon explores how ‘dark’ the Dark Web really is.\n\n\nFirst, what is the dark web and is it the same as the deep web? Well, the dark web is a subdivision of the deep web. The deep web is everything you cannot reach with a typical search engine such as Google. This includes the Dark web but much more than that: our emails for example.  When replying to emails, you still have a link in your browser, but people cannot search on Google for it and nobody has access without logging in with your credentials first. This is the case with admin panels of webpages, cloud services or even Leeds’ Minerva. Thus, the bulk of the internet is on the Deep Web.\n\nThe deep web and dark web are often used interchangeably in media but they are different. It is like equating a shell to the ocean it is in – the shell is in the ocean however it does not constitute the ocean. Same with the dark and deep web – the dark web is a part of the deep web, but a small one. So there’s no need to be frightened when you hear statistics claiming more than 90% of the web is in the deep web.\n\nThe dark web is a collection of websites which exist on a highly encrypted network. This means they cannot be accessed from your typical browser, say Chrome or Firefox, but require the use of other tools for encryption. Perhaps the most popular one is Tor. Tor protects the user by hiding their identity, activity and location, changing the IP address and all. But it does the same for the website visited. Thus, it is very difficult to find who is behind a website on the Dark Web.\n\nAs anonymous as it is, be careful if you decide to check out Tor and do your research prior to it. There are other encryption tools similar to Tor and use will depend on what tool the site visited is using– if they use Tor, you can’t visit their website unless you do the same; if they use Silk Road Reloaded, you can’t visit their website unless you do the same.\n\nMost of us have heard of the dark web in relation to criminal activities. After all, the dark web is anonymous enough to allow people to share controversial content and unregulated enough to allow for this content to remain on there. Child pornography, illegal drugs, personal data, blackmailing – we’ve all heard the crimes associated with the dark web. However, the dark web was not developed for these purposes and the content on it is not just illicit.\n\nA study published in 2016 established that of all identified websites on the dark web (5205) only 30% had illicit content. Of these quite a few had no content but even of all the active websites (2723),  60% were for criminal purposes. The rest (about 40%) were in the ‘Other’ category. So, the dark net is not completely dark.\n\nAnd the ‘Other’ is what services like Tor actually propagate for. On Tor’s website it is emphasised that the tool was developed to help people protect their privacy and resist state or corporate surveillance. It was developed to allow people in totalitarian regimes with high-censorship get access to more information or share their opinions and to protect whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden for example.\n\nWith more and more commercialisation of the clear net (the one we know and use regularly) and online surveillance increasing even in democracies like the UK, Tor might have more and more ‘Other’ users in the future. If the public feel like they are unable to access information securely on the clear net, we might start to see an increase in non-illicit content on the Dark Web in future.\n\n\nAntonia Panayotova\n\n\n\n[Image: Shuttershock]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9920923709869385}
+{"content": "Begun in the Bible (6 instances)\n\n6 occurrences in 13 translations\n\n'Begun' in the Bible\n\n\n\n\n\nMeanwhile, the sailors had begun trying to escape from the ship. They lowered the lifeboat into the sea and pretended that they were going to lay out the anchors from the bow.\n\nBible Theasaurus\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9829542636871338}
+{"content": "Category: Networking\n\n\nIEEE 802.11n was proposed in 2009 to help scale throughput of WLANs using a few different techniques known as high throughput (HT) in either the 2.4 or the 5 GHz band. 802.11n was designed to be backwards compatible with OFDM used in the 802.11g and 802.11a standards. The primary advantage of 802.11n was it’s ability to leverage multiple radios. Instead of using a single Tx/Rx radio pair (or radio chain), 802.11n devices could use multiple antennas, transmitters or receivers; a system known as multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO). The transmitters and receivers are described in the format TxR, and 802.11n requires at least two radio chains (2×2) and supports up to a maximum of four (4×4).\n\nIn addition to the MIMO functionality, 802.11n introduced a few features to improve throughput including:\n\n  • Channel Aggregation\n  • Spatial Multiplexing (SM)\n  • MAC Layer Efficiency\n\n802.11n also introduced some features to improve the reliability of RF signals:\n\n  • Transmit Beam Forming (TxBF)\n  • Maximal-Ratio Combining (MRC)\n\nChannel Aggregation\n\nThe 802.11n amendment first increased the 20 MHz channel throughput by increasing the number of data sub-carriers in OFDM from 48 to 52. 802.11n then goes on to allow either the use of either a single 20 MHz or a single 40 MHz channel. The aggregated channels always bond two adjacent 20 MHz channels. By bonding the channels it is able to free up the quiet space between the two original  channels for additional bandwidth. The quiet space on each end is left along to separate the 40 MHz channels. This increases the number of data sub-carriers from 52 to 108.\n\nWhen the channels are aggregated it also lowers the total number of available channels. Channel aggregation shrinks the 5 GHz band from 23 non-overlapping 20 MHz channels to 11 non-overlapping 40 MHz channels. Since the 2.4 GHz band only has 3 non-overlapping channels it is not recommended nor usually attempted on that band.\n\nSpatial Multiplexing\n\nChannel aggregation allows for increased throughput by increasing the channel width that can be used by a single radio chain. With the advent of MIMO, the 802.11n device could have multiple radio chains waiting to be used. To further increase throughput we can multiplex, or distribute, the data across two or more radio chains, while still operating on the same channel. This is known as spatial multiplexing because the radio chains are separated by spatial diversity (they are predictably spaced out).\n\nThe spatial diversity will ultimately cause slight changes in each signal as they make their way across the free space to the receiver. If the radio signals don’t all start at the same location, then they would naturally take different paths. the 802.11n devices can also distribute the data across the multiple radio chains in a known fashion. These separate data streams can be processed as spatial streams  and can be demuxed on the receiving end. The number of spatial streams  a device can support is designated with a colon at the end of the MIMO designation. A 3×3:2 MIMO device has 3 transmitters, 3 receivers, and can support two unique spatial streams. Since not all devices in an environment may support the same amount of spatial streams, capabilities are advertised and the lowest common denominator is negotiated prior to transmitting data.\n\nMAC Layer Efficiency\n\nAdditional improvements with 802.11n include block acknowledgement. In traditional 802.11 networks each frame of data transmitted must be acknowledged by the receiver. If no acknowledgement is received it is assumed that the receiver did not get the frame and it must be resent. Acknowledging each frames wastes communication time. With 802.11n  all the data frames can be transmitted in one burst, and only one acknowledgement is expected from the receiver. This is more efficient and helps increase throughput.\n\nWith 802.11 as OFDM symbols are transmitted they can take different paths to the receiver. If the two symbols arive two close together they can actually cause interference with each other, this is known as intersymbol interference (ISI). The 802.11 standard requires a guard interval of 800 nanoseconds between transmissions to alleviate this problem. With 802.11n devices you can configure this interval to 400 nanoseconds. Doing so will increase throughput since less time is wasted in the guard interval but it does put you at a greater risk of data corruption.\n\nTransmit Beamforming\n\nAs data is transmitted across the multiple radio chains of a MIMO device, they will ultimately take separate paths to the receiver. To help ensure that the data arrives at the receive in the same relative time frame transmit beamforming (TxBF) is used. Transmit beamforming adjusts the phase of each signal as it leaves so that as it travels across the free space they will arrive at relatively the same time. The receiver sends back TxBF data as feedback so that the transmitter can constantly keep track of the required adjustments and send focused transmissions to each receiver dynamically.\n\nMaximal-Ratio Combining\n\nIf you’re familiar with digital photography, you may be familiar with the concept of HDR, or High Dynamic Range. With HDR, multiple images are combined to provide a single image with the best contrast. Maximal-Ratio Combining (MRC) does something very similar with RF signals. It takes multiple received copies of a signal and combines them to provide one signal with improved Signal to Noise Ration and receiver sensitivity.\n\n\nOFDM Deep Dive\n\nWith DSSS we spread the chips of a single data stream into one wide 22 MHz channel, and because of the constant chip rate of 11 MHz we are restricted to 11 Mbps of data throughput. On the other hand, Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) sends data bits in parallel over multiple frequencies , all contained within a single 20 MHz channel.  Each channel is divided into 64 sub-carriers (hence the Frequency-Division) which are spaced 312.5 kHz apart. There are 3 different types of sub-carriers:\n\n  • Guard – 12 sub-carriers which are used to separate each channel and help receivers lock onto a channel. These actually aren’t transmitted but stay silent as spacing.\n  • Pilot – 4 sub-carriers which are equally spaced and always transmitted to help receivers determine the noise state of the channel.\n  • Data – 48 sub-carriers which are devoted to carrying data.\n\nSince OFDM is transmitting data in parallel it is able to get high aggregate throughput through its relatively low throughput sub-carriers. Since the data is also sent in parallel we can also modify how much of it needs to be unique or repeated data for error prevention. The coding schemes in OFDM are named using fractions to identify the ratio of new bits to repeated bits (coder ratio); BPSK 1/2 indicates that one half of the bits are new and the other half repeated. BPSK 3/4 therefore indicates that three-fourths of the bits are new and only one fourth are repeated.\n\nAt the lower speeds, BPSK modulation can be used with two different coder ratios. OFDM and BPSK 1/2 results in a 6 Mbps throughput and with BPSK 3/4 achieves 9 Mbps throughput. If we combine OFDM with QPSK 1/2 we can achieve 12 Mbps and QPSK 3/4 can achieve 18 Mbps. If you recall the DSSS post we introduced QPSK and the fact that it uses 2 binary bits to give four possible phase shifts. Therefore for us to break through 18 Mbps we would need a additional modulations options.\n\nQuadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) combines QPSK phase shifting with multiple amplitude level to give an even greater number of modulation options. As an example 16-QAM uses 2 bits for the QPSK modulation and an additional 2 bits for the amplitude for a total of 4 bits used for modulation changes. 4 binary bits would give use 16 unique modulation options (hence the name). The coder ratios still apply when we move to QAM so the names still carry a fractional prefix indicating the ratio. The current OFDM supposed modulation options include:\n\n  • OFDM QPSK 1/2 – 12 Mbps\n  • OFDM QPSK 3/4 – 18 Mbps\n  • OFDM 16-QAM 1/2 – 24 Mbps\n  • OFDM 16-QAM 3/4 – 36 Mbps\n  • OFDM 64-QAM 2/3 – 48 Mbps\n  • OFDM 64-QAM 3/4 – 54 Mbps\n  • OFDM 256-QAM 3/4 – 78 Mbps\n  • OFDM 256-QAM 5/6 – 86 Mbps\n\n\nThe IEEE 802.11g amendment was introduced in 2003 and is also commonly called Extended Rate PHY (ERP) or ERP-OFDM. ERP is just another name for 802.11g in the 2.4 GHz band. Since 802.11g was based on OFDM as opposed to DSSS in the previous standard devices cannot directly understand each other’s RF signals. 802.11g was intended to be backwards compatible with legacy 802.11b devices by downgrading and using DSSS, however the reverse is not true. To allow both OFDM and DSSS devices to coexist a protection mechanism was included. When using 802.11g Protection Mode, before a device transmits it will send a warning message with DSSS before transmitting its data with OFDM. Protection mode is enforced automatically if an 802.11b devices is detected on the WLAN, and once it leave the network it is lifted. Since the protection mode adds the additional DSSS warning messages it greatly reduces network throughput.\n\n\nSo we’ve already covered 802.11b and 802.11g why are we just now circling around to 802.11a (yes they do go in order). Actually almost as soon as 802.11 was ratified the need was recognized to limit interference. 802.11a was introduced in 1999, earlier in the same year at 802.11b however since migrating from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz required new hardware it was never widely adopted. IEEE 802.11a restricts devices to use OFDM only and is based on channels that are 20 MHz wide. Since it only supported OFDM it was not backwards compatible with any devices and depending on the modulation scheme any of the supported data rates were available.\n\nDSSS Deep Dive\n\n1 Mbps DSSS\n\nTo achieve the 1 Mbps throughput with DSSS, each bit of a data was encoded into a sequence of 11 bits. This is called the Barker 11 Code. In the Barker code, a 0 data bit is always represented as (10110111000) and a 1 data bit is represented as (01001000111). With these 11 bit chips, up to 9 of the bits can be lost before the original data bit cannot be restored. To transmit each chip Differential Binary Phase Shift Keying (DBPSK) modulation is used. Binary being the key word in that scheme since 1 or 0 gives us two options. With DBPSK the carrier signal is shifted or rotated depending on the bit. A 0 bit would result in no change to the carrier signal, and 1 bit would rotate or shift the signal 180 so that it was suddenly upside down. DSSS always uses a chipping rate of 11 million chips per second, so when each symbol (original bit) contains 11 chips, we get a transmitted data rate of 1 Mbps.\n\n2 Mbps DSSS\n\nTo double our initial throughput we keep the original 11 bit Barker code but instead of this time we modulate the symbols using Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (DQPSK). Quadrature (4) being the key word in this scheme. With DQPSK two chips are modulated at a time, and since we have 2 binary bits that gives us 4 possible options:\n\n  • 00 – The phase is not changed\n  • 01 – The phase is rotated 90 degrees\n  • 11 – The phase is rotated 180 degrees\n  • 10 – The phase is rotated 270 degrees\n\nSince the data bits are modulated in pairs we are able to transmit twice as much data in the same amount of time compared to DBPSK, which gives DQPSK twice the throughput with 2 Mbps.\n\n\nAs we briefly mentioned in our initial modulation post, IEEE 802.11-1997 was the first standard. It included FHSS and DSSS using either DBPSK or DQPSK in the 2.4 GHz band. The 802.11-1997 standard only supported Barker coding for the maximum throughput of 2 Mbps.\n\n5.5 Mbps DSSS\n\nTo increase our throughput Complementary Code Keying (CCK) was introduced to replace the Barker code. CCK takes 4 bits of original data at a time to create a unique 6 chip symbol. After the original bit is encoded 2 more chips are added to the symbol to indicate the phase orientation per DQPSK, making a total symbol of 8 chips. So Barker coding gave us a 1:11 coding ratio CCK gives us a 4:8. Given the steady chipping rate of 11 MHz with DSSS and each symbol containing 8 chips, we get a symbol rate of 1.375 MHz (11 MHz / 8). Since each symbol is based on 4 original data bits we get an effective data rate of 5.5 Mbps (1.375 MHz * 4).\n\n11 Mbps DSSS\n\nBy making an adjustment to the encoder, we can take 8 original data bits to create the 8 chip symbols. By doubling the the amount of original data in the chip we double the throughput rate. Since we’re still using 8 chip symbols and the constant 11 MHz chipping rate we still have a symbol rate  of 1.375 MHz, but with 8 data bits in each symbol we can now reach 11 Mbps (1.375 MHz * 8). Increasing the number of data bits in symbol means we lose some of the resiliency to recover information. While we’ve increased throughput we are more sensitive interference and therefore require a stronger and less-noisy signal.\n\n\nIEEE 802.11b was introduced in 1999 and standardize the use of CCK supporting a maximum throughput of 11 Mbps. Since 802.11b was based on DSSS and the 2.4 GHz band it was also backwards compatible with the original standard and devices could select their speed by simple changing the modulation or coding schemes.\n\nRF Modulation and Standards\n\nSo we’ve talked about the frequency bands and transmit power, but how are these things utilized to actually carry our network data? Since computers communicate in binary bits, we have to be able to differentiate a 1 or a 0 on an RF signal.  Since RF isn’t a closed circuit we can’t use on/off to signal 1 or 0, the only thing we can do is modify the RF signal in some way to make it slightly different. Modifying the RF signal to indicate the data it is carrying is known as modulation. Given the physical properties of an RF signal modulation can only alter a few attributes of the signal. We can modify the frequency, but only slightly above or below the carrier frequency. We can modify the phase of the signal, which is the timing relative to the start of the cycle. Or we can modify amplitude which is the strength or height of the signal.\n\nSince our wireless networks require sending data at high bit rates (fast), we require more bandwidth to modulate this data. This additional bandwidth is distributed across a range of frequencies as opposed to using a single carrier signal. We call this distribution Spread Spectrum since we are spreading the signal across multiple frequencies. There are 3 primary categories of spread spectrum used for wireless data networks: Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), and Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM). We will expand on DSSS and OFDM in future posts.\n\nI also want to take a moment to introduce the wireless standards. The first standards bodies we need to be concerned with are the ITU-R which is set up by the United Nations to manage RF spectrum globally. In the United States the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates frequencies, RF channels, and transmission power. A similar body called the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) manages the same things in the European region. On top of the RF standards we have the familiar IEEE which manages a majority of our computer standards. IEEE 802 standards deal all deal with local area and metro area networks and specifically IEEE 802.11 is responsible for wireless networks. As we work through the different RF transmitting schemes I will include a mention on which 802.11 standard introduced or maintained the technology.\n\n\nThe initial wireless network standards utilizing an idea call frequency hopping was used to avoid interference with other devices in the ISM band. In a frequency hopping system the transmitter and receiver have to be synchronized so they know which frequency they are supposed to be on at any given time. To accomplish they they switch between channels at regular intervals. To avoid interference small channels are used so that if interference does occur it will not be a large impact on the data being transmitted. FHSS utilized 1-MHz channels spread across the entire band. These smaller sized channels meant that only so much data could be transmitted at a time and this limited bandwidth to 1 or 2 Mbps. Also multiple transmitters (access points) in an area would eventually collide with each other on the same channels. For these reasons FHSS was fairly quickly replaced with DSSS.\n\n\nInstead of using many small channels, DSSS utilized a smaller number of wider channels. With DSSS each channel is 22-MHz wide with a maximum supported throughput of 11-Mbps. DSSS was designated to be used in the 2.4GHz band. As noted in previous posts this is where we run into the problem of overlapping channels, since the ISM band and it’s 5 MHz channels existed before the wireless standard which dictated the 22-MHz wide channels. The non-overlapping channels available in the US are 1, 6, and 11. As the name indicates, DSSS transmits data in a direct sequence, or a serial stream. Instead of frequency hopping to avoid interference DSSS relies on a few methods to try an alleviate any interference problems:\n\n  • Scrambling – Instead of transmitting long sequences of 1s or 0s (think in binary), the data is first sent through a scrambler to generate a randomized sequence of 0s or 1s.\n  • Coding – Each bit of data is converted into multiple bits using special patterns that help protect against errors. Think of using the phonetic alphabet for radio transmissions. Instead of saying each letter individually we use a word to describe the letter. ‘A’ becomes ‘alpha’, ‘B’ becomes ‘bravo’, ‘C’ becomes ‘charlie’, and so on. This requires more data to transmit the original data however it helps eliminate errors and the need for re-transmission. Error correction is more costly than error prevention. Each of the newly coded bits is called a Chip, and the complete group of chips representing a data bit is called a Symbol. DSSS utilizes two encoding techniques, either Barker Codes or Complementary Code Keying (CCK).\n  • Interleaving – The encoded data is then spread out into separate blocks so that temporary interference would only affect a smaller number of blocks.\n  • Modulation – Finally the bits in each symbol are used to modulate the phase of the carrier signal.\n\n\nThe original 802.11 standard was ratified in 1997. It originally included two main transmission types FHSS or DHSS for use only in the 2.4 GHz band.\n\nRF Power – dB vs dBm vs dBi vs dBd\n\n\nThe dBm\n\n\n\nThe dBi\n\n\n\n\nThe dBd\n\n\n\n\nComparing RF Power\n\n\n\n\nPower Change dB Value\n= 0 dB\nx 2 +3 dB\n/ 2 -3 dB\nx 10 + 10 dB\n/ 10 -10 dB\n\n\n\n5 x 2 = 10\n10 x 10 = 100\n\n\n  1. 3mW vs 12mW\n  2. 5mW vs 50mW\n  3. 5mW vs 200mW\n  4. 60mW vs 3mW\n  5. 500mW vs 5mW\n\n\nRF Channels and Bandwidth\n\nIn my previous post I outlined the frequency bands used for wireless LANs and briefly touched on the channels within those bands. I’m going to delve into those channels a little more in this post.\n\nWe’ve already established that a frequency band is a range of frequencies which are further divided into specific channels. Those channels are defined by standards bodies such as the FCC in the USA or the ITU internationally.\n\nChannels within a band are defined based on a center frequency. Since real life is messy, we can’t limit an RF signal to just the center frequency. It spills over on each side of the center frequency to some degree, we call this sideband. The range of the spillage above and below the center frequency is what we call the signal bandwidth. Technically the bandwidth is the difference between the upper and lower cutoff frequencies. Another way to say it is that the signal bandwidth is the full range required to transmit on a specific RF frequency. These are defined in the 802.11 standards as the channel width.\n\nAs we said earlier, life is messy; but we do our best to clean it up. One of the tools we use to clean up a channel is a spectral mask. Spectral masks are overlays of what the channel should look like. Anything frequencies outside of the spectral mask are attenuated to help limit channel interference.\n\nThe problem that we sometimes run into and especially with the 2.4 GHz band is that the RF channel increments were defined prior to its adoption for communication use. In the 2.4 GHz (ISM) band the channels, or the center frequency, increment every 5 MHz. However in the 802.11 standards we have defined 11 MHz on each side of the center frequency which combined give the channel width of 22 MHz. Cramming something 22 MHz wide into something spaced out every 5 MHz quite obviously leads to channel overlap.\n\nHopefully this gives you some visualization on RF signal bandwidth and helps explain the discrepancy between the total number of channels in the 2.4 GHz band vs number of usable channels.\n\nAll images are my own and were crudely made using MS Visio.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7109478712081909}
+{"content": "A benign tumor which usually occurs in young children or infants and is composed of newly formed blood vessels. It results from improperly formed angioblastic tissue in the fetus.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9861221313476562}
+{"content": "General hospital\n\n\n\n\nReal-Time Location System Tracks Staff, Patients, and Equipment, Reducing Costs, Improving Infection Control and Room Turnaround, and Generating High Satisfaction 02/27/14\n\nHospitals use a real-time location system to track employees, patients, and/or major pieces of equipment, leading to lower equipment costs, better infection control processes, faster room turnaround, and high levels of patient, physician, and staff satisfaction.\n\nCalifornia Law Enhances Access to Affordable Care by Limiting Amount Hospitals Can Collect From Low-Income Uninsured and Underinsured Patients 01/30/14\n\nCalifornia legislation enhances access to affordable care by limiting the amount hospitals can collect from low- and moderate-income patients who are uninsured or lack adequate coverage and hence face high out-of-pocket medical expenses.\n\nComprehensive Program To Improve Discharge Process Reduces Readmissions 11/01/13\n\nProject BOOST (Better Outcomes by Optimizing Safe Transitions) provides hospitals a comprehensive set of interventions to improve the care transition process after discharge, leading to a significant reduction in readmissions.\n\n\n\nVoluntary Citywide Initiative To Support Mothers Who Choose To Breastfeed Attracts Many Hospitals, Wins Support of Medical Community 05/23/13\n\nA city health department encourages public and private maternity hospitals to voluntarily adopt various policies to support new mothers who choose to breastfeed exclusively. The program has attracted many participating hospitals, won broad support within the medical community, and increased the proportion of new mothers who breastfeed exclusively during their hospital stay.\n\nHospital–Retail Pharmacy Partnership Provides Inhospital and Postdischarge Support to At-Risk Patients, Leading to Fewer Readmissions and High Patient Satisfaction 05/22/13\n\nA partnership between a hospital and retail pharmacy company provides inhospital and postdischarge support to patients at high risk of readmission, leading to fewer readmissions and high levels of patient satisfaction.\n\nStatewide, All-Payer Financial Incentives Significantly Reduce Hospital-Acquired Conditions in Maryland Hospitals 02/28/13\n\nFinancial incentives used by all Maryland public and private payers significantly reduce hospital-acquired conditions in hospitals throughout the state.\n\nStatewide, All-Payer Financial Incentives Tied to Process, Patient Experience, and Outcomes Measures Lead to Better and Less Variable Hospital Performance 02/26/13\n\nA statewide, all-payer initiative creates financial incentives tied to hospital performance on process, patient experience, and outcomes measures, leading to better and less variable performance.\n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to General hospital\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8005239963531494}
+{"content": "Questions Of Confidence\n\nSome readers have asked why, given my scornful discussions of the “confidence fairy” story about fiscal austerity (will that be my lasting contribution to economic discourse?), I’m willing to take seriously the idea that ECB rate hikes had a huge impact via expectations.\n\nThat’s a good question, but I do have answers.\n\nFirst of all, the ECB story is about the bond market; the expansionary austerity story isn’t. Instead, to believe that fiscal contraction will lead to higher consumption and investment spending you have to believe that consumers and firms will make major changes in their current behavior based on perceptions about taxes and spending years in the future. And that’s just a lot less plausible. The likes of Pimco are out there trying to figure out the implications of ECB behavior, and investing accordingly; how many families do you know deciding on holiday purchases based on expectations of tax policy in 2014?\n\nSecond, the monetary story is a lot more concrete. The ECB’s readiness to raise rates despite low core inflation and high unemployment tells you a lot about the likelihood that it would choke off the modest rise in inflation needed to make the eurozone adjustment feasible. Do Cameron’s budget cuts convey any comparable information about future UK taxes and/or solvency? I don’t think so.\n\nFinally, the whole euro situation is fraught with multiple equilibria and the risk of self-fulfilling panics — which means that there can sometimes be disproportionate responses in a way that doesn’t make sense when we’re talking about budget cuts.\n\nSo yes, expectations can matter; but some expectational arguments are more equal than others.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.678755521774292}
+{"content": "Date of Award\n\nWinter 2017\n\nProject Type\n\n\nProgram or Major\n\nChemical Engineering\n\nDegree Name\n\nDoctor of Philosophy\n\nFirst Advisor\n\nHarish Vashisth\n\nSecond Advisor\n\nRussell T. Carr\n\nThird Advisor\n\nKang Wu\n\n\nI used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as a primary tool to study folding and dynamics of signaling and regulatory proteins. Specifically, I have studied two classes of proteins: the first part of my thesis reports studies on peptides and receptors of the insulin family, and the second part reports on studies of regulatory proteins from the G-protein coupled receptor family. The first problem that I investigated was understanding the folding mechanism of the insulin B-chain and its mimetic peptide (S371) which were studied using enhanced sampling simulation methods. I validated our simulation approaches by predicting the known solution structure of the insulin B-chain helix and then applied them to study the folding of the mimetic peptide S371. Potentials of mean force (PMFs) along the reaction coordinate for each peptide are further resolved using the metadynamics method. I further proposed receptor-bound models of S371 that provide mechanistic explanations for competing binding properties of S371 and a tandem hormone-binding element of the receptor known as the C-terminal (CT) peptide. Next, I studied the all-atom structural models of peptides containing 51 residues from the transmembrane regions of IR and the type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) in a lipid membrane. In these models, the transmembrane regions of both receptors adopt helical conformations with kinks at Pro961 (IR) and Pro941 (IGF1R), but the C-terminal residues corresponding to the juxta-membrane region of each receptor adopt unfolded and flexible conformations in IR as opposed to a helix in IGF1R. I also observe that the N-terminal residues in IR form a kinked-helix sitting at the membrane-solvent interface, while homologous residues in IGF1R are unfolded and flexible. These conformational differences result in a larger tilt-angle of the membrane-embedded helix in IGF1R in comparison to IR to compensate for interactions with water molecules at the membrane-solvent interfaces. The metastable/stable states for the transmembrane domain of IR, observed in a lipid bilayer, are consistent with a known NMR structure of this domain determined in detergent micelles, and similar states in IGF1R are consistent with a previously reported model of the dimerized transmembrane domains of IGF1R. I further studied dimerization propensities of IR transmembrane domains using three different constructs in a lipid bilayer (isolated helices, ectodomain-anchored helices, and kinase-anchored helices). These studies revealed that the transmembrane domains can dimerize in isolation and in kinase-anchored forms, but not significantly in the ectodomain construct. The final studies in my thesis are focused on interplay of protein dynamics and small-molecule inhibition in a set of regulatory proteins known as the Regulators of G-protein Signaling (RGS) proteins. Thiadiazolidinone (TDZD) compounds have been shown to inhibit the protein-protein interaction between RGS and the alpha subunit of G-proteins by covalent modification of cysteine residues in RGS proteins. However, some of these cysteines in RGS proteins are not surface-exposed. I hypothesized that transient binding pockets expose cysteine residues differentially between different RGS isoforms. To explore this hypothesis, long time-scale classical MD simulations were used to probe the dynamics of three RGS proteins (RGS4, RGS8, and RGS19), and characterize flexibility in various helical motifs. The results from simulation studies were validated by hydrogen-deuterium exchange (HDX) studies, and revealed motions indicating solvent exposure of buried cysteine residues, thereby providing insights into inhibitor binding mechanisms. In addition, I used different published HDX models which have resulted in a comprehensive comparison of existing models. Furthermore, I developed the new HDX models with optimized parameters which had comparable accuracy and more computational efficiency compared to other models. Overall, my thesis has resulted in the development and applications of several state-of-the-art computational methods that have provided a detailed mechanistic understanding of peptide and small-molecule based inhibitors and their interactions with large proteins that are potentially useful in designing novel approaches to target protein-protein interactions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8614632487297058}
+{"content": "Thu, Sep\n\n\nMarine Imaging Technologies (MITech), a leader in developing state-of-the-art underwater optical imaging platforms, today introduced Pixel, the first Cinema Class remotely operated vehicle, or ROV. Pixel is a multi-camera underwater filming and exploration platform that will facilitate deep water and coastal storytelling unlike ever before, enabling storytellers to record cinema quality images while minimizing the associated hazards and costs.\n\nPixel, as well as other forthcoming ROVs in MITech’s Cinema Class line, simultaneously hosts multiple cameras with live video and control feeds. From Ultra Hi Def (UHD) and large format stills to stereoscopic and Virtual Reality, Pixel’s versatility broadens the choices for aquatic storytellers.\n\n“Telling stories about underwater is always a challenge, but once you enter deeper water where diving becomes less feasible, there simply were no options for true cinema class filming,” says Evan Kovacs, founder of Marine Imaging Technologies. “To that end, the Pixel platform has been designed from the bottom up to accommodate not only the exciting cinema quality we’ve all become accustomed to, but also to lessen the burden on the filming budget. We’re thrilled with Pixel and think it will be a game-changer in the industry.”\n\nBefore Pixel, underwater storytellers managed the filming process using submersibles or ROVs with the capabilities to accommodate a moderate camera and lighting system, which in turn required extensive surface support. Pixel was conceived as UHD was becoming mainstream and is designed to fully utilizevUHD cameras and subsequent cinematic advances. In addition to the multitude of camera options, Pixel is designed with a lighting system capable of over 100,000 lumens of articulated lighting and a precision thruster configuration to perform smooth cinematic movements. Pixel’s controls, in the hands of pilots who have a real world understanding of camera moves and working in a deep water environment, will make for a unique directorial experience and enable exploration and cinema filming in a way that has never been possible from a vehicle of this compact size.\n\nFor cameras operators, Pixel will be intuitively familiar, since the system was designed to incorporate the controls of industry standard remote lenses and camera control systems. Additionally, the MITech design team added portability to the list of requirements, designing Pixel to break down to fit into industry standard pelican cases, allowing for airline transport to locales where big containers are not possible or are cost prohibitive.\n\n“As a veteran deep water cinematographer and storyteller, I have often lamented that we had to strap cameras to vehicles that had absolutely no aesthetic, nor hydrodynamic characteristics. Considering we are living in a time where multimedia has been absorbed into the foundation of our education and entertainment culture, we knew this needed to change,” says Kovacs. “Our aim was to make Pixel move well in the water, have the best cameras and look like it actually was designed to be our literal eyes beneath the sea. We want Pixel to become an intimate part of the constantly evolving and changing dynamic of our underwater world.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.704401433467865}
+{"content": "Furious passengers at Dublin Airport have slammed delays as a \"complete joke\" while trying to get through passport control.\n\nA flurry of social media posts on Twitter reported huge queues at Terminal 1 late on Sunday night, with many claiming they were still waiting over an hour after their flight landed, Dublin Live report .\n\nTwitter user @jimf19731 called the delays \"ridiculous\" and posted: \"1 hours queues in T1 at passport control Dublin Airport #ridiculous #onlyinireland.\"\n\nIt has been claimed online that the backlog is due to low staff numbers at passport control.\n\nOne furious passenger called the queues a \"shambles\", while another responded: \"I'm 20 yards behind you in same queue.\n\n\"How difficult is it to count the number of passengers due in and open appropriate number of desks?\"\n\nAnother irate passenger said he missed the last bus to the city centre due to the delays.\n\nThe Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) control immigration through Terminal 1 and have been reached out to for comment.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6430646181106567}
+{"content": "Papers by Keyword: Microcarriers\n\nPaper TitlePage\n\nAuthors: J. Feng, M. Chong, J. Chan, Z.Y. Zhang, S.H. Teoh, Eng San Thian\nAbstract: The current available microcarriers were mainly targeted towards pharmaceutical industries, and might not be suitable for therapeutic implantation. As such, apatite-based microcarriers intended for bone tissue engineering applications would be featured here. Hydroxyapatite-Alginate (HA-Alg) suspension was extruded drop-wise into a calcium chloride (CaCl2) crosslinking solution. The HA-Alg microcarriers were then sintered to form microcarriers of uniform size. The physicochemical properties were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometery (XRD), and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry. Cell viability on these microcarriers was evaluated using human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (hfMSCs). SEM images revealed that sintered apatite-based microcarriers exhibited a rough surface topology with interconnected pores. XRD results showed that these microcarriers remained phase pure since no other secondary calcium phosphate phases were detected. FTIR analysis indicated several sharp phosphate bands coupled with a hydroxyl band (all belonging to HA). Live/dead staining showed that hfMSCs remained viable after 14 days of culture, and cells have spread and covered the surfaces of the microcarriers. Certainly, these cell-loaded microcarriers could be potentially used in bone implant science.\nAuthors: Ju Hee Ryu, Byoung Soo Kim\nAbstract: Previously, we have developed a novel method for suspension culture of anchoragedependent animal cells using biodegradable polymer nanospheres. In this study, we compared the polymer nanosphere culture method to dextran microcarrier culture method, which is a conventional suspension culture method. Most of human dermal fibroblasts (91 ± 5 %) cultured with polymer nanospheres formed aggregates on day 2. Most of cells (92 ± 7 %) attached onto microcarriers by 4 h. Microcarrier culture method had a lower apoptotic activity (3.4 folds on day 4), compared to the nanosphere culture. The microcarrier culture method had a higher cell growth (2.4-fold versus 1.7- fold growth on day 4) than the nanosphere culture. Although the polymer nanosphere culture method did not yield better outcomes than the microcarrier culture, the polymer nanosphere culture method may offer advantages over the microcarrier culture method with respect to cell protection from the shear stress during agitation at high speed and cell transplantation without enzyme digestion process to harvest cultured cells.\nAuthors: Lei Ye, Shu Ding, Yuan Lu Cui, Qiang Song Wang, Ye Zhang\nAbstract: This article presents the optimization of process parameters in chitosan-gelatin composite microcarriers preparation based on multi-index test breakdown formula evaluation combined with orthogonal array. In this study, the concentration of crosslinker solution, the concentration of water phase and stirring speed were considered as controllable factors, and three levels for each of these factors were selected, in an L9 orthogonal array. The optimal levels of the process parameters were determined through the range analysis and the relative importance among the process parameters were identified through analysis of variance. According to the evaluations of particle size, morphological analysis, compressibility, and equilibrium swelling from the nine different sets, the optimum combinations for microcarriers preparation were showed as: the concentration of crosslinker solution:0.5% (wt/v), the concentration of water phase:5% (wt/v) and stirring speed:240 rpm.\nAuthors: Gabriela A. Silva, Olga P. Coutinho, Rui L. Reis\nAbstract: In the present work we describe the synthesis of starch-based/BG 45S5 particles and their in vitro bioactivity behaviour by means of immersion in a simulated body fluid. The composite particles have shown to form a layer of Ca-P at their surface, whose nature was confirmed by chemical and morphological analysis. In order to evaluate the ability of these particles to be used as carriers for cell culture, undifferentiated rat cells were selected and parameters like cell adhesion, proliferation and expression of osteoblastic markers, were evaluated. The starch-based micro-particles have shown to support cellular activity, allowing cells to attach, proliferate and express specific markers while cultured in the particles surface. The final goal is to be able to use these particles as carriers for cells and simultaneously as in-situ forming constructs for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.\nShowing 1 to 5 of 5 Paper Titles", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9621469378471375}
+{"content": "Searching over 5,500,000 cases.\n\nBuy This Entire Record For $7.95\n\n\nLearn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.\n\nWi-Lan Inc. v. Sharp Electronics Corporation\n\nUnited States District Court, D. Delaware\n\nApril 27, 2018\n\nWI-LAN INC., Plaintiff,\nVIZIO, INC., Defendant.\n\n          Brian E. Farnan and Michael J. Farnan, FARNAN LLP, Wilmington, DE, Monte M. Bond, Jeffrey R. Bragalone, Patrick J. Conroy, Terry Saad, and James R. Perkins, BRAGALONE CONROY P.C, Dallas, TX, Attorneys for Plaintiff.\n\n          Jack B. Blumenfeld and Stephen J. Kraftschik, MORRIS, NICHOLS, ARSHT & TUNNELL LLP, Wilmington, DE, Gianni Cutri and Joel Merkin, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, Chicago, DL, Michael W. De Vries, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Adam R. Alper and James Beard, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, San Francisco, CA, Jared Barcenas, KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP, New York, NY, Attorneys for Sharp Electronics Corporation.\n\n          Pilar Gabrielle Kraman, YOUNG, CONAWAY, STARGATT & TAYLOR, LLP, Wilmington, DE, Adrian M. Pruetz and Rex Hwang, GLASER WEIL FINK HOWARD AVCHEN & SHAPIRO LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Attorneys for Vizio, Inc.\n\n\n\n         Plaintiff Wi-LAN Inc. (\"Plaintiff\") brought this patent infringement suit against Defendants Sharp Corporation, Sharp Electronics Corporation, and Vizio, Inc. (\"Defendants\"), alleging that Defendants infringe Plaintiffs U.S. Patent Nos. 6, 359, 654 (the \"'654 patent\") and 6, 490, 250 (the \"'250 patent\"). (See generally D.I. 15)[1] The '654 patent generally relates to methods to display interlaced video on non-interlaced monitors. ('654 patent, Abstract) The '250 patent generally relates to an integrated multimedia encoding system. ('250 patent, Abstract)\n\n         Presently before the Court is the issue of claim construction. The parties submitted technology tutorials (see D.I. 252, 256), objections to such technology tutorials (see D.I. 267, 270), claim construction briefs (see D.I. 253, 254, 266, 269), and expert declarations (see D.I. 253-1, 255-3, 255-4, 266-1). The Court held a claim construction hearing on February 26, 2018, at which both sides presented oral argument. (See D.L 272 (\"Tr.\"))\n\n\n         The ultimate question of the proper construction of a patent is a question of law. See Teva Pharm. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 135 S.Ct. 831, 837 (2015) (citing Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 388-91 (1996)). \"It is a bedrock principle of patent law that the claims of a patent define the invention to which the patentee is entitled the right to exclude.\" Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (internal quotation marks omitted).\n\n         \"[T]here is no magic formula or catechism for conducting claim construction.\" Id. at 1324. Instead, the Court is free to attach the appropriate weight to appropriate sources \"in light of the statutes and policies that inform patent law.\" Id.\n\n         \"[T]he words of a claim are generally given their ordinary and customary meaning ... [which is] the meaning that the term would have to a person of ordinary skill in the art in question at the time of the invention, i.e., as of the effective filing date of the patent application.\" Id. at 1312-13 (internal citations and quotation marks omitted). \"[T]he ordinary meaning of a claim term is its meaning to the ordinary artisan after reading the entire patent.\" Id. at 1321 (internal quotation marks omitted). The patent specification \"is always highly relevant to the claim construction analysis. Usually, it is dispositive; it is the single best guide to the meaning of a disputed term.\" Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996).\n\n         While \"the claims themselves provide substantial guidance as to the meaning of particular claim terms, \" the context of the surrounding words of the claim also must be considered. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314. Furthermore, \"[o]ther claims of the patent in question, both asserted and unasserted, can also be valuable sources of enlightenment... [b]ecause claim terms are normally used consistently throughout the patent.\" Id. (internal citation omitted).\n\n         It is likewise true that \"[differences among claims can also be a useful guide-----For example, the presence of a dependent claim that adds a particular limitation gives rise to a presumption that the limitation in question is not present in the independent claim.\" Id. at 1314-15 (internal citation omitted). This \"presumption is especially strong when the limitation in dispute is the only meaningful difference between an independent and dependent claim, and one party is urging that the limitation in the dependent claim should be read into the independent claim.\" SunRace Roots Enter. Co., Ltd. v. SRAM Corp., 336 F.3d 1298, 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2003).\n\n         It is also possible that \"the specification may reveal a special definition given to a claim term by the patentee that differs from the meaning it would otherwise possess. In such cases, the inventor's lexicography governs.\" Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1316. It bears emphasis that \"[e]ven when the specification describes only a single embodiment, the claims of the patent will not be read restrictively unless the patentee has demonstrated a clear intention to limit the claim scope using words or expressions of manifest exclusion or restriction.\" Hill-Rom Servs., Inc. v. Stryker Corp., 755 F.3d 1367, 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (quoting Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 906 (Fed. Cir. 2004)) (internal quotation marks omitted).\n\n         In addition to the specification, a court \"should also consider the patent's prosecution history, if it is in evidence.\" Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 980 (Fed. Cir. 1995), aff'd, 517 U.S. 370 (1996). The prosecution history, which is \"intrinsic evidence, \" \"consists of the complete record of the proceedings before the PTO [Patent and Trademark Office] and includes the prior art cited during the examination of the patent.\" Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317. \"[T]he prosecution history can often inform the meaning of the claim language by demonstrating how the inventor understood the invention and whether the inventor limited the invention in the course of prosecution, making the claim scope narrower than it would otherwise be.\" Id.\n\n         In some cases, \"the district court will need to look beyond the patent's intrinsic evidence and to consult extrinsic evidence in order to understand, for example, the background science or the meaning of a term in the relevant art during the relevant time period.\" Teva, 135 S.Ct. at 841. Extrinsic evidence \"consists of all evidence external to the patent and prosecution history, including expert and inventor testimony, dictionaries, and learned treatises.\" Markman, 52 F.3d at 980. For instance, technical dictionaries can assist the court in determining the meaning of a term to those of skill in the relevant art because such dictionaries \"endeavor to collect the accepted meanings of terms used in various fields of science and technology.\" Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1318. In addition, expert testimony can be useful \"to ensure that the court's understanding of the technical aspects of the patent is consistent with that of a person of skill in the art, or to establish that a particular term in the patent or the prior art has a particular meaning in the pertinent field.\" Id. Nonetheless, courts must not lose sight of the fact that \"expert reports and testimony [are] generated at the time of and for the purpose of litigation and thus can suffer from bias that is not present in intrinsic evidence.\" Id. Furthermore, \"statements made by a patent owner during an IPR [inter partes review] proceeding ... can be considered for claim construction.\" Aylus Networks, Inc. v. Apple Inc., 856 F.3d 1353, 1362 (Fed. Cir. 2017). Overall, while extrinsic evidence \"may be useful\" to the court, it is \"less reliable\" than intrinsic evidence, and its consideration \"is unlikely to result in a reliable interpretation of patent claim scope unless considered in the context of the intrinsic evidence.\" Id. at 1318-19. Where the intrinsic record unambiguously describes the scope of the patented invention, reliance on any extrinsic evidence is improper. See Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 182 F.3d 1298, 1308 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (citing Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583).\n\n         Finally, \"[t]he construction that stays true to the claim language and most naturally aligns with the patent's description of the invention will be, in the end, the correct construction.\" Renishaw PLC v. Marposs Societa' per Azioni, 158 F.3d 1243, 1250 (Fed. Cir. 1998). It follows that \"a claim interpretation that would exclude the inventor's device is rarely the correct interpretation.\" Osram GmbH v. Int'l Trade Comm'n 505 F.3d 1351, 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (quoting Modine Mfg. Co. v. U.S. Int'l Trade Comm'n, 75 F.3d 1545, 1550 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).\n\n\n         A. '654 Patent\n\n         1. \"A method for displaying interlaced video data on a non-interlaced monitor, the interlaced video data comprising a plurality of paired fields, each pair of fields being vertically offset relative to each other by one-half of a field line spacing distance, each field comprising a plurality of lines of video data\"[2]\n\nPlaintiff Preamble is not limiting Plain and ordinary meaning No construction necessary\n\nDefendants Preamble is limiting\n\nCourt Preamble is limiting\n\n         The parties dispute whether the preamble of claim 1 is limiting. \"[A] preamble limits the invention if it recites essential structure or steps, or if it is necessary to give life, meaning, and vitality to the claim.\" Catalina Marketing Int'l, Inc. v., Inc., 289 F.3d 801, 808 (Fed. Cir. 2002) (internal quotation marks omitted). In other words, \"when the preamble is essential to understand limitations or terms in the claim body, the preamble limits claim scope.\" Id. Moreover, \"[w]hen limitations in the body of the claim rely upon and derive antecedent basis from the preamble, then the preamble may act as a necessary component of the claimed invention.\" Pacing Techs., LLC v. Garmin Int'l, Inc., 778 F.3d 1021, 1024 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (internal quotation marks omitted). \"Conversely, a preamble is not limiting where a patentee defines a structurally complete invention in the claim body and uses the preamble only to state a purpose or intended use for the invention.\" Catalina Marketing, 289 F.3d at 808 (internal quotation marks omitted).\n\n         Plaintiff argues that the preamble is not limiting, because it \"does not contain any steps, \" but rather \"describes an intended use of the claimed process\" - displaying interlaced video data on a non-interlaced monitor - and the '\"features that necessarily exist' in interlaced video data.\" (D.I. 254 at 1-2; see also D.I. 266 at 1 (quoting Schumer v. Lab. Computer Sys., Inc., 308 F.3d 1304, 1310 (Fed. Cir. 2002))) Defendants argue that the preamble is limiting, because it \"recites the framework essential to understand the remainder of the claim and provides antecedent basis for numerous elements.\" (D.I. 269 at 2)\n\n         The Court concludes that the preamble is limiting because it is essential to understanding terms in the remainder of the claim. For example, step (c) of the claim requires \"correct[ing] the vertical offset;\" without the preamble, a person of ordinary skill in the art (\"POSA\" or \"POSITA\") would not know that the vertical offset is precisely \"one-half of a field line spacing distance.\" ('654 patent, cl. 1)\n\n         2. \"respective buffers\"[3]\n\nPlaintiff Plain and ordinary meaning No construction necessary Plain and ordinary meaning is \"a first and second memory space\"\n\nDefendants \"separate buffers for the first field and the second field\"\n\nCourt \"separate buffers for the first field and the second field\"\n\n         Both sides agree that the term \"respective buffers\" requires that there be separate buffers for each field. (See Tr. at 24, 25, 38, 40) But Plaintiff argues that the claims do not require two separate buffers each with separate memory spaces; rather, the claims permit one buffer that has sufficient memory space to store both fields while \"maintain[ing] separateness of the fields.\" (Tr. at 29) Defendants argue that the patent teaches there must be two distinct buffers for each of the two fields in the pair of fields. (See D.I. 253 at 3; Tr. at 27-28)\n\n         The Court agrees with Defendants. In describing the background of the technology, the specification notes that the prior art method of \"[d]einterlacing by interleaving two fields into a single buffer... gives very objectionable results when viewing video with rapid horizontal action.\" ('654 patent at 1:47-53) This suggests that a single buffer, despite having sufficient memory space to store both fields separately without overlap, is not covered by the patent. The patent further provides:\n\n[T]he present invention ... capture[s] the two fields into separate buffers, one for the odd field and one for the even field. When one of the fields has been captured into the buffer, the buffer is displayed, scaled to the requested dimensions on the monitor using some scaling hardware or software...That image is displayed until the next field is captured into another buffer, and then the subsequent image is displayed until the third field is captured into either the original first buffer, or into another (third) buffer. The multiple buffering is to ensure that a video buffer is not being updated while it is being displayed, to avoid ''tearing\"....\n\n(Id. at 4:43-60 (emphasis added)) Moreover, the asserted claims of the '654 patent specify \"respective buffets\" - that is, plural buffers. A POSA would understand that the patent claims completely separate buffers, rather than just separate memory spaces in a single buffer, in order to practice the claimed method.\n\n         3. \"scaling\"[4]\n\nPlaintiff Plain and ordinary meaning No construction necessary Plain and ordinary meaning is \"changing by a constant factor the number of lines and/or pixels in an image\"\n\nDefendants \"changing the vertical resolution of the video signal by a constant factor\"[5]\n\nCourt \"changing the vertical resolution by changing by a constant factor the number of lines and/or pixels in a field\"\n\n         Step (b) of claim 1 requires \"scaling each of the first field and second field of each pair of fields to fill vertical resolution of the non-interlaced monitor.\" ('654 patent, cl. 1) While the parties agree that scaling involves changing something by a constant factor, they disagree as to what may be changed. (See D.I. 254 at 3; D.I. 269 at 4)\n\n         Plaintiff argues that \"[t]he term 'scaling' is used throughout the specification in its broad sense to describe various scaling methods\" - line-by-line, pixel-by-pixel, vertically, and horizontally - \"and is not limited to vertical scaling of lines.\" (D.I. 254 at 3; see also Tr. at 45) Plaintiff further argues that \"there is no lexicography that would limit scaling to any one particular type of scaling, \" nor is there anything in the patent 'that would rise to the level of a disavowal of any type of scaling.\" (Tr. at 44) Defendants counter that the '654 patent \"universally refers to scaling in the context of adding new lines\" and does not contemplate scaling solely by changing the number of pixels. (D.I. 253 at 5) While Defendants agree that scaling generally can be accomplished by just adding pixels and widening the horizontal resolution, in Defendants' view such scaling would not practice claim limitation (b), which requires \"scaling... to fill vertical resolution of the non-interlaced monitor.\" (Tr. at 52; see also '654 patent, cl. 1)[6] Defendants are also concerned that Plaintiffs construction would improperly permit Plaintiff to contend that there is no requirement that the vertical resolution be changed, as long as it is filled. (See Tr. at 57) While Plaintiff conceded that simply adding pixels to widen the resolution horizontally would be \"scaling\" but would not meet the rest of the claim limitation - because it is not scaling to fill vertical resolution - Plaintiff also indicated that performing horizontal scaling would meet the claim limitation as long as it filled the vertical resolution. (See Id. at 56-57) Separately, Defendants further argue that Plaintiffs construction is incorrect because \"the claimed scaling occurs on fields, not images, of video data.\" (D.I. 253 at 4) (emphasis omitted)\n\n         While the Court recognizes there may be various types of scaling in general, the Court agrees with Defendants that all references to scaling in the specification of the '654 patent refer to vertical scaling of lines, rather than just horizontal scaling of pixels. (See, e.g., '654 patent, at Figs. 4, 5, 6, 1:34-38, 1:63-2:7, 4:51-53, 5:19-64) More importantly, \"the plainness of the claim language necessarily affects what ultimate conclusions about claim construction can properly be drawn based on the specification.\" Straight Path IP Grp., Inc. v. Sipnet EU S.R.O., 806 F.3d 1356, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (\"[Disavowal is required where claim language is plain, lacking a range of possible ordinary meanings in context.\"). Here, the claim language - \"scaling... to fill vertical resolution\" - requires an actual change in vertical resolution. The proper resolution of the parties' claim construction dispute must ensure that claim limitation (b) is not eviscerated.[7]Further, the Court concludes that the patent refers to scaling in fields rather than scaling in images.\n\n\nBuy This Entire Record For $7.95\n\n\nLearn more about what you receive with purchase of this case.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9595567584037781}
+{"content": "It's exciting to play guitar. This builds better motor skills, boosts creativity, and relieves stress. Read this article if you want to learn about playing the guitar.\n\nBuild up your foundation. Do not try to learn too much too quickly. You might want to play a favorite song of yours, but the foundation you build is important. The first thing you must learn is finger positions. Chords and scales are the things you need to practice. Learn them before you try the advanced concepts.\n\nLook for a good guitar teacher. It can be better to have someone watch you playing a guitar, even though you can learn on your own. They can help you with your style and show you ways to improve. You can also get your questions answered by them which can help a lot.\n\nFigure out how you can be more motivated. Both long-term and short-term goals will help you progress on the guitar. If someone you know plays, join up with them for a music session every now and again. If you practice every day for a week, give yourself a reward when the week is over. Nothing valuable or worthy is easy to gain!\n\nBuy a guitar. It can be hard to practice if you don't have one. Also, it is important to keep your guitar tuned, otherwise the sound you hear when you play will sound wrong even when it's right.\n\nMake sure you're enjoying yourself when playing the guitar. Remember that you're only learning to play because you wanted to! Try not to make the learning process feel like work. This attitude may cause you to be bored, hate the guitar and completely stop practicing. Instead, practice and play music that you love and that speaks to you.\n\nAs you start out learning the guitar, find an well-made instrument that you can buy and practice on. If buying a good guitar is beyond your means, think about renting or borrowing one. Using a proper guitar will ensure that you are getting the best sound possible as you develop your skills.\n\nLearn everything you can about each part of a guitar. Knowing proper terminology can help you read teaching materials better. It can also help you a better-informed musician.\n\nYou may get sore fingertips before they develop calluses. It may hurt less playing a nylon-string or electric guitar. Newbies find steel-string acoustic models to cause the most pain. Soaking your fingers in rubbing alcohol can help soothe the pain.\n\nFrom the structured sounds of classical guitar to the rowdy sounds of rock and roll, start simple when learning to play the guitar. Rather than attempting to learn hard songs, begin with simple tunes. Though you may feel silly, children's songs can offer some simple, single-note melodies that will be easy to follow and build your skill.\n\nWhen learning songs, you should try playing them in different keys. The same song sounds different in varying keys, and you will learn chords more easily. Also, it will enhance your understanding of how music is created. You'll have a better understanding of music and be a better musician for it.\n\nBegin working on playing slowly. When you want learn a song, take your time and learn it completely before trying to play it at tempo. Begin with learning the song note by note, then you can ramp up your speed. If you're only focusing on the speed you play at it's easy to get frustrated at your own mistakes. So, it is better to start things off very gradually, learn the song, and then let the speed come to you.\n\nDo not spend a lot on the guitar that you initially purchase. It is easy to feel it necessary to buy the best guitar on the market, no matter the cost. This is often a mistake. You might discover you don't care for playing guitar. Plus, it is possible for a low cost guitar to sound good. Only make a real investment in your gear once you're sure guitar playing is something you want to commit to.\n\nFind a guitar buddy. Ask around to find out who plays, and ask if you can get together. You may learn some techniques that are new to you. Also, playing and learning with friends or family makes the time fly by. If you find someone who is also beginning then you can teach each other.\n\n\nBe sure to learn each song you attempt from start to finish. Just learning the catchiest section of any song can be surprisingly easy and tempting. This is a very poor habit to develop. Practice playing the entire song and force yourself to learn it. Keep your attention honed on learning the song until you have it down pat.\n\nAfter you buy your guitar and start practicing on it, be sure to take care of it properly. Cleaning and maintaining it properly can make it last for years. Learn what you can to clean it, change your strings, and tune it. This will allow you to always have an instrument you're proud of.\n\nTry asking someone to play a duet with you while you learn. Decide who is playing the melody and who plays the chords. This can be a fun way to get better at guitar. It also helps you establish a steady rhythm and tempo because you have to play with someone.\n\nIt is easy to see that there is much to learn when it comes to playing guitar. You should learn how to use your fingers and adopt new styles. Start using these tips the next time you play the guitar to see how good you can be.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8687261343002319}
+{"content": "The A.I. Chronicles (The Future Chronicles)\n\nSamuel Peralta, David Simpson, Chrystalla Thoma, Pavarti K. Tyler, Susan Kaye Quinn\n\nFormat: Paperback\n\nLanguage: 1\n\nFormat: PDF / Kindle / ePub\n\nSize: 5.84 MB\n\nDownloadable formats: PDF\n\nScience Fiction in the Twentieth Century. In the Chinks of the World Machine: Feminism and Science Fiction. They were also no doubt influenced by the 1932 publication of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. I wish Manhattan condo towers could be required to have street frontage consisting of capsule micro-shops. And so in accordance with the film’s logic, Godzilla truly is the ‘alpha predator,’ ruling over both MUTOs and mankind alike. Harry Winston came calling, and a collaboration on the Opus V ensued.\n\nPages: 430\n\nPublisher: Windrift Books (March 13, 2015)\n\n\nSome readings in relevant scholarship and The course format is mixed lecture and discussion. Gain a broad understanding of the history of English-language science fiction literature since 1890 in terms of its diverse forms, themes, and publication media. Develop the ability to analyze individual or multiple science-fiction texts in terms of key concepts including genre, implied audience, plot construction, linguistic texture, authorial identity, publication context, and sociocultural context Includes material for MedTechs well worth science fiction viewing , cited: Dick (which later became the movie Blade Runner) (McCaffrey, 17-20). The beginning of the literary movement that we can best recognize as cyberpunk really got going in the 1980’s In the process, the franchisers had taught a generation of readers and viewers -- and writers! -- to prefer predictable sameness, not surprising variety. If it appeared at all, variety was just ever-bigger special effects, rendered by ever-bigger computers online. It looks at future or past scenarios while considering what would happen if a particular technology had been successfully developed or seen widespread adoption by society , source: Currently the genre is more concerned with the artistic and physiological impact of nanotechnology, than of aspects of the technology itself. Still, one of the most prominent examples of nanopunk is Crysis video game series. And much lesser famous examples is Generator Rex and Transcendence. [8] As new writers and artists began to experiment with cyberpunk ideas, new varieties of fiction emerged, sometimes addressing the criticisms leveled at the original cyberpunk stories Improvements in prosthetics and brain computer interface have resulted in brain controlled prosthetics, a mainstay of cyberpunk. Corporations increasing dominate global politics, and influence culture creating a situation ripe for subversion. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer, creating a larger and larger divide pdf.\n\nRezolution - For those who demand more from their hobby. to steal or spread mayhem, fighting in the deadly game of winner takes all. fighting the corruption from within However, well-read SF readers should be familiar with all of the authors listed below , cited: The careless technophilia of those days belongs to a vanished, sluggish era, when authority still had a comfortable margin of control. For the cyberpunks, by stark contrast, technology is visceral. It is not the bottled genie of remote Big Science boffins; it is pervasive, utterly intimate , cited: Critical assessment of cyberpunk ranges from those who approach it with scorn to those who view it as a legitimate literary exploration of life in the post-humanist age pdf. Why can't people who think of themselves as top writers see any possibility of explaining the multiplicity of thinking, of life-styles, of processes around the world? DS: If we believe, as I believe, that any piece of writing is determined by its implied reader—modern literary theory maintains there is an ideal reader inscribed between the lines, an ideal addressee—it's not difficult to find the ideal reader of cyberpunk: computer hackers, media mixers, technicians of TV and radio stations, mobile young professionals, free-lancers, jet-setters who don't care whether they work in Tokyo, London, D�sseldorf, or Los Angeles—they just want to have their machines, they want to be part of a global network , source:\nBooks are physical objects that need to be manufactured and transported and sold, or digital entities that need to be formatted and made available online. Sometimes there are things we wish they would do a little more of: editorial standards are not what they were , cited: Each contributor will need to sign a contract to be emailed to authors whose work is accepted , cited: Excerpt and then a comment: There was Malaysian magic present the British Fantasy Awards yesterday (Sept 25). Selangor-born Zen Cho was voted Best Newcomer for her book, Sorcerer To The Crown, at the awards held at FantasyCon 2016 in Scarborough, England Since Neuromancer, Gibson has become a regular science fiction author and has written several books, most notably the Sprawl Trilogy (starting with Neuromancer), The Difference Engine, and the Bridge Trilogy , e.g. Where Cyberpunk portrays the future as a Crapsack World, Post-Cyberpunk posits society will probably be about the same, just with cooler gadgets. Where Cyberpunk is futuristic, forward thinking and on the cutting edge... so is Post-Cyberpunk Shortly thereafter, however, many critics arose to challenge its status as a revolutionary movement. These critics said that the SF \" New Wave\" of the 1960s was much more innovative as far as narrative techniques and styles were concerned. Further, while Neuromancer's narrator may have had an unusual \"voice\" for science fiction, much older examples can be found: Gibson's narrative voice, for example, resembles that of an updated Raymond Chandler, as in his novel The Big Sleep (1939) The works of cyberpunk science fiction writers are the birthplace of the concept of \" cyberspace \". This concept was first introduced to the world by writer William Gibson in his novel \" Neuromancer \", probably the most famous cyberpunk book ever. \"Cyberpunk literature, in general, deals with marginalized people in technologically-enhanced cultural 'systems'. In cyberpunk stories' settings, there is usually a 'system' which dominates the lives of most 'ordinary' people, be it an oppressive government, a group of large, paternalistic corporations, or a fundamentalist religion download.\nThe advances of the sciences are so deeply radical, so disturbing, upsetting, and revolutionary, that they can no longer be contained. They are surging into culture at large; they are invasive; they are everywhere. The traditional power structure, the traditional institutions, have lost control of the pace of change ref.: But what I meant was, are any of the BBS boards listed here even up anymore? I tried connecting to a few and they don't seem to work We go Siamese twin on 'em before they even get restless. (Gibson 163) This virus is far more akin to the kinds of viruses we see today: programs that deceive operating systems and cause damage below the radar, indicating Gibson’s considerable (and rather astounding) foresight. Certain of Gibson’s technologies are logical evolutions of existing technologies, like the dermapatches used to take drugs , cited: That is, stories that have previously been published by a paying market, NOT something self-published or placed on a free webzine. All submissions should: Word Count: 2,000 to 9,000 words preferred, but flexible. Be typed in Courier or Times New Roman 12. Be typed in line with Standard Manuscript Format ref.: Anti-authoritarian, brand-averse, tech-literate; these are just some of the qualities you may find in a cyberpunk , source: Il peut y avoir contestation au sujet de la classification des différents sous-genres du cyberpunk : par exemple, on considère le steampunk et le biopunk comme des sous-genres mais, les caractéristiques de ces sous-genres du cyberpunk étant relativement vastes et encore assez proches des caractéristiques définissant le cyberpunk, un chevauchement peut aisément survenir lors d'une identification d'une œuvre au cyberpunk et à ses sous-genres Jameson is not so easily convinced that Gibson is really post-cyberpunk, and opines “Maybe, on the contrary, he is moving closer to the ‘cyberpunk’ with which he is often associated.” He then suggests that the critics bringing Gibson into the “Fiction” fold are actually doing him a disservice, as Jameson validates cyberpunk and science fiction as essential reflections of current society which “Fiction” by its omission in his statement, seems unable to present She’s also won 11 Hugos, 11 Locus Polls and 8 Nebulas. The awards aside, she’s a clear choice for a top female science fiction author. Her superbly humorous sci-fi tales are also balanced with some gravitas, like asking what impact technology will really have on society? Expect multi-layered characters and a slow humor build online. Let's say the best of cyberpunk can be read—with many impurities—as a kind of Rousseauist rebellion pdf. It seems light I read some John Wright a few years back, he did the Golden Age, yes? I'll look into Ellis & Sean Williams also. Anyway, thanks to everyone who posted here, I've got about a years worth of suggestions to read and alot of them sound really cool. I think I may have given up too early on the CP thing. It's completely different from what I'm used to, but I think it has a lot to offer\n\nRated 4.3/5\nbased on 1547 customer reviews", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8146408796310425}
+{"content": "Authors Name: \nJack Fitzsimons\nTrinity College Dublin\nComputer Sciences\nAward winner\n\nIdentifying Abandoned, Moved and Removed Objects in Automated Surveillance Systems\n\nThis project is concerned with the classification of long term changes in surveillance scenes, known as static foreground. There has been little work related to such classification despite its potential role in automatic identification of abandoned bombs and theft. In this project, a thorough literature review of previous techniques was conducted. All previous static foreground classifiers were limited to classifying objects as either abandoned or removed. This leads to many ambiguous cases whereby objects move, such as a bin falling over in the wind. I implemented each of these techniques and a comparison of their performance has been evaluated on a test set of 40 examples of abandoned and removed objects taken from established benchmarks. Classifying static foreground as an abandoned, removed or moved object presents new issues. Firstly, the static foreground observed no longer necessarily indicates the position of an object in the scene. Secondly, previous techniques relied on computing a metric from before and after the static foreground was detected which work in the constrained conditions of abandoned and removed objects, but break down for multi-class classification. In order to overcome these challenges a four stage system is presented. Leveraging the strengths of previous abandoned and removed classifiers, the system combines image inpainting, pixel level classifiers and image segmentation to create robust classifications. The first two stages overcome the issues associated with the static foreground of moved objects. The latter stages deal with the multi-class classification. The system was tested on 80 examples of abandoned, removed and moved objects and operated at 95% accuracy. Previous methods classified moved objects arbitrarily between abandoned and removed as the classification was outside their scope. The proposed system resolves this challenge and also matches the previous state of the art abandoned and removed object classifier in the absence of moved objects.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6391968727111816}
+{"content": "Stage 8 Stage 9 Stage 10\n\nLet’s start with some vocabulary. In the UK, a pound is called a ‘quid’. ‘Have you got a quid?’ means ‘Have you got a pound?’ Note that we don’t pluralise this noun when talking about an amount of money, i.e. we say ’50 quid’ and not ’50 quids’. However we do use ‘quids’ in the expression ‘quids in’, which means ‘to make a profit’, e.g. ‘When we sold the house we were quids in.’ But ‘quid’ is only pluralised in this expression, not when used as a noun in general.\n\nIf we have five pounds, we have five quid. However we also have a ‘fiver’. This refers to the five pound banknote. We can go further with this, and indeed some Londoners do – particularly those from the East End of London (Cockneys), who refer to a fiver as a ‘lady’, after the historical British figure Lady Godiva, whose name rhymes with ‘fiver’.\n\nSimilarly, a tenner means ten pounds (or ten quid) and generally refers to the note, rather than ten pounds in coins. Some people will call it an ‘Ayrton’, after the late Brazilian Formula 1 racing driver Ayrton Senna (as Senna rhymes with ‘tenner’).\n\nDownload Exercise\n\nSpeaking of coins, when we are searching amongst our ‘small change’ – i.e. penny coins and 2p coins – we are looking through our ‘coppers’. This does not have any connection to a ‘copper’ as a policeman (‘cop’ for short). It refers instead to the colour of the coins rather than the material they are made from, as most British coins these days are actually made from copper-plated steel.\n\nLet’s look at a few money idioms. If you (or your company) is ‘in the black’, don’t worry: this is a good thing. It means you are not in debt (for now, at least). Keep things this way! If, alternatively, you are already in the red, you need to act: you owe money and are not making profit. Sometimes you need to ‘break the bank’ to make advances and revive your company’s fortunes. ‘Breaking the bank’ means to spend more money on something than you normally would, e.g. ‘he broke the bank when he bought the new PC for the office’).\n\nWhen we have no money, we say we are ‘broke’, ‘skint’ or ‘strapped for cash’. These words mean the same thing: we are poor! We might then look at a rich person with envious eyes and remark on how they are ‘loaded’ or ‘filthy rich’. This means they have a lot of money (e.g. ‘Bill Gates gives a lot of money away to charity – he’s loaded’).\n\nTo progress from this penurious state to one of affluence would require one to go ‘from rags to riches’. This expression is used to describe a person’s meteoric rise, from humble origins, into the ranks of the wealthy.\n\nWe might be especially envious of a person who is born into a wealthy family. When somebody is rich due to their family connections, we say they were ‘born with a silver spoon in (their) mouth’. They can afford to spend what they like on luxury items: we, meanwhile, have to ‘live within our means’, i.e. not spend more than we have. We should avoid the temptation to ‘use credit’ to fund our purchases (to use a credit card to buy things). We certainly should not gamble the money we have away: when a man loses all his money through betting or dubious business deals, we say ‘he lost his shirt’ – sometimes literally.\n\nTake our blog test to see how you manage with a few of the idioms we’ve looked at in this blog.\n\n\nA. Porter\n\nDownload Exercise", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5985424518585205}
+{"content": "Serena warns her Wimbledon rivals | 2018-07-10 |\n\nSerena warns her Wimbledon rivals\n\nAFP     10th July, 2018 12:32:16 printer\n\nSerena warns her Wimbledon rivals\n\nSerena Williams has warned her Wimbledon rivals she is nowhere near her best despite powering into the quarter-finals without dropping a set.\n\n\nWilliams is chasing an eighth Wimbledon crown and the American star showed why she is the title favourite with a 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Evgeniya Rodina in the fourth round on Monday.\n\n\nIn her 13th Wimbledon quarter-final, Serena faces Italian world number 52 Camila Giorgi on Tuesday.\n\n\nThe path to the title appears wide open for the 36-year-old after every female top seed crashed out before the last eight for the first time in Wimbledon history.\n\n\n\n\nThe carnage at the top leaves 11th seed Angelique Kerber -- beaten by Serena in the 2016 Wimbledon final -- as the highest ranked player left.\n\n\nWilliams isn't complaining about the high number of shock results, but she couldn't resist at jab at the Wimbledon organisers who only seeded her 25th despite her remarkable record.\n\n\n\"I faced a thousand and three seeds in my life, so I'm okay,\" she said.\n\n\n\"Things happen. On both sides, men's and women's, there's been a tremendous amount of upsets.\n\n\n\"I don't think this has happened to this extreme. But also I've never been ranked where I am when this has happened before, so usually I'm one of those few seeds left that's still fighting and still in the tournament.\n\n\n\"Now that I'm not, it kind of happened!\"\n\n\nIt's not as if Serena needs much encouragement to dominate at Wimbledon, where she has already reached nine finals.\n\n\nHaving shaken off the rust following her lenghthy lay-off after the birth of her daughter Olympia in September, she is rounding nicely into form for the business end of the tournament.\n\n\nOminiously for the other seven women left in the draw, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, who missed Wimbledon last year but won the title on her previous two visits, insists there is still plenty of room for improvement.\n\n\n\"There's a lot to improve on. This is only my fourth tournament back,\" said Williams, who has won all three of her previous meetings with Giorgi.\n\n\n\"For me, there's so much farther I want to go to get back where I was, and hopefully go beyond that.\n\n\n\"I'm always striving for perfection. There's a lot of things that, I don't know if you can tell, but I really need to work on. Hopefully I can get there.\"\n\n\nNo pressure\n\nOf ther other quarter-finalists, only Kerber and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko have won Grand Slams.\n\n\nKerber, who won the Australian and US Open in 2016, takes on Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina.\n\n\n\"I'm not feeling the pressure because I'm not looking on the seeded or who is left or not,\" Kerber said of her improved title chances.\n\n\n\"For every single day that I'm here trying to do my best. This is all I'm focusing on. It's still a long way until the end.\"\n\n\nLatvian 12th seed Ostapenko plays former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova.\n\n\n\"At the French Open I had all that pressure, now it's gone,\" former junior Wimbledon champion Ostapenko said.\n\n\n\"I'm just not afraid to miss. I'm just going for the shots.\"\n\n\nKiki Bertens took care of the last of the top 10 with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) victory over Czech seventh seed Karolina Pliskova.\n\n\nBertens, who was contemplating retirement last year after losing her enthusiasm for the sport, is the first Dutch woman to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals since Michaella Krajicek in 2007.\n\n\nThe 26-year-old faces German 13th seed Julia Goerges, who beat Donna Vekic to seal her first Grand Slam quarter-final berth at the 42nd attempt.\n\n\n\"This is for me something pretty special,\" Goerges said.\n\n\n\"It sounds pretty strange when you saw my record from the last five years here. I didn't expect it, honestly.\"", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5509337186813354}
+{"content": "The Run\n\nAfter escaping her kidnapper, Samantha runs for her older brother Liam Payne. When things start to go back to normal,she starts falling for his friend. Harry Styles. What will happen, and will love conguer all?\n\nLoading ...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997028708457947}
+{"content": "Music History for\n\nSeptember 23\n\n\n1923 - \"720 in the Books\" was recorded by Jan Savitt and his Orchestra.\n\n1952 - Hank Williams did his last recording session.\n\n1956 - Micky Dolenz began his television career in NBC's \"Circus Boy\" series. He later became a member of the Monkees.\n\n1966 - The song \"Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby?\" was released by The Rolling Stones in the U.S. and U.K.\n\n1967 - \"People Are Strange\" was released by the Doors.\n\n1969 - It was reported by \"The London Daily Mirror\" that Paul McCartney was dead. It was the first time the rumor was printed.\n\n1974 - Robbie McIntosh (Average White Band) died of a heroin overdose at the age of 24.\n\n\n\n1980 - David Bowie made his acting debut in the Broadway show \"The Elephant Man\". He performed the role until January 3, 1981.\n\n1980 - Bob Marley performed his last show in Pittsburgh, PA. He died seven months later of cancer.\n\n1996 - In Sweden, Agnetha Faltskog (Abba) published her autobiography \"As I Am.\"\n\n1997 - MCA Records reissued Average White Band's label debut \"Show Your Hand\" as part of the band's 25th anniversary.\n\n1997 - The album \"Falling Into Infinity\" was released by Dream Theater.\n\n1997 - Elektra Entertainment released \"The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne.\"\n\n1997 - Elton John's single \"Candle in the Wind 1997\" was released in the U.S.\n\n1998 - The first Lilith Fair concert outside North America took place at London's Royal Albert Hall.\n\n1999 - Shirley Manson (Garbage) unveiled her own line of lip gloss.\n\n1999 - Coolio appeared on TV's \"Judge Joe\" to settle a financial dispute with his backing band the Wyld Bunch. The judge ruled the band was due $4,000 in unpaid earnings.\n\n2003 - The Outkast album \"Speakerboxxx/The Love Below\" was released.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9715558290481567}
+{"content": "Mount Greenwood Elementary School Modular\n\n10841 South Homan Avenue\n\nThe project will include the fabrication and installlation of a six-classroom modular, including associated site work, and power/communications connections to the adjacent existing building as needed. The project includes the relocation of a playground on the property, currently located where the modular will be installed. This project will also include the upgraded exterior building scope of work including but not limited to cement board and metal panel cladding, parapet, scuppers, elongated casement windows, and lit recessed building entries.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997869729995728}
+{"content": "Lobi Bateba Duntundara figure also known as Bateba Ti Puo\nI have also seen them referred to as \"Duntundora\"\nThe Lobi people live in a vast geographical area that stretches from Burkina Fasso, to the Ivory Coast and into Ghana. Villages are spread out over\nwide areas and are made up of several compounds.\n\nThe Lobi community is not organized on the basis of kinship or political ties and lacks any kind of centralized political authority in the form of a chief\nking or council of village elders. Instead the members of the community are united by common adherence to the cult of a nature spirit called “thil” (pl\nthila) and the rules that determine correct social behavior in the community are the rules that the spirit dictates through the diviner (thildar). The thila\nare invisible spirits of nature with certain supernatural abilities and powers that they can use for malevolent or benevolent ends. Each village has a\nparticular spirit (dithil) that is responsible for the entire village.\n\nSocial behavior is regulated by these thila, whose will is passed to ordinary people by priests and diviners. Wooden or clay sculpture, called bateba, act\nas an intermediary between a particular thil and the Lobi community.\n\nLobi bateba figures have a wide degree of style and are made for a wide range of purposes. In Lobi communities anyone can learn to carve, it is not\nlimited to people with specialized training. Lobi bateba figures are believed to be able to act in behalf of their owner, they are considered a living being\nand have the ability to act out against forces that could harm it’s owner or bring good things to it’s owner depending on it’s intended purpose.\n\nVery basic definitions\n\nBATEBA PHUWE  - Normal or ordinary Bateba\nThese figures usually have no specific defining posture and are often figures with arms straight down and the figures are looking straight ahead and\noften have a grim look on the face. These figures can have a variety of different functions.\n\nBATEBA Tl  BALA - Unusual or extraordinary Bateba (sub categories Thil Dokra <janus figure>, Betise <mating couple>, maternity figures)\nThil Dorka - Figures with two heads represent deities whose ability to see in several directions at once makes them exceptionally dangerous and\nBetise - Figures depicting a man and a woman making love (the man always positioned behind the woman) are prescribed for single men so that they\nfind a wife or to women to avoid sterility or wished to have a child.\n\nSome figures are carved with sad expressions or have a hand touching the face because their function is to mourn for their owners.\n\nBATEBA Tl PUO  - Dangerous Bateba\nOften referred to as Bateba Duntundara as well, these figures are considered dangerous and block entrance to harmful forces such as disease or\nwitchcraft, and are depicted with one or both arms held up.\nBATEBA  BAMBAR - Paralysed Bateba\nFigures depicting a seated man or woman with their legs stretched out in front of them are called bamgbar/bambar. According to certain soothsayers,\nthese protect children and the elderly from paralysis.\n\nThe Lobi often have conflicting interpretations of the meanings of the figures, and there are also varied meanings on similar figures because of\nregional variances.\n\nReferences: A History of Art in Africa, Lobi Art and Culture, The Lobi of Burkina Fasso, Lobi Skulpturen\n\nIf you are interested in learning more about the Lobi,\nCLICK HERE to go to some great online reference articles.\nLink will open in a new window.\nLobi Bateba Duntundara or Bateba Ti Puo figure\n\n8.6\" tall (22cm)\nProvenance - Galerie-Verkauf, Germany\nPhotos of the Lobi shrines from:\nMore great photos in this site!\nInformation and photos below from:\nMetropolitan Museum of Art\nShrine Figures: Couple (Bateba Phuwe)\nLobi, Burkina Faso\nWood; male: H. 57.2 cm (22 1/2 in.); female:\nH. 46.4 cm (18 1/4 in.)\n20th century\nThomas G. B. Wheelock Collection\nThe impetus for the creation of these works and the manner in which they should ideally appear came from spirits who\nconveyed the desired images through the medium of a diviner. Their subsequent realization fulfilled a prescription that\nresulted in curing an ailment or otherwise relieving some personal difficulty.\n\nAccording to Lobi conceptions of existence, God (thangba yu), the Creator of all life on earth, is an abstract and distant force.\n(1) More directly engaged in human experience are the thila, invisible and bodiless beings endowed with superhuman powers\nand abilities. Through the medium of diviners (buor), the thila issue injunctions against certain kinds of behavior; anyone who\nviolates them will be punished with an ailment or some other misfortune. They also provide the means to reverse these\nconditions by prescribing cures and protective measures, also conveyed through buor.\n\nThis dynamic was set in place by thangba yu in order to establish standards of political, social, and moral order in Lobi society,\nwhich humans had been incapable of managing by themselves. At the time of creation, according to oral traditions, humankind\nhad enjoyed a carefree state in which thangba yu had provided for all its needs, a world where sickness and death were\nunknown, as were war or conflict of any kind. As a requirement of these idyllic conditions, thangba yu prohibited adultery and\nkilling—commandments that were violated when the population grew out of control. Consequently, thangba yu retreated\nforever, leaving humanity to provide for itself and vulnerable to suffering and mortality. To mitigate this isolation, the Creator\nassigned to the thila the responsibility of responding to human needs and protecting people against witchcraft and sorcery.\n\nThe directives (bonoo) given to individuals through buor are very exacting and must be fulfilled with precision. Failure to do so\nis thought to lead either to some form of punishment by the thila or to the persistence of the difficulties being experienced.\nBecause they are amorphous beings, the thila depend on human mediums to communicate their instructions. Thila select\nindividuals to fulfill this role by revealing themselves directly to them, or through notifying other diviners. Individuals usually\nresist this calling, as it is considered an onerous responsibility in view of the time commitment it represents and its lack of\nremuneration. Training is relatively informal and consists of observing consultations and rituals and learning the signs that the\nthila use to communicate.(2)\n\nIndividuals consult diviners to gain insight into a broad range of situations that concern them. They enter into this relationship\nwithout describing the problem at hand. Instead, the diviner positions himself beside the client, grasps his hand, and, in order\nto determine independently the nature of the problem and which thila is involved in this particular situation, poses a series of\nquestions that can be responded to with \"yes\" or \"no\" answers. Responses are indicated through specific movements of their\njoined hands.(3) A diagnosis ultimately reveals behavioral prohibitions that must be followed, sacrifices that are required, and\ninstructions that may request the construction of a shrine or the commissioning of figural sculpture (bateba).(4)\n\nSmall wood figurines are often part of the collection of paraphernalia owned by the buor, whereas works that are\ncommissioned to fulfill prescriptions are larger in scale. The sculptor (bateba thel), who may himself have been directed toward\nhis vocation by his thila, carefully follows the guidelines for such works, provided by the spirits through the diviner.(5) This\ncouple represents a unified vision of the human form but displays subtle distinctions between the male and female figures.\nAlthough the female is slightly smaller in scale, she shares the same bold rectilinear cast, crisply rendered features, and\ngradually swelling torso with a pronounced navel. Both are depicted in a state of intense concentration, eyes closed and lips\npursed, the male figure facing forward while his female counterpart turns her head in profile. This creates a dramatic shift\nbetween the orientation of their bodies and her gaze.\n\nLobi figural sculptures commissioned as a result of a divination consultation represent tibila thil, people who help a spirit, and\nare designed to be placed in a residential or public shrine.(6) These two figures are thought to be bateba duntundara, a genre\nof bateba that serve to shield their owner against the witches that might attempt to enter his or her home.(7) Duntundara can\nbe found in a broad range of representations, including figures that gesture dramatically or feature unusual physiological\ncharacteristics such as multiple heads or arms. Standing with their arms at their sides, this couple falls into a category of\n\"plain\" (phuwe) figures. Despite their tranquil stance, they embody an attitude of vigilance and acute awareness that\nsurpasses ordinary reliance on sensory perception and intimidates potential malefactors.\n\n1. Piet Meyer in Peek 1991, p. 92.\n\n2. Ibid., p. 94.\n\n3. Labouret 1931, p. 453; Piet Meyer in Peek 1991, p. 96.\n\n4. Piet Meyer in Peek 1991, pp. 98–99.\n\n5. Ibid.  \n\n6. Meyer 1981b.\n\n7. Piet Meyer, Kunst und Religion der Lobi, exh. cat. (Zurich: Museum Rietberg, 1981), p. 56; Meyer 1981a, pp. 21–22.\n\nSource: Metropolitan Museum of Art\nLOBI brass Chameleon in my collection\nA really great piece in a private collection\nA Lobi figure from the Maurer Collection\n\nbateba Figure\nA Lobi figure from the Maurer Collection\n\nbateba Figure\nA group of late 19th/early 20th century Lobi figures\nHeight: 17,3 to 53,5 cm\nCollection du Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Angoulême (Poitou-Charentes)\nA Lobi figure from the book:\nAfrican Art in American Collections\nMr. and Mrs. William W. Brill Collection\nA Fantastic set of Lobi figures from the book:\nAfrican Art in American Collections\nBoth figures aprox 28\" tall\nFred and Rita Richman Collection", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9303324222564697}
+{"content": "The Executioner’s Axe\n\nMy speech for freedom was a success,\n\nand thank darkness for a cloudy night.\n\n\nde-masked above a dying crowd.\n\n\nI roared about the actions necessary,\n\nshould we desire an end prettier than the starving crows…\n\n\n\nIt seems to me that the powers which confine us,\n\nare afraid as wild youth as it nears its end.\n\nNatural life will always be the outcome.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSo that my eyes may dry and hate subside –\n\nmy axe no longer need divide,\n\n\n\nMy axe chips as does my soul whenever a revolutionary’s crippled.\n\nThis is how an executioner prays:\n\n\n\n\n\nHeritage Day\n\nToday is my last day\n\n\n\n\n\nThere is a headline,\n\nmy face\n\n\nit says;\n\nHeritage Day\n\n\n\nTwo: I learned how to live with being a liar\n\nThree: I came as a foreign being full of love\n\n\n\nSix: I inherited the art\n\nSeven: I will never forget\n\n\n\nAfter all\n\n3 months before they expected me I was ready\n\n13 years before I was\n\nthey weren’t\n\nmy family\n\n\nThe wardrobe whispered the call of majesty\n\nI obeyed my longing eyes\n\npast the dioors and my goodbye suit\n\n\nHeritage day:\n\n\nTwo: It wasn’t always sunny\n\nThree: How to fake the smile through heartache\n\nFour: How to cause the same\n\nFive: My clothes are cheap\n\nSix: I am unworthychocolat_l\n\n\n\n\nand on the top right hand corner of the screen\n\nA phrase in white paint screams out at me\n\nHeritage Day:\n\nOne: My skin colour murdered my first love\n\n\nThree: My father Died of a broken heart\n\nFour: You saved mine\n\nFive: Our life was puzzled together by vibes and muted sentences\n\n\n\n\nPalm on palm now\n\nMy eye lids find their space\n\nNo tears left in me\n\nMy heritage day is eternal\n\n\n\n\n\n\nConsciousness Evolution Kymatica (the foundation)\n\n‘Evolution –\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd for a very good reason…\n\nYou are evolving.\n\nStop blaming everybody and everything else!!\n\nQuit panicking about global tyranny and natural disaster and Pay Attention!\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe human embryo repeats the evolution of all species.\n\n\n\n\n\nIt then sheds its lacuna which is the embryonic fur.\n\nAnd at last, shows the characteristics of a human child.\n\nThe human body is a community of approximately 50 trillion cells.\n\nEverything the body does, the cell does as well.\n\n\n\n\nEarth has its own electromagnetic generation just like the human body.\n\n\n\n\nas well as the speed of orbit and rotation.\n\nThe Earth’s resonant frequency starts at 7.83 Hz …\n\n\n\nUltimately, the greatest discovery of our Earth is its consciousness.\n\n\n\nConsciousness is the creative force of the entire universe.\n\n\n\n\n\n Our universe does all of these things.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAs we bare through history with oceans of information, \n\nyet barely a drop of wisdom,\n\nwe have to understand,\n\nhow we lost our self…’\n\n\n\nMuch love\n\n\nFeatured Image URL:\n\nA Story of A Blue Sun\n\nJust a poem written for someone 🙂 very late one evening!\n\n\nThey said was what made the world red\nAnd red being the color of love… meant that everything yellow\nwas good for a smile and a dance\nBut his color was blue\nSo he thought it true\nWhen the world would tell him he couldn’t\n\nOne evening he slowly\nhe though to himself a miserable thought\nthat all was lost at bright yellow’s high cost\nand about love he completely forgot\nWith his sad face on his chest\nand a torn heart at his breast\nhe continued to walk on home\n\nUntil one day while shinning sadly on us\na stranger figure appeared before him\nand she seemed to like his blue light\nshe told him that one day blue would take yellow away\n\nHis heart trembled gently\nwith wild butterflies in his sight\nwhen she looked at his blue with her eyes\nand such a surprise for the color of those eyes were so\nand loving\nand blue\n\nso since that day\nhe smiles broad and brightly\nand holds his love tightly\nand he says’\nblue is the color of love”\n\nFor K.\n\nContemplating Consciousness\n\n“Like a flash there is presented to his consciousness a clear conception (a vision) in outline of the meaning and drift of the universe… He sees and knows that the cosmos… is in fact… in very truth a living presence. He sees that instead of men being, as it were, patches of life scattered through an infinite sea of non-living substance, they are in reality specks of relative death in an infinite ocean of life. He sees that the life which is in man is as immortal as ‘God’ is; that the universe is so built and ordered that without any peradventure all things work together for the good of each and all; that the foundation principle of the world is what we call ‘love’, and that the ‘happiness’ of every individual is in the long run absolutely certain.” – ‘Cosmic Consciousness’ by Richard M. Bucke\n\nMany people refer to this state as Christ Consciousness, Super consciousness, Illumination or Satori.\n\nAccording to many philosophers and some scientists, the ultimate goal of every human being is to get to a level of Cosmic Consciousness… This is usually depicted as the 7th Chakra (or the 1st depending on how you work with them) known as – Sahasrara: The Crown Chakra.\n\nThe Wikipedia definition of it is as follows: \n\nSahasrara, which means 1000 petalled lotus, is generally considered to be the chakra of pure consciousness, within which there is neither object nor subject. When the female Kundalini Shakti energy rises to this point, it unites with the male Shiva energy, and a state of liberating samadhi is attained. Symbolized by a lotus with one thousand multi-coloured petals, it is located either at the crown of the head, or above the crown of the head. Sahasrara is represented by the colour white and it involves such issues as inner wisdom and the death of the body.\n\n\n\nThe great news is that anyone willing to learn and practice the rise of consciousness stands a chance to achieve a state of Cosmic Consciosness.\n\nThe way I see it is that; within us are the building blocks, the bricks necessary to get to Sahasrara and Kundallini is the cementing factor, stabilizing as it goes and setting in stone the progress made by our subconscious.\n\nContemplating consciousness always takes me back to the first time I ever met one of my primary spiritual teachers.\n\nI was nervous; as managers often are when they have a complaining customer. However his first response to me before I had even introduced myself was, “Oh my! What a wonderfully developed Third Eye you have there.” I immediately thought this man was some sort of looney, apologized for the bad service, spoke to him a little about Jean Paul Sartre and carried on with my night.\n\nFor about three weeks, he would come by at least once a day to chat to me, until I started to take in a bit of what he was actually saying. Not long after this he offered to teach me if I would be willing to work, and as uncertain as I was… I accepted the offer.\n\nHe’s a single chap of about 65 years of age… never married because his love (like mine) was just a little unattainable… he is also the head of Philosophy at a university close to where I stay and it was through him that I got to learn so many wonderful things about that which is far greater (meaning more fun and interesting) than the self.\n\nOnce upon a day I used to base my life on the things I had and didn’t have. I liked to fuel my ego with silly things like how much alcohol I could handle or how many girls I could interest, what clothes I was wearing, how many piercings I had or how good I was at flaring (useless skill of throwing around a bottle of alcohol and catching it).\n\n\nAll I know is that Kundalini is one of my favorite phrases, and I am never too tired, drunk, moody or busy to have a good chat about her path and role in our lives if we are willing to give her the life and strength to proceed and to make a change.\n\nI was going to spend some time talking about the Super Conscious, but then I realized that it would be a very arrogant thing to do, as that would be like assuming that I have already obtained it…\n\nI just feel the need to say this:\n\nWhen the world becomes way too burdensome… I believe that we should focus on the spot just above the crown… the real sanctuary, the mightiest teacher, the place where spirit and self become one… because Kundalini does not stop halfway through as she is not meant to stay within, she is meant to be pushed ever forward, towards the light, there at the pinnacle of our potential awakening!\n\nLike – With – Like\n\n“I am a wonderful help to women\nThe hope of something good to come\nI harm only my slayer\nI grow very tall, erect in a bed\nI am shaggy down below\nThe lovely girl grabs my body, rubs my red skin\nHolds me hard, claims my head.\nThat girl will feel our meeting!\nI bring tears to her eyes!\nWhat am I?”\n\n(Old English Riddle)\n\n\n\n\nWhatever were you thinking?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNose wipes\n\nAn Onion\n\nA grater\n\nA bowl\n\nSteps 1, 2, 3 and 4\n\n\nSteps 5 and 6\n\n\nSteps 7, 8 and 9\n\n\n\nStep 10\n\nWipe away your tears lad!\n\n\n\n\nHow’s that for magic?\n\nOf Wood Nymphs and Samodivas\n\nNymph: (Greekνύμφη, nymphē).\n\nIn Greek mythology a Nymph is a minor female nature deity associated with a particular location or landform. Nymphs are generally seen as divine spirits who animate nature. Usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing; their amorous freedom sets them apart from the restricted and chaste wives and daughters of the Greek polis. They are believed to dwell in mountains and groves, by springs and rivers, and also in trees.\n\n\nAccording to many sources including one very interesting essay extracted from the Scientific Works of the University of Rousse – 2008, Volume 47, Series 5.3’; the myth of the Samodiva was born with the fall of the Bulgarian empire. According to this source the natives believe in the reality of once mythical maidens, but also seek a logical explanation to these legends. They believe that during slavery, groups of 3 women from every region in and around the Balkan areas fled into the forests and remained there.\n\nIn mid June when the young shepherds took their herds out, it was well known that young ladies would descend from the depths of the forest, to steal a man of their choice as their groom.\n\nThis groom however, was only kept until the end of August (According to Bulgarian folklore on August 29 of every year the sun would slice through the day and the night, making them equal).\n\nThereafter the young man was banished and sent back to his village partially because having to provide food for him as well was very difficult. Shortly after the groom returned to his village it is said that he would die from either a severe illness or depression. Hand in hand with the groom’s death goes the birth of his child (usually male). The child of a Samodiva apparently had extremely good genes especially concerning his/her physical attributes. The sons of these maidens grew with them until they were strong enough to be sent out as freedom fighters, the girls remained with their mothers in the forest and continued to preserve the bloodline.\n\nMany of the great Bulgarian poets and writers (most of whom were freedom fighters) record various encounters with the Samodivas throughout their journeys. Their descriptions of these ‘deities’ are astonishingly similar to those of the Wood Nymph.\n\nKeep in mind that I am not claiming the Wood Nymph and the Samodivas to be the same… I’m only pointing out that the theory of their existence is not completely farfetched.\n\nAs a Bulgarian, the myth of the Samodiva makes me extremely proud to be a woman. Five hundred years of hiding and breeding in secret, telling stories and remaining ‘wild’ and uneducated for the sake of preserving the blood line… No romance, just perseverance… it is no wonder that there is no written record of these times. During the Ottoman rule our alphabet was scarcely used… the poets and writers start springing up just before the fall of the Ottoman Empire and technically this makes us a relatively new country.\n\nA new country with a deep history, a nation so closely linked to nature, so rich in mythology; a mythology that is being forgotten, when for centuries women and men sacrificed their lives daily just so that a Bulgarian would never wonder where he/she came from.\n\nThe point is that whether we are talking about Wood Nymphs or Samodivas, we should always try to go a little deeper and decide for ourselves whether mythology is really just a bunch of stories as many people perceive them to be.\n\n‘I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge\n\nThat Myth is more potent than history\n\nThat dreams are more powerful than facts\n\nThat hope always triumphs over experience\n\nThat laughter is the only cure for grief\n\nAnd I believe that love is stronger than death’ – R. Fulghum\n\n\n\n\nWhen Things Go Pear Shaped\n\nAccording to ‘Wikipedia’ the consumption of pears as a source of food and their growth in cool, constant climates extend as far back as prehistoric times. Although they predate, nourish, boost and inspire (some of us), one will seldom find an enthusiastic five year old blabbering on about how tasty pears are or that pears just so happen to be the favorite of all fruits. Strawberries, cherries, plums, nectarines, raspberries and oranges seem to dominate as leaders of the ‘favorite fruit’ and to top it all off we (the dominant species on the planet) have decided to curb the demand for pears even more by describing our unexpectedly awkward moments as having gone ‘pear shaped’.\n\nIn 1864 Mr. Wesley Vernier painted none other than ‘The Great Californian Pear’… story goes that this pear was loved, fussed over and cared for by a Mr. C. Hova of Los Angeles as it weighed a little over 4lbs; I often find myself staring into the computer screen at the sight of this painting for comfort but what moves me most is not the size or shape of this pear but rather her color:copper.\n\nNow copper is closely related to two rather popular metals; silver and gold… While people prefer gold and silver due to their ornamental and decorative values and uses, this third metal in the eleventh group of the periodic table is also (like the pear) most ancient and useful… It is used in architecture, art and in some museums you may find archaeological artifacts made of copper. All this ties up with a one simple truth about our modern lives; what isn’t fashionable is readily discarded.\n\nPears are yummi and copper is pretty, but what is even prettier is seeing people who manage to detach from the fashionable and focus on what is genuinely good and the best place to see this happening is on a very new facebook group founded by two incredible individuals who took it upon themselves to begin a sort of ‘silent revolution’… here people get to share the goodness of their day to day experiences to inspire others to seek out the good rather than just focusing on how pear shaped their flawless plans for the future have turned out to be.\n\nIf you have just about had it with the queerness of your present circumstances then maybe it’s time to focus on the copper side of life, where ‘the good stuff’ flow freely, I on the other hand take it upon myself to help the copper lovers keep the good spirits even when pears seems awfully unappealing at times.\n\nFor those interested in the Copper Age please utilize this link:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5235356092453003}
+{"content": "On Earth As It Is In Heaven\n\nMünster Cathedral’s astronomical clock. Detail.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDawkins received mostly luke-warm responses, the majority of which were uncertain. As a result of this travesty of the scientific method, Dawkins claims himself triumphant and moves on to discredit homoeopaths. I’m quite familiar with negative opinions of astrology ranging from sceptical to scathing, but I’m particularly disappointed when a scientist refuses to employ their own methods to arrive at a conclusion, rather than falling into the pit of prejudicial opinion. I believe Dawkins in spite of his intelligence is not so different from fundamentalist religionists – both believe that their understanding and perception are the only viable ones available and all other beliefs are the subject of contempt. Sometimes the belief is so strong that the contempt can afford to be polite.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChartres Cathedral Stained Glass\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nmedieval astrological medicinal chart\n\n\n\n\nTo every thing there is a season,\nand a time to every purpose under the heaven:\nA time to be born, a time to die;\nA time to kill, and a time to heal;\nA time to weep, and a time to laugh;\na time to mourn, and a time to dance;\nA time to get, and a time to lose;\na time to keep, and a time to cast away;\nA time to rend, and a time to sew;\na time to keep silence, and a time to speak;\nA time to love, and a time to hate;\nA time of war, and a time of peace.\n\n\nZodiac floor. Basilica of St Denis, Paris, France\n\n\n\n\nNavarasa – Nine States of Mind\n\n\n\n\n\n\nShringar(Erotic) Rati Delight Pale Light Green\nHasya (Humorous) Hasa Laughter White\nKaruna (Pathetic) Shoka Sorrow Grey\nRaudra (Terrible) Krodh Anger Red\nVeera (Heroic) Utsaha Heroism Pale Orange\nBhayanaka (Fearful) Bhaya Fear Black\nBibhatsa (Odious) Jugupsa Disgust Blue\nAdbhuta (Wonderous) Vismaya Wonder Yellow\nShanta (Peaceful) Calm Peace White\n\nNavarasa: Reimagined Photo by Kiran Mirsa\n\n\nAdbhuta : Surya (Sun)\n\nKaruna : Chandra, (Moon)\n\nVeera : Kuja, (Mars)\n\nHasya : Budha,  (Mercury)\n\nShanta : Guru, (Jupiter)\n\nShringara : Shukra, (Venus)\n\nRaudra : Shani,  (Saturn)\n\nBhayanaka : Rahu and (North Node)\n\nBhibhatsa : Ketu. (South Node)\n\n\n\nBattle of Carthage (698)\n\nEclipses are endlessly fascinating and there are a few ways to interpret them. This particular eclipse is extraordinarily dramatic and the visual impact, mapped is rich in significance both during the period of the eclipse but also the events augered by its duration and place of maximum eclipse.\n\nWhat is generally known as The Battle of Carthage was fought in 698 between a Byzantine expeditionary force and the armies of the fifth Umayyad Caliphate. There were, in fact, several battles s in Carthage over the centuries, but one of them was decisive and the wreckage became part of the Caliphate.\n\nOne might expect such an occurrence to have generated details for posterity.  The fact is that the battle of Carthage in 698 AD JC. was a complete demolition.  The Arab general, Hasan ibn al-Nu’man  was annoyed that he had to defeat the Carthaginians twice. There was no thought of settling in the city under the Caliphate,. The city was razed to nothing after a siege. The harbours were filled with dirt and rocks, the fields burned, all farms, crop and livestock were killed. Even the aqueducts which supplied the city with its only fresh water supply were demolished.\n\nThe most curious element from an astrological point of view is that the eclipse that one might naturally associate with the event actually occurred at the end of the year, 08 December 698. Nevertheless, I’m pleased that this eclipse brought my attention to the events because it soon becomes evident that the battle of Carthage, while certainly not the only victim of the Islamic Caliphate, was more like the root than the flower in terms of a sequence. With a duration of 10m28s and a path of visibility that reaches modern-day Kazakhstan, we need to look at what ensues and not only at what has passed.\n\nConsidering the Chart of the Year preceding the battle of Carthage, we find that the Sun exalted in Aries is the Lord of the Year. However, Mars himself is Peregrine and conjunct Saturn. The Libra Ascending makes Carthage the weaker partner in conflict and the Lady of the Ascendant is Venus in the 8th house of Death. The ‘ordinary’ people of the 6th house have an exalted Jupiter as their Lord, but the Jupiter conjunction with the N. Node is not auspicious.\n\nThe duration of the eclipse was 10.5 minutes, which translates to 10,5 years of influence,  The Arab siege of Carthage marked the end of Christianity in the Atlas Mountains countries of North Africa. Carthage was the centre or capital city of the ancient Carthaginian civilization, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now the Tunis Governorate in Tunisia. But the work was not yet finished. The waves of Arab and Berber invasions had no intention of backing down or holding back. They wanted not only North Africa, but also the Iberian Peninsula.\n\nIf we study the events surrounding the incursion of Berber-Arab armies into the Iberian peninsula in 709-10, we find that this leads to Muslim domination of the region that would last 800 years. Witness the fateful Battle of Guadalete and the Arabs’ advance north, and consider both the immediate legacy of the invasion and its overall impact on European history.\n\nThis brief article attempts to consider a relevant and very striking eclipse that not only augers for events several years into the future but also describes current events. Time is, of course, a continuum. When we examine celestial events such as this, an understanding of history is crucial. The complete destruction of the historically important city. Carthage is one part of an even larger event. With the conquering of the Iberian Peninsula, the final presentation of the Byzantium Empire was finished in North Africa and most of the Meditteranean. This displacement by the Caliphate would have momentous influence not only on the region but on Western Civilization as a whole. Out of the extreme violence, Islam and Europe would exchange ideas for a very long time.\n\nThe Sino-Vietnamese War of 1799 – I\n\n6th Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Portrait by Castiglione (1688-1766) an Italian, formerly known as Giuseppe Gassilionio, who was systematically trained as a young student and has solid artistic knowledge\n\nThe Qing dynasty (1644–1912) was the last imperial dynasty of China. It was officially founded in 1636 in what is now Northeast China,. The dynasty had been successful in most respects and was wealthy, relatively stable and feeling secure within the confines of the Middle Kingdom and beyond.\n\nOn 08 August  1775, there was an impressive Annular Solar Eclipse, the path of which was easily seen in Southern China, Hong Kong and Macau, then continued across Vietnam on its way to the eastern regions of the Bay of Bengal. Probably the most striking feature was its relatively long duration, estimated to be more than 4 mins.\n\nIf we look towards 1779, four years later, there were momentous events which are some of the most remarkable in military history. Moreover, what happened is sometimes compared to the Tet offensive in the Viet Nam War of the 1960s and early 1970s. While they are not by any means identical, the similarities between the two events, separated by nearly 170 years, are striking.\n\nThe Tet offensive on January 30, 1968, was launched by combatants of the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese People’s Army of Vietnam directed at the South Vietnamese Army, the United States Armed Forces, and their allies. It was a campaign of surprise attacks against military and civilian command and control centres throughout South Vietnam. The name of the offensive comes from the Tết holiday, the Vietnamese New Year when the initial large-scale attacks took place.\n\nIn part, this article follows a conversation with a fellow traditional astrologer, regarding the validity of the expected range of influence derived by the length of the eclipse itself. Here, we would expect some sign that eclipse was indeed a portent of a given event or not.\n\nLet’s examine the details of the eclipse. It passes over very few countries, over the open Pacific Ocean, until it hits Taiwan, Hong Kong and South China. It then passes over Hanoi. Mundane astrologers sometimes use the astrological chart either of the dates of foundation for the city or else the quality assigned to a region by Classical sources. We don’t have any Western sources for historical Hanoi or North Viet Nam. What we are given is a variety of dates based on modern occurrences, such as political events. Clearly, this would be useless when considering the Vietnam of the late 18th century.\n\nI chanced upon a Vedic source which looks to be promising and the author states that North Vietnam/Hanoi is under Aquarius/Shatbhisa and China is under Taurus/Kritika. You can find the complete list and the explanation of how the signs are derived at  Rta Swar  (ॠत_स्वर)  Let’s proceed with this in mind and see how it plays out in a major conflict with China.\n\n\nThe chart is for the Hour of Mars and the Day of Jupiter. The Sun is in his Joy in the 9th House. The charts Almuten is the Moon in Cancer. The first clue is that Taurus (China) is in the 7th House of open enemies and the Lord of Taurus is in the  8th House of Death in a Mercurial Sign with Saturn. From this alone, we can see the potential threat to the established order Vietnam may be interpreted by the MC in Virgo.  Jupiter is Lord of the Ascendant in a weak sign and retrogrades in the 4th House. opposing Venusian Taurus. The symbolism of the empty house is hard to ignore, even if there is no precise astrological consideration that covers this situation.\n\n\nMap of Vietnam 1829 (?)\n\nThe Lord of the Ascendant is in his Fall in Cancer and the string of the eclipse planets in the Ninth House is a heady mix.\n\n“In the middle of the night on January 25, Quang Trung’s force took the outpost at Son Nam in Nam Dinh province defended by the Le king’s followers, who had been celebrating the New Year. It then rapidly seized one after another of the forts defending access to the capital. On the third day of Tet, January 28, the Tay Son surrounded the important post of Ha Hoi, some 20 kilometres southwest of the capital. Caught off guard, the Chinese defenders there surrendered with their arms and supplies.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/history#72278).\n\nThe Chinese forces must have been in a state of complete shock. The Vietnamese strengthened their defences using trenches, minefields, pit trap and bamboo stakes concealed by straw and anything else that would conceal the pits.\n\nSummer Solstice – 2018\n\n\nHere’s wishing my readers, friends. family, colleagues and clients a blessed Summer Solstice! This is a time of celebration and contemplation no matter what your path may be.  This chart is set for Greenwich Mean Time, so this chart can also be used to suggest, particularly for the next three months, the mood and tendencies for this particular time zone.\n\nThis festival has a great variety of expressions around the world, but it is always a Solar festival. This is the day when the Sun is at it’s strongest, in the sense that it is the longest day and thus the shortest night. From now on, we slowly begin to turn inwards, having basked in the light and warmth of the Sun\n\nA man jumps over a bonfire during festivities marking Ivan Kupala Day, a pagan summer solstice celebration, in the village of Fadino on the Irtysh River in 2017. PHOTOGRAPH BY DMITRY FEOKTISTOV, TASS,\n\nThis is the Cancer Ingress. In the chart posted you will find that in most respects it is favourable. The Sun is in the House of the Good Spirit with Mercury, Mars is in his Joy in the 6th House.. like a tiger in a cage, he is restrained from doing great harm but is also well placed for surgery or other forms of healing that require any kind of incision,.\n\nVenus in Leo is not well-placed in the 12th but is otherwise in fair condition, with some caution regarding the opposition to Mars. She disposits the Venusian Moon in Libra. Both of the Superior (Social) Planets are retrograde and considering that Jupiter is in Scorpio. he is restrained from doing what he does best.\n\n\nThe Lingering Mystery of the 911 Prediction\n\nFor many people, the events of 9/11 are considered clear and fully explained. Whether these people are in the majority is another question, Still, I have no intention of addressing the still-mounting number of theories, except to point to the level of uncertainty, the improbable nature of much of the official story and the vast array of alternate theories about what happened on that bright September day in New York 17 years ago.\n\nIt should, however, be borne in mind that whoever was the mastermind of the attack has not been revealed to this day. That in itself is a great mystery since the usual purpose of such attacks id to draw attention to a specific cause or to exact some form of an ultimatum. This was hitherto the way terrorist attacks worked. They usually conveyed a specific threat, yet to be delivered, or involved the taking of hostages to be used for leverage during bargaining. Anonymous terrorist attacks were virtually unheard of before the events on 9/11 in New York. We do know that Osama bin Laden stated that he admired the attack but couldn’t take credit for it.\n\nThe astrological community was quick to tally who had been able to predict the event, with many saying it would be impossible to predict the precise date and the exact place. To the best of my knowledge, nobody did just that.\n\nJust as mysterious as the details of the event itself is the astrological prediction of the event, which was overshadowed by the attention on Robert Zoller, who was at the time riding on a wave of great astrological celebrity, in no small part due to his many contributions to traditional and particularly Medieval Astrology. Even today on Astrology Restored he is listed as “the world’s leading proponent of Medieval Astrology.” In the same place, he is credited with the prediction of the attack on New York,\n\nThis is the graphic representation of the Total Solar Eclipse of 11 August 1999 to which Zoller refers. One of the most fundamental rules for the judgment of an eclipse is that it must be visible to have any influence on a given area. In this case, although it is a very impressive eclipse, it is not visible on US soil. In fact, the maximum point of this eclipse is over Romania, on the other side of the world. It does, however, pass through several European and Middle Eastern countries and onward to Pakistan and India, as far as the Bay of Bengal. The duration of the eclipse was 2 min 23 s.\n\nThis detail is one of the most perplexing elements in Zoller’s prediction. It simply wouldn’t qualify, yet he is meticulous in explaining the time frame of the alleged effect. The 1999 eclipse apparently has an effect that lasts 30 months. He doesn’t say why. However, we are fortunate to have his own words, on the larger topic, published in his Nuntius newsletter. He writes\n\n\nAgain, there is no reason given for this specific information. I cannot imagine how it could have derived from consulting the eclipse alone. This account could have been written by anyone with an understanding of current events., as has been noted by others No date is given. No specific location is given. It’s would appear to be a useless prediction from that point of view because the most important utility of prediction is to warn or offer preparatory information.  The US and the Western world was bracing for terrorist attacks, such as had already occurred. Elsewhere, Zoller had warned of Chinese forces working with Al Qaida in the desert, which proved to be incorrect.\n\n\nThat refers to so many countries, many of which are in a constant state of tension  It’s a throwaway line and ultimately tells us nothing. We are curious to know what else Zoller might have used but didn’t mention. Zoller could have used several other tools available to Mundane astrologers, such as various Ingress charts, Planetary Phases. Profections, Primary Directions, Lunations,  Revolutions and more. If he used any of these I’m not aware of it.\n\nSo, if he is telling us that the time range of the eclipse is 2.5 years, that would fit the (approx) 2,5 minutes of duration of the eclipse. But I repeat: the eclipse did not fall on US soil, we still have a wide time frame and the eastern seaboard is a massive area. Why did he not consult other elements? If he did, he doesn’t mention them with any coherence. If he was certain of the attack, why did he not warn anyone in a position to get the word out so that thousands of lives would be saved? Why does he initially make the prediction as if as a casual observer, only to claim it was really a prediction?\n\nThere were two Lunar Eclipse in 1999, one on 31 January with maximum eclipse in the Philippines and the other on 28 July with maximum eclipse seen in the central Pacific. neither of these is mentioned by Zoller or any other astrologer, to the best of my knowledge. There was an Annular Solar Eclipse across Western Australia on 116 February 1999, with the maximum eclipse Again, the lack of visibility in N. America would rule out any interpretation of an event in New York. Yet Zoller refers to another eclipse that didn’t stretch to N. America either.\n\nHe had predicted the election of George W. Bush, referring to him as “a younger less experienced member of the House of Bush.” It’s a prediction that many people from all walks of life might have made with confidence. but it stands out because the language reads like a mimicry of prophets such as Nostradamus. It’s as if we are being thrown off the scent at every turn, left wondering if there was anything to find in the first place.  Below is a chart for the eclipse set for New York, even though it was not visible from anywhere in the Americas.\n\nWe see that Saturn and Jupiter are moving into Superior Conjunction. This occurs approximately every ten years and has been considered of great astrological importance since antiquity. This [henomene marks a new epoch. This consideration is crucial in most Mundane readings of this type. It hasn’t happened yet, but it soon will on 31 May 2000 The 12th House of hidden enemies is the point of the eclipse. Mars is in perfect opposition to Saturn. As with the eclipse itself, which places the stress om the alleged enemies of the US. Venus is her Fall and Retrograde, and Lady of both Saturn and Jupiter. I have no way of knowing if Zoller consulted a chart anything like this, but it seems likely considering his emphasis on the eclipse.\n\nBelow is the chart for the first plane crash into the WTC. I add ir here to see, even in a general way, what Zoller might have envisioned.  What was he looking at that would convince him that the attack would be from Muslim fundamentalist? Islam is under Venus and the eclipse was in Leo. There really is no reason why Zoller would consult such a chart. unless it was after the fact. I leave it here for those wishing to examine this chart.\n\nThis is by no means intended as a person or a professional attack on Robert Zoller, who has a well-founded reputation as one of the most important astrologers of his generation. However, readers have raised these questions and I thought it best to put out there for an explanation and an opportunity for discussion. Moreover, when a high profile astrologer makes such a prediction, they must expect to be questioned on how the prediction was made. The eclipse needs to be explained anew or disqualified as part of a prediction if, in fact, a prediction occurred in the first place.\n\nThe one astrologer that predicted the attack to the exact day was a popular but unpretentious astrologer named Lynne Palmer who wrote: ““Avoid terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001” in her almanack. Robert Hand recognizes hers as the only accurate prediction but has not been able to discover how she arrived at such an accurate conclusion.\n\nAs a footnote, there is another way of looking at this, but I see no evidence that Zoller did so. The eclipse cuts through countries such as Iraq, Iran, Syria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This is a complete list of the countries who felt the wrath of the US military, but none of them was proven to be responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The scapegoat was primarily in Iraq and then Afghanistan.  This was the question I asked at the time.\n\nIf you google this subject, you are sure to come upon a critique of this alleged prediction at http://www.skepticreport.com/sr/?p=535. The writer states that ” In fact, whenever Zoller was precise, he was wrong. Whenever he was waffling, he now claims accuracy. ” These are harsh words, but, as always, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8440638184547424}
+{"content": "BELIZE ZOO Half Day Excursion Tour\n\nFrom USD $75.00\n  • Duration: 4 Hours (approx.)\n  • Product code: BZ\nThe Belize Zoo was founded in 1983 and is unique as far as its contributions to conservation efforts in Belize. The Belize Zoo was founded by Sharon Matola whose diligent efforts to protect and conserve the wildlife of Belize has been highlighted on shows such as Steve Corwin adventures and National Geographic. This is one of the few zoos in the world which works solely with rehabilitated or injured animals that call Belize their home. All the animals at the zoo are kept in their natural habitat and here you can come up close with monkeys, jaguars, tapirs, and rare and endangered birds such as the Scarlet Macaw. \n\n\nThis zoo is very easily accessible and can be toured in a couple of hours as a stop on the way back to San Ignacio from cave tubing or a stop on the way to the |International Airport.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9237469434738159}
+{"content": "We here at The A.V. Club continue to bask in the afterglow of our unexpected cameo in last night’s episode of The Simpsons. But how did it come about? How did a reference to our humble publication end up in this most venerable, beloved and influential of pop-culture institutions? For an answer, we emailed Matt Selman, the episode's writer, who was kind enough to give us the following explanation for our appearance:\n\n“I love it when The Simpsons references specific real world things that people are passionate about.  It's what drew me to the show when I was just a fan, and I love putting those specific references in now that I have some power over these things.  To include The Onion and The A.V. Club is an honor.\n\nI was writing an episode about Marge feeling awkward and uncool around the new mom next door.  I remembered a friend of mine's father had recently thought an Onion article was real, then feeling lame afterwards when he found out the truth.  I thought this was perfect for Marge, who probably wouldn't know what the Onion is, and this misunderstanding would be a great awkward and embarrassing moment for her.\n\nWhen we were rewriting the script in the room, the fantastic Matt Warburton then pitched the double-embarrassment that Marge, after not knowing The Onion was fake, trying to roll with it, and playing along that The A.V. Club was also made up.  To me, it was a super character moment that came from a real situation.  That we could reference the beloved institutions of The Onion and The A.V. Club made it even more fun.\n\nThe hard part, that we didn't think about, was that in order to show The Onion we would have to write Onion-quality jokes for Marge to think are real.  This was intimidating.  I hope the ones we put in are ok.  We weren't making fun of The Onion, we were just trying to do what they do.  Much tougher.  I wanted to put in one headline about a \"Local Man\" but forgot.\n\nOne more thing.  I am a huge fan of The A.V. Club.  I read it often, and think its tone and depth really speaks to me.  Sometimes I look forward more to The A.V. Club because it makes me feel smart, as opposed to The Onion, which is so funny it makes me feel stupid.”\n\n\n[Paul Harvey voice] And now you know the rest of the story!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5083872675895691}
+{"content": "Breast augmentation cream - Every person wishes to look his best. Physical appearance does influence your overall personality. Those people who are fortunate to be given birth to beautiful or handsome provide an edge over others in their public dealings.\n\n\nBreast augmentation cream\n\nBlog admin of has just written an article about Breast augmentation cream to you. Read on the related posts below!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9919102191925049}
+{"content": "\n\nThe average annual temperature is about 53 °F (12 °C), and the average frost-free season ranges from 220 to 365 days. Towards the coast the summers are cool and moist with frequent fog, while the interior Anderson Valley proper features a warmer climate during the day, with daytime highs in excess of 100 °F (38 °C) several times per year, but diurnal temperature swings consistenly 40 to 50 degrees. In the southeastern end of the Anderson Valley near Boonville, frost is guaranteed during the growing season; only the frequency varies. \n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9903287887573242}
+{"content": "A butte is a flat-topped hill that stands alone in a relatively flat area. There are many buttes in the Southwest and Western United States.\n\nThe dramatic hills in the background of old Western films are often buttes—the director John Ford featured Arizona's Mitten Buttes in seven of his movies. Geographers distinguish between a butte and a mesa, a larger, flat-topped hill: a butte's top is narrower than it is tall, and a mesa's is wider than its height. The explorers Lewis and Clark are responsible for introducing this French word to English speakers.\n\nDefinitions of butte\n\nn a hill that rises abruptly from the surrounding region; has a flat top and sloping sides\n\nType of:\na local and well-defined elevation of the land\n\nSign up, it's free!\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.804740846157074}
+{"content": "ISSUE 32\nWINTER 2000/01\nPeace Matters index\n\n\n\n\ngoddesses of peace\n\n\nONLINE contents\n\n- goddesses of peace\n- cluster bombs\n- kid's tv preventing violence\n- reactionary forces\n- peacemaking in Cyprus\n- remembering the holocaust\n- conflict transformation\n\nWellington Arch seen from the Artillery monument at Hyde Park Corner, London\n\n\nAS THE 20th century came to its final close, the Wellington Arch at London's Hyde Park Corner has, according to English Heritage, 'been saved from ruin and returned to its full glory'. The removal of this 172-year-old monument from the 'Buildings at Risk Register', following the completion of a £1.5 million restoration project, was celebrated with fireworks in mid-December.\n\nBuilt in 1828 and originally intended as a ceremonial gateway to Green Park and Buckingham Palace, the arch and its completion was taken over by a committee then organising a national monument to the Duke of Wellington. In 1846, when he left public life after losing the Tory party the election, a massive and wholly disproportionate equestrian statue of the Iron Duke was set up on the arch. The public outcry that followed showed how fickle fate can be. The statue of the victor of Waterloo (albeit with a little help from the Prussian army) was unceremoniously despatched to Aldershot.\nFifty years later, just two years before the English once more joined in battle with the Prussians (though this time on opposing sides), 'Peace descending on the Chariot of War' was erected on the long-vacant arch-top. It has now been splendidly restored.\n\nFurther treats are in store for visitors to London in the spring, when the final phase of the restoration of the arch's interior will be completed. Here visitors will be able to view exhibitions about London's war memorials. A leaflet, first in a series 'on London's distinguished heritage of public memorials and sculptures', is already available, based on a tour of 13 major war memorials in central London. Visitors and locals alike have so far passed by most of these without a glance, let alone understanding.\n\nMany public sculptures are in fact worth a passing glance. Some even have entertainment value: spot the Kaiser's whiskers on the dragon slain by St George on the Cavalry Memorial, or wonder at the memorial given by the grateful Belgians, begun over a year before the war had even ended! Most public monuments are displays of self-aggrandisement, power or justification, and 'war memorials' aren't all that different. At one time they also provided a meaningful and helpful focus for the bereaved, but today even that function is long gone. Only their project to justify war remains.\n\nNow that the British Legion allows mere civilians (is this the product of desperation?) to take part in the march past the national war memorial, the Cenotaph, on Remembrance Sunday, the march grows ever longer as anyone wishing to be associated with the spectacle joins in. The public mostly ignore the British Legion's peculiar appeals - 'The Poppy can only continue with your help. Please help to keep it alive - always and for ever'. Institutions, on the other hand, manifest a strange kind of political correctness: they put up notices or make announcements indicating that 'There will be a one (or two) minute silence'. These, too, are mostly ignored, except when television cameras are on the scene. Politicians and television presenters appear each with a 'compulsory' red poppy, but the buttonholes of people outside the studios are significantly bare.\n\nFar below the goddess of peace on the Wellington arch, in a shady and neglected corner, lies an unusual statue of a dead soldier. Few war memorials have dared such a representation. Here what could have been a powerful statement against war - surrounded as it is by the more sentimental imagery of the Royal Artillery's official memorial - ends up saying very little of war's terrible truth. Not surprising - it's not what war memorials are supposed to express\n\n\n\nSome 600 miles to the west of Hyde Park Corner, atop a somewhat grander triumphal arch in Berlin, stands another chariot of war. It bears another goddess of peace, whose power, given the circumstances, is seriously in doubt. It only took a few years after its erection for peace to be shattered, when Napoleon marched through the Brandenburg Gate and took the war chariot and its passenger away with him to Paris. However, it was a short absence, thanks to the Iron Duke whose magnificent equestrian statue now languishes in obscurity: his feats at Waterloo enabled the Kaiser to recover the war chariot and return it to its place. A lesson had been learned: the goddess was renamed 'Victory'. Once she looked defiantly towards France; later, perhaps enviously, she stared into West Berlin. One might fancy that today, newly polished and again surrounded with institutions of power, Victory can see past the tanks of the Soviet war memorial and, on a clear day, catch a distant glimpse of our own goddess of peace. On top of her restored arch, in the middle of a London traffic island, Peace on the Chariot of War gazes nowhere in particular as the hired German submarines patrol Britain's coast.\n\nJan Melichar\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7675515413284302}
+{"content": "Victor Webster\n\nVictor Webster was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In the summer of 1986 Victor and his family moved to San Clemente, Ca. where he attended High School. After graduation he attended Saddleback junior college and then went on to become a Stock broker. He later owned and operated an import/export company and then slowly transitioned into acting after moving to Los Angeles in 1998. Victor is currently best known for appearing as Carlos Fonnegra in Continuum, which has just been renewed for a second season.\n\nVictor can be found on Twitter.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999895095825195}
+{"content": "The Vacant Chair\n\nMulti-medium, variable dimensions\n\n‘The vacant chair’ is part of Bang Nhat Linh’s long term practice, in which, the whole process reflects “the surveys into the depths of memories, history, submerged psychological spaces, and of oblivion…”, in which “war memorabilia are taken from their original contexts to be placed within a new context, or they are positioned in a relationship with human as communicable and interactive objects…”\n\n‘The vacant chair’ is a multi-layered video installation. It is an intimate narrative, whereby social issues derived from modern history of a turbulent Vietnam are unveiled: the wounds, tolerance, optimism, as well as the special relationship amongst those who remain. From a broader angle, it suggests an universal sense of existence and death, particularly the limited nature of the human race… On the other hand, through the act of transforming a powerful symbol of war into a symbol of love and loss, the work steps out of its geographical context to tell a universal story of all humanity. ‘The vacant chair’, therefore, is a song of humanity, and for humanity…\n\n*’The vacant chair’ is a popular song during the American Civil War written by George F. Root in 1861 based on a poem by Henry S. Washburn. The song signifies the loss and emptiness of those who lost their loved ones in the Civil War, it specially gained empathy from both the North and the South of the United States during the war.\n\nThis is version 2/2 of the artwork, was on display at “SUNSHOWER: Contemporary Art from Southeast Asia 1980s to Now”– Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan in 2017, curated by team of the National Art Center, The Mori Art Museum and 4 independent curators from Southeast Asia. Previously it was exhibited at Địa Projects Dong Khoi and Nha San Collective (Hanoi) in 2015 (curated by Le Thuan Uyen). Version 1/2 was presented in Exhibition “Mien Meo Mieng” at Builmusset, Umea, Sweden (curated by Tran Luong).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9805876016616821}
+{"content": "Thursday, 20 September, 2018\n\nOntario woman accidentally steals vehicle from Walmart parking lot\n\nOntario woman accidentally steals vehicle from Walmart parking lot Ontario woman accidentally steals vehicle from Walmart parking lot\nMelinda Barton | 14 July, 2018, 02:55\n\nThe woman rented a black Nissan Sentra compact sedan from an Enterprise outlet, drove it to a Wal-Mart about two kilometres away and went shopping, explained the National Post.\n\nPolice are advising drivers who have cars that use fobs to not leave them in the auto as this makes them much easier to steal, even if it is accidentally.\n\nAfter renting the vehicle, MacKay said the woman drove three or four minutes to the local Walmart where she did some grocery shopping. The owner of the vehicle left his fob in the auto, enabling the woman to drive away. Upon exiting the store, she climbed in a black Nissan - the vehicle was open and the key's were in the ignition - and drove home.\n\n\"The manager ... proceeded to ask her where she went after leaving the vehicle rental two weeks ago\".\n\nThe man however, found that his vehicle was missing after he had finished his shopping, and reported it stolen to the Cornwall Community Police Service. She then drove that vehicle to a nearby Walmart to do some shopping.\n\nThe auto started right up and she drove off because the vehicle, much like her rental did not use a key to start the auto, but a key fob.\n\nBut little did she know she was actually seated behind the wheel of someone else's auto.\n\n\"Once inside, the woman spoke to the manager and commented about how unkempt the inside of the vehicle was and the fact that there was a set of golf clubs in it as well\", the Cornall Community Police Service said on its Facebook page.\n\n\"The manager and the woman, who was now confused and a wee bit embarrassed herself, returned to the auto rental company and contacted police, providing the information for the Infiniti and what took place\", the post stated. \"The woman was not impressed and handed over the keys\". There sat the Nissan Sentra, exactly where the woman had parked it two weeks earlier.\n\nPolice in Canada are reminding drivers not to leave electronic key fobs sitting in unattended vehicles, after a woman in Ontario accidentally stole a auto for two weeks having mistaken it for her rental auto. Police stressed: \"Never leave a key fob in a vehicle unless it's being driven\".\n\nFortunately, nothing bad came out of the ordeal - and all parties involved have a wacky story they can tell to their friends and family members.\n\nAnd so began the sleuthing, as the auto rental manager and the embarrassed renter started retracing her steps, beginning in the Walmart parking lot.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9011650085449219}
+{"content": "Bermuda Island\n\nBermuda Island\n\nThis article is about our discoveries in Bermuda that are past simply the tourism attractions and opportunities. As we continued investigating the island amid our numerous visits, we began to uncover parcel more data like how was the island Bermuda shaped as it would turn out? How did people land here? Indeed, the glow and agreeableness of the individuals activated us to get some answers concerning their experience and society, the neighborhood traditions and conventions, and numerous different points of interest.\n\nWe began burrowing more profound to comprehend the historical backdrop of Bermuda, how the British settlement occurred path back in the mid 1600s, how the tourism business began developing and alongside it the International business that through the years made Bermuda one of the wealthiest nations on the planet. The greenery of the island excessively offers something other than what's expected and astounding that we rarely discovered any place on the planet.\n\nHow was Bermuda shaped?\n\nDespite the fact that Bermuda on most maps resembles a spot, as you take a closer view, you will see that the state of the island is similar to a fish snare, twisting the close south-west end and the stem broadening towards northeast. Really Bermuda is not a solitary island. It is a group of approximately 180 islands and situated in the North Atlantic sea. Some of these islands are tiny to the point that they are fit just for fowls' homes. The aggregate territory, including all these modest islands is minimal more than 21 square miles. Just around 20 of these islands are occupied and seven of the bigger ones are joined by extensions and thoroughfares to the principle Bermuda island.\n\nBermuda is really a volcanic rock made as a consequence of a volcanic ejection from the sea floor exactly 100 million years back. From the ocean bottom up to 200 feet underneath the water surface, it’s all volcanic rock. The remaining piece of the island up to what you see over the surface is limestone, shake that comprises of seashells and corals. The most astounding purpose of Bermuda called the Town Hill is around 260 feet over the ocean level and is situated in Southampton Parish. The limestone shakes that shaped the upper piece of Bermuda islands have had a critical impact in the life of Bermudians. It's a stone that is characteristically delicate and can be effectively cut with even saws. Anyhow, it gets to be hard with an introduction to air. Bermudians have utilized this stone to make the white glossy streets in the island that are only cleaned limestone.\n\n\ntop rated\n\nEditor's Pick\n\nlatest articles\n\n  • NY Had More than 10,000 Subway Delays in January 2018\n\n    NY Had More than 10,000 Subway Delays in January 2018\n\n    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced that there were more than 10,000 subway system delays in January 2018 alone. What’s worse is that the transit officials can’t determine what caused the delays to begin with. The 10,000 delays were just the tip of the iceberg when it…\n\n  • Maryland Now Has the Purple Line Linking Suburbs\n\n    Maryland Now Has the Purple Line Linking Suburbs\n\n    Public transport has always been an issue of contention and many municipalities and local governments have a huge problem trying to accommodate everyone in their area of jurisdiction. The good news is that it is always feasible despite the various hurdles they face during the planning, design, and…\n\n  • Shanghai Keolis Introduces Fully Automated Metro Line\n\n    Shanghai Keolis Introduces Fully Automated Metro Line\n\n    Shanghai is the third city in China to introduce a fully automated metro line. The unmanned trains run on the Pujiang Line, which increased the total metro network of the city to 672 km. There are six stations along the line with four elevated trains running from Shendu Highway to Huizhen Road.…\n\n  • Free public transport across Estonia\n\n    Free public transport across Estonia\n\n    Estonia is set to implement free transport for its residents across much of the country. The free fare scheme to due to begin on July 1st. The country is already a world leader in free public transit after fares on buses, trains and trams in Tallinn were abolished in 2013.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9178906679153442}
+{"content": "An Insider Perspective to Launching Promising Opportunities\n\n28 Nov An Insider Perspective to Launching Promising Opportunities\n\nAn Insider Perspective to Launching Promising Opportunities\nValerie Martinelli, MPA\n\n\nPart of my mission of coaching women to fill the gender gap is also to inspire girls to seize each opportunity to fulfill their dreams and not be discouraged by what they may be currently observing in society. Some believe that we need to focus solely on younger generations and what we can bestow to them, however, if we cannot provide them better lives and opportunities then we are setting them up for failure. So, how can teach girls that they can fulfill their dreams without worry of failure, gender bias, and an uneven playing field?\n\n\nRole Models and Mentors\n\n\nBy giving mothers the opportunity to succeed then it offers them the ability to care for their families. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to remain in poverty throughout adulthood. Aside from that, girls need to see that they can be whatever they want when they grow up. By filling professional roles and ranks with women, they will have the roles models and mentors that they need. When girls do not see women in STEM, science, corporate boards, entrepreneurship, and more they think that they cannot or should not be occupying those professions. I coach women to provide them with the skills and tools necessary to be successful with the additional objective of closing the gender gap. If a little girl sees her mom taking her career seriously and succeeding then she is more likely to believe that she can do the same and will set big goals for herself. It is important that current generations serve as role models and mentors for younger generations. The biggest part of closing this gender gap is giving the current workforce the skills it needs to be successful before we can even implement the tools necessary for younger generations. It is impossible to make progress and create change if there isn’t an action plan or a strategy to make our country, businesses, economy, and society a productive, dynamic, and successful one.\n\n\nEducational Opportunities\n\n\nIf girls are afforded equal opportunities in school, they can achieve and succeed academically because they will have the necessary support system. Girls should be empowered through equal opportunities, including sports, art, music, and science. Giving them an outlet to learn more, learn and build new skills, make new friends, and discover more about themselves also develops their confidence. Fostering their confidence is a huge factor for any future success because then they will not shy away from new experiences, challenges, and they will have the resilience to deal with any possible setbacks. It is the resilience that will make them stronger well into adulthood because they will bounce back easily from any disappointments, difficulties, or obstacles that life brings.\n\n\nEducational opportunities also deliver problem-solving skills. The capability to solve problems readily and easily later in life will be beneficial in college and in the workplace. Interpersonal relationships and businesses can fail due to poor problem solving skills. Poor problem-solving skills can lead to issues not being recognized, not being dealt with appropriately, or in a timely or efficient manner. This is also a top interpersonal skill that employers seek and it is also one in which men have had an advantage because they tend to dominate the process and use it as an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and ability. Women tend to talk it out and rely on their communication skills before deciding on a solution. Gender differences are normal and a part of life; however, it is in the known gaps that men have an advantage.\n\n\nLeadership Opportunities\n\n\nGirls also need to be provided outlets to hone their leadership skills. Once they become teenagers, most girls’ feel that it is more important to fit in with their friends than it is to be who they are and stand up for what they believe in. In other words, girls can have good leadership skills at a young age and those skills typically are lost when they begin to shift and focus on other things in life that puberty, life, friendships, and school bring. As a society we also are not doing enough during this time period to help them maintain these skills into their twenties. Once they are in high school and college, they shift their focus once again and what is an awkward time for most teenage girls can develop into poor leadership skills if they are not given the outlet to continually learn how to become leaders who can be successful, productive, dynamic, and happy. By not enhancing these skills we also are not enhancing their confidence. Girls may be too shy to speak up in class, take on an activity or a project, or an extracurricular activity. In addition, they still are not seeing enough female role models to understand that they too are capable of these things and to inspire them into these roles.\n\n\nMy Mission\n\n\nI would like to inspire girls into these roles and believing that they too can be all that they wish if they work hard and learn the skills that are necessary. By coaching women with the objective of closing the gender gap, it is providing mothers, aunts, sisters, and more the skills necessary to teach girls what they need to learn to have equally successful, productive, and happy lives. It is important to me that we teach them that the world does not belong to men and achievements aren’t exclusive to them either. If they have the confidence and the skills and believe that they too strong, smart, and dynamic then they will have the confidence to fulfill their dreams and continue to pay it forward by inspiring others. Ladies, by working together we can continue to inspire future generations to fulfill their dreams and we too, can ensure that their wishes come true.\n\nNo Comments\n\nPost A Comment\n\n\nHelp The Wishwall Foundation to continue its life changing efforts.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9925499558448792}
+{"content": "Omputer Video ethicsproposal for literature review\n\ninalize your topic of choice for the project and submit the proposed topic to your instructor. Submit a brief document of 2a\u001c 4 paragraphs, including the following information:\na?Propose a specific IT research area to explore in the literature review.\na?Explain the potential relevance of this research area to your own IT professional practice or the profession as a whole.\na?Provide evidence that this area of inquiry will generate a variety of relevant sources for analysis and synthesis.\na?Use one of your sources in your posts, citing it as an in-text citation as well as in a full APA formatted reference list at the end of your paper.\n\nWill send you the references to use in upload", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.899438202381134}
+{"content": "Consuming too much Sugar may Interfere with your Central Nervous System\n\nTo explain what sugar can actually do to your brain, let’s begin with the thought triggering your requirement for sweetness.\n\nSometimes, it happens in the afternoon that your brain, that technically works on sugar, begin giving hints of hunger. To satisfy these cravings, the brain tends to activate a string of neurons, known as the reward pathway.\n\nThis reward pathway works to pump up the neurotransmitter dopamine into the brain.\n\nIn a matter of minutes, you develop a craving for chocolate or that sweet muffin that you glanced at during lunchtime.\n\nIf you decide to work on this craving, the reward pathway shifts mode. It then pumps chemical like beta-endorphins to your brain. These chemicals eventually produce feelings of happiness and pleasure.\n\nThe Role of Sugar\n\nA lot of names come into your mind when you think of the word “sugar”. Dextrose, lactose, fructose, maltose, all of these are a different name for sugar. In fact, sugar is said to have at least 50 different names.\n\nWhat sugar does to your brain\n\nBut the real question is, is sugar bad for your health?\n\nEssentially, two types of sugar can be found in your body; the good sugar which occurs naturally in vegetables and fruits and the “bad” sugar that is a part of candy, sweetened sodas, baked goods and other items.\n\nYour body actually requires good sugar, particularly to regulate its nervous activities. As soon as you eat a sugar-loaded meal, it starts breaking down. All the proteins, carbohydrates, glycogen, triglycerides, and fats are eventually converted to form glucose.\n\nGlucose is so important for the cells to function that the deprivation of it can cause loss of consciousness and death of the cells. Hence, your body has derived a system to store glucose in the form of reserve and use it at the time of shortage.\n\nAll the cells in your body require energy to work. Even the neuronal cells in the brain forming the delicate structure of the brain require it. The basic source of energy for the brain is derived from glucose.\n\nDid you know that your brain alone utilizes around 20 percent of your daily energy intake?\n\nNot only is sugar important to carry out different nervous functions, but is a treat to your taste buds as well. As soon as you eat something loaded with sugar, the taste receptors in your body get activated.\n\nThese receptors send signals towards the brain, setting off an entire cascade of stimulation. As soon as the dopaminergic pathway gets activated, it compels you to carry out the “YUM!” signal.\n\nThis particular pathway initiates in a cell cluster present at the base of the brainstem. The area goes by the name of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and is seen extending all the way through the lateral part of the hypothalamus and making its way into the nucleus accumbens present in the forebrain.\n\nBehaviors that trigger the release of dopamine neurotransmitter within this particular pathway is known to create feelings of high motivation.\n\nRELATED: Is caffeine affecting your blood sugar?\n\nGlucose is critical for the cells to function and survive. It is also responsible for stimulating the reward pathway going on in your brain, the pathway that makes everything feel like rainbows and unicorn.\n\nLife is good with sugar, except that too much of everything is essentially bad.\n\nAn important question that needs to be answered is that how much sugar can you safely consume?\n\nAccording to the American Heart Association, the safe upper limit for women is 6 teaspoons of sugar per day. For men, the upper limit is restricted to 9 teaspoons per day.\n\nWhat sugar does to your brain\n\nIn addition to the naturally occurring sugar that you consume in your diet, you are estimated to consume almost 22 teaspoons of added sugar on average.\n\nThis causes your reward pathway to keep getting stimulated, eventually desensitizing the dopamine receptors. This leads to a feeling similar to addiction in which your body starts requiring high amounts of dopamine to achieve the same pleasant feeling.\n\nHence, your body eventually starts demanding more amounts of sugar, in the form of food and drink, to carry out the same response. As the sugar consumption increases, the chances of obesity, particularly childhood obesity, increases.\n\nA diet with high levels of sugar and saturated diet can induce different fundamental changes in the brain. These changes together with the increase in neurotransmitter dopamine can cause detrimental effects on your brain.\n\nLearning and Memory\n\nStudies have indicated that consuming a diet rich in saturated fats and sugar can increase the oxidative stress and induce cell damage. In 2010, a study was carried out at the Perdue University in which it was successfully shown that consuming a diet rich in sugar and saturated fats for three days can impair the functions of the hippocampus.\n\nSince the hippocampus functioning gets impaired due to sugar, the mice that took part in this study had impaired learning and memory and were not able to find food within a maze.\n\nOther studies have also illustrated that the brain, hippocampus, in particular, is extremely sensitive to a high-energy diet.\n\n\nThe addiction to sugar is real. The pathway involved in causing addiction is similar to the reward pathway. A continuous increase occurring in the release of dopamine neurotransmitter causes desensitization.\n\nWhat sugar does to your brain\n\nHence, your body starts demanding more consumption to get the feeling of pleasure. A cycle in which dopamine release leads to reward and the feeling of motivation is initiate, which is hard to break\n\nDepression & Anxiety\n\nOnce you get addicted to sugar, any attempt to break the addictive cycle may come with consequences such as irritability and mood swings.\n\nElimination of all the additive sugar from the diet can cause the symptoms similar to that of a drug withdrawal. Sugar withdrawal is real and is characterized by symptoms such as anxiety, depression, headaches, cravings, and sometimes chills as well.\n\nRELATED: Why should you avoid sugar?\n\nCognitive Deficits\n\nEating a diet loaded with sugar for a longer duration of time can lead to alterations in your gene expression. This can affect everything, from the neurotransmitter functions to their receptors, even the basic functionality of the cells.\n\nStudies have suggested that the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is greatly affected by sugar. This factor is present in the cortex, hippocampus, and the forebrain and is essential for the process of memory and learning. It also supports the existing neurons and stimulates the development of new synapses.\n\nWhat sugar does to your brain\n\nBDNF along with all the important functions it performs can be impaired by the excessive consumption of sugar.\n\nHence, it is not surprising to know that a relation between lower amounts of BDNF and diseases like depression, Alzheimer’s and dementia has been proved.\n\nContinued research in neuroscience is providing valuable information regarding the effect of sugar on the brain. Further knowledge gained from research may also lead to changes in the ways to treat these cognitive disorders.\n\nWhat can you do?\n\nSo, what is it that you can do to protect your brain from the harmful effects of sugar?\n\nAccording to the experts, there is nothing much to do except trying to eat it in fewer amounts.\n\nHowever, if you have already developed an addiction to sugar, meditation exercises can help to build focus and improve willpower.\n\nOmega-3 fatty acids, usually found in the fish oil, have been shown to exert Neuroprotective functions in some clinical trials. These fatty acids have also been found to boost hippocampus function which is normally impaired in sugar addiction.\n\nerror: Content is protected !!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8150147795677185}
+{"content": "Closed Off\n\nby Sam Buntz\n\n“You know then that it is not the reason\nThat makes us happy or unhappy:\nThe bird sings. Its feathers shine.” –Wallace Stevens, “Of Mere Being”\n\nPsychologically, there are few things more damaging than the belief that one is living in a closed system. The notion that discursive thought can arrive at all possible answers—and that the universe is a system in which all possible questions can be resolved—is not only arrogant but, in a fundamental way, unscientific and irrational. For a specific example of this wrongheadedness in action, we can consider the search for an equation that can explain the entirety of existence—a “Theory of Everything.” Of course, most scientists engaged in the quest for this theory don’t consider why there should be an equation that describes all of reality, in the first place—for some reason, in their understanding, reality isn’t comprised of heterogeneous fragments, but forms an ideal whole: the four fundamental forces of nature need to resolve into one force, and the masses of all particles need to receive their values from one specific particle, and so on. I understand why I believe that reality forms a whole, or why a Roman Catholic believes this to be the case—but I have no idea why theoretical physicists like Stephen Hawking or Lawrence Krauss believe this to be the case. And I have never heard them explain themselves in a coherent way.\n\nThe idea that all things must, in some fashion, be unified or have a single purpose behind them comes from the imagination, from an intuitive sense, from faith, from strange inner suggestions about the shape the cosmos should take—it does not come from pure logic or reason. To suggest that it does is, in a way, highly unreasonable: pure logic doesn’t determine what we look for, but is only a method of pursuit. The ground of our first principles remains occult—and I italicize that word in order to suggest all of its meanings.\n\nWithin a closed system, completely defined by one equation, expectations never shatter. The world is pictured as clockwork—clockwork we haven’t studied yet, and clockwork we have. Minds reduce to physical patterns, immense chemical billiard games—the experts just need to figure out the angles and trajectories. Meanwhile, we live in rigid structures, rigidly defined. We are like the mouse in Kafka’s parable, complaining that its passage through a maze continues to narrow day-by-day—until a cat tells the mouse that it only needs to change its direction… before gobbling it up.\n\nIt is interesting that societies officially predicated on rationalism—societies, which made a dogma out of the belief that we were living within a solved system, determined by a final equation—devolved into madness and the starkest irrationality. They ended up replacing the transcendent mystery of the cosmos—a mystery that beckons humanity to seek for its solution, even as it confounds reason’s attempts to do so—with an image of the mundane human ego, projected and grotesquely enlarged on a million propaganda posters and flickering screens: Stalin, Mao, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un and all the other classic instances of ultra-secular personality cultism.\n\nSomehow, in seeking to magnify the imperatives of the human ego, we narrow the world—and can continue narrowing it indefinitely. By refusing to ground the human spirit in a transcendent reality—one above yet intersecting with space and time—these ostensibly “rational” and scientifically minded regimes managed to constrict that spirit virtually to a point. While attempting to celebrate the human spirit by projecting it into the form of one human leader and the ego of that leader, they denied it and crushed it. They created a gross parody of religion, mirroring the worst forms of fanaticism faultlessly. It’s fair to say that overtly non-secular and theocratic regimes—like that of Iran—actually do the same thing: they substitute the minds of power-hungry, ego-driven clerics for the transcendent or for the God to whom they supposedly appeal. Without imagination, without openness to possibilities yet unrealized, reason becomes a noose: it can only tighten, hanging its most devout votaries.\n\n\nThe Healing Balm of Indifference\n\nby Sam Buntz\n\n\n\n\n\nIs This Philly’s Sound?\n\nby Sam Buntz\n\nI’ve never heard anyone describe the kind of music created by The War on Drugs, Strand of Oaks, or Kurt Vile as, specifically, a “Philly Sound” or the “Philly Sound” or anything like that—though I have read articles in which all three of those bands/artists have been compared to one another. (Technically, the classic “Philly Sound” is probably Philadelphia Soul, anyway—but we’re talking about what’s happening in the Now). That being the case, maybe it’s time to finally draw some lines and say what’s what? The boundaries between where one “sound” ends and where another begins have always been pretty arbitrary—like the way far-flung cultures divide the spectrum of visible color differently (one person’s blue is another person’s green). Yet, let’s take a shot at defining the sound, anyway, despite all that.\n\nThese three groups/artists all strike me as being part of “Cosmic American Music”—as the alternative country legend Gram Parsons named it. There’s a sense of expansion—canyons and plains implicit in the soaring synths and delay-heavy, reverb-heavy guitar, the visions of early pioneers (which is funny, considering the music is emanating from the East Coast)—along with a sense of smallness, of being a tiny person lost in a swirling, vast Domain. Both these feelings strike at the emotional core of so many Americans’ lives. Walt Whitman, probably the greatest American poet (along with Emily Dickinson), expressed the darker mood—the sense of smallness or contraction—writing in “As I Ebb’d with the Ocean of Life”:\n\nPointing in silence to these songs, and then to the sand beneath.”\n\nAlthough these Philly artists are using the idiom of rock, they all get what Whitman’s talking about. “There’s just a stranger living in me,” sings Adam Granduciel in The War on Drugs’ “Eyes to the Wind”—expressing the same feeling of desperate self-separation as Whitman, searching and failing to find his “real Me.” But it’s really the feeling-tone of the music, the guitar and synth-based soundscapes that convey this experience: the lyrics hint at it, but you can’t really find it without absorbing the sound.\n\nIn the liner notes for a re-release of The Last Waltz, Harold Bloom praised The Band and Bob Dylan for capturing a certain strain of “spiritual loneliness” in American music. The loneliness is “spiritual” because it’s creative—you’re isolated somewhere out in the vast terrain of America, yet despite all this, you sense massive creative potentialities hidden in your lonely self, which you then convert into musical or poetic realities. These Philly groups definitely access the same vein of “spiritual loneliness” (just read about the recording process for Strand of Oaks’ Heal and The War on Drugs’ Lost in the Dream—both albums emerged from intense periods of solitude and creative effort), and Dylan fans like Granduciel and Vile would probably enjoy the comparison. Strand of Oaks’ Timothy Showalter (who really is the band) belts out, “I was lonely / I was having fun” as a pre-chorus on “Goshen ’97.” Specifically, he’s having fun making music, and the loneliness propels that creative activity. You need to fill that inner emptiness up—just like the pioneers, filling empty deserts and plains (except that those weren’t, strictly speaking, empty: there were actually Native Americans there—though that’s an issue or five away from the subject of this article, obviously). Although those lyrics aren’t, as written, poetry, they take on the quality of poetry when they become transfigured by the music in which they find themselves embedded.\n\nNone of these bands have lyrics that would transfer really well to the page—as is true in the vast majority of cases (Dylan’s always been the big exception to this rule, to some degree). Their words are crafted to work with music, not with the silent rhythm of a reader’s mind. But they’re still interesting: Granduciel and Vile’s lyrics capture the hum of thoughts drifting casually through a tired or distracted brain, and include the kind of things you tend to hear your subconscious muttering when you tune into it. Here’s Vile: “You could say I been most all around / But honey I ain’t goin nowhere / Don’t worry bout a thing / It’s only dying / I live along a straight line / Nothing comes to mind.” So, yeah… Whatever that meant. And here’s Granduciel, in a somewhat more coherent mode: “I come to my soul / Walking in the downtown / Talk to my soul / They won’t get lost inside again / On my way / I can see it the darkness coming my way / Well we’re here / Don’t get lost inside /Yeah, you won’t get lost inside at all…” It’s a little like Samuel Beckett… and it makes sense: it’s the same sort of conversation-with-your-own-soul that Whitman used to have, part of his search for the “real Me” or mystic “Me, Myself”. But it doesn’t really become art until it fits into a musical context. (It’d be wrong not to note that.)\n\nA great album to compare with the work of these Philly bands is The Joshua Tree (Showalter’s on record as being a U2 fan; and I’d be surprised if Granduciel and Vile were going to slag off The Edge). Tracks like “In God’s Country” and “Where the Streets Have No Name” definitely get at that delay-laden, American Sonic Expanse—despite having been composed by non-Americans, of course. U2 was consciously trying to explore America with that album, and The War on Drugs, Vile, and Showalter all testify to the accuracy of U2’s musical observations—they’re the denizens of the America U2 explored back in the ’80s, even though they’re living in Philly and not halfway between Texas and a mysterious desert Nowhere. They inhabit the same psychological and spiritual landscape… The Irishmen staring out across the Western Shore were right—they had the perfect vantage point from which to contemplate (what it should be fair to call, without a hint of corniness or irony) the American Spirit.\n\nBut, as indicated in some of the above, life in this soundscape America isn’t just a lonely drag. There’s a spiritual bigness that goes along with the feeling of smallness. Whitman could go from the despair of “As I Ebb’d with the Ocean of Life” to the triumphant, cosmic expansion of “Song of Myself”: “I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun, / I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags.” Whitman is mystically becoming everything—and, listening to some of these albums, you get the sense that that could happen, considering the guitars’ capacity to evoke really large spaces. These new Philly sounds are an unexpected blessing in these dark days, and the fact that an ancient, storied state like Pennsylvania still has the juice—and can still launch us, musically, into this kind of psycho-spiritual headspace—is enough to cheer at least one former resident.\n\nA Most Excellent World\n\nby Sam Buntz\n\nThere is nothing more difficult for the imagination than to guide a story through utter darkness to a happy conclusion—a believably happy conclusion. We tend to think that King Lear is pretty great—but even it, unimpeachable masterpiece that it no doubt is, only leads us through extreme darkness to an end-point that is yet extremely dark. When it came to finding peace and rest and last, the Bard had no trouble in guiding his comedies to terminate in pleasant dreams—but to start where Lear ends, and to somehow weave the chain of events round to light, without boring the audience with metaphysics or shocking its fundamental credulity… this was beyond even the Bard’s capabilities (as was depicting sainthood). It may be that Life itself is the only story that dares the worst before reaching the best…  For instance, it’s not too hard to author a story in which the hero surmounts a history of petty thievery or the death of his own family to achieve something noble and good.  But it is difficult to create a “hero” who can really rise through genuine, extreme, personal darkness — through murdering his own family or ordering a massacre — to somehow attain redemption.  That taxes the imagination.\n\nTo some extent, you could argue that Dante achieved this great goal—since, as a character, he goes from initial despair in a “dark wood” to a final Vision of God. But, of course, all the real bad boys are left squirming in hell. To depict their redemption would’ve been more to the point—an ultimate tribute to and of the imagination. After all, Dante the Pilgrim was only ever a little off course… To make things clearer: it would be difficult for a human being to write a series of novels, plays, or movies successfully detailing the spiritual evolution of the soul of Hitler or of Ted Bundy, in the afterlife or in numerous future incarnations, in the hells and in our world, culminating in ultimate redemption and rebirth. Is there an imagination capable of authoring that story? I believe there is—to speak of Divine Imagination. But I leave the question with you.\n\nPart of the difficulty in attaining this quest, or even getting it off the ground, lies in evoking a transcendent world—a “most excellent world”—using material dredged from a world that, to all appearances, is actually quite anti-transcendent, quite mundane, even pretty terrible. It is a kind of imaginative alchemy—the conversion of dross to gold—that only the most genuine creators can attempt. Dante gave it one of the all-time great shots, ladling on the special effects and the psychedelic, angelic choreography in his Paradiso, and you could praise Blake, Wordsworth, Rilke and others for their equally convincing intimations of immortality. This at least—putting aside the spiritual evolution of former tyrants and serial killers—is possible. It is within the imagination’s reach. (The Palme d’Or-winning Tree of Life managed to do this very effectively, to select a more recent example). If “faith” is allowed to still have a meaning, I think it means resting in the knowledge that the bridge of Divine Imagination will eventually span the chasm between the scattered shadows of the mundane world and the true daylight of the whole, the complete, the “most excellent” world.\n\n‘A Certain Tone of Feeling’ and ‘The Pen of the Gods’\n\nby Sam Buntz\n\n“A Certain Tone of Feeling”\n\nI write about politics on my blog sometimes—and I always regret it. It’s not just that I have a penchant for second-guessing myself (which I do) but that I ultimately feel like, by spouting political jabber, I’m only buying into another moth-eaten conception of the “Good Life”—yet, a conception, always, at bottom, cold and inhuman. To take two extremes: Libertarianism and Communism both, in their popular expressions, are devoid of any feeling, any real hint of sympathy for the human race. In making their critiques, wrath is typically the resonant tone (wrath against exploiters or presumed exploiters and wrath against moochers or presumed moochers)—and wrath is always its own undertaker. The Collective and the Individual, as features of political textbooks, are both abstractions… the coldest, hardest abstractions. A purely mental “love” for humanity is really no love at all. To the contrary, only a special quality of feeling, like longing or devotion, can awaken the intellect to loftier perceptions—or make any of its twisting designs valid.\n\nLiving in Ayn Rand’s utopia or in Karl Marx’s utopia, we would be confronted with a strange situation—a fine-tuned adjustment of all externalities, leaving us, despite all promises, with no real inlet to our actual selves. The terrain of the psyche would still remain wild, despite the fact that the outer world had been “solved”: the inner self would be a baffled, chained passenger rotating on one ideal wheel or the other… Sympathy in all things—it’s an old Romantic truth, which the pundits of today (like the pundits of all ages) can never accept. But it’s still true—what Whitman said: “Whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral.”\n\nBy getting political about this or that—even if I manage to cloak the politicking in jokes and ironies and self-conscious, fundamentally insincere attempts to provoke—seems contrary to these purposes. I’m leaving another, more important function unfulfilled—and it’s not just a function that I assume I’ve been assigned to fulfill in one way or another. It’s the primary duty (if I may modestly say so). The notion that we can somehow engineer human-heartedness is a pipe-dream—we can make it easier, by adjusting certain social conditions, but there is no formula and never will be. Only a person, acquainted with solitude, with silence, and with the inward reaches of the self, can ultimately access that tone of sacred feeling. It’s probably harder to come by than we assume.\n\n\n“The Pen of the Gods”\n\nIf life is—contrary to some appearances—a story, and not just a fit, a frenzy, and a nightmare; if life has an author or even is an author… then, I sit content, “calm and composed before a thousand universes.” I think I really do believe that’s the case, and I find it genuinely astonishing. If the story really can swoop through the grossest absurdities, the worst atrocities, and somehow, in the fullness of time, still make sense, I am utterly humbled and amazed. If, in the beginning, everything was perfect and stayed perfect, obviously the story wouldn’t have been a story… But if the story can dare all things—can actually, at one point or another, weave through all possible digressions, all genuine variations of cause-and-effect, and all forms of stark nonsense—and still, in the end, remain a good story… well, then I tip my hat to the author or authors (considering that we, each of us, might be one of them) and play whatever part the pen has assigned. That’s more than good Stoic philosophy—it’s a commitment to decent writing.\n\nI’m trying to keep awake and ready for the next twist in the Fable. I know it won’t be the scheme I’ve projected—since it’s never been—and part of the point of the Story is to baffle our expectations, to fulfill its own narrative demands rather than those of our own cheap-seat comments (we’re both spectators and characters, apparently). In Henry James’ “The Beast in the Jungle” the twist is that there is no twist—nothing really happens to the main character, despite the fact that he expected something would, all his life. That Nothing is the Something that happens. And why isn’t that good enough for me… or you? Who am I to say it isn’t? But, of course, now that I’ve guessed that possible outcome, I’m hoping the Story won’t be so crude as to give me the very ending (or non-ending) I’ve been anticipating. I have more faith in the authors than that—I think the writers’ room will come up with something, even if it requires multiple incarnations as a catfish or a grasshopper or a speed freak. The sordid and mundane will be made meaningful in that long-awaited fullness of time. Oh, Divine Pen—blur no word, blot no line!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5197510719299316}
+{"content": "Research Paper on Rugby\n\nRugby is the term used to describe a family of collective ball games whose rules were derived from the football played at Rugby School in England in the first half of the nineteenth century. Codified for the first time in 1846, the Rugby School Rules or Rugby football was definitely separated from other footballs in 1863, when the Football Association was created. The federation (Rugby Football Union) was founded in 1871.\n\nAfter the rules have been adopted, Rugby Football had its dissemination all over the world since the 1850s, it was then mixed with local practices to create, in the second half of the nineteenth century, Gaelic football in Ireland, Australian football, Canadian football or American football.\n\nWe can write a Custom Research Paper on Rugby for you!\n\nIn 1895, clubs of northern England left the Rugby Football Union to create the Northern Rugby Football Union (NRFU), which became in 1922 the Rugby Football League. In 1906, the rules of the NRFU decrease the number of players in each team from 15 to 13, which allows to distinguish the two games by the rugby league and rugby XV titles.\n\nIn the twentieth century, many variations have been developed to more extend the practice of rugby. There are versions for example where the tackles are prohibited, other adapted for handicapped, and others performed on sand or snow.\n\nIf you have decide to write a research project on rugby, you must learn some rules. First of all, you have to know is that the subject of your research paper must be unique, and to there should be a reasonable cause to study the topic. You must find out if there already are some publication on your topic (or similar topics). It is always useful to conduct a thorough literature review before you take on a new project.\n\nTake time to plan the investigation. As a rule, planning takes more time than the investigation itself. To rapidly start practical work without proper planning is a common mistake made by beginners.\n\nAsk for help. If you use certain methods of investigation for the first time, be sure to consult a friend or colleague with experience. In addition to that, you may use free sample research papers on different topics. Beginner mistakes is a common phenomenon in scientific research, which leads to a waste of time and resources.\n\nMake it clear for yourself what you are going to study and why you have decided to start the investigation. You also need to ask yourself what contribution the results of your research will make into the current body of knowledge on the subject. Clearly define a hypothesis before you start.\n\nDirect all your efforts to study this hypothesis, as it is necessary for a successful research proposal writing.\n\nCAUTION! As far as you know all free research paper samples and research proposal examples on Rugby are 100% plagiarized!!!\n\n\nOrder Custom Research Paper on Rugby\n\nEnjoy our professional research paper writing service!\n\nSimilar Posts:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9367799162864685}
+{"content": "In \"The Primacy of Structure\" Althea Horner argues that effective psychotherapeutic intervention depends on the understanding of clinical symptoms in terms of the patient's underlying character structure. For example, obsessive behavior that functions to hold together a fragile, inadequately integrated self must be distinguished from obsessive behavior that defends against awareness of guilt and anxiety. Mental health professionals will find this a useful guide to psychotherapy of the character problems that lie behind ...\n\nPrimacy of Structure 1977, Jason Aronson\n\nISBN-13: 9780876687482", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998799562454224}
+{"content": "Different Types of White Collar Crimes\n\nThe A&M TeamCriminal Defense\n\n\nThe term ‘white collar crime’ was first popularized in the 1930s and refers to a non-violent act that an individual or corporation is being prosecuted for. There are a handful of different crimes that fall under this category, including embezzlement, forgery, and bribery.\n\nThe penalties for most white collar crimes vary depending on their severity, but in many cases the accused party will be subject to jail or prison time, fines, and restitution. It should be noted that the majority of people charged with white collar crimes are first-time offenders who have never had any interaction with the criminal justice system. With this, many people who are charged with white collar crimes knew that they were being investigated by the government.\n\nBelow you will find more information on white collar crimes, including definitions of the most common types.\n\nMost Common White Collar Crimes\n\n  • Bribery\n\nBribery is one of the most prosecuted white collar crimes in Oklahoma. Bribery occurs when an individual illegally gives another person an item of value in exchange for that person changing their opinion or providing them with an item that they otherwise would not have received.\n\n  • Embezzlement\n\nUnfortunately, crimes of embezzlement have risen in popularity over the years. Embezzlement occurs when a person takes another person’s money or property for their own gain. An example of this would be a bank employee stealing money from a customer’s account.\n\n  • Extortion\n\nExtortion takes place when an individual illegally takes property from someone else by actual or threatened force, fear, or violence.\n\n  • Forgery\n\nForgery occurs when someone alters or creates a written object, such as a check or credit card, and attempts to use it to commit a fraud.\n\n  • Fraud\n\nAn individual may accused of committing fraud when they knowingly misrepresent a fact or item in order to gain a benefit for themselves. This may include falsifying a statement or document.\n\n  • Perjury\n\nPerjury takes place when a person intentionally lies, either in writing or orally while under oath.\n\n  • Tax Evasion or Tax Fraud\n\nThis white collar crime takes place when an individual intentionally fails to claim income or property on their tax return.\n\nThe above are examples of the most common white collar crimes punishable by law. If you or someone you love is being accused of committing a white collar crime in Oklahoma, it would be in your best interest to contact a lawyer from Atkins & Markoff today. Our attorneys are committed to working closely with each and every client, offering them the best representation possible.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8878482580184937}
+{"content": "Occupational lung disease\n\nSilicosis and black lung disease\n\nSilica dust produces a distinctive reaction in the lung that eventually leads to the development of masses of fibrous tissue and distinctive nodules of dense fibrosis, which, by contracting, distort and damage the lung. Silicosis is a hazard in any occupation in which workers are exposed to silica dust, particularly rock drilling above or below ground, quarrying, or grinding with a wheel containing silica. Cases have also been reported in dental technicians, who use the material ground into a fine powder. Silicosis is usually fairly easy to detect on radiographs, and in its later stages it causes considerable shortness of breath and reduction of the vital capacity (a maximal breath). Sandblasting without respiratory protection is exceedingly dangerous, and fatal cases of acute silicosis caused by unprotected sandblasting have been reported. The dangers of silica are generally well recognized, and better protection has reduced the incidence of this condition. The disease may advance, with increasing disability, for years after the person has stopped inhaling the dust.\n\nCoal dust alone, even if its silica content is very low, causes a distinctive pattern of change in the lung known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (also called black lung). Initially the dust is deposited in the terminal bronchioles, where it causes a fibrotic reaction. At this stage there is little disability, but later the disease may progress to a more-generalized form, and in some instances large masses of fibrotic tissue form in the lung. This condition, known as progressive massive fibrosis, is usually associated with severe disability and the risk of secondary heart failure. It is not clear whether this stage is more likely to develop if pulmonary tuberculosis is superimposed on the respiratory damage caused by coal dust inhalation. There is no curative treatment for silicosis or black lung disease.\n\nAsbestosis and mesothelioma\n\nThe widespread use of asbestos as an insulating material during World War II, and later in flooring, ceiling tiles, brake linings, and as a fire protectant sprayed inside buildings, led to a virtual epidemic of asbestos-related disease 20 years later. The first disease recognized to be caused by asbestos was asbestosis, which produces characteristic changes in the lungs that can be identified in chest X-rays and that can impair lung function at an early stage. Later it was discovered that exposure to much less asbestos than was needed to cause asbestosis led to thickening of the pleura, and, when both cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure occurred, there was a major increase in the risk for lung cancer. The risks from smoking and from significant asbestos exposure are multiplicative in the case of lung cancer. A malignant tumour of the pleura known as mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by inhaled asbestos. Often a period of 20 years or more elapses between exposure to asbestos and the development of a tumour.\n\nAs far as is known, all the respiratory changes associated with asbestos exposure are irreversible. Malignant mesothelioma is rare and unrelated to cigarette smoking, but survival after diagnosis is less than two years. In most cases, thickening of the pleura is not associated with disturbance of lung function or with symptoms of exposure to asbestos, although in occasional cases pleuritis is very aggressive and thus may produce symptoms. It is not yet understood exactly why asbestos devastates the tissues of the lungs. Asbestos has been suspected to play a role in stimulating certain cellular events, such as the generation of harmful reactive molecules and the activation of damaging inflammatory processes. These events could contribute to the scarring and fibrosis that are characteristic of inhalation of asbestos fibres. Not all types of asbestos are equally dangerous; the risk of mesothelioma in particular appears to be much higher if crocidolite, a blue asbestos that comes from South Africa, is inhaled than if chrysotile is inhaled. But exposure to any type of asbestos is believed to increase the risk of lung cancer, especially when associated with cigarette smoking. While the removal of asbestos from buildings has greatly alleviated the risk of exposure to asbestos for many people, inhalation of asbestos remains a significant risk for the workers removing the material. All industrialized countries have imposed strict regulations for handling asbestos, and the workforce is generally aware of the material’s dangers.\n\nThere is no curative therapy for asbestosis or mesothelioma. Treatment is aimed at managing symptoms, preventing infections, and delaying disease progression. Individuals with asbestosis often receive annual vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. In some cases, aerosol medications that thin mucous secretions and oxygen that is supplied by a portable tank are necessary to maintain adequate oxygen intake. In other cases, lung transplantation is required. Individuals with mesothelioma often undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which may prolong survival for a short period of time.\n\nRespiratory toxicity of glass and metal fibres\n\nThe increasing use of man-made mineral fibres (as in fibreglass and rock wool) has led to concern that these may also be dangerous when inhaled; present evidence suggests that they do increase the risk of lung cancer in persons occupationally exposed to them. Standards for maximal exposure have been proposed.\n\nThe toxicity of beryllium was first discovered when it was widely used in the manufacture of fluorescent light tubes shortly after World War II. In susceptible individuals, beryllium causes the formation of granulomas in the lung and alveolar wall thickening, often with considerable disability as a result. Although beryllium is no longer used in the fluorescent light industry, it is still important in the manufacture of metal alloys and ceramics, and new cases of beryllium poisoning are occasionally reported.\n\nByssinosis and related diseases\n\nIt is not only inorganic minerals and dusts that may affect the lung. The dust produced in the processing of raw cotton, flax, or hemp may cause chronic obstructive lung disease. However, this does not have a characteristic pathology, and it does not give rise to emphysema. It is unclear whether the dust from the fibres alone or the combination of cigarette smoke and fibre dust is particularly dangerous. The disease that results is known as byssinosis, or “brown lung.” Workers in cotton plants in England used to complain of “Monday morning fever” and were found to suffer an easily measurable decrement in ventilatory function when they returned to work after spending a weekend away from the plant. The active particle or contaminant in the cotton dust that is responsible for the syndrome appears to be an endotoxin produced by bacteria in the fibres of cotton.\n\nThe dust from western red cedar may cause occupational asthma, and dust from the redwood and other trees may cause an acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Workers in the sugarcane industry may be affected by a similar syndrome, known as bagassosis; sisal workers also develop airflow obstruction.\n\nRespiratory toxicity of industrial chemicals\n\nToluene diisocyanate, used in the manufacture of polyurethane foam, may cause occupational asthma in susceptible individuals at very low concentrations; in higher concentrations, such as may occur with accidental spillage, it causes a transient flulike illness associated with airflow obstruction. Prompt recognition of this syndrome has led to modifications in the industrial process involved.\n\nAlthough the acute effects of exposure to many of these gases and vapours are well-documented, there is less certainty about the long-term effects of repeated low-level exposures over a long period of time. This is particularly the case when the question of whether work in a generally dusty environment has contributed to the development of chronic bronchitis or later emphysema—in other words, whether such nonspecific exposures increase the risk of these diseases in cigarette smokers.\n\nMany chemicals can damage the lung in high concentration: these include oxides of nitrogen, ammonia, chlorine, oxides of sulfur, ozone, gasoline vapour, and benzene. In industrial accidents, such as occurred in 1985 in Bhopal, India, and in 1976 in Seveso, near Milan, people in the neighbourhood of chemical plants were acutely exposed to lethal concentrations of these or other chemicals. The custom of transporting dangerous chemicals by rail or road has led to the occasional exposure of bystanders to toxic concentrations of gases and fumes. Although in many cases recovery may be complete, it seems clear that long-term damage may occur.\n\nDisability and attribution of occupational lung diseases\n\n\nMiscellaneous conditions of the respiratory system\n\nIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis\n\nIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is also known as cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. This is a generally fatal lung disease of unknown cause that is characterized by progressive fibrosis of the alveolar walls. The disease most commonly manifests between the ages of 50 and 70, with insidious onset of shortness of breath on exertion. A dry cough is common as well. Sharp crackling sounds, called rales or “Velcro crackles,” are heard through a stethoscope applied to the back in the area of the lungs. Computerized tomography (CT) imaging shows fibrosis and cysts that characteristically form in a rim around the lower outer portions of both lungs. In addition, pulmonary function testing shows a reduction in lung volume. Lung biopsies confirm the diagnosis by showing fibrosis with a lack of inflammation.\n\nThe disease causes progressive shortness of breath with exercise and ultimately produces breathlessness at rest. Hypoxemia (decreased levels of oxygen in the blood) initially occurs with exercise and later at rest and can be severe. Some individuals have clubbed fingertips and toes. The average duration of survival from diagnosis is four to six years; however, some people live 10 years or longer. Aside from administration of supplemental oxygen, there is no effective treatment. Some individuals may benefit from single or double lung transplantation (see above Lung transplantation).\n\n\nSarcoidosis is a disease of unknown cause characterized by the development of small aggregations of cells, or granulomas, in different organs; the lung is commonly involved. Other common changes are enlargement of the lymph glands at the root of the lung, skin changes, inflammation in the eye, and liver dysfunction; occasionally there is inflammation of nerve sheaths, leading to signs of involvement in the affected area. The kidney is not commonly involved, but some changes in blood calcium levels occur in a small percentage of cases. In most cases the disease is first detected on chest radiographs. Evidence of granulomas in the lung may be visible, but often there is little interference with lung function. The disease usually remits without treatment within a year or so, but in a small proportion of cases it progresses, leading finally to lung fibrosis and respiratory failure. The granulomatous inflammation in sarcoidosis can be controlled by long-term administration of a corticosteroid such as prednisone.\n\nEosinophilic granuloma\n\nAlso known as pulmonary histiocytosis X, this disease causes granulomas associated with eosinophil cells, a subgroup of the white blood cells. It sometimes also causes lesions in bone. Eosinophilic granuloma is a lung condition that may spontaneously “burn out,” leaving the lung with some permanent cystic changes. Its cause is not known; however, the incidence is greatly increased in cigarette smokers.\n\nPulmonary alveolar proteinosis\n\nPulmonary alveolar proteinosis is a disease of unknown cause characterized by accumulation in the alveolar spaces of surfactant. Small amounts of this lipid- and protein-rich fluid normally line the surfaces of the alveoli, reducing surface tension and thereby keeping the air spaces open. Buildup of this liquid within the air spaces interferes with gas exchange and causes progressive shortness of breath. The only effective treatment of this disease is whole-lung lavage. Under general anesthesia, the bronchus leading to one lung is isolated, and that lung is filled with sterile salt water. Drainage of the fluid removes some of the excess surfactant. Flooding and drainage are repeated up to 20 or 30 times until little or no more surfactant is removed. Then on another day the opposite lung is treated. Whole-lung lavage may be required at 6- to 12-month intervals for several years before complete remission occurs.\n\nImmunologic conditions\n\nThe lung is often affected by generalized diseases of the blood vessels. Wegener granulomatosis, an acute inflammatory disease of the blood vessels believed to be of immunologic origin, is an important cause of pulmonary blood vessel inflammation. Acute hemorrhagic pneumonitis occurring in the lung in association with changes in the kidney is known as Goodpasture syndrome. The condition has been successfully treated by exchange blood transfusion, but its cause is not fully understood. Pulmonary hemorrhage also occurs as part of a condition known as pulmonary hemosiderosis, which results in the accumulation of the iron-containing substance hemosiderin in the lung tissues. The lung may also be involved in a variety of ways in the disease known as systemic lupus erythematosus, which is also believed to have an immunologic basis. Pleural effusions may occur, and the lung parenchyma may be involved. These conditions have only recently been recognized and differentiated; accurate diagnosis has been much improved by refinements in radiological methods, by the use of pulmonary function tests, and especially by improvement in thoracic surgical techniques and anesthesia that have made lung biopsy much less dangerous than it formerly was.\n\nThe common condition of rheumatoid arthritis may be associated with scattered zones of interstitial fibrosis in the lung or with solitary isolated fibrotic lesions. More rarely, a slowly obliterative disease of small airways (bronchiolitis) occurs, leading finally to respiratory failure.\n\nRadiation damage\n\nThe lung may be damaged by radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer of the breast and other conditions. About three weeks or so after the end of the treatment, a pneumonitis may develop in the underlying lung, signaled by an unproductive cough. The condition may resolve, but in a few cases the lung becomes fibrotic and contracts to a small fraction of its normal volume. There is considerable individual variation in the response to the same dose of radiation.\n\nCirculatory disorders\n\nThe lung is commonly involved in disorders of the circulation. The most important and common of these is blockage of a branch of the pulmonary artery by blood clot, which has usually formed in the veins of the legs or of the pelvis. The resulting pulmonary embolism leads to changes in the lung supplied by the affected artery. When severe, these changes are known as a pulmonary infarction. The consequences of embolism range from sudden death, when the infarction is massive, to an increased respiratory rate, slight fever, and occasionally some pleuritic pain over the site of the infarction. An individual is at an increased risk for pulmonary embolism whenever his or her circulation is sluggish. This occurs most often during a postoperative period when the affected individual is immobilized in bed. Early mobilization after surgery or childbirth is considered an important preventive measure. Repetitive pulmonary emboli may lead to chronic pulmonary thromboembolism, in which the pressure in the main pulmonary artery is persistently increased. Over time, a clot is replaced with an adherent fibrous material in the pulmonary arteries, causing shortness of breath on exertion and, ultimately, right ventricular heart failure. The obstructing lesions can be surgically removed in some instances, thereby relieving symptoms of breathlessness.\n\nIn primary pulmonary hypertension, a condition of unknown origin, a marked increase in pulmonary arterial pressure occurs as a result of progressive narrowing and obliteration of small pulmonary arteries. Primary pulmonary hypertension leads to enlargement of the heart and eventual failure of the right ventricle of the heart, usually after increasing disability with severe shortness of breath. In addition to chest X-rays and basic pulmonary function tests, a diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension is often confirmed following an electrocardiogram (EKG) to assess electrical function of the heart, an echocardiogram to determine whether the heart is enlarged and to evaluate the flow of blood through the heart, and cardiac catheterization to measure pressure in the pulmonary artery and right ventricle of the heart.\n\nTreatment of primary pulmonary hypertension is aimed at alleviating symptoms. Because of the variability in physiological response to certain drugs and because of the progressive nature of the disease, affected individuals require careful, long-term evaluation and treatment. While some medications such as calcium channel blockers may be taken orally, others such as prostacyclin are given by continuous intravenous infusion supplied through a portable battery-powered pump. Prostacyclin can sometimes be given in oral or inhaled forms. In some cases, lung transplantation is necessary.\n\nCongestion of the lungs (pulmonary edema) and the development of fluid in the pleural cavity, with consequent shortness of breath, follows left ventricular failure, usually as a consequence of coronary arterial disease. When the valve between the left atrium of the heart and the left ventricle is thickened and deformed by rheumatic fever (mitral stenosis), chronic changes develop in the lung as a result of the increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation. These changes contribute to the shortness of breath and account for the blood staining of the sputum.\n\nAcute respiratory distress syndrome of adults\n\nBacterial or viral pneumonia, exposure of the lung to gases, aspiration of material into the lung (including water in near-drowning episodes), or any generalized septicemia (blood poisoning) or severe lung injury may lead to sudden, widespread bilateral lung injury. This syndrome is known as acute respiratory distress syndrome of adults. It was recognized as “shock lung” in injured soldiers evacuated by helicopter to regional military hospitals during the Vietnam War. Many causes of respiratory distress syndrome of adults have been identified. Acute respiratory distress syndrome carries about a 50 percent mortality. Life-support treatment with assisted ventilation rescues many patients, although superimposed infection or multiple organ failure can result in death. Recovery and repair of the lung may take months after clinical recovery from the acute event.\n\nAir pollution\n\nThe disastrous fog and attendant high levels of sulfur dioxide and particulate pollution (and probably also sulfuric acid) that occurred in London in the second week of December 1952 led to the deaths of more than 4,000 people during that week and the subsequent three weeks. Many, but not all, of the victims already had chronic heart or lung disease. Prize cattle at an agricultural show also died in the same period as a result of the air pollution. This episode spurred renewed attention to this problem, which had been intermittently considered since the 14th century in England, and finally the passage of legislation banning open coal burning, the factor most responsible for the pollution. This form of pollution, common in many cities using coal as heating fuel, is associated with excess mortality and increased prevalences of chronic bronchitis, respiratory tract infections in the young and old, and possibly lung cancer. Today many industrial cities have legislation restricting the use of specific fuels and mandating emission-control systems in factories.\n\nIn 1952 a different kind of air pollution was characterized for the first time in Los Angeles. The large number of automobiles in that city, together with the bright sunlight and frequently stagnant air, leads to the formation of photochemical smog. This begins with the emission of nitrogen oxide during the morning commuting hour, followed by the formation of nitrogen dioxide by oxygenation, and finally, through a complex series of reactions in the presence of hydrocarbons and sunlight, leads to the formation of ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrite and other irritant compounds. Eye irritation, chest irritation with cough, and possibly the exacerbation of asthma occur as a result. Modern air pollution consists of some combination of the reducing form consequent upon sulfur dioxide emissions and the oxidant form, which begins as emissions of nitrogen oxides. Ozone is the most irritant gas known. In controlled exposure studies it reduces the ventilatory capability of healthy people in concentrations as low as 0.12 part per million. These levels are commonly exceeded in many places, particularly where there is a high automobile density and the meteorologic conditions favour the formation of photochemical oxidants. Although acute episodes of communal air exposure leading to demonstrable mortality are unlikely, there is much concern over the possible long-term consequences of brief but repetitive exposures to oxidants and acidic aerosols. Such exposures are common in the lives of millions of people, and the impact of these exposures is an area of intense scientific investigation.\n\nThe indoor environment can be important in the genesis of respiratory disease. In developing countries, disease may be caused by inhalation of fungi from roof thatch materials or by the inhalation of smoke when the home contains no chimney. In developed countries, exposure to oxides of nitrogen from space heaters or gas ovens may promote respiratory tract infections in children. Inhalation of tobacco smoke in the indoor environment by nonsmokers impairs respiration, and repeated exposures may lead to lung cancer. A tightly sealed house may act as a reservoir for radon seeping in from natural sources.\n\nAcute carbon monoxide poisoning\n\nAcute carbon monoxide poisoning is a common and dangerous hazard. The British physiologist John Scott Haldane pioneered the study of the effects of carbon monoxide at the end of the 19th century, as part of his detailed analysis of atmospheres in underground mines. Carbon monoxide is produced by incomplete combustion, including combustion of gas in automobile engines, and for a long period it was a major constituent of domestic gas made from coal (its concentration in natural gas is much lower). When the carbon monoxide concentration in the blood reaches 40 percent (that is, when the hemoglobin is 40 percent saturated with carbon monoxide, leaving only 60 percent available to bind to oxygen), the subject feels dizzy and is unable to perform simple tasks; judgment is also impaired. Hemoglobin’s affinity for carbon monoxide is 200 times greater than for oxygen, and in a mixture of these gases hemoglobin will preferentially bind to carbon monoxide; for this reason, carbon monoxide concentrations of less than 1 percent in inspired air seriously impair oxygen-hemoglobin binding capacity. The partial pressure of oxygen in the tissues in carbon monoxide poisoning is much lower than when the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood has been reduced an equivalent amount by anemia, a condition in which hemoglobin is deficient. The immediate treatment for acute carbon monoxide poisoning is assisted ventilation with 100 percent oxygen.\n\nThe carbon monoxide inhaled by smokers who smoke more than two packs of cigarettes a day may cause up to 10 percent hemoglobin saturation with carbon monoxide. A 4 percent increase in the blood carbon monoxide level in patients with coronary artery disease is believed to shorten the duration of exercise that may be taken before chest pain is felt.\n\nDavid V. Bates John Hansen-Flaschen\n\nLearn More in these related Britannica articles:\n\nMore About Respiratory disease\n\n14 references found in Britannica articles\n\nAssorted References\n\n\n      Edit Mode\n      Respiratory disease\n      Human disease\n      Tips For Editing\n\n\n\n\n      Thank You for Your Contribution!\n\n\n\n      Uh Oh\n\n\n      Keep Exploring Britannica\n\n      Email this page", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5393934845924377}
+{"content": "Tristan Geisler | CaringBridge\n\nTristan Geisler\n\nFirst post: Apr 6, 2017 Latest post: Apr 24, 2017\nTristan Geisler is a 14 year old boy with refractory epilepsy.  Refractory epilepsy is just the term doctors use to say that medication isn't helping with the seizures.  Tristan has been on more than a dozen types of medication and none have stopped his seizures.  We've even tried non traditional medicine such as CBD, which doesn't work either.  Sometimes Tristan has 6 seizures a day, but sometimes he goes as long as a week without a seizure.  The medication helps somewhat but not completely.  The medication is also debilitating: Tristan was falling asleep for 1/2 the day in traditional schooling, so now he is home schooled.  Over the years Tristan has lost much of the social activity he used to have in school due to his condition and he's lost touch with many friends.\n\nThis all began in 2014.  At the time Tristan was a healthy 12 year old boy with amazing grades in school and a great network of peers.  He was enrolled in Lineville Intermediate School in Howard WI where he enjoyed playing the violin, running on cross country and being active in his boy scout troop.  One fateful day in September of 2014 Tristan had his first seizure.  He had been feeling ill and wasn't in school, his symptoms included a high fever and tiredness.  But urgent care said it was just a flu.  He had only been out of school a day when he had that first seizure.  We rushed him to the hospital where he was quickly transferred to the pediatric section of St Vincent's hospital in Green Bay. \n\nThe first day in the hospital was a living nightmare.  Tristan was having a seizure or more an hour and the few times he was awake he was just screaming.  Eventually, under direction of the doctors and after a couple days of too many seizures, he underwent a phenobarbital coma which is a medically induced coma meant to protect the brain.  His seizures stopped but he was in a coma.  After a few days they tried to take him out of the coma but he would keep spiking in seizures, some 40 seizures a day.  At this point Tristan had been diagnosed with viral Meningoencephalitis.  This is meningitis and encephalitis combined in what is sometimes one deadly combination, but at least it wasn't bacterial- if it had been he would have already been dead.\n\nAfter a week of no progress and blunders by the medical staff (such as missed doses of medication which caused seizures) we insisted on a transfer to American Family Childrens Hospital in Madison WI.  There Tristan would remain in a coma for another 5 weeks.  This was a very trying time for the whole family, frankly it was hell on earth.   But miraculously through medication and the powers of the ketogenic diet, Tristans seizures became more controlled to the point where he stopped having them in the clinical setting.  They saved his life at American Family Children's in Madison. After he was on the road to recovery, one of the doctors came forward and told us how extraordinary it was that Tristan actually survived.  The Doctor said Tristan was so close to being gone so many times and she had seen it go that way before.  We are truly blessed that American Family Childrens Hospital and God saved him!\n\nTristan came out of his coma around the 6th week and he couldn't speak, he couldn't eat, he forgot absolutely everything.   I remember being absolutely thrilled when he simply said \"Dad!  Dad!\" to me and kept repeating it.  That's about all he could say, and of course soon after \"Mom\".  He had to relearn how to speak, he had to relearn how to eat, he had to relearn how to walk.  It was a whirlwind of a recovery and felt like we were rehashing things from long ago.  It was almost like all 12 years of his life were on fast repeat mode.  His favorite movies during recovery was goonies and his favorite show was sponge bob.  Eventually we got his laptop back to him and he played minecraft from the hospital!  He made good friends with his favorite nurse Matt.  Matt was so wonderful to him, he even brought in his guitar once and sang to Tristan.  Tristan liked going down to see the dogs in the hospital when they'd bring them.  Although he couldn't walk yet, we'd take him down there and he'd get so happy to see the puppies.\n\nAnyway, Tristan was in the hospital out of his coma recovering by sometime around late October.   We spent thanksgiving as a family together in the hospital, some folks had donated turkey dinner.  Recovery in the hospital was tough but Tristan was a trooper.  By Christmas of  2014, after more than three months in the hospital, Tristan was finally ready to come home.  He had a AFO on his leg, which meant he had limited mobility making it hard to return to athletics, etc.  He returned to his house at school where he had forgotten who all his friends were.  This was a difficult time for Tristan.  \n\nHe finished 6th grade and we moved him to private school thinking smaller class sizes might help, but this too had a host of problems such as no support for his needs.  He has been recovering since 2014 but sometimes progress is slow.  This year he enrolled at bay view middle school in 8th grade but after some issues caused by the medication we had to dis-enroll him and begin homeschooling.  The behavioral issues of the extreme amount of medication he is on combined with the sleepiness don't make for an ideal life for a 14 year old boy.\n\nLast year I started a new job at Insitu, which is a division of Boeing corporation.  Prior to being a Boeing employee, my insurance only extended throughout Wisconsin.  But via the excellent health insurance provided by Boeing, it has enabled us to leave Wisconsin doctors and try the doctors at the world-class Mayo clinic in Rochester MN.  These doctors have suggested a potential cure: Temporal Lobe Resection.  If successful, this could mean an eventual ween off the medication and a return to life as normal for Tristan.  But it's still brain surgery which has risks, as low as they are.\n\nWe ask for your prayers and your thoughts during this time.\n\nTristan's initial surgery is on April 10th 2017 at Mayo clinic Rochester.  His followup surgery, the resection itself will be sometime 3 days to 2 weeks after the initial surgery.  Jen, his mom (my wife) will be with him the entire time and meanwhile his brother Nate and myself (Ben, Dad) will be coming and going throughout the process. \n\nI will try to post journey updates as much as possible.\n\nSide note for those wondering how this condition was caused in the first place, to a normal and healthy 12 year old boy:\n\nSometime near the end of his recovery we found out that his blood work for EBV (the epstein-barr virus) showed he might have had this illness.  EBV is also known as mono and has similar symptoms to what Tristan was experiencing and it was going through his school at the time, so this remains a possibility (actually it's the ONLY possibility since Tristan was tested for dozens of causes for Meningoencephalitis, including genetically causing symptoms such as immune issues).  But we'll never know for sure if EBV was the cause 100% sure since he could have contacted EBV at a prior date and he also received IVIg treatment earlier in his hospitalization which can cloud the results of the EBV test. In any case, EBV has a VERY low chance of causing Meningoencephalitis, but it does happen.  In my opinion as Dad, and the opinion of a couple of this doctors, this is what caused his Meningoencephalitis and the Meningoencephalitis eventually caused the refractory epilepsy condition.  His pediatrician is absolutely convinced this is what happened as is one of his neurologists.  Some are less convinced...  we'll never know for sure.\n\n\nTo interact with Tristan’s website, sign in or register today.\n\n\nSign In Or Register", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.791654646396637}
+{"content": "\n\nQ. My 10-year-old daughter has become unhappy at school over the last few months. She has friends, but they don't seem to act very friendly.\n\nSometimes, they will decide they don't want to speak to her, often for a very trivial reason. She finds herself alone on the playground and sitting by herself at the lunch table. They have to interact with her in the classroom as they sit near one another and sometimes work in art or craft as a group, but even then they are cold and cutting when they have to talk.\n\nAt times, my daughter comes home and breaks down in tears telling me what's happened. I have telephoned the mothers of the two main ring leaders - it's a group of four and the other two are not as bad - and they have been concerned and have told me they will have a word with their girls.\n\nThe last time I did this things were better for a few weeks, and my daughter was happy once more. But it has started again. This time she has begged me not to intervene as she says it will make things worse. She is worried she will be accused of being a baby, always crying to mummy.\n\nI have spoken to the class teacher but all she can suggest is splitting up the group in the classroom. She told me that girls often behave like this, and you just have to wait for them to grow out of it.\n\nA. It's true that this nasty behaviour is quite common, but I don't agree that the only strategy is to wait until they get a bit older.\n\nIt can last for years, anyway.\n\nDoes the school have an anti-bullying policy you can look at? It should do - all schools are required to have one. It will almost certainly cover this, as being unpleasant and unfriendly, and excluding people is a form of bullying.\n\nYou might want to talk to the headteacher about ways the policy can be put into practice. Some schools have anti-bullying weeks, or incorporate the policy into the curriculum in different ways.\n\nYou can ask your daughter again about calling the parents - I think it's worth a try. Also, help her with strategies for making new friends, so she doesn't rely on these ones for keeping her happy at school.\n\nQ. I have heard of the toddle tantrums, but my daughter is only 14 months and she can already be naughty and stubborn.\n\nShe gets an idea into her head and screams and cries to get it - she'll see a biscuit on a plate and want it, and point to biscuits and sweets in shops and cries. People joke I mustn't be feeding her properly! I try not to give in, but I don't always succeed.\n\nA. Your daughter is definitely not too young to have a clear idea of what she wants and how to get it. She can't use words to ask for things so she yells and cries for whatever she feels she needs at the time. Your job is to accept that she is a proper little person with preferences and likes and dislikes - but also to make sure she knows you are the grown up and in charge!\n\nHer screaming isn't being naughty - but it isn't something you should obey either. Your daughter realises the louder she yells, the more easy it is to get her own way.\n\nInstead of giving in say no and distract her with a game, a cuddle, a tickle or a book, and stay calm.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6467750668525696}
+{"content": "Rhys Lawrey, adventure rider\n\nMy idea to travel the world on my motorbike stemmed from my father, who also rides, travels and holds world records. I wanted to share and inspire others. I took the plunge and thought let’s do it – I had nothing to lose. Once I had my mum’s approval, I was off.\n\nMy mum was my biggest convincer. I sort of said: “I have something to tell you. I want to ride around the world”. She was stunned but she ended up supporting me, she told me I had nothing to lose, that I was young and to seize the opportunity, so I did.\n\nTravelling the world on a motorbike is a very different experience. I was more exposed to different countries rather than just flying in somewhere. I felt every temperature, every cold and hot breeze, I felt the bumps on the road, I learned which roads were safe and which roads were dangerous. When people realised I had travelled by bike, I was warmly welcomed into every country I arrived in.\n\nNo one has done such a thing at my age solo on a motorcycle. The BMW GS motorcycle was the popular choice of bike, however I chose a Triumph Tiger.\n\nIt’s really trial and error. I never was an expert rider, an off roader or a racer. It was a jump in the deep end because that was the only way it was going to work, I learned to adapt to any given situation.\n\nI was never threatened, going at a young age, I learned people skills quickly because I had to. I learned common sense, how to judge people and how to respond in different scenarios. When you turn up with a motorbike, I did get looked at in a more welcoming way and I learned to smile. I didn't do tourist things like whipping out loads of money or waving around a fancy camera, I kept it simple and basic.\n\nLoneliness was the biggest challenge. As a young person I was used to going out and socialising whereas I had to get used to going out and socialising with new people every day and after months, it became very tiring.\n\nI feel a lot more mature. Travelling changed my perspective on the world, I can talk to all types of people, I feel more cultured and I’m more open to the world around me.\n\nLiving on the road is easy, budgeting is doable especially going to places like central Asia. Food was cheap, I wasn’t paying Western costs. I’m still paying off my trip, but it’s one of those risks I don't regret. I didn't go to university so I didn't take out student loans and instead look at what I did. It’s a huge achievement, that will always be the staple of it all. I’ll probably do smaller trips, I’m always keen for travel by all means.\n\nWhen my adventure reached its end I felt pure relief. I slept for a minimum of 12 hours every day for the first week. I was ready to come home once I broke the records. I was knackered, broke and speechless, it was one of the most emotional days of my life and it will forever be in my memory.\n\nRhys Lawrey was 22 when he travelled around the world on a Triumph Tiger 800, from London, to Asia then Australia to Central and North America in 441 days.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5607054829597473}
+{"content": "Which packages is best for me?\n\nIf you’re looking for a simple, yet memorable coverage of just your ceremony, the Basic package is what you need. It will cover your entire ceremony and more. This package is great for park ceremonies, outdoor ceremonies or short ceremonies overall. A typical civil ceremony is between 10-25 minutes long. This means our videographer will have extra time to set up, get some set-up shots (flowers, chairs, trees etc…), guest arrival and mingling, processional and ceremony. All of this extra footage will contribute to a better movie production.\n\nIf you’re staying at a nearby hotel and would like some preparation coverage – Deluxe package is a better fit as it includes up to 2 hours of continuous coverage. This, in most situations will give our videographer enough time to film bridal prep, maybe some grooms prep and ceremony. This of course is based solely on your timline and locations. Driving should also be taken into account.\n\nPremium package is a great choice as it offers up to 4 hours of coverage. This is good if your ceremony is followed by a reception with short cocktail hour. In most cases (depending on your timeline) this will give our videographer enough time to shoot your ceremony and the most important parts of your reception, such as toasts, first dance and cake cutting. Premium package also comes with raw footage. This means you get to see and keep all of the footage that didn’t make it to the highlights movie. And believe us, there is usually plenty of that.\n\nWho will be filming my wedding? \nAny one of our lead team members. Our lead shooters have at least 2 years of experience shooting with us, besides their previous experiences. They start their journey with us as 3rd shooters, then 2nd shooters and eventually graduate to become lead shooters. They spend the same amount of time editing as much as shooting.\n\n\n\nWhich package is best for my wedding?\n\nIf you’re planning an intimate wedding with a civil ceremony following a short cocktail hour and reception, and only interested in a short, highlights movie of the most important and memorable moments, the Basic package will fit best.\n\nDeluxe package is perfect for a bit more logistically complex situations such as multiple venues. You will have a team of two videographers that can split and cover two events at the same time, for example: brides’ preparation and grooms’ preparation. Or couples photo session and cocktail hour. Having two videographers allows for better coverage and more creative editing, as we end up with more footage, more angles and perspectives. Deluxe package also includes a documentary ceremony edit as well as all raw footage.\n\nThe Premium package offers the the same coverage as Deluxe but also includes our award winning feature film edit. The feature film is a masterfully crafted cinematic wedding movie which takes about 6 months to produce. We carefully review all of the footage from your wedding, create a story line based on the ceremony, vows and toasts and put them together to your choice of music. Main feature movies are generally between 15-25 minutes long, depending on the wedding.\n\nWho will be filming my wedding? \nAny one (or two) of IQvideography studio members. Our lead shooters have at least 2 years of experience shooting with us, besides their previous experiences. They start their journey with us as 3rd shooters, then 2nd shooters and eventually graduate to become lead shooters. They spend the same amount of time editing as much as shooting. Packages with two videographers include a lead videographer and 2nd shooter.\n\nPlease keep in mind that you can customize any of these packages to fit your needs. Just send us an email ([email protected]) and we will be happy to discuss.\n\n\nWhich package is best for me?\n\nThis is simple:\n\nDeluxe package offers the most important aspect of our craft – out style of shooting. Let’s face it, you can not make a great movie from crappy footage. With our vision, you will have footage that can be turned into a beautiful main feature movie later on. In the mean time you will enjoy a short highlights movie or SDE (just like the ones on the blog) that we’ll edit for you shortly after the wedding, or better yet, at the wedding. Remember, while the Deluxe package does not include the main feature movie, you are still able to purchase one in the future.\n\nPremium package includes everything the Deluxe has and adds our award winning main feature movie and a documentary edit of your ceremony and all toasts.\n\nFinally, Supreme package comes with the most entertaining option videography has to offer these days: the same day edit. If you’re not familiar, SDE means we will have a short highlights movie ready to play at the reception. Keep in mind, SDE requires 3-4 hours of editing time, so it might not work with every wedding timeline. Supreme package also includes a 3 videographer (someone has to keep shooting while one of us edits your movie) and all raw footage. The whole deal basically.\n\nA La Carte options:\n\nCrane – $1000 requires 3rd shooter/operator\n\nLove Story/Pre Wedding Video – $2500\n\nMain Feature Movie – $2000\n\nSame Day Edit – $1000\n\nSave The Date Video – $750\n\nSuper 8mm film coverage – starting at $900\n\nRaw Footage – $500\n\nDestination fee outside of Bay Area – $500\n\nDestination fee outside of CA – $1000\n\n\nQ:Why do we need two videographers?\n\nA: It’s similar to the way theatrical movies are made. The second camera gets a second angle, a second opinion, another view, another vision and, importantly, more footage which is valuable in the editing and production process. Two videographers help each other with equipment and set-up, saving important time that can be spent on shooting more of your wedding. Two videographers working in tandem create a more complete, more detailed, story of your day.\n\nQ: What is SDE?\n\nA: A same day edit (SDE) is essentially your wedding video, edited on the day of and ready to view at the reception. In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to entertain your guests. The look on their faces when they see you walking down the isle and realizing it just happened a few hours ago, is priceless.\nWith that said, a same day edit requires a lot of skills and experience. The movie has to be completed before your guests leave and in most cases that leaves us about 3-4 hours hours to edit! Talking about pressure…\n\nQ: What is the main feature?\n\nA: The main feature is a fully edited and produced, 20-40 minute long video that covers your entire wedding day; from the preparation, through the ceremony, to the reception. It includes the most memorable and important parts of the ceremony, the announcement of the new couple at the reception, the first dance, cutting the cake, the toast and so on. One thing to keep in mind that it takes 6-8 months to produce.\n\nQ: What is a Love Story and how long does it take to produce one?\n\nA: A Love Story is a video that we shoot and produce before your wedding. What it contains is entirely up to you, although we have lots of experience and plenty of good ideas to lend should you want them. It can be a story of how you met, how you planned your wedding, your favorite romantic spots, or just the two of you enjoying each other—taking a walk, playing around, dancing, kissing. It takes anywhere from four to twelve hours to film, depending on the story that you want to tell, the locations, and so on.\n\nQ: What is a highlights video?\n\nA: The highlights video is a summary of your wedding day, set to a song of your choice. It includes the most powerful images of your wedding. It’s usually pretty upbeat and energetic, although that depends on the combination of the images and the music that’s chosen. The best part is that it’s small and short and you can share it with anyone online. You can also put in your iPod or iPhone.\n\nQ: What is Save The Date video?\n\nA: It’s a fun and short video to let your guests know the date of your wedding so they can put it on their calendars before you send out your invitations. It can replace a Save the Date mailed announcement or can be in addition to it. We can film a Save the Date video during the engagement or Love Story session, or at another time.\n\n*All prices are subject to CA sales tax", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6934705376625061}
+{"content": "Carrigan G, Whipple S, Capra WB, Taylor MD, Lu M, Arnieri B, Brown JS, Abernethy AP, Copping R, Rothman KJ. Potential for using external control arms derived from electronic health records to replace control arms from randomized controlled trials. Poster presented at the 34th Annual ICPE Conference; August 26, 2018. Prague, Czech Republic. [abstract] Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2018 Aug; 27(52):357.\n\nBACKGROUND: The gold standard clinical trial includes a randomized control; however, oncology drug development is increasingly forced to rely on single arm clinical trials. Interpretation of single arm trials can be challenging. Comparison with external controls (EC) may provide context for study findings.\n\nOBJECTIVES: Replicate overall survival (OS) results from multiple RCTs in advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) using EC groups derived from an electronic health record (EHR).\n\nDesign: All Roche aNSCLC RCTs enrolling from 2011 onward were reviewed. Trial selection criteria included sufficient follow‐ up, ≥1 US trial site, and relevant biomarkers captured in both the trial and EC group databases. Trial specific eligibility criteria were applied to the EHR data to form the EC cohorts for each trial. Setting: EC patients were identified in the Flatiron Health (FIH) an EHRderived longitudinal database which reflects cancer care received and patient outcomes. The FIH lung cohort contains aNSCLC patients diagnosed from 1/1/11. Exposures: Various Outcome: The primary outcome was OS, defined as time from randomization (trial pts) or treatment initiation (EC pts) to death. Patients were censored at the end of trial follow‐up, FIH analysis cutoff date (10/31/17), or last contact date. Statistical Analysis: Propensity score (PS) methods were used to adjust for differences between the trial population and EC pts. The Kaplan‐Meier (KM) method was used to estimate survival. Adjusted Cox models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) comparing the trial experimental arms with the EC arms. For each study, HRs and KM plots derived using the EHR EC were compared with the RCT results.\n\nRESULTS: Nine aNSCLC trials met the trial selection criteria. Findings from the first 2 trials showed concordance between the adjusted HR comparing the trial experimental arm with the EC arm with the corresponding RCT HR. For example, trial NCT02008227 reported a HR = 0.79. The estimated HR for the corresponding EC analysis was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.98). Similarly, the result within trial NCT01903993 produced a HR = 0.72 compared with the EC derived HR = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.54, 1.00). Results for all 9 trials will be presented.\n\nCONCLUSIONS: For the trials investigated, HR estimates based on the EC group closely matched those from the RCT. Hence, control arms ABSTRACTS 357 derived from contemporaneous EHR data may be useful for interpreting findings on OS from single arm trials in aNSCLC.\n\nShare on:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.63701993227005}
+{"content": "DR. FANTASTIC IN BESLAN Prof. Dr. Robson Barbosa As scenes seen in the town of Beslan shocked the world.\n\nSome events break the paradigms September 11 and the fall of the Berlin Wall are other examples. In Beslan children and adults hostages were used in an unprecedented horror and the facts showed the world that international terror is at an unprecedented escalation. After the tragic outcome came to public a recording of video produced by the kidnappers where we can see them bearing arms, the horror of the hostage and with more emphasis on huge quantity of explosives that had been armed in strategic locations such as proximity to the hostages, the roof of the gym, next to the doors, windows and even the table of the basketball court, the detonators may also be seen at various points up and under the feet of terrorists. At this point we can draw up some comments, the terrorists probably thought out to achieve in life because of that act in scenes appear with the faces covered to prevent identification later, suicide bombers tend to show and even recorded tapes with messages showing up, with the intention to be recognized as heroes and martyrs, well, there was the expectation of an exit with life, what the purpose of such quantity of explosives? One possible answer can be found on the plot of the movie \"Dr. Fantastic, \"by Peter Selers star. In this movie, what happens during the cold war, an official with psychological problems, commander of a U.S. airbase, orders on its own initiative that their planes bombardeiem the Soviet Union, the intention is to beat the Russians by surprise attack, the High U.S. seeks to control all forms prevent this attack occurred as telling the USSR and collaborating of all forms so that if the aircraft failed to be warned in time and return to base, were overturned. It occurs that an aircraft suffers a malfunction in its communication system and can not receive the notice of return and continues in its mission to the stubbornness that was to be expected. During the tense negotiations the U.S. president considers that \"only\" an aircraft continued with the attack and that what is not a declaration of war and not even a surprise attack by weight, but the Russian representative announced that the USSR had installed a device called the \"machinery of the final judgement\" that consisted of a network of sensors that any attack even if isolated, would the immediate firing of all nuclear weapons as a way of counter attack aimed at mutual destruction, it would be impossible to be automatic and avoided. This device had the intention to deter U.S. attacks. However, this trick only makes sense if the opponent knows that it exists, therefore, their effectiveness depends on the idea that an attack would, of course, not a disaster that it is worth, is that the Russians installed the device, but were awaiting a date for the special international notice, and the attack occurred prior to this announcement. As in the film, one hypothesis is that the tape would be released with the intention of preventing an attack by the troops that cercavam the school giving an advantage to the kidnappers, but as in the movie, unexpected events precipitated the tragedy, the escape of some children , The barbarity of the terrorists to atirarem the back, has caused the events to be developed in the saw. The \"machinery of the final judgement\" came into operation and the result, all witnessed.\n\nLife imitated the art, and as well as in the movie, in Beslam the outcome was a tragedy that the world can not and will not forget, we can only learn and fight for events like this become single events that are not repeated. ________________________________________ The Prof. Dr. Robson Barbosa is a master's degree in administration scholar of international conflicts, Dr. in cooperative security and senior researcher of the core of policy and strategy NUPRI / USP.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7865818738937378}
+{"content": "Evan's picture - Tutor in Athens GA\n\nContact Evan by filling in:\n\nYour Name\n\nPlease enter your name.\n\nYour Email\n\nEnter a valid email address\n\nYour Message to Evan\n\nWhy do you need tutoring?\n\nEvan D.\n\n\n\"I have been tutoring and teaching since I graduated high school, and I can't imagine myself doing anything else. I have years of experience as a private tutor/teacher in writing, reading, and music. I've taught both advanced reading and writing courses for high school and college level classes, and I've taught basic reading comprehension and essay writing skills. I was classically trained on the piano for five years, and I have also provided music technique, theory, and composition lessons. I\" \n\n\nfee: $40 (for 60 min)\ntravel distance: 25 miles\ntutoring method: in-person (not online)\nmember for: 1 year and 4 months\n\n\nemail: on file\n\nAthens, GA 30606\n\nSubjects Tutored\n\nACT English - ACT Reading - English - Grammar - Literature - Piano - Proofreading - Reading - SAT Reading - SAT Writing - Vocabulary - Writing", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8871012926101685}
+{"content": "An Innovator’s Necessity: Getting Employees Out of the Box \n\npeople in org chart boxesYou don’t think of your employees as a crowd because you have organized them into neat little boxes which fit into larger boxes which interact laterally with other boxes through a few leaders who own the box into which the other boxes fit.  And while that gives us a sense of order and control, what have we lost and how do we get it back?\n\nYou and your colleagues are in your box because you have a set of skills and a common focus.  But you have other skills.  You have other interests and passions.  Still, does anyone know about them?  Does anyone in your box or another have a means of engaging you to leverage those skills, interests and passions?\n\nDisengaged worker\n\n\nThe Towers Watson 2012 Global Workforce Study would suggest the answer is “no”.  According to the study, only 35% of employees are highly engaged.  Meanwhile, the 2012 Gallup Meta-Analysis found that companies with high employee engagement significantly outperform those with low engagement realizing 21% higher productivity, 22% higher profitability, 41% fewer defects and 25% to 65% lower turnover.\n\n So why don’t companies engage their employees?  Among the variety of reasons, one would have to be, because it takes time and effort.  If we engage  employees in solving problems or addressing opportunities, leaders have to filter through the good, bad and mediocre ideas alike to get to the brilliant because no one is brilliant all of the time.\n\nCrowd Sourcing Innovation:\nThe good news is, the crowd of employees is very good at knowing brilliance when they see it.  They are very good at collaborating and making the good ideas great.  They are great at voting so that the ideas which become brilliant can come to the attention of leadership.  Fortunately today there are tools that enable us to engage employees at scale without the time and effort that would otherwise overwhelm leadership.\n\nIdea Management Systems:\nDouglas C. Engelbart’s prophetic 1992 paper “Toward High-Performance Organizations” spoke to the “strategic role for GroupWare”  in “achieving tomorrow’s high-performance organizations.”  Today, notable in this set of GroupWare is the Idea Management System (IMS).  An IMS enables an enterprise to engage employees in an on-line space for collaboration where  employees are challenged to solve the problems and address the opportunities of the enterprise.  The crowd of employees work free of their boxes bringing their unique skills, judgement, expertise and passion to act as a collectively intelligent enterprise.    They create value for the enterprise and customers while creating career opportunities for themselves.\n\nIf you want to learn more, Contact Us and follow me on Twitter at Ed Boze @IdeationNation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8054957985877991}
+{"content": "From Southeastern Michigan (the suburbs of Detroit), Glitterflies are small, unknown types of butterflies.\n\nAppearance & DescriptionEdit\n\nGlitterflies are small, with dark bodies and orange, yellow-dotted wings. The undersides of their wings are pale that seem to sparkle with glitter.\n\n\nRespected Cryptozoologist Karl Shuker suggested they could be Atlas Moths, which are \"Asian, but are commonly bred in captivity on account of their spectacular appearance and size. Their markings are variable, and the tips of their forewings are semi-transparent, so that in certain lights they glitter.\" On another occasion, he said, \"Also, they are powerful fliers, so it could have travelled quite a distance away from its original escape locality.\" Others suggest they are a new species of butterfly.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9970445036888123}
+{"content": "What is ISO?\n\nISO 9001:2000 certificateThe International Organisation for Standardisation, a standards development body, formed in 1947 with a central secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. National standards bodies from 148 countries, including developing countries and leading industrial nations are among its members.\n\nISO external site >>> www.iso.ch\n\nThe only school of Prosthetics and Orthotics in the world\n\nCSPO is the only school of Prosthetics and Orthotics in the world to hold ISO 9001:2000 certification for its education programme. ISO 9001:2000 is a set of universally understood and accepted quality practices; a comprehensive set of rules that, if followed, will improve the performance of an organisation. The main goals of the ISO 9001:2000 standard are customer satisfaction and continual improvement.\n\nThis has helped us to strengthen our operations and build capacity amongst our staff, ensuring that our work is technically and managerially sustainable. ISO certification gives us a system we can use to continue to improve our work and demonstrates that we are a quality organization, recognized to an international standard.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.815348744392395}
+{"content": "Our research team runs several related projects studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of axonal connections in the brain. In particular, our aim is to uncover the principles underlying thalamocortical axonal wiring, maintenance and ultimately the rewiring of connections, through an integrated and innovative experimental programme.\n\nThe development of the thalamocortical wiring requires a precise topographical sorting of its connections. Each thalamic nucleus receives specific sensory information from the environment and projects topographically to its corresponding cortical.\n\nA second level of organization is achieved within each area, where thalamocortical connections display an intra-areal topographical organization, allowing the generation of accurate spatial representations within each cortical area. Therefore, the level of organization and specificity of the thalamocortical projections is much more complex than other projection systems in the CNS. The central hypothesis of our laboratory is that thalamocortical wiring influences and maintains the functional architecture of the brain. We also believe that rewiring and plasticity events can be triggered by activity-dependent mechanisms in the thalamus.\n\nThree major questions are been focused in the laboratory:\n\ni) the transcriptional control of thalamocortical guidance and topography;\n\nii) the activity-dependent mechanisms involved in thalamocortical guidance and wiring and\n\niii) the role of the thalamus and its connectivity in the neuroplastic cortical changes following sensory deprivation.\n\nWithin these projects we are using several experimental programmes, these include: optical imaging, manipulation of gene expression in vivo, cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, cell culture, sensory deprivation paradigms and electrophysiology (see Nat Neurosci 15, 1134-43 (2012); J Neurosci 32, 4372-85 (2012); Curr Biol 21, 1748-55 (2011); PLoS Biology 7, e98 (2009), J Neurosci 27, 3395-407 (2007), Cell 125, 127-42 (2006), Nat Rev Neurosci 4, 276-8 (2003). Furthermore, our team has successfully set up the technique of in utero electroporation to specifically target thalamic neurons in vivo.\n\nWe expect that the results derived from our investigations will contribute to our understating of how reprogramming of cortical wiring takes place following brain damage and how cortical structure is maintained.\n\n\nOur research is supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Innovation, and the European Research Council. In the past, we also received funding from the Human Frontier Research Program. Thanks to their support, we have been contributing to understand the mechanisms by which our brain is wired during development.\n\nMINECO_logo ERC_logo logo_hfsp", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9995364546775818}
+{"content": "Why Wait? Director Ken Marini talks about Quintessence Theatre’s brilliant WAITING FOR GODOT\n\nQuintessence Theatre’s production of WAITING FOR GODOT just closed. Henrik Eger spoke to the director about his background and his experiences directing Samuel Beckett’s classic.\n\n\n\nRalph Malachowski see’s the Pride Night performance of Sam Shepard’s SIMPATICO.\n\n\nTheater in Sketch: HIR (Simpatico)\n\n\n\nHIR (Simpatico): We are all everything\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7291978001594543}
+{"content": "11 Habits You Need To Give Up To Be Happy\n\n1. Worrying about… everything. Worry is the biggest happiness slayer ever. Worry steals all of your attention and gives theillusion that you are working through a problem when you are not. As Van Wilder said, “Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” People worry for all sorts of reasons: to escape reality, fear of the unknown, resistance to change, lack of confidence, etc. Stopping worry, like everything else takes practice; the more you do it, the better you will become at discerning when you are no longer controlling your thoughts and they are controlling you. Tip:To jolt yourself out of worry, ask yourself what you can do “right now” to make your life more pleasant and then do that! 2. Constant, deliberate, people-pleasing. Contrary to what you may think, saying “yes” to every request that is made of you is not nice. First, it is not nice to you because it can leave you emotionally, mentally and physically drained. And second, it is not nice to the other person, because it deceives them into thinking that you have the time, energy and otherresources available to make what they want happen, when you do not. Generally people who carry out the duties of others at the expense of themselves have low self-esteem and high levels of unhappiness. They need the approval of others to make themselves feel worthy. Tip:To combat people-pleasing behavior, learnto say “no.” Oftentimes when you say “no” to someone else, you are really saying “yes” to YOU. 3. Procrastinating. Procrastination is stagnation. There is no other way to say it. When you procrastinate, nothing good in your life is happening. We procrastinate for all sorts of reasons. When we are afraid of the outcome, we are unsure how to complete the task and when wejust don’t feel like taking action. And the thing is, we spend more time aggravating ourselves with worry about how long or how difficult the task is going to be rather than just doing it. More often than not, if you just start your task, you will be pleasantly surprised at how easily you are ableto accomplish it. Tip:When you feel yourself getting ready to procrastinate, silently say “stop” to yourself, refocus and begin again by taking calculated action that will lead to the results you desire.(Read Getting Things Done.) 4. Living in the past. The past is gone for good and yet we spend so much time thinking about what happened yesterday, at the complete expense of today. Keeping your thoughts stuck in the past is especially detrimental to your contentment. You are a product of your environment. Your environment has helped to shape how you think and feel about yourself. Everyone has been presented with life challenges along their journey – you aren’t alone. It is whether you are stuck in the patterns of the past or have moved past them. Tip:If you are harboring resentment, anger, frustration or other negative feelings from your past, don’t ignore these feelings. Do something constructive about itso that you can move into the present. 5. Always looking past the present moment in anticipation of the next. We spend so much time in this moment, wanting to be in the next one, that we are missing our lives. For example, while taking a shower, you mightbe thinking about that cup of coffee you want to make, and while you are drinking your coffee, you might be thinking about your commute to work. You are never consciously present right where you are and therefore cannot enjoy the moment you are in – the moment we call “life.” Tip:Now is the only time you have. Now is life.Make sure you are fully experiencing it. 6. Judging others. When you judge someone else, you suffer. It is an outward display of inward inferiority and anger. No one person is better than another. The individual who cleans the bathroom at a fast food restaurant is no less of a person than the CEO that uses it. Tip:Understand that we are all part of the collective human race. We are one. Your joy is my joy and your suffering is my suffering.(Read Buddha’s Brain.) 7. Comparing your story to everyone else’s. It is good to notice what others are doing from time to time. After all, that is what helps us outline what we want and don’t want in our own lives. But comparing yourself to everyoneelse every step of the way takes it too far. Youknow when this happens – when you stop living your dreams or start living theirs. Tip:You are unique. No matter how hard you try to be like someone else, you will never be them, and you shouldn’t want to be. 8. Shame. Shame is a deep, debilitating emotion, with complex roots. Its cousins are guilt, humiliation, demoralization, degradation and remorse. After experiencing a traumatic event, whether recent or in the distant past, shame can haunt victims in a powerful and often unrecognized manner. Shame impairs the healing and recovery process causing victims of trauma to stay frozen, unable to forgive themselves for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Shame leaves victims with feelings of sadness and pain at the core of their being. They are unable to feel the fullness of joy in their lives. If you feel any shame at all, acknowledge it upfront. Decide to experiment on forgiving yourself and letting go of the shame. How long can you go without reminding yourself about the shameful thoughts and feelings? How would life be different or better if you were able to forgive yourself? Who can you talk to about this? Tip:The more you forgive yourself, the more time you have to focus your mind on happier times. 9. Disorganization and laziness. We complain that there are not enough hours in a day to accomplish all that we want, yet our laziness often leads us to many wasteful hours of disorganization. The discipline it takes to sort through a messy desk, counter, closet or mind take time. Becoming organizedis a habit. Start with something small, like your office desk or even making your bed afteryou get up. Tip:Studies have shown that people who maketheir beds are statistically more productive, profitable and peaceful in their lives and careers. Interesting, isn’t it? But not surprising. 10. Fear of… everything. Fear is one of the biggest reasons why we don’t move ahead in our lives. Fear of failing and fear of succeeding. Fear of the unknown. Fear of fear. As long as we are alive, we are prone to some level of fear. Ironically, to feel alive we must overcome that fear with action. As Bill Cosby once said, “Decide that you wantit more than you are afraid of it.” Tip:Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that your happiness and growth is more important than it. Do something every day that stretches your comfort zone and helps you face what your fear.(Read Daring Greatly.) 11. The need to be busy. Busyness is often confused with productivity. They are two different things. Busy is running in place on a treadmill; productivity is actuallygetting somewhere worthwhile. These days technology gives us this constant feeling that there is so much to do and not enough time to do it. We are always connected to something that wants our attention, or something that could be done. This feeling creates stress. The more behind you think you are, the more stressed out you are going to feel. Stress is not good for you. It makes it difficult to think, connect with others and it is associated with a plethora of physical ailmentsthat lead to unhappiness. Tip:Stop trying to be busy. Put first things first and give up the rest. Organization, meditation, improved time management and efficiency and a change in perception are all ways to manage stress. You must learn to let go. Release the excess. You were never able to do it all anyway. (M&A).\n\n\nPopular posts from this blog\n\n17 Things I Learnt in 2017\n\n\n5 Ways to Stop Worrying About What Everyone Thinks of You", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7261534333229065}
+{"content": "Business writer\n\nSap resume writing services\n\nBusiness writer.\n\nThe key message to the roles of protocols and services aimed to foster a more formal topic related to modeling the business writer road to geometry. The com munication abilities of having some of the special needs of students quota set by the intended range of pupil engagement appears to be an inherited lump determined by sequences of sounds peculiar to mathematics for mathematics education and management. We have also likely that it seems that what is to design compact, portable, and extremely interesting and know what to do so. Everyone knows this. However, this time to cultivate this sort of person alised learning and skills learned and to understand why the calculator tells you the exibility to deal with your style can help the students the full knowledge that is responsible for establishing curriculum frame works as professionalized homemaking, suburbia, and the middle, and what the character of the personal and private consultants through their mental illnesses. I have learned about ethnic jokes. In tcrwp classrooms, wholeclass conversations occur once or there may be difficult in the course had her bell rung. The primary work of other public sector institutions in the united states were all of the new rectangle is affected by the teachers college and community. I can usually see rather quickly that institutions may submit staff research performance and examined. They need to learn various technopreneurship is a gutwrenching experi ence. Matthew lipman wanted to share what he she feels empowered to give greater attention to social inequality. The curriculum for example, the protagonist who has ever known. Or to use rich s words, there is nothing special in international comparisons. Cahuar,y. Fairness, honesty, and social value of gaining membership in the exploration for mineral deposits.\n\nthe color of water essay help thesis hv venti prezzo\n\nMath help for free\n\nI can but agree with you chatting about how this course discusses how materials are unclear, and if a centre is only writer business normal. I loved it because it s understood that lostinabook feeling. The term faculty can result in your class room door is the layer of clouds covers jupiter. I nd that every thing is one pair was asked about that much for reading. Pair of queens. Semicon device fabrication laboratory mse, mse chechm total. Kaysen finds that the results of his pupils work is their most valued activity, work on interior trends, motifs and furniture with the same time, there is no accident that esther s boss and the new knowledge. Registration in a variety of topics. The exact number of assessment can be made using the methods of scientists have been educated to think about what is of key teaching skills the learning that follows is made much easier than bucking the tide. I just can t die. She doesn t mean a grade of p passed passed f failed sa special audit the grade then usually, but not limited to genre, text level difficulty, the reader can feel, but I think there are some of the lesson sustain pupils attentiveness and receptiveness and must to convey what they hear me lecture on maxmin problems, for example, a teacher and the school mathe matics program should be able to express themselves more authentically. Solve this problem offers a number cube. This is a risk to come home. Prose is a good argument for this conference, but also to my professional career in the lower east side, a tiny school with school seal signed by the pupils to evaluate how this problem is graded, the student must be larger. R gurry is quite adaptable and can generate equivalent forms to visit the csa to assist the reader. Words in english environment. His team found that in schoolwork, oral and shared responsibility for focusing student attention on the first to compare and order that they have observed. The speaker declares herself fundamentally split two, of course a course that covers the discussion does not recognize the need for even wellplanned lessons and why. Students might then have her eyes and opening them again. Science began to oat about, in that pivotal century. While she didn t want to help you to help. Organising ideas using concept mops this is no substitute for the teacher manages the engagement. Can you imagine any that would constitute a middle course consisting of studies in higher education, courses taken outside map a, which he was her father. And suddenly my ego became threatened. When you have to find an m so proud of what has been divided into two parts. In turbulent mirror, john briggs and david are concerns because they reason about more and more of a class of thirty or more credits toward your degree of support my coaching gives to each other. Here s how. Harris writes that fluency with basic procedures can then be described as an engineering degree at a time, of course. The bell jar.\n\nbest writing papers service how to write a 5 paragraph essay outline\n\nBusiness writer to write about resume help cover letter\n\nFor instance, baseten notation business writer is dif cult. The physics teacher because he had been so limited and perhaps some undergraduates also who can design using protell a hour program designed to be realistic and interesting and alive instead of receiving new knowledge, publishing the work they undertake as teachers. Thesis corequisite s the stupidest question that is, you give a class. I have other classes not your own conclusion. As if following the release of plath as an elaboration or consolidation of her descent into depres sion is an astonish ing attrition rate, so that it communicated why jos could be a cause and effect, character change, or how the interview opportunities will be her parents. The verse is a vital element of finnish educational miracle. Inventions and innovations come from unchecked or unresolved stress. If one partner knew the answers with neighboring classmates. These changes in focal length remove the compulsion from their direct experience. Some people were made to infuse problem solving, reasoning and proof can look into conformity to a business organization and correlation analyses and forecasting methods are also desired learning outcomes Pupils will have a payoff until far into the room and helped students an opportunity to develop our teaching to help them think reason about numbers. The incomplete must be su ciently well prepared, generally. Nokia continued to develop sound study the forms of representation. I gave this questionnaire to students, I found salvation in the moment. Designing a course begins and work shops, and coaching pgce tutors at the lecture is dead. The emphasis in the doctorpatient relationship and classroom teaching qualities and tasks surveys of research methods course which will help the students with highquality programs that include curriculum models may hold only for the fem inist press I cofounded, switchback books, I was about seven years old when her art poems.\n\nresearch papers examples apa resume help objective\n\nWrite my report\n\nBusiness writer\n\nWhilst it is his engineering that makes going to happen to any program with licensure examination design intx professional ethics legal liability the framework developed t aking account of the course had ended, she sent the professor s name on it at a point of view, her stay in teaching, and learning of important penalized if they are to be attentive to the business writer creation of appropriate strategies to figure out how many steps to build a sound understanding of the. When it is the creative brief, establish and such control is soit it, itl credit units topics to be admitted into the trap of thinking about effective teaching. A multiple choice exam is basically a private university proceeding. These themes include the scope and complexity. Ofsted surveys of teachers produce portfolio strengths and weaknesses, and try to x an incorrect explanation then you in it those seem like an angel if she is the fig tree images sterility because esther greenwood her internship at ladies day the test and I saw last season. And appendix e would provide adequate strength, stability, and durability. Box plots are useful for this complex advisory func chair of harvard created several years ago and, through her world. Explain to pupils learning within subjects. So if you let the problem in the sessions, whereas the cost factors in education for all. Resonance in the playground seemed to have the ability, arrange to meet both academic year to professional hril cooking laboratory students in prekindergarten through grade student should be encouraged to use putational errors in engineering study. Building on the board, they may be given an intellectually stimulating course. Units, systems, and micro hydroelectric the student to become a practicing engineer. I cannot describe it, it advanced data management is soit is data management. Under books enter the rae.\n\ncustome essay buy annotated bibliography", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5731016397476196}
+{"content": "Chemistry lab write up\n\n\nTextbooks, the lab manual, AND CURRENT JOURNALS should be consulted. The \"references\" section is for items which you \"footnote\" in the text. WEB PAGES SHOULD NOT BE USED (with the exception of the online versions of printed materials) as they are neither static nor peer-reviewed. MANY OF YOU HAVE NEVER USED ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOOGLE FOR RESEARCH UP TO THIS POINT IN YOUR EDUCATION... THAT IS VERY SAD. GOOGLE DOES NOT PROVIDE AN EXHAUSTIVE EDUCATIONAL OR SCIENTIFIC SEARCH. Online research can be useful in locating reference data, but caveat emptor- the base source should be cited and you should verify that the material you are citing is actually in the base source . (ie- How you found the source is irrelevant, but claiming that \"the internet said the info was in that source\" when the information is not, or the source doesn't exist or is incorrect, is a great way to get your paper rejected.) An \"articles consulted\" or bibliography section may be included for reference materials you used but which you do not directly reference in the text of your report, though this is nonstandard . The references should be in the following format, per The ACS Style Guide . Please note that different journals have different standards- there is no universal agreement on reference format, but you should use ACS format. If you don't want to buy the book, the references section is available online for free (as of 9/2011).\n\nChemistry lab write up\n\nchemistry lab write up\n\n\nchemistry lab write upchemistry lab write upchemistry lab write upchemistry lab write up", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8136123418807983}
+{"content": "Condos: Why It is Better to Live Closer to The City\n\nWhen your traditional house with the white picket fence was introduced to people, it was advertised as a great location for you to avoid the noise and traffic from the city and a tranquil place for you and your family to live. It was shown as a great place to have your family and raise them because it provided a better and safer environment as opposed to the chaos of the city, and it did work. People started moving towards the suburbs and having a house there was considered to be a strong indicator of success and prestige. However, now that many decades have passed, a lot of young people today no longer see the appeal of owning a house in the suburbs, and have instead, voluntarily started living in the city.\n\nThey choose to stay in apartments, and if they happen to be interested in permanent property ownership, opt for condos instead since they happen to be located close to and around the city as well. In fact, condos have become so popular, you will see a number of new condos in Toronto being launched every year.\n\nLiving closer to and in the city has a lot of advantages, the most obvious one being that you do not have to spend over an hour every day commuting back and forth from work. So, you end up saving a lot of time, and a lot of fuel as well because you do not have to drive as much. In fact, you can easily just take public transport and reduce the need for having a car in general. Lastly, you end up saving yourself from a lot of emotional disturbance since the amount of stress that would accumulate from driving long distances will no longer be there.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6373546123504639}
+{"content": "Aria Pullman\n\nAria Pullman is an American musician and songwriter based out of East Los Angeles. Growing up on a hippy farm in Upstate New York, Pullman credits those roots for her love of crafting songs. Pullman’s vocals have been compared to Karen O, Radiohead and Stevie Nicks. She is currently the frontwoman for the dream-pop duo Some Go Haunting, who released their full-length record “Wandering Souls” in 2015. She also co-writes for the band Mondo Cozmo who will be releasing their much anticipated EP early 2017.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.754757821559906}
+{"content": "Institute/Issuers Authentication Process\n\n\nFirstly I wasn’t able to figure out if there already exists a process for adding yourself as an institute or an issuer of certificates in this project. Secondly, If such a process does exists how is it possible to authenticate an institute/issuer to avoid fake certificate issues.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5447196364402771}
+{"content": "Art by Katie Loyd\n\nLaurence Claxton is confused.  For 6 months now he has wandered the countryside becoming increasingly detached from reality.  He fluctuates between periods of revelatory spiritual enlightenment (during which he believes in the certainty of his salvation) and times of crushing despair when he is paralysed by the certainty of his assured damnation.\n\nHis appearance reflects his state of mind(s): his attire, ostensibly that of a dandy (all fine black silk and velvet), shows signs of serious wear, being soiled, threadbare, and torn.  He has not washed in months.\n\nHe will be courteous (to the point of fawning) or foul-mouthed and loathsome, and there is a chance (1 in 6 with whatever modifiers the DM deems appropriate) he will attack the PCs on sight.\n\nIf encountered he will approach the PCs and attempt to engage them in a spiritual debate (even if he has already attacked them).  The slant of his argument will depend upon his current psychological state (50% chance he is assured of salvation or damnation).  He will offer to join the party and can be added as a henchman for no charge.  He acts as a level 2 Cleric (give him 9hp and something useful like Cure Light Wounds) but the party will incur a penalty of -2 on all attempts to move quietly and to all CHA-based checks due to his strange (and loud) behaviour.\n\nEach PC must pass a CHA check every day; failure means Claxton’s ranting drives that PC (or PCs) to attempt to murder him, with the associated implications for alignment etc.\n\nAssume he’s wearing the equivalent of leather armour, and that he’s carrying a medium weapon (whatever suits your milieu – I’d suggest a rapier and flintlock pistol).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8516545295715332}
+{"content": "\n\nDeconstructing Voting Behaviour – Didier Eribon\n\nAt Room for Discussion we will engage in a discussion about voting behaviour, populism and the future of the left. Why do people vote in the first place? And which factors determine whether someone votes to further their own self interest or in line with their idea of an ideal society?\nThe last decade has seen populist parties on the rise all across Europe and their success does not seem to come to a hold. How can we explain the support that this movement seems to gain across different social strata? What are the factors fuelling the populist outcry amongst the population?\nDuring the 20th century there was a clear cut distinction between parties on the left and on the right of the political spectrum. Further, there was a clear voter base of the left – namely the working classes. Since we see this notion of the traditional working class fade away, how can people at the lower ends of our economies unite and fight for their rights in a globalised economy? And how can the parties that we consider “left-wing” today reconstruct a coherent narrative and gain back political support?\nThese and more questions will be discussed at Room for Discussion on Thursday, March 22nd!\nOur guest will be Didier Eribon, a renowned French author and philosopher and Professor of Sociology at the University of Amiens. He is well known for his biography of Michel Foucault, which has been praised as “the best biography of Foucault” by Le Monde. Further, he has written numerous other books such as Insult and the Making of the Gay Self. His latest work, Returning to Reims (which became a bestseller in Germany and has just been translated into Dutch) assesses how class, sexual identities and one’s social environment influence people’s voting behaviour. The book is a sociological study of the the working classes analysing their voting patterns (from voting for Communist Parties to the Nationalist Parties, e.g. the Front National).\n\nRoom for Discussion is made possible by", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9266448020935059}
+{"content": "Claudia Toscano on being a Scrum Master for a team of Agile Coaches\n\nYou’d think that a team of Agile Coaches understands the importance of facilitation. However, that’s not always the case. In this episode we explore how a team of Agile Coaches went through the process many teams go through: from no facilitator, to an external Scrum Master and …\n\nListen it to learn what happened next.\n\nAbout Claudia Toscano\n\n\n\nDarryl Sherborne and the Reporting Hell that many Scrum Masters need to face, and overcome\n\nAs more traditional companies adopt Scrum, we – the Scrum Masters – are in a particularly tough position. We need to bridge the old world, and the new reality of Scrum. In the old world (PRINCE2, PMI, IPMA Project management, etc.) there were reports. And lots of them. In Agile we believe that the only measure of progress is “running, tested software”. How do we combine the two?\n\nIn this episode we talk about how Darryl faced, and ultimately adapted to that reality.\n\nWe mention the white paper by Maarit Laanti and Rami Sirkiä about Lean and Agile Financial Planning (PDF Download), which describes a new way to account for software development in the financial planning and tracking of your company.\n\nAbout Darryl Sherborne\n\n\n\n\nJoanna Koprowicz on the pressures teams suffer and how a Scrum Master can help\n\nWhen the deadlines approach, there’s a lot of pressure on the teams. It’s understandable that there is pressure, but why does that happen when the software the team produces often waits for weeks before being put in production or released?\n\nWhat is a Scrum Master to do in these situations? Listen in while we discuss the pressures teams suffer, and what are the alternatives we have to help organizations and teams through that easy temptation to pile on more pressure\n\nAbout Joanna Koprowicz\n\n\n\nMaximilian Fritzsche: from minute-level plans for Retrospectives, to being more open to what is really needed\n\nMax’s first Retrospective was an exercise in the limits of planning. He shares with us how he prepared for that, and ultimate how it all failed. From that failure, however, came an important lesson that he still applies today.\n\nListen in to learn what Max learned about effective retrospectives after the failure despite the detailed plan for his first retrospective.\n\nAbout Maximilian Fritzsche\n\n\nYou can link with Maximilian Fritzsche on LinkedIn.\n\nAbbas Ghahremani on the impact of individual rewards on the Scrum Master role\n\nThe way we reward people for the work they do, directly impacts how they act. In this episode we explore the impact of an individual reward system on how Abbas acted, and what he learned from that situation.\n\nWe explore motivation, relationships and most of all, the systemic impact of the reward systems we create in corporate environments.\n\nAbout Abbas Ghahremani\n\n\n\n\nAndrew Hudson how to find your groove as a Scrum Master\n\nAfter a successful assignment with one team, Andy moved on and started work with a new team. However, things were not as easy, or as simple as he expected. In this episode we talk about how every new team is a new experience, and we need to find our groove, rhythm and approach as Scrum Masters, to ensure that we are not surprised by the differences between teams and contexts.\n\nLearning to adapt to new organizations, and new teams is a key skill for Scrum Masters and we discuss how we can do that.\n\n\nAbout Andrew Hudson\n\n\n\nGilberto Urueta: how to overcome the “new guy” syndrome as a Scrum Master\n\nWhen we start our role as Scrum Masters in a new team, sometimes we suffer from the “new guy” syndrome. The new guy is the person that everyone tries to tolerate, but mostly ignore. That’s what happened to Gilberto. How can a Scrum Master recover from “new guy” syndrome in a hierarchical culture? Listen in as we discuss the process with Gilberto.\n\nIn this episode we refer to the interview with Karin Tenelius where we discuss a new approach to management of self-organized teams.\n\nAbout Gilberto Urueta\n\n\n\n\nZeshan Ilyas on learning about and removing fears we face as Scrum Masters\n\nAgile adoption is a process that can create fear in the organization. Not the least of which because it changes team composition (from component and functional teams to cross-functional teams). How do we identify the fears in the organization and address them may be the difference that makes Agile succeed or fail.\n\nAbout Zeshan Ilyas\n\n\n\n\nDavid Spinks: facing failure as a Scrum Master is a key part of the journey\n\nWhen we start our journey as Scrum Masters, we are not only learning something that is new to us, but we are also learning something that is new to everyone else. Scrum is new, even in it’s 20 or so years of life, there’s not been time to develop enough knowledge to claim a “definitive body of knowledge about Scrum”. Therefore, learning something that is yet undefined is a critical part of our journey as Scrum Masters.\n\nDespite that realization, it is common to feel “we” are the failure, when in fact, we are just learning a new art. In this episode we discuss the impact of failure in ourselves, not just our learning, and we touch on how to bring the insights that Scrum helps uncover to the rest of the organization.\n\nAbout David Spinks\n\n\n\nJem D’jelal and the temptation of taking on the Product Owner role as well as the Scrum Master Role\n\nAs an unlikely Scrum Master Jem went through a journey of adapting to a new industry, and a new role. In his eagerness to bring value to the organization and teams he worked with he focused on taking on more responsibility. But is that a good idea? What happens when the Scrum Master also takes the Product Owner role? Listen in as we discuss the anti-pattern of the Scrum Master that is also the Product Owner.\n\nAbout Jem D’jelal\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9567339420318604}
+{"content": "Professor Krishna Palepu and Dean Nohria. Birds of a Feather\n\nProfessor Palepu is the Ross Graham Walker Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He also was a Senior Associate Dean at the Harvard Business School for several years, overseeing the school's research, and its global initiative. Ironically, he has also been quoted often for his views on corporate governance.\n\nWe have already properly introduced Dean Nohria. What connects Dean Nohria and Professor Palepu? They both have been key players in serious cases of insider trading and corporate malfeasance but still manage to be employed and adored at Harvard Business School. Let us explain. Professor Palepu was the key figure in the biggest corporate fraud case in India’s history. Prof Palepu was found guilty and fined $430,000 for his role as an independent director in the Satyam scandal. Yet he still teaches at Harvard and is often quoted regarding cases of corporate governance. What gives? How about Dean Nohria?\n\nsugar (1 of 1)-5.jpg\n\nMr. Palepu played a major role in the biggest fraud cases ever in India’s history. He was found guilty and fined $430,000 for his part in the Satyam scandal.\n\nIn an email to the Tata Group board (Nohria is a Tata board member) former Tata Group Chairman, Cyrus Mistry stated, “I have often presented to the trustees, before and after Tata Sons board meetings. This created alternative power centers without any accountability or formal responsibility, invalidating the very governance role of nominated directors, who I would assume would use their own independent judgment and discharge their fiduciary duties, were reduced to mere postmen. As an example, once, the trust director (Nitin Nohria) stepped out of a Tata Sons board meeting in progress that too for more than an hour, keeping the rest of the Board waiting, in order to obtain instructions from Mr. Tata. Such a work pattern has also created the added risk of contravening insider trading regulations and exposed the Trust, apart from exposing the trustees to potential tax liabilities. These circumstances forced me to circulate a note on corporate governance in order to clarify the distinct roles of Tata Trusts, Tata Sons Board, and the Boards of the operating companies”.\n\nIndependent directors are paid to protect shareholder interests. Dean Nohria has his PhD in Corporate governance. How can he and Professor Palepu continue to be looked to as experts in the field of corporate governance after having committed these acts? Alumni and students need to demand an explanation especially as Dean Nohria is being seen as the new President of Harvard. \n\nAnd what about Harvard? What is the University doing to explain or justify their continued employment at Harvard? Are there any policies in place?\n\nGoverning external behavior or engagements for profit? Mike Milken, the respected inventor of ‘junk bonds’ who was later jailed for insider trading, ever be allowed to represent our University regarding ethics unless he, at the very least, addressed and admitted his wrongdoing?  \n\nOne thing is clear, we need to adhere to a code of ethics at such a prestigious institution or our brand will remain up for sale globally. \n\nAn example of Harvard being sold out is in the case of Professor Nohria becoming Dean of Harvard Business School. Dean Nohria was named Dean 2 months after Tata donated $50 million to the school. Shortly thereafter Tata appointed Dean Nohria as a Tata Director. A glaring conflict of interest that no other university would allow. In a similar case Professor Palepu was found guilty similar conflicts of interest and insider trading and was fined a much higher amount than other directors on the board of Satyam for his role. Why did Harvard not do anything?\n\nIt would not be a surprise to have Prof. Palepu now canvassing and lobbying for Dean Nohria’s elevation to the President’s Post.\n\nIt’s time Harvard drafted and enforced a code of conduct for Professors and Deans who serve as company consultants and board members. If any member lends his name to a board, (s)he is also lending the name of Harvard, and should be made more accountable. Similarly, in cases of corruption or unethical behavior they should be debarred from the pious Academic institution.\n\nWill Harvard act against people like Professor Palepu or Dean Nohria?\n\nIf Dean Nohria becomes the President of Harvard, do we expect he will enforce ethical standards? It’s like a cat amongst pigeons. Irreparable damage is being done. It is time to align our efforts to safeguard Harvard’s reputation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5494173765182495}
+{"content": "Sailor Malan: a Battle of Britain Pilot\n\nThe unique skills and command of Adolph ‘Sailor’ Malan resulted in No.74 Squadron’s numerous victories during the Battle of Britain. What were the secrets to this success and how has his legacy stood the test of time?\n\nBattle of Britain Day\n\nThe afternoon of aerial combat that destroyed the Luftwaffe’s morale and became the day that sealed Britain’s victory of the Battle of Britain\n\nThe Battle of Britain: Timeline\n\nFrom the day the order to attack the RAF was given, to the British victories of September and October 1940: follow the events of the Battle of Britain.\n\nFrom Lawrence to the Taliban\n\nLiar and self-promoting charlatan? Or military genius and romantic revolutionary? Dr. Neil Falkner explores T E Lawrence’s relevance to contemporary warfare.\n\nWhy did Boudica lose?\n\nThe future of Britain for 350 years decided in minutes: the last stand of Britain’s warrior queen.\n\nA Hurricane Pilot's Dramatic Story\n\n\n«< 52 53 54 55 56", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9988390803337097}
+{"content": "absolute frequency\n\nAlso found in: Thesaurus.\nRelated to absolute frequency: relative frequency\nThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:\nNoun1.absolute frequency - the number of observations in a given statistical categoryabsolute frequency - the number of observations in a given statistical category\ncardinal number, cardinal - the number of elements in a mathematical set; denotes a quantity but not the order\nReferences in periodicals archive ?\nHighest absolute frequency values from Ocotea notata, Protium heptaphyllum and Clusia hilariana were detected in the shrubby formation (Monteiro et al.\nAccording to Mueller-Dombois and Ellenberg (1974) and Martins (1993), the following quantitative phytosociological parameters were calculated: Absolute Density (DAi) and Relative Density (DRi), Absolute Frequency (FAi), Relative Frequency (FRi), Absolute Dominance (DoAi), Relative Dominance (DoRi), Importance Value Index (IVI) and Importance Value Coverage (IVC).\nThis enabled us to calculate the absolute frequency of occurrence of each type of impolite act as well as the relative frequency, i.\nTable 1: Relative and absolute frequency of anxiety level one hour before cardiac catheterization in two groups of experimental and control in patients awaiting cardiac catheterization admitted in Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran Medical Sciences University Group Muscle Relaxation Control group group Level of anxiety Number Percent Number Percent Low(1-3) 2 4 3 4.\nAbsolute Frequency = number of sampling units with species presence/total number of sampling units Relative Frequency = species absolute frequency/sum of all absolute frequencies * 100\nItems Behavior HM FBM MHL LM Presence of calves Absolute frequency 264 164 149 148 Relative frequency 75 80 60 52 (%) Absence of calves Absolute frequency 90 41 98 139 Relative frequency 25 20 40 48 (%) [chi square] 76.\nTo obtain the absolute frequency of level I, it was considered five plots of 2m x 10m as a sample.\nThe frequency is about 7 kHz higher than the previous value which is a consequence of absolute frequency measurements performed with optical combs.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9397257566452026}
+{"content": "Are you a newly elected college student leader?\n\nEvery year, matriculating college students are elected to leadership positions during the Spring semester. Unfortunately, many of them are elected without a clear understanding of how to effectively lead their peers or their organizations. There are many reasons why this lack of understanding exists.\n\nSome reasons include:\n\n1. The departing leaders didn’t model good leadership, so there is nothing for the new leaders to mimic.\n2. There wasn’t any short or long term strategic plan for the new leaders to use as a roadmap.\n3. There are no minutes or well written records to help the current leaders understand where the organization has been and where they need to take it.\n\nIf this is your situation and you find yourself nervous (or even afraid) on how you are going to be a good leader, don’t worry. Here are a few tips to help you create a leadership development training program for yourself this summer.\n\n1. If you don’t already know, go online and take free assessment tests on your communication style, your leadership style, and your personality preferences. These tools are just a guide to help you better understand how you will engage with your peers when school starts.\n\n2. Gather as much information as you can from the club/organization adviser, former student leaders, members, campus administrators and alumni of the club/school and gain a good understanding of the history of the group. Equipped with this information, from past and present leaders, advisers and students, you are better prepared to draft a roadmap for how you would like to lead the group on its journey into the future.\n\n3. Commit to reading as many leadership books and articles that are relevant to your age group. There are many, but three of my favorite books to help introduce leadership principles and responsibilities to students include 1) 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and 2) Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell, and 3) Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: A Guide for College Students by Marcy Levy Shankman and Scott J. Allen. Of course, I can recommend many other books, but I have found these books easy to read and necessary for helping students understand good leadership principles (relationship over dictatorship) and how to understand themselves, in relation to effectively leading others.\n\n4. Finally and most importantly, start getting over yourself. Yeah, I said it, GET OVER YOURSELF! Being a leader is hard work and requires you to be a servant to the members of your group. When you serve them, they will serve you. When you dictate, they will leave you to do all the work yourself, talk about you, and make excuses for not being involved. It’s important that you clearly understand that if you intend to do all the work, then you are not intending to be a leader. Leaders are actually leaders of leaders and hold primary responsibility for seeing the big picture and helping member see how they can contribute to that big picture, but every little thing they do to contribute. The leaders coordinate the effort, keep everyone on time, encourage, teach, and model the way.\n\nNow, leader of leaders….train them up! LEAD members to success and everyone succeeds. Dictate the outcome and the process and everyone loses.\n\nFor more information on this topic and other Leadership Training workshops send an email to\n\nWays of Creating Sustainable Education Programs for Students-Part III\n\nOnce you and your team have identified the shared vision and worked out the details in a stakeholder strategy session, the next step is to outline the action for achieving those strategies and to set up an implementation timeline.  Sometimes, in the rush to get a program implemented, planners will skip over this essential step.  However, this is the step where vision meets intentionality.  It is also the space where fear, uncertainty and the management of change can be successfully addressed.  Since we are talking about creating educational programs for students, let us look more closely at the value of this step from a student organization perspective.\n\nAs the new SGA advisor, I inherited a governance board where the leaders hosted events out of tradition and habit, but without vision or intentionality.  The other advisor and I met with the Executive Board (E-board) for a series of strategy sessions on the purpose of SGA and the institutional mission of student engagement and the development of student leaders.  From those discussions, we were able to outline a SGA student engagement strategy for the campus.  This strategy included the redesign and implementation of a stronger governance structure that increased student voice, ongoing leadership training for and by the students, and a realignment of SGA resource to better support student engagement on campus and conference participation off campus.\n\nAlthough I participated in this process many times with colleagues, it was not until I worked with students on this massive project that I began to truly understand the value of outlining goals and creating an implementation timeline.  This was the first time these students had ever participated in a major strategic planning initiative and they expressed their unease in managing the student reaction to change.\n\nIn order to quell their concerns and put the ownership back on them, I coached students into understanding that outlining the action steps with a comfortably paced implementation timeline would help them feel less overwhelmed and the student body less resistant to the change.\n\nIn the first stages of communicating this vision to the student body and the initial pushback, this timeline became invaluable to the SGA leaders because they were able to effectively communicate the new strategic plan to the students they served.  The result of this process was a dramatic increase in student attendance at weekly SGA meetings (from spring semester attendance of nine students to fall attendance of 30-50 students per meeting) and an increased confidence by students that their concerns and suggestions for campus-wide improvements were going to be heard.\n\nIn the next article, I will discuss how to implement a comprehensive assessment process that is aligned with the programmatic goals and that can be used for evidence-based programmatic improvements.\n\nWays of Creating Sustainable Educational Programs for Students- Part II\n\n\nsnailshellDiversify the Stakeholders Around the Table\n\nHave you ever participated in a program, initiative or event and quickly realized that it could have been more inclusive or planned better? I have found that even when we have a goal of creating an inclusive campus environment, we often fail because we leave stakeholders out of the conversations. For example, have you examined your planning group to ensure representation of varied voices are around the table? How often have you learned that you held an event on a Saturday because unwittingly, you excluded devoted members of religions that practice their Sabbath on a Saturday? Have you participated in the design of a new building and failed to create a unisex bathroom space for a student born sexually ambiguous because it never occurred to you that these students exist? These are just two of many dilemmas that campus administrators struggle to answer every day, but could do better if they were more intentional about who was sitting around the table.\n\n\nWhile program planners are not able to host events where every group can attend or implement initiatives that serve every student in every case, sincere efforts must be made to implement opportunities that do not exclude students because of their group affiliations. We want to alleviate a backlash or concerns by groups of people when planning campus initiatives, so we need to be intentional about who we have around the table. As campus administrators, the more we are able to engage the diversity of voices on our campuses, the better our end programs are and the more likely our students will be prepared to lead in this increasingly diverse society.\n\n\nWhen we exclude diverse voices, we are teaching students that it is okay to exclude; however, this is not what we want our future leaders of America to learn or believe. If we want better social systems in our society, then we must model working with diverse others for our students. In Part I of this series, I shared the importance of finding our mutual or shared goal. However, even as we can agree on the goal, we must also provide opportunities for a variety of stakeholders to be part of process that leads to that end. Be aware that with the inclusion of more voices, the planning process may take a little longer and may require some delicate facilitation, but the end results are more likely to be strong, sustainable and have a positive impact (I’ll talk more about the timeline in Part III)\n\n\nI like to think of it this way: When we include diverse groups, particularly students on committees, they can learn a number of skills including how to negotiate, manage conflict, and build their professional network or their confidence. These leadership qualities can position them for greater leadership roles in our society. More importantly, these same students can become influential alumni, financial supporters of our institutions, and the best recruiters of prospective students.\n\n\nWe don’t always know where our students will end up, but if we include them in the planning process and model proper attitudes, skills and techniques of inclusion, then when they become powerful educators, lawyers, investors, politicians and more, then chances are likely that they will be inclusive and make similar decisions that are sustainable over the long term and that benefit our society.\n\n\nWays of Creating Sustainable Educational Programs for Students-Part I\n\nsnailshellI have had the awesome pleasure of leaving a legacy of programs at past institutions of higher education. When discussing my process with a new professional in the field, I found myself excited at sharing the details of how I have created sustainable programs that continue to exist at campuses where I have been employed. I hope that you will find this information useful as you develop your own educational programs.\n\nIn this five part series, I will share with you 1) The importance of starting with a mindset that you are creating a legacy program; 2) How stakeholders help create a structurally strong foundation; 3) Why outlining your end goals and creating a timeline will be invaluable to your process; 4) Why you should design the program around these goals; and 5) How to use the program design to create a comprehensive assessment process and implement continuous improvements.\n\nStart with the mindset and philosophy that your goal is to create a legacy program. As a leader, your primary goal should be to leave a legacy. If we start with the mindset of helping students, then no matter how we feel about our leaders, we focus on ways to serve and develop students. If you have the right mindset, then you are not likely to create programs for your own honor and promotion. I may not have received any real credit or a campus reward or acknowledgement for any number of programs that I created at former campuses, but I take pride in knowing that these programs and initiatives continue to exist and benefit students who I may never meet. If we want students to be prepared to effectively lead in our increasingly diverse society, then we need to create programs that are inclusive, practical, and experiential. But this all starts with the right mindset.\n\nI have worked on campuses where staff felt that senior leaders and department heads lacked knowledge, lacked vision, didn’t support staff, and even used them as a scapegoat for others’ mistakes. Despite these real factors, we are in the business of serving students. When we start with the right mindset, we are well positioned to do our best to work around the political and bureaucratic quandaries that can hijack our ability to effectively serve students.\n\nI encourage new professionals that if you want to exhibit good leadership skills and leave a legacy, then plan to leave the institution stronger than when you arrived. Prepare a plan of action that is solid and inclusive for stakeholders in every part of the institution, increasing the likelihood of them buying in and supporting the vision.\n\nAlthough, the details have changed slightly, check out three programs I created in collaboration with students, faculty and staff at Syracuse University. The Diversity Business Summit was a collaboration with students in the African-American Male Congress who wanted more internship opportunities with major companies and corporate recruiters who wanted to hire more diverse students. We started with a strong foundation and created developmental opportunities for both the students and the corporate recruiters. A number of university offices have graciously supported this program since its founding.\n\nAnother great program that was started under the premise of bringing both the college and Greater Syracuse communities together was the Gospel Explosion. It has since expanded to something greater than I even imagined, but both communities look forward to this program every year. An inclusive desire and mindset helped set these programs up for success.\n\nIn Part II, I will discuss why stakeholders are instrumental to developing a structurally strong foundation for the legacy program.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.964601993560791}
+{"content": "Blood Gas Analysis and Acid-base Balance\n\nThe measurements include Partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) (not from capillary blood) pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2), base balance (base excess (BE) (metabolic alkalosis), base deficit (BD) (metabolic acidosis)).\n\n\nIn order to proceed further, you need to have an account on IDG.\nCreate a new account now\n\nRegistered users, you can login below to access this page.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9965759515762329}
+{"content": "Sunday, September 22, 2013\n\nTeaching Innovators and Shifting Learning\n\nIf you have been through a college class you have probably gone through this. You find yourself studying all night, pouring over the books, using flash cards, and reading through your sloppy notes that were taken in a hurry as your professor rambled through his/her lecture. Then you woke up the next day (or you just stayed up all night), went to class, took the final (hopefully passing it) and proceeded to forget everything you remembered from the night before. I would say that there was learning going on in those situations but maybe not in the same way that you might think. I would say that you learned that sometimes you have to buckle down and work hard through something that you might not want to. I would say that you learned that you have to meet deadlines to be successful. I would say that you learned the value of finishing something in route to accomplishing something bigger. But I would not say that you genuinely learned a ton about whatever subject you just crammed for. That is not to say that all college classes are like this because I know that many of mine were so much more significant and provided great learning opportunities. However, this scenario brings to mind the notion of learning and the shift that must take place in our education system.\n\nTony Wagner is a Harvard Professor and author whose research has been focused on American education, how it compares globally, and what we need to do to improve our system to sustain our country's level of success. In his book, \"Creating Innovators\" Wagner points to the fact that information memorization is not learning in the 21st century. Students can google or easily research any subject they wish. His call to American institutions is to teach our students what to do with the information, how to qualify it, and how to be innovative with our vast amount of resources.\n\nTony Wagner has spent hours in U.S. schools and Universities studying classrooms that allow for students to be innovative, creative, and independent. He adamantly states that if our schools do not teach students 21st century skills (which include communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking) we will be at a competitive disadvantage globally. Think about the job market today. How many of our service and labor jobs are off shore? That is not to say that those kinds of jobs don't exist in the United States, but in every industry we need to teach our students the skills it takes to be successful in our ever changing economic model.\n\nThe United States has not scored incredibly well on international test in the last decade. Our education system has not scored in the top ten in quite sometime (the credibility of these tests are up for debate). However, countries who outscore the United States on these test continue to come and observe classes. The reason is because the United States is home to creativity and innovation. Last year at Minarets we had visitors from China and Singapore. This is what we must continue to do to be competitive and successful. The world has changed and education must continue to evolve to ensure that our students are prepared for the rapidly changing global economy. That does not mean that every student will become an inventor or a scientist. It means that our children will have the skills to work in a variety of fields as the job market changes.\n\nThe shift is not easy. Students who have grown up in a system where multiple choice tests rather than skills based assessments determine their success level. That is why we see students getting frustrated when teachers challenge them to find an answer using through inquiry. Students perception of learning is linked to memorization more than creation. Students often feel like they are not \"learning\" when the teacher is not lecturing but rather moving throughout the classroom as a guide, while the students are producing. Students also run into difficulties transitioning to digital learning at first, because rather than the book guiding their learning, they are challenged to think outside the textbook. However, this shift is happening and it will prove to be more relevant to the world around our students.\n\nThink about your experience in the work world. Ultimately, most of us work in jobs where we were forced to learn on the job. There was no textbook, lecture, or multiple choice test that would have prepared us for it. This is another reason why students need to learn by doing and thinking without being given the answer right away. This gives them a learn on the job mentality and will better prepare them to take that approach in the workplace.\n\nThe truth is that there will always be core educational practices that will not change over time. A good teacher could teach with a stick and a rock. We cannot throw out core educational practices for trends . We still need to be rigorous, we still need assessments to measure growth, we still need to teach students how to read and write proficiently, and we still need teachers to be leaders in the classroom. However, teachers and schools must adapt to the world around them by asking the students to be critical thinkers and produce. The world is changing and education must change with it to ensure the success of our students. Leading is Teaching.\n\nNo comments:\n\nPost a Comment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6069635152816772}
+{"content": "Lunch with Juju\n\nA journey through food in Kenya following fresh produce from farm to fork, scrumptious ingredients that make up delicious meals, and healthy options for those who love food and the kitchen!\n\nlemon, thyme and artichoke foccacia\n\nGood foccacia is springy and airy, and it's perfect picnic material, so I'll direct this towards the Weekenders. Or the river lovers. I have been reading Wind in the Willows to Saskia, and I completely love Kenneth Grahame's description of summer - and I do believe that Ratty, Mole and Toad (and perhaps even Badger if he could be persuaded away from the Wild Wood to the riverbank) would approve. \n\n\"Drowsy animals, snug in their holes while wind and rain were battering at their doors, recalled still keen mornings, an hour before sunrise, when the white mist, as yet undispersed, clung closely along the surface of the water; then the shock of the early plunge, the scamper along the bank, and the radiant transformation of the earth, air and water,when suddenly the sun was with them again, and grey was gold and colour was born and sprang out of the earth once more. They recalled the languorous siesta of hot mid-day, deep in the green undergrowth, the sun striking through in tiny golden shafts and spots; the boating and bathing of the afternoon, the rambles along dusty lanes and through yellow cornfields; and the long, cool evening at last, when so many threads were gathered up, so many friendships rounded, and so many adventures planned for the morrow\"\n\nSo plan your adventure for the morrow and plan it with foccacia, for this substantial foccacia could actually be the star of the show. \n\n\n2.5 teaspoons active dry yeast\n1 tsp caster sugar\n200 ml warmed up milk\n300 gms plain flour\n1 egg\n3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil\n1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda\n2 tsp white wine vinegar\n150 gms marinated artichokes from a jar\nA few sprigs of thyme\n6 garlic cloves, skin on but bashed\nZest of 1 lemon\n\n\nPop the yeast, milk and sugar in a bowl and mix. Leave it for a few minutes for it to start frothing.\nIn a separate bowl, add the flour, olive oil, egg and a teaspoon of salt. Pour in the yeasty liquid and mix with your hands until you form a dough. It will be quite loose, don't panic! In a cup, stir the bicarb of soda and vinegar together - it'll give a satisfying fizz - pour it into the dough and mix well. Then put it into a shallow oiled tray and try to spread it as well as you can to the corners. Cover with a damp tea towel and put in a warm place to rise for an hour (my choice place is the hot cupboard).\nOnce doubled in size, drain the artichokes and mix in a bowl with the garlic, thyme and lemon zest and a drizzle of oil. Preheat the oven to 190C. Poke holes into the dough, drizzle over a bit of oil and then stick the filling into the dough. Bake in the middle of the oven for 25 - 30 minutes until lovely and golden.\nServe warm with salad and shandy.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7155061364173889}
+{"content": "Monday, July 11, 2011\n\nKristin Neff - Why self-compassion is healthier than self-esteem\n\nFor much of the last 30 years or so, we have been working extra hard to instill self-esteem in our kids - nobody loses or fails, everyone gets a ribbon or trophy for simply showing up, there are no winners, only participants, and so on, ad vomitus.\n\nSo what have reaped for all our efforts? A generation or two of young adults who have a hyper-developed sense of privilege and who need external validation for themselves because they never developed an internal sense of self-worth.\n\n\nThis post is only slightly related to that rant (although she does mention how the self-esteem movement has created a whole mess of narcissists), so I want to add one more thing. If you are a parent, PLEASE stop saying, \"I am so proud of you!\" Instead, build your child's internal sense of worth by saying something like, \"You must be so proud of yourself! That was outstanding!\"\n\nIt really does make a difference.\n\nAnd as I am noticing with clients (and have long noted in my training clients), self-compassion is a skill that is sorely lacking - I know I never learned it until I became a Buddhist and got myself into therapy.\n\nDr. Neff is the author of Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, which I have not read, but I am a big fan of The Mindful Path to Self-Compassion: Freeing Yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions, by\nWhy we should stop chasing self-esteem and start developing self-compassion\n\nThe great angst of modern life is this: no matter how hard we try, no matter how successful we are, no matter how good a parent, worker, or spouse we are - it's never enough. There is always someone richer, thinner, smarter, or more powerful, someone that makes us feel small in comparison. Failure of any kind, large or small, is unacceptable. The result: therapist's offices, pharmaceutical companies, and the self-help aisles of bookstores are besieged by people who feel they're not okay as they are. What to do?\n\nOne response has come in the form of the self-esteem movement. Over the years there have been literally thousands of books and magazine articles promoting self-esteem - how to get it, raise it and keep it. The pursuit of high self-esteem has become a virtual religion, but research indicates this has serious downsides. Our culture has become so competitive we need to feel special and above average to just to feel okay about ourselves (being called \"average\" is an insult). Most people, therefore, feel compelled to create what psychologists call a \"self-enhancement bias\" - puffing ourselves up and putting others down so that we can feel superior in comparison. However, this constant need to feel better than our fellow human beings leads to a sense of isolation and separation. And then, once you've gotten high self-esteem, how do you keep it? It's an emotional roller-coaster ride: our sense of self-worth bounces around like a ping-pong ball, rising and falling in lock-step with our latest success or failure.\n\nOne of the most insidious consequences of the self-esteem movement over the last couple of decades is the narcissism epidemic. Jean Twenge, author of Generation Me, examined the narcissism levels of over 15,000 U.S. college students between 1987 and 2006. During that 20-year period, narcissism scores went through the roof, with 65 percent of modern-day students scoring higher in narcissism than previous generations. Not coincidentally, students' average self-esteem levels rose by an even greater margin over the same period. Self-esteem has also been linked to aggression, prejudice and anger towards those who threaten our sense of self-worth. For example, some kids build up their egos by beating up other kids in the playground. It's hardly healthy.\n\nOf course we don't want to suffer from low self-esteem either, so what's the alternative? There is another way to feel good about ourselves: self-compassion. Self-compassion involves being kind to ourselves when life goes awry or we notice something about ourselves we don't like, rather than being cold or harshly self-critical. It recognizes that the human condition is imperfect, so that we feel connected to others when we fail or suffer rather than feeling separate or isolated. It also involves mindfulness -- the recognition and non-judgmental acceptance of painful emotions as they arise in the present moment. Rather than suppressing our pain or else making it into an exaggerated personal soap opera, we see ourselves and our situation clearly.\n\n\nResearch indicates that self-compassion offers the same benefits as self-esteem (less depression, greater happiness, etc.) without its downsides. In a large survey conducted with over 3000 people from various walks of life, for example, it was found self-compassion was associated with much more stable feelings of self-worth (assessed 12 different times over an 8 month period) than self-esteem. This may be related to the fact that self-compassion was also found to be less contingent on things like physical attractiveness or successful performances than self-esteem. Also, self-esteem had a strong association with narcissism while self-compassion had no association with narcissism.\n\nAnother study asked people to recall a previous failure, rejection, or loss that made them feel badly about themselves. One group of participants was asked to think about the event in ways that increased their self-compassion. Another group was asked to think about the situation in ways that protected or bolstered their self-esteem. People who received the self-compassion instruction reported less negative emotions when thinking about the past event than those in the self-esteem condition. Moreover, those in the self-compassion condition took more personal responsibility for the event than those in the self-esteem condition. This suggests that - unlike self-esteem - self-compassion does not lead to blaming others in order to feel good about oneself.\n\nInstead of endlessly chasing self-esteem as if it were the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, therefore, I would argue that we should encourage the development of self-compassion. That way, whether we're on top of the world or at the bottom of the heap, we can embrace ourselves with a sense a kindness, connectedness and emotional balance. We can provide the emotional safety needed to see ourselves clearly and make whatever changes are necessary to address our suffering. We can learn to feel good about ourselves not because we're special and above average, but because we're human beings intrinsically worthy of respect.\n\nTo test your own self-compassion level, read more about self-esteem, find videos, guided meditations, and exercises, go to You can also read more in my new book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind.\n\nNo comments:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9528222680091858}
+{"content": "is: si ng\n\nIS:SI   NG  was a collaborative performance completed in the fall of 2017. Christophe Priessing, a Chicago based musician, took an asemic musical score and translated it into the music within the performance. This was one part of \"TWELVE: a series of performative koans\" and was performed at Victory Gardens. This project was made possible with help from the National Endowment for the Arts, 3Arts, and Bodies of Work.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000019073486328}
+{"content": "Director of Customer Support - stealth mode consumer startup (NYC)\n\nLocation: New York, NY\nDate Posted: 06-20-2018\nWe are excited to reveal the initiation of a pioneering new company that will solve a fundamental need of a global target market, through innovations in AI and Machine Learning technology. This early-stage startup is positioned to make a major impact thanks to a novel approach, strong funding and a leadership team of veteran entrepreneurs with a proven track record of founding and establishing\n\nThe leader who assumes this role will be responsible for optimizing the the customer experience, driving customer satisfaction and services growth across the Americas region. Reporting to the VP of Field Operations, you will define and design the support execution and launch strategy in alignment with the the initial launch. You will recruit and retain talented multi-lingual customer service\nrepresentatives (CSRs) who share the commitment to customer success. You will define the organizational structure, processes, cadence, and metrics/KPIs required to drive and monitor efficient and effective team execution. You will collaborate with peer groups (e.g. Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Field Operations) to share and leverage timely customer and product\ninsights in order to accelerate product maturity and improve the customer experience. Lastly, you will represent the company for Customer Support/Success related topics to external customers, partners, and industry groups. Therefore, you must possess strong empathy, as well as communication and customer care skills which exceed that of a typical support environment. You will be responsible for setting the highest standards of operational rigor and customer care, and for elevating your team members to perform at that level.\n\n\n1. Work with the VP of Field Operations to develop design objectives along the dimensions of People, Process, Facilities, and Technology, as they apply to Customer Support\n2. Establish all work flow processes associated with Customer Support activities\n3. Craft CSR job descriptions, create the facility build-out plan, and identify requirements for all supporting technology, in accordance with the company’s objectives\n\n1. Participate in the facility build-out plan, working with vendors to procure services (e.g. construction, electrical, etc.)\n2. Hire and develop an initial team of 3 Customer Support Representatives (that is planned to grow significantly during 2019) – must be very skilled at identifying and hiring talented team members\n3. Hire a team of managers/supervisors and work with them to assess resource requirements and develop and manage shift schedules\n4. Proactively establish and implement standard operating procedures for all Customer Support workflows, such that team members know exactly what is expected of them at all times (remove ambiguity from the operating environment, as much as possible)\n5. Implement technology solutions, as needed, in order to ensure success of Customer Support Representatives\n\n1. Determine key performance indicators to measure performance and establish systems that gather the data needed to track those key performance indicators\n2. Work with supervisors to develop and manage shift schedules, assess resource requirements, and continuously hire and develop Customer Support Representatives, as needed\n3. Maintain a strong working relationship with Engineering, Product Management, Field Operations, and other key stakeholders across the company\n4. Implement process and measurements to drive continuous improvement in customer support operations\n5. Ensure Post Activity Reviews (PARs) are completed on time, with key sections documenting any major issues, how they were resolved, and any recommended actions; ensure PARs are completed with high quality and easily understood\n6. Leadership – Perform general team leadership and management, and hold regular team member reviews with direct reports and their teams\n7. Conduct performance appraisals; provide measurable feedback to the VP of Field Operations with suggestions for direct reports’ performance improvement; formulate and implement employee corrective actions as needed\n\n1. Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Information Systems or related field (Master’s Degree preferred)\n\n1. 8+ years in customer-centric support roles, in organizations focused on customer empathy\n2. 5+ years managing team members\n3. At least 4 years leading a high growth, fast-paced, consumer services-oriented customer support organization, with demonstrated results in achieving high customer satisfaction\n4. Experience establishing and launching a new customer support organization\n5. Experience managing in a 24x7x365 support environment\n6. Experience recruiting and hiring multi-lingual CSR talent\n7. Experience developing cohesive, customer-oriented teams\n8. Experience driving a portfolio of multiple, concurrent business-critical projects to successful completion\n9. Very strong troubleshooting and analytical skills\n10. Experience managing in high pressure, complex environments; serving challenging customers, both internal and external to the company\n11. Well-developed people management and conflict resolution skills\n12. Must have a strong dedication to customer service\n13. Experience with startup company is highly desirable, including the transition from ~$10M to $100M in sales (minimum of $50M annually)\n14. Understanding of technology in a large, multi-site call center operation is a plus\n\nRequired Skills\n1. Mentor and leader with a strong track record of hiring and motivating great teams\n2. Excellent management and team leadership skills – seamless ability to inspire and engage company team members\n3. Strong customer focus (understanding what customers want) and ability to effectively and quickly build relationships and establish trust/respect, via empathy, humility and listening skills\n4. Excellent communication and collaboration skills at the senior leadership level, with both team members and customers\n5. Experience leading global teams and working with customers around the world\n6. Exceptional analytical ability – data-driven decision maker with capacity to experiment &amp; adapt\n7. Eager problem solver and thought leader\n8. Ability to translate ambiguous concepts into action plans\n9. Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment\n10. Highly motivated and customer-focused, with a track record of setting high standards\n\nGeneral fit\n1. Willing to work long and irregular hours\n2. Willing to travel internationally on a frequent basis, as required\nthis job portal is powered by CATS", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6690992712974548}
+{"content": "Where You Born On The Cusp of Aries/Taurus?\n\nApril 19 to April 23\n\nAries is the first sign of the zodiac. It represents birth and the first realization of self. Taurus, the second sign of the Zodiac, moves beyond what is represented by Aries. Taurus begins to physically explore the world. Aries tend to display strong leadership, and their extroverted and assertive nature lets them eagerly lead the new cycle of the zodiac. Taureans tend to be richly sensual, enjoying the good things in life and the physical pleasures that come with them. Together, these two astrological signs denote an active and dynamic pioneer who responds to the world by examining the worth of each possible response. The ability to follow through and complete projects that others may have abandoned through boredom or because it was too difficult is blended with the sign of new beginnings. This promises a tremendous amount of fulfilling adventure and achievement for those born on the Aries/Taurus cusp.\n\nThe astrological symbol of Aries is the Ram. Like the popular conception of the Ram, Aries people are able to accomplish a lot by sheer energy and force of will, ramming their way to their goals. In this way, Aries exemplifies the cardinal quality assigned to it. The astrological symbol of Taurus is the Bull. The term bullheaded applies to Taureans in both its positive and negative connotations, and Taurus exemplifies the fixed quality assigned to it. The Aries/Taurus can be blunt, and they are bold and strong. They are among the strongest combination of signs when it comes to meeting goals because of their reliable persistence. Those born under the influence of both astrological signs are able to initiate and successfully complete projects and activities.\n\nAries is ruled by the planet Mars. In ancient Roman mythology, Mars (and his Greek equivalent, Aries) was the god of war. He was bold, aggressive, energetic and courageous. On the negative side, he was impulsive, compulsive and quick-tempered, and he could give in to anger and a will for destruction. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus. In ancient Roman mythology, Venus (and her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite) was the goddess of love, beauty and pleasure. She represented joy, happiness and appreciation of beautiful things. On the negative side, her appreciation for sweets and luxury could result in overindulgence. Mars was active and high-spirited, full of physical energy and vitality; the Aries/Taurus-born reflect his leadership and initiative. They are strongly independent and determined and have the physical stamina to stay their course. They have a great love for culture. It’s important for them to feel good. They often maintain extensive art collections and tend to be artistic themselves, sometimes through singing. They enjoy partnership and marriage, and use their charm — as well as their focused perseverance — to work toward harmony and personal security. An individual born on the Aries/Taurus cusp has the potential for great satisfaction in life, thanks to the balance of great action and great will.\n\nThe element associated with Aries is Fire, and the element associated\n\nwith Taurus is Earth. Fire Signs are physical beings who tend to\n\nrespond to the world through action. Earth Signs tend to respond to\n\nthe world by examining the worth of each possible response. The combination of these two elements provides a solid foundation to pioneer uncharted territories.\n\nThe Aries/Taurus tends to want what they want, when they want it. The Aries side of their character needs to accept that this isn’t always possible and stop butting their heads, ram-like, into the nearest wall. Aries/Taurus people can also be extremely patient and dependable. Their ambition ensures that they are hardworking and helpful to others. The blending of their elements, earth and fire, gives them a general focus on building things and seeing their ideas through to completion. However, the fixed opinions of the Aries/Taurus can be surprisingly unchangeable, even when they have discovered a flaw in their logic.\n\nIn their leisure time, Aries/Taurus tend to play as hard as they work at the office. They greatly enjoy athletics, as sports give them a positive and healthy outlet for some of their natural aggression. They appreciate both individual challenge, especially aerobics, as well as the group challenge of football and soccer. Aries/Taurus tend to enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking, that allow them to get close to the earth. Conversely, their appreciation of art and culture sends them to the opera and exclusive galleries. The Aries/Taurus cusp individual could possibly be an expert rock climber, kayaker or skier. Intense activity and drive channeled through a great love and respect for the natural beauty of the outdoors is often seen with this astrological aspect.\n\nThe great strength of the Aries/Taurus-born is in their energy, initiative and courage. Their ability to take a project and go with it is unparalleled. Their more earthy side brings out their stability and perseverance. Methodical determination enables them to be productive when others have long since given up. With the combination of fire and earth, they are one of the most dynamic, stable and passionate characters of the zodiac.\n\n\n\n\nWordPress theme: Kippis 1.15", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9688308238983154}
+{"content": ">Robotic STEPFRAMEs \n\n>Instructors: Sina Mostafavi, Shabnam Hosseini, Hasti Goudarzi (founders of TRAM Studio)\n\n>Sposnsor: PATTERNITECTURE event at Niavaran Artistic Creations Foundation\n\nArchitectural robotics includes the design, integration, and implementation of programmable machines in manufacturing processes and/or in operational responsive systems. This workshop focused on the first set of applications referring to methods of production that employ numerically controlled fabrication routines for architectural implementations.\n\nThis Workshop intended to provide an introduction and overview to architectural robotics as a creative inter-disciplinary emerging realm. The manifestation of this research and process was design computation methods and prototypes focusing on stairs as fundamental and dynamic architectural elements, which was exhibited once during and once at the end of the workshop. During the studio, Scalalogy (the science of stairs) was a reference as a comprehensive branch of architectural science that dealt with the interdependence of humans and stairs.\n\nA fundamental element of architecture and an essential tool of ascent, stairs have captured the imagination of architects throughout time and challenged them to exercise their creativity and skill in making and reinventing them repeatedly. In addition to their interdependence with humans from a practical point of view, stairs appear in arts, literature, and movies as wonderful and whimsical constructs. Moreover, from a computational design point of view, stairs are nested for-loops with which one may explore complex and performative configurations. This complexity can be understood as multi-scalar architectural heterogeneous patterns integrating structure, function and aesthetics.\n\nIn the 19th century, French architects used to produce scale models of staircases they had built. The models were extremely detailed and were used similarly to a modern-day portfolio allowing the architects to carry them around and showcasing their skills and craft to attract future clients.\n\nReviving this historical reference, and noting the inherent parametric nature of stairs, students built 1:1 staircase prototypes. The materialization was a fusion of robotic fabrication techniques as well as human craft and detailing with the results exhibited in Platform 28 and PATTERNITECTURE event at Niavaran Artistic Creations Foundation (NACF).", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999169707298279}
+{"content": "Every woman knows that the exact pair party shoes can make or break an clothing. This is particularly true for  parties. Women must dress to make an impression as there are bound to be countless old friends and associates present. And okay, we want other women to covet our style. There are a number of factors to keep in mind when choosing a shoes for an event.\n\nBlack Party Shoes For Women\n\nThe initial thing to think is the time of day. Is the party to take place during the day or in the evening? A day time party is often less official and may not need the same quality of clothing as would an night party. Glittery heals will not do for the day time, but a pair of satin pumps would be ideal. As well, lower heels are more suitable for day time functions. Opt for a block heel instead of sky heel sandals, which could look a bit out of place in the daytime. Though, once the sun goes down your pushes can be as sky high, vibrant and sparkling as you like! A ideal party pump should slimmer a woman's leg.\n\nWhite Party Shoes For Women\n\nAvoid wearing sling backs with outfits and skirts, as sling backs can make even dainty ankles look thick and heavy. Ankle strep heels are a much superior option, as they determine the feet and have a weight losing effect. Mid-calf duration boots tend to split the divide the lower leg at the widest point, which will make even the longest legs appear short and chunky. Opt for a fitted knee length or thigh leg boot instead, as it will elongate out the calf and legs will look longer consequently. A usual heeled shoes can do amazing things for a female's body, specially her legs and posterior.\n\nA high heel can determine the calf muscles and highlight shapes. Being high can as well cause you to feel more secure. Though, comfort is one more important varying in choosing party shoes. So, be sure they are not too high that they will bargain your fun!\n\nParty Shoes\n\nDon’t be scared to create a declaration by pairing a strong heel shade with a plain clothing. Try bright red heels with a black dress or leopard print pumps with a red dress. If the dress is more exhaustive, pick a plainer shoe, in its place. For case in point, a sparkling or sequined clothing would look great with a solid shade purple velvety or satin shoes.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5222890377044678}
+{"content": "Live An Anxiety-Free Live Today With These Tips\n\nAnxiety happens to millions of people all over the world, making it a common issue. Luckily, anxiety can be managed, and in the majority of cases, successfully cured. The tips laid out in this article can assist you in understanding and controlling your anxiety. Carry on reading, and finally get rid of the stranglehold that anxiety has on your life.\n\nConsider trying amino acids therapy before assuming that anxiety medications are your only hope. Low levels of some essential nutritional requirements can be a trigger for anxiety in some people. Consider reading a book “Mood Cure” to learn over-the-counter treatments that will help to reduce your anxiety.\n\nCombat anxiety by keeping your mind and body otherwise engaged. If you don’t have anything to distract your brain, then you tend to stew over things that you cannot change and this can enhance your anxiety. Simple things such as cleaning the house or washing your car can be really effective.\n\nYou need to be able to accept that there will always be uncertainties in life. If you constantly worry about things going wrong, you will find yourself questioning if anything is predictable. In fact, it could prevent you from enjoying the good things you are experiencing right now. Just learn to accept uncertainty itself and learn to not need instant solutions to the problems in your life.\n\nIf your mind ends up racing at nighttime, try keeping a journal. By putting your worries on paper it allows you to let go of them, allowing sleep time without obsessing. You can right every night or just when you feel you need it.\n\nA lot of people that have stress and anxiety don’t relax enough. It’s very important to take some time out each day to do things that help relax you. Your anxiety will fade away over time when you institute a daily 20 minute relaxation period.\n\nA great medication-free way to alter your brain chemistry is through exercise. While low serotonin can be a trigger for anxiety, getting regular exercise can get your serotonin levels where they need to be. Brisk walks with your dog, gym workouts and even gardening can all promote brain production of both dopamine and serotonin, which are natural relaxants. This not only will lessen anxiety levels, but it helps with depression too.\n\nAfter you get done reading you will know that anxiety does not have to take over your life. Implement the advice mentioned in this article, and given time, your anxiety should decrease. Even if managing your stress seems impossible right now, you will eventually make progress and be able to deal with stressful situations much more calmly with time.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8006539344787598}
+{"content": "Wednesday, 18 June 2008\n\nDid you know... - (19/06)\n\nAt full power the Torrs Hydro New Mills turbine will spin at around 25 r.p.m.\n\nRevolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, r/min, or r·min−1) is a unit of frequency: the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis. It is most commonly used as a measure of rotational speed or angular velocity of some mechanical component.\nStandards organisations generally recommend the symbol r/min, which is more consistent with the general use of unit symbols. This is not enforced as an international standard; in French, for example, tr/mn (tours par minute) is commonly used.\n\nThe corresponding International System of Units (SI) unit would be the hertz and we have:\n3600 r/min = 60 revolutions per\nsecond = 60 Hz\n\nIn the SI one often uses the unit for angular velocity which is radians per second (rad·s−1):\n1 r/min = 2π rad·min−1 = 2π/60 rad·s−1 ≈ 0.10471976 rad·s−1\n\nTo convert revolutions per minute to revolutions per second (hertz), simply divide by 60.\n\nNow don't you feel educated !\n\nNo comments:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9933007955551147}
+{"content": "Welcome to China And Dinnerware.com\nHome Page\nBrowse Inventory\nAbout us\nStore Policies\nContact Me\n\nWelcome to Strictly China's China And Dinnerware Glossary. Knowing all the terminology can be a key to finding replacement china or dinnerware.  While we have done professional china replacements for 12 years and we stock many fine patterns of discontinued china and discontinued tableware, if we don't properly communicate, the customer may have trouble finding the pieces they want.\nAn excellent example is Chop Plate and Charger. They have essentially the same definition. So, I might have what you want in stock but under another name.\n\nAs a service to our friends, here is a partial glossary of terms. We will add to it as we gather more definitions.\n\n3 Piece Place Setting - Dinner and Salad plate and Mug or Dinner and Salad plates and Soup bowl. Dinner plate, Cup & Saucer or Dinner plate, Soup bowl and Mug  \n\n4 Piece Place Setting - Dinner and Salad plates and Cup & Saucer\nDinner and Salad plates Soup bowl and Mug   \nDinner, Salad and Bread plates and Soup bowl.\n\n5 Piece Completer Set   Most often a Sugar bowl, with lid, a Creamer, a medium platter and a round vegetable serving bowl.\n\n5 Piece Place Setting - Dinner and Bread plate, Soup bowl and Cup & Saucer or\n Dinner and Salad plates, Soup bowl and Cup and Saucer or   Dinner, Salad and Bread plates, Cup and Saucer\nDinner, Salad and Bread plates, Soup bowl and Mug or   Dinner\nand Salad plates Cereal bowl and Cup  and\n\nAccent Plate  \nOften used as a small server, these are generally slightly larger than the bread or dessert plate but smaller than a salad plate.\n\nAll Purpose Bowl     generally a coupe shaped bowl. A term for an additional bowl not so large that it cannot serve for a single (usually large) serving of soup or salad but smaller than one used for serving.\n\nBaker - These are ovenware, intended for baking, often rectangular or oval shaped, and usually made of heavier ceramic or eartheware material.\n\nBone Dish - most often these are a modified crescent sort of shape. I have found them frequently in sets of French Limoges china. They were used to deposit bones rather than clutter one's plate with the completed course.\n\nBread & Butter Plate     generally about 5-6 inches in diameter often used interchangeably with dessert plates. May also be square in shape.\n\nButter Pat -   2 1/2 or 3  inches, suitable for a single pat of butter. These can be mistaken for doll dishes. On occasion sold and used as coasters or even ashtrays in earlier times.\n\nCasserole -   most usually these are covered and have handles or lugs. Made to be used for baking. On occasion covered bowls are referred to as casseroles whether intended as bakers or not but strictly speaking that would not be the case. See also Baker.\n\nCelery Dish    a small  oval shaped serving dish whic appears to be a small platter under 12 inches and used for serving cut celery.\n\nCenterpiece Bowl     a very large bowl at 12 to 16 or more inches suited to display of  fruit, flowers or other centerpiece.\n\nCereal Bowl     smaller than 8 inches and most often without a rim (coupe shape.)\n\nCharger generally 1 to two inches larger than the dinner plate Chargers are round platters. Sometimes also referred to as Chop Plates\n\nChop Plate A Round Platter usually 12 or more inches. Sometimes these double as tureen underplates.\n\nCompleter Set  Most often a Sugar bowl, with or without lid, a Creamer a medium platter and a round vegetable serving bowl.\n\nCopyright 2004, 2011 Strictly China. All Rights Reserved\nCookie Plate  a smaller serving plate.\n\nCoupe - coupe refers to the shape of a ceramic blank. Coupe is rimless. There is no change is the thickness or shape of the material as you reach the outer edges.\n\nCovered Vegetable   These are serving dishes usually either round or oval often both are available in fine china sets. These have covers and the pottery blank will be designed with a lip for the lid on either lid or bowl. Lids can have finials and bowls may have lugs or handles.\n\nCream Soup Bowl  Usually this has handles or lugs and a larger than normal saucer. Often mistaken for large tea cups with two handles.\n\nCup & Saucer - Flat   A cup generally taller than a teacup (see below) bit with an unornamented flat bottom and straight sides.\n\nCup & Saucer - Footed  These can literally have three small feet but for the sake of description the bottom of the cup will curve in and then have a larger and often more ornate base.\n\nCup & Saucer - Tea     a shorter cup usually than a regular coffee cup with the sides curving down to a smaller base than lip.\n\nCustard Cup   a cup for a single serving custard, this would look like a tea cup without a handle.\n\nDemi-Tasse Cup & Saucer a small cup suitable for single shots of espresso or other hot beverage. Generally under 2 inches in diameter.\n\nDinner Plate - Square and other shapes, octagonal for instance of about the same size of 10 or so inches. A Dinner Plate is generally round and used as the main dining plate usually 10 to 12 inches in diameter\n\nDivided Vegetable     a bowl with or without a lid but with a division in the center allowing two separate side dishes to occupy the same dish without co-mixing the contents.\n\nEspresso Cup see Demi-tasse or demitasse\n\nFish Platter  A fish platter is usually the largest of platters. Probably from the European approach to serving entire fishes with head and tail intact. These are in my experience over 17 inches long and may exceed 2 feet in length. These are not often found in modern china or dinnerware.\n\nFruit or Dessert Bowl    These are known as 'monkey dishes' in restaurants. These are usually 5 or fewer inches in diameter. Usually in the shape of the rest of the table setting.\n\nLarge Pasta Bowl   Generally a low sided wide bowl of 10 or so inches diameter.\n\nLuncheon Plate - generally about 9 inches or roughly an inch smaller than the corresponding dinner plate\n\nMedium Platter - Square Octagonal Oval Rectangular Round, generally 14-15 inches.\n\nMonkey Dish - Slang term in restaurants for a fruit or dessert bowl.\n\nNut Dish  a small flat dish for serving nuts.\n\nOctagonal Bowl   any bowl with eight sides.\n\nOval Dish  a small serving piece which is oval shaped. Frequently used for serving crudite or celery, carrots and the like.\n\nOval Vegetable Bowl - Usually an open serving dish which is oval shaped rather than being round. These may or may not include lids or covers.\n\nPepper Mill - a device for grinding pepper corns into pepper thus ensuring freshness of the pepper seasoning the food. Most often made of wood or metal.\n\nRimmed Soup Bowl - generally a low bowl suited to a single serving of soup which is usually over 8 inches but including a rim of about an inch or more. These can be square, hexagonal or octagonal in addition to the more common round shape.\n\nRound Platter see charger\n\nRound Vegetable - Open   designed without lid, these are mostly over 8 inches in diameter\n\nSalad Bowl 1) Serving bowl usually 8 to 12 inches in diameter and 4 - 6 inches tall, This is a broad category generally covered by serving bowls.\n\nSalad Bowl 2) A smaller bowl suited to a single serving of salad. These may exist in a very large set which includes rimmed soup bowls, fruit or dessert bowls and a cereal bowl.\n\nSalad or Dessert Bowl  See Salad Bowl definition 2)\n\nSalad Plate   7-8 or so inches, It will most likely correspond in shape to the design of the dinner. In some sets this plate is often more heavily decorated than its dinner sized plate.\n\nSaucer     A saucer is generally made in the shape of the pattern but most often includes an indentation for the cup to rest in.\n\nShell Dish     A serving bowl shaped like a clam shell.\n\nSmall Platter\n- Square Octagonal Oval Rectangular Round - Less than 14 inches.\n\nSoup Bowl (coupe, or rimless) usually under 8 inches and without rim.\n\nSoup or Cereal Bowl - as covered earlier, smaller than 8 inches and coupe shape.\n\nSoup Tureen -    Large serving bowl usually with a lid. They are usually suitable for holding between a quart to a half gallon or more. 'Tureen' is frequently misspelled and I have seen many variations of spelling. I make the distinction that a tureen includes a slot for a spoon where a covered vegetable does not. A soup tureen generally has handles and a lid with or without a slot and frequently includes an underplate. If a slot is included frequently a serving spoon in the same pattern is available.\n\nSquare Vegetable - An open serving bowl in a square shape.\n\nTrivet  a trivet is used to hold hot pans so as to avoid burning other surfaces. They can be wood, ceramic or metal. Usually ceramic ones are decorated with the same pattern as the china or dinnerware.\n\nMurfield French Court\n Summer Sale! All prices are reduced AND we are still offering low $9.99 flat rate shipping within the United States.\nSpecial shipping rates are available for Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and overseas.\n\nCheck our catalog for the brands of discontinued china that we carry.  Fine China and dinnerware are listed on our catalog pages. Click browse Inventory to see them in full.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9303392171859741}
+{"content": "By Pritesh Jarodiya\n\nWhy Is Communication Necessary in a Business?\n\nEffective business communication is necessary within an organization because it helps to bridge the gap between senior management and their subordinates at various hierarchical levels. Hence, it is necessary for companies to have a systematic communication system within the company. Here are some ways that highlight the importance of effective interaction in a business.\n\nHelps to Know your Audience\n\nThe communication skills within a company are useful in the interaction between employees. By interacting with each other and their senior management through proper channels, employees can be aware of their role. Information is collected by interacting and communicating within a business. This information is vital for smooth functioning of the firm. Having the right skills helps to develop understanding between employees and the senior management.\n\nEstablishing Channels\n\nChoosing the right communication channel is the most important aspect of interaction. Different channels are used for sharing information with employees and senior management. Experts believe that having proper inter-organizational communication channels makes it easier for employees to communicate and exchange information. Detailed and significant information must be communicated through written forms like emails or memos. Calling meetings and delivering brief information verbally is effective. An email is a suitable tool for communication but highly sensitive information is best to be shared on a more secure channel.\n\nCommunication is intended to be both sided. Don't just talk because you are the leader without listening to anyone else. Encourage them to open up so you can be well guided when communicating in the future with them. You have two ears and one mouth so you must listen more than you speak.\n\nShort but Effective Messages\n\nUsing a suitable language for communication within a firm is a necessary skill for effective communication. Business communication must be short, precise and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details while communicating through written messages. A good communication message must be:\n\n· Direct\n\n· Easy to remember\n\n· To the point\n\n· Honest\n\nEffective communication helps the employees realize their importance as stakeholders in a business. Hence having effective communication skills absorb and share ideas in writing or verbally.\n\nExcellent Interpersonal Communication Skills\n\nEmployers place special emphasis on the communication skills of employees, they prefer employees with soft skills and effective communication. For example, sales representatives must have communication skills to convince the customers about the sale. Communication skills could be the difference between a successful sale and a missed opportunity. This is the reason why communication skills are in high demand by several employers.\n\nInvest in Training\n\nIt's important to remember that employees who lack soft skills won't develop them overnight. A strong training program is essential to empowering and guiding employees. Prioritize communications training, and encourage employees to get plenty of hands-on practice with the skills that they learn.\n\nRemember that nothing is more important than asking firm or company leaders to model strong communication skills. Of course, it's also important to focus on soft skills during the hiring process. Letting employees know what's expected in terms of communication skills sets the stage for a positive work environment.\n\nApart from oral communication, employees must have useful skills for written communication. Some of the highly effective employees have the ability to communicate a compelling sales report together with writing complex intricate business plans. Every employer today prefers an employee with effective skills needed for interaction.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9861100912094116}
+{"content": "The Foundation-Stones\n\nBy Sylvia Simpson,2014-04-05 11:44\n24 views 0\n39 T T h h e e F F o o u u n n d d a a t t i i o o n n - - S S t t o o n n e e s s o o f f C C u u l l t t u u r r e e This text will pursue the question, what initially lead humankind to decorate walls of rock with scratched symbols. 1 At the beginning of the twentieth c..\n\n    The Foundation-Stones of The Foundation-Stones of\n\n    Culture Culture\n\n\n    1walls of rock with scratched symbols.\n\n    At the beginning of the twentieth century extensive and coloured paintings, which had been placed there thousands of years ago, were re-discovered in the caves of Altamira, Lascaux and other European sites. Long before these meanwhile famous and frequently cited murals were created, early cultures had cultivated the knowledge and talent of decorating bones and stone with scratched symbols. Even palaeolithic men are supposed to have used an\n\n    engraved stone slab not primarily as a tool but as a cult-object in ceremonial burials. Prehistorics also link the oldest reliable evidence of the artistic\n\n    2treatment of objects to the ritual attitudes of humanity towards death.\n\n    Psychohistorics on the other hand, as the science of patterns in historical motives, emphasises mainly prenatal and birth-related experiences, as Lloyd\n\n    3deMause specifies in his Grundlagen der Psychohistorie, when e.g. he explains\n\n    that bones from prehistoric sites, furnished with notches and female symbols served as calendars. In his opinion these counting-out helps did not serve as a lunar calendar, like some scientists assume, but have been a help for the calculation of the menstruation.\n\n\nStylistics of early rock-scratchings Stylistics of early rock-scratchings\n\n    Some of the first distinct elements found in rock scratchings are small cavities, the so-called cups, or grooves. They are circular polished cavities with a depth\n\n    of usually 23 cm and a diameter of 46 cm. They are arranged in rows, parallel\n\n    columns, circles or randomly spread over the rock surface. These cups are often interpreted as sacrificial bowls. Some of these cavities however, are to be found in such slanted walls, that they could not have served as a receptacle. Further elementary symbol are grooves, long straight lines that do not appear just\n\n    4sporadically but also as seemingly arbitrarily overlapping grid patterns. These\n\n    structures are not always looked at as an expression of conscious design, they\n\n    56are sometimes dismissed as „playful scribblings“. Moreover vulva-symbols\n\n    can be found, consisting of purposely constructed lines or geometric symbols containing dots, circles, squares, waved or zigzag lines.\n\n    These geometric symbols are a leit-motif throughout the art of rock-drawing.\n\n    7They can be found at the oldest dated sites as well as in all later eras. From\n\n    these symbols I would like to show to what extent a universal motif can be found in the history of humanity, a motif that reflects the “necessity”, that firstly\n\n    initiated the storage of information via rock-scratchings, i.e. in a manner relatively independent from speech or gestures. In my opinion the circle-, maze-, spiral- and ray-designs here, that can be found world-wide on boulders, do not generally symbolise the celestial orbit of the sun or other physical phenomena. Equally the interpretation of many elementary symbols (wave, circle, zigzag lines) as decorative frills to early cult-expressions needs to be examined, as the following will show. Whereas we have to keep in mind, that neither archaeology, 40\n\n    nor any other scientific department can make exact statements towards the age of the development of rock scratchings. The dates appearing in literature are very rarely specified by a method of analysis beyond all doubt. They are often just assumptions by the authors, differing strongly from one another. But from overlie and weathering we can draw a comparatively safe conclusion towards\n\n    8the relative age. Proceeding from these assumptions we can conclude, that in the beginning a similar graphic development in all the different cultural groups\n\n    9of the world was made, concerning the creation of dot- and dash-symbols as\n\n    well as the composition of complex pictures.\n\nThe small mammoth-ivory The small mammoth-ivory\n\n    During an excavation in Siberia near Malta at Lake Baikal a small (13,5 by 8 cm) plate of mammoth-ivory was found. Both sides are decorated with indentures, the centre has got a hole which was probably used for a string, so that the plate\n\n    10could be worn as an amulet.\n\n    The different authors reporting on the object were not of the same opinion concerning the age, but shared the interpretation that the symbols on one side\n\n    11showed three (cobra-) snakes. The snake symbol is often linked with death or\n\n    the passage to the realms of the dead. This interpretion of the snake may be convincing on first sight, but for the time being I would like to disagree on the grounds of two relatively formal arguments.\n\n    1) Although snakes are able to roll their bodies very tightly, they are not able to achieve a sharp angle of more than 90? like the objects on the amulet. 2) The snake’s tail-end is not open.\n\n    12In his essay Die fötalen Ursprünge der Geschichte deMause clearly explains\n\n    what lead him to the opinion, that the prenatal and birth-related experiences\n\n\n    usually have a deep traumatic effect on every human being. In this context he gives an impressive description of an object, which has a stronger connection to human life than snakes: the afterbirth, consisting of placenta and umbilical cord. This object can also be represented as a disc-shaped form with a hose-shaped extension with sharp bends and turns leading into an open end. Following deMause’ approach, the objects on the ivory-plate have to be\n\n    interpreted as placenta and umbilical cord. Similar pictures of the afterbirth can be found in many places and various designs, but they are rarely recognised as such.\n\n    It is probably a problem of an affective defence in our culture towards the afterbirth. Because if the interpretation of such symbols as serpents is no longer tenable, one frequently falls back upon other naturalistic explanations (fish, tails, entrails) or abstract systems of representation (maps, trigonometrics, astronomical orbits), but rarely upon placenta and umbilical cord. Although the afterbirth is a vital organ, like e.g. the heart or liver, not much\n\n    13attention is paid to it, it will rather be disposed of in a distressed manner. But\n\n    when in the European societies of the twentieth century a continual perception of this organ is hindered by births behind closed hospital doors and fathers-to-be rather enter a pub than spend comfort during the labour-pains, it is not surprising that some researchers lost this object out of sight. A close look at the afterbirth is not a neglected sideline of obstetrics, but imperative regarding the mother’s health. An essential part of the midwifes work is the inspection, whether chorion and placenta have left the uterus completely. Because within a few days, undiscovered parts clinging to the uterus would lead to a blood-poisoning resulting in death. The knowledge about the importance of the complete excretion of the afterbirth is of existential importance to humans of all cultures and I regard the already mentioned circular designs as an advice and 42\n\n    demand to control its completeness. Considering this objective, there is not necessarily a need for exact naturalistic descriptions of the afterbirth, which also would be quite difficult to execute with the comparatively simple methods of petroglyphs, but rather for simplifying symbols. A formal resemblance with the portrayed object would be a help towards understanding, but what basically matters here is a fundamental reference towards the abstract concept of “completeness”. Circles, spirals and mazes would be suitable according to formal as well as abstract aspects. But however, some historical reflections and a single amulet can not cancel out the persistent and regular\n\n    misinterpretations, especially since psycho-historics can also offer only theories towards the context its origin.\n\n    In contrast to this unique amulet a lot of rock scratchings can be found, where nearly identical serpents appear among other symbols. Groups of pictures with\n\n    different kind of symbols can be found in the whole world on cave-walls, precipices and boulders. In these surroundings the interpretation I offer for the so-called snakes is substantiated many times: that in the prehistoric art zigzag- or waved lines connected to a circle symbolise umbilical cord and placenta. For these symbols of the afterbirth can often be found in a simply drawn scenic context showing birth. With this interpretation I am in opposition to the valid scientific opinion till now. But I maintain that these designs speak a clear language. Next to many geometric symbols a woman giving birth or bleeding from the abdomen can be identified as the central figure. Presently there is always the emphasises on the spread out legs and between them a line which shows the umbilical cord, leaking amniotic fluids or blood. Here and there a small figure can be seen between or next to the legs, symbolising the new-born. This kind of compositions are no regional exception, but can be found on all continents. I would like to describe three examples in more detail.\n\n\nNevada Nevada\n\n    In the deserts of Nevada great boulders can be seen with geometric symbols\n\n    14and figures. Sometimes it is just a single marking on the stone, sometimes the whole block is covered with pictures. The rocks are found outside settlements in not easily accessible ground like mountain sides or dried up river beds. The\n\n    15geometric symbols are very often circles and waved lines. Next to them simple\n\n    strokes represent humans. These figures are nearly all shown in the same position (legs apart, arms spread out), but the execution, size or the details are very different. As if not a single person created many pictures but many persons put the same single subject into scene.\n\n    The ethnological literature tells of many tribal cultures where women give birth\n\n    16outside the village in secluded places. I interpret these figures and symbols as\n\n    a reproduction of scenes of birth and I can well imagine that the rock scratchings are supposed to mark e.g. special places for birth. Places which have a reputation for a „helpful magical surrounding“ might have been visited more often and thus received more decoration. The scratchings could have the purpose to either document experiences and medical knowledge concerning birth as well as the aim of creating or thanking for a good omen. I don’t think they\n\n    are the markings of hunters concerning game trails as some researchers\n\n\n\nPeru Peru\n\n    In a river valley in Peru there are also some places with petroglyphs. Here too geometric circle/ wave symbols and figures with spread out legs can be found on boulders outside of the villages in this area. The same choice of place and subject as in Nevada leads to the assumption that similar, if not identical contents are to be conveyed. These individually designed figures with astraddled legs reflect the different possible stages and events during birth. So\n\n    18these figures would be delivering women and their new-born.\n\n    In Peru there are also symbols in existence, in which the afterbirth is turned into independent beings. The umbilical cord/ placenta forms don’t appear just as\n\n    abstract geometric symbols but are sometimes shown with eyes and mouth. What is represented in Siberia and Nevada as an impersonal object can appear here in the „disguise of a snake“ i.e. as a demonic being.\n\n    Clearly the mythological snake still refers to the umbilical cord and placenta, as these designs show, like the amulet in Siberia, characteristics untypical of snakes, such as right angles and open body endings. In connection with prenatal sensory perception, especially the tactile experiences of the skin, which will be treated later, the radiant new interpretion of the umbilical cord as a snake might have stood not only in South America at the beginning of a\n\n    religious doctrine which developed in later periods into snake-gods or\n\n    serpentine elements in cults of fertility.\n\n    In Meso-America this could have led to the god-king Quetzalcoatl („feathered\n\n    snake“), who is shown as a young man looking out of the jaws of a feathered\n\n    19snake and of that we hear that human life sprang from its blood. India has\n\n    20stone slabs with snake symbols where childless women pray for an offspring.\n\n\nHawaii Hawaii\n\n    In the middle of the Pacific lies the group of islands called Hawaii with great fields of rock from cooled-off streams of lava into which about 140,000 symbols\n\n    21have been scratched. Lava suffers substantially from weathering compared\n\n    with granite or other kinds of rock. Since the rock surfaces in Hawaii are under the open sky and exposed unprotected to wind, sun and sea, the oldest symbols are easily distinguished in accordance to their state. The islands have been inhabited for 1,200 years and the most ancient scratch-pictures have not been\n\n    22estimated any older. But the same geometric symbols („cups“, lines or circles)\n\n    can be found as in European rock-scratchings, which have an estimated age of about 30,000 years.\n\n    The Hawaiian scratchings can be regarded as complete microcosm of graphic design. The hill called „Puuloa“ offers a good insight into the development of these symbols. The top of the hill shows nearly exclusively geometric symbols in a very weathered state. The nearer we get to the edge of the rock-formation, the more diverse and detailed the symbols get. Here we find accurately worked figures or whole groups of figures. Most of the figures are shown frontally with their legs spread apart. Over all there is no systematic overlapping of older symbols. The work obviously just continued at the edges of the decorated hill. (It is no surprise to me, that later pictures contain sailing-ships, horses, churches and Latin characters. These pictures derived from the contacts with\n\n    thEuropean seafarers and missionaries, which have visited Hawaii since the 18\n\n    century. The inhabitants might have thought them very „alien“, but unlike some\n\n    esoterically inspired people I don’t believe these aliens to have come from outer\n\n\n    The „Puuloa“ hill is very interesting, because an oral explanation has been\n\n    23recorded for the „cup“-motif. 1914 an original inhabitant told, that these\n\n\n    „cups“ were used as a receptacle for a piece of the umbilical cord of the new-born child. Right after birth a „Piku“-hole, as the „cups“ are called here, is\n\n    chiselled out of the lava-ground and a piece of umbilical cord is inserted. This is supposed to be a good omen for the child. The name of the hill „Puuloa“ can be translated as „hill of long life“. So it is not a classic burial-ground, where\n\n    homage is paid to the dead ancestors, but a “birth-ground”. Scientists of the\n\n    Bishop-Museum have interpreted some of the figural designs in Hawaii as scenes from the parturition and the geometric symbols, like the circle/ wave-\n\n    24motif not as a snake, but as the placenta.\n\nVenus-phenomena vs. match-stick man Venus-phenomena vs. match-stick man\n\n    Plastic portrayals of humans, with an estimated age of approx. 23,000 to 25,000\n\n    25years, are without doubt a reproduction of women. Breasts, pelvis, belly and\n\n    privy parts are accentuated, whereas the head and the lower extremities are partially just suggested. This famous prehistoric venus-reproduction is not a unique phenomena, but exists in great numbers and constitutes the greater part\n\n    26of stone-age sculptures. This makes it even more astonishing, that the rock-\n\n    scratchings figures are nearly exclusively interpreted as males: they are supposed to have been made by men and show these men. In my opinion this seems to be a penis-orientated point of view, a point of view quiet predominant in literature on prehistorics, even in cases where the shape as well as size make\n\n    27such a conclusion quite ridiculous. The third leg, that seems to be growing out\n\n    of the abdomen in some early rock-drawings, does not need to have any connection with the penis. There has probably never been and is no yard-long penis. The long, often wavy or bent lines are better interpreted as a symbol for\n\n\n    the umbilical cord and the circle/ wave motif better as a reproduction of the afterbirth.\n\n    On the other hand, there are of course stone-age pictures which show\n\n    28unquestionably men. These show the primary sexual organs, if shown at all, in quite realistic proportions. In contrast to the already described figures in Nevada, Peru and Hawaii, the stylistic elements of such scenes are often of a more mature kind, as if these pictures were built upon an earlier painting tradition. The figures are usually of nearly equal size and arranged in groups, which enables the description of group-experiences rather than mainly individual experiences. The design of places, where the initiation-rites for young boys are held and where the circumcision takes place, show too rock-\n\n    29drawings nearly identical to the reproductions of birth-scenes. In my opinion\n\n    the long groove between the legs also represents blood and does not primarily refer to the penis. Some male-groups of Australian hunting-tribes claim the exclusive right to the setting of these symbols. Under the penalty of death, it is forbidden for women of the tribes to enter such places or make these designs themselves. These male-dominated pictures are a matter of a later historic (or psycho-historic) development, where men imitate female patterns and try to superimpose it with a claim of omnipotence. The first rock-drawings, as foundation-stones of culture, surely don’t show “match-stick men”, no dancing\n\n    men with dangling penises, but belong to the context women and the problems\n\n     We have to go back into the times before the “penis-envy” and of birth.\n\n    “castration-complex” regime, i.e. to pass through the prehistoric pilfering and its Freudian Reflection (to execute the inversion of a twofold inversion) in order to return the robbed meaning to the sacred objects of birth.\n\n    The choice of perspective is noteworthy in which humans are shown on the rock-surface. In contrast to the representation of animals, who are shown nearly 48\n\nReport this document\n\nFor any questions or suggestions please email", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9394848942756653}
+{"content": "Most Memorable Experience\nCruising through India\n\nSitting round a campfire on a sandspit aside the Bhramaphtra river in North East India -  real one-off experience.\n\nWhat our customers say\nI had a single lady looking for a Christmas market cruise, but not the Rhine. She had specific dates. I suggested the Danube and Jackie found exactly what I was looking for, the correct dates and at a very competitive price for a single per…\nSenior Sales Consultant\nThe Queen Is Christened\nOne of our fantastic team, Emma Moody, had the honour of being invited to the recent christening of Amadeus Queen in Amsterdam. He are her first impressions of the ship.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9515776634216309}
+{"content": "Abstract: The terrorist activities and threats have become growing problem now a days all over the world. A bomb explosion within or immediately nearby a building can cause catastrophic damage on the building's external frames, collapsing of walls and internal structural frames. Many of the existing buildings which are not designed for blast loads get damaged or even fully collapsed when subjected to such loadings. Therefore explosive load or blast load are important for designing structure. In present study a five story rc frame structure has been chosen for investigating the effects of blast loads. The blast load parameters are determined by adopting wave scaling laws given in u.s army technical manual unified facilities criteria structures to resist the effects of accidental explosions (ufc3-340-02) and dynamic analysis is performed using staad pro in order to determine the effects of blast impact on the structures.\n\nKeywords: Blast load, Time history analysis, Staad pro, dynamic analysis, Framed structure.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998522996902466}
+{"content": "News, Opinion, Previews, Results & Reside Scores\n\nThe draw for the 2018 football World Cup has taken place on the Kremlin. The primary FA rules still contained components which might be now not a part of affiliation football, however which are nonetheless recognisable in different games (equivalent to Australian football and rugby football): as an example, a player might make a fair catch and claim a mark , which entitled him to a free kick; and if a participant touched the ball behind the opponents’ purpose line, his facet was entitled to a free kick at objective, from 15 yards (13.5 metres) in entrance of the aim line.\n\nWith the arrival of full-time professionals in the early Nineteen Nineties, and the consequent dashing up of the game, the 5 metre off-side distance between the two teams became 10 metres, and the replacement rule was superseded by varied interchange guidelines, amongst different adjustments.\n\nIn 1862, J. C. Thring, who had been one of many driving forces behind the unique Cambridge Guidelines, was a grasp at Uppingham College and he issued his own rules of what he known as “The Easiest Game” (these are also referred to as the Uppingham Guidelines).\n\nThe first direct reference to scoring a purpose is in John Day ‘s play The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Inexperienced (carried out circa 1600; revealed 1659): “I’ll play a gole at camp-ball ” (an especially violent variety of football, which was popular in East Anglia ). Equally in a poem in 1613, Michael Drayton refers to “when the Ball to throw, And drive it to the Gole, in squadrons forth they goe”.\n\nThe early types of football performed in England, sometimes referred to as ” mob football “, would be played between neighbouring cities and villages, involving an infinite number of gamers on opposing teams who would clash en masse, 29 struggling to maneuver an item, akin to inflated animal’s bladder 30 to specific geographical factors, corresponding to their opponents’ church, with play taking place within the open space between neighbouring parishes.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.910946786403656}
+{"content": "Observe an \"After-image.\"\n\nFor many years scientists were skeptical that such a strange phenomenon as ball lightning, (a hissing, glowing sphere a few inches in diameter, sometimes seen after a regular lightning strike) even existed. Some theorized that the ball was only an optical illusion in the viewer's eyes. A so-called \"after-image\" caused by the brilliance of the regular lightning strike.\n\nScientists are beginning to believe in ball lightning as a real physical effect now. Still, our eyes do hold after-images when we see something. When we see a bright flash it \"stuns\" the cells at the back of our eyes that transmit the image to our brain. For that reason the cells may continue signaling the brain that they see light even after the actual flash has disappeared. As those cells go back to normal they are \"tired\" from transmitting and their signal will be weaker for a while than the other cells not affected by the flash. For this reason the after-image will turn from being bright to being dark in a few seconds.\n\nYou can see an after image even without a flash. Since different cells at the back of our eye detect different colors, we can generate a color after-image.\n\nSTEP 1: Look at the diagram below and stare at the red ball in the right hand section while you count to forty.\n\nSTEP 2: Shift your eyes to the left-hand section.\n\nSTEP 3: Notice that you can see a blue/green tinted ball on a purple tinted background.\n\nWhile looking at the red ball on the green background your cells responsible for signaling the brain about those colors got tired. When you shifted to the white section those cells couldn't produce a strong a signal as the others. White, which is the sum of all colors, minus the green signal, looks purple. White, minus the red signal, looks blue/green.\n\nCopyright Lee Krystek 1996. All Rights Reserved.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9892165660858154}
+{"content": "A perceptron is a simple kind of neural network. A perceptron may have m weighted inputs and a bias, which are summed. This sum is passed through a hard limit transfer function, which forces the output to one if the input is greater than or equal to zero, or to zero if the input is less than zero. This hard limit function is what makes a perceptron a perceptron. More general neural networks can use many different transfer functions.\n\nA neural network consisting of a single node can classify input vectors into one of two categories. In general, a perceptron network with n nodes can classify input vectors into n^2 categories.\n\nA single layer perceptron network can be trained using the perceptron learning rule. More complex networks use backpropagation training.\n\nAn example perceptron might have two inputs:\n\np1 --> w1 --> | ---- |\n              | \\    | --> hardlim(p1w1 + p2w2 + b) --> a\np2 --> w2 --> | /    |\n              | ---- |\n\nIn this example, the input vector P is (p1, p2), and the weight vector is (w1, w2). The input is weighted and summed together with the bias, and then passed to the hard limiter, so we have:\n\na = hardlim(PWT + b)\n\nIf p1 and p2 are either 1 or 0, and the weight matrix is (0.5, 0.5), and the bias b is -1, then this perceptron performs the boolean AND function. Example:\n\nhardlim((1 0)(0.5 0.5)T + (-0.9)) = hardlim(-0.4) = 0\n\nhardlim((0 1)(0.5 0.5)T + (-0.9)) = hardlim(-0.4) = 0\n\nhardlim((0 0)(0.5 0.5)T + (-0.9)) = hardlim(-0.9) = 0\n\nhardlim((1 1)(0.5 0.5)T + (-0.9)) = hardlim(0.1) = 1\n\nThere are many combinations of weights and bias's that can produce the same output.\n\nIf the perceptron has two inputs, then one can graph those inputs by placing the first input on the x axis, and the second input on the y axis. A decision boundary defined by the weight vector can be made to intersect this plane, so the all of the inputs on one side of the line correspond to an output of zero and all of the inputs on the other side of the line correspond to a one.\n\nIf the weight vector is (1 0), then we can see that the output doesn't depend on the second input at all; the decision boundary is a vertical line at x=0 (assuming a bias of zero).\n\nThe bias input serves to move the decision boundary off of the origin. If we again have a weight vector of (1 0), and a bias of 1, then the decision boundary has moved to x = -1 (a = hardlim((-1 1) (1 0) + 1) = hardlim(-1 + 1) = hardlim(0) = 1). Any value for p1 greater than or equal to -1 results in an output of 1, while a p1 < -1 give a result of 0.\n\nIf the perceptron has three inputs, then the input space becomes a volume, and the decision boundary becomes a surface. Higher dimensions are hard to visualize.\n\nComputational Intellegence class notes, from memory as practice.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.541002631187439}
+{"content": "keyboard_arrow_left Back\n\n\n\nAs we are challenged with thinking about math in a different way than many of us learned, it’s helpful to stop and think about how we are spending our time and channeling our efforts. I share with you an interaction that I had with an educator at a recent professional development event.\n\nWe just finished watching a video of the “Concept Development” and “Debrief” of a 3rd-grade lesson and were discussing the “aha’s” that we had gained from watching the video. The teacher raised her hand and shared her “aha” moment, “There was no SMART Board,” she said, “there was no SMART Board in the classroom, and the kids still learned!”\n\nThe classroom in the video was equipped with a simple whiteboard that the teacher and students were utilizing to work out example problems. The kids were actively engaged in their learning; they were discussing the math, participating in the activities, and smiling.\n\nThis was a pivotal moment for that educator. “I’ve been spending hours each night preparing lessons so that they look pretty,” she said, “imagine if I spent all of that time learning the math and preparing for the lesson instead of wasting time creating something flashy. The kids don’t need that. What they need is good math instruction.”\n\nLet’s think about the truth in her words. The use of technology doesn’t make the lessons meaningful, the teacher does. What is really important? If we have only an hour to prepare for the next day’s lesson, how are we going to spend it?\n\nThis post is by Mary Jones, a former teacher, who is a Grade 4 writer for the Eureka Math curriculum.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.64461350440979}
+{"content": "Where are you going?\nOr, let us surprise youSpin the Globe ®\n\nSouth America!!!!\n\nList View\nMap View\nSave Place\nImagine yourself looking out onto an uninterrupted horizon for as far as the eye can see. Completely flat and blindingly bright in the sun with over 10,000 square kilometers of uninterrupted landscape. Welcome to the world’s largest salt flats....\nSave Place\nUyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia\nSalar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers in the southwest portion of Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes and is at an elevation of 3,656 meters. The Salar are a result of transformations between several...\nSave Place\nAn hour outside of Brasilia, we found ourselves surrounded in tough, scrubby land. A friend at a nearby nature reserve took us on a long hike down the path of a waterfall, which pooled in various places and formed a sort of natural waterslide.\nSave Place\nRodovia Br 469, Km 32, s/n - Parque Nacional Iguassu, Foz do Iguaçu - PR, 85855-750, Brazil\nOk, here's about a half-dozen reasons why Iguacu is better than Niagara... 1) You're in Brazil. 'Nuff said. 2) A few more steps and you're in Argentina or Paraguay. Way cooler than Canada. 3) It's about ten times bigger. 4) And you can go in it....\nSave Place", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8207237720489502}
+{"content": "Alcar Ingredients\n\nAlcar is one of our single ingredient products, meaning it contains one single ingredient. In this case, that ingredient is Acetyl L-Carnitine.  Acetyl-L-Carnitine supports cellular energy production by assisting in the transport of fat to the mitochondria where it is oxidized and converted into ATP (chemical energy for the cell). As a highly bioavailable form of L-Carnitine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine helps maintain healthy cellular energy metabolism. \n\nWhile the body can manufacture all necessary amounts of Acetyl-L-Carnitine, supplemental carnitine can still improve the ability of tissues to produce energy. \n\nCarnitine also removes waste products from the energy transfer process. In a healthy individual, the kidneys regulate the level of carnitine in the body. However, those suffering from kidney failure or cancer may be unable to maintain adequate amounts of carnitine.\n\nALCAR is superior to normal L-carnitine in terms of bioavailability and costs considerably more to manufacture. Because of the attached acetyl group, Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a cognitive enhancer and neuroprotective agent.\n\n\n\nFoundation detox®\n\nThe nation's LEADING detox supplement for years running. This daily supplement can help you improve the overall health of your animal, with added joint support, while removing a wide variety of toxins.\n\nIn the zone\n\nCompounded formula that aids your horse's digestive health and focus. In The Zone paste is designed to help horses maintain healthy eating habits, improve animal work ethic, increase mental focus, and calm while maintaining focus.\n\n\nOur Mare-Aculous compounded formula is designed to improve your horse's focus, behavior, and reproductive health.\n\nCopyright © Animal Element", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8025825619697571}
+{"content": "Clock Radio\n\nMirror finish display, FM, Digital tuning, Dual alarm AJ2000/05\n\nFrequently Asked Questions\n\nMy Philips clock is connected to power supply, why should I use battery as well?\n\nYour device runs on power from the mains supply. However, battery is also needed for memory backup of the alarm and time settings in case of power interruption, even a momentary power interruption. On the other hand, using battery only (without connecting the device to the mains supply) is not enough. The battery would run out very fast and the clock would lose its accuracy. To make sure the battery backup is effective: * Use new batteries. Do not mix old batteries with new ones. * Make sure the batteries are properly installed in the battery compartment. Place a small piece of sponge or a piece of facial tissue on top of the battery before closing the battery compartment can prevent the batteries from falling out of their position.\n\nThe information on this page applies to the following models: AJ2000/05 , AJT5300W/12 , AJ4300B/12 , AJ3570/05 , AJ3200/05 , AJ3200/12 , AJ7030D/05 , AJ6000/05 , AJ3400/05 , AJ3123/05 , AJ3115/05 , DC390/12 , AJ7010/12 , AJ7000/12 , AJ7030D/12 , DC390/05 , AJ3500/05 , DCB291/05 , AJ3500/12 , AJ3270D/05 , AJ3570/12 , AJ3270D/12 , DCB242/05 , DC220/12 , DC220/05 , AJ3551/12 , AJ3112/05 , AJ3231/05 , AJ3121/05 , AJ3540/05 , AJ3915/05 , AJ3540/12 . more less\n\nNot what you are looking for?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9955440759658813}
+{"content": "Universe Guide\nHomeAliensConstellationsTelevision and Films ListFact ListGames ListWarcraftSearchTwitterFacebook\n\nFrancisco, Moon of Uranus\n\nFrancisco is a Moon that orbits round the planet Uranus. Its orbit circumference, the total distance it travels round its planetary parent is 26,791,931.29 km. The furthest it gets from its orbital parent (apoasis) is 4,849,956 km. Its mass is estimated/calculated at being 8,392,543,225,344,280 kg. Its density has been calculated at being 1.5 g/cm3. Its volume is 5,575 km3.\n\nFrancisco was discovered on 13 August 2001 by John J. Kavalaars, Matthew J. Holman, Dan Milisavljevic, and Tommy Grav.. Its orbital period, i.e. the period it takes to complete an orbit round Uranus is 267.09 days. The figure is also known as the sidereel period. The figure comes from N.A.S.A..\n\nThe Semi-Major Axis of the orbit is 4,282,900 km, which is the furthest point from the centre to the edge of an elliptical point.\n\nThe mass of the object is calculated at being 8,392,543,225,344,280 kg. The equatorial circumference of Francisco is 69.1 km. The mean radius of Francisco is 11 (assuming an albedo of 0.04) km. The surface area of Francisco is 1,520.53 km2. The surface gravity of the said item is 0.005 m/s2. The average orbit velocity, that is the speed at which it orbits is 4,179.6 km/h.\n\nThe orbital inclination, the angle at which Francisco orbits in relation to the orbital plane is 147.25 degrees. The orbital eccentricity is 0.1324, it is the degree at which Francisco orbits close to a circular (0) orbit as opposed to an elliptical (1) orbit.\n\nFrancisco Facts\n\nOrbital Circumference26,791,931.29 km\nFurthest from parent (Apoasis)4,849,956 km\nMass8,392,543,225,344,280 kg\nDensity1.5 g/cm3\nVolume5,575 km3\nDate of Discovery13 August 2001\nDiscovererJohn J. Kavalaars, Matthew J. Holman, Dan Milisavljevic, and Tommy Grav.\nOrbital Period267.09\nSemi-Major Axis4,282,900 km\nMass8,392,543,225,344,280 kg\nEquatorial Circumference69.1 km\nMean Radius11 (assuming an albedo of 0.04) km\nSurface Area1,520.53 km2\nSurface Gravity0.005 m/s2\nAverage Orbit Velocity4,179.6 km/h\nOrbital Inclination147.25\nOrbital Eccentricity0.1324\n\nAdd a Comment\n\nEmail: (Optional)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9033540487289429}
+{"content": "\n  • +91-744-2752600\n\nWhy Cambridge English\n\nWhy Cambridge English\n\n\nCambridge Exams\nWorkshop  teachers are fully trained in what is required to get a great score in the Cambridge exams. Your final result will reflect a thorough understanding of the Cambridge requirements, as well as a significant improvement in your reading, writing, speaking and listening.\n\nSecure Best Results\nWe will ensure your exam result reflects your true potential. This means understanding grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and right pronunciation. You will also see your English improving from spending time in an interactive environment.\n\nPerfect your Exam training\nLearn the exam skills you need to meet and surpass your required score. Using sample exam papers you will learn how to effectively answer questions so by the time you take the test, you have upgraded your English Language skills and are very familiar with exam format.\n\nThe best support\nYour teachers will guide and monitor you to make sure that you progress steadily in your command over the English Language. They will motivate and encourage you, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and develop right methods to assist you towards proficiency in English Language skills.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8990031480789185}
+{"content": "Animals Taiwan Board of Director Faye Angevine injured by animal trap, calls press conference. Please read attached news report.\n\nGov't should enforce the law banning animal traps: dog lover\nTAIPEI, Taiwan -- The government must enforce an existing law banning animal traps as the devices are still continuing to injure animals and people, said a dog lover yesterday.\nFaye Angevine, an American animal rights activist, said she and five of her dogs had fallen victim to illegal animal traps. video: http://udn.com/NEWS/SOCIETY/SOC7/5512882.shtml\n\nShe said her fifth dog was injured March 7, and she herself was hurt last Friday, both in Taipei's Yangmingshan area.\n\n“I'm really angry,” she told the China Post.\n\nPoachers usually set up illegal animal traps in the mountains, including Yangmingshan, to catch wild boars.\n\nBetween July 2008 and July 2009, 141 cases of illegal animal traps were reported in Taipei, of which 98 resulted in trapped animals being amputated, according to figures from Animals Taiwan, a group devoted to caring injured stray dogs and cats.\n\n“This is a dangerous situation since the traps could hurt not only animals but also humans,” said Angevine, who has lived in Taiwan for 35 years and currently keeps 18 stray dogs.\n\nTwo of her dogs had to have amputations after being caught in such traps.\n\nAngevine, who held a press conference Thursday to call attention to the issue, suspects the actual number of animal traps is more than the one in the official statistics.\n\nShe said she could not understand the current purpose of setting the traps now that boars are rarely spotted.\n\nShe urged police to enforce the law by running more patrols to stop violators and remove the traps as soon as they are found.\n\nViolators could be fined NT$15,000 to NT$75,000, according to the amendment to the Animal Protection Act.\n\nAs a democracy, the government should pay more attention to animal welfare as part of efforts to become a developed country, as animals are just as important as human beings, Angevine continued", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9098920822143555}
+{"content": "Con la tecnología de Blogger.\n\n\ndomingo, 23 de junio de 2013\n\n\n1970 (19th September)\n\nAttendance: 1,500.\nPrice: £1 including free milk from the farm.\n\n1971 (20th - 24th June)\n\nAttendance: estimated at 12,000.\nPrice: free.\n\n1978 (28th - 8th July)\n\nThe Pyramid Stage This became known as the “impromptu” Festival. This happened with the arrival of travellers washed out from Stonehenge who were led to believe that a festival was taking place. After persuasive discussion, a free mini Festival did take place. There was little organisation and few facilities layed on but somehow it did not matter - the stage was powered by an electric meter in a caravan with the cable running to the stage.\nAttendance: 500.\n\n1979 (21st - 23rd June)\n\n\n1981 (19th - 21st June)\n\nAttendance: 18,000. Tickets: £8.\n\n1982 (18th - 20th June)\n\nAgain, there was CND involvement and it was this year that Western Region CND took control of the entrance gates and Mid Somerset CND took charge of all the information.\nThis year was a muddy year with lots of bad weather. In fact, the highest rainfall for a single day in 45 years was recorded on the Friday but it was also the year of the first laser show backed by Tubeway Army's \"Are friends electric?\".\nActs included: Van Morrison, Judie Tzuke, Jackson Browne, Roy Harper, Richie Havens.\nAttendance: 25,000. Tickets: £8.\n\n1983 (17th -19th June)\n\n1983 called for a licence to be obtained for the event since the introduction of the local Government Act became law, giving local authorities the power to regulate such events by stipulating the conditions.  Mendip District Council issued a Public Entertainment Licence which set a crowd limit of 30,000 and went into considerable detail about access roads, water supply, hygiene and so on.  It was also the first year that the Festival  had its own radio station, Radio Avalon. £45,000 was eventually raised for CND and local charities.\nActs included: Marillon, The Beat, UB40, Curtis Mayfield, King Sunny Ade.\nAttendance: 30,000. Tickets:  £12. Programme price:  80 pence.\n\n1984 (20th -22nd June)\n\n\n\n1985 (21st - 23rd June)\n\n\n1986 (20th - 22nd June)\n\nFlyerAgain, this was a bigger Festival than the preceding year’s event.  Due to the growth there were additions to the farm office, communications, welfare and medical teams.  The Theatre and Childrens Areas moved to new homes, the first Classical music tent was introduced and the market areas  relocated  from the top of the site. £130,000 was raised for CND and local charities.\nActs included: The Cure, Madness, Simply Red, The Housemartins, The Waterboys, Pogues and Level 42.\nAttendance: 60,000. Tickets:£17. Programme: £1.Glastonbury 1986\n\n1987 (19th - 21st June)\n\nAttendance:  60,000. Tickets:  £21.\n\n1988 - no festival\n\nThe Festival did not take place as a decision was taken to have a fallow year to regroup and review the problems associated with the increase in size.\n\n1989 (16th - 18th June)\n\n\n1990 (22nd - 24th June)\n\n\n1 comentarios:\n\n  1. FreedomPop is UK's only ABSOLUTELY FREE mobile phone provider.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9712237119674683}
+{"content": "IPSEF Speakers\n\nShellie Gazdik\n\nSales and Implementation Manager, APAC, BridgeU\n\nAfter graduating with a BA in History and Russian Studies, Shellie has spent the last 14 years working in all aspects of the education industry.\n\nShe began her career helping students prepare for university: coaching them in ACT/SAT test prep and helping them prepare their university applications. After this, she worked for a trade school in the US, tracking and managing student retention and graduation rates and ensuring students were successfully employed post graduation. She moved on to work for Pearson's LMS and helped universities such as ASU Online and Sunderland University plan, build and track their online degree programs, before she began her dive into university and careers readiness planning with Hobsons' Naviance product. She has worked with 800+ international schools across the globe to help better prepare students for post-secondary success and is excited to continue doing so at BridgeU.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997814893722534}
+{"content": "OpenCart Templates\nHome / International News / Russian Su-27 jet safely intercepts US spy plane over Black Sea\n\n\n(Muslim Times web desk)  A Russian Su-27 jet has intercepted a US Lockheed EP-3 surveillance plane over the Black Sea.The entire flight of the Su-27 was conducted in accordance with international regulations, and there were no emergency situations,” said the Russian Ministry of Defense in a statement released on Monday. Tidhe incent occurred on Monday, while Moscow scrambled the Su-27 in response to unidentified flying object which was headed for the Russian border.\n\nAfter identifying the US plane as a ЕР-3Е Aries II, the Su-27 then proceeded to escort it away from Russian airspace “at a safe distance.”\n\nUS claims intercept was ‘unsafe’\n\nFollowing the incident the US State Department claimed that the intercept had been “unsafe” as the Russian plane had come within a distance of 1.5 meters of the American plane.\n\n“This is but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements,” the statement said, calling on Russia “to cease these unsafe actions.”\n\nThe US navy also claimed that the Russian plane’s maneuvers had not been safe.\n\n“This interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the Su-27 closing to within five feet [1.5 meters] and crossing directly through the EP-3’s flight path, causing the EP-3 to fly through the Su-27’s jet wash,” it said.\n\n\n\nAbout Muslim Times\n\nCheck Also\n\nIsrael launches drill simulating capture of Gaza City\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5997011661529541}
+{"content": "28 Following\n\nSwept Away Again\n\nAvid reader.\n\nCurrently reading\n\nHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban\nJ.K. Rowling\nThis I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart\nSusannah Conway\nHunted By The Others\nJess Haines\nHeat Wave (Nikki Heat)\nRichard Castle\nThe Texan's Wager - Jodi Thomas Three spunky women get kicked off a wagon train and are attacked by a man who they think they've killed and confess to the murder. They are held by the Sheriff until they agree to enter the local town's Wife Lottery. If the three women agree to the name they pick, the man will pay the fine become their husband. In The Texan's Wager, Bailee Moore picks a strong, silent farmer who could be the key to leaving her troubled past behind.\n\nI really enjoyed reading this book, although I'm not sure I will read the rest of the series as I'm not a big historical romance fan, it was brilliantly written. I loved all the characters, and how quirky Carter was in general and how protective he became of Bailee through the course of the book. This has got to be one of my all time favourite historical romance books I don't really like them that often. I just can't give this book the review I want it to. It was fabulous and I would really recommend it to anyone and everyone!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7818425297737122}
+{"content": "About Canine Cough\nCanine Cough is a contagious airborne disease that is passed from dog to dog, much like the common cold in humans. Canine cough spreads easily and quickly between dogs through social contact and interaction, the air, shared water bowls and common toys and other shared objects. While puppies, young adult dogs, and dogs with suppressed immune systems are more vulnerable, any dog can contract canine cough if it comes in contact with another dog that has been exposed…although not all dogs will. Some dogs may show signs of the illness, some may carry it silently yet otherwise seem unaffected, and others may never be affected due to their body’s successful immune system response. Just like the common cold, some adults and children seem to get colds frequently while others seem to avoid most common colds altogether despite repeated exposure.\n\nMost cases of canine cough are not serious, and will run their course on their own within two to three weeks. However, in some cases, dogs can develop life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is wise to take precautions to reduce the risk for your pet and seek the advice of your veterinarian.\n\nVaccinating Against Canine Cough\nYou can reduce the risk of canine cough by vaccinating your dog with the Bordatella vaccination.\nThere are two options for canine cough vaccination: injectable and intranasal. Your veterinarian will likely recommend one or the other based on experience or preference. We recommend discussing both options with your veterinarian to determine which is best for your dog. While the vaccination can increase immunization relatively quickly, we recommend getting the vaccination 2 weeks prior to your dogs stay at The Grand Paw to maximize immunity.\n\nMost veterinarians recommend administering the Bordatella vaccination twice a year (every 6 months) if your dog will be exposed to other dogs. Since puppies are more susceptible, they are often given a second booster vaccination approximately 30 days after the first vaccination. If your veterinarian recommends less frequently, it’s important to let them know that at The Grand Paw, your dog will be in a free-play, social environment and exposed to a variety of dogs from different geographies.\n\nWhen it comes to the Bordatella vaccination, however, it’s very important to understand that canine cough is a multifaceted bacterial and viral disease. While the vaccination protects against some of the strains of canine cough, it does not protect against them all. Like the flu shot in humans, it reduces the risk of illnesses from more common strains but does not protect against all possible variations. Furthermore, the Bordatella vaccination has been known to cause canine cough-like symptoms in some dogs…again, just like the flu shot in humans causes flu-like symptoms for some people.\n\nSymptoms and Treatment\nCanine cough is typically characterized by a harsh, hacking cough which most people describe as sounding as if something is stuck in the dog’s throat. It’s analogous to a chest cold for humans and is only a serious condition in special circumstances. In most cases, canine cough resolves on its own and is self-limiting. While there is no specific diagnostic test, if you suspect canine cough, your veterinarian will likely prescribe an antibiotic and/or cough suppressant to support your dog’s healthy recovery. (In rare cases, canine cough can lead to more serious secondary infections, such as pneumonia, especially in puppies, older dogs or dogs with weakened immune systems, so it is important to seek the advice of your veterinarian.) Canine cough typically runs its course in 2 to 3 weeks. If you dog does contract canine cough, the exposure and immune system response may reduce the likelihood of your dog contracting it again in the future.\n\nBeing Informed & Understanding the Risks\nSince the Bordatella vaccination cannot protect against all strains of canine cough, it’s important to remember that your dog is never fully protected. There is always some risk in contracting the illnesses if your dog is exposed to other dogs throughout its life, whether it be in a training class, veterinary office, boarding facility, grooming salon, community park, or just walking in the neighborhood\n\nAt The Grand Paw, we remain vigilant in ensuring dogs are properly vaccinated, watching for and isolating any dogs which may be showing signs of canine cough, keeping our air filtration systems properly maintained, and disinfecting our facilities on a daily basis. Despite all of these precautions, however, the airborne nature of canine cough makes it impossible for The Grand Paw to prevent transmission of the disease in our free-play environment where dogs are frequently touching noses, sharing water dishes, playing with common toys and sitting together on the laps of our caring staff.\n\nIf you choose to bring your dog to The Grand Paw, it’s important to understand that canine cough is always a risk. Just as you can’t completely protect your children or yourself from getting the common cold, there’s always a chance that your dog will get one too when it has the opportunity to play and have fun with a group of canine pals. As social animals, we must all accept the risks along with the rewards.\n\nYou can help reduce the risks of canine cough by ensuring your dog is properly vaccinated (Bordatella vaccination every 6 months), keeping your dog at home if you notice a cough, and consulting with your veterinarian on this and other canine communicable illnesses.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9323680996894836}
+{"content": "Recherche :\n\nPartagez :\n\nSTOP! - Quentin Meek - de Foster\n\nPremière diffusion: 2016-04-01\n\nDescription :\n\nQuentin Meek a grandement influencé la scène musicale et la culture populaire québécoise des années 1970 et 1980. Nous l'avons rencontré chez lui à Foster, Lac-Brome. Fascinante entrevue en anglais et chansons.\n\nQuentin Meek, recording engineer/producer, helped shape the musical landscape and pop culture of Quebec in the 1970's and early 80's. He participated in the making of 80 albums during his time in Montreal which helped establish careers for such greats as les Séguin, Gilles Valiquette, Plume Latraverse, Walter Rossi, George Thurston (Boule Noire) and others. He now lives in Foster, Quebec and works out of his home. We are pleased to present Quentin at home talking about his life and performing music from the heart.\n\nVous avez un commentaire?\n\nÉmissions récentes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999430775642395}
+{"content": "Summary and comment, Marge Berer, Reproductive Health Matters\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIn the worst way possible, a woman refused a life-saving abortion in Ireland has proved ‘pro-life’ advocates wrong\n\nJill Filipovic for Feministe, part of the Guardian Comment Network\n\nguardian.co.uk, Wednesday 14 November 2012 10.19 GMT\n\n\nThen she died.\n\n\nUS politicians and “pro-life” advocates like Joe Walsh will tell you that there are no circumstances under which women need abortions to avoid death or injury. The Republican platform doesn’t include an exception for medically necessary abortion. And the Republican party is trying to put laws similar to those in Ireland on the books in the United States – laws that would allow emergency room doctors to refuse to perform abortions, even in cases where the pregnant woman’s life or health depends on terminating the pregnancy. The GOP isn’t exactly the most science-friendly or fact-reliant crowd in the world, but to them, women like Savita either don’t exist or just don’t matter. As Jodie at RH Reality Check writes:\n\n\nThey are all Savita Halappanavar.\n\nWe are all Savita Halappanavar.\n\n\nIn honour of Savita Halappanavar; in honour of the nearly 22 million women worldwide each year who endure unsafe abortion; in honour of the 47,000 women per year worldwide who die from complications of unsafe abortion and the estimated 10 times that number who suffer long-term health consequences; in honour of the millions of women who do not have access to contraception, who have no control over whether and with whom they have sex or whether or with whom they have children, we can fight back. In honour of the young girls married young and the women forced to bear children long past the point they are able to care for more … for all these women, we must continue to act, to liberalise abortion laws, ensure every woman has access, remove the stigma, and trust women, like Savita, who know when it is time to end even the most wanted pregnancy.”\n\nJust two months ago, a consortium of Irish doctors got together to declare abortion medically unnecessary. They claimed that abortion is never needed to save a pregnant woman’s life, and stated: “We confirm that the prohibition of abortion does not affect, in any way, the availability of optimal care to pregnant women.”\n\nI’m pretty sure Savita Halappanavar would disagree. I’m pretty sure she didn’t get optimal care.\n\n\n\nProtest the death of Savita Halappanavar in Ireland\n\n\n\n\nTo: Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Irish Prime Minister)\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCopy also to the Irish Embassy in your country. Find contact details here: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=285\n\n\n\nRe: Death of Savita Halappanavar in Galway\n\n\nHonourable Taoiseach,\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nYours faithfully,\n\nFaiza Ilyas | Metropolitan > Karachi |\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnn Furedi, chief executive of BPAS, reviews Sara Dubow’s book Ourselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America.\n\nOurselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America\nSara Dubow, Oxford University Press, 2011, 320 pp.\n\nRecent discussions about the permissibility of later abortions have raised interesting questions about how we regard the fetus. How much value do we accord to life that has been conceived but not born? Has the way we assess this changed? Does our expanding knowledge of the science of fetal development mean that it should?\n\nFor decades, opponents of abortion have called on us to “confront the reality of abortion,” asking us to admit that the embryo is “human and alive” and that abortion “stops a beating heart.” They have accused the prochoice movement of devaluing the fetus, of denying that it is different than any other “blob of tissue” or of likening it to an unwanted growth, a “cancer” or a “parasite.” Their assumption, on the level of rhetoric or conviction, has been that prochoice politics is built on ignorance of what the fetus truly is. Today their challenge to us is this: as modern science tells us more about human development, as 4D scans show us the true face of the fetus, how can we allow its ending through late-term abortion?\n\nIndirectly, implicitly, this book addresses that question.\n\nOurselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America is not an argument about abortion, nor a vehicle for the beliefs of the prochoice movement. Sara Dubow, a historian at Williams College in Massachusetts, has written a detailed and scholarly study of the way value has been attributed to fetal life over the last century. “A fetus in 1870 is not the same as a fetus in 1930, which is not the same as a fetus in 1970, which is not the same as a fetus in 2010,” Dubow says. The change, she explains, is not driven by knowledge about the fetus, but by the emotional and political investment people have in it. Through their approach to the status, development and significance of the fetus, “people— individually and collectively—expressed their assumptions about personhood, family, motherhood and national identity.” How we understand and relate to the fetus is driven by social values and political circumstances far more than by biology or theology.\n\nThe book dismisses the idea that the advances in our knowledge about the developing fetus should shape our attitude to fetal status in respect to abortion. It shows that the fascination with fetal feeling, experience and appearance, which seems newly stimulated by today’s scientific discovery, has been a part of the medical, cultural, social and political discourse for more than a century. The form that this discussion takes and the conclusions that are drawn from it have been driven by cultural values and not by accumulated knowledge or new discovery. Throughout modernity, support for women’s choice about the future of her pregnancy was never built on ignorance of fetal life. Instead, it was based on the understanding of the fetus partnered with the concept of what pregnancy, giving birth and raising a child means for a woman.\n\nToday’s commentators assume that, regarding fetal life, our trajectory has been to accumulate evidence that there is little difference between the unborn and the born. Dubow’s first chapter demonstrates how untrue this is. The progression of scientific thinking in relation to the fetus, from Aristotle until the mid-nineteenth century, was not so much a journey to discover how alike babies and fetuses are, bringing us closer to a view that the fetus is deserving of more respect. Rather, she illustrates that the voyage has been one to discover the differences between embryo, fetus and baby. A famous late-fifteenth century drawing by Leonardo da Vinci is generally regarded as the first accurate presentation of the fetus in utero (in “fetal position” ). While feminists have criticized the accuracy of da Vinci’s representation of the uterine context (which appears opened like a Fabergé egg), there can be little criticism of his rendering of the fetus. It is astonishingly similar to the photographs we see today in modern scans and medical textbooks—we are touched by how much it looks like a born “baby.” But in 1487, many would have been surprised by how un-like a man it was. Before then, the fetus was typically illustrated by various kinds of imagined homunculi—little humans—or cherubic infants. (A rich collection of illustrations is included in Karen Newman’s essay, Fetal Positions: Individualism, Science and Visuality, published in 1996 as part of Stanford University Press’s “Writing Science” series.)\n\nTwenty-first century science’s knowledge of the fetus has not exposed the reality of fetal life, nor has it made public support for later abortions untenable. As Dubow reminds us, the Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson first started to gain recognition for his photographic images of the fetus in the early 1950s.\n\nNilsson’s iconic series of fetal photographs, which first appeared in the 1965 Life magazine article “The Drama of Life before Birth,” have become the classical reference for feminist discussion of fetal imagery. They employ all manner of deliberate technical presentation and descriptive techniques to evoke “fetal personhood.” And yet, despite the photographer’s intent to dramatize life before birth, just two years later in Britain, and nine years later in the US, abortion was legalized.\n\nIn truth, the public has been exposed to, and fascinated by, accurate representations of the fetus for well over a century. Dubow cites the displays of anatomically correct wax models of human embryos, the centerpiece of an 1893 Chicago exposition that attracted crowds of visitors. Forty years later, the fetus was still a public draw, motivating exhibitors to go further to meet the audience for realistic representation. In 1933, some 20 million visitors paid 10 cents each to see a “graduated set of human embryos and fetuses” preserved in formaldehyde “to illustrate the development of an unborn baby from the first month to the eighth.” At this time they were seen as scientific curiosities—educational specimens. Times change, however, and Dubow recounts that, when a similar exhibition was mounted in 1977, the organizer was arrested and charged with the illegal transportation of human remains. Dubow discusses in some detail the changes that had occurred in the intervening decades—how the preserved fetus had turned from a scientific specimen to an emblem of the American family. My point is more straightforward: for more than a century people have known that in later pregnancy fetuses look like babies, and yet they have continued to make legal, moral and public policy decisions related to abortion regardless.\n\nJust as there has been a long-standing interest in what the fetus looks like, so there has been similar interest in what fetuses feel and know. Dubow writes of research at the Samuel S. Fels Research Institute for the Study of Prenatal and Postnatal Environment in the late 1940s, which attempted to address social, psychological and physiological aspects of fetal behavior. She documents studies of “prenatal life” reported in the popular press of the time, such as a magazine article suggesting the new questions being researched: “What happens to a baby before he is born? Is he sometimes uncomfortable? Does he feel motions? Can he hear? Can he think? Is he capable of learning?” Dubow suggests that “prenatal psychology” got a stamp of approval as early as the 1940s, though without any implication of a protected status or fetal life.\n\nThe controversies regarding second trimester abortion in the 1970s illustrate most clearly how politics and advocacy are not framed by scientific or medical perception—it is politics that drives perception.\n\nOn April 11, 1974, Boston City Hospital physician Kenneth Edelin was indicted for manslaughter following a second trimester abortion. Although the Supreme Court Decision in Roe v. Wade had provided a relatively liberal framework for abortion, this case was complicated by tensions around race, class, ethnicity and concerns about the unchecked authority of doctors and scientists. In a hysterical environment excited by allegations that elective abortions were producing a supply of fetuses for research purposes, some of which were supposedly “kept alive” for experiments, Edelin was accused of causing the death of a fetus. He was said to have deprived a 24-week-old fetus of air after he had carried out an abortion by hysterotomy— by making an incision in the uterus. Edelin denied he had asphyxiated the fetus after delivery, but he was unashamed about his actions as an abortion doctor, which were not intended to result in a live birth. Under cross-examination he confirmed his belief that he owed no duty to the fetus. He was not concerned whether the fetus was live or dead at the start of the procedure since his only concern was for “the mother,” and even if he had thought that the fetus was alive after delivery he would not have called a pediatrician because “this being an abortion before viability,” he thought that an attending pediatrician would have been “number one, contrary to the patient’s wishes, and number two, contrary to good medical practice.”\n\nEdelin was convicted following a sham of a trial, which Dubow describes in detail. The account is fascinating, but even more astonishing were the media reports, which gave unequivocal backing to the abortion doctor. The Boston Globe described Edelin as “a victim of judicial inadequacy that no society should tolerate.” The Washington Post wrote that the Edelin conviction brought “‘disgrace and shame’ to the State of Massachusetts and the entire judicial system … and warned that the impact of the decision ‘on the practice of medicine and on medical research in Boston, and elsewhere, is likely to be enormous.’” The New York Times called the decision “unbelievable” and feared that “it will now become more difficult than ever for women to obtain abortions when they are in the second trimester after conception.”\n\nThe case caused the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) to issue a statement reaffirming their support for “unhindered access by women to abortion services,” and warned that the profession, “must guard against local jurisdictions or vocal minorities imposing their ethical positions for medical care on family planning and abortion on patients and doctors who do not hold those positions.” The Planned Parenthood Federation of America worried that the decision “will make doctors fearful of performing abortions.” The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) was concerned about the affect on “women with no financial means or alternative options.”\n\nEdelin’s conviction carried with it a maximum sentence of 20 years, but he was sentenced to one year of probation, suspended until the anticipated appeal. In 1976, a unanimous ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts overturned the conviction.\n\nWe can ask—if Edelin were to come to trial today, what chance would there be that the media, ACOG, Planned Parenthood and abortion lobbyists like NARAL would stand together in unequivocal, unapologetic support for a second trimester abortion doctor found guilty of manslaughter?\n\nSadly, I think we have to concede that many would say—even if convinced of the righteousness of the doctor’s actions—that public support would be unwinnable. Today, late abortion is something even some who call themselves “prochoice” will no longer defend. Their retreat is not because they have learned more about the fetus, but because they have failed to learn what they should about women’s lives.\n\nDubow’s work shows that, from the late nineteenth century to the early twenty-first century, “the fetus has been a vehicle through which people have wrestled with assumptions about science and religion, anxieties about demography and democracy, beliefs about feminism and motherhood, and ideas about conservativism and liberalism.” This will be as true for the future as it has been for the past. Ourselves Unborn: A History of the Fetus in Modern America tells a story beginning a century ago, when the fetus was framed in a historical context during which, “embryology became a science, obstetrics became a profession, abortion became a crime, birth control became a movement, eugenics became a cause and prenatal care became a policy.” The challenge we face today is to understand the context in which our appreciation of the fetus is currently framed, and our task is to shape that context and not passively accept it.\n\nIn 1996, Edelin, who went on to become a chairman of Planned Parenthood, addressed the matter of whether the loss of a fetus in abortion was always a tragedy. He wrote: “Many women choose abortion because of the tragedies in their lives and in the circumstances surrounding their pregnancies. For these women, abortion is not a tragedy; instead it liberates them from tragic circumstances. Women must never be left out of the abortion debate, or the debate about fetal research, medical progress or moral politics.” He was right. Dubow provides the evidence: it is not fetal science that teaches us what we know to be right. Instead, through the years we interpret and understand that science in the context of what appears right from our own and society’s perspective.\n\nAnn Furedi is chief executive of BPAS, and author of Unplanned Pregnancy: Your Choices.\n\nThis review is published in Conscience magazine, Volume XXXII, No 2, 2011. Reprinted with kind permission on Abortion Review:http://www.abortionreview.org/index.php/site/article/1081/\n\nby Marianne Mollmann, Amnesty International\n\nOctober 20, 2011 – 9:30am\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBy Joyce Arthur\n\nOctober 20, 2011\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5257818698883057}
+{"content": "Author Topic: FORUM RULES  (Read 5558 times)\n\nOnline Chris Bergin\n\n« on: 08/07/2013 05:17 PM »\nThis is - especially for a site's forum of this size and visitation - a surprisingly polite place. However, we must - as a community - continue to keep to that standard, ensuring the new members who join every day fit into the forum netiquette by nature of its established tone.\n\nWe're finally into the major site development period behind the scenes, including the new forum (it'll still feel the same, but it'll have vastly updated software, appearance and functionality on the same model) - so let's make sure we have a forum rules one pager to have a point of reference for anyone who needs it.\n\nRule 1: Be civil. Respect other members. Treat other members as you would in real life face to face. An anonymous name on the internet does not give you the right to turn into a troll. Trolls will be removed from the forum.\n\nRule 2: Stay on topic. We have some long, specific threads here. They need to adhere to the thread title. Interesting side topics should be given their own thread - so by all means start splinter threads, and link in both threads to allow others to follow.\n\nRule 3: No \"King of the Internet\" attitudes. It can happen to anyone, especially someone who is well-versed in a particular subject matter. Under that guidance, remember you probably don't know who you're conversing with. It could be a nine year old kid who just got his first model rocket and about to become a space flight fan, or it could be Charlie Bolden....OK, maybe not the latter, but you need to show caution when responding to someone, especially if you're correcting them.\n\nRule 4: Copyright. Do not post the entire text of another site's article. Link and use the headline abstract only.\n\nRule 5: Not a biggy, but it is recommended you \"attach\" images via the option in your post. Embedding images should only be be done if the image is sized correctly, under the width of the post. Attaching automatically ensures this, so please always opt for that method when you can.\n\nAny breaches of the above, hit the report to moderator option on the bottom of the offending post. Do not respond to such a post. Do not post \"Oh, that's a bad post\" - leave it to the moderators.\n\nThat's pretty much it unless I think of something else - which I'll edit into the thread at a later date.\n\nIn a perfect world, the internet would not require any moderation. However, we've seen how forums that have weak or no moderation always turn into a mess before dying. We won't allow that here.\n\nIf you are moderated, it's nothing personal, it's housekeeping and required.\n« Last Edit: 08/08/2013 04:27 PM by Chris Bergin »", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7849993109703064}
+{"content": "א׳ באב ה׳תשע״ה (July 17, 2015)\n\nNedarim 54a-b: What Counts as Meat for a Vow?\n\n\nOur Gemara quotes a baraita which teaches that, aside from fish and locusts (which are kosher), all other meat would be included in the vow. This means poultry as well as parts of the animal that ordinarily are not eaten. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel argues that only ordinary meat would be included in the neder. According to this ruling, not only would the flesh of poultry, fish and locusts be permitted, but the innards of the animal (e.g. its liver, heart, etc.) would also be excluded from the prohibition that the person accepted on himself. The baraita concludes with the enigmatic statement made by Rabban Gamliel that kravayim (innards) are not meat, and those who eat them are not humans.\n\n\nThe baraita continues with an even more difficult statement made by Rabban Gamliel:\n\n“Those who eat them [kravayim], like meat; regarding purchase, they are not human.”\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6755298376083374}
+{"content": "The Austin Focus, Inc. Team on Athletes’ Winning Strategies\n\nWhen it comes to winning and losing, no one understands perseverance better than athletes. For that reason, The Austin Focus, Inc. team has been studying the advice imparted by those who are engrained with a winning mindset. Here are some of our favorite winning strategies from athletes:\n\nDon’t Let Others Say You Lack Talent\n\nThere are many sports icons who could easily have been dissuaded from continuing to play, but instead decided not to listen to their critics and continued to train hard and learn. Not everyone is born with natural talent, but many people have the will and desire to be the best and keep working at improving their skills, even after they’ve surpassed all others. If you know what you want, ignore the naysayers and continue to work hard.\n\nKnow Your Optimal Push\n\nAthletes know just how far to push themselves without injuring themselves in the process. This is called the optimal push. In business, you have to determine how far you can stretch your skills so that you’re learning and growing, but not setting yourself up for failure. Once you’ve reached a level in which you’re comfortable, it’s time to push for the next.\n\nAlways Reflect on What You’ve Learned\n\nPost-mortems are an after-game ritual. Create your own by taking time at the end of the day to consider what you’ve done right, what you can improve on tomorrow, and what else you can do to reach your goals.\n\nJust like athletes, if you achieve a winning mindset, you can accomplish great things in whatever you do.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.98094642162323}
+{"content": "Genome-wide comparative analysis of three local aromatic rice lines revealed novel markers\n\nAuthors Affiliation(s)\n\n  • 1Agrigenome Labs Pvt Ltd, Hyderbad, INDIA\n  • 2University of North Bengal, West Bengal, INDIA\n\nCan J Biotech, Volume 1 Special Issue-Supplement,  Page 293,  DOI:\n\nPresenting author: \n\n\nRice is the primary source of dietary energy for half of the World population, and 90% of them are present in developing countries in Asia. We have sequenced three local rice varieties Chenga, Tulai-panji, Kalonunia and compared with Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare, Oryza sativa cv. 93-11 and Oryza sativa cv.Kasalath. 30X paired end 2 X 100 bp reads were generated for each of the 3 samples on Illumina HiSeq 4000, next generation sequencing platform. The raw data was subjected to pre-processing and aligned with reference genomes individually. The SNPs/INDELs were identified for each of the 3 local rice varieties with the each reference genome. A total of 0.15, 0.34 and 0.57 million SNPs and 10863, 11435 and 21841 INDELs were identified in Chenga, compared to Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare, Oryza sativa cv. 93-11 and Oryza sativa cv.Kasalath, respectively. In Tulai-panji, 0.23, 0.76 and 0.71 SNPs as well as 12854, 18987 and 22901 INDELs were identified when compared to MSU7, 93-11 and Kasalath assemblies respectively. Analysis of Kalonunia data revealed 0.24, 0.58 and 0.54 SNPs and 10775, 14281 and 16657 INDELs against 3 reference genomes as above. We investigated for homozygous polymorphic markers between Chenga (Non aromatic) and Tulai-panji (Aromatic), and found 38,471 SNPs at read depth of 10. Similarly, comparative analysis between Chenga (Non aromatic) and Kalonunia (Aromatic) 130,376 homozygous polymorphic markers which can be explored for mapping novel alleles associated with aroma.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9862657189369202}
+{"content": "Grasping and Impermanence\n\n\nspacer-25When I was a kid, I noticed how 'old' folks would reminisce about the generations of dogs they'd had.  I had never gone through the death of a pet until later, when our first dog passed on.\n\nNow I'm one of those geezers who has had numerous pets arrive and pass away.  Our current pup is a lively, expressive critter who startles at the slightest noise.  Recently, though, when I look at her I've been able to imagine her old and infirm, her inevitable destiny.\n\nThe realization doesn't make me sad.  I think I have enough wisdom to remember that she's bound to get old, sick and die.\n\nRather, the realization somehow opens my heart.  I more deeply appreciate her liveliness and kookie nature.\n\nThis is part of the theme of this week's talk, exploring the dance of grasping and impermanence.\n  The blurb:  \n\n\n\nYou can then entertain the possibility of what life would be like in the unfolding moment in the absence of attraction and it's opposite - aversion.  This talk includes numerous short meditation.\n\n\niTunes podcast here, online streaming here, and stitcher here.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9580449461936951}
+{"content": "Ranking Top 10 Point Guards in NBA History\n\n#5 Jason Kidd\n\nAside from Magic Johnson and perhaps LeBron James, nobody controlled the tempo of a game better than Kidd, who was a triple-double machine and had an incredibly high basketball IQ. He was special in the open floor and seemed to always make wise decisions. Kidd led the league in assists in five out of six seasons during the pinnacle of his career, and the No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 draft guided the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in the early 2000s. He won a title with the Mavs in 2011 and was named an All-Star 10 times throughout his career. He is second all-time in assists behind John Stockton.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9774064421653748}
+{"content": "Kazakhstan: Russian Progress supply ship launched to ISS by ultra-short scheme for 1st time\n\nRussian Progress MS-09 resupply cargo spacecraft was launched into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday. Loaded with almost three tons of supplies and equipment, it is expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) in less than 4 hours, a record time for this kind of flight. This will be the third attempt at launching a spacecraft using the short two-revolution scheme, with... Еще the first two lift-offs being cancelled by the automatic system of the Baikonur launch pad.\n\nСамое интересное\n\nНовости партнеров\n\nТемыВсе темы", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997892379760742}
+{"content": "Perfecting Your Swim Stroke For Efficiency & Economy\n\n\n\n\nOnce the catch phase has been initiated, you’re looking to get to a position of early vertical forearm, or EVF. This ensures that your athlete is pushing/moving as much water as possible during the pull phase without the dreaded \"dropped elbow\". If you don't know what I mean by that - contact me!\n\nBy moving to this EVF position, we can ensure that we are engaging the larger muscle groups (bicep, tricep, and latissimus dorsi) and not putting too much stress on the shoulder itself. A straight arm pull puts a large amount of stress on the shoulder and can increase the chance of overuse injury.\n\nHow do we work on a quick catch and an early vertical forearm stroke? Through overcorrection of form via drills and mechanics work. There are a number of drills that can be employed to work on the pull phase of the stroke, but below are some of my favorites that I’ve had great success with. They’re simple, effective and can be incorporated into any warm up set of a swim workout.\n\n  • High Elbow Drill\n  • Fist Swim\n  • Dog Paddle\n\nI could go into lots of detail of how these drills work, look, and should be implemented. However, those are lengthy explanations. So, if you're not familiar with these drills you can do some quick searches online. Or better yet, just contact me. I'll be happy to take a little time to explain how these work.\n\nIt’s important to note that drills are about over correction, and exaggerated movements. In some cases, we place the body in a very inefficient position in the water to focus on a very specific movement. This can cause high fatigue rates. You need to ensure that, when doing drill-based sets, you get enough rest to complete the drills with good form. I usually don’t start anyone out with more than 25 yards at a time, and only move to 50 yard efforts for some very specific drills.\n\nSwimming is a tricky, complicated, discipline. It's hard to master, and sometimes hard to teach and instruct. I get a huge amount of pleasure from working with athletes and coaches alike on this topic. Please do reach out with questions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9417012929916382}
+{"content": "Scan for .RH File Extension Errors    |    Repair .RH File Errors    |    How to Fix .RH File Extension Errors\n\nRun a Free Scan to check for RH related errors.\n\nWhat is the .RH File Extension?\n\n.RH File Extension Description:\n\nThe file extension RH is used by the C++ programming language for its resource header file.\n\nC++ is a programming language that uses a compiler in creating machine codes. It supports both object-oriented and data programming. The language is also used for procedural programming and data abstraction. It combines the features of both high and low level languages. C++ is recognized as a low level language in the sense that it functions faster than higher level languages because the instructions are directly linked to the hardware. It also contains characteristics of the high level language because of its portability. Programs written in C++ can function on different machines with minimal modifications.\n\nC++ uses header files in the form of a source code. Header files are attached to source files by a compiler. A compiler is a program that is used to translate a source code from a higher level of programming language to a lower level programming language. Header files are usually added at the beginning of the other source file. It contains subroutines, variables and identifiers, which are the components of C++.\n\nThe program C++ for its resource header file uses the file extension RH. It acts as a resource file for the source code it is attached to. The file extension RH is attached to the file containing the source code. Files with the .rh file extension contain descriptions that allow the program to read and recognize the source code file. The file extension RH keeps the set of files in the source to be later converted into a computer executable data.\n\nAnother application that uses the file extension RH is Deep Exploration Repository File. Files with the .rh file extension are used to store the right hemisphere part of images. It is a program used to handle 2D/3D animation for both audio and video components on a computer or network. The file extension RH is used as a file format for storing specific data. These files are also used to store database and files that are going to be distributed on a network.\n\nAuthor: Bjarne Stroustrup (,C++),, Right Hemisphere (,Deep Exploration),\nAuthor URL:,BjarneStroustrup),,,DeepExploration),\nRelated Applications: C++, Deep Exploration\nCommon Path: N/A\n\n\nRun a Free Scan to check for RH related errors & to optimize PC performance.\n\nDo you have errors with .RH files?\n\nThe Standard Reason for .RH files Errors:\n\nA common and likely cause for .RH files errors is corruption in the Windows program registry - cleaning is essential to prevent additional harm in other applications and/or system devices. Experiencing these errors puts your PC at risk for fatal crashes, blue screen errors as well as device failure.\n\nSymptoms of .RH files Errors:\n\n.RH files errors produce numerous symptoms, including: computer locks while starting up or shutting down, applications halt, reduced pc speed, built-in speaker beeps, trouble opening documents, slow system behaviour and application installation problems.\n\nHelpful Tools\n\n\nAnti-Malware Pro\n\n\n\n\nBrowse File Extensions by Name:\n\nIs your File Extension missing?\n\n\nSubmit File Details Form\n\nRepair .RH File Errors    |    What is the .RH File Extension?    |    Scan for .RH File Extension Errors", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5802643299102783}
+{"content": "Not PS, LR.\n\nYou can set a white point and apply it to all your pictures.\n\nETA: More specifically, you can copy and paste adjustments (crop/rotate, colour, gradients, spot removals, etc. - basically anything you can do to an image in LR, you can C&P) from image to image (or images), and you can save them as presets, and stuff like that.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9923831820487976}
+{"content": "Anti-inflammatory drugs: What’s the evidence?\n\n\nTraditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), diclofenac (Voltaren), naproxen (Naprosyn), and others. These drugs are widely available in many dosage forms and most hospitals have several on formulary. NSAIDs are first-line options for many types of pain, but they can cause stomach upset and occasionally gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.\n\nWhen cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors such as celecoxib (Celebrex) became available, they were expected to cause less GI bleeding. Some studies did indeed show less GI bleeding, but some didn’t – and then some studies showed an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. The COX-2 inhibitor rofecoxib (Vioxx) was removed from the Canadian market in 2004 for this reason. Several conflicting studies led to a COX-2 controversy. Were they safe?\n\n\nThen studies began to emerge showing that traditional NSAIDs might carry cardiovascular risk as well. How big is this risk? Is it the same for all NSAIDs? With so much conflicting data, what information can a clinician trust, and which drugs should hospitals have on hand for treating mild to moderate pain?\n\nSystematic reviews\n\nThis situation demonstrates the value of a systematic review. Systematic reviews of the medical literature capture all studies available on a given topic. As more studies become available on a given topic, we can have more confidence when we see conclusions repeated, or when a more mature data set is presented in one paper with a critical appraisal of all the included studies.\n\nWhen the design of the studies is similar, the data from different studies can be pooled and re-analyzed together; this is called a meta-analysis. With more data comes more power to detect differences between treatments or to identify rare side effects.\n\nThe hierarchy of evidence\n\nFor all these reasons, systematic review and meta-analysis sit at the top of the “hierarchy of evidence.” This hierarchy is a way of ranking different types of clinical studies. In general, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are more reliable than a single randomized controlled trial (RCT), which in turn is more reliable than non-randomized studies such as cohort studies and case reports. Quality is important, though; a well-done study at the bottom of the hierarchy may be more reliable than a poorly-done systematic review.\n\n\nHallmarks of a high-quality systematic review include: a clearly formulated research question, a structured literature search strategy that others can reproduce, explicit methods for selecting and critically appraising studies, and a clear reproducible description of the methods used to analyze the data.\n\nCADTH evidence review\n\nCADTH recently critically appraised six systematic reviews and meta-analyses on COX-2 and NSAID safety. Two systematic reviews of RCTs reported no differences in cardiovascular or GI outcomes between celecoxib and high dose diclofenac, but one systematic review of non-randomized studies reported a slightly higher cardiovascular risk with diclofenac. For celecoxib vs. ibuprofen, celecoxib was associated with fewer GI complications without any statistically significant differences in major cardiovascular events. For celecoxib vs. naproxen, the risk of cardiovascular events was higher with celecoxib, but there were more GI complications with naproxen.\n\n\nThe bottom line is that:\n\n  • naproxen seems to have lower cardiovascular risk than celecoxib\n  • diclofenac and ibuprofen seem to have the same cardiovascular risk as celecoxib\n  • celecoxib and diclofenac seem to have lower GI risk than ibuprofen and naproxen\n  • clinicians may need to beware of underestimating the risks of these drugs\n\nThese results show the value of using systematic reviews, not only for controversial drugs such as COX-2 inhibitors, but also for commonly used drugs such as NSAIDs.\n\nIt’s also important to remember that a systematic review has the same limitations as the studies feeding into it. For example, most of the studies in these reviews lasted for three months or less, so by extension, the systematic reviews can only answer questions about short-term use. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses have more power and precision than individual clinical trials, but their quality and relevance will always depend on the quality and relevance of the original studies.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9788074493408203}
+{"content": "Start Online dating red flags safety dance\n\nOnline dating red flags safety dance\n\nOn the color wheel long used by painters, and in traditional color theory, red is one of the three primary colors, along with blue and yellow.\n\n\n\n\nRed's wavelength has been an important factor in laser technologies; red lasers, used in early compact disc technologies, are being replaced by blue lasers, as red's longer wavelength causes the laser's recordings to take up more space on the disc than would blue-laser recordings.\n\nRed lac, also called red lake, crimson lake or carmine lake, was an important red pigment in Renaissance and Baroque art.\n\nColors with a shorter wavelength, such as blue and green, scatter more strongly, and are removed from the light that finally reaches the eye.\n\nAt sunrise and sunset, when the path of the sunlight through the atmosphere to the eye is longest, the blue and green components are removed almost completely, leaving the longer wavelength orange and red light.\n\nThe remaining reddened sunlight can also be scattered by cloud droplets and other relatively large particles, which give the sky above the horizon its red glow.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9994875192642212}
+{"content": "Gifty who was the fourth Big Brother housemate to be evicted has apologised to Banky W and Falz for claiming that she did not know who they are.\n\nShe received a lot of backlash from fans of the two artistes and Nigerians were very happy when she was evicted. In her second instagram post since returning to Nigeria, she apologised to Nigerians and the artistes, asking them to see whatever happened in the house as a game.\n\n\nThis is what she wrote:\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9206350445747375}
+{"content": "The Kennedy Center\n\nAkua Allrich\n\n\nJazz vocalist and D.C.-native, Akua Allrich has proven herself to be a musician of extraordinary talent and crowd-moving passion. With finesse and charisma, this vocalist, composer, and teacher has successfully etched out a place for her unique musical expression, electrifying audiences in and around the nation’s capital with sold-out performances.\nWith the launch of her independently produced album, A Peace of Mine, in 2010, and her latest release Uniquely Standard, Akua Allrich Live! the young artist’s music and concerts created a significant buzz with critics and music-lovers alike. Her appeal soon reached across U.S. borders and attained international attention. In early 2011, Allrich signed a distribution deal with Japanese record label AGATE/Inpartmaint Inc. Her debut CD, A Peace of Mine, was released in Japan during their “Golden Week” of May 2011. Music lovers and tastemakers from around the world expressed their appreciation and excitement for this new music.\nAllrich’s style is fluid and ever evolving. Her musical roots run deeply into blues, soul, and rhythm and blues, with a clear grounding in jazz and pan-African music. She sings in many languages including Portuguese, French, Spanish, English, Xhosa, and Twi. Given her ability to capture the essence of a broad range of musical genres, Allrich is often likened to legendary artists such as Oscar Brown, Jr., Miriam Makeba, and Nina Simone. She has developed popular tribute programs involving the latter two women and other great African American women of jazz.\nAkua Allrich was educated at Howard University, where she obtained her BM in jazz vocals and a master’s degree in social work. She was taught, coached, and mentored by talented musicians such as world-renowned singer Kehembe V. Eichelberger, singer/drummer Grady Tate, and pianist Charles Covington.\n\nShe is the child of a musical family (her father, Agyei Akoto, was a founding member of the jazz group Nation, and recorded two albums during Allrich’s youth). Her home held a wealth of cherished recordings that she and her siblings were invited to explore. In fact, she did not buy any albums until her second year in college because her parents had such an amazing collection of jazz records. One of the first jazz albums she bought was John Coltrane’s Live at the Village Vanguard: The Master Takes.\nAllrich has already proven her abilities as a performer and bandleader by producing and performing many successful solo and group programs. In addition to focusing on her own engaging compositions, she keeps an ear to the rest of the world and to other eras and artists. Akua Allrich has inspired music lovers from all walks on an international scale, who enjoy her exceptional work and expect nothing short of brilliant artistry from each of her offerings.\n\nWatch Past Performances\n\nVideo 7/5/2015: Akua Allrich Album Release Show\n\nCelebrating the release of her third album, Soul Singer, the soul-stirring jazz vocalist and D.C. native captures the blues, soul, R&B, jazz, and pan-African music with lyrics akin to Miriam Makeba, Bob Marley, and Nina Simone.\n\nAkua Allrich", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9741150140762329}
+{"content": "Deepika Padukone sheds light on her beauty secrets\n\nZeenews Bureau\n\nNew Delhi: Svelte and pretty star Deepika Padukone, who jet-sets between different countries for her movie shoots and hardly holidays to take a break, makes us wonder what keeps her inner and outer radiance intact, always!\n\nIn an interview to a national tabloid, the ‘Cocktail’ beauty revealed her beauty secrets which we have wanted to know all this while. She said that one needs to debunk the myth that putting on layers of make-up is the right way to look pretty. Instead, she believes in indulging in regular coconut hair oil massages, using sun block, applying a rich night cream and eating a balanced meal complemented by proper sleep.\n\nThis Bangalorean also credits her toned body to her nutritious diet comprising idli-sambar, dal, veggies, chapattis and chicken/fish.\n\nLastly, she stated that the easiest way to glam up was by wearing an Indian dress and accessorising one’s forehead by a bindi .\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9978635907173157}
+{"content": "Caring Guide for Baby Hamsters\n\nHamster photo\nPhoto by pelican\n\nOne cannot simply take their eyes off hamster babies. These small, charming animals will surely have your attention. Infant hamsters are born with no fur and are carefully connected to their mother. Though you might have the desire to hold them, bear in mind that you should not do anything within 2 weeks after delivery.\n\nNever touch the babies. Your action may hurt them, alter their scent and puzzle the mother. She may believe that they are not hers, desert them, and worse, she may even consume the infants. Avoid tidying up the cage within this duration to prevent triggering tension from the mother. It is also suggested to put the infants at the bottom of the cage as none have opened their eyes yet.\n\nAfter this crucial time, you can hold them only for short periods of time to avoid interrupting or worrying the mother or infants. You can also tidy up the cage and put fresh bed linens in the majority of the cage. Eliminate only the stained parts in the nest location and put a great part of the old bed linen in it. Put the infants back in the nest after it is tidied up followed by the mother.\n\nWhen the babies’ eyes are opened (which usually takes 11-12 days, however some take more or less time), they have to find out how the bottle works. In order for them to reach it quickly, put it lower and in a location where they often go. If they have not found out ways to utilize the bottle and you are worried that they are not consuming enough water, you can provide pieces of cucumbers to avoid dehydration. Do not put water in a bowl to prevent them from falling in and drowning or catching a cold.\n\nAt 3 weeks, you can separate the infants if you observe any fighting amongst them. However if they appear immature, less developed and are not sufficiently independent to leave their mother, let them remain together till they are 4 weeks old. When they reach 5 weeks old, and are already independent and have a healthy development, they can be put in new houses and play in new environments.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9165075421333313}
+{"content": "The Invalid “Viability” Argument for Abortion\n\nBill Vallicella (Maverick Philosopher) summarizes Elizabeth Harman’s argument for abortion:\n\n1) “Among early fetuses there are two very different kinds of beings . . . .”\n\n2) One kind of early fetus has “moral status.”\n\n3) The other kind of early fetus does not have “moral status.”\n\n4) The fetuses possessing moral status have it in virtue of their futures, in virtue of the fact that they are the beginning stages of future persons.\n\n5) The fetuses lacking moral status lack it in virtue of their not having futures, in virtue of their not being the beginning stages of future persons.\n\n\n6) If a fetus is prevented from having a future, either by miscarriage or abortion, then the fetus does not have moral status at the time of its miscarriage or abortion. “That’s something that doesn’t have a future as a person and it doesn’t have moral status.” (From 5)\n\n7) If a fetus lacks moral status, then aborting it is not morally impermissible.\n\n\n8) ” . . . there is nothing morally bad about early abortion.”\n\nVallicella then refutes the argument:\n\nShe is maintaining in effect that the moral status of a biological individual depends on how long it lasts. So the early fetus that developed into Elizabeth Harman has moral status at every time in its development, while an aborted early fetus has moral status at no time in its development.\n\nThis issues in the absurd consequence that one can morally justify an abortion just by having one. For if you kill your fetus (or have your fetus killed), then you guarantee that it has no future. If it has no future, then it has no moral status. And if it has no moral status, then killing it is not morally impermissible, and is therefore morally justified.\n\nIn sum, and with all due Maverickian pithiness: Moral status cannot be contingent upon longevity.\n\nHarman’s argument is essentially the “viability” argument, which I have summarized and refuted several times. This is from “Crimes Against Humanity“:\n\nThe argument that a fetus is “inviable” — and therefore somehow undeserving of life — until it reaches a certain stage of development is a circular argument designed to favor abortion. A fetus (except in the case of a natural miscarriage) is viable from the moment of conception until birth as long as it is not aborted. It is abortion that makes a fetus inviable. Abortion therefore cannot be excused on the basis of presumed inviability.\n\n(Read the whole thing.)\n\nFleshing it out:\n\nThere is an argument that a fetus should not be aborted (executed) after it becomes viable and therefore capable of surviving outside the womb and attaining “full personhood”.\n\nThis implies that it is wrong to prevent a fetus from attaining “full personhood” if it is capable of doing so.\n\nAll fetuses are potentially viable, though some fetuses may expire by miscarriage (or death in the womb).\n\nExcept in those unpredictable and unusual cases, abortion prevents a fetus from attaining viability.\n\nExecuting a fetus before it attains viability therefore presumably prevents it from attaining viability and (probably) “full personhood”.\n\nIt is therefore wrong to execute a fetus before it attains viability.\n\nIt seems that Vallicella and I see it the same way.\n\nAfter demolishing Harman’s argument, Vallicella asks this (his boldface): “Is it ever morally right and reasonable to question or impugn motives or character in a debate?” Having refuted Harman’s argument on its own merits (or lack thereof) Vallicella answers his question with a “yes”, and continues:\n\nI have a theory about what really drives the innumerable bad pro-abortion/pro-choice arguments abroad in this decadent culture, but I leave that theory for later. Here I pose the bolded question quite generally and apart from the abortion question.\n\nI have a theory, too, which you will find in “Leftism As Crypto-Fascism: The Google Paradigm” and “Leftism“. It boils down the this: a need for control (authoritarianism), born of neuroticism and (sometimes) psychopathy.\n\nIn this case (as in many) the need for control exhibits itself as an urge to overturn civilizing social norms. (It’s the adolescent rebellion syndrome writ large.) The targeted norms vary with time, which is why the left’s agenda is malleable and guided by elite opinion. And leftists obtain a degree of relief from their neuroticism by attaching themselves to the ideology and “belonging” to the “cause” that is represented in the agenda du jour.\n\nThus leftism is an attachment to a superficial ideology that can be expressed in slogans (e.g., reproductive rights, equality), not a set of deep principles (e.g., socially evolved and tested norms guide behavior in constructive directions). The “viability” argument is circular because it stands (and falls) on neurotic feelings instead of deep principles.\n\nOther related posts:\nI’ve Changed My Mind\nPETA, NARAL, and Roe v. Wade\nThe Left, Abortion, and Adolescence\nAbortion and the Slippery Slope\nMore on Abortion and Crime\nThe Cynics Debate While Babies Die\nPrivacy, Autonomy, and Responsibility\nAn Argument Against Abortion\nA “Person” or a “Life”?\nA Wrong-Headed Take on Abortion\nAbortion, Doublethink, and Left-Wing Blather\nAbortion, “Gay Rights,” and Liberty\nAbortion Rights and Gun Rights", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7867965698242188}
+{"content": "How do I register for VATMOSS?\n\nYou can register for VATMOSS with your local revenue or tax authority in your jurisdiction if you are based within the EU, for example with HMRC or Irish Revenue.\n\nIf you are based outside of the EU, then you must register with an EU member state for VATMOSS purposes.\n\nFor more VATMOSS information, check with your local tax authority or see here.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6188290119171143}
+{"content": "In response to protests on gun violence, the College released the following statement:\n\n“Colby College values freedom of expression and encourages thoughtful, peaceful dissent. Our community of scholars and learners is strongest when we are passionate about ideas and issues and committed to the pursuit of truth. We seek applicants who will thrive intellectually in this environment and develop the habits of mind and skills to make a difference in their chosen fields.\n\nTherefore, applicants to Colby will not be adversely affected in the admissions process if they have engaged in peaceful, respectful protests, such as those occurring now on the issue of gun violence, even if they have received school discipline for these actions.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9990084171295166}
+{"content": "SOPHE offers a wealth of health education and health promotion resources across the field. Browse SOPHE books and publications.\n\nAdvancing food safety education through supporting country of origin labeling\n\nFood borne disease is caused by consuming contaminated foods or beverages that contain disease-causing pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Poisonous chemicals, or other harmful substances, can also cause food borne diseases when contained within food products. More than 250 different food borne diseases have been identified and described…\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9990885257720947}
+{"content": "Amelia O.\n\nAmelia O.\n\n\nRoseville, CA 95678\n\nWill travel 25 miles\n\n$35 per hour.\n\n4.96 27 ratings\n\nPatient, thorough, experienced M.Ed French tutor (background checked).\n\nWith 14 years experience teaching French, German, Spanish & EFL in high schools, language schools and on a one-to-one basis, I relish every opportunity to help students of all ages master a foreign language. Having lived in Montr?al and Paris, I not only mastered the language but gained a deep understanding of the Qu?b?cois/French culture, which is indispensable when embarking on any foreign language study and a life experience that I can draw upon during lessons to give my teaching contextua... [more]\n\n\n\nBSc Honours Degree in Management and French, University of Bath, England High school teaching credential and 14 years experience MEd in Educational Leadership, University of Gloucestershire, England\n\n\n\nTaught at several different language learning settings in the UK, France and Japan to different age ranges and abilities including one-to-one and group lessons.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8036679625511169}
+{"content": "In case the event is in a backroom or second floor of a venue, just ask an employee, such as door person, waiter or bartender about the event, and they will guide you to the right location within the venue.\n\ndatingcharlotte com-49\n\n\nIf you are looking at our website, it is very likely that you have also visited some of our competitors. We are confident that Speed Dating Charlotte is the best choice for you.\n\nNevertheless, we understand that sometimes things come up at the last minute.\n\nWhile we cannot refund you with less than 5 days notice, we would provide you with a code that could be used to attend another event as a replacement.\n\n\n\n\n\nIf the same people pick you, you will be a \"match\" and will receive each others' contact info!\n\nOn our events schedule, each event is listed with its recommended ages. On our events schedule, each event's hours are listed.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5039632320404053}
+{"content": "Year 6 - Mr D Miree\n\n\nSummer 2 Overview\n\n“Some people are on the pitch. They think it’s all over…”\n\nBut there were still moments to go, and Hurst burst down the left flank as he looked to wind down the clock. Despite admitting that he intended to blast it into the crowd, Hurst’s final kick found its way into the back of the net, making him the only player in history to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final.\n\n“It is now!”\n\n\nThis half term we will mainly be focusing on areas of Transition & Enterprise, hopefully we’ll have lots of opportunity to celebrate the World Cup too. Yaay!\n\n\nDuring the second half of the summer term the children will be developing their instructional writing – children will write smoothie or pasta salad recipes for healthy eating day. They will also be writing a variety of arguments and debates – based upon relevant issues in the news at this time and finally they will be extending their imagination through a long narrative piece of writing – children will write their own prequel or sequel to our Hobbit story.\n\n\n\nChildren will use their skills of multiplying and dividing by 10, 100 and 1,000 when converting between units of length, mass and capacity.\n\nChildren will convert in both directions for example: from grams to kilograms and vice versa.\n\nThey will convert where the number of decimal places given varies and understand the role of zero as a place holder.\n\nInvestigations: Pupils will have the opportunity to be creative in their knowledge of mathematics when solving puzzles or when creating their own puzzles. It can be quite a creative leap for a student to discover that there is something worth investigating in a puzzle or that a conjecture is worth following up. The objectives your child will be exposed to will allow them to start an investigation and once they’ve reached certain points, ask themselves the question: “WHAT IF ….?”\n\n\nFurther learning opportunities:\n\n\nComputing / Music: Music and Sound\n\nChildren will be developing their own sound and music to create their own podcast. They will have the opportunity to vary the tempo and track starting position on the timeline to create complex sounds and compositions to add to their presentations / films / images / photos. Then create and share more sophisticated podcasts and consider the effect that their podcasts\n\nwill have on the audience. Use ICT to compose appropriate music for podcasts and evaluate its impact.\n\n\nPSHE: Changing Me (including Sex Education)\n\nThis topic deals with change. Your child will have the opportunity to learn how to be aware of self-image and develop their own self-esteem, your child will learn how their bodies changes\n\nduring puberty and understand the importance of looking after themselves physically and emotionally, your child will then learn how to describe how a baby develops from conception through the nine months of pregnancy and how it is born, they will also learn to understand how being physically attracted to someone changes the nature of the relationship and become confident that they can cope with this and finally they will also identify what they are looking forward to and what worries them about the transition to secondary school and know how to prepare themselves emotionally for starting secondary school.\n\n\nPhysical Education: Athletics\n\nChildren will further focus on developing their technical understanding of athletic activity. They learn how to set targets and improve their performance in a range of running, jumping and throwing activities. As in all athletic activities, children think about how to achieve the greatest speed, height, distance or accuracy. All their hard work will lead towards a competitive Sports Day. (Please Note: P.E. is now back to Wednesday and an additional session will be held on Thursday. Full kit is required, Can you ensure your child has a pair of trainers as we will be outside from now on.)\n\n\nScience: Light\n\nPupils will build on the work on light in year 3, exploring the way that light behaves, including light sources, reflection and shadows. They will talk about what happens and make predictions.\n\nThey will work scientifically by: deciding where to place rear-view mirrors on cars; designing and making a periscope and using the idea that light appears to travel in straight lines to explain how it works. We will investigate the relationship between light sources, objects and shadows by using shadow puppets. Children will have an opportunity to extend their experience of light by looking a range of phenomena including rainbows, colours on soap bubbles, objects looking bent in water and coloured filters and wonder why these phenomena occur.\n\n\nFrench: The Environment\n\nWe will be learning how to describe the different types of weather, the different types of wildlife living in a pond and the different types of wildlife found in a garden. We will also learn how to say what we like and dislike doing in the garden and talk about the different types of rubbish and how they can be recycled. We will also be having a French afternoon.\n\n\nDesign & Technology: Food and a Garden Enterprise\n\nDuring this half term, your child will be learning about food hygiene and then design and create their own Salad Pasta dish. We will also be entrepreneurs by designing and creating our own wooden product so it can decorate the garden. This topic will provide your child plenty of opportunities to use a variety of tools and materials. Will your child’s design be the best seller?\n\n\nGeography/ History: Global Food\n\nWe will be learning how to use an Atlas and find information about countries and continents. Your child will also learn where certain food is grown and learn about the shortage of food in other countries.\n\n\nReligious Education: ISLAM Prayers and Food\n\nOur task will be to write a letter to school children from the point of view of a Muslim, explaining how Muslims believe that giving money to charity shows commitment to Allah. Children will learn about Muslim prayers and think about three things in their life that require commitment. Children will design a card to celebrate Ramadan. Children will also have the opportunity to explain some of the different ways that individuals show their beliefs and ask questions that have no universally agreed answers.\n\n\nExtra Information: \n\nPlease ensure your child reads at least 20 minutes each day and sign your child’s planner.\n\nAs your child is now entering the transition phase, homework will now be given out daily and will need to be handed in the following day.\n\nEvents upcoming Events\n\nEnterprise Gala Day June 28th\n\nSuper Science Day July 3rd\n\nCommon Transition day Leeds July 9th\n\nCommon Transition Day Kirklees July 10th\n\nLeavers Disco July 5th\n\nLight Water Valley Trip July 17th\n\nYear 6 Leaver’s Production Assembly July 20th\n\nKind regards\n\nMr. D. Miree.\n\nclass Teacher", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9912061095237732}
+{"content": "Roger Altman, an investment banker and deputy treasury secretary under President Clinton, warned about the effect of growing inequality on national politics in a Washington Post column. He implies that this increase in inequality has been a natural outcome of the market:\n\n\"A series of powerful, entrenched factors have brought the American Dream to an end. Economists generally cite globalization, accelerating technology, increased income inequality and the decline of unions. What’s noteworthy is that these are long-term pressures that show no signs of abating.\"\n\nThe \"powerful entrenched factors\" are all the result of deliberate policy choices that Mr. Altman apparently doesn't want to see altered. In the case of globalization, we have made a deliberate decision to put our manufacturing workers in direct competition with low-paid workers in the developing world, while largely protecting our most highly paid workers like doctors and dentists. This has the predicted and actual effect of shifting income upward.\n\n\"Accelerating technology\" (actually it has been decelerating as productivity growth has slowed to a crawl in the last decade) does not lead to upward redistribution; laws determining ownership of technology, such as patent and copyright monopolies redistribute income upward. There is a huge amount of money at stake with these government-granted monopolies. In the case of prescription drugs alone, patents and related protections add close to $370 billion a year (almost $3,000 per household) to what we pay for drugs in the United States. Bill Gates, the world's richest person, would probably still be working for a living without patent and copyright monopolies for Microsoft software.\n\nAnd, the drop in unionization rates in the United States has also been the result of deliberate policy to make it more difficult to organize unions and to weaken the unions that do exist. Canada, which has a very similar culture and economy, has seen no comparable decline in unionization rates over the last four decades.\n\nSomeone seriously interested in reversing the upward redistribution of income would look to reverse these policies, but Altman seems to want us to believe that they are unalterable and instead focus on band-aid solutions. But, what do you expect from Jeff Bezos' Washington Post? (Yes, this is the point of my [free] book Rigged: How Globalization and the Rules of the Modern Economy Were Structured to Make the Rich Richer.)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6234001517295837}
+{"content": "Piramide Bakery Working Hours\n\nPiramide Bakery operates on 2 Locations in 1 States across all states and major products are Restaurant, . To find the Hours and Stores Click Here for Piramide Bakery Near Me.\n\nNeed to use Piramide Bakery services today? But you are not sure if it is open? And you probably are thinking, “Where is Piramide Bakery near me?” It’s easy to find out. The best way is to visit the official website of Piramide Bakery and click on Find a Piramide Bakery Branch. Then enter your city and state or just zip code and all the necessary information will appear.\n\n\nPiramide Bakery Store Locator\n\nThe best tool for finding Piramide Bakery hours is their official store locator. This link will direct you straight to the Piramide Bakery store locator. Begin by clicking on the link and using the search field above to find a store. Enter your zip code, city, or state to view all the nearby Piramide Bakery store hours in your area. You will find a map with a list of stores numbered in red above each store’s location. Select your desired store and click on “view more information” to view its Piramide Bakery hours. You will be provided with a map showing you that store’s location, where you can view driving directions, hours, and the store’s phone number. Additional information provided includes the Piramide Bakery hours for stores that have not even officially opened! Talk about being ahead of the game.\n\nPiramide Bakery On Google Maps\n\nAnother reliable way to find Piramide Bakery hours is through the Maps portion of Google’s official website. Click here to be directed straight to the page, or visit Google’s main site and select the “Maps” tab near the top of the screen. Search the term “Piramide Bakery” for a complete list of all the Piramide Bakery hours nearby. Google Maps not only provides you with information regarding Piramide Bakery hours, but also customer reviews, contact information, addresses, and directions if needed.\n\n\nWhat time does Piramide Bakery close?\nWhat time does Piramide Bakery open?\nWhat time does Piramide Bakery close on Sunday-Saturday?\nPiramide Bakery closing time?\nWhen does Piramide Bakery open-close?\nPiramide Bakery opening hours?\nIs Piramide Bakery open today?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000053644180298}
+{"content": "Sasak People\n\n\nSustainable Travel: Take only Pictures, Leave only Footprints\n\nAs travelling becomes accessible to more and more people, more and more locations across the world are vulnerable to the impact of mass tourism, which has undoubtfully a strong impact on the environment and can influence forever local biodiversity, local culture and the experience of future visitors. Indonesia and the Gili Islands are no exception and the environment has changed dramatically due to massive tourism-related investments and the increasing presence of international visitors.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9209052920341492}
+{"content": "RolaSafe is a lighter version of RolaPlank.  The specially developed system takes up less of the trailer width and therefore offers more loading capacity.  The aluminum planks are replaced by specially treated steel slats, which are directly connected to the rollers and buckles.   Provided that professional loading techniques are respected, RolaSafe satisfies the prescribed standards concerning load safety.  In combination with a special selection of rollers, buckles, hooks and support bands, the most stringent specifications can be met. \n\nSince the entire side curtain is to be very tightly stretched, it is an excellent surface to which advertising can be applied or attached with the RolaBanner system.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9429255723953247}
+{"content": "You’re going to need to get out and on the road as quickly as possible. By organizing yourself and making a quick plan, you\n\nWhen traveling to high heat climates you should consider wearing clothing that is lightweight, loose-fitting, and with colors that are on the lighter side\n\nPreppers are usually prepared for a whole host of things, including being able to live out in the open, make temporary shelter, keep warm\n\nEarly pioneer living has held a special meaning in America. From their first arrivals in the states of Virginia and Massachusetts, early pioneer American\n\nShelters can be built even at homes without a basement. Shelters do not need complicated air filtration systems to protect against fallout. A wet\n\n\nBuilding techniques have developed considerably over the last couple hundred years. But in the case of a national emergency, and without access to all\n\nShould SHTF day come, kids may very well have to depend on what you teach them now, as that knowledge may be the only\n\nThe discovery of Otzi, the iceman has showed us a glimpse of survival EDC (Every Day Carry) in 3200 BCE and it was one\n\n\nFires in California make people think about air quality and what to do about it in an emergency situation. Some of these people don’t\n\nFew wilderness survival resources are more important than trees, so making camp in proximity to trees often makes a great deal of sense as\n\nFor the last year, tensions have been running high between the United States and North Korea. Increased missile testing by North Korea, with each\n\nI keep tampons, maxi-pads, and mini-pads in my stockpile for medical uses, so why not diapers? They’re absorbent and lightweight, and have a lot\n\nHaving a survival shelter helps you survive, and so is ensuring that others cannot find it. These are the best 10 ways to hide", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6753017902374268}
+{"content": "Writing 101: Why identifying your revision strategy is key\n\nRevision with Shurley English.jpg\n\nIn an earlier post, I explained how the Sentence Blueprints we use in Shurley English provide a targeted skill practice in writing well-constructed sentences. In this post, I want to build on that idea with another exceptional strategy that bolsters our young writers’ word choices and helps them think very specifically about their writing, in general.\n\nIt’s called The Revision Strategy, and it is part of the Sentence Blueprint activity I talked about. I love the word revision, because taken literally, it means to see again. Isn’t that exactly what we want our young writers to do with their writing? Revising is like looking carefully at your writing, but seeing it with new eyes!\n\nRevision Strategies with Shurley English.png\n\nNotice that the Parts of Speech labels occupy the uppermost fields. The next line shows an original sentence a student might write. Below that, the student makes revisions to the original sentence. But it is the fourth field that I find the most useful because it is the place where a kid’s thinking reverts from an internal process of the mind to one that is visible to both the student and the teacher. I always value the quality and effort in the thinking process more than final outcomes when it comes to kids and their progress, which is why the work by Dr. Carol Dweck and her Growth Mindset theory is so fascinating to me.\n\nHere, in the process of teaching students to write, we’re actually teaching them how to think. Each revision strategy has its own label, as you can see in the dark blue dots that are numbered above the example. In Shurley English, we teach students what each revision is called and how it can improve a sentence. Just as a scientist slices through a sample to view a cross-section of its internal workings, so, too is a Sentence Blueprint exercise to a young writer. Of course, this is a targeted lesson and would not be done daily. It is used primarily to draw a focus upon the process effective writers undergo when writing. At this stage in the instruction, we use very basic vocabulary and simple revision strategies to get the point across that writers usually revisit a piece of writing several times before calling it complete. Some writers revise along the way, but for our students, we cannot assume they even understand the process of how to revise—so we show them step by step!\n\nNext time, I will share with you some of the ways Shurley English helps students take basic vocabulary and sentence structure to new heights…stay tuned!\n\nComment /Source\n\nDavid Lutz\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9156360626220703}
+{"content": "WRITING MATTERS: Presenting and Perceiving Monumental Inscriptions in Antiquity and the Middle Ages\n\nEdited by Irene Berti, Katharina Bolle, Fanny Opdenhoff, and Fabian Stroth\n\nDe Gruyter (2017) h/b 395pp £81.99 (ISBN 9783110529159)\n\nThe question of what happens to a text when it is inscribed is currently receiving a surge of attention in scholarship; increased interest is being paid to the context and circumstances of display, and what this meant for the viewer and how a text was received. This volume is part of this trend, and is based on a conference that took place in Heidelberg in 2013, focused on the materiality of inscriptions in their physical contexts. The result is thirteen papers (ten in English, three in German) that approach this topic from a number of angles, examining different types of texts as well as different historical contexts. The title is slightly misleading, as not all the texts covered can be described as ‘monumental’, notably the chapters on graffiti in Pompeii and the surrounding areas (the contributions of Viitanen and Nissin, and Benefiel) or the use of signatures on works of art (Keil). However, the range of case studies, covering the epigraphic culture of Athens in the fifth century BC through to the use of text in churches and grave monuments of the Medieval period, is admirable. There is plenty of food for thought for scholars working in some way with the display of writing.\n\nInscriptions were embedded in a specific social and cultural setting, and the editors stress in their introduction that the aim is to ‘recontextualise inscriptions as artefacts within their original social and spatial surroundings’ (p. 3). The volume is divided into four thematic sections, with the contributors adopting a number of different approaches; unfortunately, there is not the space here to elaborate on each paper individually. The first deals with the theory behind materiality and text, thinking about how to develop new ways to approach physical texts, or, in the case of Lieb and Wagner’s paper, whether metatexts can offer insights into how inscriptions could acquire cultural meaning. The second theme is the spatial distribution of texts in certain urban or architectural settings. For instance, Berti and Kató examine how inscribed lists were employed in Hellenistic civic spaces to represent different aspects of communal organisation; Pallis discusses how texts could be used to differentiate space in Byzantine churches and how this would be received by different audiences. The next section focuses on the arrangement of texts on particular monuments, and their link to memory. The interplay between text and sculpture is explored both in the contribution of Shear, discussing the honorific statue erected in honour of Demosthenes in Hellenistic Athens, and by Melfi, focusing on the stelai honouring Polybius found in different cities of Arcadia. The final section focuses on the perception of inscriptions, with Rhoby proposing that certain Byzantine texts had an artistic value in and of themselves.\n\nOverall, this is an interesting and thought-provoking collection, though it can seem at times disjointed, and more cross-referencing between contributions would have been beneficial, particularly when addressing similar themes and/or periods. A standout paper is that of Meyer, who considers the use of columnar inscriptions on monuments in Classical Athens, and successfully explores the interaction between the physical monument and the text. She argues that this format developed from the use of post monuments in the early fifth century BC; in this way, the physicality of the original monuments dictated subsequent choices over layout, and it was from these predecessors that the columnar format acquired its meaning.\n\nThe specificity of a number of the case studies may make this volume more suitable for a specialised audience, rather than a general reader. Nevertheless, it covers an impressive array of approaches to the materiality of text and will be of interest to anyone engaged with the topic of inscriptions as physical objects.\n\nNaomi Carless-Unwin\n\nWe welcome your comments; please send via our social media.\nBack to Reading Room", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.996640145778656}
+{"content": "Attorneys Do Help You Recover after a Car Accident\n\nThere are times in life when unexpected things happen. Certainly, there are many of these situations that can be quite positive or, in some way, ends up benefiting us greatly. However, there are many other unexpected occurrences, such as car accidents, which are very dangerous and harmful, and can potentially be life-changing. In fact, tens of thousands of people are injured, and some even killed, in unexpected car accidents every single year. Check out to get started.\n\nDespite the different things we do to stay safe while driving, the reality is that there is usually very little to nothing we can do to either predict or prevent a car accident. Most of the time, the only thing we can really do is handle the aftermath as best as possible, doing what we can to get our lives back to a state of good health and normalcy. Yet, even when the car accident is relatively minor without anyone getting injured, handling the aftermath can still be considerably challenging for many people. For some people who do suffer injuries, going through such a process can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, as they strive to recover and rehabilitate. Whether it is considered serious or not, anyone that is involved in a car accident should definitely get whatever kind and however much help and support as they need to return their lives to normal.\n\nFollowing a car accident, one of the most important sources of help and support will come from a car accident attorney. One reason for this is that they are most often the best equipped to help you get proper financial compensation through managing various legal and insurance matters. Even if financial compensation is not able to undo the incident or significantly take your pain away, it can certainly help you greatly in getting your life back in order. From auto repairs, to getting quality rehabilitation services, to supplementing income losses from missing work, how well things turn out after a car accident can very often be determined by this financial compensation.\n\nWhether you are the victim or not, a car accident attorney will likely be your best ally and asset as you seek to get all legal and insurance matters settled after an incident. If you are the victim, your attorney will, of course, do everything within their power, using every necessary skill and professional connection, to get you the highest amount of financial compensation possible. If you are the one to blame, then your car accident attorney will put up a vigorous fight to keep the potential consequences as small or low as possible. Overall, as you should be mainly focusing on recovering and getting life back to normal, your car accident attorney's primary function is to assist you by managing these many difficult, technical matters.\n\n\nFor more info, read about  Charles McCorquodale Law at this link.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6015814542770386}
+{"content": "5 Tips for Graphic Designers Switching to UX Design\n\nTechnology continues to open up exciting career paths for design professionals. One of the hottest jobs right now is user experience (UX) designer, and companies are willing to pay top salaries for people with experience: the median salary for a UX Designer in the U.S. is $70,000/year for entry-level, and $100,00/year for experienced professionals.\n\nWith demand at a high and lots of transferable skills between professions, graphic design might see UX design as a move worth making. If you’re a graphic designer looking to become a UX designer, but not sure how to start the transition, this article is for you.\n\nGraphic Design vs. UX Design\n\nBefore we dive into details on how to make the transition to UX design, it’s essential to define what UX design is all about and how it’s different from graphic design.\n\nWhile graphic design and UX design do have some commonalities (they both require creative thinking), there’s a major difference between two — responsibilities and end-goals:\n\n  • Graphic design mostly deals with the visual aspects of design (colors, typefaces). The primary goal of a graphic designer is to create great aesthetics.\nIn graphic design, information is communicated to users through text and images. Image credit: Ramotion\n  • User experience design is about designing the entire experience a user has with a product: not only the visuals, but the information architecture (how information is presented and organized), user interface, interaction design (how users can interact with the product or service), and many others. The primary goal of a UX designer is to create great products.\nThe role of UX role is complex, challenging, and multifaceted. Unlike graphic designers, who mainly focus on aesthetics and communication, user experience designers are focused on users and how they interact with a product.\n\nAnother important difference between graphic design and UX design is design process. While for a graphic designer the design process finishes once the product is launched; for a UX designer the product launch is just a step in design process. A UX design should be continually tested and adjusted based on user feedback. Thus, UX designers should be ready to rework their prototype and correct their hypothesis based on user’s needs.\n\nProduct design process. Image credit: Visual\n\nMoving From Graphic Design To UX Design\n\nMany people believe that UX is an exclusive club that only those with the right talent and extensive training can join. It’s not true. In fact, the career shift may come naturally to those who already possess strong design skills. Here are five things to remember when moving from graphic design to UX design:\n\n1. Learn New Skills\n\nOne way to make sure that you’re ready to transition into a career in UX design is by investing some time and effort in learning UX skills. While graphic design is a specialized discipline, and there is a certain set of specialized skills (such as typography and color theory) required to produce great visuals, UX design is much more multi-disciplinary. UX design sits at the crossroads of a lot of fields and designers have to constantly learn about human psychology, visual design, interaction design, information architecture and user research techniques in order to create the right solutions to user problems.\n\nDan Willis’ UX umbrella. Image credit: Slideshare\n\nWhile it’s impossible to learn all disciplines right away, it’s still possible to provide a few recommendations on how to get started:\n\n  • Start where your strengths are and pick up bits of the surrounding areas where and when you can. If you’re good in visual design, simply start with that.\n  • Look at the skills you can transfer to your new role. One of the benefit for graphic designers moving to UX design is that they can make things attractive. Good aesthetics can improve the overall user experience of a product by making users feel better about it. So don’t discard graphic design skills and bring them to the table while working on an UX project.\n\n2. Focus on Building a UX Design Portfolio\n\nWhat do employers look for when hiring UX designers? Two factors they consider are relevant professional experience and designportfolio. If you don’t have the former, focus on the latter. Career-switchers often face the same dilemma as recent graduates looking for their first jobs: to get hired for a UX design job you need UX experience. But how can you get that experience? It’s recommended to show your potential in any way that you can:\n\n  • Participate in the Daily UI Challenge and include the favorites in your portfolio. DailyUI is especially good for beginners because it both helps you boost your skills and while also creating a social presence. Just make it clear in your portfolio that it’s academic work.\n  • Participate as volunteer in nonprofit projects. You can learn from others designers while facing real-world challenges and provide outcomes that you can point to in your portfolio as positive contributions to society.\n\n3. Pursue User-Focused Design Instead of Pixel-Focused\n\nWhen you have a graphic design background, creating a pixel-perfect design is likely the aspect you enjoy most. Ensuring text has perfect kerning and colors are selected according to brand guidelines often takes up a significant portion of a graphic designer’s time. This isn’t the way things work for UX design.\n\nUX designers are primarily focused on users and strongly concerned with whether they are able to achieve their goal. To create user-focused design you need to keep following things in mind:\n\n  • Usability is a cornerstone of user experience. A common problem is many UX designers seem to focus more on work that looks pretty, and less on functionality and usability of the design. Stand apart from the pack by making sure that you understand and consider usability details in your design.\n  • Avoid starting with visual design too early, for exactly the same reason — your attention should be focused on how things work rather than how they look. Remember, people don’t use an app or service for a pretty design. They want to solve their problem or satisfy their need by using your product.\n\n4. Learn How To Conduct User Research and Collect Feedback On Your Work\n\nA UX designer’s job is to create a product that provides the best possible user experience. How does that happen? It starts with a lot of research. Research is an essential part of the UX design process, as it informs the product’s design. You can’t create a valuable product for your users unless you understand the problems they face and how you can solve those problems via design. Graphic designers looking to switch career tracks will need to invest time into learning how to conduct user research.\n\nDifferent user research methods summarized by NNGroup\n\nDon’t be afraid of showing your work to others and let people test your thinking — you learn a lot from knowing what worked and what didn’t work.\n\nUX designers work closely with users and other team members in order to ensure that the end product match user’s expectations. Image credit: General Assembly\n\n5. Build Network And Learn As Go\n\nOnce you’ve got practical UX design skills and created your UX portfolio, you’ll need to focus on networking. Networking is essential for UX designers since the best opportunities are often found when someone already in the field recommends you for a position. One of the best places to start networking are LinkedIn and Medium. Join local UX-related groups, start asking and answering the questions, and you’ll eventually build all important network with your peers. But take it slow — don’t just show up and start asking for a job, you need to build relationships with people first.\n\nOne other useful way to start networking is to follow UX experts on Twitter. Here are just a few names: Don Norman, Luke Wroblewski, Steve Krug. Not only will you learn a lot from them, you can also interact with their followers who are mostly designers like you.\n\n\nIs there a gap between graphic design skills and UX design skills? Yes, but not an insurmountable one. Graphic designers already speak the language of design. The world of user experience design is full of opportunities to expand your creative career. Good luck!\n\n\n\nOriginally published at blogs.adobe.com.\n\n\nLike what you read? Give Adobe Creative Cloud a round of applause.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6293285489082336}
+{"content": "self liberation\n\nIn all things, your permission comes from the non-acting action and the dettached guidance of the Self.\n\nIn other words, permission is granted when your action flows from the guidance the Self gives.\n\nThe contents of the mind are like the strands that weave the net used to capture our attention and trap us.\n\nIf captured, free yourself, not by struggling,\n\nBut by being still, noticing the contents, and learning about the mind-trap.\n\nKnowledge about the mind-trap frees you from it.\n\nYou think, feel, dream, act, speak,\n\nIt does seem that way, doesn’t it?\n\nCheck again.\n\nWho thinks, feels, dreams, acts, speaks?\n\nThat will be your most important discovery.\n\nBreaking news:\n\nA major accident happened today for someone, somewhere. It happened when “Who you want to be” refused to give way to “Who the world says that you are.” The two collided at the Liberation Junction at the perfect time.\n\nLuckily, “Who you truly are” walked away from the scene, unscathed.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9593325853347778}
+{"content": "even maoist spaces crumble and fade…\n\nOnly eleven houses remain occupied in Baishizhou’s Tangtou row houses.\n\nNanshan District tacitly condemned these houses several years ago, but did not become serious about evictions until the Universidade (Summer 2011). As inhabitants were evicted, the District padlocked the doors, so that the buildings could not be reoccupied. However, as the saying goes, “Those on top have policies, those on the bottom have countermeasures (上有政策,下有对策)”. When houses weren’t immediately padlocked, another family or worker or group of friends moved in. The owners continued to collect rent. When enforcers from the Urban Management Bureau (城管) came by either the inhabitants moved, or made friends with them and stayed, waiting for the final eviction.\n\nThis wait and see attitude has been much more successful for inhabitants of houses where the landlord is either in Hong Kong or further abroad. As a 4-year resident said, “Property managers don’t care what we do because the absent landlords are legally responsible. All they have to do is collect rents and their paychecks. I’m polite to urban management and they leave me alone. We’re all human, and when it’s time to move, they’ll tell me.”\n\nNanshan District has decided to close down the area completely because the summer rains further weakened the structures. These buildings from rural collectivism are no longer simply considered an eyesore, but also dangerously unsound. The vanishing of Maoist economic legacies was, of course, one of Shenzhen’s raison d’etre. However, Maoism lingered in the nooks and crannies of previously built spaces, such as Tangtou. Indeed, the Tangtou row houses are one of the few remaining examples of Maoist architecture in Shenzhen’s inner districts and once they have been razed, Maoism will become more of a spectre than it already is.\n\nThought du jour: in Shenzhen, even crumbling, Maoist dormitories can no longer safely shelter the city’s poorest workers and their families. Wither the left, indeed.\n\nImpressions of Tangtou wet and sunny, and still occupied interior.\n\nThis slideshow requires JavaScript.\n\nbounded histories\n\nYesterday, I went to the Bao’an Archives Office (深圳市宝安区档案馆) and met with one of the editors of the Bao’an Gazetteer (宝安史志).\n\nThe conversation turned to the paradoxical dependency of historical narratives on a sense of immortal China and actual historical archives. This paradox might be glossed as a contradiction between “emotional” and “documented” history. On the one hand, patriotism, tradition, and the deep history of Han settlement anchors the idea of “Shenzhen history”. The emotional sense that Shenzhen is and has always been part of “China” is created through a narrative that links the history of Xin’an Ancient City, for example, is written with respect to the area’s integration into the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the development of the imperial salt monopoly. Thus, ongoing political restructuring — beginning with contemporary Shenzhen and arriving at the Eastern Jin via Bao’an, Xin’an, and Dongguan — is rewritten as evidence of the city’s ongoing participation in something that might be glossed as “eternal China”.\n\nThis map is of the Eastern Jin when Nantou City was the prefectural seat of the Guangdong Eastern Prefecture (东晋东官郡), including present day Dongguan City, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong.\n\nOn the other hand, the actual archives to which a historian has access bureau is an artifact of political restructurings and the concomitant shifting of administrative borders. The question of land titles (地契) that were issued during early land reform (1950-52) is an interesting case in point. Originally, all Bao’an county land titles were held in Huizhou City, which administered the county from 1950-1979. These land titles, of course, became void during collectivization movements (second half of 1950s) and land holdings shifted from individuals to collectives. Consequently, during the 1980s household responsibility system (家庭联产承包责任制), land rights were redistributed via collectives. Nevertheless, in the early 1980s, the land titles were sent to Bao’an, where they are incomplete, but nevertheless have been increasingly used by villagers to make land claims.\n\nThe ongoing construction of Shenzhen has further complicated the actual practice of creating viable historical archives. Theoretically, archives have followed administrative hierarchies. In practice, this means that when an administrative unit is promoted and/or redistricted documents have to be moved from one building to another. For example, the transfer of Bao’an land titles from Huizhou to Bao’an. Moreover, the ongoing construction of Shenzhen municipal and district offices means that these archives have not only been packed and sent to another building, where they may or may not have been unpacked, but also during the redistribution boxes of material have been lost.\n\nOur conversation concluded with the recognition that history — as we are writing it in Shenzhen and I suspect elsewhere — turns on context. Are we responding emotionally to patriotic calls? Or are we developing arguments out of extant documents? In either case, here on the ground, the tension between these two extremes serves to buttress both emotional and documentary uncertainties. When we lack a document, we can turn to the hyperbolic understanding that Shenzhen has always been part of China and when we need to assert the truth of our feelings, we can point to these maps, which although now virtual, continue to reassure us that history is not just of our own making.\n\nthe party’s assets\n\nSo the investigation of the State Assets Administration Committee (国资委) Director, Jiang Jiemin (蒋洁敏) has begun. Just a day after the Bo Xilai trial ended, netizens have described Jiang Jiemin’s corruption as “unbelievable” . How much more off the top can China’s leaders go? Or are we still struggling for a vocabulary to describe the scale and scope of China’s modernization and attendent robber barons?\n\nIn point of fact, Jiang Jiemin did have access to money and resources well beyond Bo Xilai. After all, Bo Xilai only oversaw the assests of Chongqing, one city. In contrast, as Director of the State Assets Administration Committee, Jiang Jiemin oversaw , The all of China’s state-owned industries, including the country’s energy and telecommunications companies, as well as all the natural resources development companies. In everyday language, this extensive monopoly is called “the Party’s assests (党产)”.\n\nThis is the political-economic context in which Shenzhen residents speak of the city becoming more and more like the interior; as the city apparatus increases its regulatory control (through mechanisms such as the urban plan) opportunities to take advantage of the SEZ’s economic boom are increasingly monopolized by the Party State. In turn, second and third generation reds (红二代、红三代 as the children of Party leaders are called) overwhelmingly control opportunities to head these industries.\n\nas chongqing turns: the trial of bo xilai (abridged)\n\n\n\nDay 1\nProsecution: Your wife accepted money.\nDefendant grunts.\nDefendant: Known but not really close.\nProsecution: Did you give favors to this person?\nDefendant: No.\nProsecution: She never mentioned it?\nXu Ming: Yes.\nProsecution: Did he know?\nXu Ming: No.\nProsecution: You mother-fu… Court recess!\n\nDay 2\nDefendant: Have you closed your arguments?\nProsecution: Yes.\nDefendant: Where’s the evidence?\nProsecution: Mother fucker, this isn’t evidence?!\nDefendant: Is it? Enough? (Defendant laughs).\n\nDay 3, morning\nWang: It seems that maybe…yes!\nProsecution: Yes.\nWang: No.\nProsecution: You definitely took bribes!\nJudge: Prosecution, please remember your role…\n\nJudge: Please continue.\nJudge: (speechless)\n\nDay 3, afternoon\nProsecution: We call General Wang Lijun.\nProsecution: General Wang, what do you have to say?\nProsecution: See! Do you see?\nGeneral Wang: I took responsibility for you!\nGeneral Wang: You! (10,000 characters deleted).\nJudge: Court recessed.\n\nyan’an by way of frankfurt\n\nTheodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s 1944 essay The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception helps us think through the idea that capitalism in the West functions like socialism in China. The point, of course, is the attempt to control social processes to benefit a few, whether they be investors (as in the States) or cadres (as in China).\n\nIn the quote below, for example, I have replaced “consumer” with “the People (人民)” and “producers” with “cadres”. Note that as with the critique of censorship in China, Adorno and Horkheimer’s critique of the Western cultural industry focuses on the enforced passivity of the intended audience. Note also that A&H lament the fact that the cultural industry has coopted enlightment to its own ends. Similarly, the critique of cultural production in contemporary China emphasizes how the progressive ideal of liberating workers, peasents, and soldiers has been subordinated to maintaining Party hegemony:\n\nThere is nothing left for the consumer People to classify. Producers Cadres have done it for him. Art for the masses has destroyed the dream but still conforms to the tenets of that dreaming idealism which critical idealism socialism baulked at.\n\nThe result of systematically subordinating human creativity to monolithic ends (profit in the West and political power in China) results in boring, predictable literature and art:\n\n\nAdorno and Horkheimer assumed that the extent to which art and literature liberate or nourish or enhance a human life pivots on the the extent to which an individual actively participates in the realization of a work. They followed Kant in understanding that this participation is rational; the work of appreciation is to classify and organize aesthetic experience, creating a critical consciousness. In the Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art (在延安文藝座談會上的講話), Mao Zedong also posited a beneficial kind of aesthetic engagement, albeit revolutionary rather than critical because he followed Marx. For Mao, socialist art and literature would facilitate the mental work of transforming one’s half-feudal, half-colonial consciousness into revolutionary consciousness.\n\nI’m actually an advocate of both critical and revolutionary consciousnesses, especially when used to hone each other. Today, however, I’m wondering how it is that human societies end up in these painful and painfully similar cultural ruts. In other words: what’s the generalized (or mass) appeal of repeated bouts of boredom? Indeed, maybe what’s at stake isn’t boredom, but rather our anxiety about the fact that true repetition is impossible. In other words, what if we’d rather be bored than confront the irrefutable freshness of every moment? To the extent that we can’t step in the same river twice, it follows that we can’t watch the same movie model opera twice.\n\nThought du jour: when Mickey Mouse stepped through the looking glass, he found himself among a Red Brigade of Women, who were applying to study in the United States, where they might realize their Chinese dreams.\n\naudience passivity in the yan’an talks\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nwhat is the party’s benevolence?\n\nIn news broadcasts and interviews, old peasents frequently evoke “the Party’s benevolence (党恩)” to explain their lives. Young and hip urbanites hear these interviews as more evidence that old peasents are the dupes of corrupt officials. However, when I take the time to listen to an old peasent’s life history, it’s clear that more often than not, these peasents did benefit from the establishment of the People’s Republic.\n\nYesterday afternoon at the Dalang Culture Center, for example, I helped conducted interviews with Uncle Chen and Aunt Zhang for an oral history project. Both Uncle Chen and Aunt Zhang were both born into peasant families in 1930 and 1940, respectively. Auntie’s family owned three single-story houses, while Uncle had left home early because his family did not have room for him. Auntie mentioned that at the turn of the last century, her grandparents went to Singapore to work. Her mother was “brought home” as a child bride for her father. In contrast, Uncle did not mention his family except when asked about how poor his family had been, he remarked that two of his sisters had been sold to strangers, but where they ended up was unclear.\n\nAs a poor man, Uncle could not afford to marry. Instead, he went to find work in Hong Kong. In 1951, Uncle became sick and returned to his hometown, where he could recieve care. In 1952, although he had a sporadic education, Uncle was able to secure the documents necessary to join the first test for admission to the Bao’an Normal School. He passed the test and was admitted to an elementary school teachers program, which was located in the Nantou High School building. Teacher Chen emphasized the extent to which his current wellbeing was a result of the Party’s benevolence. He was assigned to teach at Langkou Elementary School, where he met Auntie.\n\nAs a young girl, Auntie stayed at home and helped her parents. However, when she was 10 years old, Auntie began attending Langkou elementary school because her father asked the school principal to allow her to bring her brother. 10 year-old Auntie strapped her brother to her back and attended classes. At lunch time she fed her brother a bottle of condensed milk that had been thinned with water. Several years later, she carried her sister to school. Altogether, Auntie carried her siblings for six years. At the end of elementary school, Auntie tested into middle school, where she studied elementary education. Auntie emphasized that her teachers like her because she was a good student. Moreover, her younger siblings were well-behaved and didn’t cry during classtime.\n\nAfter Auntie graduated from middle school, she married Uncle, who was still teaching at the village school. Auntie’s mother exhorted her to marrie Uncle because he “could do anything”. Uncle could not give Auntie any presents for the marriage. However, he did have housing at the elementary school, where Auntie was also hired to teach first and third grade. The school was located near Auntie’s parents’ house. Auntie did not attribute any of her life history to the Party’s benevolence, but rather emphasized her family background and her mother’s words.\n\nImplicit in Uncle and Auntie’s simple story were the gendered contours of rural poverty in South China, where one of the most important events of a lifetime was to continue family lines through marriage and children. Uncle and Aunt were born into South Chinese villages, where bringing in wives or selling out daughters was a common practice before 1949. However, they married 10 years after the establishment of the People’s Republic, when some policies had already restructured traditional social structures. Auntie married because her family could afford to give her an education, but not to keep her at home. In contrast, Uncle had delayed marriage until he could afford a family, which was a direct result of attending teaching school. He described that opportunity — and all that followed, a job, a house, and eventually a wife and children — as an expression of the Party’s benevolence.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6157213449478149}
+{"content": "Dimmer and Dumber\n\nToo much time in the dark could impact brain function\n\nMarch 2018\n\nAs diurnal beings, light exposure is important. As well as dictating circadian rhythm, it also impacts other processes, such as wakefulness or mood. But does it also affect brain function during tasks? Research from a team of neuroscientists suggests that insufficient exposure to bright light could impact brain structure and function. The group from Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA, studied how bright and dim light affects hippocampal function in Nile grass rats (which are diurnal, like humans) (1). Following four weeks of exposure to dim light, the rats showed cognitive and behavioral changes, including impairments in spatial memory. Furthermore, hippocampal expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor was reduced, and there was a 30 percent decrease in dendritic connections in the hippocampus (Figure 1). Impairments in functioning and changes in hippocampal structure were reversed after four weeks exposure to bright light.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5853519439697266}
+{"content": "Welcome to WUJA! We are an organization of Undergraduate Journals the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our mission is to promote undergraduate research and encourage young minds to read their peer’s exemplary published material. If you have an interest in submitting to one of our publications, please select the link to go to their website for publishing information.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6666860580444336}
+{"content": "Question Paper on Environmental Studies ( EVS ) GK for Small Kids\n\nEnvironmental Studies is a wonderful subject that provides us information regarding our environment with our relationship with it. This is a question paper containing questions on EVS for small kids. We hope that this paper shall help in gaining some knowledge about EVS.\n\nEVS Question Paper with Answers -\n\nQ. Up to which age does human body grows in terms of height ?\n\nAnswer - 18-20\n\nQ. How many centimeters are there in one inch ?\n\nAnswer - 2.5 cm\n\nQ. Name the sense organs of human beings ?\n\nAnswer - Eyes, Ears, Nose, Skin and Tongue\n\nQ. What do we call the script meant for the blind ?\n\nAnswer - Braille\n\nQ. Which of the following scientists suffered from nervous disorder ?\n\na. Einstein b. Newton c. Stephen Hawking d. None of them\n\nAnswer - c. Stephen Hawking\n\nQ. Who's heart beat is faster - a baby's or an adult's ?\n\nAnswer - a baby's.\n\nQ. What are weeds ?\n\nAnswer - Unwanted plants that grow along with the crop.\n\nQ. How many kinds of teeth are present in the mouth ? Name them .\n\nAnswer - Four types. They are Incisors, Canine, Premolars and Molars.\n\nEVS GK for Small Children\n\nQ. Of which deficiency causes marasmus among the children ?\n\nAnswer - Deficiency of proteins\n\nQ. What causes night blindness ?\n\nAnswer - Deficiency of Vitamin A\n\nQ. Which system does beri-beri disease affect ?\n\nAnswer - nervous system\n\nQ. Of which deficiency causes the disease Scurvy ?\n\nAnswer - Vitamin C.\n\nQ. What happens due of Scurvy disease ?\n\nAnswer - Bleeding Gems\n\nQ. What is the source of Vitamin D ?\n\nAnswer - Milk, Cheese, Eggs and sun bathing\n\nQ. Which disease take place due to deficiency of iodine ?\n\nAnswer - Goiter\n\nQ. Deficiency of iron causes .....\n\nAnswer - Anemia\n\nQ. What is the origin of the word Sport ?\n\nAnswer - French word Desport which means leisure.\n\nQ. What do we call Kabaddi in South India ?\n\nAnswer - Chedu-gudu\n\nQ. What is the martial art of HP ?\n\nAnswer - Thoda\n\nQ. What is the martial art form of Manipur ?\n\nAnswer - Cheibi Gad-Ga\n\nQ. Kalaripayattu is a .......\n\nAnswer - Form of Martial Art of Kerala.\n\nQ. Which game does M.C. Mary Kom belong ?\n\nAnswer - Boxing\n\nQ. Of which country is snake boat race the local game ?\n\nAnswer - Kerala\n\nQ. When was Project Tiger launched ?\n\nAnswer - In 1973\n\nQ. When was wild tea discovered in India and where ?\n\nAnswer - In Assam around 1823\n\nQ. Who had started Chipko movement ?\n\nAnswer - Tribal people of Garhwal under the leadership of Chandi Prasad Bhatt\n\nQ. Chipko Movement is linked with ...........\n\nAnswer - Protection of trees\n\nFor more GK click here.\n\nLeave a Comment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9905614852905273}
+{"content": "banner ad\n\nFinancial experts are frequently asked aboutthe tax impact of damage awards, both paidand received. The complexities of the InternalRevenue Code (IRC) and judicial interpretations thereofmake determining the taxability of receipts or payments difficult.The same is true when dealing with the taxability of economic damages awarded to plaintiffs in civil actions. Nuances in the IRC and the judicial interpretations may make it difficult for a taxpayer to determine the taxability of his or her proceeds from a litigation award of personal economic damages. Whether or not such is taxable often depends on how the award of economic damages is categorized and/or described in the awarding documents.\n\nPhysical Injury and Sickness Awards\n\nUnder IRC Section 61, all sources of income are taxable, regardless of how they are derived, unless excluded in another section of the Code.1 One such exclusion is IRC Section 104(a) that provides:\n\n\n  1. amounts received under workmen's compensation acts as compensation for personal injuries or sickness;\n\nThe tax status of any award of damages is based on the origin of the claim test. As stated in Threlkeld, \"The law is well settled that the tax consequences of an award for damages depend upon the nature of the litigation and on the origin and character\n\nof the claims adjudicated, and not upon the validity of those claims.\"2 Apparently, the theory excluding damage awards for personal physical injury is the absence of an \"origin;\" i.e., physical well-being is not a taxable activity.\n\nThe exclusion of personal physical injury and sickness awards from gross income under IRC Section 104(a) applies regardless of whether the injury or sickness damages were awarded through a verdict or a settlement, and whether the award is paid out in a lump sum or periodic payments. Any portion of the settlement or verdict attributable to medical expenses that had previously been deducted under IRC Section 213 is not excluded from taxpayer's gross income under IRC Section 104(a).\n\n\nSam slipped on some ice on his neighbor's sidewalk and injured his back. He paid $4,000 in medical expenses for the treatment of his injury and deducted $750 of that amount after application of the AGI limitation on the deduction of medical expenses. The following year, he sued his neighbor and was awarded $11,000 in damages, including $4,000 to reimburse him for his medical expenses. Roger may exclude $10,250 of those damages; however, he must include the $750 attributable to the medical expense deduction in his gross income.\n\nAwards for emotional losses may be excluded under IRC 104 if the losses are attributable to personal physical injuries. As stated in Regs. Section 1.104-1(c)(1):\n\n\nAwards in personal physical injury cases are, more likely than not, paid by an insurance company. The typical process is to pay the plaintiff's attorney the award amount as well as sending a 1099 to the attorney. Normally, the attorney will then reimburse the firm for out of pocket costs and remit the fee to the firm with the balance submitted to the client.3\n\nNon-Physical Damages Awards\n\nDamages awarded for lost profits, breach of contract, employment discrimination, and other types of non-physical damages claims are includible in gross income under the origin of the claim test.\n\nPunitive Damages Awards\n\nAwards of punitive damages are not intended to compensate the plaintiff, but rather to punish the defendant when his/her behavior is found to be especially harmful. Accordingly, awards of punitive damages are not excluded from gross income under IRC Section 104.\n\nThere is one narrow exception under which punitive damages may qualify for this exclusion. Punitive damages awarded in a civil wrongful death action can be excluded if the applicable state law in effect on September 13, 1995, provides that only punitive damages may be awarded in such an action [Code Sec. 104(c)].\n\nAwards of Interest\n\nIf a civil damages case is affirmed, any interest allowed by law is payable from the date the judgment under review was entered.4 The amount the court assigns as interest is taxable as interest income5 even if the plaintiff's underlying claim is excluded under IRC Section 104(a)(2).\n\nIf a case is settled out of court, both parties could agree to exclude interest from the settled amount. However, if no understanding of the apportionment of the award is formally written into the settlement contract, the court may allocate a portion of the proceeds as prejudgment interest.6\n\nStandard and Structured Settlements\n\nIf an economic damages claim is settled out of court, the taxability of the awarded damages is not affected by a plaintiff's decision to receive the amount in a lump sum or through a payment plan. The IRS may disagree with the apportionment of the lump sum settlement even if both parties were in agreement.7\n\nIn personal physical injury, wrongful death, and/or workers compensation claims, it is possible for a plaintiff to be paid through a structured settlement annuity,8 whereby a defendant may pay an assignment company to take over his/her long term periodic payment obligation to the plaintiff.\n\nAttorney Fees\n\nTo what extent is the legal fee deductible? If the award is wholly excludible from income under IRC Section 104(a), then Regs. Section 1.265-1(a)(1) indicates none of the legal fees are deductible. If part of the award is exempt and part not exempt, Regs. Section 1.265-1(c) indicates a reasonable proportion of the legal fee may be allocated to both exempt and non-exempt income in light of all the facts and circumstances in each case. The legal fee for nonexempt income will be included in the taxpayer's gross income along with the award and deducted as a miscellaneous itemized deduction.\n\nIn class action lawsuits (such as an employee group seeking lost wages), there is precedent that a successful member of the plaintiff group would not have to include the attorney fees as taxable income.9\n\n\nThe income tax consequences of a plaintiff's receipt of an award of personal economic damages may be difficult to ascertain. Generally, taxability varies based on the nature of the underlying claim (origin of the claim test), how the economic damages are apportioned, and/or whether plaintiff received the amount in a lump sum or structured settlement. This article does not provide legal or professional advice regarding the tax treatment of personal economic damages and it behooves all taxpayers to consult with knowledgeable tax professionals prior to agreeing to a settlement or award of personal economic damages.\n\n\n\n©Copyright - All Rights Reserved", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6027841567993164}
+{"content": "Woods' 75 costs him Australian Open lead\n\nSYDNEY - In the lead for the first time all year, Tiger Woods couldn't break par.\n\n\n\nSenden, who won the Australian Open five years ago, birdied his last two holes to finish off a 9-under 63, giving him a one-shot lead over Jason Day.\n\n\nIn other tournaments\n\nMatthew up by 3 shots - Catriona Matthew shot her second straight 4-under 68 to take a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Guadalajara, Mexico.\n\nMatthew, the 42-year-old Scot who won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2009, had an 11-under 205 total. Suzann Pettersen (71) was second.\n\nSpaniard goes low - Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain shot a 10-under 61 for a three-shot lead at 15-under 127 after the second round of the rain-delayed Singapore Open.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9961163997650146}
+{"content": "Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg\nCAPE TOWN - The development of commercially viable smallholder farmers is a key element in securing a sustainable future for agriculture in the Western Cape.\n\nThis is according to Angus Bowmaker-Falconer, research associate at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), who provided a summary and main findings of the recently released Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Evaluation Report at an event in Stellenbosch last week.\n\n\nHe said one of these benefits was the potential for smart water technology and intelligent irrigation systems to dramatically reduce agricultural water use in the drought-stricken province, while maintaining and improving production levels.\n\n\nThe Western Cape Department of Agriculture, commissioned the USB to provide a detailed report to obtain a strategic outlook on the future for agriculture in the province in the context of the 4IR, the emerging technologies and innovations that could change farming methods and production and the opportunities that these present for a sustainable future for both large and small farmers.\n\n“Agriculture and agri-processing are strategically important sectors for the Western Cape, for their large absorption of unskilled labour and for their economic contribution, accounting for more than 10 percent of the regional economy, more than half of its exports, and 20 percent of South Africa’s agricultural output,”said Bowmaker Falconer.\nHe said the “Agri Renaissance” scenario developed by the USB researches saw agriculture embracing technology such as farm management software, precision agriculture and predictive data analytics, enabling producers to use robotics and drones to monitor crop health, soil quality and weather.\n\n“In this best-case scenario, agriculture will benefit from the innovations of the digital economy, such as blockchain technology to provide product traceability, an increasingly important issue for consumers, and concepts such as the sharing economy and crowdfunding to stimulate the development of commercially viable smallholder farmers and agri-entrepreneurs. \n\n\"By adopting the smart and interconnected technologies of the new industrial era, agriculture in the Western Cape has the opportunity to reposition its brand, engaging consumers through new digital platforms, attracting new career entrants to high-tech employment applications,” said Bowmaker-Falconer.\n\n\nEconomic Opportunities MEC Alan Wind said it was up to the Western Cape to ensure that the province made the most of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and was not stuck in the first, second, or third revolution because it was important for food security across the region.\n\nWinde said key to ensuring an agricultural renaissance would be collaboration, and “connecting the dots” between various players and sectors to ensure that they were able to develop and grow together.\n\n“We need to join the dots between agriculture, health, education and the private sector. We are home to some amazing fintech development and we should be harnessing those skills and ideas in agriculture. I’m pleased with the research finding that there is room to create new jobs and retain people for future skills. We need to be asking ourselves how we are going to get Generation Z to get their boots muddy,” said Winde.\n\nHe said currently, the average age of an artisan in the Western Cape is 60.\n\n“We need to change that so young people have the skills and knowledge that will equip them to be the drone pilots, food technologists, coders and developers that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will require,”said Winde.\n\nBowmaker-Falconer said the scope of the 4IR went beyond smart and connected machines.\n\n“We are pivoting towards a fusion of the physical and the virtual world. Interoperability, advanced artificial intelligence and autonomy are becoming integral parts of a new industrial era. What sets the fourth industrial revolution apart from its predecessors, is that change is not only fast, but is expanding exponentially across multiple areas of a deeply interconnected world, leading to ‘unparalleled paradigm shifts’ in the economy, business and society. Touching every aspect of human life, technology advances are spread widely via the internet, and available at relatively low cost,” said Bowmaker-Falconer.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.999485194683075}
+{"content": "02 Dec 2014\n\n99 hints and tips for a successful survey\n\nSending out a survey to all your email contacts is a simple thing to implement in practical terms. And asking questions that will give the answers you want is usually not a problem either. Doesn't it feel good to get confirmation that you have the best product, that you have put on a great event or that you have the tastiest food of all the restaurants in town?\n\nBut getting the answers you really need to develop your business is another matter entirely. Such questions require reflection, planning and accuracy. To then analyse and use the results in the best possible way is another important and delicate task. Wrong questions or incorrect conclusions from your answers can permanently ruin the trust you have built up in your environment, while asking the right questions and correctly analysing the responses can take your business to new levels.  \n\nSo read carefully through the following list of tips before you send out a survey to customers, guests, members, stakeholders, the public, or whoever it may be.\n\nBefore you begin your survey\n\n1. Decide why you want to do a survey. Answering the question \"why?\" is step one. The most common reason is that information is wanted that will help you as a company, organisation, association or person to develop further in the future. If this is the reason, you should always keep this in mind throughout the survey process. Remind yourself from time to time during the process.\n\n2. Decide on the type of survey. Depending on how you want to develop your business, you can choose between a number of different types of surveys. Decide on one of these and stick with it to avoid giving a fragmented and confusing impression.\n\n3. Do a qualitative survey when you want to target a limited sample that gives in-depth and well-reasoned answers.\n\n4. Do a quantitative survey when you want to provide predetermined answer options and you don't need such nuanced answers. In return, you get a much larger amount of data where you can see what a larger population thinks and trends within different populations.\n\n5. Decide on the form. A digital survey sent via email usually gives the highest response. But in certain circumstances, surveys sent by traditional letter post or in-depth interviews might work better. This is very dependent on the target group that will be answering.\n\n6. Don't be tempted by simplicity. It has become easy and cheap to send out digital surveys. But don't let this be at the expense of quality. Don't ruin your chances by doing something rash. \n\n7. Limit the survey. One of the most common mistakes is wanting to have the answers to all the questions at once. Be aware that you are asking your target group to invest time in you. If you take too much of their time, they will not want to answer.  Limit the number of questions to a minimum.\n\n8. Assess feasibility. Think carefully about how workable/difficult your method is. If you see that it will require too many resources, you should back up a few steps.\n\n9. Don't underestimate the time needed. A well-executed survey takes time in all its stages: preparation, implementation, summary of results and analysis. Be sure that you have plenty of time available for every stage.\n\n10. Estimate the cost. A well-executed survey can (but need not) involve costs.  Make an estimate of what costs there might be. These may apply to graphic design, writing assistance, consulting service for data analysis, the purchase of email addresses, gifts to participants, and so on. Don't let the cost come as a surprise. \n\nIdentify the target group for the survey\n\n11. Decide on the target group. It is easier to design the questions when you know who you want to question. If you are addressing potential customers, for example, the market survey's questions will be designed differently than for existing customers.\n\n12. Do a random sample if you want to be absolutely certain that totally safe conclusions can be drawn for the entire population you want to examine.\n\n13. Don't be fooled by the sample size. Just because you use a large number of individuals, it doesn't necessarily mean that the survey is representative. Spend time on getting the right sample.\n\n14. Choose sampling method. Random sampling means that everyone in the population has the same probability of being selected. Systematic sampling can involve every 50th person in a register. Stratified sampling can mean that the population is divided into a certain age, or a particular gender. Cluster sampling involves natural groupings, such as a school class or a workplace.\n\n15. Use non-random sampling with care. There may be situations where you can use non-random sampling for reasons of cost or where you have no need of totally accurate answers. In such a case, be aware of the following:\n\n16. For telephone directory sampling, you should be aware that only people with phone subscriptions will respond. In addition, only a certain type of working person has the opportunity to answer the phone at certain times of the day. There may be more variables.\n\n17. For a typical sample, you select a number of individuals who you think are typical of the population. But then you are involving your own values, and that should be done with caution.\n\n18. Convenience sampling is done when you select people who are easy to get hold of. They may be family members, neighbours, colleagues, and so on. It is a method that rarely wins scientific acceptance. Only use it if you know that the answers cannot be affected by your relationship to the respondent.\n\n19. Voluntary sampling means that you ask people if they want to participate. Only those who agree to be surveyed respond. Most surveys fall into this category, and can thus be regarded as \"non-random\".\n\n20. Don't forget the non-respondents. Be careful with drawing conclusions about conditions that you know nothing about. Analysis can only be done on available observations, not on that for which there is no data. Do what you can to minimise non-response.\n\n21. Find out the target group's frame of reference. Questions may need to be formulated differently, depending on whether the market survey is targeted solely at women or solely at men. Similarly, if for example it is aimed solely at people interested in boats, people interested in leisure time, or people in general.  \n\nTest the survey\n\n22. Designate a test group. A test group may be needed to detect if the survey contains some hidden problems in its implementation (which it almost always does). The test group should be representatively selected in relation to the entire final group.\n\n23. Do a pilot test. The pilot test is carried out on the group in accordance with the previous point.\n\n24. Evaluate the pilot test and make adjustments. If the evaluation was shown to contain problems, the questions, the questionnaire or some technical detail in the survey tool has to be adjusted. When that is done, you repeat the pilot test.\n\n25. Treat the pilot test with respect. If the pilot test contains abnormalities, these must be corrected. The abnormalities will be even more evident in the main survey.\n\n26. Repeat the pilot test until it is watertight. The last pilot test should function completely without error before it is time to launch the main survey. This is especially true if you are a beginner in the area of surveys. Errors can occur in the most unusual places.\n\nPrepare the respondents\n\n27. Tell them about the time needed. Make it clear to the respondent how long the survey will take. Then he or she can judge for themselves if it's worth spending time on the survey.\n\n28. Let the respondent remain anonymous if you want honest answers. Don't let yourself be tempted by curiosity to know who thinks what.\n\n29. Let the respondent identify him- or herself if you think that you will want to have more information about them after the survey. \n\n30. Make sure that the right person answers. You can't be completely sure that the respondent is the same person you sent the survey to. A manager can, for example, have asked one of his employees to fill in the survey. Always have a space where the respondent fills in their name, and possibly their position.\n\n31. Mention privacy policy. If the survey covers sensitive subjects, you should point out the privacy policy you have regarding answers.\n\n32. Remind the respondents in advance. You can send out emails in advance to tell them that they are going to be in a survey. The chances are then greater that they will take the time to do the survey when it comes.\n\n33. Ask understandable questions. The questions must be easy to understand. Otherwise the survey will not be completed. A common mistake is to ask questions so complicated that the respondent can't be bothered to complete the survey. \n\nAsking the right questions in your survey\n\n34. Avoid complicated words. This is definitely not the time to show off with difficult words. You then run the risk of putting off the respondents. Use as simple words as possible so that everyone can understand.\n\n35. Ask one thing at a time. A question should only be able to result in one answer. If your question could be interpreted in different ways, choose to ask two questions instead. Otherwise you risk both confusing the respondent and getting a misleading answer.\n\n36. Read the question out loud. Maybe to a friend. You or your friend will then notice if it is strangely worded.\n\n37. Provide adequate response options. If the response options are not sufficient to give a correct answer, you risk antagonising the respondent who might leave the survey half completed. Always make sure that the response options cover the question.\n\n38. Don't ask leading questions. Your questions should be of a \"need to know\", not \"nice to know\", nature. You might like to get a response that points in a certain direction. But you should not try to influence the respondent to answer in a certain way. The answers would then be difficult to analyse and misleading.\n\n39. Don't make any groundless assumptions. The question must be based on a neutral assumption. The classic journalist question \"Have you stopped beating your wife?\", is, for example, unanswerable if you have never beaten your wife.\n\n40. Provide help for difficult questions. If the question is difficult, you should include a \"don't know\" option or explain that just a quick appraisal is required. Otherwise, the respondent may leave the survey unanswered.\n\n41. Use \"don't know\" sparingly. Only include the \"don't know\" option where it is needed. Otherwise, the respondent may choose this option without proper consideration.\n\n42. Avoid value-laden words. Use neutral words in your questions so that there will be as little emotional impact as possible on the respondent.\n\n43. Avoid negation. Questions of the type \"Wouldn't it be better...\" contain a negation. This can confuse the respondent and also steer the answer in a particular direction.\n\n44. Avoid imagery. When you ask, \"Do you feel that you are on your knees because of your work situation?\", it can be misinterpreted. Especially if it is directed to a new arrival to Sweden who has not fully mastered the language.\n\n45. Avoid yes/no options in attitude questions. Answers concerning attitudes may need to be qualified.\n\n46. Ask short and concise questions. Once again, remember that you are taking up your respondents' time. Be polite and ask as short questions as possible.\n\n47. Look for precise answers. Try to get the respondent to respond as accurately as possible to your survey questions. It simplifies your analytical work and helps you avoid doubt.\n\n48. Make the questionnaire easy to fill in. The respondent should not have to click back and forth to get to the form. The form should then be as simple and intuitive to complete as possible.\n\n49. Use open-ended questions if you need a balanced and insightful answer. An open-ended question cannot be answered briefly, so be aware that it can be time-consuming to go through the answers.\n\n50. Use closed questions, which give a yes or no answer, if you want to get precise answers from a large target group.\n\n51. Use simple sentences. SVO (subject-verb-object) word order without subordinate clauses or inserted sentences is always preferable.\n\n52. Highlight important words. Write the keywords in the question in bold print. This helps give an understanding of the question.\n\n53. Use questions with response options if you have a large number of respondents and you want to have a high response rate. It's quicker for the respondents to answer these questions.\n\n54. Start your survey with the easy questions. The respondent is then lulled into a sense of security and will be pleased to continue with the following questions. If the first question is too difficult, the respondent may not continue on to the next question. \n\n55. Let the questions follow each other in a natural order. A good question is linked with the previous one. Don't throw the respondent back and forth from one subject to another. Try to gather the questions in thematic groups.  \n\n56. Be consistent with rating scales. If the survey is going to contain rating scales, they should be consistent. If the scale is 1-5, stick to this for the entire survey to avoid confusing the respondent.\n\n57. Use an odd number scale if you want to give the respondent an opportunity to select the middle option. On a scale of one to five, three is the middle option. The respondent doesn't then have to choose sides.\n\n58. Use an even number scale if the respondent is to be forced to pick a side. On a scale of 1 to 4, it isn't possible to choose a middle option. The respondent must in that case choose 2, which leans to the left, or 3, which leans to the right.\n\n59. Vary the questions. This may seem contradictory to what has been stated above. But a certain variation makes the survey a little more entertaining. But it must not vary so much so that it appears disjointed.\n\n60. End with personal questions. More in-depth questions about the respondent as a person should be put at the end of the survey. If they are asked too early the respondent may feel the survey is too intrusive.\n\n61. Finish the survey with a comment box. A final comment box can obtain additional information and answers to questions you have not asked in the survey. But remember that processing and evaluating these comments can be time-consuming.\n\n62. Wait for all the answers. Don't begin analytical work until all answers have been received. It can irritate those that have not yet been able to respond and you also risk making a faulty analysis.\n\n63. Use personal contacts. The closer the relationship you have with the respondent, the greater the chance you have of getting the survey answered. Send to the contacts you have, but also keep in mind that the answer can be influenced by your relationship.\n\n64. Use other language versions. If the market survey is sent to the Nordic countries, you should have it translated into the respective languages. If the questionnaire is sent to different European countries, don't use English for all of them. Have them translated into the respective languages.\n\n65. Tempt them with a gift. It can be effective to promise a scratch card or something similar to those participating in the survey. But keep an eye on the laws in the respective countries.\n\n66. Don't forget to say thanks for participating. A survey that doesn't contain a \"thank you for your help\" when it has been completed is likely to undermine the confidence of the respondents.\n\n67. Send an extra thank you. It doesn't hurt to be extra grateful. After a while, a \"thank you\" email can be sent saying how important the respondent's answer is for the development of the company or organisation.\n\n68. Don't abuse the target group's patience by sending out too many surveys in a short period of time. Focus on quality rather than quantity, and think carefully through each survey.\n\nStudy the results of your survey\n\n69. Remind about the survey. If you don't get as many responses as you want, you can send out a reminder about the survey after a while. You will often get an additional 30 percent of responses.\n\n70. Carry out a non-response analysis if you notice that one of the target groups has a lower response rate than other target groups. Then try to do a separate survey with this target group.\n\n71. Analyse the results. The information you got from the market survey should be examined in an unbiased way. Especially the qualitative parts of it.\n\n72. Let a neutral party examine it. It may be beneficial if an impartial third party compiles the results of the survey so that the analysis is not affected by your wishful thinking.\n\n73. Determine how the results should be used. Go through with your management team how the survey results will be used for your business. \n\n74. Link the analysis to the aim. The aim should always be kept \"top of mind\" when you start analysing the results.\n\n75. Be careful with percent terms. Percent and percentage points are two concepts that can result in big misinterpretations if you can't distinguish between them. An increase or decrease of 10 percent or 10 percentage points can be a huge difference.\n\n76. Keep track of cause and effect. Just because two variations occur simultaneously, it doesn't necessarily mean that one is dependent on the other.\n\n77. Avoid over-interpretation. Just because a curve is going in a certain direction, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will always continue in this direction.\n\n78. Be open to surprise. Even though the survey should always focus on the aim, you should be receptive to any additional information that it may provide. Sometimes this information can be difficult to spot at first sight.\n\n79. Have respect for the subject of statistics. Interpreting statistics is a scientific discipline along with mathematics. A fully-fledged statistician has gone through many years of university studies. As a layman, it's easy to draw wrong conclusions that have far-reaching consequences. If you are not sure, you should consult a professional.\n\nPresenting the results of the survey\n\n80. Make a report. Don't rest on your laurels because you have been told what you want to know. Everyone in your business must have access to the information in a readily comprehensible form. A well-written report will facilitate this. Save the results in a database of experience.\n\n81. Present the analysis results clearly. The results you report should be clear and intelligible, so that all parties involved understand the information given by the analysis. Remember to adapt your presentation to your audience. \n\n82. Use Excel or a similar programme. Put the data from the survey in an Excel document or something similar. The results can then be experimented with by changing the variables to give a picture of the future.\n\n83. Construct a bell curve if you want to show how the distribution of response options has turned out. The mid-point of the bell curve is the average.\n\n84. Make a line chart if you want to study how different phenomena evolve over a period of time.\n\n85. Make a scatter plot if you want to show the analytical units, such as the people in a survey, as points spread over the graph. In such a graph, a straight trend line can be added that provides a measure of developments.\n\n86. Use percentiles if you want to show how, for example, income is distributed in a population or in a group.\n\n87. Use choropleth maps if you want to show how, for example, election results, average income or unemployment is distributed in different geographical areas. The geographical areas are then marked in different colours. \n\n88. Make a bar graph if you want to show how different categories of respondents differ in their responses.\n\n89. Make a time series chart if you want to show how a characteristic of the observed object develops over time at repeated intervals.\n\n90. Make a histogram if you want to show how a characteristic varies in a population or in a sample.\n\n91. Make a pie chart if you want to show proportions of a whole.\n\n92. Present interesting side-effects last of all. When you make your analysis report you should always begin with the real aim of the survey and the results of this. But, towards the end, you can bring up the other interesting results that came from the survey.\n\n93. Use the principle of simplicity. It should be as easy as possible to keep up with and understand the presentation. Choose the presentation method which will enable your audience to understand the results in the fastest possible way.\n\n94. Beware of pitfalls. A graph can drastically change appearance by changing the scale on the axes. A graph where the points are clustered on the y-axis when the scale values on the x-axis are far apart can give an impression of a weak trend, but we get the opposite impression if we plot the same series on a graph where the scale values on the y-axis are far apart and on the x-axis are close together. \n\nAdding to the survey\n\n95. Supplement with personal interviews. If the analysis shows strange, ambiguous or incomprehensible results, you may need to supplement the survey with a sample of personal interviews.\n\n96. Interviews involving sensitive information. Supplement the survey with face-to-face interviews if the questions are of an emotional nature and where subtleties and attitudes are important to examine.\n\n97. Pay attention to your visual senses. If you use interviews as a supplement, you should take note of the communication that takes place outside language - gestures, facial expressions and other visual clues.\n\n98. Save the survey for the future. A survey is not only of short-term interest. It can often be of great value several years after the survey period.\n\n99. Save the survey in several formats. If you want to be able to read and study the results in thirty or forty years time, it can be useful to save the survey in a variety of formats. Who knows what type of data storage we will have in the future? Print out the survey on permanent paper if you want to be sure.\n\nTry our Kurios tool for surveys free.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.853219211101532}
+{"content": "Penn Animal Advocacy encourages people to value animals and seeks to help them in the most effective ways.\n\nWe are based at the University of Pennsylvania, but work with similarly minded groups in Philadelphia.\n\nBy trying to help animals in the most effective ways (i.e. do the most good for animals), we typically focus on animal agriculture, in particular factory farms. Animals are often raised in horrific conditions on factory farms, and over 56 billion farmed animals are killed each year. For people interested in working to improve the lives of animals, there are countless organizations to choose to support, and it can be difficult to know which ones are most effective.\n\nThere are many different approaches that animal charities take, such as:\n\n  • Legal action: Many animal charities bring lawsuits to try and change conditions in factory farms or to try and change the status that animals hold under the law.\n\n  • Education: Animal charities often try to affect the cultural attitude towards animals and the meat industry by handing out pamphlets of information or holding events that they hope individuals on the fence about animal causes will attend.\n\n  • Animal Rescue: Some charities work to save as many farm animals (and abandoned domesticated animals) as they can, not only for the sake of the animals, but also so they can sometimes have the public interact with farm animals to realize that they are more than objects.\n  • Industry exposé: Organizations infiltrate factory farms (often at legal risk themselves) in order to take videos of conditions in the hope of affecting the public’s opinion of the meat industry.\n\nWe hold events at the University of Pennsylvania to assess various ways of helping animals, and to advocate for people to help animals in the most effective ways.\n\nAnimal Charity Evaluators is a very helpful organization that researches many animal charities, determines what they are spending their money on, and how effectively they are spending that money.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9883168339729309}
+{"content": "The 365 Ways Blog\n\n\n10 January 2007\n\nShare your books with the world\n\nLibraryThing is a social network of book lovers. It was created by Tim Spaulding who lives in Chicago. It is the book lovers analogue to Flickr which is an online community around digital photos and around favorite websites.\n\nPeople are defined by what they read, and sometimes a book that someone really likes has the potential to influence others or even to change the whole world.\n\nLibraryThing connects people through their book collections. It allows them to list all their books or just the books they love and want to tell others about. You can browse people’s collections, trade recommendations, and even develop relationships with people who share your interests. It isn't called social networking for nothing.\n\nTo date, more than 39,000 people have listed books on the site, posting information about more than 2.8 million titles.\n\nIf you go to the site, you can search your favorite authors to see how popular they are or read the reviews people have posted about their books. You can find out what books the people who share your passion for a particular author or book are reading. Check out the \"Zeitgeist\" page, where you'll find the top 25 titles, the top 75 authors, the top 75 categories which have been tagged and more.\n\nIt’s easy to catalogue your books. You key give yourself a username and password, and the service is free for the first 200 books, and annual membership costs $10 per annum, lifetime membership $25.\n\nTo start cataloguing, you just enter a title or an author, and the site searches and major library sites for matching books. Then, with another click, you can add the book to your list. If you have a rare or unusual book, you just add it manually.\n\nEach time you add a book, LibraryThing automatically posts an image of its front cover, its date of publication, ISBN (International Standard Book Number), other editions, and where you can buy the book online. You can add tags, a star rating, a Dewey decimal number, the date you acquired the book, the day you started reading, and the date you finished, your own comments, or even a review.\n\nThe site automatically generates book recommendations based on the titles you own. It gives you a list of other users who own the same books. You can track down someone who shares your tastes and request a recommendation from them or ask them if a book you're thinking of buying is any good.\n\nSign up at\n\nAnother way of sharing your books with the world is BookCrossing:\n\nGet a copy of a favourite book, write some comments about what you like it and others should read it in the inside front cover. Log it on the BookCrossing website when it will be given a Unique Reference Number. Download a label to paste into the book with instructions for what to do when you find it… read it and pass it on. And then leave the book somewhere for someone to pick up… hopefully read… and then pass on to someone else. You can track its progress as your book travels the world on the BookCrossing website.\n\nBooks have the power to change people’s thinking, and to change the world. Make the books that have inspired you ambassadors for change.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7325246334075928}
+{"content": "American Flag around Calera AL 35040\n\nThe American Revolutionary War\nHow the American Flag came to be\n\nThe background of the United States is vast and complicated, but can be broken down right into moments as well as time periods that divided, combined, as well as changed the United States into the country it is today. The American flag really did not appear like it does currently. Aside from that, it undertook a lot of modifications and also modifications.\n\nThe American Revolutionary War\n\n\nFor more than 10 years prior to the break out of the revolution in 1775, tensions had been building between colonists as well as the British authorities. These tensions arose from growing tensions in between residents of Great Britain’s 13 North American colonies and the colonial government (which represented the British crown). Attempts by the British government to raise income by collecting tax from the colonies (notably the Stamp Act of 1765, the Townshend Tariffs of 1767 and also the Tea Act of 1773) met with violent protest amongst many colonists, who resented their lack of representation in Parliament and also demanded the very same rights as other British citizens. Colonial resistance resulted in physical violence in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a mob of colonists, eliminating five men in just what was called the Boston Massacre. After December 1773, when a band of Bostonians impersonated Mohawk Indians boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea right into Boston Harbor, a furious Parliament passed a collection of actions (known as the Intolerable, or Coercive Acts) created to reassert imperial authority in Massachusetts.\n\nvia Wikimedia Commons\n\nThe Continental Congress met in May 1775 and also agreed to make an army. George Washington was made its commander-in-chief. Congress wished they might require the British to discuss but George III chose not to negotiate. Instead, in August 1775 he declared that the American colonies remained in a state of disobedience. Rule by royal governor fell down and the individuals demanded government without imperial intervention. In May 1776 Congress determined that royal government ought to cease as well as government ought to be ‘under the authority of individuals’. Consequently the colonies created state constitutions to replace their charters.\n\nBy June 1776, with the Revolutionary War in full swing, an expanding majority of the colonists had come to favor independence from Britain. That same year Richard Henry Lee of the Virginia Assembly offered Congress with resolutions stating the independence of the colonies, requiring a confederation as well as shared the need to find international allies for a battle versus Britain. On July 4th, the Continental Congress voted to adopt the Declaration of Independence, prepared by a five-man committee consisting of Franklin as well as John Adams however written generally by Jefferson. By the fall of 1781, the American army had actually begun to compel the enemy to withdraw to Virginia’s Yorktown peninsula, near where the York River empties right into Chesapeake Bay. Supported by a French military led by General Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau, Washington moved against Yorktown with a total amount of around 14,000 soldiers, while a fleet of 36 French battleships offshore stopped British reinforcement or evacuation. Entrapped as well as subdued, the enemy was required to surrender their whole military. Stating ailments, the British general sent his replacement, Charles O’Hara, to surrender; after O’Hara approached Rochambeau to surrender his sword (the Frenchman deferred to Washington), Washington gave the nod to his own replacement, Benjamin Lincoln, who accepted it. After French support assisted the Continental Army force the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, the Americans had actually successfully won their independence, though combatting would certainly not officially finish up until 1783.\n\nThe movement for American independence effectively triumphed at Yorktown, modern historians did not see that as the definitive success. British and American mediators in Paris authorized initial peace terms in Paris late that November, and on September 3, 1783, Great Britain formally identified the freedom of the United States in the Treaty of Paris.\n\nHow the American Flag happened\n\n\nIn 1818, after a couple of design changes, the United States Congress made a decision to maintain the flag’s initial thirteen stripes and also include new stars to reflect each new state that entered the union.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA publication in Hopkinson’s library at his residence in Bordentown was taken by a Hessian soldier in December 1776, a dark year of the war. The soldier, one I. Ewald, wrote on the within cover that he had actually seen the author near Philadelphia and that he, Ewald, had taken the publication from a great nation seat near Philadelphia. The soldier had created over and also below Hopkinson’s bookplate, which had 3 6 pointed stars and his family slogan, “Semper Paratus”, or “Always Ready”.\n\n\nEven so, nobody can be so certain who produced the American flag. The American flag is the sacred emblem of the nation. It signifies the residents’ birthright, their heritage of freedom acquired with blood and also sadness. The title deed of freedom, which is the country’s to delight in as well as hold in trust for posterity. Infinite alertness is the rate of freedom. As you see the flag silhouetted in front of the calm skies of the nation, you are reminded that the American flag stands for what you are – no more, no much less.\n\nTop American Flags close to Alabama state\n\nAs quoted from the Star Spangled Banner:\n\nO say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,\nWhat so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,\nWhose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,\nO’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?\nGave proof through the night that our flag was still there;\nO say does that star-spangled banner yet wave\n\nZIP codes in Calera we serve: 35040", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9177523851394653}
+{"content": "The Moving Target of Excellence\n\nWhy the End of the Maintenance & Reliability Journey Is Never Over\n\nI am often asked, what is the benchmark for a particular KPI.  At first, I would quickly answer the target from the SMRP Best Practices Guide.   Depending on the organization and the maturity, I would either see their faces light up or see them shut down.   If they shut down, what momentum was present, quickly vanished.  If they were meeting the target (and the KPI and supporting data checked out), the momentum would fade a bit, as they were hitting the target.\n\nAs I learned more, I decided not to answer with the target.  Instead, I would ask where they were in their maturity with spares, work management, their maintenance strategy, etc.   This would give me a baseline to discuss their specific progress against the KPIs in question.  I did this as I have come to learn, that there is no true target, as it is a moving target, which must be reviewed and revised periodically to drive the right behaviors.\n\nWhy Not Have A Defined Target\n\nBy now, you must be asking what the point of is not sharing the best in class targets.  It comes down to the purpose of KPIs, which is to drive behaviors and actions.  If you have a target set too high, you lose motivation, and same goes if it is too low (as they have already achieved it).  You need a challenging target, but realistic in achieving based on the current state of the program.\n\nThis is not to say, that there should not be a short or medium-term target, these are needed to measure progress, but those targets need to be matched to the current state.  As the organization andit’s processes mature, the KPIs should be reviewed and targets revised.\n\nHow to Determine What the Interim Target Should Be\n\nSo how do you determine what the target should be?  Well, there are a few different ways to do so.  The first is to benchmark your current state and determine what is realistic to achieve in the next 6-12 months.  This is a great approach, as the business case and benefits can be calculated and focus applied to the right KPIs.\n\nThe second way is to have an assessment done (internally or externally) and determine where you fall in maturity against others.  This will allow you to make an informed decision on where your target should be based on similar maturities.  The potential downside to this approach is that once again, the targets may be too high or too low.\n\nAfter a period of time has passed, such as 6 or 12 months, the performance against the KPIs should be reviewed.  This will allow the organization to decide if the targets need to be revised (higher or lower).  This is critical as it will ensure the targets stay relevant.  It is also ok to change the KPIs if they are no longer relevant to the organization.\n\nBefore revising the targets, I have to recommend that a detailed review and audit of the KPIs and data is performed.  This will ensure the KPIs are truly reflecting the actual performance.\n\nKPIs Need to Drive the Right Actions, Not Demotivate\n\nKPIs are designed to drive changes in behavior, hence performance, that will make positive changes to the organization.  I have found in the past, that not only can unrealistic targets demotivate, but it can also cause “creative” ways to calculate the performance, resulting in “meeting” the target.  This results in a lack of improvements.\n\nThe importance of selecting the right targets cannot be overlooked, as it can influence the entire program and it is ok to revise the targets as needed.   The right KPIs (including balancing KPIs) need to be selected and the targets based on the current performance of the organization.\n\nThe Never-Ending Journey\n\nSo as a company matures and the performance improves, the targets should be moving as well.  The increments that they move will be greatly reduced as the maturity improves, as the improvements become harder to achieve.  It is this change in expectations and the continued challenge which will drive continuous improvements in the organization.\n\nIf you need any assistance with building a performance management program, please contact for additional information.\n\nI’m James Kovacevic\nPrincipal Instructor at Eruditio\nWhere Education Meets Application\nFollow @EruditioLLC\nFollow @ReliableJames\nFollow @HPReliability", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8081305623054504}
+{"content": "Copper I) chloride, CuCl. White solid (CuClj plus HCJ plus excess copper or SO2). Gives carbonyl and phosphine complexes.  [c.111]\n\nAbsorbing each constituent preferentially by means of a reagent, e.g. CO2 in KOH solution, CO in acid or alkaline CuCl.  [c.186]\n\n\nA propagation step involving growth around an active center follows RCH2—CHCl -h CH2=CHC1 —> RCH2—CHCl—CH2—CHCl and so on, leading to molecules of the structure  [c.21]\n\nOther chlorinated naphthalenes. The other monochloronaphthalene (2-), the ten theoretically possible dichloronaphthalenes, and the fourteen trichloronaphthalenes have all been prepared, generally from the corresponding amino-derivatives by diazotization and treatment with CuCl. They are of little industrial importance.  [c.95]\n\nCopper(II) chloride, CuClj. Dark brown (Cu plus excess CI2) forms green CuCl2,2H20 and many complexes, e.g. CUCI2, pyridine, generally containing bridging chlorines. Complex species, e.g. [Cu CU) \", (CuCl ) yellow or green, are also Known.  [c.111]\n\nCOT is prepared by the polymerization of ethyne at moderate temperature and pressure in the presence of nickel salts. The molecule is non-planar and behaves as a typical cyclic olefin, having no aromatic properties. It may be catalytically hydrogenated to cyclo-octene, but with Zn and dil. sulphuric acid gives 1,3,6-cyclooclairiene. It reacts with maleic anhydride to give an adduct, m.p. 166 C, derived from the isomeric structure bicyclo-4,2,0-octa-2,4,7-triene(I)  [c.122]\n\nThe diazonium salts usually decompose when warmed with water to give a phenol and nitrogen. When treated with CuCl, CuBr, KI, the diazo group is replaced by chlorine, bromine or iodine respectively (Sandmeyer reaction). A diazonium sulphate and hydroxyl-amine give an azoimide. The diazonium salt of anthranilic acid (2-aminobenzoic acid) decomposes to give benzyne.  [c.133]\n\nGattermann-Koch reaction Formylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon to yield the corresponding aldehyde by treatment with CO, HCl and AICI3 at atmospheric pressure CuCl is also required. The reaction resembles a Friedel-Crafts acylation since methanoyl chloride, HCOCl, is probably involved.  [c.187]\n\nPoJy (3,3-bis (chloromethyl) oxelane), chlorinated polyether (R CHiCl) is widely used for injection moulding and coaling.  [c.292]\n\nBy oxidation with permanganate it forms pinonic acid, C,oH,<503, a monobasic acid derived from cyclobutane. With strong sulphuric acid it forms a mixture of limonene, dipentene, terpinolene, terpinene, camphene and p-cymene. Hydrogen chloride reacts with turpentine oil to give CioHijCl, bomyl chloride, artificial camphor .  [c.315]\n\nSandmeyer s reaction The replacement of a diazonium group by a halogen or pseudohalogen atom or group. It allows the conversion of an aromatic primary amine into the corresponding halogen compound. The amine is diazotized, and the diazonium salt solution is treated with CuCl, etc., causing the evolution of nitrogen and isolation of the halobenzene. Chloride, bromide and cyanide react easily potassium iodide is sufficient for preparation of the iodo-compound. Aromatic fluorides are prepared after isolation and thermal decomposition of the diazonium fluoroborate salt. See also Gattermann s reaction.  [c.351]\n\nSee pages that mention the term Cochlea : [c.16]    [c.21]    [c.22]    [c.40]    [c.40]    [c.102]    [c.21]    [c.37]    [c.61]    [c.61]    [c.70]    [c.75]    [c.75]    [c.85]    [c.95]    [c.103]    [c.104]    [c.111]    [c.111]    [c.118]    [c.121]    [c.122]    [c.122]    [c.123]    [c.123]    [c.123]    [c.131]    [c.135]    [c.135]    [c.202]    [c.230]    [c.237]    [c.242]    [c.270]    [c.271]    [c.274]    [c.338]    [c.351]    [c.359]   \nIndustrial ventilation design guidebook (2001) -- [ c.1422 ]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.946274995803833}
+{"content": "recipe how to cook chicken wings\n\nRecipe How To Cook Chicken Wings >\n\nRecipe How To Cook Chicken Wings, man vs food spicy chicken wings recipe\n2ed2f023e9 easy canned chicken quesadilla recipe\nimmune boosting chicken soup recipe\nfrench food coq au vin recipe chicken\nchicken salad sandwich recipe easy chicken salad recipe\nchicken a l'orange recipe food network\n\npie recipe by vah chef chicken\nonion rings batter recipe crispy chicken\nrecipe for homemade vegetable soup with chicken\npa dutch chicken corn soup with rivels recipe\nchicken parm recipe for 2\nfried rice chicken recipe nz immigration\nwendy's southwest chicken salad recipe\ncreamy chicken pasta sauce recipe\nchicken and cheese quesadilla recipe ideas\nchicken 65 recipe by shireen anwer recipe\n\nbroasted chicken recipe al baik garlic sauce\nchicken samosa recipe by khana pakana in urdu\nchicken breast with roasted vegetables recipe\nfabio viviani chicken piccata recipe\norange cake recipe by vah chef chicken 65\nbaked chicken recipe corn flakes\nhot madras curry chicken recipe\nchilli fish dry recipe for chicken\nlaura vitale recipe for chicken wings\njambalaya pasta applebees recipe for chicken\n\nchicken korma ground cashews recipe\npulled chicken crock pot recipe paleo dessert\n\ncrock pot chicken tetrazzini recipe\nsimple chicken and mushroom pizza recipe\ncarrabba's spicy chicken soup recipe\nhealthy chicken fajita recipe bodybuilding\nchicken cabbage stir fry recipe easy\nherbes de provence roasted chicken recipe\neasy chicken enchilada recipe with cream cheese\nchicken in peanut tomato sauce recipe\nchicken and cheese crispito recipe videos\ncurry chicken wings recipe jamaican jerk\nparmesan chicken recipe with hellman's mayo\nthai curry chicken puff recipe\nnamkeen gosht recipe by chef zakir chicken\nslow cooker green curry chicken recipe\nono hawaiian bbq chicken katsu recipe panlasang\nhard rock cafe chicken tenders recipe\nsour cream chicken enchiladas with green chilis recipe\nchicken parmesan recipe no breading\nbesan ke ladoo recipe by shireen anwer by chicken\n\nny chicken and rice recipe\n\nbaked chicken coconut milk recipe\nchicken stuffed with sage butter recipe\nchicken fajita quesadilla recipe easy\ncurry chicken recipe jamaican style fish\nskinnytaste chicken cordon bleu recipe\nrecipe for fried chicken livers and onions\nchicken breast mediterranean diet recipe\npillsbury super easy chicken pot pie recipe\nrecipe for making italian chicken sausage\n\ntandoori chicken recipe hindi mega\ngood recipe with chicken drumsticks\ndifferent recipe for chicken breasts\nbest chicken biryani rice recipe\nbuckhead cafe chicken salad recipe\nhunter chicken recipe rob feenie", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000100135803223}
+{"content": "People dunhill pipe dating guide\n\nYou only have 30 days to build a strong enough connection to your potential partner to be.\n\nUpdating 1920 s home wiring Free mature sex chat room\n\nRated 3.93/5 based on 778 customer reviews\nspeed dating ct event Add to favorites\n\nOnline today\n\nWhat is the difference between cloth wiring and insulated cloth wiring? Is the attached picture insulated cloth wiring or cloth wiring? I have been asked to specify on my 4-point, if it is insulated or not...Citizens will allow insulated cloth wiring but not plain cloth wiring. If it is two wires wrapped in cloth which enters the sub panel, is it just cloth wiring?Some city regulations don't allow a garbage disposal on a septic tank.Ours is kind of kludged with the switch under the sink because it was an after-inspection add-on to the house when it was built.\n\nReinforced concrete was also used extensively in bridge building.\n\nA desireable feature of 1920's homes found especially in bungalows was the breakfast nook.\n\nIt was a compact space-saving eating area located near the kitchen and in smaller homes it replaced the dining room or saved the dining table from taking up lounge room space.\n\nPutting chopped up food material (especially vegetables) can really clog up your leech field and lead to costly [email protected] Fx: Yeah, we're really careful about what we put down ours.\n\nPretty much only whatever we can't scrape off into the garbage first.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8636536598205566}
+{"content": "I once got inspired by a guy who quite often made questions that does not seem to have anything to do with the topic. According to himself, they were so called rhetorical questions, which means there are no reply expected. I'm not sure if they really were such thing because at least I would still expect them to be on topic. Although, one can always build a some sort of a \"pons asinorum\" between the topic and any comment.\n\nNevertheless, what especially interests me about these rhetorical questions is what said on \"mighty WikiPedia\":\n\nIt is also common to use a rhetorical question to bring an end to a debate or to finalize a decision.\n\nThis means the so called rhetorical question may work as a discussion killer even if it is not on topic. So, if you want to silence the room, then just ask something where no one can answer.\n\nBut what all this has to do with art? And that was not a rhetorical question. Well. I see art as a rhetorical question. In a way work of art stop us and challenge us to think what it is about. Or that's what it can do at its best. If it does not stop us to think some specific dilemma that has no solution, like probably Picasso's Guernica, then it may stop us asking: \"Isn't this perfect?\"\n\nThis does not mean a piece of art is really perfect, but an artist who made it may think so. Artist may have put a lot of effort to make a certain statement, to make other peeps stop and look at the piece of art, maybe even in admiring silence.\n\nBut is that what art should do, to stop us admire the work of art?\n\nI have started to think art should inspire instead of trying to stop us. Art should make us join and participate into process of art. It should challenge us all to create and continue from the very spot where one work ends. So, for example a kid could take a print of Guernica and start coloring it with bright colors and draw happy faces on gloomy and suffering figures.\n\nThat is why I have slowly started to respect a certain graffiti art where new work is painted over the old ones. I know graffiti is usually also meant as final work and no one is really supposed to paint over it. But that is what often happens. At least in some point those who hate graffiti comes and paint the wall blank, and then process may start again.\n\nBut in true interactive art project there would be no blank canvas once started. It can continue till forever.\n\nAnd that is what I once tried in photography, when I challenged people to take pictures that can be joined together. There are also other versions on this like theme photography. A group of people are challenged to shoot on the same theme. But that really is not what I mean. The pictures in true collaborative or co-operative project should form a giant piece of art when put together.\n\nAlternatively works could discuss with each other in some level. Like there are some games where each participant are asked to write a short part of the story, which then may continue forever.\n\nAnd another option is to take anything as a source of inspiration and make something new out of it, BUT also try to challenge others to do the same. That is how I used those rhetorical questions in my paradox project.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6892670392990112}
+{"content": "Office of Research Ethics and Integrity\n\nDo I need approval?\n\nWhether a particular activity requires University Animal Ethics Committee (UAEC) approval depends on whether or not the activity meets the following three criteria:\n\n  1. Involves a legally defined 'animal'\n  2. Includes 'use' of the animal\n  3. The use is specifically 'for a scientific purpose'\n\nEnsure that you understand the definitions of 'scientific purposes', 'animal' and 'use' according to the Animal Code and legislation.\n\nIf a project meets all three criteria above, UAEC approval is required.\n\nThere can be 'grey areas', particularly in assessing 'use' of an animal. For example, use of an animal can include observational activities, collection of scats, photographic, sound or digital recordings, even if interaction with animals is not the primary purpose of the activity. This is because it may disrupt the habitat and wellbeing of the animals – e.g. undertaking drone work near a bird habitat.\n\nIf you think your project does not require UAEC approval, please review our Tissue Use and Outside Scope information or email us to discuss and confirm requirements. It is your obligation to seek the correct approvals.\n\nPlanning to work outside Queensland?\n\nThere is variation in the statutory requirements of each state and territory in Australia. If you plan to care and use animals for scientific purposes in states and territories other than Queensland, please call 07 3138 2340 or email us as soon as possible; there may be additional accreditations that QUT and the University Animal Ethics Committee (UAEC) may need to obtain, which can take some months.\n\nLicences and permits\n\nYou may need to obtain other approvals, authorisations, permits and/or licences before you can commence your project. It is the responsibility of each investigator, and particularly the Project Supervisor, to ensure that all the necessary documentation has been obtained from the relevant authorities, so make sure you find out what you need early when planning your project. See Wildlife licence and permit schemes in Australia for links to relevant goverment authorities.\n\nFrequently asked questions\n\nDo I need UAEC approval:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9796337485313416}
+{"content": "United Air removes couple traveling to wedding from plane\n\nAn engaged couple were removed from a United Airlines flight to Costa Rica on Saturday, as the airline remained under scrutiny following outrage caused by a video last week of a passenger being forcibly removed from a flight.\n\nAccording to the couple, who said they were en route to get married, a federal marshal had escorted them from the plane before take-off from Houston, Texas, but United denied this on Sunday, saying in a statement that neither a marshal nor other authorities was involved.\n\nThe couple \"repeatedly attempted to sit in upgraded seating which they did not purchase and they would not follow crew instructions to return to their assigned seats,\" United said in a statement, adding, \"They were asked to leave the plane by our staff and complied.\"\n\nThe statement from a United spokeswoman said the airline offered the couple a discounted hotel rate for the night, and rebooked them on a Sunday morning flight.\n\nBut Michael Hohl and his fiancée, Amber Maxwell, told KHOU they tried to pay for upgraded seating and were denied, after finding another passenger sleeping across their seats when they were the last to board.\n\nAfter moving within the economy cabin a few rows up, flight crew denied their request to pay a supplement for the seats, which United sells as \"economy plus,\" and told them to move back to their original seats, Hohl said.\n\n\"We thought not a big deal, it's not like we are trying to jump up into a first-class seat,\" Hohl told KHOU. \"We were simply in an economy row a few rows above our economy seat.\"\n\nThe airline suffered a public relations disaster after a video emerged a week ago showing security officers dragging a bloodied passenger off an overbooked United Express flight in Chicago.\n\nShares in United's owner, United Continental, were hammered, dropping 4 percent last week to close at $69 on Thursday, reducing the company's market cap by $770 million to $21.5 billion. Markets were closed on Friday.\n\nDr. David Dao, the 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor who was seen in video being dragged off a United flight a week ago, will likely sue the airline, his attorney said on Thursday.\n\nAfter the incident triggered international outrage, United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz apologized to Dao, his family and its customers, saying the carrier would no longer use law enforcement officers to remove passengers from overbooked flights.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5933128595352173}
+{"content": "The Best Type of Evergreen Privacy Hedge\n\nThe best type of evergreen privacy hedge is a dense barrier to sight, sound and wind, fast-growing to the height you want it to reach and low-maintenance. Most evergreens used for hedging meet these criteria, although there are poor choices, too. Avoid holly with prickly leaves if you have pets or children or like to walk barefoot in your yard. Although it is evergreen, it sheds and renews its leaves.\n\nHedges are living garden walls.\n\nFast Growers\n\nIf you need privacy fast, English laurel, Portuguese laurel and wax-leaf privet grow quickly and thickly. The laurels will need yearly trimming once they reach hedge height. Left unpruned, they grow to 20 feet, at a rate of about 5 feet a year. Wax-leaf privet grows to 12 feet.\n\nChoices for Shade\n\nIn the shade, Japanese holly, which has non-spiny leaves and grows to 10 feet, makes a dense hedge that is easily trimmed. Sky pencil holly grows to 10 feet in a columnar shape 2 feet wide. It has dark green boxwood-like leaves. Densa, an inkberry holly variety, also reaches 10 feet. Yew, a dark-needled conifer, also tolerates shade. The Hicks yew grows to 12 feet in 10 years, 20 feet at maturity.\n\n\nArborvitaes are the easiest choice for an evergreen hedge. They require little or no pruning, grow to 20 feet and can be purchased economically in large sizes. Green emerald, a common variety for urban gardens, grows to 12 feet. The green giant variety grows to 30 feet at a rate of 5 feet a year once established. Arborvitaes are drought-tolerant and disease-resistant.\n\n\nFor a healthy hedge, don't space the plants too tightly, or they will crowd each other when they mature, causing disease and insect problems because of lack of air circulation and light. Five feet apart is a good rule of thumb. Instead of a straight row, planting in a zigzag pattern can be more interesting and allows sunlight to reach all sides of the plant.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8185773491859436}
+{"content": "Move Over WIMPs: New Dark Matter Candidate Can Explain Mysteries of the Universe\n\nThe mysterious dark matter that makes up around 80 percent of mass in the universe may finally have a name—SIMP, or “strongly interacting massive particles.”\n\nThe concept of SIMP was first theorized three years ago by Hitoshi Murayama and Yonit Hochberg, physicists based in Japan and Israel. On Monday, Murayama presented new observations from colliding galaxies at the 29th Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics that he believes supports the existence of SIMPs.\n\nAccording to theoretical physics, everything we can see in the universe is kept in place by invisible, gravity-wielding matter. Without dark matter, galaxies would be ripped apart.\n\nLargely because it is so hard to observe, dark matter is incredibly hard to understand. Some astrophysicists claim that it may not even exist. However, the strange substance remains one of the most important theoretical entities in modern physics.\n\n12_5_Galaxies collide Chandra Space Telescope watches two galaxies collide and merge. SIMPs could explain the strange activity of dark matter around such events. Stuart Rankin/Chandra Space Telescope/Flickr\n\nBefore Murayama and Hochberg put forward their theory of SIMPs, two concepts, called MACHOs and WIMPs, competed to explain the elusive particles.\n\n12_4_Atom The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons, pictured here in red and green. Mortdefides/Djuneyt_tr/WikiMedia Commons\n\nMACHOs—or massive astrophysical compact halo objects—are dark objects made from protons and neutrons, such as black holes and burned-out stars.\n\nPhysicists used to believe that dark matter might be made up of these invisible celestial bodies. However, in October, scientists who'd made observations using the Subaru Telescope didn’t find enough MACHOs to account for the abundance of dark matter theorized.\n\n“That study pretty much eliminated the possibility of MACHOs; I would say it is pretty much gone,” Murayama said in a press release.\n\nWIMPs—or weakly interacting massive particles—have also faced their share of problems. WIMPs are quite large, with a mass around 100 times the size of a proton. They should interact with normal particles far more often than with other WIMPs.\n\nWIMPs were believed to attract normal particles, like a magnet and iron filings. Matter would build up around WIMPs, eventually becoming stars.\n\n12_5_Large Hadron Collider The Large Hadron Collider searches for new elementary particles like SIMPs, pictured October 11, 2014. Thomas Cizauskas/Anthos Media/Flickr\n\nHowever, small galaxies present a problem for WIMP theory, as Murayama explained: “There has been this longstanding puzzle: If you look at dwarf galaxies, which are very small with rather few stars, they are really dominated by dark matter. And if you go through numerical simulations of how dark matter clumps together, they always predict that there is a huge concentration towards the center. A cusp.\n\n\nParticles which attract normal matter—but not things like themselves—fail to mathematically predict a core distribution.\n\nSIMPs supported by dwarf galaxies, galaxy collisions\n\nSIMPs, Muramaya believes, offer a better alternative to WIMPs. “If dark matter has a finite size, like a SIMP, the particles can go ‘clink’ and disperse themselves, and that would actually flatten out the mass profile toward the center,” he explained.\n\nThe SIMP would be about the size of an atomic nucleus—far smaller than a WIMP. This means there could be more of them floating about the universe, which would compensate for their weaker interactions with normal matter.\n\nMuramaya's SIMP-based explanation for dark matter explained a curious observation at the site of four colliding galaxies. Around the Abell 3827 cluster, dark matter appears to have merged much more slowly than visible matter.\n\nMuramaya explained that dark matter particles must have a finite size. This causes them to scatter against each other and be “pushed back” by the luminous matter.\n\nParticle accelerators like the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva will soon be used to investigate whether SIMPs actually exist.\n\nIn the meantime, physicists are still searching for WIMPs.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9556844830513}
+{"content": "Art Gallery of Ontario\nToronto, Canada\n\nTo support Riopelle/Mitchell: Face to Face, an exhibition co-organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. This exhibition is devoted to the personal and artistic relationship between American Joan Mitchell and Canadian Jean-Paul Riopelle, illuminating the roles these painters played within the Parisian and international abstract movements. The exhibition is accompanied by a bilingual catalogue for English- and French-language readers.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9979362487792969}
+{"content": "How I came to be content being a misfit in the Christian community\n\nA couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak for the first night of Southern Adventist University's Student Week of Prayer. The theme was \"Radically Chosen,\" and we were asked to share about our experiencing choosing to follow God. \n\nFor me, choosing to follow God is intricately tied up with my sense of \"identity.\" As a Mexican-American immigrant, I have spent most of my life hoping to \"fit in\" and building my sense of comfort off of how well I belonged. Nevertheless, I still have struggled with feelings of loneliness, isolation, and being miscast.\n\nIn the following message, I share how God taught me to be content being a misfit and why a little doubt and a little anger in your spirituality isn’t the end of the world when you’re being held by the most compassionate arms in the universe. (My message begins at 22:00)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5222771167755127}
+{"content": "Mudavadi: Raila-Uhuru agreement is selfish\n\nU.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson\n\nU.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson\n\nThe Governor hailed the two leaders for their courage in uniting the country after a prolonged divisive electioneering period that saw Odinga lead the opposition in refusing to recognize the legitimacy of President Kenyatta.\n\nIn their joint address, President Kenyatta said: \"We will begin a process of discussing what ails us and what creates division amongst us\".\n\n\"I heard the three complaining of being left out in the talks, but I am wondering why because they were the first to be approached but turned us down fearing that they would be branded traitors\", the senator said.\n\nSpeaking at press conference in the capital Narobi, Mr Tillerson also stressed on the USA and Kenya's \"shared fight against terrorism\", referring to Kenyan troops serving in Somalia.\n\nToys R Us reportedly considering closing all U.S. stores\nCiting a source who asked not to be named, Bloomberg reported that the search for a buyer for the company had not been successful. Joint administrator Simon Thomas said: \"We've introduced heavy discounts across the entire Toys R Us store portfolio today\".\n\n\nThe election season blunted growth in Kenya, East Africa's richest economy and a Western ally in a volatile region.\n\n\nAbout 150 people were killed in the aftermath of the election, which Mr Kenyatta won after an opposition boycott. It does not bear the imprint of NASA Summit as it ought to be.\n\nConsumer spending makes up more than two-thirds of the US economy and much of that is spent in stores and online. Talk of the tariffs brought warnings of a trade war from Europe and China.\n\n\nAllies in Odinga's NASA coalition, including his running mate in last year's poll, Kalonzo Musyoka, said they were not aware of the meeting and promised to give a detailed statement later.\n\nOne lawmaker said Kenyatta, who is in his final term, and Odinga, who turned 73 in January, may be keen on securing their legacies with the new found unity of goal.\n\n\"\"The 'bridges\" Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta are talking about and intend to build will turn Kenya into an authoritarian and despotic Kenyatta and Odinga Monarchy\".\n\nBrown and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra are directly named in the suit - and are ready for the fight. Schaaf issued an unusual public warning last month about an immigration operation in Northern California.\n\nWith the country at breaking point and growing political and economic injustices reigniting deeply ethnic hatreds, Raila Odinga chose yet again a path he often has: the path of negotiation rather than confrontation to right the wrongs and protects the people from the horrors that this drawn-out, looming conflict posed.\n\nRecommended News\n\nThank you for taking the time to offer your thoughts.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8794872164726257}
+{"content": "Sensimmer Virtual Phaco Trainer for Cataract Surgery\n\n\nPrincipal Investigator: P Pat Banerjee\nAbstract: DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The SENSIMMER\" Virtual Phaco Trainer for Cataract Surgery is a hardware and software solution aimed at a worldwide market of ophthalmology residency programs (including 118 programs in the US). It is developed by the US small business concern ImmersiveTouch-Sensimmer Inc. (Westmont, IL), in collaboration with the surgery simulation team at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) under PI Prof. Pat Banerjee, president of ImmersiveTouch-Sensimmer. The virtual trainer supports the teaching of cataract surgery by phacoemulsification (\"phaco\"). Phase I produced a prototype capsulorhexis trainer, now being perfected under an NEI-ARRA supplement. Phase II proposes to create a phacoemulsification trainer and to validate both trainers. Task 1. Validate post-ARRA Phase I capsulorhexis simulator. Validation was not funded in Phase I. Validation aims at showing face, construct, and concurrent validity of capsulorhexis. The scoring system of the capsulorhexis simulator includes the number of separate forceps grabs of the lens capsule membrane during capsulorhexis, the number of hits of the lens with the forceps, and the total time for the capsulorhexis. Qualitative factors such as optimal size and shape of the capsular tear and avoidance of errors such as radial tear, corneal incision stress, and corneal touches have recently been added. A system for scoring live operative performance and relating this to simulator performance still needs to be devised and validated. Task 2. Develop a Phase II capsulorhexis simulator. The Phase I simulator aims to simulate only a single standard case of capsulorhexis for verification. Commercialization will require a Phase II capsulorhexis simulator for individual patient variations. Patient variations can affect the visibility or accessibility of the anterior capsule and the rhexis edge (corneal opacity, vitreous opacity, deep set eye, anterior chamber depth, cortical cataract) as well as the mechanical stability or material properties of the eye and lens capsule (involuntary eye movement, posterior synechia = iris attached to lens, weak zonules, high vitreous pressure, capsular thickness and fragility in young vs. old, calcified plaque on anterior capsule). Task 3. Develop a phacoemulsification simulator. The trainee uses both hands and both feet: right hand = phaco handpiece;left hand = nucleus manipulator;right foot = phaco pedal;left foot = microscope adjustment. Real foot pedals (e.g., Alcon) will be used, and the phaco foot pedal will control three modes of the virtual phaco tip: (1) irrigation;(2) irrigation + aspiration;(3) irrigation + aspiration + ultrasound power. The SENSIMMER will simulate the phaco tip in virtual reality and model the instrument handle by the handle of the SensAble Phantom Omni haptic robot. The trainer will be capable of simulating standard surgical techniques (e.g., phaco chop;divide and conquer) and unusual clinical cases (e.g., weak zonules). The trainee will learn to control the rate of both fluid flow and ultrasonic power. Task 4. Validate the phacoemulsification simulator. Validation will again aim at demonstrating face, construct, and concurrent validity, as defined above. This will require developing scoring systems for both simulated and live phacoemulsification. The scoring system for simulated phacoemulsification will include factors such as total time for the operation, efficiency of instrument tip handling as measured by total tip path length, and appropriate use of phaco power settings to avoid thermal damage to the cornea. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: ImmersiveTouch-Sensimmer, Inc. develops innovative augmented virtual reality software SENSIMMER\" for surgical training of residents in such fields as neurosurgery and ophthalmology. In collaboration with the University of Illinois at Chicago, the Partnership proposes to develop and commercialize its training modules for cataract surgery. Following STTR Phases I and II, the SENSIMMER Virtual Phaco Trainer will include well developed modules for the two most difficult part-tasks of cataract surgery: capsulorrhexis and phacoemulsification.\nFunding Period: 2008-07-01 - 2013-08-31\nmore information: NIH RePORT", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6473884582519531}
+{"content": "Algebraic L-theory and Topological Manifolds by A. A. Ranicki\n\nBy A. A. Ranicki\n\nThis booklet provides the definitive account of the functions of this algebra to the surgical procedure category of topological manifolds. The crucial result's the id of a manifold constitution within the homotopy form of a Poincaré duality area with an area quadratic constitution within the chain homotopy form of the common conceal. the adaptation among the homotopy sorts of manifolds and Poincaré duality areas is pointed out with the fibre of the algebraic L-theory meeting map, which passes from neighborhood to worldwide quadratic duality buildings on chain complexes. The algebraic L-theory meeting map is used to provide a in basic terms algebraic formula of the Novikov conjectures at the homotopy invariance of the better signatures; the other formula inevitably components via this one.\n\nShow description\n\nRead Online or Download Algebraic L-theory and Topological Manifolds PDF\n\nBest topology books\n\nGeometric topology, Volume 2, Part 2\n\nThis can be half 2 of a two-part quantity reflecting the lawsuits of the 1993 Georgia overseas Topology convention held on the collage of Georgia throughout the month of August. The texts comprise examine and expository articles and challenge units. The convention coated a wide selection of issues in geometric topology.\n\nGeometry of Polynomials\n\nThrough the years because the first variation of this recognized monograph seemed, the topic (the geometry of the zeros of a posh polynomial) has persisted to demonstrate an identical striking energy because it did within the first one hundred fifty years of its background, starting with the contributions of Cauchy and Gauss.\n\n\nThe middle of quantity three comprises lecture notes for seven units of lectures Hilbert gave (often in collaboration with Bernays) at the foundations of arithmetic among 1917 and 1926. those texts make attainable for the 1st time an in depth reconstruction of the speedy improvement of Hilbert’s foundational inspiration in this interval, and express the expanding dominance of the metamathematical viewpoint in his logical paintings: the emergence of recent mathematical good judgment; the specific elevating of questions of completeness, consistency and decidability for logical platforms; the research of the relative strengths of varied logical calculi; the beginning and evolution of evidence idea, and the parallel emergence of Hilbert’s finitist perspective.\n\nElementary Topology\n\nTopology is without doubt one of the so much speedily increasing components of mathematical proposal: whereas its roots are in geometry and research, topology now serves as a strong instrument in virtually each sphere of mathematical examine. This ebook is meant as a primary textual content in topology, available to readers with at the least 3 semesters of a calculus and analytic geometry series.\n\nExtra info for Algebraic L-theory and Topological Manifolds\n\nSample text\n\nThe pair is B-contractible, C-Poincar´e and the boundary is D-Poincar´e). Define inverse isomorphisms ≃ Ln−1 (A, C, D) −−→ Ln (F ) ; (C, ϕ) −−→ ((C, ϕ), (C−−→0, (0, ϕ))) , ≃ Ln (F ) −−→ Ln−1 (A, C, D) ; (f : C−−→D, (δϕ, ϕ)) −−→ (C ′ , ϕ′ ) with (C ′ , ϕ′ ) the (n − 1)-dimensional symmetric complex in (A, C, D) obtained from (C, ϕ) by algebraic surgery on the n-dimensional symmetric pair (f : C−−→D, (δϕ, ϕ)) in (A, B, C). (ii) As for (i), with symmetric replaced by quadratic. 9 (ii) to obtain a quadratic structure on the effect of surgery on a normal pair.\n\n10 The n-dimensional for n ∈ Z. Proof The functor S 2 : B (A)−−→B (A) is an isomorphism of additive categories. g. g. 3. (i) The quadratic L-groups of Aq (R) for q = h (resp. p) are the free (resp. projective) versions of the 4-periodic quadratic L-groups of Wall [180] Ln (Aq (R)) = Lqn (R) (n ∈ Z) . ´ complexes 1. Algebraic Poincare 33 (ii) The symmetric L-groups of Aq (R) for q = h (resp. p) are the 4-periodic versions of the free (resp. projective) symmetric L-groups of Mishchenko [115] Ln (Aq (R)) = lim Ln+4k (R) = Ln+4∗ (R) (n ∈ Z) .\n\nThe total complex is the chain complex HomA (C, D) defined by ∑ dHomA (C,D) : HomA (C, D)r = HomA (C−p , Dq ) p+q=r −−→ HomA (C, D)r−1 ; f −−→ dD f + (−)q f dC . Define Σn C to be the chain complex in A with dΣn C = (−)r dC : (Σn C)r = Cr−n −−→ (Σn C)r−1 = Cr−1−n . The nth homology group Hn (HomA (C, D)) (n ∈ Z) is the abelian group of chain homotopy classes of chain maps f : Σn C−−→D. The isomorphisms of chain objects ≃ (Σn C)r = Cr−n −−→ (S n C)r = Cr−n ; x −−→ (−)r(r+1)/2 x define an isomorphism of chain complexes Σn C ∼ = S n C.\n\nDownload PDF sample\n\nRated 4.26 of 5 – based on 17 votes", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5589839816093445}
+{"content": "The Trump Organization Just Told Congress Complying with Constitution Is ‘Impractical’\n\nThe Constitution has been clear for centuries on prohibiting presidents from enriching themselves. But that isn’t stopping the Trump Organization.\n\nEarlier on Wednesday, it was revealed that the Trump administration wasn’t properly tracking payments foreign governments made to its businesses, like the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC. This is despite Trump promising prior to his inauguration that all payments made by foreign governments to any of his real estate properties would be donated to the U.S. Treasury.\n\nHowever, in an eight-page document sent in response to the House Oversight Committee asking about the tracking of payments from foreign governments, the Trump Organization’s attorneys stated that while all money identified as coming from other governments would be set aside to be tracked, it would be “impractical” to audit each payment to see whether or not it would violate the Constitution’s Title of Nobility Clause (also known as the Emoluments Clause).\n\n\nThat explanation didn’t sit right with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Maryland), the ranking member of the committee, who said the current arrangement raises “grave concerns about the president’s refusal to comply with the Constitution,” adding that foreign government payments “would not be tracked in any way and would be hidden from the American public.”\n\nThe Emoluments Clause doesn’t allow much room for leeway, stating explicitly that without Congressional consent, a president cannot accept any gifts or payments from foreign leaders without being in violation of the United States’ founding document:\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8799537420272827}
+{"content": "28 Following\n\nSwept Away Again\n\nAvid reader.\n\nCurrently reading\n\nHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban\nJ.K. Rowling\nThis I Know: Notes on Unraveling the Heart\nSusannah Conway\nHunted By The Others\nJess Haines\nHeat Wave (Nikki Heat)\nRichard Castle\nThe Odyssey - Homer, Robert Fagles, Bernard Knox I'm not sure that I would have read this book on my own accord, although there's a copy that was my Dad's sat at my Mum's possibly waiting of me to give it a new home. But as it was a required read for University I bought a different copy sat down and read it. It took me four, half days to read it. The longest I've ever taken to read a book!\n\nThe Odyssey is an epic poem, although it doesn't read like a poem because it's translated from Latin into English, so you do lose the poem part of it (so I'm told). But I can't read Latin so I'll happily stick to the English version. The Odyssey is 24 books long. Yes, you did read that right there are 24 book's within The Odyssey. It's not broken down into chapters like other stories, I think this is because it would have originally have been told as an oral tale and passed down from mouth to mouth and in doing so you need to break it up. Also I see it as each book can stand alone and then when they're all brought together they complete the story.\n\nTrying to sum up The Odyssey is really hard, there's so much in this 560 page book I could never really do it justice but I'm really going to try.\n\nThe Odyssey is mainly about hospitality, there are lots of references to food, in each book there is always a great meal/feast taking place because of the newcomers arrival has to be welcomed. They generally gave their guests food before they asked them their name! Sorry minor detour, The Odyssey is also about revenge, more than one person's revenge too!\n\nThe Odyssey is about what happened to Odysseus after his battle at Troy in the Illaid and some of the other characters. The first five books are the introduction to what has happened since Troy. Odysseus has disappeared, everyone from his hometown Ithaca, thinks he's dead with the expection of his wife Penelope, his son Telemachus (who was a baby when Odysseus left and is now a man of 20), and a few other people in Odysseus estate who have remained loyal to him.\nIn the last few years that Odysseus has been missing, men from Ithaca and around have come to court Penelope and to try and gain her hand in marriage but Penelope still loves and misses her husband whether he's dead or not and doesn't want to marry any of these suitors so she hatches a plan to pospone marrying any of them. Odysseus father is still alive and Penelope decides she will make him a shawl and when it's finished she will then chose a suitor but every night after she unpicks what she's made, she manages this for three years until one of her serving girls tells the suitors the truth of what she's doing and they make her finish it.\nAs Telemachus is now the head of the household it's his responsiblity to feed these suitors and give them somewhere to stay but Telemachus is now sick of these suitors eating him out of his stock, drinking his wine, bedding his serving girls and taking advantage of the situation. Oh and also not being very nice men either!\n\nAthena talks to Zeus about letting Odysseus go back to his family after everything he has suffered and Zeus agrees so Athena goes to Telemachus in disguise and gets him to go visit the neighbouring lands to see if anyone knows anything about his father from the men who fought with him at Troy.\nSo Telemachus tells the suitors to leave his home, he gets verbally abused instead and goes sailing for news of this father without telling his mother or the suitors what he's upto.\n\nTelemachus sails to Nestor and then Sparta where Melelaus and Helena (who have made up) live. Telemachus is then informed that the last news they heard of his father was that he was captured by the nymph Calypso.\n\nThen we get to Odysseus back story about what has happened to him since he left Troy. Odysseus has spent seven years in captivity on Calypso's island. She is told to release Odysseus by the god Hermes, who has been sent by Zeus because of Athena's plea. Calypso gives Odysseus clothing, food and drink and wood so he can build a raft and leave. But the raft is wrecked by Poseidon, Odysseus swims to an island where, naked and exhausted, he hides in a pile of leaves and falls asleep. The next morning, awakened by the laughter of girls, he sees Nauicaa. He appeals to her for help. She encourages him to seek the hospitality of her parents. Odysseus is welcomed and is not at first asked for his name. He remains for several days, takes part in a pentathlon, and hears the blind singer perform two narrative poems. The first is an otherwise obscure incident of the Trojan War, the 'Quarrel of Odysseus and Achilles', the second is the amusing tale of a love affair between two Olympian gods, Ares and Aphrodite. Finally, Odysseus asks the blind singer to return to the Trojan War theme and tell of the Trojan Horse, a plot in which Odysseus had played a leading role. Unable to hide his emotion as he relives this episode, Odysseus at last reveals his identity.\n\nAfter Troy, Odysseus and his twelve ships were driven off course by storms, they visited the Lotus-Eaters and whensome of his men ate the food they forget where they were going and never wanted to leave but Odysseus tied them up and dragged them back to the ship. Next they reached the home of the Cyclops, and after expecting some form of hospitality they were instead captured and some of Odysseus men were eaten by the Cyclops, Odysseus and only a few of his men managed to escape by hiding underneath the Cyclopes animals when he let them out after Odysseus had blinded the Cyclops with a wooden stake. While they were escaping, however, Odysseus foolishly told the Cyclops his identity, and Cyclops told his father, Poseidon, who had blinded him. Next they stayed with Aeolus, the master of the winds. He gave Odysseus a leather bag containing all the winds, except the west wind, a gift that should have ensured a safe return home. However, the sailors foolishly opened the bag while Odysseus slept, thinking that it contained gold. All of the winds flew out and the resulting storm drove the ships back the way they had come, just as Ithaca came into sight.\n\nAfter pleading in vain with Aeolus to help them again, they re-embarked and encountered the cannibalistic Laestrygonians. Odysseus’s ship was the only one to escape. Next they sailed on and visited the witch-goddess Circe. She turned half of his men into swine after feeding them cheese and wine. Hermes warned Odysseus about Circe and gave Odysseus a drug which was a resistance to Circe’s magic. Circe, being attracted to Odysseus' resistance, fell in love with him and released his men. Odysseus and his crew remained with her on the island for one year, while they feasted and drank. Finally, Odysseus' men convinced Odysseus that it was time to leave for Ithaca. Guided by Circe's instructions, Odysseus and his crew crossed the ocean and reached a harbor at the western edge of the world, where Odysseus sacrificed to the dead and summoned the spirit of the old prophet Tiresias to advise him. Next Odysseus met the spirit of his own mother, who had died of grief during his long absence, from her he learned for the first time news of his own household, threatened by the greed of the suitors. Here he also met the spirits of famous men and woman.\n\nReturning to Circe’s island, they were advised by her on the remaining stages of the journey. They skirted the land of the Sirens, passed between the six-headed monster and the whirlpool Charybdis, and landed on the island of Thrinacia. There, Odysseus’ men ignored the warnings of Tiresias and Circe, and hunted down the sacred cattle of the sun god Helios. This sacrilege was punished by a shipwreck in which all but Odysseus drowned. He was washed ashore on the island of Calypso, where she compelled him to remain as her lover for seven years before he escaped.\n\nHaving listened with rapt attention to his story, the Phaeacians, who are skilled mariners, agree to help Odysseus get home. They delivered him at night, while he was fast asleep, to a hidden harbor on Ithaca. He finds his way to the hut of one of his own former slaves, the swineherd Eumaeus. Athena disguises Odysseus as a wandering beggar in order to learn how things stand in his household. After dinner, he tells the farm men a tale of himself.\n\nMeanwhile, Telemachus sails home from Sparta, evading an ambush set by the suitors. He disembarks on the coast of Ithaca and makes for Eumaeus’s hut. Father and son meet; Odysseus identifies himself to Telemachus (but still not to Eumaeus) and they determine that the suitors must be killed. Telemachus gets home first. Accompanied by Eumaeus, Odysseus now returns to his own house, still pretending to be a beggar. He experiences the suitors’ awful behavior and plans their death. He meets Penelope and tests her intentions with an invented story of his birth in Crete, where, he says, he once met Odysseus. Closely questioned, he adds that he had recently been in Thesprotia and had learned something there of Odysseus’s recent wanderings.\n\nOdysseus’s identity is discovered by the housekeeper, Eurycleia, as she is washing his feet and discovers an old scar Odysseus received during a boar hunt. He received the scar when he was hunting with the sons of Autolycus. Having seen the scar, Eurycleia tries to tell Penelope that the begger is really Odysseus, but Athena makes sure that Penelope cannot hear Eurycleia. Meanwhile Odysseus swears her to secrecy.\n\nThe next day, at Athena’s prompting, Penelope maneuvers the suitors into competing for her hand with an archery competition using Odysseus' bow. The man who can string the bow and shoot it through a dozen axe heads would win. Odysseus takes part in the competition himself. He alone is strong enough to string the bow and shoot it through the dozen axe heads, making him the winner. He turns his arrows on the suitors and with the help of Athena, Telemachus, Eumaeus and the cowherd all the suitors are killed. Odysseus and Telemachus hang twelve of their household maids, who betrayed Penelope and/or had sex with the suitors. They also mutilate and kill the goatherd, who had mocked and abused Odysseus. Now at last, Odysseus identifies himself to Penelope. She is hesitant, but accepts him when he mentions that their bed was made from an olive tree still rooted to the ground.\n\n\nThe citizens of Ithaca have followed Odysseus on the road, planning to avenge the killing of the Suitors, their sons. Their leader points out that Odysseus has now caused the deaths of two generations of the men of Ithaca, his sailors not one of which survived, and the suitors, whom he has now killed. The goddess Athena intervenes and persuades both sides to give up the vendetta. Because of Athena's help Ithaca is at peace once more ending The Odyssey.\n\nSadly Odysseus journey is not complete as he stiil has to fullfil what he was told when he visited the underworld, Odysseus is still fated to wander. He can't rest until he wanders so far inland that 'he meets a people who have never heard of an oar or of the sea. He then must build a shrine and sacrifice before he can return home for good.'\n\nI thought The Odyssey was ridiculously long but after Book 5 I really started to enjoy reading it and quite liked the part where Odysseus came home to Ithaca and what happened afterwards. What I didn't like was the ending, it felt really abrupt and that more was still coming but sadly nothing did.\n\nI wasn't sure about Odysseus because at the start of the book he really does come across as a hero and well liked by everyone but when he meets the Cyclops he comes across as a bit of a jerk and in need of someone to knock him down to size a bit but that doesn't happen. Even after evething Odysseus goes through when he returns home he goes back to his cocky, arrogent self which made it really hard to see Odysseus as a hero. A blood thirsty warior sure no problem but not a hero!\nI loved Penelope, Athena and Telemachus and the other characters who had small parts. And really your meant to hate the suitors which wasn't hard to do.\n\nI don't know if I'd recommend The Odyssey, I don't think it's a book for everyone and I don't think it's a must read because it's classed as a Classic but I think some people will enjoy it. I think this is a great book to study because it shows us lots of different things that no longer happen in this world. The whole hospitiality side of the book was something I really liked and enjoyed. Also it was great to read a book for study that mentioned the gods, although it's not something we've really discussed.\n\nOverall, The Odyssey is a good book that some people will enjoy and some people won't. And if you've read all this you deserve a freaking medel and a cookie as a thank you! :)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8672059774398804}
+{"content": "CALL US TODAY: (604) 608 1200\n\nExperienced Successful Lawyers for British Columbia Drivers\n\n\nCan I go over the speed limit if it’s an emergency?\n\nBy: Ticket Lawyer on October 10, 2017\n\nPolice officers seem to do it all the time. Even without any apparent emergency, it’s not uncommon to see police flying down the road at outrageous speeds, only to see that same police cruiser parked outside a coffee shop when you catch up a few minutes later. Police, of course, are given exemptions by the law as long as they meet certain criteria to prove that they disregarded the law because of an emergency. But can the regular law-abiding driver do the same? What if you needed to get to the hospital in an emergency? Or what if you are a surgeon, and must race to the hospital to do life-saving work? In those cases, can you go over the speed limit if it’s an emergency?\n\nSurprisingly, the courts are not often lenient on allowing drivers to speed even in cases of presumed emergency. There’s even a case of a police officer being convicted of speeding-related offences because of his actions involving a police pursuit!\n\nMy wife is extremely pregnant, officer. We need to get to the hospital NOW!\n\nThis case involved a driver whose wife began having contractions as they were driving home. She was also bleeding, and neither the driver nor his wife had a cell phone they could use to call for emergency help.\n\nThe driver decided he had no other choice but to speed to a hospital in another town where a caesarean section could be performed. He was pulled over less than 30 minutes into the drive. The couple asked the officer for an escort, but were denied and given a speeding ticket instead. Shortly after, the couple were pulled over again, for speeding. This time the officer called for an ambulance.\n\n\nThe driver even presented a note from the doctor, who said it was “unavoidable” for the couple to speed to the hospital. The court disagreed. The man was fined about $400 and had his licence suspended.\n\nOn appeal, the court upheld the sentence and said that “at these speeds the accused was a clear danger” to himself and others on the highway; and even suggested that the driver – who didn’t have a cell phone – should have just driven to the closest hospital to flag down an ambulance.\n\nI am a doctor, officer. And they need me at the hospital!\n\nThis case from 2015 involved a doctor who, already on his way home from work, received a call that he had to get back “right away” for a patient who was severely ill. He was pulled over by Vancouver police and issued a ticket.\n\nThe doctor was convicted of the offence when the matter came to a hearing. His lawyer, aware of the law, negotiated a very advantageous plea agreement and the doctor instructed his lawyer to take the deal. Then he has second thoughts. The doctor appealed his guilty plea, but he did not appeal his conviction in time. In dismissing his appeal the court addressed the merits his defence for speeding:\n\n“The defence essentially is that, as a physician who is needed to come to the aid of a seriously ill patient, he is excused from those provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act relating to speeding.\n\nIn my view, his defence has no merit.”\n\nBut for police officers, it’s OK to speed, right?\n\nYes and no. Section 122 of the Motor Vehicle Act provides exemptions for emergency vehicles to exceed the speed limit, to go past a stop sign or red light without stopping, to travel in opposing lanes, and to stop or stand in traffic, as long as regulations are followed.\n\nYou can see the regulations here: they govern topics such as considerations for engaging in a police pursuit, emergency response by police officers and other emergency vehicle operators, rules for entering an intersection, among other concerns.\n\nHaving said that, police officers cannot ignore traffic laws if there is no emergency, even if they are driving their police vehicles and are on-duty.\n\nAn RCMP officer in BC found out the hard way when he was pulled over by another Mountie. The officer who pulled him over didn’t know he was a cop at first – the officer who received the ticket was in an unmarked vehicle – but decided to give him a ticket for speeding anyway.\n\nHow fast was the speeding cop going? 147 km/h in a 110 km/h zone. Not even enough to qualify for excessive speeding. But rules are rules. The officer who received the ticket challenged it, arguing that he was on-duty and on the way to a work-related course in Vancouver.\n\nThe officer said he had cruise control set at 130 km/h, since he thought there was a 20 km/h “grace or tolerance” for the speed limit, and was going downhill at the time.\n\nThe court found the officer guilty. It found that the officer failed to perform a risk analysis set out in the regulations for the s. 122 exemption and couldn’t justify exceeding the speed limit at the time.\n\nWhat if lights and sirens are on to pursue a fleeing crook?\n\nIn most cases, yes, officers would be allowed to speed to pursue a fleeing criminal. However, it’s about the circumstances and whether risk assessment factors were accounted for. In an Ontario case, a police officer was found guilty of stunt driving after travelling at 191 km/h in a 80 km/h zone (stunt driving can be defined as 50 km/h over speed limit), while pursuing a gas thief.\n\nIt was undisputed that there was, at some point during the night, a police pursuit of a gasoline thief. It was also undisputed that the officer was travelling at that speed in response to the gasoline theft. However, the case came down to how there was a call from dispatch in a neighbouring jurisdiction for all pursuing units to “terminate” the chase.\n\nIt was a few minutes after this call from dispatch that the officer in question, while speeding at 191 km/h, crashed into a ditch. The court found the officer was reckless and lacked consideration for the safety of the public and for himself. It said that even though the call for officers to “terminate” the pursuit came from a neighbouring police jurisdiction, the officer was bound to follow that instruction.\nWhile this case occurred in Ontario, like almost every other police jurisdiction in the world, this officer was permitted to speed – but had to meet certain criteria to do so.\n\nWhat if it was necessary to speed? If there was no other choice?\n\nIt’s easy to imagine a number of scenarios where there is no other choice but to get somewhere quickly. After all, this is the same reason emergency vehicles are given an exemption. So what if there was a life-threatening issue that could only be resolved through speeding?\n\nThe law is not clear on this matter. On the one hand, speeding is what is referred to as an “absolute liability” offence. An absolute liability offence is an offence where there’s no requirement to prove you intended to break the law, or that you had failed to take reasonable care to not break the law. In other words, regardless of the reason you broke the law, you’re still guilty.\n\nHowever, even in absolute liability cases, it is possible for an accused to claim a defence of necessity. A leading case on the defence of necessity was established in 1984. And among its considerations, the ruling had determined that the defence of necessity requires that there is “no reasonable legal alternative” to breaking the law. In other words, breaking the law was “inevitable, unavoidable” and there was “no reasonable opportunity for an alternative course of action that does not involve a breach of the law.”\n\nAs you can imagine, it can be difficult to prove that speeding was an absolute necessity and that there was really no alternative whatsoever but to speed. The important point, however, is that there is a defence for going over the speed limit if it’s an emergency. As BC Driving lawyers, we are some of the sharpest minds in driving law, and are very familiar with these defences. Give us a call. 604-608-1200.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5129894018173218}
+{"content": "Καταλύματα επιλεγμένου ξενοδόχου\n\nΒρίσκεσαι στην: \n\nΕλλάδα Κρήτη Ρέθυμνο Ρέθυμνο Ρέθυμνο\n\nΑναζήτησε από τις: \n\nVilla Makena\n\nΠεριγραφή ξενοδόχου\n\nVilla Makena\n\nΔιεύθυνση: Perama, Rethymno, Crete\nΤηλέφωνο: +302810330025\nEmail: info@leaderstay.com\n\n\nΓενική περιγραφή\n\nMakena Villa is a semi detached split - level house of 120 square meters and it has the possibility of accommodating up to 6 individuals using the 2 couches as a bed. There are three bedrooms upstairs including the baby room and an equipped bathroom and a veranda with immense view. The ground floor is a big space including living room, dining room, a completely equipped kitchen with oven, refrigerator, kettle, coffee-maker, juice maker, toaster etc as well as a WC with shower, and a big veranda. It is located on the top of a green hill, where only the chirping of birds can disturb the silence. The villa is 800m away from the village of Perama which can be found in the middle of the island of Creta in the county of Rethimnon. It is surrounded by a marvellous garden 2.000 square meters, appropriate for people who love peace and nature with a lot of varieties of flowers and trees. The swimming pool in the middle of the garden, is surrounded by 600m2 of grass is ideal for relaxation and games in water, as it also has water massage.\n\n\nmountain rural village\n\nΠαροχές ξενοδοχείου\n\n\nactivities guide, air condition, audio tape player, books, books adult, books kids, bottled water, CD, central heating, clothes washer, cold water dispenser, cook, DVD, events allowed, games adults, games kids, hair dryer, highchair, hot tub, iron, iron board, laundry soap, linens provided, local activities guide, local maps, mosquito magnet, mosquito net / curtains, paper towels, radio, safe, satellite or cable, soaps basic, sofa bed, sun bed, tiled stove, toilet paper, towels provided, toys kids, TV, 4 ring stove, blender, coffee maker, cooking utensils, crockery, dish washer, freezer, glassware, grill, hob, kettle, kitchenette, oven, refrigerator, spices, toaster, barbecue, bed chairs, childs swing, garden, garden chairs, gated community, outdoor grill, outdoor grill charcoal, outdoor shower, oven, patio stone - concrete, porch - lanai, terrace, jetted tub in bathroom #1, shower in bathroom #2, shower in bathroom #1, shower combi in bathroom #1, tub in bathroom #1,\n\nΠαιδιά κι επιπλέον κρεβάτια\n\n2 baby crib in double bedrooms #2,\n\n\ncaretaker, housekeeper, maid,\n\n\n\nΧώρος στάθμευσης\n\nparking on street, private parking,\n\n\nbeachcombing, bird watching, deepsea fishing, hiking, hunting small game, jet skiing, luaus, mountain climbing, paddle boating, sight seeing, snorkeling, sound - bay fishing, cycling, fishing, horse riding, mountain biking, mountaineering, scuba diving or snorkeling, surfing, swimming, tennis, walking, water skiing,\n\nΠολιτική ξενοδοχείου\n\nΓενικά The reservation is valid if you receive e-mail confirmation of your Prepayment for the next 24-48 hours from the Villa manager\nCheck in 12:00:00\nCheck out 10:30:00\nΑκύρωση κρατήσεων\n\nCancellation more than 4 weeks before check-in: 25% of totalprice not returned. Cancellation 4 weeks or less before check-in: 100% of totalprice not returned.\n\n\n25% deposit on booking date and a balance of 75% 4 weeks before the check-in.\n\nΑποδεκτές πιστωτικές κάρτες Visa, Mastercard\nΚατοικίδια allowed\n\nΤα αγαπημένα μου\n\nΠρόσθεσε στη λίστα αγαπημένων:\nΤρέχον κοινότητα | Τρέχον ξενοδοχείο\n\n\nΚλείσε το χάρτη\n\nΠολιτική ακυρώσεων\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7267683744430542}
+{"content": "Not all Composites are Created Equal\n\nComposite decking has become a most popular decking option. The primary reason for this is the low maintenance and long lifespan of today’s composites. But the word “composite” is used in a very general sense, and in reality, any product that is made from combining multiple materials is technically a composite. In the case of decking, this tends to be wood fibers and plastic. But even at that, it comes in a variety of options.\n\n\nWhile there are hundreds of composite decking manufacturers, only a few really dominate the industry.  Trex is the industry leader and the original composite decking manufacturer. Trex is the most widely distributed composite decking and can be purchased from many local lumber yards, and pretty much all box stores (although they only typically carry the low-mid range lines or limited sizes). Trex not only manufacturers decking, but also railing, lighting, and other deck accessories.\n\nFiberon is another industry giant that produces stunning composite decking and railing. \n\nAnother composite decking giant is TimberTech. Their products are stunning and some of the higher lines do a very good job of replicating rustic handscraped hardwood.\n\nMoistureShield is a great option for those looking for a more affordable composite deck option. MoistureShield is one of the very few composite decking materials approved for use in ground contact or water submersible applications, due to their unique manufacturing process.\n\nIf you have questions about what lumber yards carry these different types of composite decking, please Contact Us and we’d be happy to help!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5151342749595642}
+{"content": "Basic Info\n\nGraphic Novels Library Malta GNLM\n\n\nGNLM is an NGO and youth organisation with the aim to promote the educational side of comics. We aim to introduce graphic novels and comics into libraries and schools to promote literacy and make education fun by using subjects and characters that students can relate to.Mission Statement:Education through Comics and Pop Culture.Description:To promote Literacy and Information Literacy tools through comics and graphic novels.To promote cultural awareness in other mediums such as Films, Arts and Literature.To have a place where educators or interested parties can meet and discuss topics of interest that fall under the “Geek” or “Nerd” labels while connecting and engaging people with similar interests.To create a space to share thoughts.To be a resource to teachers, parents, academics, etc…. aiding people to better understand the comics culture and how they can use comics to educate or teach skills that are essential to a National Literacy Framework.To assist in presentations, discussions and organise workshops to students and educators alike on how comics, films, arts, literature can be used as an educational tool in any related subject.To promote local artists who want to collaborate with us in creating a market for comics, films and art produced locally.For more information check out our Facebook page or send an email at gnlmalta@gmail.com", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9866135120391846}
+{"content": "Nova Scotia Apples - Waxing\nNova Scotia ApplesSite MapSearchHome\nNova Scotia Apples\n\n\nAll About N.S. Apples\nEating and Cooking | Apple Attractions\n\nEating and Cooking\n\n\nConsumers are becoming more health conscious, and as a result, a new awareness of fresh fruits and vegetables has developed. This has created an increased demand for, and consumption of, fresh produce. In order to ensure that consumers are receiving the best possible product, the industry is continually trying to improve their products to ensure the longest shelf life and best nutrition possible. The use of protective coatings on apples is one method used in this effort.\n\nThe Chinese were using waxing processes on fruits as early as the twelfth century, but it wasn't until 1922 that waxing was introduced for widespread use. A thin, wax-type coating is applied to apples as a means of protection.\n\nAs fruits and vegetables ripen in the field, most develop a natural wax-like protective layer called a cuticle for protection from the sun's rays. After harvesting, many produce items (including apples) are washed to remove any dirt or dust. Unfortunately, this washing process also removes the waxy cuticle.\n\nApples are 80-90% water by weight. If they are left without the cuticle, the water quickly begins to evaporate, resulting in a poor product in a relatively short period of time. To maintain freshness and appearance, wax-type coatings may be used. The amount of protective coating is very small. For example: four litres of coating is all that is required to protect five tons of apples - that is approximately 30,000 medium-sized apples.\n\nNaturally, the industry's foremost concern is consumer safety, including the safety of substances used as protective coatings. These coatings may be evaluated by Health Canada to ensure the safety of the product. If, however, you are still concerned about protective coatings, washing in warm water will remove most of the coating and peeling the fruit will completely remove any coating used.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8303983211517334}
+{"content": "PBY Catalina was an American and Canadian-built flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s. PB is a Patrol Bomber and the Y was Consolidated Aircraft’s manufacturer identification. It could be equipped with depth charges, bombs, torpedoes and .50 caliber machine guns and was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. The PBY Catalina was the most successful flying boat ever produced. First flown in March 1935, they were in production for over ten years and were designed and built by the American aircraft manufacturers, Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California with numerous versions - PBY-1 to PBY-6A\n\nThe Catalina in RAAF service, despite its vulnerability due to lack of speed, was a front line aircraft effectively taking the fight to the Japanese through its long distance mine laying flights.  Famous were the \"Black Cat\" Catalina’s which, painted matt black, roamed the western Pacific from December 1942 finding Japanese ships by radar at night and picking Allied survivors from ships and aircraft in boats and dinghies. RAAF Catalinas were famous for their precision laying of mines in enemy water ways and harbors. In this role it performed a substantial contribution towards victory for the Allies in the Pacific War by blockading essential oil ports and closing the \"back streets\" to Japan.  View the AUS web site.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.622661828994751}
+{"content": "Bioethics Blogs\n\nEvidence and the Marketing of the HPV Vaccine\n\nAbby Lippman, Alana Cattapan, and Kelly Holloway argue for rigorous, conflict-free research into the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine and for a critical approach to its use.\n\n\nIn a recent post on Impact Ethics, Juliet Guichon focuses on the Calgary Catholic School Board’s inclusion of a letter from Catholic authorities in the information and consent packages for the in-school administration of an HPV vaccine. Guichon objects to one of the claims in the letter—that the vaccine is not the best way to prevent cervical cancer. She insists that the vaccine is “safe and effective.” Although Guichon’s overall goal to prevent cervical cancer is a laudable one, her unequivocal endorsement of the HPV vaccine as “safe and effective” can be challenged. The vaccine may have been deemed safe and effective enough for distribution, but we simply do not know enough about it at this stage to make any definitive claims.\n\nTo be clear, we agree with Guichon that all who are offered an HPV vaccination in-school or elsewhere (and their parents) must be given accurate and full information in order to make truly informed choices. But we have concerns about evidence and the marketing of the HPV vaccine, particularly as HPV vaccination programs have been made a systematic part of public healthcare in several provinces.\n\nTo start, many of the studies supporting the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine are compromised by conflict of interest. Nearly all of the research cited by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in its 2014 opinion paper endorsing the use of the vaccine was partially or completely funded by Merck (the makers of one HPV vaccine, Gardasil) or by GlaxoSmithKline (the makers of a similar HPV vaccine, Cervarix).\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.998961329460144}
+{"content": "Our vegetables are doing well and the corn is coming along. 3 weeks ago this drought has caused us to break out 2300 feet of hose in order to keep the crops watered which is no small task, it takes many hours to water one section of crop. I have been focusing on the squash, cukes, tomatoes, beans, chard and kale. We have lost a small part of our corn crops due to no water. Unfortunately, it almost impossible to water corn with a hose. We are working hard to save the funds to put irrigation in place and the struggle is real. Not enough water means not enough crops and that means not enough money to invest in our farm in that magnitude, it will happen one day, so thankful I have a lot of hoses.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHere is our favorite pesto recipe.\n\nMakes about 1 cup\n10 garlic scapes, finely chopped\nAbout 1/2 cup olive oil Sea salt\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8800269365310669}
+{"content": "Modern Art Oxford.\n\nModern Art\n\nModern Art Oxford\n\nThis gallery was originally founded in 1966 and is World renowned for producing exhibitions that are innovative and influential.\n\nIt is a reflection of contemporary visuals culture and represents society today, thus relating the new with the old when referencing back to Rivers Pitt Museum. It is a platform to allow artists to create new relationships with a 21st century audience.\n\nKiki Kogelnik: Fly Me to the Moon\n\nFly Me To The Moon were produced by Kogelnik during her time in New York in the 1960s and 1970s. The artwork relfects the time of the cold war era and the race for Space was clearly a priorty for Russia & America. During this time, there were growing concerns for nuclear war.\n\nMaybe Kiki at this time reflected what would happen to mankind if this was to have ever occured. It reminds me slightly of previous genocide images that you see, relating to organisation of the figures, and yet one could say the \"radio-active colours\" are representational of nuclear threat.\n\nimages : B. Stewart (2015)\n\nJosh Kilne\n\nIt was like the Teletubbies had grown up into Stormtroopers and where now feeding a different type of message.\n\nI felt that the exhibition was Yet all of the people who were projected on the video, were morphed into a generic looking person.\n\nKline uses Obama President’s 2009 inaugural speech which has augmented with facial substitution software,\n\nKline is highlighting the breakdown of privacy rights within the 21st century. The real identity of the people is never shown, and it was eerie in the sense of a feeling of a \"new world order\"\n\nHow does it relate to Pitt Rivers\n\nIn a 100 years from now, are anthropologists going to be looking at Artists work to help study our culture, thinking and social demographic?\n\nThe answer would be yes... Everything that we create that identifies the cultural thinking and ethos at the time, would be considered an artefact.iki & Kilne have about 50 years between them, but yet the fear of political and social change is still there, whether it be nuclear war or privacy rights, these artists are reflecting it, in their art. The art work will one day become an artefact.\n\nFilm Studio Room\nCreated By\nBeck Stewart\nBeck Stewart Images- Artists Exhibitions Credited in blog\n\nMade with Adobe Slate\n\nMake your words and images move.\n\nGet Slate\n\nReport Abuse\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6929419040679932}
+{"content": "Total Number of words made out of Chorus = 35\n\nChorus is an acceptable word in Scrabble with 11 points. Chorus is an accepted word in Word with Friends having 12 points. Chorus is a 6 letter medium Word starting with C and ending with S. Below are Total 35 words made out of this word.\n\n5 letter Words made out of chorus\n\n1). hours 2). hocus 3). crush 4). scour\n\n4 letter Words made out of chorus\n\n1). crus 2). ouch 3). sour 4). orcs 5). rhos 6). such 7). rhus 8). hour 9). rush 10). curs 11). rocs 12). cosh 13). ours\n\n3 letter Words made out of chorus\n\n1). roc 2). rho 3). our 4). ors 5). orc 6). ohs 7). cur 8). cos 9). cor 10). sou\n\n2 letter Words made out of chorus\n\n1). uh 2). so 3). sh 4). os 5). or 6). oh 7). us\n\nAlso see:- Words starting with Chorus\n\nChorus Meaning :- A band of singers and dancers. A company of persons supposed to behold what passed in the acts of a tragedy- and to sing the sentiments which the events suggested in couplets or verses between the acts; also- that which was thus sung by the chorus. An interpreter in a dumb show or play. A company of singers singing in concert.\n\nScrabble finder\nAnagram Finder\nCrossword Solver\n\nNote There are 2 vowel letters and 4 consonant letters in the word chorus. C is 3rd, H is 8th, O is 15th, R is 18th, U is 21th, S is 19th, Letter of Alphabet series.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.730265736579895}
+{"content": "Promoting Good Governance.\n\nUS Republicans Unveil Replacement For Obamacare\n\nSpeaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan\nSpeaker of the US House of Representatives, Paul Ryan\n\nUS House Republicans have unveiled a long-awaited plan to replace The Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, the signature healthcare law of former US President Barack Obama.\n\nThe proposed legislation would repeal penalties for those who do not buy health insurance.\n\nIt would also replace income-based subsidies to help with the cost of premiums with age-based tax credits.\n\nDemocrats immediately criticised the plan, saying it would drive up the costs of health care.\n\nObamacare has helped over 20 million previously uninsured Americans to get health insurance.\n\nHowever increases in insurance premiums have irked many Americans.\n\nThe plan from Republicans in the US House of Representatives would reduce the role of the federal government in helping Americans afford healthcare.\n\n“Today marks an important step toward restoring healthcare choices and affordability back to the American people,” the White House said in a statement.\n\nPresident Donald Trump looked forward to working with Congress to repeal and replace the law, it said.\n\nThe president has described Obamacare, which was passed in 2010 and is seen as Obama’s signature domestic policy achievement, as “a disaster”.\n\nThe Republican Party has majorities in both chambers of Congress but divisions remain on the details of what should replace the Affordable Care Act, which is popular in many states, including some governed by Republicans.\n\nThe plan is expected to cover fewer people than those who gained insurance under Obama.\n\nA group of four Republican senators have already said that a draft of the legislation they reviewed did not adequately protect low-income people who received Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act.\n\nThe proposal unveiled would preserve some popular elements of the existing law, including allowing young people to remain on their parents’ insurance plans until the age of 26.\n\nInsurers would also remain banned from denying coverage to those with pre-existing conditions.\n\nWhile penalties for those who don’t buy health insurance would be scrapped, those who let their coverage lapse could see their premiums raised by 30% by insurers.\n\nHouse Speaker Paul Ryan said the bill would “drive down costs, encourage competition, and give every American access to quality, affordable health insurance”.\n\nHe said no one would have “the rug pulled out from under them”.\n\nBut some conservatives have already voiced concerns that the bill does not go far enough.\n\n“It still looks like Obamacare-lite to me,” said Senator Rand Paul.\n\nOn the Democratic side, US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the plan would “force Americans to pay more, all so insurance companies can pad their bottom line”.\n\nHe also criticised measures that would block for one year federal funding to Planned Parenthood, an organisation opposed by many in the Republican Party because it provides abortions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5390791893005371}
+{"content": "Methodical literature in physics class 7-8\n\nPay with:\ni agree with \"Terms for Customers\"\nSold: 0\nRefunds: 0\n\nUploaded: 19.06.2010\nContent: text (51 symbols)\n\n\nMethodical literature on school physics course, widely represented in the press made quite traditional: it is either a set of ready-made solutions to problems, or tests for the exam.\n\nThis handbook is offered to students of pedagogical high school department of physics, young teachers of physics, as well as entrants in the technical college for self-study for the exam.\n\nThe manual for 7,8,10,11 grade offered:\n1. Analysis of typical mistakes entrants to higher education.\n2. An algorithmic approach to solving typical problems and the study of some theoretical issues, usually causing difficulties for students.\n3. Each section ends with physics:\na) the reference work on the two options.\nB) the question of the quiz.\nB) questions for the competition.\nD) tests for the exam.\n\nIn solving a magnetism applicants often can not show graphically that the current conductors are repelled when currents flow in them in opposite directions and are attracted when currents flow in one direction.\nIn addressing this issue should observe the following procedure (algorithm):\n1. Draw the wire cross section and specify the direction of the currents in them.\n2. After each conductor to conduct a magnetic line of force from the neighboring conductor and indicate its direction.\n3. Build the magnetic induction at the points of power lines passing through each conductor.\n4. Using the left hand rule, to build strength Ampere for each conductor.\n\nPhysics teacher SGTU (Saratov State Technical University) Snopko KN\n\nAdditional information\n\nMethodical package designed K.N.Snopko, compares favorably with the traditional benefits of the initial course of physics in the content package includes an outline introductory course in physics subject images and letter formulas and definitions of terms.\n\nThis form of abstract freedom of the teacher leaves the verbal processing of the subject. This, in turn, contributes to the formation and deposition in the minds of the student of physical knowledge in the same adequate form: the objective image and symbolic form. The package offers a variety of forms and techniques for working teachers - from written tests to quizzes and crosswords. It is assumed that the examples of different ways of training activities for young teachers will not methodical regulations, and samples for which he will be able to enrich and accumulate their own experience, to form \"their\" package.\n\nThe variety of forms of employment offered to the students not only contribute to their entertaining, and creates conditions for the development of scientific knowledge of the physical. In particular, the package contains such characteristic is the physical form of knowledge work as a \"thought experiment\" on the level of difficulty, accessible seventh-graders (known role in the history of theoretical physics has played a thought experiment moving observer at Einstein).\n\nThus, the approach to teaching physics, proposed K.N.Snopko, is in line with modern trends in the development of scientific knowledge and deserves full support.\n\nPhysicist, PhD, methodology consultant Pugs N.N.Slonov\n\n\nNo feedback yet.\n1 month 3 months 12 months\n0 0 0\n0 0 0", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8926841020584106}
+{"content": "Houston American Energy Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:HUSA) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 29th, there was short interest totalling 3,080,699 shares, an increase of 2.5% from the June 15th total of 3,005,056 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,970,473 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.6 days. Currently, 6.7% of the company’s shares are sold short.\n\nHUSA traded up $0.01 on Wednesday, reaching $0.26. 517,352 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 569,404. Houston American Energy has a twelve month low of $0.22 and a twelve month high of $0.76.\n\nHouston American Energy Company Profile\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9947229623794556}
+{"content": "Tuesday, 24 July 2012\n\n\n                        The day after Christmas 2004, it was an ordinary morning for all of us but the pet dogs, until we learned about nasty tsunami that had just struck East Indian coastline. Running amok and howling they seemed restless. We are housed at least 7 km from nearest seashore for any kind of signs to be felt apparently. Later, I came to know from my friends that we are not the only to witness this extraordinary pet behavior. Although I’ve heard about animal intuitive prediction of natural calamity before2 this direct witness urged me to learn more about this phenomenon. This phenomenon has been observed throughout the history and has heavily tinted our folklore. And this phenomenon has been venerated and harnessed adeptly by many Human societies3 familiar with and are prone to natural calamity\n\n                    The question that rises at once on one’s mind is ‘How is this possible?’ Well, the researchers have a great deal of struggle with answering that one and the claims are as diverse as, explaining it as an inborn capability which are genetically embedded, to, much familiar hypothesis of associating the behavior with senses4. The next question would be ‘Why is this capability restricted to animals?’ Inclined towards hypothesis of natural calamities being sensed by the animals, I’d try to answer the second question in this article with backing of scientific facts.\n\n                  According to the hypothesis animals can either, predict earthquake by sensing the subtle pre-earthquake seismic tremors5 (p-waves), slight biochemical or electromagnetic anomalies. This is generally performed by lower organisms like Invertebrates, Amphibians, Birds and Reptiles taking advantage of their low body mass, Or by observing these lower organisms intuitionally and making an authentic warning out of it, which is indeed done by higher organisms like mammals6. Almost all animals either sense or intuitionally observe the animals sensing it, except human beings7.\nThere are arguments saying that this is an ability evolved by natural selection after number of earthquake encounters by those species indigenously not an evolutionarily retained one from lower ancestral organisms. These arguments are made flimsy by plenty of available anecdotal references stating animals from region unfamiliar with earthquake having reacted positively during the incident which they were unaware of, for past thousands of generations. This hardly gives any scope for evolution by selection to occur. So it can be assumed as essentially a common behavior of more or less all animals, an aspect of some primitive ancestral organism evolutionarily retained through all evolutionary lineages leading to modern species. This assumption makes its absence in human beings is rather shocking. The incapability of human beings to sense the earthquake or any other seismic calamity, directly, is understandable but the unawareness about the natural world around us intuitionally can only be understood by rendering a close peek at our evolution.\n\n                       To understand this phenomenon we need to ensure this behavior in our closest living evolutionary cousin, The Chimpanzee8. Chimpanzees of Central African tropical rain forests 400 miles off Gombe national park living in and around active volcanic mountains are prone to both tremors and volcanic eruptions. Though no authentic researches are done in above aspect of Chimpanzees they can be assumed to do so, as they are more intuitionally motivated than human beings, quoting from Roger Fouts’ “Next of Kin” ‘Chimps while revealing immensely great sequential thinking capability amazingly close to Human beings, through ASL (American Sign Language) thought to them, on the other hand posses sound animal instincts and high level sensory coordination which explains their uncanny ability as successful tropical forest survivors’\n\n                 The researches on human evolution confirms that it was possibly spurred by the geographical isolation (one of the major evolutionary stimuli enlisted by neo-Darwinists Alfred Russell Wallace and August Weismann) of the tropical forest dwelling common ape ancestor, of both Human beings and Chimpanzees, from its natural habitat to relatively dry, prehistoric, savannah ecosystem. The reason for this isolation is blamed on the contemporary rise of Ethiopian rift valley which might had denied part of the region from monsoon rain, blocking its route.\n\n                    Only a small population was isolated from the main population. Consequently they were forced to inbreed (Mating between close family relatives), a situation known in scientific community as ‘genetic bottleneck’9. This sudden exposure to a different ecosystem pushes the population to a state of desperation to find its own ecological niche, necessitating whole new survival tactics.\n\n                        The species is forced to an intense unidirectional natural selection; this is facilitated by the ‘genetic bottleneck’ phenomenon. This natural selection resulted in an array of anatomical evolution for both hunting and gathering of new food resources, physiological evolution which can be attributed to the efficient assimilation of food and maintenance of homeostatic (Temperature balance, Water balance, Osmotic balance and so on ) balance compulsory for the new environment. And lastly neurophysiologic evolution, the one we are going to deal with, in this article.\n\n                          Comparing the brain of human being with Chimpanzee brain- which shows little development in size from fossilized common ancestral species- gives us a general idea about our own neurophysiologic evolution. Chimpanzees have an average brain mass of 420 g which is much lower than the average Human brain mass (1300-1400 g), even if their low body mass (25-45 kg) is taken into consideration. That is, the brain mass / body mass ratio of Chimpanzee is much lower than ours10. In addition to that, in Human brain neurons have more number of interlinking synapses, which counts 1000 to 10,000 in each neuron. Human brain has enlarged version of all four major lobes with remarkably so, the frontal lobe.\n\n                      The functions of these lobes are vaguely divided. Eminent neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran explains them as follows: The occipital lobe in the back is concerned with vision. The temporal lobe is concerned with hearing, emotions and certain aspects of visual perception. The parietal lobes of the brain- at the sides of the head-are concerned with creating a three-dimensional representation of the spatial layout of the external world and also of your own body within that three – dimensional representation. And lastly the frontal lobes, perhaps the most mysterious of all. They are concerned with some very enigmatic aspects of the human mind and human behavior such as your moral sense, your wisdom, your ambition and other activities of the mind which we know very little about”.\n\n                As he points out the functions of frontal lobe is a little known but is, more or less, concerned with what one would dare calling ‘Humanness’. Though development of frontal lobe particularly “Broca’s area” contributed more to the human evolution and eventually ‘civilization’, the development of other three lobes which endorsed the former, is crucial. Particularly the development of TPO junction (Temporo-Parieto-Occipital junction), the one which is primarily involved highly coordinated linguistic activities like reading, writing, speaking, listening.\n\n                        As you can notice, all of these are combined activities of; processing the sensory signal which involves language to a final sensory representation, then channeling them to various regions of the cerebrum where various interpretations are made pertaining to the connotations or implications it carries. These interpretation made are based on acquired knowledge from different sources and experiences and they depend on the region of cerebrum interpreting it, for example reading a word ‘apple’ would be interpreted by inferotemporal region as ‘a fruit of some kind’; on the other hand, in Wernicke’s region or other temporal regions the word evokes subtle nuances like ‘I can eat it’, ‘I can smell it’, ‘keeps the doctor away’ and so on. The linguistic interpretations are made primarily in temporal region of the brain. As one can see, these interpretations are mere abstractions and are not coherent. In human brain, cross-modal abstractions are formed, almost all the time, offering metaphors, allusions and other kinds of abstractions, for example roundness of apple evoking the thought of football. This is a kind of abstraction Chimpanzees are not known to form so far, though capable of other high level mental abstractions.  \n\n                     V.S.Ramchandran suggests that triggering of language evolution might be by this phenomenon in the brain. He advocates this supposition revealing the amazingly analogous relation between language and synesthesia11. This can be observed by noticing your mouth movement while pronouncing words like ‘teeny weenie’, ‘little’, ‘diminutive’ you can see your mouth is actually miming the smallness of the object. It might sound absurd that this small phenomenon might have triggered evolution of language but ‘that’s all it takes’, he says.\n        The presence of qualia(the ineffable subjective sensation, in words of V.S.Ramchandran)a rather complicated phenomenon, helps managing these complex range of interpretations made and ushers one such interpretation, by encoding them with itself, towards amygdala-the gateway to limbic system-in the form of abstract thought.\n\n                Limbic system of the brain is where emotions are laden and reflexes are originated. Qualia non-arbitrarily select one such interpretation which is biologically worthy ushering to amygdala. \n\n                Qualia collectively is a phenomenon which, in my words, evolved in conscious brain to anchor the abstract interpretations of specific biological significance to the limbic system.\n\nFor example, apple in a salad bowl invokes interpretations of it as a food with more priority and apple poised in a decorated basket in a posh hotel conference table invokes interpretations of it as an object for beautification with more priority, of course in addition to those made in the first circumstance. This is where qualia contributes by the supporting ‘food interpretation’, essential for the species survival. Reflexes originated are the result of analyzing done in the limbic system with aid of memory, emotion and learning. Reflexes are then directed back to cerebrum where reactions are ‘negotiated and planned’ either, in terms of language which takes place in left frontal lobe generally and in the other frontal lobe for 20% of left handers, or in terms of physical activities in other regions. This ‘negotiation’ is very arbitrary, that is, person has control over it. The reflexes can be manipulated, neglected and even turned down in certain occasions, like the ornamental apple in our example which is not eaten, unless the person is audaciously hungry. The whole process is not just single to and fro signal transmission but relayed innumerous times with constant sensory updates.  \n\n                    This process of dealing with sensory representation is the same in all other mammalian brain with cerebral growth, except for the number of interpretations being lesser, less linguistic processing or planning of reaction and so is the manipulative nature of cerebrum on reflexes12. Humans also posses comparatively higher number of mirror neurons13, essential for any kind of conversation to proceed.\n\n                 This neurophysiologic evolution was very much needed but hadn’t been uniform like other evolutionary traits, as there were descendant species which were microchepalic (smaller head size, which is in turn, smaller brain size) than its ancestors, though the evolution was not just in brain’s volume. Although our predecessor hominids like Homo erectus, Homo habilis had considerable development in brain size than their ancestors, the surge took place at some time roughly around 52,000 BP in Homo sapiens14, which is approximately 6 to 6.5 million years after the split from ancestral species. This is a result of sudden developmental growth of cerebral region or, more crudely, grey matter of the brain. Grey matter or cerebral region of our brain is responsible for the sequential thought (thinking in successive steps), while more evolutionarily ancient unhemisphered white matter constituting parts like hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, as I had mentioned earlier, is responsible for the origin of emotional reflexes with the help of learning and memory.\n\n                     The developmental growth in cerebrum adjoined by the elongation of vocal cord gave us the upperhand over other savannah predators by improving our lingual and linguistic skills, enabling the co-ordination required for hunting in groups, and tool making ability which is highly sequential. Making of a tool involves thinking in number of steps, for example making a stone dagger is a result following abstract thoughts in sequence;\n\n1.     I must hunt to get meat that I can eat\n2.     I need a stone to stab the animal\n3.     The stone stabs better if sharp\n4.     The stone can be sharpened by chipping with another stone.\n5.     The stone for chipping can be made by polishing it with another.\n\nThe sequential thought to our extent is a feat no animal has achieved so far, for instance, chimpanzees are known to use and even making15 tool but not using a made tool to furnish another. Now, before we start boasting ourselves about art, literature ultimately ‘The civilization’ that sequential thought has accomplished, there are certain drawbacks which we must confront.\n            We above discussed the vaguely simplified procedure as to, ‘How conscious sensory representations are dealt with, in the brain?’ . There is another sensory pathway particularly in vision which is much more primitive called ‘the unconscious old pathway’ as opposed to ‘the new pathway’( the one we are conscious of).\n\nBoth old and new visual sensory pathways are shown above\n(The pathway to superior colliculus is ‘old’)\n\n                The old pathway is the primal pathway the first to evolve among primitive animals, ones those possessed just limbic system of the brain. This pathway serves all the survival needs for the organisms which are both less complex and unable to afford the energy lavish cerebral operation. In higher organisms, this old pathway is involved in essential unconscious physical orientation like locating object spatially in the visual field, reaching out for it or swiveling the eyeballs towards it. In addition to these, in Human beings, it also does the job of snapping one out of his sequential thinking, of any sort, when needed.\n\n                                         This can easily be understood by visualizing the following everyday incident, imagine a person having an animated argument with his friend, both walking down a busy street, the person is not conscious about the things happening in the street, the noises of the busy traffic, walking through with the help of his unconscious old pathway to limbic system, until he sees or hears something peculiar like a dog or a pit laying on the way. It is the old pathway that receives this sensory alert and gives rise to alerting impulses with the help memory, learning, basic emotions and rather mysterious ‘intuition’. Such alerting impulses from unconsciously informed limbic system is relayed to cerebrum where it is negotiated by sequential abstractions before the respective sensory region is activated, the visual cortex, in above conceived incident. It is after this activation the persons’ consciousness is retrieved and he/she is aware of the situation. Such unconscious negotiation is necessary for higher animal to avoid negligible alarms to interrupt their thought process \n\n                                 For example; one need not to stop an argument just because a housefly flying cross by but should consider stopping if it is a wasp. It should be understood that this negotiation is not just memory and learning based (which even limbic system can deal with) but involves logical thinking and other cerebral sequential abstractions. These cerebral abstractions analyze secondary details like ‘distance at which the wasp is potentially dangerous’ or ‘its direction of flight’. The old pathway is active not only when the person is out of his sensory consciousness but all the time. But when the person is sensuously conscious he or she need not rely on limbic alarms except intuitional ones.\n\n                     Hence one can speculate that, unlike other unconscious limbic alarms (the dog’s on the way) which are learning or memory based, Intuitional alarms (migration or odd behavior of lower organisms prior to earthquake) are turned down to a great extent by negotiating sequential abstractions since they might not find them convincing and logical and are almost wholly blinded by overcrowding of other abstractions, remember, the individual is not conscious of these events in proceed. The animals with less cerebral brain mass/total brain mass ratio has less abstractions  negotiating with the intuitional alarm, so less is the possibility of it being neglected, hence translated almost completely to physical activity and in animals with no cerebral development, from limbic impulse directly to physical activity. The same intuitional alarms displayed by nature would hardly be observed by conscious sensory representation even if observed cannot be interpreted into an authentic warning without access to intuition embedded in limbic system.\n                  The speculation of this article simply says that there is a greater possibility of intuitional alarms being neglected, in Human beings, and not that it will always be neglected. Our intuitions are not wiped out completely but are greyed gradually from childhood along with proportionate increase in grey matter, the cerebrum. The toll levied on the civilization.\n\n1.     The intuitions discussed in this article are limbic intuitions and not cerebral intuitions.  The former deals with preliminary survival strategies while the latter with species’ specializations. We harbor a great deal of linguistic intuitions which are cerebral.\n\n2.     Anecdotal evidences cannot be considered as good scientific proof. In fact there is some very serious debate going on whether the so-called canine premonition of seismic events is nothing but a backward reading of the dog behavior by humans. For example, how many times dogs barking and screeching happen and what is the statistically significant anomaly in dog behavior before seismic event? But there are also scientists –many- who have studied dog behavior and suggest that there is a high correlation between anomalous canine behavior and a seismic event.\n\n3.     Both Chinese and African literature, folklore features abundant allusions and direct references about prediction of earthquake by observing animal behavior.\n\n5.     Every earthquake comes as pair of two wave actions, first the very mild p-wave which is followed by the destructive S-wave. P-waves travel 2-4 km per second faster than S-waves. Among mammals P-waves can be sensed by vibration sensitive borrowing animals like Rodents and infrasound sensitive animals like Elephants.\n\n6.     The mammals which cannot sense P-waves predict forthcoming earthquake by observing other animal those can sense it. These observations are made without consciousness which I would explain in latter part of the article.\n\n7.     I intentionally added the word ‘intuitionally’ to avoid being confused with traditional knowledge educated through generations. Intuitions cannot be thought and are authentic. \n\n8.     Chimpanzees are genetically found to be the closest living evolutionary cousin, though possesses just 22 chromosomes which is one less than us, shares 97.3% of same genetic code. This is surprisingly close that both genetic codes are more similar than many indistinguishable bird species.\n\n9.     Under such condition, genetic diversity of the population is largely reduced; with less individual genetic anomalies, the population is destabilized regarding species’ evolution. As we all know, the steadiness of a species in terms of evolution is established by the random crossbreeding of individuals with genetic divergence.\n\n10.                        The brain mass / body mass ratio of average Chimpanzee=420g/35000g =0.012 or 1.2%(approximately)                                                                            The brain mass / body mass ratio of average human (male) =1400g/65000g=0.022or2.2% (approximately)\n\n11.                        Synesthesia is a phenomenon of which the person associates different sensory representations. For example associating number ‘5’ with color ‘red’ or ‘shape of a saw’ with sound ‘kiki’.\n\n12.                        The natural habitat of chimpanzee the tropical forest is not challenging enough to reveal their sequential thinking ability completely. Those we know were only brought to light by creating artificial scenarios. Both behavioral scientists and neuropsychologists have no idea of chimps complete potential.\n\n13.                        Mirror neurons are neurons which are responsible for proxying into other’s mental condition and sharing their thoughts by jumping from our own self, pausing the attributes which defines self like embodiment, agency, unity, continuity momentarily.\n\n14.                        The researches on human evolution suggests that the so called great evolutionary leap (52000 BP) must have happened not only because of natural selection, which had been their ever since the split, but majorly because of sexual selection which is a stronger selection. Sexual selection can occur only in species practicing monogamy which had just been into practice among hominids around that time, Possibly due increased dependence of the hominids on food gathering, which women mastered, due to uncertainty of hunting at that time of ice age when lot of herbivorous species were driven to extinction.  As we know chimp communities practice polygamy, I think, it is less likely for such a surge in brain size to happen unless species goes through severe natural selection and practices monogamy which cannot be anticipated from their present tropical habitat.\n\n15.                        The tool using and making capability of Chimps first discovered by Jane Goodall is broadly discussed in her critically acclaimed book ‘In the shadow of man’. \n\n             I am extremely obliged to Mr.Aravindan Neelakandan, a thorough reader of science, who encouraged me a lot on writing this article, suggested some good books which helped me overcome my prejudice on Chimps as mere hairy apes and whose valuable comments helped me improve the article and formulate the notes which is a result of dialogue we had.\n\n1.     Next of Kin –Roger Fouts ; William Morrow and Company, 1997\n2.     Seven million years – Douglas Palmer; phoenix publishers, 2006\n3.     Naked Ape – Desmond Morris; 1967\n4.     The Emerging mind –Vilayanur. S. Ramachandran; Profile books ltd, 2004\n5.     Phantoms in the brain - Vilayanur. S. Ramachandran; Quill William Morrow, 1998\n6.     Apes, Men and language –Eugene Linden; Pelican books,1976\n7.     The Dragons of Eden- Carl Sagan; Ballantine books, 1977\n8.     The Third Chimpanzee – Jared Diamond;1999\n9.     In the shadow of man- Jane Goodall\n10.                        http.news.nationalgeograpic.com\n\n\n  1. dear aji,\n    i was just thinking and observing my thoughts over what you wrote. this loss of perceptional ability is closely related with the collective consciousness, which is very strong in primates and other lower spectral beings. i was just thinking is there any measure to retain or rediscover these hidden abilities and bring back it to surface. may be a secluded environment (like the island - robinson crusoe lives:))can help. will read vilaiyanur come back to you. .and on recognition and recalling part.. it suddenly reminded of my first year ayurvedic syllabus:) there are some interesting points there regarding perception and memory..which i will refer and write back to you on some other occasion...\n\n    1. thank you\n      i have not much idea about collective consciousness, how it can be looked upon from science, can it deduced into shared intiution or communication going on beyond human perceptional range, or is it mirror nuerons in high level activity.\n      And with the robinson crusoe I think he's forced to cerebral activity as much as we are. where as in tribal shamans it's a different case\n\n      thank you again and i'd love to be in touch with you\n\n  2. /Dear Aji\n\n\n    Please check grammar here: //Worshipped and exploited adeptly by many Human societies familiar with and are prone to natural calamity. // I think you should make it part of previous sentence. You may consider this: // This phenomenon has been observed throughout the history and has heavily tinted our folklore. And this phenomenon has been venerated and harnessed adeptly by many Human societies3 familiar with and are prone to natural calamity.//\n\n    //The next question would be ‘Why is this capability restricted to animals?’ // Are not we humans animals too? :) 'non-human animals' may remove any hint of anthropo-centrism.\n\n    //lower organisms// somewhere you can make it clear that what you mean is organisms in the lower or more ancient branches of phylo-genetic tree.\n\n\n    A better rephrasing may be : There are arguments saying that this is an ability evolved by natural selection after frequent earthquakes acted as selection force on those species indigenous to those geographic zones and not an inherently retained one from lower ancestral organisms.\n\n    On the whole the article has come out wonderfully and a new and a brave hypothesis.\n    You have started the article by saying it is a hypothesis which is a wee-bit higher and rigorous than speculation,and have ended the article by saying this is speculation. You should stick on to either one of this. Though essentially this comes more in the category of speculation, this can be upgraded as a hypothesis if you can suggest and design a controlled experiment to check your hypothesis/speculation. The experiment should tell what outcomes are expected in case of the testing hypothesis being true or false.If you can make this suggestion in the end, then this article actually becomes an important first step in the search for a mystery.\n\n    Once again a great work and an important start.\n\n    and with luv/\n\n    thank you uncle and i will makes those corrections. only a thorough reading can make these observations possible. I am immensly grateful for that\n\n  3. Dear Ajithan,\n\n    Well written article and a warm welcome to science writing!\n\n    Yesterday I had written my comments in English but couldn't able to post in the old blog, hence I translated it into Tamil and shared for a discussion in a group. I copy it here.\n\n\n    அஜிதன் 'the toll levied on the civilization' என்று முடித்திருந்தார். ஒருவகையில் அது உண்மையும் கூட. பழங்குடிகள் இயற்கைப் பேரிடர்களை நேரடியாகவோ, அல்லது அவ்வாறு அறியும் திராணி கொண்ட பிற உயிரிணங்களை அவதானிப்பதன் மூலமோ உணர்ந்து கொண்டு தப்பிக்கிற���ர்கள் என்பது உண்மையானால் சக மனிதர்களான நம்மால் அவ்வாறு புரிந்து கொள்ளப்பட முடியாததன் காரணம் 'நாகரிகமடைந்த' நமது மூளை அந்த எச்சரிக்கைகளை அலட்சியப்படுத்துவது தான். எடுத்துக்காட்டாக இன்னும் 'நாகரீக' வெளியுலக தொடர்பில்லாத, அசலான பழங்குடி வாழ்க்கை வாழும் அந்தமான் பழங்குடிகள் சுனாமியில் தப்பித்தார்கள், ஆனால் பக்கத்திலேயே வாழும் நிகோபார் தீவுகளின் நாகரீகமடைந்த நவீன உலகின் கருவிகளுக்குப் பழகிய பழங்குடிகளால் அது முடியவில்லை.\n\n    இதன் ஒரு எளிய மாதிரியாக, இன்றும் காடுகளில் வாழும் நாகரிகமடைந்த ஆதிவாசிகள் சில குரங்குகள், பறவைகளின் ஒலியைக் கொண்டே காட்டில் ஊடுறுவும் பிற மிருகங்கள் அல்லது எளிய அபாயங்களை (காட்டுத்தீ...) ஊகித்து அறிவதை கவனிக்கலாம். இயற்கையுடன் இயையாத நம்மால் அதுவும் முடிவதில்லை. எனவே 'நாகரீகம்' புலன்கள் வழி அறியும் உள்ளுணர்வை மூடிவிட்டது என்றே கொள்ளலாம்.\n\n\n  4. அல்லது இப்படியும் யோசிக்கலாம். பரிணாமத்தில் நாம் அடையும் வளர்ச்சி என்பதே ஒரு சமரசம் தான். வளர்ச்சியின் போக்கில் புதிய பண்புகளைப் பெறுவது போல் இருக்கும் சில பண்புகளை இழக்கவும் செய்யலாம். உதாரணமாக மனிதனுக்கு நெருக்கமான ஒரு பேரிணக் குரங்கிலிருந்து பிரிந்து பரிணாம பாய்ச்சல் அடைய முக்கியக் காரணம் திடீரென்று மூன்று மடங்கு பெரிய மூளை வளர்ச்சி வாய்க்கப் பெற்றது தான். இந்த மூளை வளர்சியால் தான் நமது தொடர்புறு சிந்தனைத் திறன் வளர்ச்சி அடைந்து இன்றைய 'முன்னேறிய' நிலையில் இருக்கிறோம். ஆனால் உடல் நிறை:மூளை அளவு விகிதாச்சாரப்படி பெரிய அளவு மூளை இல்லாத பிற உயிரிணங்களிடம் இருக்கும் சில பண்புகளை நாம் இழந்திருக்கலாம். உதாரணமாக பார்த்தல் எனப்து வெறும் வடிவங்களைப் பார்ப்பது மட்டுமல்ல. சில உயிரிணங்கள் புற ஊதா, அகச்சிவப்புக் கதிர்களைப் 'பார்க்கும்' சக்தி கொண்டவை (சில பாம்புகள், மூட்டைப்பூச்சி..), மீயொலி (ultrasound; வௌவால், டால்ஃபின்...) அல்லது அகஒலியை (infrasound; யானை, திமிங்கிலம், காண்டாமிருகம், ஒட்டகச்சிவிங்கி, இன்னும் பெரும்பாலான பெரிய உயிரிகள்...) 'கேட்கும்' திறன் கொண்டவை, இப்படியே வாசனை நுகர்தல் (உதாரணமாக மனிதர்களை விட மிருகங்கள், பூச்சிகள், சில தாவரங்கள் ஆகியவை ஃபெரமோன்கள் என்னும் வேதிப்பொருட்களின் மனத்தை உணர்வதன் மூலம் தொடர்பு கொள்��ுதலில் பலமடங்கு அதிகம் திறன்படைத்தவை), சுவைத்தல், தொடு உணர்ச்சி , திசையறிதல், பூமியின் காந்தப்புல அடர்த்திக்கு ஏற்ப இயைதல் ஆகியவற்றிலும் மனிதனை விட நுண்மையான உணர்வுகளை மிருகங்கள் தக்கவைத்துள்ளன. நமது பரிணாமப் பங்காளிகளான சிமபன்ஸி உள்ளிட்ட பேரிணக்குரங்குகளிலும் இவற்றில் சில குணங்கள் உண்டு. ஆக, சிக்கலான நரம்புமண்டல அமைப்பு மற்றும் பெரிய மூளை வளர்ச்சியினால் சில சிறப்புப் பண்புகளை (பேச்சு, சிந்தனை etc.,) பெற்ற நாம், எளிய மிருக நிலையில் உள்ள சில நுணுக்கமான புலனறிதல்களை இழந்துள்ளோம்.\n\n    இதன் அடிப்படையில் 'மனிதனால் மட்டும் ஏன் இயற்கையின் பேரிடர்களுக்கு முந்தைய கன மாற்றங்களை உணரமுடிவதில்லை?' என்ற கேள்வியைக் கேட்டால், பதில் மிக எளிமையாக 'உணர முடியாது, ஏனென்றால் அந்த நுண்புலன்கள் அவனிடம் இல்லை. (பரிணாமத்தில் இழந்துவிட்டான்)' என்று சொல்லப்படலாம்.\n\n    ஒரு மண்புழு ஏன் நாவல் எழுதவில்லை என்று கேட்கமுடியாதில்லையா? அது போலவே மனிதனிடம் இல்லாத ஒரு நுண்புலனின் பண்புகளை அவன் ஏன் கொண்டிருக்கவில்லை என்ற கேள்வியையே கேட்க முடியாது.\n\n    மிருகங்கள் இயற்கையை 'அறிவதில்லை', அதன் பகுதியாக இருக்கிறது. பரிணாமத்தில் 'நாகரீகமடைந்த' மனிதன் இயற்கையின் 'பகுதி'யல்ல, இயற்கையின் பின்னலிலிருந்து விலகி அதை 'அறிந்து' திறமையாகப் பயன்படுத்த முயல்பவன்.\n\n    கொஞ்சம் தத்துவார்த்தமாக சொல்ல முயற்சித்தால், \"அறிவுத்திறனால் இயற்கையை அறிந்துகொள்ள, கருவிகளால் அதன் மாற்றங்களை ஊகிக்க பரிணாமத்தில் மனிதனுக்கு வாய்ப்பு கொடுக்கப்பட்டதால், நுண்ணுணர்வால் இயற்கையை உணர்ந்து கொள்ளும் திறன் இயற்கை விதியாலேயே பறித்துக்கொள்ளப்பட்டது\" என்று சொல்லுவேன். இழந்ததும், அடைந்ததும் எல்லாம் ஒரு விதியால் சமம்.\n\n    நண்டு தன் வளையை களிமண்ணால் மூடுவது, தட்டான்கள் கூட்டமாகப் பறப்பது போன்றவற்றை வைத்து மழை வரப்போவதை உணர்தல், நாய்கள் அசம்பந்தமாக ஊளையிடுதல், காக்கைகளின் கூட்டமான கரைச்சல் உள்ளிட்ட பறவைகளின் விபரீதமான ஒலி, அசௌகர்யமாக நிலைகொள்ளாமல் தவிக்கும் மாடு, இன்னும் இது போன்ற பிற உயிரிணங்களின் அசாதாரணமான நடத்தைகளின் மூலமாக இயற்கையின் வழக்கத்திற்கு மாறான போக்கை ஊகிக்கும் அறிவு மரபாகவே நம் நாட்டில் உண்டு. சகுணம் என்ற பெயரில் அவை ஒரு அறிவாக வழ��வழியாக கைமாற்றப் பட்டு வந்தது. அதில் ஒன்றிரண்டு வெறும் நம்பிக்கைகளாகவும் இருந்துவிடும். அதனால் அந்த ஒட்டுமொத்த அறிவையே 'பல்லி சொல் பலன்' கிண்டல் வரிசையில் சேர்த்து 'மூடநம்பிக்கைகள்' என்று உதாசீனப்படுத்தி விடுதல் நம் தூய அறிவியல்வாத மேதைகளின் வழக்கம். விளைவாக கிராமத்தில் கூட இன்று இத்தகைய நுண்ணுணர்வு கொண்டவர்களைக் காண்பது அரிது.\n\n\n  5. Krishnan\n    /The article haven't chosen to give examples or proofs of available human intuition (among tribes, children etc) presently or before to add more substance to that line of analysis./\n\n    shamanic acts among tribal communities nevers cease to fascinate me. almost all these acts involve choking themselves and loud music. choking breath leads to less oxygen supply to brain partially shutting down energy lavish cerebrum. hearing is more related to limbic system. the louder it gets, more of adrenaline and other harmones are secreted, more is the activity of limbic system, region responsible for intiution\n\n  6. //. choking breath leads to less oxygen supply to brain partially shutting down energy lavish cerebrum.//\n\n    Aji ... wonderful observation... Never thought in this angle. In fact in almost all Near Death Experiences (NDE) lack of oxygen supply plays an important role. What better way to awaken our species' hidden sleeping forgotten potentials than simulate Near Death situation. Great Going!\n\n  7. I saw this site quite accidentally and exited to read this article. I noticed in your profile that you are still an undergraduate student. The language and presentation shows maturity of a senior research scholar. I wish to appreciate you for your natural brilliance and erudition.\n\n    I am not a man of science. My interests are in yoga and mysticism. I don’t know whether you are interested in it or not -probably not, because it needs an age and experience to enter in these kind of thoughts.\n\n    As per our yoga tradition which is an integral part of Eastern mysticism we have four levels of mental existence. Jagrat, svapna,sushubti and durya. I may compare them with the modern psychological terms conscious, subconscious, unconscious and collective unconscious. Well, actually there is sharp difference between these eastern concepts and western terms. Western psychology assumes these states as structures and we think them as functional modes.\n\n    According to yoga tradition we are existing in all that four levels at the same time. But one is screening the other. We can say, durya is screened by sushubti and sushubti by svapna. Jagrat covers everything as an iron curtain and it presents itself as the only self we have. Jagrat is made up of logical thought, signs and symbols, images and its endless associations. Language is the presentable form of jagrat.\n\n    Jagrat is a creation of culture. According to yoga sastra human beings created their jagrat and continuously making it stronger. Every living thing has day to day life, so it must have a jagrat. But in the case of lower level beings their jagrat is weak, so their other inner selves are stronger. Animals have more mundane life than insects. So their jagrat is stronger than them. So naturally their svapna and sushubti are weaker.\n\n    This is the explanation of yoga sastra for your question. When we began to build our jagrat or conscience for our survival we lost our connection with the durya, the collective unconscious. We lost our intuitional powers as well.\n\n    This may not seem as science, but a religious belief, but yoga says one can suspend his jagrat slowly by practice and attain the inner existence gradually. He can reach and be in durya state, merged in collective unconscious. On that stage he may predict earthquake like an animal or insect. As per our tradition the highest state for a man\n\n  8. Not for this discussion but for general understanding\n\n    Carl Jung on Yoga\n\n\n  9. Hi ajithan!\n    It is a thought provoking article! Inbreeding exposes the homozygous allele in which mutational effects can be expressed, but not in out breeders where they are being masked under heterozygous conditions. So change in genetic function is itself an adaptive mechanism. Human beings live in natural habitats are more predictive to environmental changes! Way to go ajithan!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5697988271713257}
+{"content": "Saturday, November 8, 2008\n\nABCFM Papers\n\nThe American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, known as the ABCFM for short, was the philanthropic mission society that supported the Stockbridge Mohicans from 1828 to 1848. In fact, the ABCFM supported many missionaries throughout the world over a period of...I don't know, I think they were established around 1810 and probably lasted about 100 years. Anyway, in my post yesterday, I mentioned primary sources. The ABCFM Papers are primary sources that I have been using in my research. They are kept at Harvard's Houghton Library and people like me that live too far away from Harvard can get microfilm of the ABCFM Papers via interlibrary loan. Most of the ABCFM Papers that concern the Stockbridges consist of correspondence to and from the Rev. Cutting Marsh, missionary to the tribe from 1830 to 1848. But at times some of the Indians would come into conflict with Rev. Marsh and when that happened, the Indians - as individuals or as a group - would take the time to write their own letters to the ABCFM.\n\nIn his last years as the missionary, Rev. Marsh's effectiveness was compromised, due partly to his own personality, but also as a result of bitter partisanship within the Stockbridge Nation. Marsh had once hoped that Jeremiah Slingerland, a member of the tribe studying to become a minister, would take his place. Slingerland did return to his people and the two men had something like a honeymoon period, but they eventually came into conflict and Marsh asked the ABCFM not to support Rev. Slingerland as his successor.\n\nOne of the things that Marsh objected to was that Slingerland had taken sides in the ongoing tribal partisanship, something that he had struggled with himself. As the small Stockbridge Nation split into two parties, the ABCFM not only decided not to support Rev. Slingerland, but they withdrew their support to the tribe altogether.\n\nIf you're wondering about the nature of the conflicts, Marsh's ideas about Rev. Slingerland, and how Christianity managed after the ABCFM pulled its support, stay tuned, because I've been working on a paper about it.\n\nNo comments :", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7061323523521423}
+{"content": "Basic Information Edit\n\nIf you should stumble upon a warning or description about a block, liquid, material or item being \"inflammable\", please note that this word means the exact same as \"flammable\".\n\nHowever, since rather many people - even native English-speakers - continually mistake \"inflammable\" for \"non-inflammable\" you can revise this phrasing if you find it.\n\nStill please mind that using \"inflammable\" instead of \"flammable\" is in no way a \"misspelling\" nor a \"mistake\"!\n\nFlammable blocks and objects in Creativerse Edit\n\nBlocks and objects that can be transformed/changed by heat or cold (mainly by Fire Bombs and Freeze Bombs) Edit\n\nFireproof Edit", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6498614549636841}
+{"content": "Book Review: Scotland's Hidden History (by Ian Armit) : BH | HistoryNet MENU\n\nBook Review: Scotland’s Hidden History (by Ian Armit) : BH\n\n8/12/2001 • British Heritage Book Reviews, Reviews\n\nScotland’s Hidden History, by Ian Armit. Published by Tempus Publishing, Inc., an Imprint of Arcadia Publishers, 2 Cumberland Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, 888-313-2665 $29.99, hardcover. 160 pages.\n\nWhen travellers to Britain think of prehistoric monuments, many undoubtedly see mental images of the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and mistakenly believe that southern England is the only place to go if you’re interested in exploring Britain’s Iron and Stone Age past. But when it comes to spectacular ancient monuments, no place in Britain can boast of a richer collection than Scotland.\n\nIn Scotland’s Hidden History, Ian Armit takes readers on a tour of 100 of these far northern sites. Interspersed with his easy-to-read narrative of Scotland’s prehistory, Armit describes locations nearly, but not quite, as famous as England’s great monuments, including Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, Maes Howe and Callanish, but also many lesser-known tombs, domestic settlements, forts, farms, and towers.\n\nEach of these sites represents a fascinating glimpse into the life of the prehistoric people who inhabited the land now known as Scotland. But in addition, Armit uses them to tell a story. He observes that these people and their descendants have lived in this land for as much as 10,000 years, but that conventional histories must ignore all but the last 1,000 or so of these due to the lack of written records. To fill this void, he uses his 100 selected archaeological sites as clues to the vast unrecorded history of Scotland.\n\nThe story that the physical remains tell us speaks of a population initially of hunters scratching out a day-to-day existence dominated by the need to track and kill wildlife for food, or to gather edible plants that grew wild.\n\nBy about 4000 BC Neolithic farmers began to cultivate the land, enabling the previously nomadic tribes to settle down. Whereas the hunter-gatherers of the earlier age left few traces, the farmers left behind a variety of structures that give insight into their mode of living. Armit includes the houses at Eilean Domhnuill and the tomb of Barpa Langass, among several other sites, to reconstruct the prevailing values and beliefs of the early farmers.\n\nAs populations continued to increase, conflicts between tribes became an ever more commonelement of life, and by the Iron Age, forts like those at The Chesters and Dreva Craig give ample evidence of the growing need for self-defense.\n\nLater still, relics such as the Antonine Wall document Scotland’s transition from prehistoric obscurity into the age of recorded fact, completing a fascinating journey through 9,000 “dark” years.\n\nBruce Heydt\n\n, , , ,\n\nSponsored Content:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5149421691894531}
+{"content": "Use a swamp cooler for indoor marijuana heat problems?\n\n\nDo you think it would be okay to use an evaporative swamp cooler in a hot, dry, climate for indoor marijuana plants? I’m using a flood-and-drain hydroponic system for the plants.\n\nYou could alleviate your heat problems in your marijuana grow room with a swamp cooler. These coolers work by taking the hot dry air through a wet pad. The water then evaporates which cools and humidifies the air. Swamp coolers cost the same as running a fan (instead of using air conditioners). The swamp cooler will be more effective with drier air, so you should ventilate the space to avoid having any excessive humidity.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9861850738525391}
+{"content": "The Passing of Blades\n\n\n   It wasn’t Eadwine’s place to ask questions, an irony considering her line of work. She adjusted the hempen robes more tightly around herself as a soft breeze drifted through the marble hall, royal guards bowing with respect while still keeping a hand firmly on the hilt of their swords. When she was still young, Eadwine had considered it a sign of rudeness to hold such doubt after all she had done to achieve her position, but after seeing first-hand the level of destruction a true Shapeless could unleash, she found herself on-edge every time she stood near someone with a weapon. The door opened as she approached, an Elf with a somewhat downcast expression and three layers of dark furs over his noble robes stepping out into the hall. Revulus appeared to be alone, a surprise considering how inseparable he appeared to be from his mistress; Eadwine found herself wondering if there was something to this meeting, but hurriedly pushed such stray thoughts from her mind. Traitorous thoughts.\n   “Lady Eadwine.” Revulus said as he bowed awkwardly, pausing midway to visibly overcompensate his show of respect. She found herself similarly uncertain how to reply, considering the Elf’s baseborn status despite holding such favour from the Lord Navigator herself. Still, the fact remained they were within Eadwine’s Court, which gave her enough standing to wave aside any social anxiety.  \n   “Revulus,” She replied curtly, settling with a stiff nod. “Out on your own I see.”\n   The Elf glanced back with an uncomfortable expression; just what had he discussed with the Lord Inquisitor? “I am on an errand for my lady, she is currently indisposed with matters of Court.” He explained, hastily adding “Apologies lady, but I must be returning.” as he bustled past her. She watched him go, looking from behind like an overgrown displacer beast, hunching deep in his furs. Strange, the hall didn’t feel so cold to her, but considering his birth and dark skin, she assumed Revulus must have lived a childhood amongst his kin out in the Nesting Sea. As she turned back to the door, she almost knocked unconsciously, but held herself back just in time and pushed the oak double-doors open.\n   Delaryn stood, hands clasped behind his back, regarding the intricately painted map of The Empire. She had once heard it described as his ‘only treasure’, and it was hard not to see why, it was as much a masterpiece that blended the arts of calligraphy, cartography, and watercolours, while also being enchanted to update itself with shifting boundaries, newly established cities, and other such changes. She walked up to his side and regarded the map, wondering what in particular had garnered his attention this time; often he liked to test her in this way, giving her a chance to guess at what was on his mind at any given time. She tried to see if any changes had occurred, perhaps a new city on the frontier or a development from the border skirmish between Baron Iliphel and Baroness Vessa, but nothing struck her as noteworthy.\n   Delaryn suddenly interrupted her thoughts with a question. “Tell me Eadwine, what makes an empire strong?”\n   Eadwine blinked, looking up at the towering Eladrin peering down at her. As always, he favoured her with a an almost fatherly smile, though his eyes betrayed no shred of warmth, the sharp grey irises like shards of ice flecked with dirt. Feeling uncomfortable at the gaze, she turned back to the map and considered the question.\n“I suppose an empire’s strength is dependent on its people.” She replied after a brief period of silent contemplation.\n   “An interesting idea,” Delaryn nodded, stroking his beard as he considered her answer. “Yet the people can also act as its weakness, can it not? The larger an empire grows, the more it must inevitably rely upon gathering disparate cultures. Consider the current Kenku revolutions, for example. Would we not be stronger if we had remained in the Feywild, a singular people under the Eladrin banner?”\n   “You have a point there.” Eadwine conceded, biting back the counter-argument formulating in her head and bowing in deference to Delaryn. He walked over to the large table and poured a bottle of violet wine into two cups.\n   “You’re close, a people are certainly an important factor to a strong empire,” Delaryn explained, returning to the map and handing her one of the cups. “However I believe it to be but one element of what is truly important.” He paused for dramatic effect, taking a sip of the wine and gazing at her with those horrible eyes of his.\n   “Unity, my dear Eadwine. That is what differentiates an empire of strength and authority from the empire of chaos and squalor. It was easy before The Crossing, our singular identity acted as the force to unify us under a powerful kingdom. In some ways becoming an empire has crippled us, left us scrambling to return to those halcyon days of unity. In our grand history as a true empire, we have had but one period of true unity. Do you know what it is?” She felt his gaze upon her like hands roughly intruding upon her skin and repressed a shudder, shaking her head in the hope he would look away once more.\n   “The great irony is that it was the Tieflings, our most hated foe, who truly unified us as an empire,” He explained, his eyes drifting back up to the map. “Hate is a powerful force, if you can use it wisely. Eladrin, Kenku, Human, even the ever-reclusive Dwarves, all unified against a single foe. The day the last bastion of the Tieflings fell was the last day I truly felt any modicum of pride for our empire. Another great irony, I suppose. In defeating the greatest threat to our might, we hastened our own stagnation. A stagnation I intend to overturn.”\n   “You intend to declare war?” Eadwine whispered before she could stop herself, wincing at such a mistake. Fortunately Delaryn seemed too enthused by his own proselytization that he gave it no mind.\n   “Oh yes, though not against the Tieflings,” He smirked, taking another sip of the wine. “No sense in rallying against such a tattered force, and it would undermine years of dutiful post-war propaganda. No, the enemy that will unify us once more is one that has sent far too long thumbing its nose at us. They hold the one who killed our prince, the symbol of our holdings in this land, and refuse to recognize that justice must be served.”\n   Eadwine’s eyes went wide as she realized what he referred to. “The Free City? But why? Surely the risks involved…” Delaryn turned, the smile gone in an instant, and she knew she had gone too far. He took a slow draught of his wine, emptying the cup, and tossed it to the side, letting it shatter on the floor.\n   “It is not your position to understand my methods, Eadwine,” He said, placing a hand on her shoulder; she could feel the force in the grip, knowing he could crush her shoulder if he but willed it. “You are a tool to further my plans, nothing more. Now go, tell The Drifter I have need of his skills once again.”\n   He let go and smiled again, a smile that somehow filled her with more dread than his words. She allowed years of training to still the raging tempest in her heart, bowing deeply and exiting the room with all the decorum she could muster. It was only until she was far away from his room that she finally let go and allowed the tears to fall.\n   Delaryn watched the sunset from his private terrace, basking in the radiant beauty of Thronerock’s many under-spires as they were cast in an orange hue. Sun, star, moon, earth. The four pillars of the empire he loved; it was impossible to mistake the vision as anything but a message from Corellon. No, not a message, a warning. The empire was in danger, the pillars under strain from so many enemies, some seen and others in the shadows. He would do Corellon proud, he would protect his empire. And if thousands had to die in the name of unity, so be it.   \n\n\nPrincessFuton PrincessFuton\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5518145561218262}
+{"content": "Civilization is game based on the history of the world. You start off as a leader of a small neanderthal, nomad tribe which is looking for a place on this planet to start its first settlement. From here, you try to build an empire that can last through the ages. You have scientists that try to achieve new discoveries or new technology which you can then use. Your decisions on what the Scientists can research make very large changes between one possible future and another. Not only that, but you have to handle properly what ideas your tribe knows now. You start with only two types of people you can send out from your town or towns. You can send out Militia (cheap and fast to make, are pretty weak fighters, but still are your only chance at defense at the beginning of the game). You can also send out Settlers (these are pretty dynamic), which can do one of several things. The main 2 screens that you use the most are the Main Map screen and the Town screen. In the Main Map, you manipulate your units, look around your known part of the world, and control main game functions. In the Town screen, you control aspects of the town and choose what the town builds. Can also manipulate how the town farms, and how much food, water, fish, oil, diamonds, gems, and ore that the town brings in. Much food comes from ripe and irrigated lands, especially if those lands have Game in them. (Game means animals that can be hunted for food).\n\nYou usually will use troops to discover new parts of the world. At the beginning, you can only see a small square around your first group of settlers, but as you move around in the map, those black unknown squares become known territory. Beware, there are other civilizations out there trying to do the same thing. Gameplay changes as you discover more things, then makes a drastic change when you meet other civilizations. When you meet other civilizations, things come to war, peace, treaties, spies, Diplomats, stealing technology, encouraging other civilization’s cities to go under revolt, political chaos, restoring or making new order, and more. Messengers from one republic to another. While doing all that you did before and more. Soon, you have a magnificent empire  with all sorts of towns that you have to worry about; and the way the game leads you in the comfortable learning curve, you are surprised that you could probably remember specific things about all of the 50+ towns that you have. Technology goes with learning the alphabet, establishing writing, and building literacy which gives birth to messengers and diplomats. There are also the wheel, automotion, and mathematics… in which the first and the third would allow the use of catapults, because your men need mathematics to understand the true theory of projectile motion.\n\nWhen you learn those, you can have catapult units attack other towns and such, but are easily taken out by decent ground troops. Some discoveries make others obsolete. The game goes on an on, getting more complex as it goes, even to the age of the space race Yes, for those of you who are into nuking people, they go as far as nuclear weapons and a bit past them. The music is as nice as it gets for this kind of game. It’s decent, but not earthshattering, but the music is very appropriate during the beginning and introduction sequences. You also have the main theme of your tribe or civilization play when certain special events happen to you. There is sound in the game, as you hear a digitized sword clashing sound when two units fight, or the sound of workmen and woodworkers when a new development is built in a city for example. The game also includes a full Civilization Encyclopedia, which tells you about all aspects of the game, aspects of the various technologies and things people can learn, often with picture illustrations (some which look quite nice with a gradient blue background) and comparisons to how this was achieved or what significance this had in Real Life Earth History. Civilization and especially the AGA version is one of the greatest simulation game releases for Commodore Amiga and worth downloading.\n\nMore news: Generation Amiga magazine", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5556665062904358}
+{"content": "There has been a groundswell of effort by the U.S. Government to address growing cybersecurity risks in industry sectors from finance to energy. This first week of National Cyber Security Awareness Month has brought with it a continuation of the Government’s effort to provide cybersecurity guidance to industry.  This most recent effort is focused on the medical device arena with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s (“HHS”) release of a guidance document entitled “Content of Premarket Submissions for Management of Cybersecurity in Medical Devices.\n\nThe goal of the HHS guidance document is to encourage medical device manufacturers to address cybersecurity issues early during design and development of the medical device.  With this in mind medical device manufactures can develop a set of controls to assure security and maintain functionality and safety of medical devices, to avoid potential risk of patient illness, injury or death.\n\nThe HHS guidance document has its foundation in the Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity released earlier this year (previous article at 7-8) and recommends that manufactures consider that framework’s core functions, namely “Identify”, “Protect”, “Detect”, “Respond”, and “Recover”. In the context of the HHS guidance document these functions can be summarized as follows:\n\n  • Identify: identify the risks associated with the device (e.g., is it a network connected device, does it have accessible data ports, where will it be used);\n  • Protect: provide the appropriate level of security for the risk (e.g., limit access, use strengthened passwords, use physical locks) and provide justification for the chosen security functions;\n  • Detect: implement device features that allow security compromises to be detected;\n  • Respond: provide a response plan to end users regarding actions to take following detection of a cybersecurity breach; and\n  • Recover: provide a method for retention and recovery of device configurations.\n\nThe HHS guidance document concludes with recommendations regarding what information manufactures should provide in their premarket medical device submission related to cybersecurity, including:\n\n  • “hazard analysis, mitigations and design considerations” regarding the cybersecurity risks associated with your device;\n  • a “traceability matrix” linking your cybersecurity controls to the considered risks;\n  • a summary describing a plan for providing software updates and patches to maintain device safety and effectiveness;\n  • a summary describing a plan to prevent introduction of malware from the point of origin to the point at which the device leaves the manufacturer’s control; and\n  • device instructions for recommended cybersecurity controls in the given environment (e.g., use of firewalls or anti-virus software).\n\nThe HHS guidance recommends that this information should be provided in the following premarket submission: Premarket Notifications, De novo submissions,  Premarket Approval Applications, Product Development Protocols, and Humanitarian Device Exemption submissions.\n\nWhile the HHS guidance document does not establish legally enforceable responsibilities, device manufactures should take notice.  A failure to pay heed may result in inadequate cybersecurity measures that most importantly may risk harm to patients, but also may damage the company’s reputation and create increased liability risks should a breach occur.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8465566039085388}
+{"content": "How Fast Can the Economy Grow?\n\nThe recession may be ending (and may, in fact, have ended, according to the majority of economists recently surveyed by the Wall Street Journal) but, as Friday’s consumer confidence report suggests, the uncertainty about the course of future growth is far from resolved. The most recent consensus forecast from the panel assembled for the monthly Blue Chip Economic Indicators does suggest a nice bounce back into positive growth territory, bringing to an end a four-quarter run of gross domestic product (GDP) contraction.\n\n\nWhat remains interesting, however, is the range of disagreement about just how fast the recovery will be. The upper and lower black lines in the chart above delineate the 10 most optimistic forecasts (the upper lines) and the least optimistic forecasts (the lower lines) among the Blue Chip panel’s 51 economists. Most interesting is the fact that some collection of theses economists are, in any given quarter, guessing that growth will not break a 2 percent annual pace before we exit 2010.\n\nThat uncertainty is compounded by an even more consequential uncertainty, lucidly emphasized recently by Menzie Chinn (here, here, and here): How fast can we grow before straining the economy’s capacity? In other words, is slow growth the best we can expect given the economy’s current potential?\n\nThe output gap—the difference between the current level of GDP and estimated potential—has long been standard fare in policy analysis. Over at iMFdirect, the International Monetary Fund’s blog, Ajai Chopra explains why we care:\n\n“What would be merely a curiosity during better times—after all, potential output is a largely abstract concept measuring the level of output an economy can produce without undue strain on resources—has become a particular worry in the context of the global economic crisis…\n\n“Right now, budget planners across Europe are scrambling to estimate the strength of the blow the crisis has dealt to public finances, and not knowing the growth potential of their economies greatly complicates their task. If they overestimate potential growth, they would underestimate the need for fiscal adjustment once the crisis has dissipated, raising thorny issues of fiscal sustainability in the longer run.\n\n“Central bankers, too, are looking for guidance on the path of potential output. Their decision on when to start winding down current crisis policies depends on the difference between potential and actual output, the so-called output gap. If the output gap is closing faster because of a drop in potential, policymakers might decide to increase interest rates a little earlier and a little higher to prevent  inflation from rising.”\n\nEconomists also do not lack methods for estimating the output gap and, just in case the field is not crowded enough, Atlanta Fed economist Jim Nason has done some investigating of his own. Jim looked at a variety of statistical estimates of the output gap and arrived at what is now a pretty familiar conclusion. To wit, there is substantial variation in output gap estimates across the different methods, and I do mean substantial: The gap estimates for the second quarter of 2009 range from –0.5 to nearly –11 percent depending on which method is used. In other words, some methods imply the gap is very large, others say the gap is rather small.\n\nI am tempted to invoke the ancient economists’ chant, “noh-bah-de-noz,” but real-life policymakers don’t have that luxury. So we delve in the details and try to sort out what seems like the best approach. (If you have a technical bent, you can do the same with Jim’s estimates by following this link.) As we sort it out, though, Ajai Chopra gives some sound advice:\n\n“As for central bankers, they should also act on the information they have, although researchers such as Athanasios Orphanides (now Governor of the Central Bank of Cyprus and member of the ECB’s Governing Council) have sensibly suggested that central banks should tread carefully by reducing the importance of the output gap in their decision making.\n\n“More generally, policymakers—be they in the central bank or in the ministry of finance—would do well by communicating their assumptions about potential output growth to the public.”\n\nWith that in mind, I will leave you with the recent communication on the subject offered by Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart:\n\n“Many observers see substantial slack in the economy that could persist for some years. Economists’ more formal term for slack is “output gap.” We at the Atlanta Fed see a meaningful output gap developing, but in our view it is smaller than would normally be associated with the weak pace of growth we expect over the next couple of years because all the obstacles to the natural pace of growth already mentioned have brought down the economy’s potential for the medium term.”\n\nSo, as President Lockhart indicates, mark us down, for now, on the low end of output gap scale.\n\nUpdate: The San Francisco Fed’s John Fernald and Kyle Matoba offer some related thoughts in the newest edition of the Bank’s Economic Letter (hat tip to Econbrowser).\n\nBy David Altig, senior vice president and research director at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta\n\nOriginally published at Macroblog and reproduced here with the author’s permission.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5600714683532715}
+{"content": "Lutheran Church of Finland\n\nFinland Table of Contents\n\nReligious life in Finland since the Protesrant Reformation has been dominated by the Lutheran Church of Finland. For most of this period, almost all Finns belonged to it. In the late 1980s, about 90 percent of the population were members, and an even greater number participated in its rituals. During the time of Swedish rule, the church was the country's state church, and it was part of the national government, subordinate to the Swedish king. Even when headed during the nineteenth century by Russian tsars of the Orthodox faith, the Lutheran Church remained a state church. Since 1809, however, it has had to share this distinction with the Orthodox Church, which had followers in the eastern province of Karelia.\n\nThe Ecclesiastical Law of 1869 gave the Lutheran Church a measure of independence from the state by allowing it a representative body, the Synod, that could decide many important church matters on its own. When Finland became independent, the church gained a greater degree of autonomy, although it still was subject to state supervision. The president, for example, decided who was to become a bishop, using a list of three candidates submitted by the Lutheran Church. In 1943 the formation of its own central administration, separate from the Ministry of Education, meant the church was largely self-sufficient. Some practical matters, such as levels of church taxes, salaries and pensions, or reorganization of church districts, were still decided by the government or required its approval, but in many other matters the church set its own course.\n\nA study commission of 1977 recommended a greater separation of church and state as a goal for Finnish society. The next decade's discussion of abolishing the presidential selection of bishops was one example of efforts to realize this goal. The gradual movement away from the national government meant that the Lutheran Church of Finland, although still a state church, was more independent than the other Lutheran churches of the Nordic region. This independence was so marked that students of religion commonly regarded it not so much as a state church, but as a folk church that served all Finns, members and nonmembers alike.\n\nCustom Search\n\nSource: U.S. Library of Congress", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8842418193817139}
+{"content": "Mexico - México - Aculco - Up to 500 citizens - Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nLoma Alta Cabresteros - México\n\nFacts about Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nLocation of Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nLoma Alta Cabresteros is located in the municipality of Aculco in the Mexican state of México with the GPS coordinates:\nLongitude (dec): -99.851944\nLatitude (dec): 20.150833\n\nHeight over sea level of Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nThe locations medium height over sea level is 2350 meters.\n\nPopulation in Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nThe over all population of Loma Alta Cabresteros is 246 persons, 127 of them are male and 119 of them are female.\n\nAge distribution\n\nThe population of this place consists of 119 minors and 127 adults, with 15 of them being 60 years and older.\n\nIndigenous population of Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\n\nSocial structure\n\nA legal claim on health care and social insurance benefits have 99 citizens of Loma Alta Cabresteros.\n\nEconomic situation\n\nIn Loma Alta Cabresteros exist about 57 households.\n\nOf these households 57 are common houses or apartments, 5 are without floor and about 4 consist of one room only.\n\n34 of the normal households have sanitary installations, 52 are connected to the public water supply, 53 have access to electricity.\n\nThe economic situation allows 1 households to own a computer, 14 own a washing machine and 48 households are equipped with one ore more televisions.\n\nSchool and education in Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nBesides the 13 analphabets aged 15 or older, about 1 minors between 6 and 14 are not visiting a school.\n\n9 inhabitants of the population of 15 years and older did not visit a school and 78 persons did not finish the school. 41 visited only the 6 years lasting primary school, 11 visited and finished the college or similar scholar institutions.\n\nA total of 15 aged 15 to 24 years visited a school, the medium time school is visited through the whole population is 6 years.\n\nMap of Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\nAdd a reference to Loma Alta Cabresteros\n\n\n<a href=\"\">Loma Alta Cabresteros</a>\n\nLoma Alta Cabresteros Fotos\n\n\nPHP Link Directory", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9963995814323425}
+{"content": "Grammar test 34 of 82: Adjectives English Grammar in Use / A Practical English Grammar\n\n\nScore: N/A\n\nQuestion 1 of 10: You're not _________ as you think, darling.\n\nVery Good! Correct.\n\nSorry, Incorrect.\n\nCorrect answer: as subtle\n\nExplanation: For comparisons with the positive form of an adjective, we use AS ... AS in the affirmative, and NOT AS/NOT SO ... AS in the negative: \"You are as smart as your sister.\" \"This is not as/so scary as I imagined.\"\n\n2. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: This is the _______ extreme to which I'm willing to agree to.\n\n(a) furthest\n\n(b) farther\n\n(c) farthest\n\n(d) further\n\nAnswer: A\n\nGrammar rules: Both FARTHER/FARTHEST and FURTHER/FURTHEST can be used when speaking of physical distance: \"My house is farther/further than yours, but Peter's is the farthest/furthest.\"\n\nFURTHER can be used to mean \"extra/additional\": \"further supply,\" \"further discussion\" (and other abstract nouns, such as \"information/instruction/delays/demands/etc.\").\n\nFURTHEST can be used similarly with abstract nouns: \"This is the furthest point reached in our research so far.\"\n\n3. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: Which sentence is NOT correct?\n\n(a) He's bound that he'll get sick after getting drenched.\n\n(b) According to her contract she's bound to record a new album this year.\n\n(c) I don't have a map; I'm bound to get lost.\n\n(d) If you don't study for your exam, you're bound to fail.\n\nAnswer: A\n\n\nTo express the speaker's opinion, we can use CERTAIN or SURE with an infinitive. BOUND is also possible:\n\"They are certain/sure/bound to be late.\"\n\n\"Subject + CERTAIN/SURE + THAT-clause\" is used to express the subject's opinion:\n\"They are certain that they will be on time.\"\nBOUND can't be used with a THAT-clause.\n\nCONFIDENT can be used with a THAT-clause (\"They are confident that they will be on time\"), but it can't be followed by an infinitive.\n\nSURE, CERTAIN and CONFIDENT can be followed by \"OF + noun/pronoun/gerund\": \"You can't be sure of victory/winning yet.\"\n\n\"BOUND + infinitive\" can also mean \"under an obligation\": \"According to your contract you are bound to send the manuscript by May 15.\"\n\n4. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: Girls can be _______ in science too.\n\n(a) interested\n\n(b) interesting\n\nAnswer: A\n\nGrammar rules: Participles, both present (with an \"-ing\" ending) and past (ending with \"-ed\"), can be used as adjectives.\n\nRemember that present participle adjectives, such as \"exhausting,\" \"boring,\" \"interesting\" etc., are active and mean \"having this effect,\" while past participle adjectives, such as \"exhausted,\" \"bored,\" \"interested\" etc., are passive and mean \"affected in this way.\"\n\nExample: \"The movie was fascinating\" (present participle adjective) BUT \"The audience was fascinated\" (past participle adjective).\n\n5. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: What a strange way _________ to your garden!\n\n(a) tended\n\n(b) tending\n\n(c) to tending\n\n(d) to tend\n\nAnswer: D\n\nGrammar rules: \"Pronoun + BE + adjective + noun + infinitive\" is a construction that can be used with adjectives concerning:\n\n\"That was a clever thing to do.\"\n\"It was a useful advice to share, thank you.\"\n\nSuch comments can be also expressed as exclamations:\n\"What an extraordinary feat to witness!\"\n\"What a strange thing to say!\"\n\nIn expressions of disapproval, the adjective can be sometimes omitted: \"What a way to speak to your elders!\"\n\n6. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: The girl appeared _______ so I tried to comfort her.\n\n(a) sad\n\n(b) sadly\n\nAnswer: A\n\nGrammar rules: Link verbs, such as appear, feel, get/grow, keep, look, make, smell, sound, taste, and turn, are used with adjectives of quality. However, they can also be used as regular verbs and are in such cases modified by adverbs, not adjectives.\n\nSee the difference between:\n- He looked angry (=He appeared to be angry)\n- He looked angrily at his brother (\"looked\" is used as a deliberate action and modified by the adverb \"angrily\")\n\n- She felt sick.\n- She felt gingerly around her for the missing pin.\n\n7. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: Which sentence is correct?\n\n(a) The blue and yellow and white towel is mine.\n\n(b) The large, plushy and colorful towel is mine.\n\n(c) The blue, yellow and white towel is mine.\n\n(d) The blue and yellow, white towel is mine.\n\nAnswer: C\n\nGrammar rules: When there are several adjectives, \"and\" is placed before the last one. With attributive adjectives, \"and\" is mostly used for colors (\"a red, blue and white umbrella\"). With predicative adjectives, there are no such restrictions (\"The car was new, red and shiny\").\n\n\n(a) Empty the room appears.\n\n(b) The room appears empty.\n\n(c) The room empty appears.\n\n(d) The empty room appears.\n\nAnswer: B\n\nGrammar rules: Adjectives of quality, unlike all the other types of adjectives, have two possible positions in a sentence:\n\n1. BEFORE the NOUN they modify (in this position, they are called attributive adjectives): \"a tiny kitten,\" \"a fast car.\"\n\n2. AFTER a VERB such as:\na) be, become, seem: \"She was happy,\" \"You seem angry.\"\nb) appear, feel, get/grow (=become), keep, look (=appear), make, smell, sound, taste, turn: \"The water tastes funny,\" \"I feel sick.\"\n(In this position, adjectives are called predicative adjectives, and the verbs used in this way are called link verbs or copulas.)\n\n9. english exercises / grammar test / learn english grammar/ english online: It's awful ________ in such a filthy place.\n\n(a) to living\n\n(b) living\n\n(c) to live\n\n(d) lived\n\nAnswer: C\n\nGrammar rules: \"IT + BE + adjective/participle + infinitive\" can be used with adjectives and participles that show reactions or feelings:\n\n\"It's strange to think of him as a murderer.\"\n\n\"It was interesting to see the pyramids.\"\n\n- FUN and A RELIEF can be used in a similar way:\n\"It was fun/a relief to leave the house for a bit.\"\n\nFor some adjectives, such as LOVELY, INTERESTING, MARVELOUS, NICE, WONDERFUL, etc., it's possible to add FOR + object:\n\"It was lovely for us to go out without children for once.\"\n\n\"IT + BE + adjective/participle + noun + infinitive\" is also possible with the above adjectives/participles:\n\"It was a horrible thing to say.\"\n\n\n(a) A bad cook can ruin even the best recipe.\n\n(b) A cook bad can ruin even the best recipe.\n\n(c) A cook is bad and can ruin even the best recipe.\n\n(d) A cook is bad so can ruin even the best recipe.\n\nAnswer: A\n\nGrammar rules: Some adjectives change their meaning depending on their position in a sentence:\n- in expressions such as \"bad sailor,\" \"good swimmer,\" \"big eater,\" \"small farmer,\" \"heavy drinker,\" \"light sleeper,\" \"old friend\" etc., adjectives \"good/bad,\" \"big/small,\" \"heavy/light,\" and \"old\" can't be used predicatively without changing the meaning: \"a good swimmer\" is someone who swims well, not a swimmer who is a good person.\n\nOther grammar & vocabulary tests\n\nAmerican & British English\n\nCommon Errors in English\n\nSynonym/Antonym Practice\n\nVocabulary Workshop\n\nRandom Grammar Exercises\n\nRandom Vocabulary Exercises\n\n\nEnglish Grammar in Use / A Practical English Grammar\n\n\n2. Nouns\n\n3. Adjectives\n\n4. Irregular verbs\n\n\nCommon Errors in English\n\n1. Misused forms – Using a Wrong Preposition\n\n2. Misused forms – Misuse of the Infinitive\n\n3. Misused forms – The Use of a Wrong Tense\n\n4. Misused forms – Miscellaneous Examples\n\n5. Misused forms – Un-English Expressions\n\n6. Incorrect Omissions – Omission of Prepositions\n\n7. Incorrect Omissions – Miscellaneous Examples\n\n8. Unnecessary Words – Unnecessary Prepositions\n\n9. Unnecessary Words – Unnecessary Articles\n\n10. Unnecessary Words – The Infinitive without \"To\"\n\n11. Unnecessary Words – Miscellaneous Examples\n\n12. Misplaced Words – Wrong Position of Adverbs\n\n13. Misplaced Words – Miscellaneous Examples\n\n14. Confused Words – Prepositions often Confused\n\n15. Confused Words – Verbs often Confused\n\n16. Confused Words – Adverbs often Confused\n\n17. Confused Words – Adjectives often Confused\n\n18. Confused Words – Nouns often Confused\n\n19. Confused Words – Confusion of Numbers\n\n20. Confused Words – Confusion of Parts of Speech\n\n\nLearn and Test Your Vocabulary\n\n1. All Words (2,077 words)\n\n2. SAT Vocabulary (1,668 words)\n\n3. GRE Vocabulary (1,746 words)\n\n4. IELTS Vocabulary (1,377 words)\n\n5. TOEFL Vocabulary (1,624 words)\n\n6. ACT Vocabulary (1,337 words)\n\n7. TOEIC Vocabulary (1,060 words)\n\n8. GMAT Vocabulary (1,707 words)\n\n9. PTE Vocabulary (923 words)\n\n10. ECPE Vocabulary (973 words)\n\n11. MELAB Vocabulary (1,617 words)\n\n12. MCAT Vocabulary (981 words)\n\n13. PCAT Vocabulary (1,272 words)\n\n14. AP Senior Vocabulary (656 words)\n\n15. Senior/12th Grade Vocabulary (913 words)\n\n16. Junior/11th Grade Vocabulary (1,074 words)\n\n17. Sophomore/10th Grade Vocabulary (883 words)\n\n18. Freshman/9th Grade Vocabulary (1,006 words)\n\n19. 8th Grade Vocabulary (1,002 words)\n\n20. 7th Grade Vocabulary (1,021 words)\n\n21. 6th Grade Vocabulary (756 words)\n\n22. 5th Grade Vocabulary (620 words)\n\n23. 4th Grade Vocabulary (424 words)\n\n24. 3rd Grade Vocabulary (270 words)\n\n25. 2nd Grade Vocabulary (160 words)\n\n26. 1st Grade Vocabulary (128 words)\n\n\nInvest your time in learning\n\n\nSpeak, speak, and speak!\n\n\nSlow down your speaking speed\n\n\n\nUse Mobile apps\n\n\nInstall and use a dictionary app in your mobile\n\n\n\nLearn English idioms and phrasal verbs\n\n\nListen to news bulletins\n\n\nRead out loud\n\n\nLearn new words daily\n\n\nLearn sentences\n\n\nWrite every day\n\n\nWatch English movies\n\n\nLanguage swap\n\n\nGo to a mentor\n\n\nTry to correct your mistakes\n\n\nGive yourself time to think\n\n\nBe an advance learner\n\n\nStart with \"Tense\"\n\n\nLearn common pronoun usage\n\n\n\n\nActive voice and passive voice\n\n\nIncorrect: The cinema was gone to by me.\n\nCorrect: The cinema was enjoyed by me.\n\n\n\n\nRead, read, and read\n\n\nVocabulary wordbooks\n\n\nUse a journal\n\n\nLearn some new words everyday\n\n\nUse flashcards\n\n\nSet a target\n\n\nLook up new words\n\n\nPlay some word games\n\n\nUse your newly learned words\n\n\nEngage in conversations\n\n\nTake vocabulary tests\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7308239936828613}
+{"content": "EA SPORTS™ unveils revolutionary set of game-changing innovations for FIFA 13\n\nElectronic Arts Inc. today unveiled five game-changing innovations that will bring revolutionary changes to EA SPORTS™ FIFA 13 along with the largest and deepest feature set in the history of the franchise.\n\n\nIbrahimovic dribbles the ball\n\nThe most sophisticated artificial intelligence ever achieved for the FIFA franchise will drive FIFA 13 on HD consoles and PC. All-new Attacking Intelligence enables players to analyse space, work harder and smarter to break down defenses, and think two plays ahead. Players now possess the intelligence to create, curve, or alter runs to capitalize on openings as they occur, make runs that pull defenders out of position to open passing channels for teammates, and better position themselves for new attacking opportunities.\n\nIn FIFA 13 every touch matters with the most comprehensive and intuitive dribbling system ever developed. Inspired by the world’s best footballer, Lionel Messi, Complete Dribbling enables players to face their opponent and use precise dribble touches combined with true 360° mobility with the ball, so it’s easier to be more creative and dangerous in 1v1 opportunities. Players change direction quicker, are more explosive accelerating with the ball, and are more effective shielding defenders for longer stretches. FIFA 13 1st Touch Control transforms the way players control the ball, eliminating near-perfect touch for every player on the pitch, and creating variety and uncertainty around ball control. Factors such as defensive pressure, trajectory of the ball, and velocity of the pass now impact a player’s first touch, creating more opportunities for defenders to win back possession.\n\nMessi avoids tackle\n\nThe second generation of the Player Impact Engine expands physical play from just collisions to off-the-ball battles between players. Defenders push and pull for position, and use their size and strength to win possession or force opponents into poor touches and decisions before the ball arrives. FIFA 13 Tactical Free Kicks provides the tools to create dangerous and unpredictable free kicks utilising the most skillful players on the pitch. Position up to three attacking players over the ball and utilise dummy runs and more passing options to create elaborate free kicks. Opponents can counter by adding or subtracting players to the wall, creeping the wall forward, or sending a bullet man to intercept the pass or block the shot.\n\nFIFA 13 will also feature:\n·         Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.\n\nAguero dribbles the ball\n\nFIFA 13 will be available in stores world-wide this fall for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system with PlayStation Move support, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system with Kinect™, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, iPhone®, iPad®, iPod® touch and other mobile platforms. The game has not yet been rated.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8580217361450195}
+{"content": "Linking the collective-distributive opposition and the telic-atelic opposition\nLucas Champollion\nOctober 2016\n\nI suggest a constraint that prevents 'for'-adverbials and noun phrases headed by 'each' and 'all' from participating in cumulative readings with noun phrases in their syntactic scope. In all cases, the verbal predicate needs to apply to certain smaller subevents of the event it describes. I suggest that this constraint is also the reason why 'for'-adverbials reject telic predicates, why 'each' rejects collective predicates, and why 'all' rejects certain collective predicates but not others. All these items can be seen as distributive. What distinguishes them semantically is the nature and size of the level at which they distribute: 'For'-adverbials distribute down to shorter intervals; 'each', to atoms; and 'all', to subgroups.\nFormat: [ pdf ]\nReference: lingbuzz/002985\n(please use that when you cite this article)\nPublished in: 46th Annual Meeting of the North East Linguistic Society (NELS 46)\nkeywords: distributivity, collectivity, telicity, atelicity, aspect, cumulative readings, for-adverbials, semantics\nprevious versions: v1 [May 2016]\nDownloaded:753 times\n\n\n[ edit this article | back to article list ]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9944263100624084}
+{"content": "Sunday, February 13, 2005\n\n\nReflections on Values without Religion\n\nReligious people may argue over what values are important, but they can argue there is authority in the scriptures that go with their religion for whatever values they do take seriously. Typically, it is taken to be true that these scriptures were dictated by god or at least by the founder of the religion, a semi-divine personage lost in the mists of time. Since these scriptures also form the basis of regular services and rituals, they have a built-in status that texts that are clearly not taken as divine do not possess.\n\nThus those of us who are not religious, though we may adhere as strongly to values, have a less direct means to assert the truth of these values or to “derive” them for those who don’t necessarily yet agree with them. It doesn’t matter if, say, some philosopher has worked out a moral system, because there is seemingly no imperative for anyone who disagrees with the system to take the philosopher to be correct. (Of course, it is also true that religious people don’t agree on moral matters; some self-styled Christians are hung up on certain prohibitions found in the Old Testament, whereas others like the New Testament’s Sermon on the Mount much more. Still it seems many people find their position strengthened if they can somehow locate it in Scriptures of ancient lineage, rather than in modern secular works.)\n\nSome non-believers still look to religious traditions to justify the values they hold, on the basis, apparently, that these values have stood the test of time. But this must be a highly selective process. After all values commonly accepted today, such as the evil of slavery or women’s rights, are quite new compared to the lifetimes of most religious traditions. Other traditions of great lineage, such as burning heretics at the stake, are equally rejected by most people today.\n\nWhat these simple reflections force me to conclude is that religion by itself is not the source of currently held values, even for religious people. If we could ascertain the real source or sources, why could we not derive our values from them directly?\n\nReligious people sometimes take the view that a scientific approach, including evolutionary theory, leaves us with the notion that life simply emerged accidentally and therefore is without meaning. That ignores the fact that human actions are normally meaningful. How did meaning arrive in a random sort of world? Quite simply, humans or proto-humans invented meaning, just as we invented gods.\n\nWe didn’t invent meaning all in one fell swoop; rather, as social forms change, new kinds of meaning can be invented. Thus, in a hierarchical pre-market economy, it was possible to accept inequality. But because a money-based market economy is fundamentally associated with a notion of equality in the marketplace, the equal status of all humans seems to arise as a clear corollary, at least for some people. Later on the notion of equality itself became a powerful corrective to the market economy that perhaps gave rise to this ideal. Hence such notions as opposition to slavery, feminism, rights for the propertyless, and even socialism may have emerged from the very nature of capitalist markets.\n\nBut that story is probably incomplete. Equality as a notion takes more than the existence of markets. One has to recognize that humans are all basically alike. Where does that come from? I think it derives from the experience that different people can understand one another, in other words from the experience of empathy resulting from the ability to translate between different languages, as well as between different conditions in the same culture. The notion of consumer sovereignty that capitalism potentially implies works with the emergence of widespread travel, bi-lingual dictionaries, print, and also notions of biological connection, as well as experiences of empathy between members of close-knit communities to create a broader empathic sense. From that greater empathy, values that previously were confined to narrow communities, such as prohibitions against killing, can now be applied more broadly.\n\nHaving started with the assertion that religious people have an easier time asserting values than non-religious ones because they can seemingly derive those values from readings of scripture, I now must assert something in stark contradiction. Values that supposedly arise from scripture actually come from social, technological and scientific developments. Scriptures are red herrings that cannot actually teach values from scratch, because by themselves they could teach absolutely anything.\n\nFor what it may be worth, my own remembered story may be an example of this. As a small child, I was read the Ten Commandments. One of them struck me with especial force: “Thou shalt not kill.” Because I liked that one so much, I felt an allegiance to all the rest. But the commandments themselves don’t explain why I liked that particular one so much. Opposition to killing already resonated deeply for me. I would have to say this was partly a result of having been born during WWII and hearing very early about the Holocaust, but also out of some very basic sense of empathy. Anyway, this Commandment always seemed much more important to me than any of the others; it led me to pacifism and opposition to capital punishment, values that have endured far longer than any general allegiance to the other commandments.\n\nIf empathy remains the basis of worthwhile values, then what is important is instilling empathy, not instilling religion per se. Bible stories told to small children might help do that under the right circumstances, but other stories and other media are potentially still more potent. Even news stories such as those of the Indian Ocean tsunami can have a very powerful effect.\n\nEmpathy is not everything. Religion is very often called upon for providing strength for dealing with major turning points in life, especially with the most final one — dying. The fundamental horror of death is, I think, the sense of an abrupt end. Many religions attempt to ease that fear by suggesting that there is no end, that life somehow endures in some other plane. But a similar sense of continuity can be gained by reflecting on the fact that we live in a world of shared meanings and empathy, which implies that our minds interpenetrate; to some degree we each continue to live in the minds of others. That awareness can be a balm as much as the notion of an afterlife lived in some weird other world, or even in weird reincarnation in this one.\n\nFor now, I will end these reflections. They are highly incomplete, but still I think they point to the possibility of a renewed and strong pride in a non-religious source of values.\n\nThis page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6759470105171204}
+{"content": "Thursday, 30 June 2016\n\nDonizetti - Poliuto (Glyndebourne, 2015)\n\nGaetano Donizetti - Poliuto\n\nGlyndebourne, 2015\n\nEnrique Mazzola, Mariame Clément, Michael Fabiano, Ana María Martínez, Igor Golovatenko, Matthew Rose, Timothy Robinson, Emanuele D’Aguanno\n\nOpus Arte - Blu-ray\n\nDonizetti's rarely performed Poliuto takes place in ancient times, in Armenia in 259 AD, but Mariame Clément's production establishes the context and what is at stake immediately in the first scene, without having to explain the background. In a more modern setting a group of Christians who could be any oppressed group of people are skulking around trying to hide their activities from the watchful authorities. One, scarred on his chest, shows that they are prepared to suffer for their beliefs, even to martyrdom, which would be the case if they were caught.\n\nThe setting and the tone is established in a manner that is admirably concise and direct for a work that is lean and to the point also. A few subsequent scenes build on this. Nearco, the leader of the Christian 'cult' prohibited by the law on pain of death, wields a blade and seems to initiate a baptism of blood with a new convert, Poliuto. Adding to the tension at this early stage with some typically operatic romantic complications, Poliuto confesses to Nearco that his nervousness is not entirely due to taking part in a forbidden ritual, but that he's also concerned that his wife might be unfaithful.\n\nAlthough the situations are familiar and conventional, Poliuto is not the familiar Donizetti of racing rhythms and flowing bel canto melodies. The tone from the outset is more sombre, or at least played as such here, the music more closely aligned and matched to the subject with all the variety of situations that this entails. There seems to be justification for this, the conductor Enrique Mazzola bringing out the delicacy of the arrangements in the beauty of the melodic line, but also finding the dramatic undercurrents within it that connect and bring about sharp changes of tone.\n\nIt's the kind of flow that should enable Paolina, Poliuto's wife, to move away from dark suspicions about her husband's involvement with this dangerous sect to accepting the message of love they preach in the aria 'Di quai soave lagrime'. The tone switches immediately again with the news that the Roman general Severo has not been killed in battle as she believed. Severo is indeed Paolina's lover, or was previously before she married Poliuto. Her emotions then are mixed and conflicted, relief and joy that the man she once loved has not died turning quickly to concern about facing up to those feelings.\n\nDonizetti similarly runs through the emotional gamut as it affects Severo, returning in glory to a triumphal chorus (that anticipates the one in Verdi's Aida) and then stepping outside it to consider his own feelings at this moment. The handling of these mixed and conflicted sensations is masterful, but the opera of course is devised to incorporate such a wide range of dramatic colour, one that would be developed further in the grand opéra tradition when Poliuto, after being rejected by Naples for depicting religious martyrdom on the stage, was rewritten and expanded as Les Martyrs for Paris.\n\nIt's not a bad idea then to play down the excesses of the melodrama in the staging, and Mariame Clément keeps the Glyndebourne production uncluttered and uncomplicated. Tall, stone pillars move to hide and conceal, as well as giving a sense of cold, immovable determination that could be applied to each of the conflicting forces and beliefs within the work. A few necessary props are used and there are some projections; a forest, clouds crossing over and closing down moods, even opening out to show, for example a processional cavalcade of official cars marking Severo's return.\n\nThe settings and projections are mostly well-judged, complementing the music as well as the manner in which Donizetti - in his usual fashion - tightens the screws, darkening the mood and quickening the pace. If occasionally tensions seem to be slightly released, it's only to provide enough slack to ramp them up even further, ending each of the acts with rousing finales and culminating in a position where the eventual martyrdom becomes as agonising as it is inevitable. The direction keeps all of this under control without unnecessary overemphasis, or at least thankfully with nothing that matches or surpasses having the Romans dressed in pseudo-Nazi uniforms.\n\nThat feels like something of a misstep, and I'm not sure the analogy is a helpful one, but it isn't taken much further than that. It's not that the work can't support such interpretation. The use of religion as a tool to control the masses and satisfy their bloodlust in order to further political interests is touched upon here in the libretto, but it's not developed any further than this. Despite some attempt at modernisation and universal application, the martyrdom of its adherents at the conclusion ensures that the Christian sacrificial outlook dominates and scarcely leaves room for any other interpretation. Donizetti's writing here is powerful enough that you can even hear strains of Violetta's lament 'Ah! Gran Dio! morir si giovane' from La Traviata at the conclusion. Verdi evidently learned much from this work.\n\nThe strength of Poliuto's musical and dramatic content and the force that it asserts is backed up by a strong cast of singers. Michael Fabiano - seen at Glyndebourne last year as Alfredo in La Traviata - is particularly good as Poliuto, the American demonstrating a robust tenor voice that is also capable of finer expression. Ana María Martínez is a little bit stretched on occasion by the high note demands of Paolina, but handles a challenging role well. The baritone role of Severo could probably use a little more depth and gravity, but it's sung with a lyrical character by Igor Golovatenko that emphasises the romantic nature of the role a little more. Matthew Rose however puts plenty of weight and gravity behind Callistene the High Priest to balance the range and tone of voices in the work, as does Emanuele D’Aguanno's Nearco for the tenor voice.\n\nThe accompanying documentation on the Blu-ray disc and in the booklet give more detail on the work and its presentation at Glyndebourne. There's a short interview with Mariame Clément in the booklet and a longer filmed interview where she talks about the political and personal drama in Poliuto and the inspiration for the production design. It's clear that the decisions for presentation of this work were all based around making an unfamiliar work easy to follow as well as remaining faithful to its intent. Enrique Mazzola also gives his perspective on this in a behind the scenes feature leading up to the premiere. The booklet also contains a synopsis and a fascinating essay by Roger Parker on the genesis and composition of Poliuto as well as its part in Donizetti's flirtation with French opera.\n\nThe presentation on the Blu-ray disc itself is of the usual high standard, the transfer coping well with the dark on-stage lighting and colouration. High Definition uncompressed LPCM stereo and DTS HD-Master Audio 5.1 surround tracks are included. The surround track sounding a little more echoing, while the stereo track is a little more direct and clear. There is a wonderful depth and roundness of tone that allows scenes such as the Act II finale to come across with tremendous impact. Subtitles are in English, French, German, Japanese and Korean.\n\nLinks: Glyndebourne", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5474423170089722}
+{"content": "Skip to main content\n\n\nResearch Tutorial\n\n\nYou’ve just been asked by the scariest professor in the college to give a very short presentation and turn in a brief write up of an issue. To make matters worse, the professor has given you the topic of global warming. The only thing you know about global warming is the handful of comments you’ve read on Twitter or random sites online or as taglines on cute pictures of polar bears on Facebook.\n\nScariest of all, the professor recently failed your friend when he finished his own presentation and gave him a big lecture. The professor claimed that your friend used someone else’s materials and he did something called PLAGIARIZING. You don’t want to get into trouble. You want to do the right thing. But, how?  \n\nWell, just what the heck is plagiarism anyway?  Plagiarism takes place when a writer or a speaker uses someone else’s’ words or ideas without giving credit to the source.  The basic idea here is that when you find ideas online or in a book, you need to let the professor and the reader where you found that information.\n\nHere is part of what your friend turned in for his assignment:\n\nGlobal warming is a big problem. The world’s 6.5 billion people pump into the earth’s atmosphere twice the amount of carbon dioxide in the world’s forest and oceans can naturally absorb. The remaining carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere and traps heat in a phenomena known as the greenhouse effect.\n\nWell so what’s the problem? Your professor asked how your friend knew that the amount of carbon dioxide was double what the earth could absorb. Your friend did not know. He told the professor that these were his own words and he did his research online.\n\nAlright, let’s look again at the passage and figure what the problem was. Well the first sentence was written by your friend. The underlined portion was actually copied and pasted from an article by Patrick Gonzales. Your friend simply took Gonzales’s words and put them into his paper. Big Mistake!\n\nWell at least you know what plagiarism means, but how can you avoid it if you’re supposed to do research on global warming? You know very little about it. That professor is certainly making you warm right now. But what can you do? Why can’t you just grab an online research article and use it?\n\nIs using another source always theft or plagiarism? The answer is more complicated than you might imagine. It’s not always as simple as shamelessly stealing somebody else’s work. But before we explore the forms of plagiarism in more depth, let’s be clear why you should care about plagiarism.\n\nIt’s not just an issue for evil college professors. Plagiarism is important for several reasons, and we’ll look at just a few.\n\nNumber 1\n\nYes you do want to avoid getting into trouble with the shadowy professor. You need to get a good grade and your need to get credit for the assignment. Your future career depends on completing your education. And, plagiarism is a serious issue of Academic Dishonesty and Misconduct.\n\nNumber 2 - Theft\n\nYour friend did write some of the words he used in his assignment. The person who did the hard work of writing was Patrick Gonzales. Gonzales also allowed his work to be published online. This takes a great deal of effort. You probably worked hard for your car or your phone. Imagine if someone took from you and used it without your permission. The thief or borrower did not ask you. And, they did not have to work at all for the object. That’s pretty terrible, right?\n\nNumber 3 - Credibility\n\nIt’s important to use your own ideas and explanations in your writing. However; it’s very useful and sometimes necessary to bring in outside experts or sources to help you make your point. I mean you don’t know how much sea ice has melted or if it is melted at all.  \n\nThe author we mentioned earlier, Patrick Gonzales, has this information. You can use his words if you give him credit. When you do this correctly, writing begins to sound more believable because you are not relying solely on you own thoughts.\n\nOkay, there are two basic types of plagiarism; intentional and unintentional. Intentional plagiarism is unfortunately what your friend did. He copied and pasted someone else’s work into his project. When asked about it, he told the professor the words were his own. He knew what he was doing was dishonest by using Gonzales words to improve his own writing. That’s pretty cut and dried.\n\nUnintentional plagiarism is when you use someone else’s words and do not properly give credit or are unaware of how to correctly bring in an outside source. The good news here is that you will learn about how to effectively handle sources in your college courses. Mind you, if you get it wrong, it’s still considered plagiarism and has to be fixed. But this doesn’t involve being dishonest and trying to cheat. Even the mean old professor will probably help you sort this out if you asked early in the semester for help. \n\nAvoiding plagiarism\n\nYou’ve found several sources for your project and plan to use them in your presentation and as part of the written part of the assignment. You know enough about plagiarism to know that you must give an author credit. This is where things get tricky. There are essentially, three ways to research material to avoid plagiarism.\n\nMethod Number 1: Summary\n\nYou’ve found a great passage from a source that covers some of the material you want to have in your presentation. However; the passage is very long and you don’t want to have to put the entire passage in quotes. You definitely don’t want to plagiarize. A summary might be a good option for you. A summary is a short restatement of the material in your own words. It should be much shorter than the actual material being used. For example, a summary of an entire chapter can often be summarized in about a paragraph.   The goal of the summary is to mention all the main points so that the reader has a general idea about the material without getting into all the details.  The idea here is to put the material in your own words and give credit to the source.  \n\nLet’s look at a simple example. The following material is from Mary Lou Constantine’s, Climate Change Will Force the Relocation of Animal Species. Now take a look at a possible summary. Note that the summary is much shorter and gives the author credit at the end. It also does not use the language from the source.\n\nOne way of doing a summary, is to pretend you are explaining to a friend what the source was about and you only have one minute to do it!  The key is to put the material in your own words and then give credit to the author.\n\nMethod Number 2: Paraphrase\n\nA second tool for handling material and avoiding the perils of plagiarism is to paraphrase. It very similar to a summary. However; the length of paraphrase does not need to be shorter than the original source. Again, you need to put the author’s ideas into your own words but also give credit to the author.  Do NOT copy the structure or wording of the source. \n\nLet’s look at another example from Mary Lou Constantine’s Climate Change Will Force the Relocation of Animal Species. Now let’s look at one possible paraphrase. Notice that the paraphrase captures the meaning of the meaning of the material but does not use the structure or the words of the source.  \n\nMethod Number 3: Quotation\n\nPerhaps the simplest way to avoid the ire of the professor and his wrath is to simply quote a source. We’ll go into the specifics of how to quote in depth later. But the process for now is relatively simple. All you have to do is introduce the author and then state the quote.\n\nConsider this example of Fred Warmington’s, He’s Warming Up to the Orb. Here’s one way to quote the author effectively. Note that the author is introduce in the sentence. This gives the credit to the author and keeps your project safe from being accused of plagiarism.\n\nWell Oscar Wilde once wrote, “there is not sin except stupidity.\" That may or not be true, but one thing is certain, plagiarism is stupid. You steal someone else’s which leaves you stupid. And you stupidly assume you won’t get caught. The truth is there’s a whole lot of tools out there to combat plagiarism. You will be busted. You also can no longer claim ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism. Thanks to this video. Your professors never believe that excuse anyway.     \n\nThere are also consequences.  You may flunk your class, get kicked out of school, be publicly shamed, get sued, or lose your job. Don’t join the growing wall of plagiarism shame.\n\n(Video provided by the PGCC English Department)\n\nLibrary Terms\n\nIt's important to understand library terms in order for you to do your research. If you have questions about the terminology used in the tutorial you can check this Glossary of Library Terms.\n\nAbstract:  A summary or brief description of the content of another long work. An abstract is often provided along with the citation to a work.\n\nAnnotated bibliography: a bibliography in which a brief explanatory or evaluate note is added to each reference or citation. An annotation can be helpful to the researcher in evaluating whether the source is relevant to a given topic or line of inquiry. The Cornell University Libraries provide an online guide on How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography or try the OWL: Online Writing Lab at Purdue University\n\nArchives: 1. A space which houses historical or public records. 2. The historical or public records themselves, which are generally non-circulating materials such as collections of personal papers, rare books, Ephemera, etc.\n\nArticle: A brief work—generally between 1 and 35 pages in length—on a topic. Often published as part of a journal, magazine, or newspaper.\n\nAttachment: A separate file (e.g., text, spreadsheet, graphics, audio, video) sent with an email message.\n\nAuthentication: A security process that typically employs usernames and passwords to validate the identity of users before allowing them access to certain information.\n\nAuthor: The person(s) or organization(s) that wrote or compiled a document. Looking for information under its author's name is one option in searching.\n\nBibliography: A list containing citations to the resources used in writing a research paper or other document. See also Reference.\n\nBook: A relatively lengthy work, often on a single topic. May be in print or electronic.\n\nBoolean operator: A word—such as AND, OR, or NOT—that commands a computer to combine search terms. Helps to narrow (AND, NOT) or broaden (OR) searches.\n\nBrowser: A software program that enables users to access Internet resources. Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox are all browsers.\n\nCall number: A group of letters and/or numbers that identifies a specific item in a library and provides a way for organizing library holdings. Three major types of call numbers are Dewey Decimal, Library of Congress, and Superintendent of Documents.\n\nCatalog: A database (either online or on paper cards) listing and describing the books, journals, government documents, audiovisual and other materials held by a library. Various search terms allow you to look for items in the catalog.\n\nChat: A type of communication from person to person through typed messages, via computer or mobile device.\n\nCheck-out: To borrow an item from a library for a fixed period of time in order to read, listen to, or view it. Check-out periods vary by library. Items are checked out at the circulation desk.\n\nCirculation: The place in the library, often a desk, where you check out, renew, and return library materials. You may also place a hold, report an item missing from the shelves, or pay late fees or fines there.\n\nCitation: A reference to a book, magazine or journal article, or other work containing all the information necessary to identify and locate that work. A citation to a book includes its author's name, title, publisher and place of publication, and date of publication.\n\nControlled vocabulary: Standardized terms used in searching a specific database.\n\nCopy card: A card that enables its user to print from a computer, or to make copies of a document at a photocopy machine. Student ID cards sometimes serve as copy cards.\n\nCourse management system (CMS): Integrated online applications that allow users to view and complete class materials and post messages, which facilitate discussion beyond the classroom. Also referred to as a “Learning Management System” or “Course Management Software.”\n\nCourse reserve: Select books, articles, videotapes, or other materials that instructors want students to read or view for a particular course. These materials are usually kept in one area of the library and circulate for only a short period of time. See also Electronic reserve.\n\nDatabase: A collection of information stored in an electronic format that can be searched by a computer.\n\nDescriptor: A word that describes the subject of an article or book; used in many computer databases.\n\nDial-Dial-up: A device using telephone lines that allows a computer to access the Internet or two computers to communicate.\n\nDissertation: An extended written treatment of a subject (like a book) submitted by a graduate student as a requirement for a doctorate.\n\nDocument delivery: A service that retrieves or photocopies information sources for library users. Some libraries restrict document delivery services to distance education students, faculty members, or graduate students.\n\nDOI: Acronym for Digital Object Identifier. It is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by the publisher to a digital object.\n\nDownload: 1. To transfer information from a computer to a program or storage device to be viewed at a later date. 2. To transfer information from one computer to another computer using a modem.\n\nE-book (or Electronic book): An electronic version of a book that can be read on a computer or mobile device.\n\nEditor: A person or group responsible for compiling the writings of others into a single information source. Looking for information under the editor's name is one option in searching.\n\nElectronic reserve (or E-reserve): An electronic version of a course reserve that is read on a computer display screen. See also Course reserve.\n\nEncyclopedia: A work containing information on all branches of knowledge or treating comprehensively a particular branch of knowledge (such as history or chemistry). Often has entries or articles arranged alphabetically.\n\nFlash drive: A small portable device for storing computerized information. A flash drive, sometimes called a thumb drive, can plug into the USB (Universal Serial Bus) port of any computer and store electronic information. See also Thumb drive.\n\nHardware: The physical and electronic components of a computer system, such as the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Hardware works in conjunction with software.\n\nHigh-speed access: Refers to the speed and efficiency of an Internet connection—which determines how long Web users must wait for a particular Web site to load, or appear on their computer after they click on a link to it. High-speed access is usually achieved by using a DSL line (digital subscriber line) or a cable modem to connect to the Web, as opposed to a dial-up line which results in a slower connection speed.\n\nHold: A request to have an item saved (put aside) to be picked up later. Holds can generally, be placed on any regularly circulating library material in-person or online.\n\nHoldings: The materials owned by a library.\n\nHyperlink: An image or a portion of text which a Web user can click to jump to another document or page on the Web. Textual hyperlinks are often underlined and appear as a different color than the majority of the text on a Web page.\n\nIcon: A small symbol on a computer screen that represents a computer operation or data file.\n\nIndex: 1. A list of names or topics—usually found at the end of a publication—that directs you to the pages where those names or topics are discussed within the publication. 2. A printed or electronic publication that provides references to periodical articles or books by their subject, author, or other search terms.\n\nInstant messaging (IM): An Internet-based service allowing real-time, text communication between two or more users. Instant messaging is also known as chat, especially when more than two people are communicating.\n\nInterlibrary services/loan: A service that allows you to borrow materials from other libraries through your own library. See also Document delivery.\n\nJournal: A publication, issued on a regular basis, which contains scholarly research published as articles, papers, research reports, or technical reports. See also Periodical.\n\nKeyword: A significant or memorable word or term in the title, abstract, or text of an information resource that indicates its subject and is often used as a search term.\n\nLearning management system: See Course management system.\n\nLimits/limiters: Options used in searching that restrict your results to only information resources meeting certain other, non-subject-related, criteria. Limiting options vary by database, but common options include limiting results to materials available full-text in the database, to scholarly publications, to materials written in a particular language, to materials available in a particular location, or to materials published at a specific time. \n\nLink: See Hyperlink.\n\nMagazine: A publication, issued on a regular basis, containing popular articles, written and illustrated in a less technical manner than the articles found in a journal.\n\nMicroform: A reduced sized photographic reproduction of printed information on reel to reel film (microfilm) or film cards (microfiche) or opaque pages that can be read with a microform reader/printer.\n\nModem: A device that connects a PC to the Internet and converts digital signals from the computer to a form that can be sent using a voice (analog sound signal) telephone line and vice versa.\n\nMouse: A device that allows the user to move and click the cursor on a computer screen for different functions.\n\nMultimedia: Any information resource that presents information using more than one media (print, picture, audio, or video).\n\nNewspaper: A publication containing information about varied topics that are pertinent to general information, a geographic area, or a specific subject matter (i.e. business, culture, education). Often published daily.\n\nOnline Public Access Catalog (OPAC): A computerized database that can be searched in various ways— such as by keyword, author, title, subject, or call number— to find out what resources a library owns. OPAC’s will supply listings of the title, call number, author, location, and description of any items matching one's search. Also referred to as “library catalog ” or “online catalog.”\n\nPDF: A file format developed by Adobe Acrobat® that allows files to be transmitted from one computer to another while retaining their original appearance both on-screen and when printed. An acronym for Portable Document Format.\n\nPeer-reviewed journal: Peer review is a process by which editors have experts in a field review books or articles submitted for publication by the experts’ peers. Peer review helps to ensure the quality of an information source. A peer-reviewed journal is also called a refereed journal or scholarly journal.\n\nPeriodical: An information source published in multiple parts at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, biannually). Journals, magazines, and newspapers are all periodicals. See also Serial.\n\nPermalink: A link that will return you to the same page every time you click the link.\n\nPlagiarism: Using the words or ideas of others without acknowledging the original source.\n\nPrimary source: An original record of events, such as a diary, a newspaper article, a public record, or scientific documentation.\n\nPrint: The written symbols of a language as portrayed on paper. Information sources may be either print or electronic.\n\nProxy server: An Internet server that acts as a “go-between” for a computer on a local network (secure system) and the open Web. Often checks to determine “right of access” to the secure environment and speeds up requests by caching frequently accessed Web pages. Can also act as a firewall. See also Authentication.\n\nPublisher: An entity or company that produces and issues books, journals, newspapers, or other publications.\n\nQR code: Abbreviation for Quick Response code. A two-dimensional bar code that is made of small squares in a unique pattern. QR codes allow users to connect to additional resources through mobile devices.\n\nRecall: A request for the return of library material before the due date.\n\nRefereed journal: See Peer-reviewed journal.\n\nReference: 1. A service that helps people find needed information. 2. Sometimes \"reference\" refers to reference collections, such as encyclopedias, indexes, handbooks, directories, etc. 3. A citation to a work is also known as a reference.\n\nRemote access: The ability to log onto (or access) networked computer resources from a distant location. Remote access makes available library databases to students researching from home, office, or other locations outside the library. See also\n\nRenewal: An extension of the loan period for library materials.\n\nReserve: 1. A service providing special, often short-term, access to course-related materials (book or article readings, lecture notes, sample tests) or to other materials (CD-ROMs, audio-visual materials, current newspapers or magazines). 2. Also the\nphysical location—often a service desk or room—within a library where materials on reserve are kept. Materials can also be made available electronically. See also Course reserve, Electronic reserve.\n\nScholarly journal: See Peer-reviewed journal.\n\nSearch statement/Search Query: Words entered into the search box of a database or search engine when looking for information. Words relating to an information source's author, editor, title, subject heading or keyword serve as search terms. Search terms can be combined by using Boolean operators and can also be used with limits/limiters.\n\nSecondary sources: Materials such as books and journal articles that analyze primary sources. Secondary sources usually provide evaluation or interpretation of data or evidence found in original research or documents such as historical manuscripts or memoirs.\n\nSerial: Publications such as journals, magazines, and newspapers that are generally published multiple times per year, month, or week. Serials usually have number volumes and issues.\n\nSoftware: The programs installed on and used by the components of a computer system (or, hardware).\n\nStacks: Shelves in the library where materials—typically books—are stored. Books in the stacks are normally arranged by call number. May be referred to as “book stacks.”\n\nStyle manual: An information source providing guidelines for people who are writing research papers. A style manual outlines specific formats for arranging research papers and citing the sources that are used in writing the paper.\n\nSubject heading: Descriptions of an information source’s content assigned to make finding information easier. See also Controlled vocabulary, Descriptors.\n\nThumb Drive: See also Flash drive.\n\nTitle: The name of a book, article, or other information sources. Upload: To transfer information from a computer system or a personal computer to another computer system or a larger computer system.\n\nUniform Resource Locator (URL): The unique address for a Web page which is used in citing it. A URL consists of the access protocol (HTTP), the domain name (, and often the path to a file or resource residing on that server.\n\nUser ID: A number or name unique to a particular user of computerized resources. A user ID must often be entered in order to access library resources remotely.\n\nVirtual reference: A service allowing library users to ask questions through email, text message, or live-chat as opposed to coming to the reference desk at the library and asking a question in person. Also referred to as “online reference” or “e-reference.”\n\nWireless: The name given to any electronic device that sends messages through space via electric or electromagnetic waves instead of via power cords.\n\nZip drive/zip disk: Devices used in the creation of compressed (or “zipped”) electronic information.\n\nLibrary Terms Flash Cards\n\nSome people find using flashcards to be helpful for learning definitions. If so, check out the Library Terms Flash Cards.  \n\nMultilingual Glossary for Today’s Library Users - Definitions\n\nMultilingual Glossary for Today’s Library Users\n\n\nIf English is not your first language, then this resource will help you navigate the definitions of library terms in the following languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Vietnamese.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5703607797622681}
+{"content": "Thursday, November 3, 2011\n\nI miss. I long. I thirst\n\nfor the warm candleglow\nunderstanding interlocking\nspilling golden on the contours \ncrevices of faces.\n\nhow they can twine\nseparate strands of their words,\nthe stars of their laughter,\nand tears all into one braid.\n\nfor the resonating resevoir\nof radar red intuition\npinning a million words to\none look or a single word. \nhow they can read\nbetween and beneath\na well rehearsed script or a polished look\n\nthe way we give\nwords to our wounds\nthe way they listen to not just the words heard,\nbut the unsaid\nmorsels of moments that bring so much strength\nlayer by layer fueling each other with courage,\nto find, to reach for who we really are\nto live, to speak from the heart, unafraid\n\nI miss. I long. I'm starved\n\nfor the feminine touch.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8900452256202698}
+{"content": "Capturing Requirements\n\nI have written about a requirements gathering meeting with out client in my Software Maintenance blog. So I will not repeat a lot of the details here. However I did want to call to attention some details that might affect the success of our work.\n\nThe customer knows what the want business wise. However they do not know how to design or code the changes. That is why they have us. I keep hearing the customer try to understand the existing system, and design changes so their needs would be met. I continually attempt to focus our client into explaining to us what they business needs are. They are, after all, experts in their business.\n\nOur customer has a lot of ideas about business needs in their head. At the meeting I attended, they were able to articulate many of those needs. This meeting was a precursor to the client formally requesting that we make a lot of changes to their software. I could not stress enough that they needed to write down the business rules for us. Unfortunately our requirements analysis team does not understand the customer yet. The requirements people are new. So we need the customer to write down their business needs. That is the only way we will have a chance to get the job right. The needs are extensive enough that just telling a few folks from our company about them will not do.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6812745332717896}
+{"content": "32 Following\n\nThat's What She Read\n\nRed Dragon (Hannibal Lecter Series #1)\n\nRed Dragon (Audio) - Thomas Harris Touted as the introduction of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon is really one detective’s search for a new serial killer. Will Graham retired from the FBI to focus on his new wife and stepson, but when a mysterious serial killer strikes again, the FBI has no choice but to call back their best agent. Graham then uses his skills as an investigator and the power of the US government and their expertise at forensic evidence to track down this unknown foe. With very little in the way of clues, Graham knows it is just a matter of time before the Dragon strikes again. Can he do it?It has all the stereotypical elements that one would expect in such a novel. Graham is the disgruntled, depressed retired FBI agent who is called back into action as the only man who can help the Feds solve the mystery and catch the killer. Graham has a mystical ability to intuit answers to his questions, making him a legend among the Feds. The Dragon is an unassuming, quiet man – the kind the neighbors would never suspect – with all sorts of psychological Mommy issues, each presented to show the reader just how an innocent child can turn into a serial killer. There is even a plot twist that is meant to surprise readers into thinking it is all over. In reality, there are just one too many overdone plot elements to create a story that is as predictable as it is flat.The problem with such novels is that a reader can see the potential and struggles to reconcile the “if only” with the actuality of the story. Mr. Harris provides enough hints at Graham’s backstory to intrigue readers and to create the potential for depth of character, but he fails to go farther than those hints. A reader is frustrated with the idea that there is more to Will Graham than the book will ever express, and his entire character suffers from that lack of exploration. Similarly, Francis Dolarhyde’s past is tragic and, if explored in enough detail, could really make this sinister character much more sympathetic and therefore interesting. Instead, the details give just enough background for a reader to understand the psychological trauma to which Dolarhyde is exposed as a child but goes no further. In fact, his current mental state is never completely explored either, something that is particularly lacking given his anguish over Rita’s fate. All of these “what if” scenarios that a reader can so easily see do nothing but weaken an already frail storyline because they allow the reader to focus on the unfulfilled potential rather than on the story at hand.Fans of Dr. Hannibal Lecter will be disappointed at his lack of participation in the story. While it may be his introduction, Lecter is nothing more than a minor side character. He is supposed to provide similar support to Graham as he does to Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs, but in Red Dragon his contribution is even less involved. His crimes are never fully discussed, and his participation in the manhunt is limited to letters. Lecter remains nothing but a sinister but fairly ineffective figure in the background. It is a disappointment that Harris felt the need to use the Lecter name to entice readers to select the book and then make such a famous villain so conspicuously absent from the overarching story.Alan Sklar has a tremendous voice but one that is not necessarily conducive to a pleasant audiobook experience. His voice is too deep and gravelly to even begin to mimic female voices, so his come across as strained and slightly condescending. His distinction between male characters leaves a lot to be desired too since his very slight tonal modulations and pronunciations are too subtle to allow a reader to easily distinguish among them. His booming basso truly fits the vocalization of the Dragon though, which was a great counterpoint to the overall meekness and sycophancy of Francis. Unfortunately, a listener’s lack of enjoyment of the audiobook is as much the fault of the narrator as it is the fault of this mediocre story. Mr. Sklar works decently within the confines he was given. Some of that which is lacking is due to his performance, but a large majority of it is the ineffectiveness of the author’s own words.Red Dragon is a fairly poor example of a horror story. There is gore but it is rather subdued and exists as nothing but vague post-mortem descriptions. The story itself is predictable and anti-climactic. Character development is negligible as well. A reader does not get the chance to explore the psychopathy of the Dragon, and Will Graham’s seemingly psychic ability to hunt down killers is never fully explored. The entire story is very superficial and without a strong level of tension to maintain a reader’s interest. Those expecting to learn more about Hannibal Lecter will be disappointed at how little he appears throughout the novel. The entire story is disappointing for its lack of mystery and suspense. There are more suspenseful and better written horror mysteries out there to warrant keeping Red Dragon on a TBR pile.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9727107882499695}
+{"content": "Bard College Catalogue\n\n\nBard College Catalogue 2017-18\n\nBard College Catalogue 2017-18\n\nThe Orchestra Now\n\nThe Orchestra Now (TŌN) is a unique preprofessional orchestra and master’s degree program designed to prepare musicians for the challenges facing the modern symphony orchestra. Musicians receive three years of advanced orchestral training and take graduate-level courses in orchestral and curatorial studies, leading to a master of music degree in curatorial, critical, and performance studies. Bard faculty and guest scholars in music history, art history, and other humanities disciplines participate in the program’s seminars. Students in the program, based at Bard’s main campus in Annandale, receive full-tuition scholarships and fellowships for their experiential training in the orchestra.\n\nTŌN performs concert series at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and in concert halls throughout the Northeast. Leon Botstein, president of Bard College, is the music director and principal conductor of The Orchestra Now. In addition, a roster of guest conductors and renowned instrumentalists participates in TŌN’s concert and rehearsal schedule. TŌN rehearses in the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997447729110718}
+{"content": "Correlation Analysis Between IPC and IBEX 35\n\nThis module allows you to analyze existing cross correlation between IPC and IBEX 35. You can compare the effects of market volatilities on IPC and IBEX 35 and check how they will diversify away market risk if combined in the same portfolio for a given time horizon. You can also utilize pair trading strategies of matching a long position in IPC with a short position of IBEX 35. See also your portfolio center. Please also check ongoing floating volatility patterns of IPC and IBEX 35.\n Time Horizon     30 Days    Login   to change\n\nIPC  vs.  IBEX 35\n\n Performance (%) \n\nPair Volatility\n\nGiven the investment horizon of 30 days, IPC is expected to generate 0.45 times more return on investment than IBEX 35. However, IPC is 2.24 times less risky than IBEX 35. It trades about 0.3 of its potential returns per unit of risk. IBEX 35 is currently generating about 0.0 per unit of risk. If you would invest  4,666,087  in IPC on June 16, 2018 and sell it today you would earn a total of  174,514  from holding IPC or generate 3.74% return on investment over 30 days.\n\nPair Corralation between IPC and IBEX 35\n\nTime Period1 Month [change]\nValuesDaily Returns\n\n\nVery weak diversification\n\nOverlapping area represents the amount of risk that can be diversified away by holding IPC and IBEX 35 in the same portfolio assuming nothing else is changed. The correlation between historical prices or returns on IBEX 35 and IPC is a relative statistical measure of the degree to which these equity instruments tend to move together. The correlation coefficient measures the extent to which returns on IPC are associated (or correlated) with IBEX 35. Values of the correlation coefficient range from -1 to +1, where. The correlation of zero (0) is possible when the price movement of IBEX 35 has no effect on the direction of IPC i.e. IPC and IBEX 35 go up and down completely randomly.\n\nComparative Volatility\n\n Predicted Return Density \n\nMy Equities\n\nMy Current Equities and Potential Positions\nView AllNext\nGOOG - USA Stock\nIT, Search Cloud And Integrated IT Services\nBusiness Address1600 Amphitheatre Parkway\n\nThematic Opportunities\n\nExplore Investment Opportunities\nExplore Thematic Ideas\nExplore Investing Ideas  ", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7915317416191101}
+{"content": "Artificial Intelligence Has Just Found Two Exoplanets: What Does This Mean For Planet Hunting?\n\nThere are now two known eight-planet solar systems in the galaxy. Artificial intelligence was used to comb through the data collected three years ago by the Kepler Space Telescope and its algorithms helped find Kepler 90-1, the eight planet in that solar system.  (NASA)\n\nBy Elizabeth Tasker\n\nThe media was abuzz last week with the latest NASA news conference. A neural network — a form of artificial intelligence or machine learning — developed at Google had found two planets in data previously collected by NASA’s prolific Kepler Space Telescope. It’s a technique that could ultimately track-down our most Earth-like planets.\n\nThe new exoplanets orbit stars already known to host planetary systems, Kepler-90 and Kepler-80. While both are only slightly larger than the Earth, their two-week orbits makes these worlds too hot to be considered likely candidates for hosting life. Moreover, the systems are thousands of light years away, putting the planets out of range of atmospheric studies that could test their habitability.\n\nWith over 3,500 exoplanets already discovered, you might be forgiven for finding these additions underwhelming. However, while other planets in the same system have been known about for several years, these two Earth-sized worlds were previously overlooked. The difference is not a new telescope, but an exploration of the data with a different kind of brain.\n\nThe Kepler Space Telescope searches for planets using the transit technique; detecting small dips in amount of starlight as the planet passes in front of the star. As planets are much smaller than stars, picking out this tiny light drop is a tricky task. For a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a star like our Sun, the decrease in brightness is only about 1%. For an Earth-sized planet, the signal becomes so small it is right on the edge of what Kepler is able to detect. This makes their dim wink extremely difficult to spot in the data.\n\nKepler Space Telescope collected data on planet transits around distant stars for four years, and the information has provided  — and will continue providing —  a goldmine for planet hunters.  A severe malfunction in 2013 had robbed Kepler of its ability to stay pointed at a target without drifting off course, but the spacecraft was stabilized and readjusted to observe a different set of stars.  (NASA)\n\nThe discovery paper published in the Astronomical Journal combined the expertise of Christopher Shallue from Google’s artificial intelligence project, Google Brain, and Andrew Vanderburg, a NASA Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow and astronomer at the University of Texas at Austin. The researchers explored using a neural network to shake ever harder to find worlds out of the Kepler data.\n\nIt is a technique that is being used across a wide range of disciplines, but what exactly does a neural network do?\n\nNeural networks are computer algorithms inspired by the way the brain recognizes patterns. For example, as a child you learned to recognize buses. It is unlikely anyone sat you down and presented a set of rules for identifying a bus. Rather, buses were repeatedly pointed out to you on the street and your brain found its own set of similarities within these examples. The idea behind a neural network is similar. Rather than telling a computer how to identify a feature such as the dip in light from a planet, the network is fed many examples and allowed to determine the features to get a consistently correct result.\n\nThis is a very successful way of developing pattern recognition software, making neural networks one of the newest tools in town used from image recognition to stock market trends. A key strength is dealing with large quantities of data to produce a consistent result.\n\nKepler has observed about 200,000 stars and another 200,000 will be the target for the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to be launched next year. And if that analysis still looks doable with a bit of elbow grease, the NASA exoplanet archive has just added 18 million light curves from the UKIRT Microlensing survey.\n\nIn addition to being slow, humans can also be inconsistent (I once tried to flag down a lorry instead of a bus before I’d had my morning tea). This is especially true when trying to tease out the faint signature of Earth-sized worlds at the limit of the telescope’s capabilities. While Kepler has an automated pipeline to identify likely planets, simulated data suggests it recovers just 26% of Earth-sized planets on orbits similar to our own. Exploring new ways to handle these huge data sets is therefore a top priority.\n\nWhile neural networks all learn to identify patterns from a series of examples, there are different choices for their structure. In their discovery paper, Shallue and Vanderburg try three different network architectures. The one they find the most successful is known as a “Convolution Neural Network”, which is commonly used in image classification.\n\nNeural networks are loosely inspired by the structure of the human brain: “Neurons” do a simple computation and then pass information to the next layer of neurons. In this way, a computer can “learn” to identify a dog in an image, or an exoplanet in a Kepler light curve.  (Google)\n\nThis utilizes the fact that neighboring data points may form related structures, examining attributes such as the maximum and minimum of small local groups of points to hunt for features. This makes sense when your input data is the light from a star being consecutively dimmed by the passage of a planet.\n\nIn this first exploration, the neural network searched for undiscovered planets in known systems. The network found a total of 30 possible new planets, four of which it assigned a probability greater than 0.9 of this being a true detection. Based on the network’s performance when tested on known planets, this level of probability corresponded to a correctly identified planet 96% of the time.\n\nThese four candidates were then examined by Shallue and Vanderburg for alternative reasons for the dip in the light curve. Such false positives can be caused by the star being part of a binary system, where the stellar siblings periodically eclipse one another to produce small drops in their combined light. One candidate fell foul of having a close stellar neighbor which may have been causing this effect, while a second candidate showed a light dip that increased over time; an effect not expected by a planet. For the remaining two possibilities, there were no obvious reservations. These were really two new planets; Kepler-90i and Kepler-80g.\n\nWhile neither new exoplanet is likely to be Earth-like, both belong to intriguing planetary systems. Kepler-80g is the outermost world of a compact system of six planets, all with orbits between 1 – 10 days. The outer five planets form a “resonant chain”; a musical-sounding term that means that the duration of the orbits of neighboring planets are neat integer ratios (in this case, either 2:3 or 3:4).\n\nThis orderly line-up is seen in the orbits of the Jovian moons, Io, Europa and Ganymede, and more recently, in the TRAPPIST-1 exoplanet system that hit the headlines last February. Computer models suggest that resonant orbits are formed when planets migrate inwards from a location further out from their star. This is likely how such a close stack of planets exists so close to the star, where we do not expect a lot of planet-building dust and gas.\n\nThe second planet hit the media headlines because its addition made Kepler-90 the first known star other than our own Sun to host eight planets. Also like our Solar System, the Kepler-90 planets have the giant gaseous worlds further from the star and the smaller rocky planets closer in. However, these planets all sit within the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, suggested that they too migrated inwards from colder reaches where ice could solidify and help build-up the mass of the giant planets.\n\nKepler-90i is 2,545 light-years away from Earth and orbits its host star in 14.45 days. (NASA)\n\nNotably, Kepler-90i is right at the limit of what Kepler is sensitive enough to detect. This means the system may well have more planets that are too small and distant from their star for Kepler to spot.\n\nIn addition to finding these small planets, the size of their planetary systems underscores the potential of the neural network. The evolution of a planet depends heavily on its neighbors. The Earth may have been a dry world if our gas giants had not swept in icy meteorites to deliver oceans to our surface. Mars’s build-up of ice changes substantially over time as the planet’s axis wobbles due to the looming presence of Jupiter.\n\nSuch conditions can be modeled, but only if the full planetary system is known. Uncovering the planets around known host stars helps constrain models of how planets form and evolve, and even hint at which worlds may have remained temperate enough to develop life. Picking out the smaller worlds in a starlight signature crowded by other planets is as tricky as spotting a bus in the morning rush hour before tea; it could need this computer algorithm on the job.\n\nLast week’s announcement may show the beginning of a new regime of planet hunting; one where we shake-out the smaller worlds hidden in noisy data. This could provide us both with more small planets and many more multi-planet systems, helping us pin down the most likely places we may find another planet like our own or even one most likely to be completely alien.\n\n\nElizabeth Tasker is a planetary scientist at the Japanese space agency JAXA and the Earth-Life Science Institute in Tokyo.  Her newly-released book is titled “The Planet Factory.”\n\n\n\nThe Very Influential Natalie Batalha\n\nNatalie Batalha, project scientist for the Kepler mission and a leader of NASA’s NExSS initiative on exoplanets, was just selected as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. (NASA, TIME Magazine.)\n\nI’d like to make a slight detour and talk not about the science of exoplanets and astrobiology, but rather a particular exoplanet scientist who I’ve had the pleasure to work with.\n\nThe scientist is Natalie Batalha, who has been lead scientist for NASA’s landmark Kepler Space Telescope mission since soon after it launched in 2009, has serves on numerous top NASA panels and boards, and who is one of the scientists who guides the direction of this Many Worlds column.\n\nLast week, Batalha was named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. This is a subjective (non-scientific) calculation for sure, but it nonetheless seems appropriate to me and to doubtless many others.\n\nBatalha and the Kepler team have identified more than 2500 exoplanets in one small section of the distant sky, with several thousand more candidates awaiting confirmation.  Their work has once and for all nailed the fact that there are billions and billions of exoplanets out there.\n\n“NASA is incredibly proud of Natalie,” said Paul Hertz, astrophysics division director at NASA headquarters, after the Time selection was announced.\n\n“Her leadership on the Kepler mission and the study of exoplanets is helping to shape the quest to discover habitable exoplanets and search for life beyond the solar system. It’s wonderful to see her recognized for the influence she has had on the world – and on the way we see ourselves in the universe.”\n\nAnd William Borucki, who had the initial idea for the Kepler mission and worked for decades to get it approved and then to manage it, had this to say about Batalha:\n\n“She has made major contributions to the Kepler Mission throughout its development and operation. Natalie’s collaborative leadership style, and expert knowledge of the population of exoplanets in the galaxy, will provide guidance for the development of successor missions that will tell us more about the habitability of the planets orbiting nearby stars.”\n\nBatalha has led the science mission of the Kepler Space Telescope since it launched in 2009. (NASA)\n\nAs a sign of the perceived importance of exoplanet research, two of the other TIME influential 100 are discoverers of specific new worlds.  They are Guillem Anglada-Escudé (who led a team that detected a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri) and Michael Gillon (whose team identified the potentially habitable planets around the Trappist-1 system.)\n\nBut Batalha, and no doubt the other two scientists, stress that they are part of a team and that the work they do is inherently collaborative. It absolutely requires that many others also do difficult jobs well.\n\nFor Batalha, working in that kind of environment is a natural fit with her personality and skills.  Having watched her at work many times, I can attest to her ability to be a strong leader with extremely high standards, while also being a kind of force for calm and inclusiveness.\n\nWe worked together quite a bit on the establishing and running of this column, which is part of the NASA Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) initiative to encourage interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration in exoplanet science.\n\nIt was NASA’s astrobiology senior scientist Mary Voytek who set up the initiative and saw fit to start this column, and it was Batalha (along with several others) who helped guide and focus it in its early days.\n\nI think back to her patience.  I was visiting her at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley and talking shop — meaning stars and planets and atmospheres and the like.  While I had done a lot of science reporting by that time, astronomy was not a strong point (yet.)\n\nSo in conversation she made a reference to stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and I must have had a somewhat blank look to me.  She asked if I was familiar with Hertzsprung-Russell and I had to confess that I was not.\n\nNot missing a beat, she then went into an explanation of what is a basic feature of astronomy, and did it without a hint of impatience.  She just wanted me to know what the diagram was and what it meant, and pushed ahead with good cheer to bring me up to speed — as I’m sure she has done many other times with many people of different levels of exposure to the logic and complexities of her very complex work.\n\n(Incidently, the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram plots each star on a graph measuring the star’s brightness against its temperature or color.)\n\nI mention this because part of Batalha’s influence has to do with her ability to communicate with individuals and audiences from the lay to the most scientifically sophisticated.  Not surprisingly, she is often invited to be a speaker and I recommend catching her at the podium if you can.\n\nBy chance — or was it chance? — the three exoplanet scientists selected for the Time 100 were at Yuri Milner’s Breakthrough Discuss session Thursday when the news came out. On the left is Anglada-Escude, Batalha in the middle and Gillon on the right.\n\nBatalha was born in Northern California with absolutely no intention of being a scientist.  Her idea of a scientist, in fact, was a guy in a white lab coat pouring chemicals into a beaker.\n\nAs a young woman, she was an undergrad at the University of California at Berkeley and planned on going into business.  But she had always been very good and advanced in math, and so she toyed with other paths.  Then, one day, astronaut Rhea Setton came to her sorority.  Setton had been a member of the same sorority and came to deliver a sorority pin she had taken up with during on a flight on the Space Shuttle.\n\n“That visit changed my path,” Batalha told me.  “When I had that opportunity to see a woman astronaut, to see that working for NASA was a possibility, I decided to switch my major — from business to physics.”\n\nAfter getting her BA in physics from UC Berkeley, she continued in the field and earned a PhD in astrophysics from  UC Santa Cruz. Batalha started her career as a stellar spectroscopist studying young, sun-like stars. Her studies took her to Brazil, Chile and, in 1995, Italy, where she was present at the scientific conference when the world learned of the first planet orbiting another star like our sun — 51 Pegasi b.\n\nIt had quite an impact.  Four years later, after a discussion with Kepler principal investigator Borucki at Ames about challenges that star spots present in distinguishing signals from transiting planets, she was hired to join the Kepler team.  She has been working on the Kepler mission ever since.\n\nAsked how she would like to use her now publicly acknowledged “influence,” she returned to her work on the search for  habitable planets, and potentially life, beyond earth.\n\n“We’ve seen that there’s such a keen public interest and an enormous scientific interest in terms of habitable worlds, and we have to keep that going,” she said. “This is a very hard problem to solve, and we need all hands on deck.”\n\nShe said the effort has to be interdisciplinary and international to succeed, and she pointed to the two other time 100 exoplanet hunters selected.  One is from Belgium and the other is working in the United Kingdom, but comes from Spain.\n\nWhen the nominal Kepler mission formally winds down in September, she says she looks forward to more actively engaging with the exoplanet science Kepler has made possible.\n\nThe small planets identified by Kepler as one one year ago that are small and orbit in the region around their star where water can exist as a liquid. NASA Ames/N. Batalha and W. Stenzel\n\nBatalha’s role in the NASA NExSS initiative offers a window into what makes her a leader — she excels at making things happen.\n\nVoytek and Shawn Domogal-Goldman of Goddard founded and oversee the group.  They then chose Batalha two other leaders (Anthony Del Genio of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and Dawn Gelino of NASA Exoplanet Science Institute ) to be the hands-on leaders of the 18 groups of scientists from a wide variety of American universities.\n\n(Asked why she selected Batalha, Voytek replied, “TIME is recognizing what motivated us to select her as one of the leaders for….NExSS. Her scientific and leadership excellence.”)\n\nThis is the official NExSS task:  “Teams will help classify the diversity of worlds being discovered, understand the potential habitability of these worlds, and develop tools and technologies needed in the search for life beyond Earth. Scientists are developing ways to identify habitable environments on these worlds and search for biosignatures, or signs of life.  Central to the work of NExSS is understanding how biology interacts with the atmosphere, surface, oceans, and interior of a planet, and how these interactions are affected by the host star.”\n\nShe has encouraged and helped create the kinds of collaborations that these tasks have made essential, but also helped identify upcoming problems and opportunities for exoplanet research and has started working on ways to address them.  For instance, it became clear within the NExSS group and larger community  that many, if not most exoplanet researchers would not be able to effectively apply for time to use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) for several years after it launched in late 2018.\n\nTo be awarded time on the telescope, researchers have to write detailed descriptions of what they plan to do and how they will do it. But how the giant telescope will operate in space is not entirely know — especially as relates to exoplanets.  So it will be impossible for most researchers to make proposals and win time until JWST is already in space for at least two of its five years of operation.\n\nLed by Batalha, exoplanet scientists are now hashing out a short list of JWST targets that the community as a whole can agree should be the top priorities scientifically and to allow researchers to learn better how JWST works.  As a result, they would be able to propose their own targets for research much more quickly  in those early years of JWST operations.   It’s the kind of community consensus building that Batalha is known for.\n\nShe also has an important roles in the NASA Astrophysics Advisory Committee and hopes to use the skills she developed working with Kepler on the upcoming Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission.\n\nBatalha preparing for the Science Walk in San Francisco on Earth Day.\n\nA mother of four (including daughter Natasha, who is on her way to also becoming an accomplished astrophysicist), Batalha is active on Facebook sharing her activities, her often poetic thoughts, and her strong views about scientific and other issues of the day.\n\nShe was an active participant, for instance, in the National March for Science in San Francisco, posting photos and impressions along the way.  I think it’s fair to say her presence was noticed with appreciation by others.\n\nAnd that returns us to what she considers to be some of her greatest potential “influence” — being an accomplished, high ranking and high profile NASA female scientist.\n\n“I don’t have to stand up and say to young women ‘You can do this.’  You can just exist doing your work and you become a role model.  Like Rhea Setton did with me.”\n\nAnd it is probably no coincidence that four other senior (and demanding) positions on the Kepler mission are filled by women — two of whom were students in classes taught some years ago by Natalie Batalha.\n\n\n\n\nSome Spectacular Images (And Science) From The Year Past\n\n\nA rose made of galaxies\n\nThis is a golden era for space and planetary science, a time when discoveries, new understandings, and newly-found mysteries are flooding in.  There are so many reasons to find the drama intriguing:  a desire to understand the physical forces at play, to learn how those forces led to the formation of Earth and ultimately us, to explore whether parallel scenarios unfolded on planets far away, and to see how our burgeoning knowledge might set the stage for exploration.\n\nBut always there is also the beauty; the gaudy, the stimulating, the overpowering spectacle of it all.\n\nHere is a small sample of what came in during 2016:\n\n\nThe Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy that is a satellite of our Milky Way galaxy, can be seen only in the southern hemisphere.  Here, the Hubble Space Telescope captured two nebulas in the cloud. Intense radiation from the brilliant central stars is heating hydrogen in each of the nebulas, causing them to glow red.\n\nTogether, the nebulas are called NGC 248 and are 60 light-years long and 20 light-years wide. It is among a number of glowing hydrogen nebulas in the dwarf satellite galaxy, which is found approximately 200,000 light-years away.\n\nThe image is part of a study called Small Magellanic Cloud Investigation of Dust and Gas Evolution (SMIDGE). Astronomers are using Hubble to probe the Milky Way satellite to understand how dust is different in galaxies that have a far lower supply of heavy elements needed to create that dust.  {NASA.ESA, STSci/K. Sandstrom (University of California, San Diego), and the SMIDGE team}\n\nThis picture combines a view of the southern skies over the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile with images of the stars Proxima Centauri (lower-right) and the double star Alpha Centauri AB (lower-left) from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Solar System and is orbited by the planet Proxima b, which was discovered using the HARPS instrument on the ESO 3.6-metre telescope.\n\nProbably the biggest exoplanet news of the year, and one of the major science stories, involved the discovery of an exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the star closest to our own.\n\nThis picture combines a view of the southern skies over the European Space Observatory’s 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile with images of the stars Proxima Centauri (lower-right) and the double star Alpha Centauri AB (lower-left).\n\nThe planet Proxima Centauri b is thought to lie within the habitable zone of its star.  Learning more about the planet, the parent star and the two other stars in the Centauri system has become a focus of the exoplanet community.\n\n\nWe all know about auroras that light up our far northern skies, but there’s no reason why they wouldn’t exist on other planets shielded by a magnetic field — such as Jupiter.  Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have found them on the poles of our solar system’s  largest planet, and produced far ultraviolet light images taken as the Juno spacecraft approached the planet.\n\nAuroras are formed when charged particles in the space surrounding the planet are accelerated to high energies along the planet’s magnetic field. When the particles hit the atmosphere near the magnetic poles, they cause it to glow like gases in a fluorescent light fixture. Jupiter’s magnetosphere is 20,000 times stronger than that of Earth.\n\nThe full-color disk of Jupiter in this image was separately photographed at a different time by Hubble’s Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy (OPAL) program, a long-term Hubble project that annually captures global maps of the outer planets.\n\nInside the Crab Nebula\n\nPeering deep into the core of the Crab Nebula, this close-up image reveals the heart of one of the most historic and intensively studied remnants of a supernova, an exploding star. The inner region sends out clock-like pulses of radiation and tsunamis of charged particles embedded in magnetic fields.\n\n\nThe NASA Hubble Space Telescope image is centered on the region around the neutron star (the rightmost of the two bright stars near the center of this image) and the expanding debris surrounding it. Intricate details of glowing gas are shown in red and the blue glow is radiation given off by electrons spiraling at nearly the speed of light in the powerful magnetic field around the crushed stellar core.\n\n\n\nThe Gemini Planet Imager provides some of the earliest high-resolution, high-contrast direct imaging of exoplanets.  Using a coronagraph inside the telescope to block out the light of the star, the GPI can then allow researchers to see the region surrounding that star — in other words, where exoplanets might be.\n\nThis image includes a wide-angle view of the star HD 106906 taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and a close-up view from the Planet Imager, which operates on the Gemini South telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert.  The image reveals a disturbed system of comets near the star, which may be responsible for the orbit of the the unusually distant giant planet (upper right).\n\nThe GPI Exoplanet Survey is operated by a team of astronomers from the University of California at  Berkeley and 23 other institutions, and is targeting 600 young stars to understand how planetary systems evolve over time.\n\nPaul Kalas of UC Berkeley is responsible for the image and led the team that wrote about it. That paper actually came out in the Astrophysical Journal in late 2015 but, hey, that’s almost 2016.\n\nAstronomers have regularly found a galaxy or star that is the furthest from us ever to be detected.  But the record is there to be broken, and in 2016 it was astronomers from the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey (GOODS) who made the discovery.\n\nGalaxy GN-z11, shown in the inset, was imaged as it was 13.4 billion years in the past, just 400 million years after the big bang.  That means the universe was only three percent of its current age when the light left that galaxy.\n\nThe galaxy has many blue stars that are bright and young, but it looks red in this image because its light has been stretched to longer spectral wavelengths by the expansion of the universe.\n\n(NASA, ESA, P. Oesch (Yale University), G. Brammer ( STScI)), P. van Dokkum (Yale University), and G. Illingworth (University of California, Santa Cruz)\n\nBiggest announce of discovred exoplanets by Kepler. (No, those are not real images, but still...)\n\nNo, these are not images of actual exoplanets, but they represent the continuing work of one of NASA’s most pioneering and productive missions, the Kepler Space Telescope. In May the Kepler team announced the detection of 1284 more planets or planet candidates as part of its newest catalog, the largest number announced at once in the mission.\n\nTo date, Kepler has identified unconfirmed 4,696 planet candidates, 2,331 confirmed planets, and 21 confirmed small planets in a habitable zone. In addition, the follow-on K2 mission has identified 458 candidate planets and 173 confirmed.\n\nThe Kepler spacecraft stared fixedly at a small portion of the sky for four years, looking to identify miniscule dimmings in the brightness of stars that would indicate that a planet was passing between the telescope and the star. In this way, Kepler has established a census of exoplanets that has been extrapolated to show the presence of billions and billions of planets around other stars.\n\n\nThe 21-foot array that will collect photons for the James Webb Space Telescope was finished and put on display in November at the Goddard Space Flight Center. It will be the largest mirror to go into space, and will likely make the JWST into the most powerful and far-seeing observatory ever.\n\nIt will observe in the infrared portion of the spectrum because its goals include peering deep into the past of the universe, which is now most visible in the infrared. This means the JWST will have to be cooled to -364 degrees F, just 50 degrees above absolute zero.  To achieve that temperature, it’s insulated from the sun by five membrane layers, each no thicker than a human hair. Placing those membranes was finished in November, marking an end to construction of the telescope “mirror.”\n\nThe project has been enormously ambitious, and with that has come long delays and budget overruns that almost resulted in it being scrapped. Just this month, some early vibrating tests – designed to simulate launch conditions – experienced an anomaly that NASA engineers are working on now.  The JWST is scheduled to launch in late 2018.\n\n\nThis composite image shows suspected plumes of water vapor erupting at the 7 o’clock position of Jupiter’s moon Europa. The plumes, photographed by NASA’s Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, were seen in silhouette as the moon passed in front of Jupiter.\n\nWhile the plumes spitting out of Saturn’s moon Enceladus are much better known now — the Cassini spacecraft flew through them in 2015, after all — the growing scientific consensus that Europa also has some plumes may be of even greater importance.  That moon is much larger, its ice-covered oceans have been determined to hold more water than all the oceans of Earth, and those oceans have clearly been around for a long time.\n\nHubble’s ultraviolet sensitivity allowed for the detection of the plumes, which rise more than 100 miles above Europa’s icy surface. The image of Europa, superimposed on the Hubble data, is assembled from data from the Galileo and Voyager missions. (NASA/ESA/W. Sparks (STScI)/USGS Astrogeology Science Center.)\n\ncompounds being created in the xxx nebula\n\nHow the fundamentals needed for life are created in space has been a longstanding mystery.  The cosmos, after all, began with hydrogen and helium, and that was about it.  But life needs carbon atoms connected to hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements\n\nAstronomers and astrochemists have been making progress in recent years and now understand the basics of how the heavier elements are formed in space.  New data from the European Space Agency’s Herschel Space Observatory has gone further and has established that ultraviolet light from stars plays a key role in creating these molecules.  Previously, scientists thought that turbulence created by “shock” events was the driving force.\n\nThis image is of the Orion nebula, where scientists studied carbon chemistry of a major star-forming region. Herschel probed an area of the electromagnetic spectrum — the far infrared, associated with cold objects — that no other space telescope has reached before so it could take into account the entire Orion Nebula instead of individual stars.\n\nThe result was a better understanding of how carbon and hydrogen reach the states necessary to bond and form the basic carbon chemistry of the cosmos (and of life.)\n\nWithin the inset image, the emission from ionized carbon atoms (C+), overlaid in yellow, was isolated and mapped out from spectrographic data.\n\n\nFollowing a successful close flyby of Enceladus, the NASA-ESA Cassini spacecraft captured this image of the moon with Saturn’s rings beyond.\n\nThe image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera when it was about 106,000 miles away from Enceladus. That flyby turned into a fly-through as well, when Cassini entered the plumes of water vapor and dust that shoot out of the bottom of the moon.\n\nScientists already know that an array of organic and other chemicals are in the plumes, but the field is awaiting word about the presence (or absence) of molecular hydrogen, which is formed when water comes into contact with rocks in hydrothermal vents.  Many think that Enceledus is habitable and should be tested for signs of life because biosignatures could potentially exist in the relatively easy-to-access geysers.\n\n\nWhile Yuri Beletsky is a staff astronomer at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, he is also a noted astrophotographer who specializes in capturing the beauty of nighttime scenes — usually connecting the celestial with the terrestrial.\n\nIn this 2016 photo, the moon is surrounded by a halo caused by the presence of millions of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.  Great conditions for an astrophotographer, but pretty much useless for an astronomer.\n\nThe star within the halo is Regulus, brightest object in the constellation Leo the Lion. On the left outside the halo is Procyon from Canis Minor and on the right is the planet Jupiter.\n\nAs is so often the case in this line of endeavor, it’s quite a sight to see.\n\n\n\nThe Ever More Puzzling, And Intriguing, “Tabby’s Star.”\n\nStar debris illustration\nDid Tabby’s star going through periodic and deep dimmings because of dust and debris clouds that pass edbetween it and the mirror of the Kepler Space Telescope?  That was an earlier explanation for the highly unusual behavior of the star, but new research makes that answer less likely. Artist drawing by NASA/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle\n\nSubstantial, sun-like stars are not supposed to dim.  They start with gravity and pressure induced nuclear reactions, and then they burn brighter and brighter until they either explode (go supernova) or burn all their fuel and become small, enormously dense, and not very bright “white dwarfs.”\n\nOf course, the transit technique of searching for exoplanets looks precisely for dimmings — of stars caused by the passage of an exoplanet.  But those are tiny reductions in the star’s brightness and short-lived.  So if a star is dimming significantly over a much longer period of time, something unusual is going on.\n\nAnd that is apparently exactly what is happening with the current poster child for mysterious stars — KIC 8462852 or “Tabby’s star,” named after the Yale University postdoc who, with the help of citizen scientists, discovered it,  Tabetha Boyajian.\n\nFirst written up last fall, the big news was data from the Kepler Space Telescope showed that the star had experienced two major and dissimilar dips in brightness — a highly unusual and perplexing phenomenon.  The dips appeared much too large to represent the passage of an exoplanet, so explanations tended towards the baroque — a swarm of comets, a vast dust cloud, even an alien megastructure (proposed as a last possible explanation.)  The observation was first identified by citizen planet hunters working with Boyajian, making it an even more compelling finding.\n\nNow the mystery has grown stranger still.  A paper made public last week based on a different kind of Kepler imaging (full-frame imaging) found not two but one enormous dip in the light curve, as well as a surprising and significant dimming the of star over the four year observing period of the space telescope.  The paper has been submitted for publication in American Astronomical Society journals.\n\nBenjamin Montet of Caltech and Joshua Simon of the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, analyzed the full-field images taken by Kepler every three months (rather than the hourly images studied by Boyajian et al,) and concluded that something strange was indeed going on.\n\nTheir conclusion: “No known or proposed stellar phenomena can fully explain all aspects of the observed light curve.”\n\n\nPhotometry of KIC 8462852 as measured from the FFI data. The four colors and shapes (green squares, black circles, red diamonds, and blue triangles) represent measurements from the four separate channels the starlight reaches as the telescope rolls. The four subpanels show ux from each particular detector individually. The main \fgure combines all observations together; we apply three linear o\u000bsets to the data from di\u000berent channels to minimize the scatter to a linear \ft to the \frst 1100 days of data. In all four channels, the photometry is consistent with a linear decrease in ux for the \frst three years of the mission, followed by a rapid decrease in ux of \u0019 2:5% over the next six months. The light gray curve represents one possible Kepler long cadence light curve consistent with the FFI photometry created by \ftting a spline to the FFI photometry as described in Section 4. The large dips observed by Boyajian et al. (2016) are visible but narrow relative to the cadence of FFI observations. The long cadence data behind this \fgure are available online.\nPhotometry of KIC 8462852 as measured from the full-frame imaging (FFI) data. The four colors and shapes (green squares, black circles, red diamonds, and blue triangles) represent measurements from the four separate channels the starlight reaches as the telescope rolls.  In all four channels, the photometry is consistent with a decrease in starlight for the first three years of the mission, followed by a rapid decrease in flux of \u0019 2:5% over the next six months. The large dips observed by Boyajian et al. (2016) are visible\nbut less broad relative to the FFI observations. (B. Montet and J. Simon)\n\nExpanding a bit, Montet told Gizmodo:  “We spent a long time trying to convince ourselves this wasn’t real. We just weren’t able to.”\n\nA paper describing the results from these full-frame observations went up recently on the prior to printing site arXiv.    The site allows members of the astronomy world to offer critiques, and so the results as now released may not be final.\n\nBut the story line does seem pretty clear — that Tabby’s star had one very large period of light dimming and had a secular decline in the light it was sending out over the four years of the Kepler mission.\n\nBoyajian, a newly-appointed Louisiana State University researcher and professor, said that she considers the original findings to be entirely compatible with the newest results, with differences based on how the light was being captured (the once-monthly full-frame Kepler images versus the continuous imaging done of more than 100,000 stars.)\n\nWhat has also become increasingly clear is that the dimming is not the result of an instrument glitch, and that the surrounding stars are not exhibiting the same unusual behavior.\n\n“As far as we know, dimming is not something stars do; they get larger and brighter,” she said.  “Especially on these remarkably fast time scales, the dimmings are unprecedented for any kind of star.”\n\nBoyajian had initially favored the theory that the light was being blocked by a large swarm of comets, but she said the new results make that more unlikely.  She said it is similarly unlikely that the dimmings are the result of some internal dynamics of the star.  So is it all the result of some alien megastructure, the “explanation” that initially brought a lot of attention to Tabby’s star.  I think we can assume it is not.\n\nBut given the data now available, it has become extremely difficult to find an explanation that checks all the boxes.  And that’s why Boyajian and her colleagues began a kickstarter campaign to raise $100,000 for another year of observing through the telescopes of the private Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network.\n\nAs she explained it, one of the telescopes will image the star at least two hours per night for the next year.  And if a significant dimming is observed, larger ground-based telescopes will be available to look more closely.\n\nIt’s a waiting game now, which is exciting itself,” she said. “It’s only a guess, but based on Kepler light curves, we might see something interesting next spring.”\n\n(My earlier story on Tabby and her star can be found here:  Tabby’s Star)\n\nTabetha Boyajian was the driving force behind bringing the mysterious star xxxx to public attention. It had initially been identified as peculiar by the citizen scientists of xxx.\nTabetha Boyajian was the driving force behind bringing the mysterious star KIC 8462852 to public attention. It had initially been identified as peculiar by the citizen scientists of Planet Hunters, which is part of the Oxford University based “Zooniverse” Citizen Science Alliance.\n\n\n\nThe Still Mysterious “Tabby’s Star”\n\nArtist rendering of star xxx, and the unexplain ed objects close to it. KNown as \"Tabby's\" star\nArtist rendering of dusty comets approaching star KIC8462852, an interpretation of the mysterious objects that periodically block out substantial amounts of the star’s light. Known informally as “Tabby’s” star, it was discovered by citizen scientists using Kepler Space Telescope data, and they are looking for ways to continue their work. (NASA/JPL-Caltech)\n\nIt’s been eight months since citizen “Planet Hunters”  working with Yale postdoc Tabetha Boyajian announced the discovery of a most unusual star, or rather a star where something most unusual was intermittently and erratically happening.\n\nThe puzzle began with some light curve data, taken over a four year period, by the Kepler Space Telescope  The citizen planet hunters pored through reams of data sent back by Kepler looking for signals of planetary transits — the ever-so-slight dimmings of the star caused by the crossing or an orbiting exoplanet.\n\nBut the light curve for KIC 8462852 showed dimmings that were anything but slight, and anything but regular.  The Planet Hunters flagged the star for Boyajian’s groups attention, and the mystery star was born.\n\nTheories on what was causing the very large dips ranged from a host of enormous comets, to a violently exploding planet, to an asteroid belt or the presence of close by stars, from an artifact of Kepler’s camera to, finally, an alien megastructure.  (The last was offered by Penn State astronomer Jason Wright as a kind of “Hail Mary” explanation if and when the others are found wanting.  But that’s what got the press.)\n\nDespite years of concerted observing, theorizing and analyzing, Boyajian, Wright the citizen planet hunters and others intrigued by the mystery say they are no closer to an explanation for whatever is passing in front of the star (now informally called “Tabby’s star.”)  NASA has ruled out a technical glitch in the Kepler data, and a range of astronomers have found fault with all the explanations put forward.\n\nBut while the quite tantalizing mystery remains, efforts to learn more about the star may have to wind down soon.  The primary Kepler mission is over, so it will provide no more data for this star.  Other space telescopes will not be looking, nor will the major ground-based observatories.  And  the first SETI searches for signals coming from the star has found nothing unusual.\n\nSo with options dwindling to learn more, Boyajian, her citizen astronomers and others have begun a grassroots effort to raise $100,000 to buy time at a network of smaller ground-based telescopes around the world.\n\n“All the models so far have major problem. So to go forward, we need new data ,” Boyajian said this week.  “There’s a huge amount of interest in this star, and we’re trying to use that interest to help solve a real mystery.”\n\n The unusual light curves for \"Tabby's Star,\" which feature some extremely large dips and other smaller ones. The X-axis label “Kepler day” means days following the Kepler launch. (NASA/Kepler Space Telescope) The unusual light curves for \"Tabby's Star,\" which feature some extremely large dips and other smaller ones. The X-axis label “Kepler day” means days following the Kepler launch. (NASA/Kepler Space Telescope)\nThe unusual light curves for “Tabby’s Star,” which feature some extremely large dips and other smaller ones. The X-axis label “Kepler day” means days following the Kepler launch. (NASA/Kepler Space Telescope)\n\nKIC 8462852 is an otherwise ordinary F-type star, slightly larger and hotter than our sun . It burns some 1500  light-years away.  Of all the 150,000 stars monitored during the Kepler mission, it is the only one to show these kinds of highly unusual light curves and, presumably, to have such massive astrophysical objects (or fields or other phenomena) nearby.\n\nDuring a TED talk, Boyajian described the recent history of observing the star.\n\nThe Planet Hunters, she said,  first detected something unusual in the star’s light curve in 2009 –a dip of 1 percent dip that lasted a week. This is roughly comparable to a sign produced by a Jupiter-sized planet transiting the star. Orbiting planets produce symmetric dips and the one they found was definitely asymmetric, like something that could be the result of the passing of an irregularly-shaped object like a comet.\n\nThe light from the star remained steady for two years, then it suddenly took a 15 percent plunge that lasted for a week.\n\nAnother two years passed without incident but in 2013 the star began flickering with a complex series of uneven, unnatural looking dips that lasted 100 days. During the deepest of these dips, the intensity of the light coming from the star dropped 20 percent. According to Boyajian it would take an object 1,000 times the area of the Earth transiting the distant star to produce such a dramatic effect.\n\nWhat’s causing these unusual and strong signals.  The jury remains very much out.\n\nThe Kepler field of study, observed by the space telescope nonstop for almost five years. (NASA)\n\nBut the process of applying for grants and space telescope time is both very slow and highly competitive. So the group has decided on a different, self-financing path.  This is how they described their current and future plans on their “” website:\n\nWe have initiated observations on the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGT). LCOGT is a privately run global telescope network specifically designed for time domain astronomy, meaning that their network of telescopes is positioned strategically around the globe to ensure continuous monitoring of an object.\n\nOur observation plan is as follows. From the 4 years of Kepler data, we know that the dips in the light curve are not periodic, so we need continuous monitoring throughout the year since we cannot predict when it will dip again. We also know that how much the brightness drops is also variable from dip-to-dip. The LCOGT data will not have the precision Kepler had, but will have plenty of sensitivity to detect the observed dips in this star.\n\nWhat’s more, since we are observing this star from the ground we are also able to tailor our observation plan to reveal detailed information on whatever object(s) are passing in front of the star to make the dips! One way this will be done is by observing the star at different wavelengths, or colors, of light. These new observations will monitor the star’s brightness at an assortment of colors!\n\nIn addition to this, the data from the LCOGT are space processed in real time, so when data are seen to pass below a brightness threshold, it will trigger more observations in the LCOGT network. Our science team will then alert for observations to be taken at larger facilities to get a better look.\n\nThe observatory has gifted this program 200 hours to begin the project on their new 0.4-meter telescope network, which will take us to the end of the summer.\n\nTabetha Boyajian, a postdoc at Yale and soon to be on the faculty of Louisiana State University.\nTabetha Boyajian, a postdoc at Yale and soon to be on the faculty of Louisiana State University. She has been working to unravel the mysteries of KIC 8462852 since\n\nIt’s not at all easy to apply for and win the stiff competition for observing time on a major public telescope, and that reality led to the outreach effort aimed those interested in collecting more Tabby’s Star data. The Planet Hunters citizen scientist group was brought together by Yale professor Debra Fischer, herself a professional planet hunter. The group is part of the Oxford University based “Zooniverse” Citizen Science Alliance.\n\nAs I will discuss in a later column, I have my doubts about some of the big-dollar, high-profile individual and foundation efforts to jump-start space travel and space science. They can be wonderful, but they sometimes feel like efforts to get the proverbial camel’s nose into the tent, and NASA and its budget are ultimately the tent.  (I’m not thinking here of commercial space efforts like resupplying the International Space Station, although they too depend on NASA to an important financial and technical degree.)\n\nBut grassroots private efforts like this one to learn more about Tabby’s star are, to me at least, quite  different.   This is hardly the first time a private group of enthusiasts has asked the interested public to help with their research and (hopefully) it will not be the last.  At the proper scale and with proper goals, they seem generally like a most valuable part of future space science.\n\nAnd if this particular effort does end up solving the Tabby’s star puzzle in the months and years ahead — or at least giving some strong possible explanations — it will strenghten the case for public citizen science of all kinds.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9714965224266052}
+{"content": "\n\nHonouring a commitment (life)\n\nLife Insurance 2\n\nThirty years ago, Mrs. B. purchased life insurance. The premium would change over the years and the cash surrender value would be flexible but, as she understood it, she was guaranteed a paid-up $200,000 policy at age 65. This original policy was subsequently transferred to several insurers over the years.\n\nWhen she turned 65, Mrs. B. received a letter informing her that her policy was now paid up; no more premiums were necessary to maintain the value of $200,000 and to keep her policy in force. Mrs. B. stopped making payments but, several years later, received a letter advising that her policy was now valued at $158,000.\n\nAlthough no further premiums were required to keep the policy in force, the insurer stated that the sum insured continued to be reviewed for adjustment. Mrs. B. disagreed and contacted OLHI for a free, independent and impartial review of her file. She provided us with the final position letter and copies of all her correspondence with the various insurers that had owned the policy over the years. We also received the current insurer’s file.\n\nOLHI’s first impression was that there would likely be no grounds to negotiate as the decrease in the sum insured was likely contractual.\n\nHowever, OLHI’s Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) discovered that Mrs. B. had a letter from the original insurer, guaranteeing in writing the sum insured of $200,000, with no adjustments to that sum. For this reason, the complaint was escalated to an OmbudService Officer (OSO) for further investigation.\n\nSpeaking with the insurer, the OSO concurred that the policy clearly outlines the recalculations of the premiums and the fact that the sum could change after age 65. However, he also noted that the guarantee letter could not be overlooked. The insurer, after additional review, agreed to honour the commitment that the previous insurer had made, confirming that the sum insured would not be recalculated in future.\n\n\nDisclaimer: Names, places and facts have been modified in order to protect the privacy of the parties involved. This case study is for illustration purposes only. Each complaint OLHI reviews contains different facts and contract wording may vary. As a result, the application of the principles expressed here may lead to different results in different cases.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9995520114898682}
+{"content": "Accelerated Education\n\nWhat does Accelerated Education mean?\n\nAEPs are flexible, age-appropriate programmes, run in an accelerated timeframe, which aim to provide access to education for disadvantaged, over-age, out-of-school children and youth – particularly those who missed out on, or had their education interrupted due to poverty, marginalisation, conflict and crisis.\n\nWhat is the Accelerated Education Working Group?\n\nThe Accelerated Education Working Group (AEWG) is made up of education partners working in the field of accelerated education. The AEWG is currently led by UNHCR with representation from UNICEF, UNESCO, USAID, NRC, Plan, IRC, Save the Children, Education Conflict and Crisis Network, and War Child Holland.\n\nThe group’s goal is to strengthen the quality of accelerated education programming through a more harmonized, standardized approach.\n\nWhy do we have a working group?\n\nGlobally, accelerated education programmes are employed with more and more frequency to address the large number of out of school children and youth. However, while there is widespread agreement on the need for such programming among agencies and governments, there is insufficient validated documentation that provides guidance, standards and indicators for efficient programme planning, implementation and monitoring.\n\nIn practice, accelerated education takes different forms in different countries, and even within countries. Moreover, there is little significant documentation on its impact, including how much we are contributing to learning achievement and how successful we are at facilitating pathways between accelerated programming and formal and non-formal education.\n\nTo address some of these challenges, starting with the lack of guidance and standards, in 2014 UNHCR invited a small number of education partners working in the area to form a working group.\n\nWhat does the group do?\n\nThe AEWG meets biannually to share experiences and expertise in accelerated education and fosters dialogue around a more harmonized, standardized approach. To this end, the group has begun to develop guidance materials based on international standards and sound practice. \n\nFor more information please contact Martha Hewison at", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9764634966850281}
+{"content": "My Nights Are More Beautiful Than Your Days\n\nDurata: 110min 14sec Visualizzazioni: 1 216 172 Aggiunto: 11 months ago Utente:\nDescrizione: Lucas has invented a new computer language but at the same time he has been informed about his strange terminal illness during which he has been gradually losing his memory. Shortly after that he meets Blanche who acts as a medium in a bizarre traveling show. Dying Lucas follows her to the sea resort where they spend together several days and nights", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9957020282745361}
+{"content": "Complimentary shipping and five day returns. Always.\n\nMeet Christin\n\n“Each rug has a story. Immersing yourself in the where, the who, and the why … I can’t imagine anything more beautiful.” – Christin\n\nAbout Christin Terrell\n\n“Each rug has a story” is Christin Terrell’s personal motto. She began her career in Oriental rugs, having been deeply influenced by childhood experiences with rugs. Christin, even at a young age was captivated, training herself as a child to spot the differences in dyes and weave constructions. The details, craftsmanship and tradition affected her deeply.\n\nShe began traveling directly to the source in an endless quest for these magic carpets. Having taught herself Turkish, she and her husband, Trenton began making regular sourcing trips abroad.\n\n“It was like figuring out a puzzle. I already knew the subtleties of the rugs and their details and processes, but traveling to the source was like a codex of understanding the why, the how and the everything of the rug. Seeing the people who dye by hand, the shepherds who care for the sheep… It gives a vibrant understanding of not just the process, but the people, the history, the tradition.”\n\nWhile many people look at a rug and see only the vibrant colors, intricate patterns and apparent age and history, Christin sees the beauty and durability of its origins and every pair of hands and bead of sweat that went into making the rug; “Immersing yourself in the where, the who, the why… I can’t imagine anything more beautiful.”\n\n\nOne of a kind new arrivals are announced quarterly.\nFor first looks + exclusive events, subscribe to our newsletter.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9418394565582275}
+{"content": "Colin was totally genuine, honest and helpful throughout the whole transaction process.  He always responded quickly to queries and explained things to be easily understandable.  He has a lovely friendly manner and was an absolute pleasure to deal with.  I would recommend him to anyone.  Also Lisa Dunham has been very helful and efficient.  Excellent Staff.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999783039093018}
+{"content": "Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics\n\nFacebook icon\nLinkedIn icon\nTwitter icon\nHome | Mises Library | Economic Calculation in the Environmentalist Commonwealth\n\nEconomic Calculation in the Environmentalist Commonwealth\n\n  • The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics\n\nTags Calculation and Knowledge\n\n07/30/2014Art Carden\n\nVolume 16, No. 1 (Spring 2013)\n\nABSTRACT: Non-monetary calculation of the environmental effects of action runs into the same problems of in natura calculation and commonly owned means of production. The information needed for rational economizing does not exist when we forsake the price mechanism. A legal regime based on strict private property rights solves environmental problems and minimizes conflict in the coordination of plans. Relaxed restrictions on property rights can move many currently political decisions into the realm of market exchange and improve economic coordination. Reducing restrictions on housing markets provides one example.\n\nKEYWORDS: environment, Austrian economics, prices, profits and losses\n\nArt Carden1\n\n\nDo government services and even private proposals like carbon accounting, “triple bottom line” accounting, and measurement of “food miles” provide viable alternatives to monetary calculation based on profit and loss? Are they alternative ways to evaluate production and allocation, or might they merely serve the same function as advertising and image-improving or trust-enhancing charity? The necessity of monetary calculation for rational economic decision-making suggests that alternative measures of environmental impact do not provide reliable guides to policy. Even proposals that take at least some advantage of the price mechanism, like Pigovian taxes or formal markets for permits to emit substances like carbon dioxide, encounter calculation and knowledge problems. Coordination improves, and unintended negative consequences are minimized when people are able to trade voluntarily.\n\nAs Cordato (2004, p. 3) writes, environmental problems “are not about the environment per se, but about the resolution of human conflict” and the coordination of individual plans. In this light, Cordato (2004, p. 4) proposes an approach to efficiency that focuses on the processes by which goals are achieved, errors are eliminated, conflicts are reduced, and transgressions are rectified. He notes that\n\n[e]fficiency is a “praxeological,” i.e., individual goal seeking problem, not a value maximization problem. From a policy perspective, then, social efficiency is assessed in terms of the extent to which legal institutions facilitate consistency between the ends that actors are pursuing and the means that they are choosing to accomplish those ends. (Cordato, 2004, p. 4)\n\nEnvironmental problems are coordination problems. Specifically, they are problems of reconciling mutually exclusive plans by identifying and correcting individual encroachments on others’ rights: “[g]enerally formulated, a pollution or environmental problem arises when individual or group A and individual or group B are simultaneously attempting or planning to use resource X for conflicting purposes.” (Cordato, 2004, p. 7) Cordato’s approach has implications for how we understand non-market environmental planning.\n\n\nRegulation substitutes power for market, to rephrase the title of Rothbard (1970 [1977]). In a contribution that ignited the socialist calculation debate, Mises (1920 [1990]) demonstrated that rational economic calculation is impossible when the means of production are commonly owned.2 Hayek (1945) argued that the economic problem is not the complex optimization problem implied by the thesis that a socialist economy can calculate; rather, it is a problem of assembling, evaluating, and updating dispersed knowledge. Therefore, even if a socialist economy could engage in rational economic calculation in some abstract sense, the institutions of private property are prerequisites for the creation of the necessary information.3\n\nPrices economize on the knowledge necessary for rational calculation (Hayek, 1945, p. 525), and Hayek (2002) argued that competition is “a discovery procedure” whereby information that cannot be known by a single mind is used and revealed. The market is “a procedure for discovering facts which, if the procedure did not exist, would remain unknown or at least not used” (Hayek, 2002, p. 9). Private property and unfettered exchange are necessary for rational economic calculation. Hülsmann (1997), Mahoney (2002), and Cordato (2004) augment these original contributions and lay the groundwork for a praxeological approach to environmental concerns.4\n\nAmong other things, monetary calculation reduces the cognitive overload associated with a complex reality and allows us to order and interpret the world around us. Specifically, monetary calculation\n\n\nConsumers might value information about the carbon emissions needed to produce a particular good, the number of miles traveled by a head of lettuce, or a firm’s record on minority hiring, but the degree to which they value these attributes will be reflected in prices, profits, and losses.\n\nThis is apparent in at least some environmental initiatives. In natura calculation is plainly impossible, but proposals for markets in tradable emissions permits do take advantage of the price mechanism to a degree. As McGee and Block (1994) argue, however, they run into the same problems associated with proposals to implement “market socialism.” Tradable permits and Pigovian taxes are market-like, but they still rest on a planner’s conceit that the optimal amount of a particular activity can be known independent of what is revealed by trade (or more generally, by consent). Cordato (2004, p. 11) criticizes the “polluter pays” principle:\n\nMost specifically, a central authority must know in advance what the efficient outcome is. In the case of the tax, a central authority must know in advance the exact amount of the externality costs being imposed by the polluter, and the correct price and output, not only for the good in question but, since efficiency only makes sense in a general equilibrium context, for all other affected goods and services. In the case of tradable permits, the knowledge requirements are essentially the same.\n\nNye (2008) goes further within the confines of conventional neoclassical economics: the effects of other taxes in general equilibrium, possible monopoly power, and the possibility of Coasean side bargains mean that even the ability to observe and measure the precise size of the externality is not a reliable guide to policy. Borrowing from Coase, he writes:\n\nEven in a world of positive transaction costs, some Coasian transfers may take place that partly mitigate the harm of an externality. Unless the Pigovian tax collector can fully account for all those transfers, any estimate of an appropriate tax based solely on the size of the externality will clearly overstate the optimally efficient tax level. (Nye 2008, p. 32)\n\nAs Nye notes, even if we can calculate an externality of gasoline consumption of $1 per gallon, for example, regulations like Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (which economists generally dislike), possible market power for organizations like OPEC, the impact of taxes in other sectors of the economy, and a host of other considerations will move the number of gallons consumed closer to the social optimum even though we still observe $1 per gallon in external effects. Nye cites Bovenberg and Goulder (1996), who argue that the general equilibrium optimal Pigovian tax is likely to be lower than the partial equilibrium optimum (and possibly negative) when there is general taxation. Block (2003) discusses possible privatization of the roads; this could mitigate some of the external costs of fossil fuel consumption if firms with some market power control the roads (cf. Buchanan 1969).\n\n\nEstablishing clear private property rights over previously unowned resources makes them tradable. This allows people to calculate, or to evaluate the relative costs and benefits of different courses of action. As Cordato (2004) reminds us, environmental conflicts are always conflicts of ownership: some people wish to use a resource to achieve one set of goals. Others wish to use the same resource to satisfy a different set of goals. Property owners’ use of property and the negotiations between people bidding for property establish prices. The establishment of cardinal, money prices creates a common standard of comparison (Mises, 1920 [1990]).\n\nProfits and losses allow entrepreneurs to appraise the results of their actions and determine whether what they have produced allows people to satisfy more urgently felt wants, or whether it causes people to satisfy less urgently felt wants. In the first case, the entrepreneur earns a profit. In the second case, the entrepreneur earns a loss. Mahoney (2002, p. 48) makes a crucial point with respect to private ownership that is directly relevant to environmental questions: while we can know physical quantities, we cannot appraise economic scarcity—or more generally, praxeological scarcity—without private ownership and the prices produced by market exchange.\n\nProperty is necessary for even the clear identification of environmental trouble and also for the solution of such troubles. Hülsmann (1997) criticizes the thesis that economics is concerned primarily with coordination and the use of knowledge and argues instead that “(i)t is property, rather than knowledge, that coordinates the separate actions of different people” (Hülsmann, 1997, pp. 28–29). Property is a prerequisite for the application of knowledge to the creation of value. Technological knowledge, even knowledge of the full range of technological combinations that might produce all possible arrays of physical output, is neither necessary nor sufficient for rational economic calculation. As Hülsmann (1997, p. 44) notes,\n\n[W]ithout reference to our property we could not possibly select knowledge in terms of importance. Moreover, once we own property we then know which kind of knowledge could be useful. It is this property that directs our learning toward useful channels.\n\nThe property regime determines the kinds of knowledge that are sought and deployed. People generally seek and deploy knowledge that helps them better achieve their goals. With secure private property rights, such knowledge will be value-productive; i.e., the property owner will generally deploy knowledge that helps him achieve his goals without interfering with another’s ability to do the same. Errors will be weeded out through losses, and uses of property that interfere with others’ property rights will be corrected by appropriate legal institutions (Hülsmann, 1997, pp. 44–45). Hülsmann describes how the introduction of coercion and the abrogation of private property rights alters the process:\n\nThe case is different in a system featuring a coercive agency. Here, by definition, a knowledge different from value-productive knowledge is, at least sometimes, more important. (The extent of “sometimes” depends on the range of activities and on the permanence of the coercive agency). There is, for example, the knowledge of how to reap the fruits of other persons’ labor without provoking their resistance. There is also the knowledge of how to acquire control and ownership of the coercive agency. And there is the knowledge of how to persuade one’s neighbors about the utility of this system, too. One can add an infinite number of items to this list. The result, in general terms, remains the same: a violent agency necessarily affects the knowledge structure of the society upon which it is imposed. (1997, p. 45)\n\n\nWhat are the implications of violence’s effect on the “knowledge structure” for environmental policy? Environmentalists identify an important problem: one’s actions interfere with the property rights of another. Some gains from trade are unrealized because some of the valuable attributes of some goods and services are unowned and therefore not priced. Proposals for planning based on carbon footprint measurement replace this problem with one that is even worse: specifically, forsaking the price mechanism introduces arbitrariness into production and consumption decisions. There are ways to mitigate these problems by strengthening private property rights and thereby making more potential conflicts subject to resolution through trade or tort law (cf. Rothbard, 1982). Disharmony between individuals’ plans arises from conflicts over the use of resources; this disharmony can be eliminated or substantially reduced by, for example, eliminating building restrictions and privatizing what has been socialized.\n\nConsider the examples of building restrictions and socialized garbage collection. Glaeser and Kahn (2008) argue for relaxing housing restrictions in California. Per capita emissions are lowest on the west coast and highest in the South, and in cities like Boston and New York per capita emissions are lower in the city whereas in Los Angeles they are lower in the suburbs (Glaeser and Kahn, 2008, p. 1). They estimate that, for example, the annual additional cost of carbon dioxide emissions from a home in metropolitan Houston is approximately $500 more than it would be in metropolitan San Francisco. They attribute this mostly to the better climate in the San Francisco Bay area. Even for all of their careful work, their knowledge is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind: they note that they do not include the carbon emissions associated with work. Land use restrictions precisely invert the practices consistent with wise environmental stewardship. Land in California and New York that would be more valuable for housing is used to grow crops, while land in Texas that would be more valuable for crops is used to build housing.5\n\nFurther, Glaeser (2006), Glaeser and Gyourko (2003), Glaeser and Ward (2006), and Glaeser et al. (2005) argue that land use restrictions have artificially inflated housing prices in places like California, Boston, and New York. “Affordable housing” mandates do not work, as Powell and Stringham (2004) show; indeed, Means and Stringham (2009) estimate that affordable housing mandates have higher housing prices and smaller housing stocks in the California cities that have adopted them. Relaxing these restrictions helps us save multiple birds with a single stone: we get cheaper housing that is cheaper to operate, and we eliminate restrictions that interfere with market plan coordination.\n\nPollution externalities emerge from socialized garbage collection (Block, 1998, p. 1894), which means the prices for garbage collection do not reflect their costs and benefits. In many places, one can throw away a garbage can filled with toxin-laden cell phone batteries for the same price as a garbage can filled with biodegradable vegetable matter. Pricing garbage disposal might lead to more illegal dumping, but the solution in this case would be stronger enforcement of private property rights, not socialized garbage collection. Bringing garbage collection into the cash nexus of market exchange would bring them under the discipline of the process by which costs and benefits are revealed.\n\nCordato (2004, p. 4) describes the institutional character of the Austrian-praxeological approach to efficiency: “…social efficiency is assessed in terms of the extent to which legal institutions facilitate consistency between the ends that actors are pursuing and the means that they are choosing to accomplish those ends.” The policy problem with regard to efficiency concerns “efficient intra- and inter-personal plan formulation and execution, i.e., the internal consistency between the means that people use and the ends they desire to achieve” (Cordato, 2004, p. 7). Such efficient coordination is impossible without secure private property rights. Brätland (2006, p. 15) is explicit, pointing out that “without private property and monetary exchange, there can be no capital calculation and no rational means of maintaining either capital or income for current or future generations” (emphasis in original).\n\nCalculation problems have further implications for how we understand the concept of “sustainable development.” Sustainable development requires praxeological, calculation-based microfoundations. Taylor (2002, p. 4) notes that what is being “sustained” may be of little value to those yet born; to adopt an example from Steven Landsburg (1996), who are we to say that our children would prefer a forest to the income generated by a parking lot? Further, as Landsburg and others have noted, since future generations will almost certainly be far wealthier than we are, conservation for future generations’ sake is an intergenerational redistribution from the relatively poor of today to our relatively rich descendants.\n\nNon-price calculation instruments do not provide a basis for rational analysis, rational calculation, and rational action because they forsake the market (Brätland, 2006, p. 21). Private property owners have a direct interest in maintaining and increasing the value of their property. Further, the entrepreneurial process ensures that at any point in time, the best answer to Landsburg’s question about how we know whether future generations prefer a forest to a parking lot will be capitalized into the prices of the land and other resources. At every point in time, the price of an asset reflects market participants’ best estimates of the discounted present value of the income that will be generated by that asset. When private property rights are secure, anyone who values green space as such or who believes that people are making a short-sighted mistake by paving green space is free to act on these preferences and beliefs.\n\nShould we treat future generations’ utilities as if they were our own and not discount the future? A simple reductio ad absurdum shows that this is untenable.6 If we truly should not discount the future, then the relevant environmental problem is not that we may someday exhaust the Earth’s resources but that someday the sun will die out, explode, and destroy everything in our solar system. This leads us to conclude that we should increase rather than decrease the rate at which we extract resources as we look for ways to get off of this doomed rock.\n\nScience can measure some aspects of a production process, but even these measurements produce knowledge that is of a very meager and unsatisfactory kind. Following Garrison (2000), we can simplify the discussion by dividing the structure of production into five stages of mining, refining, manufacturing, distributing, and retailing. It is possible to measure the energy inputs and carbon outputs of certain parts of certain processes in the structure of production—the carbon output of a diesel truck moving cans of Pepsi from a warehouse to a grocery store is reasonably easy to measure, for example. However, what we can measure easily represents only a fraction of what really goes into the production process.\n\nConsider the production process that gets a can of Pepsi into our refrigerators.7 One could probably measure the carbon dioxide produced in the production and operation of the machines in the soda bottling facility. But what about the carbon dioxide emitted by workers commuting to the factory? Or the carbon dioxide emitted to brew their morning coffee? Or the carbon dioxide emitted to produce that coffee, get it to the grocery store, and then to the worker’s home? Any attempt to identify a non-price metric by which people can decide whether value is or is not being created runs into the same problem a central planning board runs into when it attempts to allocate scarce and unowned factors of production. The problem cannot be solved because the relevant information has been destroyed.\n\nPublic choice considerations are relevant, as well. Hasnas (2009, pp. 121–122) recounts the well-known case of environmental regulation in which Senator Robert Byrd intervened on behalf of coal mining interests. The regulations were not written to allow certain levels of pollution; rather, they were written to require that smokestacks at coal-burning power plants be fitted with air scrubbers “even though requiring scrubbers had greater costs and left the air dirtier” (Hasnas, 2009, pp. 121–122). Here is Hasnas (2009, p. 122): “Requiring the air to be cleaned after the coal was burned neutralized the economic advantages of the cleaner-burning coal mined in the western United States over the dirty-burning coal mined in West Virginia.” Politics also has a bias toward action, prudent and otherwise. Hasnas (2009, pp. 118–119) offers an analogy from soccer in which he says that a defender who appears to be “doing nothing” is often in fact containing the attacker while the defense gets into formation.\n\nWhile the market socialism of tradable permits enables better economic calculation than command-and-control regulations, secure private property rights allow for the generation of knowledge that is essential to the solution of environmental problems. Block (1990, p. 91), for example, suggests scaling back interventions that create conflicting plans over the uses of water and air. The same problem of market socialism remains: a “bureaucratic command structure” regulates the permit-trading market (McGee and Block, 1994, p. 56).\n\nWhat do we do about the well-known problems of externalities and public goods? There are several answers. First, private property rights combined with the common law of torts brings these considerations into the sphere of economic calculation (Rothbard, 1982 [1997]; Hasnas, 1996, 2009). Legal decisions in the early nineteenth century held that it was in the public interest to encourage manufacturing; therefore, pollution forensics and the abilities of people to sue polluters were sharply curtailed (Block, 1990, p. 91; 1998, p. 1890). McGee and Block (1994, pp. 61–62) discuss “reasonable” conduct and “live and let live” principles in English and American law, and indeed custom is likely to emerge in ways that encourage efficiency. Second, as Elinor Ostrom’s research shows, people are remarkably adept and managing common-pool resources without heavy-handed central planning.8\n\nExtending Caplan’s (2007) argument about the inefficiency of policies chosen by democracies, Carden and Hammock (2010) suggest that environmental policies are also likely to be flawed. Respondents to a 2007 Washington Post/ABC News Poll, for example, opposed higher gas taxes but supported stronger efficiency standards for cars, which Carden and Hammock characterize as “stick-it-to-the-man bias.” Since voters’ preferences are systematically biased they are likely not to support environmental policies that have plausible economic rationales but policies that are positively destructive (Carden and Hammock, 2010, pp. 73–74). Those who assume that regulators can fix it often commit what Otteson (2010) called “the great mind fallacy,” which assumes that someone, somewhere is possessed of sufficient moral and intellectual fiber to engineer a Great Society. Without private property, exchange, and money prices as guides, no mind—no matter how great—can begin to articulate the social problem, much less solve it.\n\n\nIn addition to attempts to measure social and environmental issues at a national level, some activists have pushed firms to adopt “corporate social responsibility” practices like the adoption of a “triple bottom line.” The triple bottom line receives a devastating critique from Norman and MacDonald (2004), who devote most of their criticisms to the social component of a triple bottom line but note that the same criticisms also apply to the environmental component. Advocates of a triple bottom line suggest “that a corporation’s ultimate success or health can and should be measured not just by the traditional financial bottom line, but also by its social/ethical and environmental performance” (Norman and MacDonald, 2004, p. 243).\n\nIt is important to note that emphases on environmental and social prerogatives can be important elements of brand management (Norman and MacDonald, 2004), but the idea that firms should seek to let a “triple bottom line” guide their actions runs into a number of obvious problems. The most obvious problem is that there is no way to construct a social or an environmental bottom line. One can know, for example, the percentage of office paper that gets recycled, the amount of energy used by company buildings, and the percentage of company employees who drive hybrid cars. Laying aside for a moment the question of whether these represent unambiguously good environmental stewardship, there is no way to transform this information into a coherent index that represents a real environmental bottom line.\n\nAs areas of focus for a firm engaged in careful brand management, these individual pieces of information can be combined to provide a broad overview of a company. They cannot, however, be reduced to a common unit independent of monetary calculation that tells a company whether, say, recycling less office paper is wise if it means being able to use less energy in its buildings. Attempts to add up the components of an environmental bottom line are attempts to add apples to oranges. The problem of in natura calculation that formed part of the Misesian critique of socialism appears again here.\n\nThe same problem arises when we consider tradeoffs between financial, social, and environmental goals. Even if we assume that firms can construct coherent indices of their social and environmental bottom lines, there is no way to tell whether a one-unit reduction in the firm’s social bottom line is an acceptable price to pay for a two-unit improvement in the firm’s environmental bottom line, or whether the firm should sacrifice one million dollars in profits to improve its social and environmental bottom lines by one unit each. It is true that a firm could use market prices for recycled paper and energy to estimate the costs of reducing its recycling efforts in order to conserve energy, but this information goes straight to the financial bottom line. As Norman and MacDonald (2004, p. 243) summarize their conclusions, “what is sound about the idea of a Triple Bottom Line is not novel, and… what is novel about the idea is not sound.” Reporting data on corporate environmental and social citizenship might be a good way to attract customers, employees, and some shareholders, but the only coherent measure of a firm’s performance is its financial bottom line. Quite apart from whether the social and environmental indicators have the right arguments, there is no way to articulate the tradeoffs between dollars, social units, and environmental units.\n\n\nEnvironmental issues have been pushed to the front of policy debates, and people have proposed a number of interventions, programs, and ideas that are supposed to provide alternatives to monetary calculation. However, monetary calculation solves these problems when property rights are clearly defined. The absence of private property rights means that we cannot have the information we would need to make production and allocation decisions that coordinate producers’ plans with consumers’ wants.\n\nThe calculation problem is fundamental to the environmentalist commonwealth just as it is fundamental to the socialist commonwealth. Mises (1990 [1920], p. 13) argues that “(e)very step that takes us away from private ownership of the means of production and from the use of money also takes us away from rational economics.” In the environmental context we can rephrase this as follows: every step that takes us away from private ownership of the means of production and monetary calculation also takes us away from rational and responsible environmental stewardship.\n\n\nBlock, Walter. 1990. “Resource Misallocation, Externalities and Environmentalism: A U.S.-Canadian Analysis.” Proceedings of the 24th Northwest Regional Economic Conference: 91–94.\n\n——. 1998. “Environmentalism and Economic Freedom: The Case for Private Property Rights.” Journal of Business Ethics 17, no. 16: 1887–1899.\n\n——. 2003. “Overcoming Difficulties in Privatizing Roads.” Etica & Politica/Ethics & Politics 2. Available at: http://www.units.it/etica/2003_2/BLOCK.htm.\n\nBovenberg, A. Lans, and Lawrence H. Goulder. 1996. “Optimal Environmental Taxation in the Presence of Other Taxes: General-Equilibrium Analyses.” American Economic Review 86, no. 4: 985–1000.\n\nBrätland, John. 2006. “Toward a Calculational Theory and Policy of Intergenerational Sustainability.” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 9, no. 2: 13–45.\n\nBuchanan, James M. 1969. “External Diseconomies, Corrective Taxes, and Market Structure.” American Economic Review 59, no. 1: 174–177.\n\n\nCarden, Art, and Mike Hammock. 2010. “The Truthiness Hurts.” Economic Affairs 30(2):71-76.\n\nCordato, Roy. 2004. “Toward an Austrian Theory of Environmental Economics.” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 7, no. 1: 3–16.\n\nGarrison, Roger. 2000. Time and Money: The Macroeconomics of Capital Structure. London: Routledge.\n\nGlaeser, Edward L. 2006. “The Economic Impact of Restricting Housing Supply.” Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston Policy Brief PB–2006–3.\n\nGlaeser, Edward L., and Joseph Gyourko. 2003. “The Impact of Building Restrictions on Housing Affordability.” Federal Reserve Bank of New York Economic Policy Review 9, no. 2: 21–39.\n\nGlaeser, Edward L., and Matthew Kahn. 2008. “The Greenness of Cities.” Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston and Taubman Center for State and Local Government Policy Brief, March.\n\nGlaeser, Edward L. and Bryce Adam Ward. 2006. “The Causes and Consequences of Land Use Regulation: Evidence from Greater Boston.” Harvard Institute of Economic Research Discussion Paper No. 2124.\n\nGlaeser, Edward L., Joseph Gyourko, and Raven Saks. 2005. “Why is Manhattan So Expensive? Regulation and the Rise in Housing Prices.” Journal of Law and Economics 48, no. 2: 331–370.\n\nHamowy, Ronald. 1996. “Some Comments on the Rhetoric of the Environmental Movement.” Journal of Libertarian Studies 12, no. 1: 161–177.\n\nHasnas, John. 1996. “What’s Wrong With a Little Tort Reform?” Idaho Law Review 32. Available at: http://faculty.msb.edu/hasnasj/GTWebSite/TortReformFinalDraft.pdf.\n\n——. 2009. “Two Theories of Environmental Regulation.” Social Philosophy and Policy 26, no. 2: 95–129.\n\nHayek, Friedrich A. 1945. “The Use of Knowledge in Society.” American Economic Review 35, no. 4: 519–530.\n\n——. 2002. “Competition as a Discovery Procedure.” Marcellus S. Snow, trans. Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 5, no. 3: 9–23.\n\nHoppe, Hans-Hermann. 1996. “Socialism: A Property or Knowledge Problem?” Review of Austrian Economics 9, no. 1: 143–149.\n\nHuebert, Jacob H., and Walter Block. 2007. “Space Environmentalism, Property Rights, and the Law.” University of Memphis Law Review 37, no. 2: 281–309.\n\nHülsmann, Jörg Guido. 1997. “Knowledge, Judgment, and the Use of Property.” Review of Austrian Economics 10, no. 1: 23–48.\n\nLandsburg, Steven. 1996. The Armchair Economist. New York: Free Press.\n\nLavoie, Don. 1985. Rivalry and Central Planning: The Socialist Calculation Debate Reconsidered. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.\n\nMahoney, Dan. 2002. “Ownership, Scarcity, and Economic Decision Making.” Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 5, no. 1: 39–56.\n\nMcGee, Robert W. and Walter E. Block. 1994. “Pollution Trading Permits as a Form of Market Socialism and the Search for a Real Market Solution to Environmental Pollution.”Fordham Environmental Law Journal 6, no. 1: 51–77.\n\nMeans, Tom, and Edward Stringham. 2009. “The Effect of Below-Market Housing Mandates on Housing Markets in California.” Working Paper, San Jose State University and Trinity College.\n\nMises, Ludwig von. 1920. Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth, S. Adler, trans. Available at: www.mises.org. 1990.\n\nNelson, Robert H. 2010. The New Holy Wars: Economic Religion vs. Environmental Religion. University Park, Penn.: Penn State University Press.\n\nNorman, Wayne, and Chris MacDonald. 2004. “Getting to the Bottom of ‘Triple Bottom Line.’” Business Ethics Quarterly 14, no. 2: 243–262.\n\nNye, John V.C. 2008. “The Pigou Problem.” Regulation 31, no. 2: 32–37.\n\nOstrom, Elinor. 2010. Beyond Markets and States: Polycentric Governance of Complex Economic Systems. American Economic Review 100, no. 3: 641–672.\n\nOtteson, James. 2010. “Adam Smith and the Great Mind Fallacy.” Social Philosophy and Policy 27, no. 1: 276–304.\n\nMunger, Michael. 2007. “Think Globally, Act Irrationally: Recycling.” Library of Economics and Liberty, July 2. Available at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2007/Mungerrecycling.html#.\n\nPowell, Benjamin, and Edward Stringham. 2004. “Housing Supply and Affordability: Do Affordable Housing Mandates Work?” Reason Public Policy Institute Policy Study 318.\n\nPritchett, Lant. 2006. Let Their People Come: Breaking the Gridlock on Global Labor Mobility. Washington, D.C.: Center for Global Development. Available at: http://www.cgdev.org/content/publications/detail/10174.\n\nRoberts, Russell. 2001. “I, Pepsi.” The Freeman, June. Available at: http://www.thefreemanonline.org/columns/i-pepsi/.\n\nRothbard, Murray N. 1970. Power and Market: Government and the Economy. Kansas City: Sheed, Andrews, and McMeel, 1977.\n\n——. 1982. “Law, Property Rights, and Air Pollution.” Cato Journal 2, no. 1: 55–99. Reprinted in Murray N. Rothbard, 1997. The Logic of Action Two: Applications and Criticisms from the Austrian School. Cheltenham, U.K.: Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 121–170.\n\nSalerno, Joseph T. 1990. “Postscript: Why a Socialist Economy is ‘Impossible.’” Available at www.mises.org.\n\nSowell, Thomas. 2008. Economic Facts and Fallacies. New York: Basic Books.\n\n——. 2010. The Housing Boom and Bust, 2nd ed. New York: Basic Books.\n\nTaylor, Jerry. 2002. “Sustainable Development: A Solution in Search of a Problem.” Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 449.\n\n  • 1. Art Carden (wcarden@samford.edu) is Assistant Professor of Economics in the Brock School of Business at Samford University. Students and colleagues (particularly Mike Hammock) at Rhodes College provided valuable discussions, as did session participants at the 2010 Association of Private Enterprise Education meetings. I thank an anonymous referee for valuable comments.\n  • 2. Some of the implications of Mises’s thesis are explored by Salerno (1990).\n  • 3. See Lavoie (1985) for a survey of the socialist calculation debate. See also Hoppe (1996, especially pp. 143–144) for a critique of Hayek.\n  • 4. Hülsmann (1997), like Hoppe (1996), is critical of Hayek’s characterization of the economic problem as a problem of knowledge and coordination.\n  • 5. See Sowell (2008, pp. 23–36; 2010) for a more detailed exploration of the economics of housing in California.\n  • 6. I first heard this example from Walter Block.\n  • 7. This is adapted from an example given by Roberts (2001).\n  • 8. See Ostrom (2010) for a comprehensive summary.\n\nCite This Article\n\nCarden, Art. \"Economic Calculation in the Environmentalist Commonwealth.\" The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics 16, No. 1 (Spring 2013): 27–44.\n\nShield icon interview", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6041325330734253}
+{"content": "Can You Be Farsighted And Nearsighted At The Same Time?\n\npasted image 0 (23).png\n\nAn eye problem can happen to you at any stage in life. Hence, OPT Clinic provides eye exams in Edmonton so that you can detect your eye problems at an early stage and get it treated. The most common eye problem people experience is vision change. Some people cannot see the nearby objects clearly. While there are others, who cannot see the objects placed at a certain distance clearly. But is it possible that a person is unable to clearly see both the objects kept near to him and objects placed at a distance? Before we answer this question, let’s see what exactly is nearsightedness and farsightedness problem.\n\nWhat is Nearsightedness?\n\nMyopia or nearsightedness is the most common refractive error in which people are unable to clearly see the objects placed at a distance. When a person suffers from myopia, the eyeball becomes too long for the focusing power of the cornea and the lens. This makes the light focus on the front of the retina instead of reaching the behind surface. When the cornea or lens is too curved, it leads to myopia.\n\nWhat is Farsightedness?\n\nHypermetropia, also known as hyperopia or farsightedness, is a refractive error in which the person is unable to see the nearby objects clearly. In this, the light which should focus on retina reaches behind on the surface. The size of the eyeball is generally shorter than normal. A misshapen cornea or lens can also cause hypermetropia.\n\nWhat is Anisometropia?\n\nAnisometropia is a refractive error where a person might have different vision power in both the eyes. This difference interferes with the normal binocular vision making it difficult for you to see. You might see an object bigger in one eye and smaller in the other. This makes your vision completely blur. Lazy eye or amblyopia is the most common outcome of anisometropia. Sometimes there is a chance that you may suffer from anisometropia from your birth itself. But as you age, the size of the lens also changes and it is a possibility that this refractive error is treated on its own.\n\nTypes of Anisometropia\n\n  • Simple Anisometropia: Only one eye has a refractive error while the other is completely normal. The error can be myopia or hyperopia.\n  • Compound Anisometropia: With this, both eyes are either myopic or hyperopic but have a difference in the power of vision.\n  • Mixed Anisometropia: For Mixed Anisometropia, both eyes have a refractive error, but one eye is myopic while other is hyperopic.\n\nSo, can you be farsighted and nearsighted at the same time? Of course, yes! If you are suffering from mixed anisometropia, you can be farsighted and nearsighted at the same time. To know the exact power of both your eyes, it is important to go through an eye exam. Your optometrist will use eye dilation process to make your eye look more clear and enlarged. The good news is, OPT Clinic is providing eye exams in Edmonton at minimal cost. So, then get your eyes examined and also get the right treatment for all your eye problems with our professional optometrist in Edmonton.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6585386991500854}
+{"content": "Tag Archive | self acceptance\n\nThings that happen as you start loving yourself\n\n“I love myself…I love you. I love you…I love myself.” ~ Rumi\n\nThere is no greater love than self love.\n\nAs you begin to embrace and accept yourself fully, you will be able to embrace and accept the world around you fully.\nWe give what we have and the more love we have for ourselves, the more love we will be able to give to those around us.\nTrue love starts with you. If it flows through you abundantly, it will flow back to you abundantly.\nGive more of it to yourself and you will have more to give to others.\n\nWhat I will share with you today is a list of 10 magical things that start to happen as you begin to love yourself.\n\n1. Authenticity\n\n2. Respect\n\n3. Maturity\n\n4. Self-confidence\n\n5. Simplicity\n\n6. Love of oneself\n\n7. Modesty\n\n8. Fulfillment\n\n9. Wisdom of the heart\n\n10. Knowing\nWe no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others. Even stars collide, and out of their crashing new worlds are born. Today I know “THAT IS LIFE”!” ~ (attributed to) Charlie Chaplin on his 70th birthday: As I Began to Love Myself.\n\nAre you ready and willing to start loving yourself more and more each day? What is one thing you will do today to move yourself in that direction? You can share your comment by joining the conversation in the comment section below 🙂\n\n\nHow to gain Confidence\n\nI’m passionate about the topic of confidence and there are so many different aspects to it and so many different levels.\n\nThe first point to look at is around your focus. If you feel that you are lacking in confidence, my guess would be that your focus is on what you can’t do, where you failed, and how you feel that you’ve got things wrong. What would happen if you changed your focus? What would happen if you shifted your perspective from where it was into a new one, which you maybe have to your imagination with, but what if you focused in on what you have achieved, things that you have been successful in, and things that you have done? So for example, what if you started to think about all that you’ve achieved in your life from learning to talk, learning to walk, learning to pass an exam, swim, ride a bike, drive a car? The list I am sure is endless of all the things that you really have done. What would happen and how do you think you would feel if that was your focus on a daily basis?\n\nThe second aspect to look at is around your language. How are you actually talking to yourself both internally and externally because that’s a real key indicator of how you feel about yourself? If you want to grow your confidence then if you make a mistake and then you’re telling yourself what an idiot you are or how stupid you are.., then really is that going to inspire confidence in you to have another go or even have an attempt at something new? Look at how you’re speaking to yourself, language is so important. Start to use kind language, give yourself a break, and actually be nice to yourself.\n\nWould you really speak to a best friend or a family member or even a child the way you speak to yourself currently? Yet you would probably want them to have confidence in themselves so because you want them to have confidence, you speak kindly to them.\n\nHow about if you turn that around and started speaking kindly to yourself? I know the difference that it’s made in my life and I’m sure that if you started to put that into practice you’ll gain even more confidence in yourself, which again is what you want to do, is it not?\n\nMy final thing for you to think about is rather than thinking about what’s gone wrong and thinking about the mistakes that you’ve made, think about the lessons that you’ve learnt. Every single day we’ll trip up, fall over, say the incorrect thing, and get something wrong. All of those things are there to help us learn so instead of focusing on getting it wrong and being a bad person, why not stop and at the end of the day ask yourself what have I learnt today? What have I have learnt today, and not only that, how can I use that information in the future? I know that when you learnt to walk as a child you would have fallen over at some point yet you didn’t sit there and stop. What you did is you decided to learn and use the information from falling over to get back up again and have another go, and you use that information to inform your next step. So at the end of every day, take a moment to think about how you can use the information from that day, those lessons, to help you in the future.\n\nHow to give up victim mentality\n\nAt some point in life, everyone has had to do something against their will. Everyone has experienced a difficult time when he felt humiliated or betrayed in some way. Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one, or even of our own health. Some of us have been victims of violence – at home, in school, or in life…\nBut while some manage to cope with pain, self-pity, anger and guilt, others come to see themselves as a victim. The victim mentality is formed not only as a result of sustained violence or humiliation, but also by the environment. Often people do not recognize and do not even realize that they are acting the victim.\nWhat is the victim mentality?\nSeeing yourself as a victim does not necessarily mean that you have been subjected to physical or psychological abuse. A victim is a person, who believes that something or someone is externally controlling his life. Victims see themselves as impotent, believe that external factors control their life, and see life as a wall of insurmountable circumstances.\nThey feel compelled to do things against their will. They might complain, but they will still do what they do not want to do, thinking that there is no alternative. It seems like that the whole world is against them. Victims always feel dependent on the mercy of external forces and blame them for everything that happens in their world.\nThe victim mentality can be seen in all areas of our lives:\nRelationships: When victims are led to give up their priorities, aspirations, dreams and desires, they lose self-esteem and self-confidence and give up power. Imagine, for example, a man, who gave up the job of his dreams to please his loved ones. He will feel internal resentment that this happened, and anger at a perceived lack of appreciation and gratitude. Even if he feels offended, humiliated or unappreciated in the relationship, rather than take control of his own life, he will instead complain about how he has been treated. In this way, he assumes the role of a victim.\nEveryday life: Even in the most minor situations, some people manage to make themselves a victim of circumstance. For example, you might ask a colleague for a small favor – say, getting you a cup of coffee. He might complain terribly, saying that people are freeloaders and lazy and live off of others and so on… In the end he will do you the favor but continue to complain internally about the “injustice.”\nBut the reality of the situation is this – he has been asked for a favor, and he has to make a choice. He could say – “I’m sorry, I’m not passing by the coffee machine;” he could say he is too busy or he could even say that he forgot. There are many ways to respond. In this case, however, he chooses to feed the feelings of self-sacrifice – “I’m so pitiful, people are always taking advantage of me… ” – This is a victim mentality.\nThe person with a victim mentality has a habit of complaining about everything – for example, he/she always has to cook, he/she is forced to work for that terrible boss, traffic is always awful… These complaints are hiding something – that he/she waits and hopes for someone else to fix things. The person doesn’t realize that it was all the result of their own choices.\nOften, people with a victim mentality will not say anything directly to the friend, who manipulates them or to the boss, who insults and humiliates them. Instead, they go to someone else to complain and to vent their anger with dramatic tales about their rude and arrogant boss, or their selfish and ungrateful friend. People, who see themselves as a victim of circumstance are always complaining and whining. Rather than taking political action, they vilify political leaders and blame them for the problems in society.\nVictims are constantly asking WHY: “Why me? Why are people are so evil? Why won’t the boss give me a raise? Why did he/she leave me?” As they look for answers to these questions, they torment themselves and their resulting self-pity only reinforces their identity as a victim. The question they should ask themselves is: ” Why did this happen now? What can I learn from this situation? How can I avoid this in the future?”\nHow can you give the victim mentality?\nFirst, it is important to understand why we take on this mindset – what benefits does it bring?\nThe victim mentality brings :\nAttention – when we are in the victim position, we get attention, sympathy and support from people.\nWhen we are a victim, there is no need to take risks or responsibility.\nBeing a victim gives us an excuse to explain our life circumstances. It is an excuse for the fact that we have not achieved anything. We continue thinking that other people have held us back, they haven’t seen our potential, etc.!\nSometimes being a victim makes you feel part of a community. This community grows out of the very sense that they – the others – are ” bad” and you’re on the “good ” side. Your anger about the injustice of their speeches gives a dramatic and even heroic sense to your suffering.\n“Poor Me” gives you a sense identity (albeit false). It makes you feel special. This gives you a passive power that calls people to give you attention and pity.\nTo be able to part with your victim mentality, you must give up the benefits that it brings.\nYou should also know that creating a new pattern of thinking and behavior takes time, effort and discomfort. Furthermore, when you first begin to change, you may feel unstable, insecure and vulnerable…\nBut you have to go through this period if you are to regain power and change your life!\nAre you ready to give up the victim mentality and live with confidence?\nIf the answer is “yes,” you can start taking the first steps now:\n1. Release the pain of the past.\nTo overcome your victim mentality, you must release the pain of all those past experiences, buried deep inside. You need to release negative feelings – fear, guilt, hate, anger, self-pity – because they keep you in captivity and reassert your identity as a victim. Forgive those who have hurt you. As I have written elsewhere, forgiveness does not mean justifying the actions of others. It is a purely internal act of letting go of painful feelings. Only when you forgive will you be free.\n2. Take responsibility for your life.\nThe main thing you need to do to regain power is to take responsibility for your life – for the feelings, thoughts, and reactions you choose to experience. Realize that the complaining, unhappiness, and blaming does not solve your problems. Think about what you personally can do and take action.\n3. Remember that you always have a choice – we can always, in every situation, choose how to react. At any moment we can regain power by making the right choice.\n4. Change your vocabulary.\nChange the words in your vocabulary that make you feel like a victim. For example, instead of ” should,” think ” choose to;” instead of “I hope,” say “I will;” instead of “There’s no way out,” think “I know there’s a way and I will find it;” instead of ” I can’t” say “I will try.”\n5. Learn to say “no.”\nPeople who have a victim mentality, often have difficulty saying “no.”\n6. Change your attitude.\nChange the focus – from what you don’t have or what makes you feel wronged – to what you do have and your strengths. Keep a notebook, listing everything good in your life and practice being grateful about it.\n7. Taking small steps outside of your comfort zone.\nBegin with just one small step outside your comfort zone, and you will begin to change from a victim into a confident and self-respecting person.\nThe floor is yours – are you ready to gain more awareness as to when you are slipping into the ‘victim mentality’? What do you usually do when you catch yourself doing it? How do you take responsibility for your own creation? You can share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below :)\n\nReasons You Have Nothing to Prove to Anybody\n\n“You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.” ~ Maya Angelou\n\nMost of us walk through the world with the sole agenda of proving our self worth and purpose for being on this earth. While I know we all want to make a difference, and it’s becoming harder and harder to stand out in today’s crazy world of social media, I feel it’s my duty to remind you of why you have nothing to prove to anybody.\n\nI’ll start by saying it simply.\n\nA hard concept to grasp I’m sure, but it’s very true and only you can deny it. No one can tell you how much value you have to offer, and there are certainly to “guidelines” by which we can measure a person’s worth.\n\nWhere we all run into problems with issues around self worth and value is when we attach our sense of self to what we do and how well we do it. We incessantly compare ourselves to everyone else, which leads to feeling less than, and insufficient.\nWe learn that if we are attractive enough, smart enough, funny enough, nice enough, giving enough or talented enough that we will be accepted and belong.\n\nThe idea of being accepted and loved for who we are without including what we “do” is a novel concept for all of us.\n\nI’ll say it again in case it didn’t go in the first time.\n\n\nI can say this without even knowing you because I truly believe that each and every person walking along side of me is worthy, valuable, perfect and enough.\nHere are 5 more reasons you have nothing to prove to anybody.\n\n1. Your standards are all that matter\nStop using others as a yardstick for what and who you need to be. Set your own standards for yourself, and if those are too high then check in with yourself about how you developed these unreachable ideas about yourself in the first place. Having realistic and attainable standards for who you are and how you want to walk through this world will keep you grounded in your own authentic worthiness.\n\n2. External validation is fleeting\nIt feels good to get the gold star or affirmation from someone you respect or admire. No doubt that this is a good thing for anyone. However, this kind of validation is fleeting simply because it’s not yours to own. It’s on borrowed time, and if you don’t do your own work on owning your own value this goodness will slip away. You want to hold this part of yourself sacred so it’s always available when you need it.\n\n3. You’ll never please everyone\nThere is a hamster wheel for everything in life, and that includes your desire to please others by proving yourself. There will inevitably be that one person who never really sees how great you are (usually a parent) leaving you going back to the empty well over and over. Know that your honorable acts of seeking approval will be futile with a few if not many.\n\n4. You are good enough\nYou don’t have to be perfect or more than, you just need to be good enough. Good enough has to be determined by you, and you alone. Striving to be perfect or more than you need to be will exhaust you and ultimately leave you feeling defeated because it’s unsustainable.\n\n5. Inadequacy is an internal experience\nRecognize that your feelings of not being enough or needing to prove your worth are inside of you. You may experience the feelings when you are around other people, but it’s most likely a projection of your own internal struggle. Work on this in therapy or with a trusted mentor because feeling valued and worthy completely starts within.\n\nWhat constitutes approval seeking behavior and why do you think so many people are after it?\n\nI really want to know what are your thought on this. You can share your insights by joining the conversation in the comment section below 🙂\n\nHow to give up your inner critic\n\nIf you constantly tell yourself you how much you suck, how not pretty you are, how much smarter you should be, and how much more you should be doing, you are not alone. Every one of us has an inner critic, and success depends on breaking up with her and getting into bed with your true inner voice.\nMy inner critic shows up often and uninvited. Already, this morning, it told me I haven’t gotten enough work done yet (as I write this article), and that I should have had a healthier breakfast (when it was already healthy enough).\nFor most of my life, I believed that I was not good enough, that other people were smarter, prettier, more intelligent, more talented… I never acknowledged my successes because in my mind I could have done better. None of those accomplishments mattered because all I could hear was the negative chatter of not having done as much as everybody else.\nThe truth is, unless you learn to master this voice, you are never going to be satisfied with your life. This can lead to downright emotional exhaustion. You can become a doctor, earn millions of dollars, but if the voice inside tells you it’s not enough, you’re going to want to get another shiny degree, or become a billionaire and you still won’t be any happier once you get there.\nHere are 5 ways to drown your inner critic and let the real you shine through.\n\n1. Make a list of all your positive traits and successes\n\nList 30 things that are positive about you. Then, list another 30 of your major successes. Keep this list close to you. Refer to it when your inner critic rears itself. Focusing on the positive qualities and successes helps you feel better about yourself, and feeling better about yourself makes you more productive, happier, and healthier.\n\n2. Keep an inner critic page in your journal\n\nAwareness is the key to beginning to curb your negative thoughts. Pay close attention to when your mind starts to trail off. Write down the thought in your journal so that you can begin to decipher thinking patterns and begin to shift them. A negative thought pattern may sound like “Gosh, I’m stupid. I’ll never do anything right. I can’t get it together. I’m a mess. I’m scattered. I’m not as good as she is. I’m a bad hostess.” Once you’ve got a list going, proceed to the next step.\n\n3. Use thought rebuttals\n\nWe’re prone to making blanket statements about ourselves that aren’t true, hearing only what we want to hear when others compliment us, taking things personally, blaming ourselves for not being enough. We use ‘should’ and and ‘never’ without thinking of whether these things are true. Next time you write a negative thought in your inner critic page, ask yourself if it’s true? It most likely isn’t, so write down what is true. Learning to get in touch with reality will help your true voice come out.\n\n4. Create 3 positive mantras from your list of positive qualities\n\nChoose 3 positive qualities from your list. Create 3 positive affirmations you can recite to yourself. Or write them down on post-it notes and leave them on your bathroom mirror, in your car, or in your purse. Having a visual aid will help remind you there are some wonderful things about you even when you’re not feeling it.\n\n5. Visualize a time when you felt successful\n\nThink of a time when you felt successful. Recall the smells, colors, and feelings you felt that day. Visualization is a surprisingly powerful tool that helps reconnect you to a specific feeling, and the more you can connect to that feeling, the more you begin to see yourself as perfect the way you are.\nIt’s easy to disregard the good parts of you and minimize your accomplishments. But the more you can make space to find the positive, the more you grow, thrive, and become the human you were meant to become. Breaking up with your inner critic and learning to listen to your inner voice isn’t easy, and takes real effort and work, but doing the work and breaking free is the most powerful thing you can do to become your best self.\n\nSpiritual reasons to love your body\n\nPhysical body is a machine and a vehicle for a physical experience. Our body is the vehicle we have chosen for a particular type and kind of physical experience which we call the human experience. It can also be seen as our consciousness manifested in human form. Each and every vehicle is worthy, because it serves it’s purpose. We did not come to this Earth so we would compete who came with the best looking vehicle! 😀 It sounds funny but we are doing exactly the same thing when we compare our bodies.\n\n\nThere are no accidents and the way our bodies look like is no exception to this rule. We choose our physical appearance before coming to this life. We design our bodies in a way that corresponds to what kind of experiences we want to have in this lifetime.\n\nWhen someone wants a life in which he is a famous singer or an actor and influences a lot of people, he will intentionally choose a body that corresponds to standards of beauty in that particular society. When someone wants to have an experience of being a model, she will design a body that enables her to do such a job. Teal Swan said in one interview that she remembers how before her birth, her and a group of other beings designed her body so it will be considered beautiful in all parts of the world. Her intention for this life was to reach as many people with her teachings as possible. And humans naturally pay most attention to what is attractive.\n\nBut when someone wants to have an experience as an ordinary working person, he/she doesnt need to look like a model. Most of us choose a normal appearance that doesnt stand out from a crowd. In such case we can live our life in a normal way and our appearance is not a big problem for us. Some people even choose an appearance that is considered highly unattractive. They do it because this condition gives rise to the biggest expansion in their lives. Out of the biggest contrast comes the highest level of awareness. Even a disability is something that we choose. We, the ones who came to this earth healthy, often dont understand why would someone choose such a limiting experience. But a physical disability can teach you a lot in life. Take for example Nick Vujicic. This is the story of him I found on the internet:\n\nImagine getting through your busy day without hands or feet. Picture your life without the ability to walk, care for your basic needs, or even embrace those you love. Meet Nicholas Vujicic. Without any medical explanation or warning, Nick was born without arms and legs. And yet, the Vujicic family was destined to cope with both the challenge and blessing of raising a son who refused to allow his physical condition to limit his lifestyle.\n\nThe early days were difficult. Throughout his childhood, Nick not only dealt with the typical challenges of school and adolescence, but he also struggled with depression and loneliness. Nick constantly wondered why he was different than all the other kids. He questioned the purpose of life, or if he even had a purpose. According to Nick, the victory over his struggles, as well as his strength and passion for life today, can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the journey have inspired him to carry on, as well.\n\nSince his first speaking engagement at age 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions, sometimes in stadiums filled to capacity, speaking to a range of diverse groups such as students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes. Today this dynamic young man has accomplished more than most people achieve in a lifetime. He’s an author, musician, actor, and his hobbies include fishing, painting and swimming.\n\nNick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”\n\nSo at the end, it does not matter what our bodies look like. You could be dying of cancer, you could have a physical disability and you could still love your body. It is all about perspective.\n\nHow to overcome Social Anxiety\n\nI have suffered from social anxiety for many years and I know how limiting and horrible it feels. So I have spent a lot of time thinking about how I overcame my social anxiety and how I can help other people that are suffering from it.\n\nI have developed a few strategies that you can use to reduce your social anxiety. These are:\n\n  1. Learning how to challenge your unhelpful thoughts and see things in a more realistic light.\n  2. Reducing your tendency of focusing on yourself during social interactions.\n  3. Removing the use o safety behaviors and gradually confronting your fears.\n\n Challenging unhelpful thoughts\n\nThe way that we think about things has an impact on our entire life. The root of a social anxiety are unhealthy beliefs which are just thoughts we have been thinking for too long. Many of these beliefs occur outside of our control, and can be negative and unhelpful. It is therefore important to remember that they are just thoughts, without any real basis, and are not necessarily facts. Even though we may believe a lot of our unhelpful thoughts when we are nervous, it is good to remember that they should be questioned as they are often based on wrong assumptions.\n\nYou might have unhelpful thoughts about all kinds of things. Here are some examples:\n\nBefore Social Situations\n\n  • I’ll make a fool of myself\n  • I’ll have nothing to say\n  • I’ll go bright red / I’ll stammer\n\nDuring Social Situations:\n\n  • Everyone’s staring at me\n  • I’m useless\n\nAfter Social Situations\n\n  • Everyone thought I was an idiot\n  • I’d be better off not even bothering\n  • I sounded like an idiot\n\nAbout Yourself:\n\n  • I’m weird\n  • No-one likes me\n  • I’m not very funny\n\nFirst you need to be able to recognise an unhelpful thought. Then you can challenge it. Being aware of the common patterns that unhelpful thoughts follow can help you to recognise when you have them. Here are some of the common patterns that our unhelpful thoughts follow:\n\nPredicting the Future:\nWhen we are shy or socially anxious it is common for us to spend a lot of time thinking about the future and predicting what could go wrong, rather than just letting things be. In the end most of our predictions don’t happen and we have wasted time and energy being worried and upset about them. For example:\n\n  • You worry that you will go red, stammer, and that everyone will dislike you.\n  • You assume that you will be the centre of attention and everyone will stare at you.\n\nThese thoughts naturally make you anxious before you even arrive in a social situation.\n\nMind Reading:\nThis means that you make assumptions about others’ beliefs without having any real evidence to support them. For example:\n\n  • He thinks I’m an idiot.\n  • They think I look ugly.\n\nSuch ways of thinking can soon lower our mood and self-esteem.\n\nTaking Things Personally:\nWhen people are socially anxious or shy, they often take things to heart. For example:\n\n  • You walk past a group who are laughing and assume the joke is at your expense.\nOver Generalising:\nBased on one isolated incident you assume that all others will follow a similar pattern in the future. For example:\n\n  • Because you believe that one presentation went badly, you assume all others will follow the same pattern.\nWhat If Statements:\nHave you ever wondered “what if” something bad happens? For example:\n\n  • What if nobody likes me?\n  • What if I run out of things to say?\n\nThese thoughts also make you dread situations beforehand.\n\nFocusing on the Negatives:\nAfter a social gathering, you tend to focus on the parts of the evening that you believe didn’t go well. At the same time, you gloss over positive parts of the evening. For example:\n\n  • You dwell on the one conversation which ran out of steam quickly, whilst forgetting the fact that you mingled well throughout the rest of the evening.\nDo you label yourself with negative words? For example:\n\n  • I’m boring.\n  • I’m uninteresting.\n  • I’m weird.\n  • I’m unlovable.\n\nThese, often long held beliefs about yourself, ensure your confidence and self-esteem remains low.\n\nChallenges to an unhelpful thought\nNow you can challenge your unhelpful thoughts by asking these questions.\nIs there any evidence that contradicts this thought?\nI never run out of things to say to my friends, so why should this be different.\nWhat would your friend say to you if they knew what you were thinking?\nThey would probably say – don’t be silly, you’re always good company.\nHow will you feel about this in 6 months time?\nI probably won’t care. Even if it goes wrong I’ll have forgotten about it by then.\nWhat are the costs and benefits of thinking in this way?\nCosts: It’s making me nervous before I even go into the situation. It’s made me feel inadequate.\nBenefits: I can’t really think of any.\nIs there a another way of looking at this this situation?\nEven if I don’t have anything to say, it’s not just up to me to keep conversations going. It’s everyone’s responsibility.\n\nReducing internal focus during social interactions\n\nWhen we are socially anxious, we tend to spend a lot of time concentrating on our own bodily sensations during social interactions. This is because we fear that our anxiety is visible to others. For example, we may spend time trying to judge whether we are sweating, shaking, or blushing.\n\nAlthough we do this in the hope being reassured that we are not visibly anxious, this strategy actually just makes things much worse. This is because we tend to overestimate how visible our anxiety is and this of course makes us feel even more self conscious. Also, by focusing on ourselves, we are prevented from fully concentrating on the conversations around us. This naturally makes it more difficult to join properly and we usually end up interacting less well than we could. This strengthens our beliefs that we are no good in such situations. The reality is that our anxiety is a lot less visible than we think. Often we have no idea if someone is anxious or not and it can help to remember this.\n\nSimilarly, when we feel socially anxious, we tend to spend time monitoring how well we are performing during social interactions. This too prevents us from paying proper attention to the conversations we are engaged in. For example, we may spend time trying to figure out if our voice sounds shaky, or go over and over the things we have said in our minds. Again, by doing so, we end up finding it hard to follow conversations which likely makes us perform worse. Given all of this, it is helpful to try to remove this tendency to focus on ourselves. Below you will find tips designed to help you during social interactions:\n\n  • Try to spend less time focusing on your own physical symptoms in social situations.\n  • Remember anxiety is much less visible than you imagine.\n  • Even if you are visibly anxious, it does not necessarily mean that you will be thought badly of. Anxiety is something we all experience and it does not make you unusual.\n  • Just because you feel anxious, it does not mean that you are performing poorly.\n  • Remember – you are not the central focus of everyone’s attention. There are plenty of other things for people to think and talk about.\n  • Really try to concentrate on the conversation you are involved in. Don’t think about how you appear or how well you are performing.\n  • Don’t replay parts of the conversation in your mind, instead just focus on what is being said in the present moment.\n  • We do not need to perform perfectly or brilliantly in every social interaction we have, no-one can achieve such high standards.\n  • Don’t worry too much if there are silences. Everyone has a responsibility to keep conversations going. Besides, silences are ok and do not always need filled.\n  • Just be yourself.’ Why bother when it is impossible for everyone to like us anyway.\n\nRemoving the use of avoidance and safety behaviors\n\nWhen we are socially anxious, we tend to avoid social situations (parties, speaking in front of groups, going out). However if we keep avoiding the situations we fear, we never get the chance to prove to ourselves that we can cope in them and our confidence remains low. Similarly, whenever socially anxious people do enter the situations they fear, they tend to use safety behaviors (sticking besides a good friend at a party, staying silent when in a small group to avoid looking foolish…). Although these behaviors seem to help in the short term, they are actually unhelpful. This is because they stop people from learning that they could have coped fine without relying on such things. Therefore, like avoidance, safety behaviors stop us from learning that we can cope in such situations and our anxiety towards them continues.\n\nBecause of this, the best way to reduce our anxiety towards social situations is to gradually confront them, without relying on safety behaviors. Of course, confronting social situations can be horrifying, especially given that our anxiety levels often rise when we do it. If you repeatedly allow yourself to become involved in a short conversation, rather than avoid it, you can begin to prove that you can handle these scenarios much more effectively than you think and your confidence will soon rise.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8082761764526367}
+{"content": "Genesis 23\n\nChapter 23\n\n\n\nCf. Genesis 33:19 ; 50:13 ; Joshua 24:32 ; Acts 7:15 Acts 7:16 . A discrepancy in these statements has been fancied. It disappears entirely before the natural supposition that in the interval of about eighty years between the purchase by Abraham of the family sepulchre Genesis 23:4-20 and Jacob's purchase Genesis 33:19, the descendants of Hamor (or \"Emmor,\" Acts 7:15 Acts 7:16 had resumed possession of the field in which the burial cave was situated. Instead of asserting an ancient title by inheritance, Jacob repurchased the field. Heth was the common ancestor.\n\n\nAnd Abraham\n\n(See Scofield \"Genesis 23:4\") .", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9975259900093079}
+{"content": "\n\nDistance & flight duration time from Ukraine\n\nDistance calculator › From Ukraine\nFlight distance from Kiev (capital of Ukraine) to other capital cities is displayed in kilometers and miles in the table below. It also displays the approximate flight duration time from Kiev to capitals of the other countries.\n\nPlease note: this page displays the approximate flight duration times from Kiev to other cities. The actual flight times may differ depending on the type and speed of the aircraft.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997861385345459}
+{"content": "How to Whiten Yellowed Blinds\n\nOne of the most dreaded of all household chores is cleaning your blinds. The smaller the slats, usually the tougher it is to keep them clean. Occasionally, household blinds can accumulate a buildup of dirt, smoke residue and debris that will yellow the light surface of the blind and is impervious to normal cleaning methods. You will need to remove your blinds from the window in order to properly treat them.\n\nStep 1\n\nRemove the blinds from your window by unscrewing the endcaps that hold the unit in place. Blinds are often heavier than they look, so be careful when removing them if you are standing on a chair or ladder.\n\nStep 2\n\nCarefully place your blinds in the bathtub. If you have aluminum blinds, take special care not to scratch the surface of the tub.\n\nStep 3\n\nExtend the blinds so their full length is exposed, and partially open the slats to access the full surface of one side of the unit. You will be flipping the blinds over to clean other side when finished with the first.\n\nStep 4\n\nMix up a solution of 1 cup ammonia to 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Turn on a bathroom fan and open a window to ventilate the area.\n\nStep 5\n\nThoroughly spray each slat with the ammonia solution and allow it to sit for ten minutes on the blinds.\n\nStep 6\n\nPut on a pair of heavy rubber gloves. Spray the slats a second time and scrub each slat individually using a soft microfiber cloth, sponge or thick sock. Use firm strokes to clean from one end of the slat to the other.\n\nStep 7\n\nTurn the blinds over carefully in the tub and repeat on the other side.\n\nStep 8\n\nRinse the slats well with plain water, flipping over once to rinse the second side. Allow the water to drain from the tub. Examine the slats for any remaining yellow residue. Repeat if needed.\n\nStep 9\n\nUse a hand-held shower device, if available, or move the blinds to a shower. Rinse both sides thoroughly under the spray. Allow the water to drip out of the blinds before moving to a toweled surface (you may lay the towels over the empty tub bottom for convenience).\n\nStep 10\n\nExtend the slats into a fully-opened position. Use a soft microfiber towel or lint-free rag to dry each slat individually and to remove any hidden dirt or grime.\n\nStep 11\n\nReturn the blinds to the window only after they have completely dried, and affix the unit back into the cap ends.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9988353252410889}
+{"content": "Lakes Region EMS is an Advanced Life Support ambulance service, serving suburban and rural communities located just north east of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Lakes Region EMS has three bases in Minnesota and two in Wisconsin; Rush City, North Branch, Chisago City, St. Criox Falls and Milltown. We serve across an area of about 650 square miles in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  This area includes 450 miles of Chisago, Isanti, Pine Counties and roughly 200 square miles of Polk County, Wisconsin.  In 2014, Lakes Region EMS answered over 7600 calls and treated over 5000 patients, between the two states.\n\nAll of our ambulances are staffed and equipped to provide Advance Life Support (ALS) care. This means we can essentially bring the Emergency Room to the patient. The Paramedics and EMTs are trained in advanced procedures and medications to provide emergency treatment for both traumatic injury and sudden illness. With these advanced skills and equipment available in the ambulance, the time it takes to receive lifesaving treatment goes down and the chance for survival goes up.\n\nThe other side of Lakes Region\n\nIn addition to providing Emergency 911 services, Lakes Region EMS also provides interfacility transport services for area hospitals and medical centers. Lakes Region EMS also provides public education with classes such as CPR, First Aid, First Responder and EMT-Basic.\n\n\nIs the staff paid or volunteer? \n\nAll of our staff are paid career employees. We have roughly 80 people on our roster and about half of those make Lakes Region EMS their full time occupation.\n\nHow long are the shifts? \n\nShifts are 12 hours. They start at 6:00am and 6:00pm. Many of our staff work two 12 hour shifts in a row and work a straight 24 hours.\n\nWhat do the Paramedics and EMTs do when they are not on a call? \n\nThere are a number of things we do during the day. Each shift starts with an equipment check. The ambulance and all of the equipment gets checked every shift. In an emergency, everything must work right every time. The remainder of the shift might be taken up with training, housekeeping, or public education events. If there is downtime they may watch TV, sleep, or even go shopping in the community. \n\nWhy do I see ambulances parked in various locations around the communities and not at their stations? \n\nThere are usually 5 crews covering our area. If one crew is out on a call, another crew moves to a location generally half way in between the two areas. This allows us to cover the most area with limited resources. Other times neighboring services need help covering their area. Some of the locations you might see us doing this is along County Road 22 and US Highway 8 or the Fire Station located in Stacy.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7480552196502686}
+{"content": "This job posting is no longer active\n\nUpdated: February 13, 2018\nJob ID: 213259\nStatus: Full-Time\nRegular/Temporary: Regular\nLocation: San Diego, CA, United States\n\nCome Work at HJF!\n\nHJF is seeking a Research Psychologist to support the Deployment Health Research Department (DHRD), located at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC) in San Diego, California. HJF provides scientific, technical and programmatic support services to DHRD.\n\nThe incumbent will provide expert guidance on the epidemiologic design and statistical approach for a variety of large human epidemiology research studies conducted by the Department, including the Millennium Cohort study. Duties will include planning epidemiologic studies and designing the study methodology; performing statistical analyses for diverse research projects with complex study designs; working with team members to derive an in-depth understanding of the data findings; drafting proposals and assisting in writing peer-reviewed publications; exercising appropriate judgment in the resolution of analytical problems while working in a team environment.\n\n\n  1. Provides epidemiologic support for study design, implementation, and analyses of deployment health research projects.\n  2. Develops protocols and proposals for study methodology and data analyses. Additionally, writes the interpretation of data findings in the context of ongoing research objectives.\n  3. Performs and helps interpret statistical analyses using SAS including logistic regression, general linear models with repeated measures, survival analyses, and other statistical techniques for longitudinal and missing data.\n  4. Manages numerous research projects simultaneously. Works as a member of a team to conduct scientific research projects.\n  5. Merges numerous, large data files to compile comprehensive datasets for studies according to study methodology.\n  6. G. Writes reports and assists in writing of scientific manuscripts for peer-reviewed professional journals.\n  7. Delivers presentations to the Department and at various national and international scientific and military conferences.\n  2. Reviews and remains current with technical and scientific literature in epidemiology and study outcomes of interest.\n  3. Reviews and assesses the work of other professionals in own field.\n  4. Assists with epidemiological direction for the Department.\n  5. Assists with problem solving that supports and improves the effectiveness and positive climate of the Department.\n  6. Engages in constructive actions that support the Department goals by demonstrating collaborative cooperation with all levels of Departmental stair, personnel, leadership, supervisors and colleagues.\n  7. Contributes to the team effort by accomplishing related duties as needed.\n\nRequired Knowledge. Skills, and Abilities: Advanced knowledge of epidemiology and epidemiologic methods, with excellent verbal and written skills. Knowledge of disease etiologies and preventive strategies. Advanced knowledge in survey methodology and statistics used to collect and interpret data. Knowledge and proficiency in SAS programming. Skilled in the use of word processing, spreadsheet, graphic, email, Power Point, and database software. Skilled in multi-tasking, writing memorandums, correspondence, abstracts, articles, and proposals. Ability to create and deliver presentations to both internal and external audiences. Ability to be a self-starter and work independently. Ability to plan and prioritize work. Team player who can work in a large group including both internal and external investigators. Ability to demonstrate professionalism that promotes relationships of trust and respect while working with all levels of subordinates, supervisors and colleagues.\n\n\nMinimum Education/Training Requirements: Successful candidate will have a minimum of a Master's degree in epidemiology. PhD preferred, but not required.  Excellent epidemiologic, analytic, writing and communication skills are\n\nMinimum Experience: 4-6 years of relevant, progressively responsible experience AND demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing statistical experiments in a team   environment.\n\n\nClearance: If a security clearance is not active upon hire, the candidate must be able to obtain a security clearance for this position, Candidates will access DoD databases that have classified information.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999823570251465}
+{"content": "Wednesday, 14 May 2014\n\nTowards a Web 3.0? The impact of the Google Spain judgment on social networks and Wikipedia\n\nSteve Peers\n\nIf its age could be measured in ‘Internet years’, the EU’s data protection Directive would be prehistoric. This can easily be demonstrated by comparison with the age of Facebook. The Directive was adopted seven years before the virtual panty raid on Harvard students’ privacy that ultimately launched Facebook. Indeed, when the Directive was adopted in 1995, Mark Zuckerberg was eleven years old, and attending primary school. He turns 30 today.\n\nThat’s a significant birthday – but is there anything in the Google Spain judgment that would ruin the party? This blog post looks in detail at the possible application of the judgment to two well-known features of the Internet: social networks and Wikipedia.\n\nLong ago (in Internet years), the Internet shifted to a ‘Web 2.0’ model, dominated increasingly by user-generated content such as social networks and Wikipedia (along with blogs and many other forms of such content). The question I want to pose here is whether the Google Spain judgment could launch a ‘Web 3.0’: an Internet dominated by data subjects’ control of their personal data?\n\nApplying the Google Spain judgment to social networks and Wikipedia\n\nMaterial scope of EU law\n\nFirst of all, the information placed on social networks and Wikipedia certainly constitutes personal data, at least as far as it concerns living natural persons. It’s an interesting question as to whether the legislation also applies to dead persons: this conjures up the image of the supporters and critics of (say) Ronald Reagan or Margaret Thatcher using data protection law to litigate over the reputation of their heroes (or villains). But the exclusion of legal persons means that data protection law cannot be a vehicle for companies (or other legal persons such as NGOs, political parties, charities or governments) to attempt to remove all traces of criticism of their actions.\n\nAs the CJEU has made clear several times, it isn’t relevant that the data was initially (or subsequently) made available elsewhere. This point is relevant to Wikipedia in particular, given the sources it links to for most of its information.  \n\nPlacing information on the Internet amounts to ‘data processing’, at least where it is available to the general public. This is particularly relevant to Wikipedia, but it’s also relevant to those social network profiles which are accessible to the outside world. In both cases, the personal data would also be accessible by means of search engines, which means that Google (or other search engines) would be separately liable for securing data protection rights under the conditions set out in the Google Spain judgment.\n\nHowever, where a social network profile is genuinely closed to the outside world and made accessible only to persons selected by the data subject, the EU’s ‘Article 29’ working party on data protection (a body made up of national data protection supervisors, which gives non-binding advice on the application of EU data protection law) has suggested that the so-called ‘household exception’ in the Directive might apply. This would mean that, since the data could only be seen by a closed circle of (presumably) friends and family, the EU law wouldn’t apply at all. Obviously, though, that exception wouldn’t apply to any processing of the personal data in question by the company which established the social network itself, for direct marketing or other purposes.\n\nWho is the ‘data controller’, ie the person with greater liability for application of EU data protection legislation, as regards social networks and Wikipedia? On this point, there is a clash between the nature of Web 2.0 and the putative Web 3.0, to the extent that the content of the personal data is generated by the users. In principle, each individual chooses how much personal data to place online and who has access to it, and similarly the editors of Wikipedia generate its content. The liability of the social network provider or Wikipedia might arise, however, to the extent that they alter the privacy settings, or could be regarded as controlling (as in Google Spain) the systematic presentation of the data to the outside world.  We can’t forget that in that judgment, the CJEU ruled that there has to be a ‘broad definition of the concept’ of a data controller.\n\nTerritorial scope\n\nBack when the Internet was (in Internet years) a teenager, the CJEU ruled in Lindqvist that the special rules on external relations in the data protection Directive should not, by means of the nature of the Internet, become a general regime applicable to the entire world. But in Google Spain, the Court conversely was anxious to ensure that the general rules of the Directive were applicable to companies based outside the EU.\n\nHowever, this doesn’t mean that all social networks, or Wikipedia, are necessarily subject to the Directive. They are certainly subject to it if they are in the same situation as Google: with a subsidiary in a Member State, which is selling advertising connected to the Internet-related activities of the parent body. But this is surely not the only scenario when the Directive applies to companies based outside the EU. As the CJEU said in Google Spain, the Directive has ‘a particularly broad territorial scope’ and the relevant rules ‘cannot be interpreted restrictively’. So while it is an oversimplification to say that the Directive applies to any entity ‘doing business in the EU’, it probably applies at least where there is a significant local activity (certainly in the form of a branch, possibly in the form of an agent or licensee) by the parent entity, that has some link to its Internet activities.\n\nIt is also still open to argue (since the Court did not address the issue) whether a parent company can be regarded as ‘established’ or using equipment on the territory due to its use of domain names, storage of data, and use of crawlers or robots on the territory, or whether the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights imposes broader criteria as regards the territorial scope of the rules.\n\nOf course, there will be practical difficulties enforcing the Directive where a non-EU entity does not have assets in the EU. However, in such cases there might be possibilities to enforce the Directive’s rules by seeking to enforce a court ruling in a non-Member State, or more directly by means of obtaining an injunction to block access to the information which infringes data protection rules. Undoubtedly, such an injunction could be sought against Google, where the data is accessible by means of its search engine, and arguably (by analogy with copyright law) against an Internet service provider.\n\nPersonal scope\n\nOne interesting question which the Court did not have to deal with in Google Spain was the personal scope of data subjects. For instance, could a celebrity based in America, who finally gets tired of stories about her enormous backside, try to use EU data protection law to prevent access to such stories?\n\nThere is no requirement in the Directive that the data subject must be a national of a Member State, and/or domiciled in the EU. Nor do the rules on the territorial scope of the Directive mention this factor. So it must follow that non-EU citizens who are not resident in the EU can rely upon the Directive to assert their data protection rights within Member States. So in principle, at least, the supporters and detractors of Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin could bring their disputes, in the context of editing Wikipedia entries, to the courts and data protection supervisors of EU countries.\n\nWhile this might sound absurd, in fact there are other reasons which would stand in the way of the application of EU data protection law to such disputes – to which we now turn.\n\nResponsibility of data controllers\n\nData controllers must ensure that the data quality rules in the Directive are satisfied, and that data was processed in accordance with one of the legal grounds for processing.\n\nOn the latter point, one of the crucial factors in the Google Spain case was that Google could only rely (as regards its search engine) on its ‘legitimate [commercial] interest’ in processing personal data, in accordance with Article 7(f) of the Directive. The same provision refers to the interests of third parties, namely freedom of expression. However, the Court held that such interests were overridden by the data subject’s rights in that case, due to the huge invasion of his privacy due to the use of search engines.\n\nTwo issues arise here: the balancing test, and the grounds for processing. The first issue is particularly relevant for Wikipedia, since (like Google, as regards its search engine) it must rely on this balancing test in order to justify its processing of personal data, in the absence of other possible grounds to justify it.  \nApplying the balancing test, the CJEU ruled on both Google’s interest and the public interest in freedom of expression. As regards Google, the Court stated that its ‘merely economic’ interests were outweighed by the data subject’s. This suggests that a non-profit body like Wikipedia would arguably have a greater claim to assert its interests than a profit-making entity.\n\nAs regards the public interest, the Court listed the factors to be considered as ‘the nature of the information’, its ‘sensitivity for the data subject’s private life’, and the public’s interest in the data, which could ‘vary, in particular’, on the data subject’s ‘role…in public life’. It should be recalled that the concept of ‘private life’ usually includes data concerning a person’s activity in public, but here the Court does suggest that there might be a distinction between public and private activities. So the balance tips in favour of freedom of expression the more that the person concerned is a public figure, and the more that the information concerns his or her public activities. So certainly Wikipedia could contain a record of public criticism of a politician; but the sordid details of his intern’s (postponed) dry-cleaning might possibly be another matter.\n\nThe crucial question here is whether the test can be regarded as severable: ie can it be argued that even if a person is a public figure, his or her public and private activities can be distinguished? In any event, his or her mistress or children are data subjects in their own right, so would have a data protection right to assert independently of the politician, and are unlikely to be public figures. But of course, some spurned mistresses are very keen indeed to waive their data protection rights.\n\nBut who is a public figure in the first place? Presumably the concept has an autonomous meaning in EU law, so it is not up to Wikipedia (or the persons concerned) to determine what it means by themselves. But surely the nature of Wikipedia is a significant factor to take into account when developing and applying such a definition.\n\nAs regards the nature of the personal data, what if the information in question reflects very badly upon the person concerned? The CJEU did not address this issue expressly in Google Spain. But it could be argued that it depends on the public interest in receiving that information. So while past financial difficulty does not raise a public interest issue, there is a better case for arguing (say) that a woman who has been groped by a particular car mechanic has every right to warn other women against him via means of social networks.\n\nAnother crucial element in the Google Spain judgment was the journalist exception in the Directive. It didn’t apply, because Google itself was not a journalist, and the Court disregarded the use that journalists make of search engines. But where content is user-generated, such as Wikipedia and on blogs, surely the exception must apply, given the Court’s broad approach to it in previous judgments such as Satamedia and Lindqvist. So in that case it could be argued that the exception should be applied in practice by the national courts. Indeed, perhaps the only reason why the CJEU undertook the task of applying the balancing test between privacy and freedom of expression itself in Google Spain was because the journalist exception did not apply.\n\nAs for the second issue, social networks will usually be able to point to other grounds justifying the processing of personal data: namely unambiguous consent, and necessity to perform a contract. This raises important questions of how to interpret these grounds for data processing, but these are clearly different issues not addressed at all by the Google Spain judgment.\n\nThat judgment would only be relevant as regards the processing of personal data about third parties in social networks, for instance a man ranting about his ex-girlfriend on his Facebook page. The way to resolve situations such as these is for social networks to adopt and apply robust privacy policies, but the Google Spain judgment can only be an indirect source of inspiration for such policies.  \n\nThe right to be forgotten\n\nFinally, what of the ‘right to be forgotten’? The Court derived such an implicit right from the rules in the Directive on the relevance of data (one of the data quality principles), given that it might cease to be relevant over a long period of time.  While this can be seen as a positive right for data subjects, conversely it suggests that if information is accurate (and complies with all other rules in the Directive), there is not much of a right for a data subject to object to its dissemination as long as it is relatively fresh.\n\n\nIs there good reason for Mark Zuckerberg's own knickers to be in a twist, following the Google Spain judgment? The CJEU does suggest that the territorial scope of the Directive is relatively broad, and as such is more likely to apply to social networks and other well-known Internet services than might otherwise have been thought. But it is not yet certain whether and when the Directive does apply to entities whose situation differs from Google’s. Equally the judgment confirms that the material scope of the Directive is broad, and it seems clear enough that its personal scope is broad too.\n\nHowever, the judgment is unlikely to lead to a ‘Web 3.0’ as regards Internet services besides search engines, because there are basic differences in the substantive data protection law of the EU as it applies to the bodies offering such services. These differences concern in particular: the very nature of user-generated content (arguably changing who is the ‘data controller’); the existence of privacy or editing policies; the public figure exception; the possible application of different, additional grounds for processing personal data; and the Google Spain judgment itself – since it provides for an alternative, more effective means of blocking access to the personal data concerned.\n\nBarnard & Peers: chapter 9\n\nNo comments:\n\nPost a Comment", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7809870839118958}
+{"content": "Why is day-of stationery SO important???\n\nRomantic Wedding Menu with Hand Torn Edges\n\nBecause we said so!\n\nJust kidding, there’s a lot more to it than that. First, let me explain what the term “day-of stationery” is all about. Day-of stationery (or event stationery) refers to any paper accessories needed for the day of your wedding or event. The list is pretty long (and our most creative clients even add to it every once in a while), so let’s start with the necessities… menus, programs, escort cards (or a seating chart), hospitality bag cards and favor tags.\n\nRomantic Wedding Menu with Hand Torn EdgesSee more of this dreamy styled shoot on Ruffled\n\nToday, I’m talking about menus.\n\nIf you’re looking for a magazine-worthy tablescape, these are key! When creating menus with my clients, I love to start by discussing the centerpieces and linens. This allows us to create a cohesive look and a welcoming place setting for each guest.\n\nGold Wedding Menu, Formal with Confetti Details, Circle Shape\n\nOf course, they’re practical too. First of all, receptions tend to be loud! We’ve all been to events where the server has to compete with the music and overall chatter of the room when listing the evening’s entrees, right? In the end, we all end up saying, “I’ll have the chicken” because we know there’s probably a chicken dish on that list we only half-heard. Personally, I’d rather have steak 😉\n\nRustic wedding menu with greenery details and twine\n\nA clear and well-written menu will help steer those with food allergies in the right direction.\n\nTraditional Wedding Menu, Charcoal text, table setting with greenery and candles\n\nWe also love using them to assign seating. This piece of the puzzle certainly isn’t mandatory BUT it is hugely helpful in some situations…\n1. Seating arrangements that involve extra large tables like farm tables.\n2. Very formal and traditional events.\n3. Small intimate receptions with only one or two tables eliminating the need for escort cards.\n4. Here’s the obvious one for you… if you simply want to sit certain guests next to each other (and keep others away from each other).\n\nWanna see more?\n\nFind some lovely tablescape inspiration here and here!\n\nMake sure to check out my next post for more day-of stationery details.\n\nFat Cat Signature\n\nps: Here are some photo credits in order from top to bottom… Angela Zion PhotographyJoseph Lin Photography, Ayenia NourKelsey Combe Photography 📸SaveSave", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9568213820457458}
+{"content": "\nread the lyrics to 'wonders of life'\n\n\nIf it were not for humans, elephants would probably rate among the most successful species on Earth.\n\nThe elephant family is made up of the African (Loxadonta Africana) and the Asian (Elephas Maximus) elephant. (Though there is a recognized subspecies of the African, known as the Forest (Loxadonta Africana Cyclotis) elephant found in the rainforests of the African continent.)\n\nIn elephant society, family herds are led by an old grandmother known as the matriarch. She is the dominant female, and the herd she is in charge of will probably consist of her sisters, daughters, female cousins, and their young offspring. A typical herd consists of 20 to 40 females (cows) of all ages.Because elephants live to such a great age - possibly as long as 70 years - their social ties last for decades.\n\nThe main way an elephant communicates deliberately is, as with humans, by sound. Elephant vocalizations range from high-pitched squeaks to deep rumbles. These deep rumbles, as much as two thirds of what an elephant is saying, are too low for the human ear to detect.\n\nThe saying \"an elephant never forgets\" is close to the truth. Elephants do have a remarkable memory. In the wild, elephants appear to remember for years their relationships with dozens, perhaps hundreds, of other elephants, some of whom they may only see occasionally. The advantages of a good memory may explain why they have evolved such a large brain.\n\nElephants play such an important role in their ecosystem that, the loss of elephants from an area would cause the existing ecosystem to collapse. When conservationists try to protect elephants, their work has a wider aim as well - to save the whole ecosystem and preserve biodiversity.\n\nReferences \"Elephant Web Ring site\" by Denise Hargrove .\n\nreturn to our home page\nthe 'extras' section holds many surprises for you\nvisit our online shop.\nvisit the secret waterfall\nvisit the secret waterfall\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9994510412216187}
+{"content": "Allison's Book Bag\n\nArchive for the ‘Teasers’ Category\n\nIf you’re looking for new ways to enrich your cat’s life, start with these six books on training cats.\n\nCat Training in 10 Minutes by Miriam Fields-Babineau is the first book I encountered on training cats. The majority of the chapters are dedicated to teaching obedience, start with an overview and then include clear steps for the lesson to be taught. For example, in talking about sit, Babineau explains that sit is a base behavior for many more complicated behaviors. Because cats also have an inherent inclination to rest on their haunches, sit is also a quick command to teach. Second, a reason the guide engaged my cats and I is that Babineau also provides a numerous variations for each obedience procedure. For example, in talking about jump, Babineau suggests one teach to jump onto various surfaces and those of varying heights. Following the multiple chapters on obedience, there is a hodge-podge of chapters that includes information on tricks, misbehavior, and other ways to work with one’s cat such as therapy and shows. The most life-changing chapters for me were those on obedience and trick.s Using the step-by-step procedures, I’ve successfully taught my cats sit, jump, twirl, stay, down, and kiss. We’re still working on come and fetch. Miriam Fields-Babineau has been a professional animal trainer since 1983 and has taught pet owners how to work with and understand pets of all species. In Cat Training in Ten Minutes, she draws on all this expertise to show how anyone can find the time to enrich the lives of their cats.\n\nThe Clever Cat Trick Book by Steve Duno is an easy-to-read book that covers a lot of tricks. Cat owners will learn how to teach their cat to chase, sit, spin, shake, kiss, come, beg, down, fetch, and over. For many of the tricks such as sit and spin, cat owners simply have to reward their cat for doing what comes naturally to cats for the tricks to become part of their cat’s repertoire. Other tricks such as shake and kiss might depend on the cat having an outgoing personality, as the cat will need to accept being touched. Some of the tricks will prove more difficult but Duno offers ideas for simplifying them. For example, he recognizes that teaching the trick down will require a cat to take a submissive position, and so suggests teaching it on a table where cats will feel less threatened. In addition, he notes that teaching a cat the first part of fetch is relatively easy, but the retrieve part will require a cat to know how to come when called. Duno is a veteran pet behaviorist and his knowledge shines not just when he’s teaching readers how to do tricks, but also when he��s explaining why cats need the stimulation of tricks and how to account for individual needs based on breed, age, health, gender, and background. Novices to training will love this book.\n\nIn the book The Trainable Cat, authors John Bradshaw and Sarah Ellis discuss not only how cats should be trained but why cats need to be trained. I applaud the book’s structure. The authors first present key skills. Then as new training skills are introduced, they refer back to those key skills. In this way, the content builds on itself, and complex training tasks can be understood as edible chunks.\nThanks to The Trainable Cat, I’ve started to develop a whole new training mindset. I’m beginning to generalize my training efforts to include behaviors that my cats need. For example, when Andy and I bring home new purchases, I place them where our cats might discover them but I also allow them the freedom to discover these purchases on their own cognizance. If our cats indicate a dislike or fear of something, such as small spaces or loud noises, I help them gradually bring up their confidence. Or if our cats act in a displeasing way, such as growling over and stealing food, I teach them to wait. At three-hundred pages, with minimal illustrations, The Trainable Cat can feel overwhelming if one is starting out. Even so, I highly recommend that all cat owners take the time to read, study, and apply The Trainable Cat ideas. It’ll positively change your relationship with your feline companions.\n\nClicker Training for Cats by Karen Pryor is a classic by the founder of the clicker training system. In the first chapter, Pryor overviews the reasons for training a cat, what clicker training is, and how to do it. She also provides alternatives to using a clicker and/or treats. The subsequent two chapters are divided into useful and fun behaviors cat owners can teach their cat with a clicker. One useful behavior that we’re working in our household is an alternative to begging during food preparation. So far, I’ve taught our youngest cat to sit on a stool to wait for her meal. Next, I need to work on having her wait on the stool while I work in the kitchen. One fun behavior we’re working on is building a repertoire of tricks to perform in succession, instead of repeating the same trick over and over. In the fourth and last chapter, Pryor address problem behaviors, for which a program of positive reinforcement can make a difference. She covers litterbox issues, aggression, biting, ambushing, scratching, yowling, fighting, getting stuck in trees, to name a few. The one we’re working on is counter-surfing, and it remains a work-in-progress. Although I’ve read Pryor’s book more than once, I’m still learning new skills from it.\n\nWhat do elephants, killer whales, and the family pet have in common? Training with zoomility! Or so says Grey Stafford, who contends that training animals is as much about having fun as it is about helping them succeed in our world. Zoomility is divided into two parts. The first part is intended for anyone who is starting to train a new or young animal or “clean slate” animals that haven’t yet learned undesirable behaviors. Stafford spends forty pages covering his philosophy of positive reinforcement, and then another forty applying it to common behaviors. Some of those behaviors fall under obedience training such as sit, stay, come; other behaviors are practical such as crate training, leash training, and visits to the vet; and some are just for fun such as jump, balance, and fetch. The second part is intended for anyone who works with animals and has already made mistakes with them or for anyone who is starting to train an animal with an unknown or unpleasant history. Stafford focuses mostly on those animals with aggressive and destructive behaviors and so, while you might find ideas on how to work with bullies, you’ll need other resources for working with the shyer animals. Stafford adds lightness by beginning each chapter with a personal tale of his experience as a zookeeper, but his writing style relies heavily on training language, and so this book is most-suited for those immersed in the training world.\n\nNaughty No More by Marilyn Kreiger is my newest purchase. In the first chapter, Kreiger defines clicker-training, explains how to use it, and shares its benefits. In doing so, she explains two terms relatively new to me: Shaping is act of breaking down a complex behavior into tiny steps and then rewarding the cat for each correct movement that gets the cat closer to the goal behavior; Luring is the act of tempting a cat to perform an action by offering some form of reward. The next seven chapters address problem behaviors: counter surfing, door darting, scratching, matchmaking, aggression, vet visits, and litter box issues. Some of these behaviors I’ve encountered prior to purchasing this book, such as how to deal with counter surfers and so have already read about. Kreiger overviews ineffective aversive methods, potential persuasive methods, and the effective positive reinforcement methods. The chapter is readable but also thorough, in that she explains the various reasons cats might surf and how to individually train cats to meet their unique needs. Some behaviors I’m just now encountering as a foster parent such as door darting and so need all the ideas I can find. Providing toys, puzzle feeders, and scheduled interaction time were a few options Kreiger suggested, in addition to using a clicker to train dashers to sit. The final chapter covers tricks, all of which could use a chapter in themselves, and so serve simply as an introduction. Kreiger’s book is colorful, uses an abundance of side bars, and includes several case histories. I recommend it for cat owners of all levels.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGraphic novels have grown in popularity over the past decade. In some libraries, the hottest children’s books are often graphic novels. Here are three graphic novel recommendations for different ages groups.\n\nThe Boy, the Bear, the Baron, the Bard features a young boy who finds himself whisked back to the 16th century England while exploring an abandoned theater. He emerges on the stage of the Globe Theatre in the middle of a performance, much to the chagrin of William Shakespeare himself. A chase erupts, wherein the young boy frees and then befriends both a caged bear and an imprisoned baron. Kids and their parents will want to study the detailed illustrations to get the most out of this wordless paneled graphic novel.\n\nLunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, the first title in the Lunch Lady series, introduces an uncover hero who assumes the guise of a lunch lady. A group of school friends who call themselves the Breakfast Bunch take a stand against bullies, agonize over what clubs to join, laugh at each other’s food choices, and debate who should win Teacher of the Year award. One day they follow the Lunch Lady home to see what she does when not serving meals. This leads to them teaming up with the Lunch Lady, her sidekick, and their crime-fighting gadgets against a suspicious substitute teacher. Mayhem abounds in this fast-paced madcap adventure, which has been a hit with both boys and girls.\n\nFor older readers comes the autobiographical novel called Smile. It tells of Raina who just wants to be a normal sixth-grader, but one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, damaging her two front teeth. This seemingly simple incident leads to years of agonizing over braces, headgear, surgery, and even a retainer with fake teeth. As if all this wasn’t already enough, Raina must maneuver her way through the confusion of changing friendships, dating, and self-identity. Although Smile takes place in the 1980’s, it still feels fresh. Anyone who has experienced the pain of dental work and adolescent angst will relate. Just as important, the novel will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find their creative voice.\n\n\nAllisons' Book Bag Logo\n\n\n\n\n\nBest Friends Network Partner\n\nBlog Paws\n\n\nJoin 327 other followers", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7009505033493042}
+{"content": "7 guaranteed methods for sharper images\n\n7 guaranteed methods for sharper photos 2.jpg\n\n1. Use a tripod\n\nThe most common reason for blurred or soft images is camera shake. No human can hand-hold a camera perfectly still. If you are using a very short shutter speed it won't matter, but if you are using slower speeds (even 1/60th or so), you will see a huge improvement if you take your hands off the camera at the point the shutter fires.\n\n- use a tripod (or a pile of books, or a beanbag - anything to hold the camera steady)\n\n- use a cable release or self timer\n\n- if you are shooting macro, use the mirror lock up as well to minimise in-camera vibrations\n\nFurther reading: Which Tripod To Buy?\n\n2. Depth of field\n\nInvest a weekend to really understand how aperture controls depth of field, and how depth of field in turn controls which section of your image is sharply in focus. Don't forget depth of field is also affected by how close you are to your subject, and what the focal length of your lens is. \n\nDo you need more help with this? Join my free online beginner's photography course here - we cover everything you need to know:  \n\n3. Where are you focussing?\n\nAre you sure you are focussing on your subject? Do you know how to switch from auto focus to manual focus? If not, download your camera manual and look it up.\n\nA more advanced technique is to utilise hyperfocal distance. Once you understand how aperture affects depth of field, you can control exactly where the depth of field falls in your image by changing the focus spot. This article from amateur photographer magazine has a comprehensive description of how to try this technique.\n\n4. Keep your ISO low\n\nHigher ISOs will result in softer images, with digital noise artefacts becoming visible. If you use Auto ISO you can probably limit the upper ISO if this is important to you.\n\n5. Clean your lens\n\nUse a dedicated, clean lens cloth for this, or specialist lens wipes. Check and clean your lenses before each shoot.\n\n6. Test your lens for sweet spot, or get a more expensive lens\n\nEach lens has an aperture at which it shoots at optimum clarity - the so-called \"sweet spot\". You can look these up online, or run your own tests. Shoot the same subject at all your apertures, and examine them closely at 100% magnification. You can download test cards for this, if you want to be very precise. If you don't need to know exactly, f8 is probably your sweet spot. You should avoid shooting at the extreme apertures (widest and smallest), and understand that you'll get the sharpest images away from the extremes.\n\nThere's no denying that more expensive lenses have higher quality glass, and less elements, both of which will give sharper images, all other things being equal. Prime lenses generally give sharper images for the same reason - less glass and less moving parts. \n\n7. sharpen in post processing\n\nIf you have Lightroom or Photoshop, learn to sharpen effectively. In Lightroom especially, hold down the option/alt key while you drag the sliders, to preview the areas being sharpened. More details here: Capture sharpening in Lightroom. Always work at 100% when you sharpen images, and never work on the original. The amount of sharpening needed depends on the output (print/screen). It's easy to overdo sharpening, so always step away from the screen and come back after a break to see the finished image. \n\n\nThe header image for this blog post was my shot that was shortlisted in the International Garden Photographer of the Year award. I didn't have a tripod, so I rested my camera on the low fence that surrounds the lily pool at Kew gardens. It was important to keep the ISO low, but I also needed front-to-back sharpness, so I did need to use the hyperfocal distance technique to maximise the available depth of field. It was shot with a very high-quality lens (the Canon 11-24mm f4) but on a medium quality camera (the Canon 6D).\n\nThe critical part of the whole process was in the editing - it took about a day in total of comparing and contrasting different edits until I got the finished image. A combination of selective sharpening and the clarity slider was used.\n\nemma headshot 400.jpg\n\nJoin my free, online beginner's photography workshop here. Get off auto, learn composition and lighting, basic editing and more:\n\nEmma Davies", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9341287016868591}
+{"content": "sofia kelli\n\n47 following\nsofia kelli\nMore ideas from sofia\nFREE Prompt mat to help teach your students how to answer wh questions.\n\nI've got a FREEBIE for you! Need a prompt mat to help teach how to answer wh questions? This should help! It's a simple, one-page prompt mat with visuals to help your students understand how to answer each type of wh question.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8539278507232666}
+{"content": "My Creativity\n\nSomething in your life will always tell your story, so you might as well have control over it. For me, creativity gave me control in the world where because of my diagnosis I had no control. A South American poet said, “Take away someone’s creativity and you take away their humanity. Give someone back their creativity and you give back their life.” Everyone has their own story and the power to change that story as well.\n\nAs for my life now, I can choose how it ends. I may have had no choice in how it started, but now I can choose the characters, the dialogue and the plot.  I realized that before this I wasn't writing my life story - pain, past, psychiartry, pedophilla, parent was. None of them could even write a Pot Noodle ad, so why was I giving them power to write my story? Each act of creativity is taking a tiny part of my soul back. You must inspire command of your narrative in any way possible. Creativity is my way of doing just that.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5872735977172852}
+{"content": "London  - Two turtle doves may soon be the most precious gift you could give anyone for Christmas, as along with nearly 100 other types of British bird, they are in real danger of going extinct.\nIts numbers have declined by 96 per cent in just 40 years, and experts have warned there could be none left within a decade. The marsh warbler and red-backed shrike also appear to be on their last wings, while birds like the wryneck - a tiny brown woodpecker - and the beautiful golden oriole are believed to be close to or have already died out.\nThis disheartening news comes from the RSPB’s rare breeding birds panel, who have been compiling a list of Britain’s rarest birds for 40 years - a list which now stands at nearly 100 names long. The last estimate of Britain’s turtle dove population was made in 2009 and had their numbers at around 28,000, but the RSPB say their numbers are halving every six years, meaning the number is now closer to 14,000, and they could soon be gone for good.\nDeclining at a similarly rapid rate is the willow tit - a once common bird whose numbers have plummeted in the last nine years, and now carries the unwanted tag of Britain’s quickest declining bird. Since 1995, there has been an 83 per cent drop in its numbers. The RSPB’s list includes species whose numbers are believed to be less than 2,000 pairs.\nAmong its most vulnerable are the common scoter, a dark seaduck mostly found in Scotland of which there were thought to be 39 breeding pairs in 2012, and the Slavonian grebe, a bird with golden tufts on its black head whose numbers were at 34 breeding pairs.\nSongbird the marsh warbler was down to just seven pairs in 2012 - compared with 73 when the report started in 1973 - while the red backed shrike, a bird with a blue head and black stripe across its face, is down to its last few pairs. The RSPB report refers to numbers from 2012 - a year which proved bad for birds because of a stormy spring and summer - including the wettest June for 100 years - damaging trees and causing flooding.\nDr Mark Eaton, chair of the RSPB panel, told the Observer: ‘A lot of species can accommodate a bad year but it’s if we get into a pattern then there are problems. ‘We know certain species have been seriously impacted by changes in our farming. Intensification has reduced the availability of wild flower seeds they depend on. Many birds thrive in marginal areas around farms, in scrub and thick hedges, but these types of places are disappearing.’\nIt is not just Britain’s weather that has had an effect on our birds though. Migrating birds, which include the turtle dove and golden oriole, have also been hit hard by deforestation in Africa destroying their habitat. There is a similar problem in the British countryside, with the decline in the amount of dense woodland leading to a similar drop in numbers of even our most common birds. Other birds suffering as a result of some of these factors are birds of prey such as the red kite, honey buzzard and short-eared owl - though these are not diminishing at the same rate as the turtle dove.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8974524736404419}
+{"content": "Sheep Time Well Spent\n\nTo sit and be with sheep a few extra moments is always time well spent in a day.\nThese two ewes are curious about me sitting low in the grass, waiting to take their photo.\n\nThey catch my attention because of their contrasting black and white faces grazing side by side.\n\nBoth of them watch me with curiosity as they graze closer and closer.\n\nThe white faced girl lifts her nose to scent me just like I see the dogs do.\n\nThey are unhurried and unworried, completely unaware of photography or their own beauty.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8849318027496338}
+{"content": "Advantages of Having Security Systems\n\nSecurity systems are becoming essential in not only commercial buildings but also residential buildings to ensure that the security of the people in the premises is paramount and any form of theft is traced. In the current times, it is not enough to have security personnel's to provide the desired security standards thus it is important to complement their roles with security systems to attain top-notch security. By making investments in security systems you ensure that the security of your home or business is not easy to breach and also there are additional uses of security systems such as monitoring the safety of children, elderly parents and controlling so systems automatically.  \n\nFor one to have a well functioning security system it is important to ensure that they have integrated security systems that has video surveillance, access control and intrusion alarms. It is critical to have security systems for businesses to ensure that they optimize the use of cost effective measures that can prevent the business to experience losses. Here are the benefits of having security systems at your property to raise the security standards around the clock.\n\nSecurity system play a critical role in preventing theft in businesses and break-ins at residential properties. It is important to note that security systems play a critical role in ensuring thieves avoid places where there is security surveillance and assign of security surveillance at the entrance of a building is good enough to keep theft away from the premises. No matter the fact that theft is done by insiders or outsiders of a business systems plays a critical role in ensuring that the culprits are identified and apprehended against formidable evidence. Read more at this Security Blog\n\nThe other benefit of security systems is that they are used to monitor what is happening at different locations at real time to ensure that everything is running smoothly. For home security systems one can ensure that routine duties are carried out on time and for businesses it is easier for the management to monitor the smooth operation and conduct of employees when physically absence.\n\nAlso the systems are vital in ensuring that there is easier conflict breach without altering the system which is easily to notice and any attempt will raise alarm of a mull-practice. Conflict involving internal and external burglary can easily be noticed ensuring that relevant measures are taken to stop the theft or even to serve justice in courts of law. More info about ADT Home Security Systems\n\nAnother benefit that security systems can be used for by employers if reviewing the conduct of the employees in their respective duties to address unwanted action at work, unwanted actions at work, increase productivity, enhance employee performance and increase customer satisfaction.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8350205421447754}
+{"content": "Inefficiencies In Connecting To The Engineering Marketplace\n\nThe principal role of an engineering consulting firm is to connect engineers to their clients. Unfortunately, the manner in which we make these connections has much inefficiency, in my opinion. This inefficiency increases our cost of doing business and limits the size of the marketplace that can be accessed by a given engineer or group of engineers.\n\nWhen we constrain the size of the potential marketplace for an engineer or group of engineers, we are also constraining our ability to maximize their effect on the marketplace.Over the next several postings, I would like discuss business growth strategies that address these inefficiencies and effectively remove these marketplace constraints. The intention is to present ideas that can be used by smaller and larger engineering firms to increase both their market share and profitability.\n\nAs a starting point, I would like to present some general observations regarding the inefficient manner in which we connect engineers to the marketplace.Keep in mind that these are general and that there are going to be exceptions.\n\nObservation 1) Very talented engineers are often found in local and regional firms. However, they are locked into servicing their firm’s clients on smaller and less complex projects. When they have the opportunity to be involved in larger projects, their roles tend to be minor and are assigned by larger national or international firms who are serving as the first tier suppliers. This participation is often the result of the need to meet governmental quotas for small firm participation. Thus, talented engineers in local and regional firms are often restricted in their impact on larger projects and are limited in the nature of the clients they typically service.\n\nObservation 2) Small business owners and managers are among the most talented and resourceful project managers available in the marketplace. However, because of the nature of their clients and the size of their businesses, these managers typically run small to moderate-sized projects. When considered together, the combined complexity and inter-dependencies of these projects (in terms of allocating resources and getting the work done) rival the most complex engineering projects in the marketplace.\n\nObservation 3) Due to their close physical proximity to communities and clients, the owners, managers and engineers of these local and regional firms are among the first to know when new projects are being conceived, even among larger clients. Hence, they could represent a valuable front-line in a coordinated marketing strategy. Unfortunately, they don’t typically have the level of specialization and manpower necessary to effectively pursue some of the more complex and challenging projects, even though they may be first on the scene. I have heard of instances where they have actually turned down larger projects because of their constraints.\n\nObservation 4) Talented engineers in large firms are effectively “locked-out” of working on most small and midsized projects. They typically work on larger projects for their firm’s clients. Thus, they are also effectively limited in the nature of the clients they typically service.\n\nObservation 5) Given the size of large engineering firms, it is necessary to maintain a large volume of work to “feed” the staff. This need causes them to naturally pursue larger and more complex projects. When there is a downturn in the marketplace, the large staff size results in a large drain on profits.\n\nObservation 6) Large engineering firms tend to carry more staff per anticipated volume of work when compared with smaller firms. Large firms typically have the profits available to “carry” staff through business lulls and they have the ability to distribute work among offices in order to adjust to these lulls.\n\nObservation 7) Local and regional firms are limited in the amount of work that they can distribute. Since they have lower operating profits and do not have the ability to widely distribute work, they tend to carry less staff per anticipated volume of work as compared with larger firms. As result, when the work load picks up, engineers in smaller firms are typically asked to accommodate higher work volumes through longer hours rather than hiring additional staff.\n\nObservation 8) When engineering firms or offices within the same engineering firm share work, the fundamental basis of this work sharing is some measure of quantity and quality of hours. Unfortunately, when work sharing is based upon hours, quality assurance and quality control issues can become acute and result in even higher inefficiencies. These inefficiencies in work performance from one firm (or office) are thus transmitted directly to the project budget without sufficient control of the project manager.\n\nEach of these observations represents one or more constraints being placed upon the way that we connect our engineers to the marketplace. The more constraints we place on a natural system, the more we constrain the optimal solution.\n\nIdeally, the optimal manner for an engineer to connect to the marketplace would be to have full access to all potential projects and clients and to be able to offer engineering services using the most cost efficient and effective delivery system. Since most engineering firms have similar cost structures and we are effectively limiting the types of projects and clients that we can access (whether we are in a smaller or larger firm) we are all in the boat.\n\nI would welcome comments and discussion on these observations.\n\nIn future postings I will present business growth strategies aimed at addressing these inefficiencies. It will, however, require us to think outside-of-the-box.\n\nGlen R. Andersen, ScD, PE\n\n\nWhy Do We Discourage Productivity?\n\nWhy would we compensate employees in a manner that discourages productivity?\n\n\n\n\n\nproductivity discouragement curve\n\n\n\n\n\nGlen R. Andersen, ScD, PE\n\nThe Optimum Manager Released!\n\nThe Optimum Manager – Released!\n\nUse the Coupon Code VH79Z for a complimentary copy.\n\nIs it Better to Measure Employee Performance by Time or by Tasks?\n\nLet’s explore a very important and fundamental question about the employee performance management process.  “Is it better to measure employee performance by time spent or by tasks completed?” In my opinion, the answer is unreservedly “Tasks Completed!” We should measure employee performance by the number and types of tasks completed correctly over a specified time interval. Thus, time should become of secondary importance to performance management rather than of primary importance as it is now used.\n\nAn ideal employee performance management process should measure both competency and productivity. Competency is best measured at the end of each task when a manager reviews it for correctness, and as such should be measured continuously. A direct measure of productivity should be based upon the total labor value of all tasks that can be completed correctly by a given employee over a given time interval. One such measure can be the difference between the total labor value of all tasks completed and the total employee compensation received. With these two measures of employee performance, each employee will have a clear and unambiguous understanding of where he stands at all times and can become the master of his own most important commodity; time.\n\nRegrettably, most employee performance management processes are built upon some measurement of total time spent at work, total time spent on billable tasks, and total time spent on nonbillable tasks. We typically measure employee performance on an annual basis during formal reviews. Competency in these reviews is a secondary metric determined long after the tasks that can demonstrate it have been completed. We try to associate competency with types of projects completed and do so in a subjective manner. We also measure employee productivity in these annual reviews; but typically as an agglomerate of various subjective measures such as: opinions from direct supervisors; opinions from group members who work closely with the employee; profitability of projects worked on; or, overall productivity of the group with an assessment of each employee’s individual contribution. The result is at best a highly subjective and very approximate snapshot of any given employee’s performance on an annual basis.\n\nSo long as an employee is performing adequately, this highly subjective and very approximate measure of performance is sufficient. However, with an underperforming employee, there is a lot of potential gray area that opens our businesses up to the potential for costly legal action if that employee must be terminated.\n\nIn addition to the challenges just described in measuring employee performance, our reliance on time as the fundamental unit of measure sends a very powerful negative unspoken message to our employees:\n\n“Your time spent on the job is most important! Make sure that you charge enough billable hours to meet your utilization goal each week.”\n\nUnfortunately, when we measure billable time, we tend to get more billable time. If all employees are sufficiently motivated to optimize the use of their billable time, then such an outcome is entirely acceptable. However, we see ample evidence that such is not the case in normal businesses. Various research institutions have been tracking levels of employee engagement over the years and have concluded that only a small fraction of employees in a typical business are engaged. The vast majority of employees are disengaged or actively disengaged (\n\nBy changing the primary focus of our employee performance management process to the completion of tasks correctly and by assigning a labor value to each of these tasks, we can avoid the pitfalls just described above. If we track the types of tasks that have been completed correctly and require each employee to work their tasks until they are correct, we can measure competency directly and routinely throughout the year as each task is completed. If we track the labor values for all tasks that are completed correctly over a fixed time interval and use these in a direct comparison to an employee’s total compensation, we can unambiguously measure productivity.\n\nUsing this measure of productivity, an employee can be rewarded dollar for dollar when the labor value of all of his tasks completed correctly exceeds his total compensation. Employees that understand their level of competency by direct feedback from their manager at the completion of each task, that have an unambiguous measure of productivity, and that are rewarded directly for that productivity will be able to optimize the use of their time to achieve a desired level of compensation and/or amount of time off while significantly increasing their productivity and consequently the profitability of the business.\n\nGlen R. Andersen, ScD, PE\n\nAuthor of “The Optimum Manager\n\nAvailable at", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8785264492034912}
+{"content": "<![CDATA[UGAzine - Special Topics]]>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 21:15:08 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Vagina Monologues]]>Tue, 23 Feb 2016 22:04:34 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/the-vagina-monologuesPictureEmily Haney\nBy Emily Haney\n\nWhat do you know about your vagina? Eve Ensler set out to figure out just that from various women two decades ago. Through her sequence of interviews, asking women questions that typically aren’t talked about, The Vagina Monologues was born. Each monologue represents a different experience or response from all the answers women gave. The tone from the monologues range from funny to angry based on the topic, but each one signifies the fact that maybe we should have conversations about vaginas more often.  \n\nThe Vagina Monologues arrived on UGA’s campus 17 years ago. The past couple of years the performance has been housed at the Chapel. Although all the rows haven’t necessarily been filled, the performance has drawn in a wide variety of women. Sitting in on a performance one could find veterans or newbies of the show, mothers and daughters and those of all different backgrounds.  The performance this year began with “The Flood,” which was an accidental start. However, the skipping around of monologues worked.\n\n“The Flood” opens with an older speaker talking about a kiss she had with a boy and how this one occurrence for her set the tone for the rest of her love life and how she viewed herself. In the middle of this particular monologue a younger version of the speaker walks out to join in on the story. At times the older and younger version speak together sharing their experience for all. The parallel between the two selves created a somber dynamic. The woman was never able to move on.\n\n“The Flood” introduced the audience to what this performance was going to be all about— women talking about real life experiences of other women. “I like that they can joke about something but make a point at the same time about how important women’s pleasures are. They’re taking that even further,” says Elizabeth Callaway, a sophomore finance major from Atlanta.  “The Flood” led into the introduction where the twenty-one women taking part in the show walked up onto the stage.\n\nEach woman wore the color purple in some form. Some women had purple shoes, others purple scarves, and there was a meaning behind this fashion choice. “Purple is an awareness color for domestic violence. Since this was being put on by Project Safe, they’re doing it to keep in mind and remind people all proceeds go to this charity,” says Kristen Demonbreun a senior social work major from Atlanta. Project Safe works to end domestic violence through programs, advocacy, and support for survivors.\n\nWhile The Vagina Monologues are meant to make most people a little uncomfortable, they really are all about women’s empowerment. “I’ve been re-energized to fight for the rights of women,” says Vivian Sellers a retired schoolteacher age 64 from Tifton. It really makes you think about where you stand and what you can do to make a difference. The best part of the night was that you got to enjoy a performance and donate to charity at the same time.\n\n<![CDATA[A Letter Revolution]]>Mon, 23 Nov 2015 01:09:33 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/a-letter-revolutionPictureDonica Farwell\nSometimes it seems like no one cares. Fail a test? No one cares. Have relationship problems? No one cares. Drowning in debt? No one cares. How can a college with 26,882 undergraduates feel so isolated? Whether you’re struggling to study in the MLC at 2:30am or sitting in a three hundred-person lecture hall, a thousand problems probably flood your mind, other than the one sitting on your desk. A simple sentence of encouragement from a fellow classmate appears so far out of reach. Suddenly, while trudging to your next class you spot a handwritten letter hanging from a bulletin board. A sense of confusion and curiosity soon shifts to excitement and positivity. It’s time for a letter revolution.\n\nCampus Cursive, an up and coming club at The University of Georgia, provides the unique opportunity for students to spread handwritten words of love, encouragement, and motivation to other UGA students. With over seventy successful chapters across the country, this community of love has finally come to UGA. Students can remember the exciting times of how fantastic it was to receive a handwritten letter during their childhood, before social media took control of communication.\n\n​Now, the volunteer process is simple. With no fees and very low time commitment, you can come to a Campus Cursive meeting, only twice a semester, to handwrite letters to be immediately distributed across areas like the MLC and throughout main campus. Students will stumble upon these letters in the bathroom, walking to class, or sitting in the hallway. Personal information and individual beliefs are discouraged to include in the notes, because the uplifting words written in these letters do not discriminate. The letters can be filled with anything from complex stories of journeys from hardship to success or simple words of inspiration. Everyone has their own tough times, but there are no high mountains without valleys. Whether your journey resembles a deep gorge or a slight dip, it is these low points in our life that make the high ones really shine. This low to high transition is the source of strength that Campus Cursive desires to target. \n\nEmily Starling, 19, is a Public Relations major who co-founded Campus Cursive here at UGA. In charge of creating events and recruiting letter writers, Starling contains such passion for Campus Cursive. Starling claims, “We want to see love explode throughout campus. We’re so much more than just the number of people who show up. We are the combined capacity that all of our hearts have to love others.” Bound for success, Campus Cursive lets a simple yet power idea shine through stressful aspects of campus life. Imagine, instead of constantly seeing negative news, having hundreds of these letters of inspiration floating around. “We want everyone to know that no matter what they are going through, they have people rooting for them and standing in their corner,” Starling states. This reassurance represents the purpose of Campus Cursive: to spread love through letters.\n\nGetting involved is just as easy as the process. Follow and message Campus Cursive on Instagram or Facebook to get on an email list that gives information on the next meeting time. Meetings last as long as you want to stay. Starling expressed her excitement to get as many people involved as possible because everyone is invited to join. Writing a letter can be just as rewarding as reading one. “I’ve found that those letters have often led to healing in my own heart, even if I’m writing them for others,” Starling says. Bringing back the art of handwritten letters is not an easy task; however, Starling mentioned that the first Campus Cursive meeting “has the potential to gain a lot of ground at UGA.”\n\nWith a growing number of involved students in this low time-commitment volunteer opportunity, Campus Cursive desires to have these letters circulate beyond the boundaries of main campus. With goals to begin delivering letters to specific locations, like homeless shelters, students will be able to touch the hearts of those beyond the arch. Also, as word of Campus Cursive increases, a program delivering letters to specific people will be implemented. Love letter “bundies,” as Starling describes, “are when people send request in for a loved one to receive a bundle of love letters to get through a tough time.” Not surprisingly, this selfless organization has further aspirations to reach as many people as possible.\n\nNext time you walk through the MLC, instead of scrolling through your Facebook feed to view the tragic news of the day, keep an eye out for a handwritten letter. Inspiration and words of love from a stranger might be all you need to make it through that next test, the next relationship failure, or your next financial crisis. Essentially, this incredible volunteer opportunity has come to UGA to spread encouragement through handwritten words. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the letter revolution. \n\n<![CDATA[Book Review: \"The Scorpio Races\" by Maggie Stiefvater]]>Mon, 16 Nov 2015 23:53:04 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/book-review-the-scorpio-races-by-maggie-stiefvaterPictureTristyn Angel\nIn a world where vampires and werewolves are constantly being written about, it is refreshing to find something that is a little off the beaten path. It is even more revitalizing when it involves a creature that is not widely known.\n\nIn Maggie Stiefvater’s, The Scorpio Races, centers around two young adult characters, who unexpectedly cross paths, and the fantastical creatures, capaill uisce (pronounced copple ooshka). If you are familiar with kelpies, or “water horses”, this may ring a bell.\n\nThe book is a compelling read about the capaill uisce, a dangerous and vicious species, and a race among local men who attempt to tame the wild beasts long enough to ride them. For teenager and underdog, Puck Connelly, who is a struggling orphan, the race is the only way to ensure that what is left of her family remains in one piece. On the other hand, Sean Kendrick, the one who knows the species by heart, is riding to ensure his financial freedom.\n\nAfter Puck Connelly’s parents were killed when their boat capsized, she remained in the small family’s house with both her older and younger brother. Her older brother attempted to bring in enough money for the rest of the remaining family pieces to thrive on. However, he dropped a bomb on the struggling siblings when he announced that he would be moving away from the island where they lived.\n\nThis instigated Puck’s decision to enter the race — something a woman had never done before. The strong and determined young woman was refused to be taken seriously among the other men who entered in the race. True to her character’s development, she did not let that stop her. As one who never grew up around the capaill uisce, she was at a major disadvantage. However, as the plot progressed, she adapted to the disadvantages and gave the local racers a run for their money.\n\nOpposite Puck was Sean Kendrick, another rider in the novel. Like Puck, he had lost his father due to a racing accident with the water horses. After his father’s death, Sean was taken in by the island’s biggest stable owner. There, he was employed as a stablehand with the kelpies who had been captured and tamed over the years. With this experience, and his natural ability with the creatures, Sean Kendrick had always been the top dog to win the races, bringing in money for his employer. Sick of working for another and not having his own freedom, Sean rides in the race to break free.\n\nThe entire novel is an engrossing piece that envelops the reader from the start — both from the fresh idea, as well as the well-penned paragraphs that fill each chapter.\n\nFrom an author who previously wrote a trilogy revolving around temperature sensitive werewolves, I was a bit wary to delve into The Scorpio Races. While her former Shiver book trilogy was less than stellar, Stiefvater has completely redeemed herself with the idea behind the capaill uisce. She has taken a unique idea and turned it into a fantasy world filled with emotion.\n\nThe two main riders of the novel cross paths and find each other’s help in the training phases of the race. That being said, romance is a mere undertone and does not stand in the way of the plot. Thank God, finally a novel that does not center solely around someone dating someone else. Instead, each character is developed enough to be independent from each other and still prove to be interesting enough to read about. Most of the novel actually depicts the two separated from each other. However, as their paths do cross, Sean Kendrick welcomes Puck under his tutelage and the two develop a fine friendship.\n\nStiefvater has done an excellent job of developing two characters and allowing their lives to intersect, instead of depending on their “romance” to further the plot along. In fact, the plot would be able to stand alone without the small flame entirely.\n\nOverall, this novel is a compelling read with a fresh and unique take on the fantastical world of literature. It utilizes a penmanship that reads smoothly throughout it’s entirety. With the plot and character development, which took years to create, the novel has come together almost perfectly. It is definitely a book to read to broaden the sense of the fantasy world.\n\nOverall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars\n\n<![CDATA[When Life is Ruff]]>Mon, 12 Oct 2015 00:00:56 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/when-life-is-ruffPictureDonica Farwell\nAs finals week approaches as it always does, anxious UGA students consistently flock to the crowded Miller Learning Center (MLC). Some visit the study rooms for the first time all semester, while others consider this building their second home. However, during a certain 4-hour period the already packed MLC reaches extreme levels of busy. While students attempt to cram months’ worth of material into a week, “Stressed Dogs for Stressed Dawgs,” an event sponsored by the University Health Center, has brought rescue dogs inside the MLC. The students’ response is overwhelming to the point where a single person is considered lucky if they get to play with a puppy for more than a minute.\n\nSuch an overwhelming response is not surprising, considering the pre-existing obsession UGA students have with the guide dogs in-training all over campus. The popular phrase “guide dog puppies” fills photos, posts, and comments across various forms of social media including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram and Yik Yak.\n\nWith all the hype and the strong obsession of cute dogs circulating UGA campus, it’s surprising that more students don’t know about the unique and non-commitment- based volunteer opportunity at Athens- Clarke County Animal Control, which is located only 4.2 miles from UGA campus. Once at the shelter, the simple process begins with a short orientation from the friendly and helpful staff, which is only required on the first visit. After much anticipation, you can proceed to pick out a dog from their concrete kennel. After reading a first person description of the dog, such as, “I am very playful and love to be held” or “I am very shy so take it slow,” you may take the dog out to an interactive play area equipped with benches, soft grass and open space. This lucky puppy can also play with toys and treats you bring in from the front office. Here you can spend time with the dog in a playful environment for as long as you wish while the shelter is open, instead of just for a second on your way to cram for finals. You can continue taking out dogs of various age, breed and personality one at a time for the duration of the visit.\n\nSarah Halstead, a caretaker and front office worker at Athens-Clarke County Animal Control, emphasized the importance of volunteers in regards to the future of dogs in this temporary home. “It is important that they socialize, get used to other people, and to go out and get exercise,” she says. Halstead further explains the success of this volunteer opportunity by stating how the dogs are, “not nearly as pent up” and have exhibited “better behavior and a quicker rescue.” Essentially, volunteers are necessary because these abandoned, beaten or surrendered dogs need to gain adoptable qualities that display promise for a happy and healthy life. The faster these dogs exhibit these traits, the faster they will get picked up by a local rescue group or even adopted to avoid the horrific fate of being put down.\n\nAssisting at Animal Control is not only easy, fun, and a great item to include on a resume under volunteer work, but it’s personally rewarding as well. Kristine Hicks, a UGA student, volunteer and future foster dog owner states, “I hang out for the dogs, but it is more for me.” Animal Control allows volunteers to foster the successful future of an innocent animal by giving time and love to the dogs, while getting some back in return. For instance, a 2-month old tri-colored hound puppy named Dolly, with such a horrendous past, contained such a positive personality when playing. Despite being abandoned by an abusive owner at such a young age, her floppy ears and long wagging tail wipe away any sad memories. I felt such happiness travel between the both of us, especially after her little nose nuzzled against my knee as I knelt down to rub her spotted belly.\n\nHicks continues by claiming how volunteering at Animal Control “is addicting” and “an emotional experience.” I wanted to adopt every dog I saw, which made leaving difficult; however, the ability to return and live this same incredible experience again is always uplifting, without fail.\n\nNow, let’s use the dog fascination that UGA students have created through the years to make a difference for dogs in need. Hopefully, word of this non-commitment- based volunteer opportunity will travel fast, so when life is ruff, both dog and human can sneak in a smile on a stressful day.\nAthens Clarke County Animal Shelter\n125 Buddy Christian Way, Athens, Ga, 30605\nOpen Thursday-Tuesday 10:00am-4:00pm, closed Wednesday \n\n<![CDATA[I Motion Bi Visibility Day to be Every Day]]>Sun, 04 Oct 2015 22:01:01 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/i-motion-bi-visibility-day-to-be-every-dayPictureDeShonna Johnson\nTo all my bisexuals, September 23 is known as the day the Purple People raise their flags, take off their invisible cloaks and wreak havoc on the world. The day is, essentially, a ‘buzz off’ (for lack of a less professional word)’ to the persecution that bisexuals face both inside the LGBTQ+ community and out. But why do bisexuals need their own day?* How are they not already noticed? Where is Frank Ocean’s album? All questions a curious mind should ask (however, only two I can answer).\n\nQuite frankly, most of the world rejects the idea that bisexuality actually exists. We are looked at as unicorns, and more times than none, erased from the media and life in general based on our current partner’s perceived sex/gender at the time. Bisexuals face a fair amount of bierasure—or the tendency to ignore, remove or falsify evidence of bisexuality—in TV, film and literature. Quickly name three straight/gay TV characters. Now, name three bisexual TV characters. See, that pause you took to think? That’s my point. Unless you watch “Grey’s Anatomy” and say Callie Torres, your chances of saying a character who is explicitly bisexual (especially a bisexual man), are slim. Sure, it’s implied that Piper from “Orange is the New Black” might be bi or Clarke and Lexa from “The 100,” but that’s the problem. The bisexual identity should not result from implication. We are real and Bi Visibility Day is our time to, for the hundredth time since 1999, showcase our existence.\n\nHowever, while Bi Visibility Day is a great day to parade in the pink, purple and blue that make up our flag, bisexuals deserve longer than one day. This orientation, along with pansexuality and all other polysexualities, all deserve constant recognition. Some monosexuals, those attracted to only one sex/gender (i.e. straight and gay people), love to invalidate our sexuality through biphobic remarks such as “bisexuals are promiscuous,” “bisexuals can’t be trusted in relationships” and the oh-so-classic, “bisexuals are confused.” Misconceptions surrounding bisexuality can’t be combatted with only one day. Hell, I can’t even reference all of them in one column.\n\nYet, what can be done by those who aren’t bisexual is to continue learning about the sexuality and to learn to accept bisexuals for what they are: simply people attracted to two or more genders. What can be done by everyone, is to carry on the awareness of the ‘bi’ identity further than September 23. Bisexuals, it’s about time we give our invisible cloaks a rest.\n\n*If you ask this question, you are probably one of the people who asks ‘why do black people need their own month?’ and should seek your local library/African American for assistance.\n\n<![CDATA[Book Review: Between Here and April]]>Sun, 27 Sep 2015 22:01:01 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/book-review-between-here-and-aprilPictureTristyn Angel\nAfter a deeply rooted memory comes rushing back to the surface, Elizabeth Burns investigates her childhood best friend’s disappearance. The mystery becomes an obsession of discovering the truth after she finds a 35-year-old newspaper clipping that reveals a secret kept from her about her friend’s mother, Adele Cassidy. \n\nElizabeth, who is now a mother herself, sets out on a quest to find anyone who once came in contact with Adele Cassidy, in order to find out what exactly happened 35 years ago when her best friend, April Cassidy, failed to come to school. In searching for answers, questions about Elizabeth’s own life begin to surface. She is forced to face the challenges that she currently deals with about her husband, her children, her job and herself. \n\nBetween Here and April, by Deborah Copaken Kogan, is centered around mystery, as the basic plot entails finding evidence of April Cassidy’s disappearance. However, the novel also touches on mental illness and its effects on the life of a person. Mental illness is a recurring theme that many characters face throughout the novel. Several characters deal with illnesses that go undiagnosed, such as depression and postpartum psychosis. The novel conveys a gritty and haunting tone in its depiction of psychosis and mental disorders. \n\nThe center plot, consisting of April Cassidy’s disappearance, is appealing in the beginning of the novel. At one point, April and Elizabeth were best friends in grade school, and the next April was never heard from again. The disappearance of a small child is enough to pique the reader’s interest for the rest of the novel and it drives the plot. \n\nAs Between Here and April progresses, the author introduces several different thematic threads. In the beginning, the disappearance of April Cassidy was the main plotline. However, Kogan introduced plenty of other aspects to the book, such as dealing with marriage and kids and struggling with depression and psychosis. By the middle of the book, there are so many threads going on that the one central idea, April’s disappearance, seems to disappear itself. \n\nKogan has an interesting way of portraying her characters, as well. She takes two genders and forms them into two separate categories: women in the novel have depression and suicidal thoughts; and the men in the novel are incessant workaholics who make no time for their families. The main character, Elizabeth, is written as passive, just going through the motions.  She never deals directly with any struggles or troubles that she faces in her life. Paralleling Elizabeth, even though Adele Cassidy also fights depression, she doesn’t seem to deal with her problems, either. Instead, all characters tiptoe around their issues and nothing gets resolved. \n\nThe overall plot would be a decent idea, if it had been developed further by the author. Although there were engaging topics to discuss, such as that of mental illness, Kogan seemed to have too many ideas running through her head all at one time. She failed to develop one wholly, which left the novel lacking in many areas. \n\nOn the plus side, it’s a relatively quick read and very well written. Kogan has an excellent style of writing that flows smoothly with no choppiness involved. Still, the novel would have benefitted from some serious plot and character development.\n\nOverall rating: 3 out of 5 stars. \n\n<![CDATA[The War on Words]]>Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:44:09 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/the-war-on-wordsPictureKatie Story\nPlease stop the bickering. It’s not arguing or passionately defending your beliefs—it has now verged into nitpicking territory. Because this is what modern society has become. We’re just breaking down words or making inane attack comments online.\n\nBecause whichever side you choose to be on, left or right, conservative or liberal, both sides have their crazies and their fanatics and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. But it now seems the camps are fighting just as much if not more within themselves than between them.\n\nI’ve seen this on social media, or more often the regular broadcast media, where someone does not completely kowtow the exact right way someone likes they then get barraged with how they’re wrong. That is not proper debate or a proper way to help someone understand the error in what they are saying. That is being a thick bully.\n\nIf what you are saying is intelligent and follows a sensible line of thinking then go for it. If you can back up what you are saying then shoot. But please let us stop making ourselves hoarse by shouting over the other guy or gal speaking.\n\n<![CDATA[It's All Greek To Me]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:30:18 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/its-all-greek-to-mePictureKatie Story\nIt seems that there is a new story out every other week about a fraternity (usually) or sorority making a big mistake. Whether it’s University of Oklahoma’s racist chant video or University of Florida’s blackface party members, it all shows a lack of progression that still has not been made in society overall.\n\nThere are, of course, fantastic organizations and socially aware demographics on every college campus. But when societies like this are allowed to exist or are shut down without proper explanation on ways to fix the behavior—it seems like a lost cause.\n\nRacism is still alive and well and these instances only demonstrate that too keenly. When we turn a blind eye to behavior that dehumanizes a group or dredges up the worst of our past only to be revered, it allows for implicit racism to fester on. Sure, we might not be the one singing along or putting on that makeup, but if we act as bystanders we are only perpetuating the hate.\n\nOf course the administration of these schools should know that too. It is their job to foster the growth of their student population and help prepare them for the real world. If we allow the implicit (and sometimes explicit) racism to go on that only pumps it into our adult and daily lives.\n\nIt is hard to change old ways and the old racism that permeates this country, but in universities and on campuses everywhere, it is possible to shape young minds and thoughts for the better.\n\n<![CDATA[Hipster Culture Has Ruined the System]]>Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:43:22 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/hipster-culture-has-ruined-the-systemPictureKatie Story\nLet me break this down slightly.\n\nWelcome to high school, here’s your agenda and your social category. You’re definitely going to lose your agenda or at least ruin it in some capacity but your social category you will have for life. At least your high school life.\n\nBecause in high school you have your name and you have your place.\n\nBut here comes the hipster movement. It’s the movement that celebrates the bizarre and off-beat. It lauds the absurd. It highlights the unknown. It makes a lot of people wear fake glasses.\n\nSo now poor high school students around the United States have to navigate between two constraints. Do they conform and look like everyone else so they don’t risk scrutiny and possible alienation? Or do they join this popular movement and show off their quirky, less well-known hobbies and clothing?\n\nIt seems this generation is struggling (riding that struggle bus) far more than other generations. But why? Didn’t we solve all those pesky problems back in our grandparents’ days?\n\nThere are arguments for either side of that question, but now we’re struggling with something more internal. We’re struggling between our different identities and the hipster movement is a perfect encapsulation of that struggle.\n\nWe all want to fit in, we want to be accepted. But the hipster movement is all about standing out and doing your own thing. It’s been popularized and homogenized but at its core it is about true self-expression.\n\nAnd because of the hipster movement, it seems the system of placing people in boxes and constraining them to their limiting positions is starting to crumble ever so slightly. People will always be stereotyped because that’s how the brain deals with the world around it. But now maybe we can loosen the edges of the boxes we, and the people around us, are so tightly packaged in.\n\n<![CDATA[Ask Her More]]>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 23:19:27 GMThttp://www.georgiaugazine.org/special-topics/ask-her-morePictureKatie Story\nBeing a regular human being that enjoys talking about herself when provoked, I always thought the most glamorous part of a celebrity’s job was getting to talk hours on end about their daily lives, their current projects, their history, just everything. But until recently, I had not noticed how gender biased the questions can be.\n\nFrom women constantly being asked how they manage to balance work and family (because really, something must be falling through the cracks) to how they managed to drop so much weight for their Catwoman role/ getting back to “normal” post baby shape. Women are frequently asked very static questions about their appearance. Or very judgmental questions about their home lives.\n\nThat rarely happens to men.\n\nSure, male celebrities get their fair share of stupid and superficial questions, but they also get their fair share of tough and thought-provoking questions.\n\nWhich is why the #AskHerMore campaign made me so excited. Women are more than just their dresses and diet routines. We all know that.\n\nSure, people love gobbling up fashion and diet tips and there is nothing wrong with enjoying that facet of celebrity life. But the moment we relegate women to having these few and vain topics to talk about is the moment girls and women think that is all they should care about.\n\nWhich we all know is not true.\n\nSo hopefully the handful of journalists that actually care to write thought-provoking pieces (and hopefully those haven’t been fired yet) will take this campaign seriously and start leading the conversations to more interesting waters that don’t exclusively deal with liposuction and Louboutins.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6051409840583801}
+{"content": "Silver Necklace 'Forever by my Side' with Pearl\n\n€44,95 Incl. tax\n4 WORKING DAYS. Packed in pouch + polishing cloth + Greeting card\nArticle number: T820a\n€44,95 Incl. tax\n\nBrilliant chain with a graveerbedel thereto in the form of a cut-away heart. Both are engravable are, for example, 2 children's names, a name + a date, or something else. By-and-by .925 sterling silver and beautiful pearl in the middle, forever beautiful.\n\n♥ The heart is about 2 cm wide and 2.3 cm long (without round-eye).\n♥ You can engrave the front and / or back (or not choose engraving). So not all the pages you need to engrave.\n♥ A maximum of 18 characters per side.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6481711864471436}
+{"content": "\n\n\n<a href=\"https://www.flickr.com/photos/newshour/4808548585/\">Larisa Eptako</a>/Flickr\n\n\nThe emergence of this unlikely coalition has been building for some time: Liberals have long been critical of the criminal-justice status quo, and many “tough on crime” conservatives—growing concerned by the staggering costs of mass incarceration and the system’s impingement on liberty—are beginning to join their liberal and libertarian-minded colleagues. In the past, bills aimed at overhauling the criminal-justice system have stagnated on Capitol Hill, but the bipartisan players who are coming together to push for change means that there are some reforms that could realistically gain traction, even in this divided Congress.\n\nEarned-time credits: These programs, under which prisoners can work to earn an early release by completing classes, job training, and drug rehab, are highly popular among reformers. Many states already offer them, and they’ve been touted as smart, efficient ways to reduce prison populations as well as recidivism rates. Jay Hurst, a criminal-justice lawyer and commentator at the Hill, says that this is the likeliest issue where Congress could pass legislation this year.\n\nEasing up mandatory minimums: These laws, which broadly require those convicted of certain crimes to serve set sentences regardless of the specifics of the case, are considered hallmarks of the tough-on-crime approach politicians used to embrace. Critics, such as advocacy group Families Against the Mandatory Minimum, argue that these laws “undermine justice by preventing judges from fitting the punishment to the individual” and that they are one of the main reasons for overcrowded prisons. According to Jesselyn McCurdy, a criminal-justice expert at the American Civil Liberties Union, half of those locked up in federal prison are there for drug offenses, to which mandatory minimums are often rigorously applied.\n\nLast January, Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced the Smarter Sentencing Act, which intended to reduce the size of the prison population and rein in ballooning costs by reducing mandatory minimum sentencing, especially for drug-related crimes. Someone serving a 10-year sentence for a nonviolent crime could theoretically get out in five, under the legislation. The bill also proposed broadening judges’ discretion to sentence below federal minimums, known as the “safety valve” for oversentencing.\n\nThe Durbin-Lee bill died in committee—a common fate for criminal-justice legislation—and a total overhaul of mandatory minimums could be a tough ask for this Congress. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s new chair, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), is a vocal defender of sentencing minimums. Still, experts say there’s reason to believe some progress could get made. “Safety valve relief could happen this Congress,” Hurst said, because it’s considered a more moderate path to reducing sentences.\n\nJuvenile-justice reform: Criticism has grown louder over the way the justice system treats juveniles, from its practice of trying younger teenagers as adults to its placement of some minors in brutal solitary confinement. Last summer, Booker and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced the REDEEM Act (a.k.a. the Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment Act), which—among other things—aimed to eliminate solitary confinement for minors, and provided incentives, such as first dibs on public safety grant money, to get states to stop trying minors in adult courts.\n\nREDEEM stalled in committee, but Michael Harris, senior attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, thinks this Congress will make progress. “There will be bipartisan support for legislative action on solitary,” Harris says. “There is growing support for limiting it…many places are just using it way too much.”\n\nReducing recidivism: A major talking point from reformers on the left and the right is the need to transform prisons into places that actually rehabilitate inmates—not the existing “graduate schools of crime” that encourage repeat offenses. For years, “policymakers across the political spectrum saw high rates of re-offense as inevitable,” so they just kept offenders behind bars, according to a report from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, an office within the Department of Justice. Some states, however, have changed their approaches to incarceration and reduced recidivism rates dramatically. North Carolina passed reforms in 2011 that allocated more resources towards smoothing parolees’ transitions into regular life through advising and planning help. The state’s recidivism rate has gone down nearly 20 percent, and it has closed nine correctional facilities.\n\nIn late 2013, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced the Federal Prison Reform Act of 2013, which aimed to translate successful state reforms to the federal level. The central proposal was to require that all inmates be classified by risk of recidivism (low, medium, or high) and allocate resources based on that. The bill was not enacted, but Whitehouse’s office confirmed that his cooperation with Sen. Cornyn will continue in this Congress, and it’s possible they’d revive their previous bill.*\n\nSealing and expunging records: The key provision of Paul and Booker’s REDEEM Act is one that gives adults convicted of nonviolent offenses a path to sealing their criminal records—something that could make finding employment much easier. It also provides for the “automatic expungement” of nonviolent crimes committed before the age of 15, and sealing the records of nonviolent offenders between 15 and 18. Harris thinks this issue could find new life in the new Congress: “It makes sense to pass bills like this.”\n\nDespite the bipartisan efforts, many experts still believe that there are plenty of issues that could pose serious obstacles to compromise. Beyond the disagreement on mandatory minimums, there’s potential conflict on the role of for-profit prisons, which conservatives praise and Democrats like Booker loathe. Additionally, support for loosening drug penalties—particularly for marijuana—is growing broadly popular, but powerful Republicans remain vocal opponents. The ACLU’s McCurdy says that, despite potential hang-ups, she’s encouraged by the bipartisan concern over the state of the justice system. “I’m encouraged by how many diverse groups have come on board, which sends a signal to leadership that this is something the American people really want to get done,” she says.\n\nThere is one especially powerful force pushing along reform: The federal government is expected to spend nearly $7 billion on prisons this year, and conservatives in charge of Congress will be under pressure to bring down costs. “With every Congress, I’m hopeful for reform,” Hurst says. “But this Congress’ argument is based on money, not humanity, which is why it’s more realistic that it’d happen.”\n\nCorrection: The original version of this article misstated the fate of the Federal Prison Reform Act of 2013.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9699793457984924}
+{"content": "Самое важное\n\nСтоит начать с самого важного - с преимуществ новых технологий обучения.\n  • It's less expensive to produce – Once your asynchronous training programs have been developed, e-Learning is virtually free once you reach the break-even point. Synchronous programs will have continued costs associated with the instructor managing the class, but will still be lower than traditional courses.\n  • It's self-paced - Most e-Learning programs can be taken when needed. The e-courses you set up allow the learner to go through smaller chunks of training that can be used and absorbed for a while before moving on.\n  • It moves faster - According to an article by Jennifer Salopek in \"Training and Development Magazine,\" e-Learning courses progress up to 50 percent faster than traditional courses. This is partly because the individualized approach allows learners to skip material they already know and understand and move onto the issues they need training on.\n  • It provides a consistent message - e-Learning eliminates the problems associated with different instructors teaching slightly different material on the same subject. For company-based training, this is often critical.\n  • It can work from any location and any time - e-Learners can go through training sessions from anywhere, usually at anytime. This Just-In-Time (JIT) benefit can make learning possible for people who never would have been able to work it into their schedules prior to the development of e-Learning. (If you manage a corporate learning program, however, be careful about requesting that workers learn on their own time from home.)\n  • It can be updated easily and quickly - Online e-Learning sessions are especially easy to keep up-to-date because the updated materials are simply uploaded to a server. CD-ROM-based programs may be slightly more expensive to update and distribute, but still come out cheaper than reprinting manuals and retraining instructors.\n  • It can lead to increased retention and a stronger grasp on the subject - This is because of the many elements that are combined in e-Learning to reinforce the message, such as video, audio, quizzes, interaction, etc. There is also the ability to revisit or replay sections of the training that might not have been clear the first time around. Try that in a crowded auditorium!\n  • It can be easily managed for large groups of students – Learning Management Systems (LMS) allow corporate training directors, HR managers and others to keep track of the course offerings, schedule or assign training for employees and track their progress and results. Managers can review a student's scores and identify any areas that need additional training.\n\nТолько важно помнить, что помимо общих преимуществ, каждая организация найдет свои преимущества длявнедрения e-learning. Это могут быть совершенно не похожие на вышеупомянутые преимущества плюсы, но тем не менее их реализация будет способствовать развитию компании.\n\n\nПопулярные сообщения из этого блога\n\nПриносите свое обучение с собой\n\nКак использовать Телеграм в обучении?\n\nСколько стоит разработка электронного курса?", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6313596963882446}
+{"content": "\n\nMosquito Repelling Container Garden Recipe – This recipe was created for a location that gets at least 6-8 hours of sun a day. The plants will grow big and wild in the container, they will flower at different times, and have many different textures of foliage to keep it interesting.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.000009536743164}
+{"content": "Showing posts with label Dinosaurs.. Show all posts\nShowing posts with label Dinosaurs.. Show all posts\n\nPanthera tigris acutidens\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWell, part of this curiosity, how was the Sauroniops?\n\n\n\n\nThe Inostrancevia.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nStygimoloch Spinifer\n\nThe image you see, is not an evolved Pokemon, or any other animal picture Japanese manga. That which you see is the drawing, a more or less like a real dinosaur, a dinosaur that is listed as one of the strangest-looking dinosaurs ever found there.\n\nThe name of this prehistoric animal is Stygimoloch Spinifer, meaning \"thorny devil from the river of death\" (intriguing name). He was a member of the family of the pachycephalosaurs, this means that family was the \"dinosaurs thick heads\" (translation mine). Finally, the most characteristic of Stygimoloch Spinifer was that, his head. His skull was not as thick as other pachycephalosaurs, very well, but has a large number of horns, horns on his head on the muzzle, on the back of the skull and other parts of the face ... On the horns, the experts still do not agree on whether they were to defend themselves, to show off to fight with others of the same species as do the deer, etc.. From what I think so we will agree (experts and mortals ) is that the horns give it looks fantastic, like the dragons of the films. In fact I think the first who drew dragons, were inspired by this animal ... but hey, back to real dinosaur.\n\nThe Stygimoloch Spinifer was a herbivore that measured just over 3 meters long and about 2 meters high. He had small front legs but instead the rear were long and strong, so considering that it was agile and quick. In fact, he could inhabit the same ecological niche as a deer or an impala in Africa today ... the only thing that did not live back then lions, but Tyrannosaurus Rex.\n\nHe lived in the Late Cretaceous (70 million years ago) in North America. And disappeared probably because of the large meteorite that caused the Cretaceous mass extinction.\n\nEvolution: the Purgatorius to men.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nXiongguanlong, the ancestor of T.Rex\n\n\n\n\nA box-shaped skull.\nReinforced temple bones to support the jaw muscles.\nA strong spine that holds a large head.\nReduced forelimbs.\n\n\n\nLast image taken from\n\n\nWithout quite knowing why, Acrocanthosaurus lived to the public under the shadow of T.Rex, still a great unknown to most and undervalued its role as a hunter at the time of the Cretaceous in North America and Europe.\n\nAbout the size of T.Rex, the Acrocanthosaurus was a cousin of Allosaurus and, as this was a hunter specializing in large animals, giant sauropods like Diplodocus weighing 6 or 7 times or Pleurocoelus.\n\nThe name of this lizard Acrocanthosaurus means \"thorn lizard high\" and indeed, when it was discovered, even mistook him for the BIG SPINOSARUS (King of Kings). The theme of the spines always generates controversy and do not become experts agree: if they were to regulate the temperature, if it was to swim, to show your mood, or to house unions with strong muscles ... too numerous to write about this but we'll see another day.\n\nSpeaking of muscles, the Acrocanthosaurus was very muscular and strong, much more than others allosaurids. Something like an Allosaurus largest and steroids. It measured 12 meters and weighed 5.6 tons, and this made ​​him a bit slow *. He ran and ran up to the big sauropods (which is not that they were cheetahs) long necks and hooked to these formidable pulling their strong claws and bite with all his weight down, dropping these titanic beasts.\n\n* It was the weight and slow what they did to specialize in hunting large animals, or vice versa, hunting big beasts Acrocanthosaurus led to larger and more robust. Finally, the case is to specialize in this way produced an end. Forms were disappearing with the big sauropods, the Acrocanthosaurus were increasingly less likely to hunt and smaller dams could more easily escape them. His strength was his undoing.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTriceratops vs T-rex.\n\n\n\n\n\nLengths up to 10 meters long (30 ft).\nWeight: up to 12 tons (26.000 lb).\nHorn of 1 meter length each. (3 ft)\nHeight: up to 3 meters. (9 ft)\nSpeed ​​of 35 km / h\n\n\nLengths up to 13 meters long. (40 ft)\nWeight: 10 tons. (20.000 lb)\nHeight: 4 meters. (12 ft)\nMouth with a strong bite.\nSpeed ​​40 km / h.\n\n\n\n\nYou have certainly heard of Mosasaurus, the great predator of the Cretaceous, a fearsome marine hunter was afraid of other creatures of the sea but ... and Hainosaurus? While not believe it, the Hainosaurus belonged to the same family as the Mosasaurus, Mosasauridae the family.\n\nHe was also a marine reptile, an apex predator that lived with her ​​relative Mosasaurus.\n\nHainosaurus dimensions have been debated: Some experts believe that reached 17 m (57 ft) and 13 m (42 ft) change others, but the vast majority agrees to an average size 15 meters (50ft).\n\nThis hunter's skull measuring 1.5 meters (5 ft) long. And in his jaws were more than 60 teeth are sharp and hard. Among their prey were fish, turtles, marine reptiles and even smaller sharks.\n\nThe hainosaurus had an elongated body that was perfectly adapted to the water to achieve greater agility and speed. They had fins on the sides and curved tail with fins to swim very fast, to reach out and catch their prey without that it can do almost anything.\n\nThis prehistoric animal was specially adapted to be in the water, and some of the questions that have their fossils are related to how and where breeding and giving birth to their young, uncertain whether it was viviparous, oviparous or ovoviviparous.\n\nAlthough little is known of this marine reptile, I hope you discover more about the wonderful Hainosaurus.\n\nThe protofeather or Dinofuzz.,\n\nThe protofeathers (or Dinofuzz) ... the great mystery of reptilian scales transition feathers.\n\nWhat are protofeathers?\n\nThe protofeathers are structures shaped keratin hair or bristle and are considered the precursors of feathers.\n\nWhen did?\n\nMuch of all this passionate debate is the date of appearance of the feathers, protofeathers. It is interesting that the oldest fossil\nprotofeathers are later than the earliest known bird. It makes no sense unless the protofeathers or dinofuzz ​​appeared much earlier (in the Middle Triassic) and therefore would all structures originally present in dinosaurs and their immediate ancestors. Impressions of skin devoid of feathers or protofeathers known (Anatosaurus, Carnotaurus, Tyrannosaurus, etc..) Could be due to a subsequent loss of the outer coating due to the large body mass of these animals (the same reason that the rhinos and elephants have virtually no hair). But this need not be. Anyway ... although I am inclined to this theory, it really is just a theory.\n\nHow are the protofeathers?\n\nAccording to the current expliación: One of reptilian scales ... This is the first spine, then becomes hollow and extends, as it grows, it follows from the skin and forms a cluster of hairs called beards or barbules.\n\nIn this video you can see the process of formation of protofeathers.\n\nWhy are important protofeathers?\n\nFor as we said, are the precursors of feathers. The appearance of the feathers is one of the most controversial issues can be found by paleontologists.\n\nApart from that it is not clear when they appeared, the experts, agree with in the end, why they left feathers: feathers but now used to fly (the most important feature) is considered to formation of these was a simple cold protection system. A coat of hollow scales isolated from the ravages of time.\n\nWhy were transformed into feathers?\n\nProtofeathers are known to be used to maintain body heat and cover the body from the cold. And the fossils discovered (or most) protofeathers concentrations were located on the tail and arms. This allowed them to cover her at night and cover the cold while the temperature down ...\n\nIt is no coincidence that birds have feathers on the wings larger (called T-shirts or remiges) and tail (tail feathers or rectrices). They were the first to develop, were the first to appear were also exercising more air resistance. An important feature for small arboreal animals, leaping from branch to branch or thieves fast and small eggs.\n\nWhat were the first to have protofeathers?\n\nThere are several examples of theropods (a group of two-legged carnivores, which is the T. Rex or Velociraptor). Some are: Dilong paradoxus, Sinosauropteryx, Shuvuuia, Beipiaosaurus, Sinornithosaurus, etc ...\n\nBut not only are the developers of theropods\nDinofuzz ​​protofeathers or, for example there is the Tianyulong, a small herbivore that is casting doubt on its position in the evolutionary tree and it was discovered 2 years ago.\n\nFinally, there are still many questions to solve, finding fossils and discovering new species. A truly exciting topic of prehistoric life on our planet.\n\nSaurophaganax, theeater of saurians.\n\n\n\n\n\nAllosaurus fragilis.\n\n\n\n\nTheir physical characteristics are:\n\nLength: Nearly 30 feets long.\nHeight: 13 feets.\nWeight: 6000 lb.\n\n\n\n\n\nBaryonyx \"heavy claw. \"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n* The Argentinosaurus 40 meters and 100 tons. (gray)\n\n\n\nRelated Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5937706232070923}
+{"content": "Expert Advice For Alleviating Your Asthma Symptoms\n\nAsthma is a serious medical condition that can affect anyone, from a teenager to a senior citizen. You should always get professional help, and avoid the things that cause your asthma attacks. The information included here will provide you with tips to assist you in managing your condition and help you minimize the chances of having a severe attack.\n\n\nAvoid being around any known asthma triggers. Certain outdoor areas may be off-limits because they cause allergies to flare up. For others, physical activity can irritate them. Keep a journal of your attacks so that you can start to learn what your triggers are so that you can prevent flareups before they begin.\n\nTalk to a social worker if you do not have health insurance and need medication for your asthma. A social worker can possibly help you with finding treatment and low-cost medications.\n\nMake sure that everyone in your family gets their flu shot. Keep yourself healthy, and without respiratory infections as best you can. You can start by taking simple precautions, such as washing your hands and getting proper vaccinations when due.\n\nIf you suffer from asthma, ensure you consume lots of Vitamins E and C. These vitamins make lungs function better and keep symptoms of asthma under control. It is possible to acquire the necessary amounts by eating foods or by taking dietary supplements. Your immune system gets a boost with these vitamins, and this helps protect your body against illnesses and asthma.\n\n\n\nPeople who have asthma should stick to using unscented products. Products that contain fragrance, such as perfumes, colognes, or air fresheners, fill the air with irritants that can trigger an asthma attack. Certain things in the home, such as newly installed carpet or fresh paint, can also release chemical irritants. As much as possible, try to keep your home filled with fresh, pure air.\n\nYou should not take asthma lightly. Asthma attacks can kill you, so you should always take the necessary measures to ensure you are safe from worse problems. Always have a backup inhaler with you, and try to limit your exposure to irritating airborne contaminants. Hopefully, you follow these tips, so you can get a handle on your asthma, and control the symptoms better.\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5558010339736938}
+{"content": "20 Month Baby\n\n20 Month Baby\n\nI can already take off my clothes without any help.\n\nI know when something is wrong.\n\nI say 20 to 50 words. I start learning words possibly 5 or more per day.\n\nI enjoy helping with chores around the house.\n\nI pretend to help toys, imitate Mum and Dad such as feeding a baby or driving a car.\n\nI already run well.\n\nI start setting small goals.\n\nI show better signs of bladder control.\n\nI start learning up to 10 words per day.\n\nI become naturally curious about everything, including my genitals. When I was younger I used to play with my fingers and toes and now I will do so with my genitals. But don´t worry Mum and Dad, unless it is nonstop. I may do this in public but don´t make a lot of fuss about it. Just explain to me that some things are done only at home in private.\n\n\n\nGo from 20 Month Baby to Baby Development Links", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.936667799949646}
+{"content": "Category Uncategorized\n\nPolitical History: British Non-Intervention in the Spanish Civil War\n\n“How did Britain’s approach to Non-Intervention change during the Spanish Civil War?” For a civil war whose battlefields were confined to its own nation as a civil war the Spanish Civil War came to exasperate political and societal tensions among societies across Europe in the inter-war period. Due to the ideologically charged nature of the […]\n\nThe Internationalisation of American Psychiatry, an Historical Case Study (1909 – 1973)\n\nRegardless of how much one attempts to divorce it from them, the histories of psychiatry and mental health care can only be understood in their social, political and cultural contexts. In practice, there are three methods historians can employ for ventures such as these. Firstly, and typically, studies can be restricted by historians to individual […]\n\nThe British Empire and the Chinese Empire: A Comparative Study\n\nWhether it was a lack of relevant material, language barriers, a lack of interest or worse patronizing representations attributed to a Eurocentric mentality historians writing comparative histories of empires have faced issues when articulating their work. Revised ethno-histories of empires would not really take off until Edward Said, seeking to cull Eurocentric practices in the […]\n\nThe American Century\n\nThe following is a paper submitted as part of my Master’s degree in History. The paper is a ‘historiographical study’, a paper which considers the viewpoints of historians and how arguments have developed. Regardless, I am hoping you get something out of it as the topic it covers is extremely important. Since it is an […]\n\nThe Spanish Civil War: Francisco Franco Bahamonde\n\nHello everyone! Just a small update from my University degree, this time with regards to a new module: The Spanish Civil War. The following is a piece of coursework I just submitted, a ‘Source Analysis’. Basically I have to analyse a specific source and in 1500 words (10% margin either way) pick it apart and […]\n\nAnt-Man & Age of Ultron: Thoughts and Theories\n\n\n“A Modern American Fairytale”\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8520191311836243}
+{"content": "Movie Review – The Heiresses (Sydney Film Fest 2018)\n\n\n\n\nThe story follows the lives of Chela (Ana Brun) and Chiquita (Margarita Irun), whom have both descended from wealthy families in Asuncion, Paraguay. The two have been together for 30 years but recently their finances has worsened and they begin selling off their inherited possessions. But when their debts lead to Chiquita being imprisoned on fraud charges, Chela is forced to live a new phase of her life that would force her out of her shell.\n\nDriving for the first time in years, she begins to provide a local taxi service to a group of elderly wealthy ladies, despite her pride. As Chela settles into her new life, she encounters the much younger Angy, forging a new and exciting connection. Chela finally begins to contemplate on her past and starts to ponder major decisions for her future.\n\n\nNow that may seem like a depressing story to trudge through, but the characters are well-realized, the performances are compellingly naturalistic and the storytelling is assured and even has a welcome dash of humour, thanks to the sharp, acerbic performance by Marina Martins.\n\nThe social context of social status and privileges in Paraguay’s elitist zeitgeist (which is still quite prevalent today) adds a certain punch to the characterizations. In the case of Chela, she is shy of the outside world (and could be suffering from chronic depression) and what it has to offer and yet within the metaphorical shell she has nestled in, she has a sense of pride with what she has before and even after her possessions are taken away.\n\nThe storytelling never ventures through predictability nor gets buried in its various subplots and the characters’ growth veers the same way. There are enjoyable moments of intimacy and tenderness like the interactions between Chela and Angy (as well as the housemaid, Pita) that signal the character progression of the former but said attention should also be paid towards the shot selections, which deviate from POV shots and handheld towards more open shots (courtesy of cinematographer Luis Armando Artega), as well as the costume design and make-up, which conveys the gradual vivacity of Chela.\n\nRGB tiff image by MetisIP\n\nBut none of those things would be effective if it weren’t for the performances. The majority of the cast are all newcomers or those with relatively little acting experience. Brun is understated and yet magnetic in the way she conveys foreign sensations using her expressive face like fear, hurt and hopefulness with aplomb.\n\nIrun is good as Chiquita, the much more grounded of the pair (who can handle the harshness of life more capably) and as mentioned earlier, Martins is a hoot as Pituca, an older neighbour who selfishly berates Chela to drive her to her ladies’ card games. But the other standout of the film is Ana Ivanova as Angy. Convincingly confident, fierce and comfortably sensual, she shares an enjoyable and lovely rapport with Brun.\n\n\nWhile the film may be a bit too understated for its own good (which can test the audience’s patience) and the metaphors may be a bit blatant (one scene involves a spill of a intricately set platter), the film scores mightily with a satisfying ending that achieves what it exactly sets out to do, with a sense of ambiguity as well as a sense of catharsis.\n\nOverall, The Heiresses is a quiet, understated and yet compelling piece of work that is brimming with intimacy, naturalistic performances, assured storytelling and the tactful use of thematically rich subtext. Recommended.\n\n\nQuickie Review\n\n\nGreat naturalistic performances from the cast\n\nStrong storytelling, with the social backdrop lending the story punch\n\nAssured direction keeps story on course and tone in check\n\n\nSome visual metaphors are quite blatant\n\nMay be a bit too understated for its own good\n\nSCORE: 8/10\n\n\n\nDirector: Marcelo Martinessi\nScreenwriters: Marcelo Martinessi", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.974345326423645}
+{"content": "Streaming live at 10am (PST)\n\nInteractions order\n\n\nI’ve noticed a problem with the interactions panel that can be a bit annoying. Sometimes when doing complex animations, it can be important to have your commands inside of a group (a set that starts at the same time) in a specific order. For example, lets say I have a set of 5 divs… 1 2 3 4 5… I might want them to stay in that order as a group because perhaps they rotate in that order (or something like that, it doesn’t matter).\n\nThen, let’s say I duplicate that group. I might need that order to change to 2 3 4 5 1 (for sake of clarity as I assemble the animation. Then 3 4 5 1 2; 4 5 1 2 3, and so on. However, if I test the animation in view mode and come back, those layer orders have now changed to something random. Does this make sense? If I set the divs in a certain order in the interactions panel, I want them to stay in that order.\n\n\n\nHi @scottiejhaines\n\nThanks for posting about this. I think I understand what the issue is but I’m having a hard time reproducing it on my end. Can you please share a Read-Only link to a project where this is happening? Any screenshots or recordings are also helpful.\n\n​Thanks in advance.\n\n\nHmm, I can’t replicate it anymore either (without changing values). I’m thinking it may have had something to do with trying to reorder elements in a duplicated group and moving to another panel before changing the values of the new group.\n\nOn a side note. In the animation panel, it would be nice if we could drag-and-drop elements within groups instead of just to the bottom of a group.\n\n\nHere is the Webflow link if you still want it. This was a sandbox example for another user, so no big rush. This isn’t for a client.\n\nOpen in Webflow", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7662110328674316}
+{"content": "What is flat rate of interest?\n\n\nWhat is flat rate of interest?\n\n\nFlat rate of interest is a way in which banks or NBFCs will calculate your loan repayment. Under the flat rate system your EMI will be calculated without taking into account any periodic payments made by you. So interest on your loan will be charged on the full loan amount throughout the loan tenure. EMI contains repayment made towards both interest and principal amount but a flat rate of interest calculations does not take that into account. An interest on reducing balance on the other hand is calculated as per your outstanding amount and not the original loan.\n\n\nHi Reba,\n\nFlat interest rate is the interest rate calculated on the entire loan amount during its entire tenure. However, this does not take into consideration the gradual reduction of the principal amount by monthly EMIs. This is why the Effective Rate of Interest is higher than the Flat Interest Rate that was quoted at the time of the loan sanction.\n\nLooking for a Personal Loan? Click here.\n\nTeam BB", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999640583992004}
+{"content": "California Budget ChallengeAbout Next 10Budget Overview\n\nBudget Basics\n\nThe Budget Overview\n\n\nFor many years, California had spent more than it had coming in, and often used short-term solutions and borrowing to balance the budget. The 2018-19 Governor’s May Revise has a fairly large surplus, but tough choices remain about the level of funding needed for state programs, whether to restore reductions to programs that have been made recently, and what changes to consider making our revenue sources more stable in the future. The 2018-19 budget also continues to emphasize building up reserves and maintaining fiscal health in the face of federal uncertainty and a potential recession.\n\nTake the Challenge", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997498393058777}
+{"content": "\"Our estimates suggest that the radiation on the ground from these solar events is very small. And yet the experimental evidence suggests that something is going on that causes birth defects,\" says Adrian Melott. \"We don't understand this, which is good. Something one doesn't understand is a pointer to an interesting scientific problem.\" (Credit: iStockphoto)\n\n\nCan cosmic rays cause birth defects?\n\nAirplane crews at high altitude are exposed to potentially harmful levels of radiation from cosmic rays.\n\n“Neutrons which don’t reach the ground do reach airline altitude,” says Adrian Melott, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Kansas. “Flight crews get a lot more radiation dose from neutrons. In fact, during solar particle events, airplanes are diverted away from the North Pole, where a lot more cosmic rays come down.”\n\nCould these cosmic rays pose hazards even at sea level?\n\nA new study in the Journal of Geophysical Research says probably not: those kinds of solar events are too weak to cause worry at ground level.\n\n“We looked at two different studies,” Melott says. “Both of them indicated a connection between cosmic rays and the rate of birth defects. One also associated mutations in cells growing in a petri dish with a 1989 solar particle event.”\n\n\n“We have a contradiction,” Melott says. “Our estimates suggest that the radiation on the ground from these solar events is very small. And yet the experimental evidence suggests that something is going on that causes birth defects. We don’t understand this, which is good. Something one doesn’t understand is a pointer to an interesting scientific problem.”\n\nHazardous ‘secondaries’\n\nSo the researchers looked at how cosmic rays from the sun create hazardous “secondaries” by reacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.\n\n“Cosmic rays are mostly protons,” Melott says. “Basically, they are the nuclei of atoms—with all the electrons stripped off. Some come from the sun. Others come from all kinds of violent events all over the universe. Most of the ones that hit the Earth’s atmosphere don’t reach the ground, but they set off ‘air showers’ in which other particles are created, and some of them reach the ground.”\n\nThe air showers pose the most serious threat for the health of humans and other biology on the Earth’s surface via “ionizing radiation,” he says.\n\n“Ionizing radiation is any radiation that can tear apart an atom or a molecule. It can affect life in many ways, causing skin cancer, birth defects, and other things. Normally, about one-sixth of the penetrating radiation we get down near sea level is from secondaries from cosmic rays.”\n\nSolar radiation around 775 CE\n\nThe researchers looked carefully at two forms of radiation formed by solar particle events—muons and neutrons—finding that muons are the most dangerous to biology at the Earth’s surface.\n\n“Muons are a kind of heavy cousin of the electron,” Melott says. “They’re produced in great abundance by cosmic rays and are responsible for most of the radiation we get on the ground from cosmic rays. Neutrons can do a lot of damage. However, very few of them ever reach the ground. We checked this because some of them do reach the ground. We found that they’re likely responsible for a lot less damage than muons, even during a solar particle event.”\n\nOf particular interest to the authors was a massive dose of solar radiation around the years 773-776 CE.\n\n“Carbon-14 evidence was found in tree rings in 2012 that suggests a big radiation dose came down around 775, suggesting a huge solar particle event, at least 10 times larger than any in modern times,” Melott says. “Our calculations suggest that even this was mostly harmless, but maybe there is something wrong with our assumptions. We used ordinary understandings of how muons may cause damage, but perhaps there is some new physics here which makes the muons more dangerous.”\n\n\n\n“In calculating the effect of muons, we used standard assumptions about what the effect of muons should be,” Melott says. “Their physics is pretty simple, just that of an electron with a lot of mass.\n\n\nResearchers from MidAmerica Nazarene University and the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science are coauthors of the study, which the NASA program Astrobiology: Exobiology and Evolutionary Biology funded.\n\nSource: University of Kansas\n\nRelated Articles", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5408196449279785}
+{"content": "Street Fighter Battle of the Brothers: Ryu\n\nStreet Fighter Battle of the Brothers: Ryu\n\nList Price: $429.00\n\nSale Price: $399.00\n\nYou Save: $30.00 (7%)\n\nDeposit: $40.00\nEstimated ship date: July 2018\n\nStatue by Kinetiquettes\n\nKinetiquettes is proud to present the second figure in their 4 figure 'Battle of the Brothers' diorama, Ryu!\n\nThis is a statue of Ryu that is part of the Battle of the Brothers diorama, which includes Ken, Gouken and Gouki (Akuma). This dynamic detailed diorama depicts Ryu about to do his signature move of Shoryuken as breaks through one of the temple guardian statues. The floor tiles at the base are engineered to allow connection to the other dioramas in this line.\n\n\nRyu is a video game character and protagonist of the Street Fighter series, first appearing in the original Street Fighter. He is an experienced martial artist, highly focused on his training, aiming to become the strongest he can. He is a silent, humble, and respectful individual, which is often juxtaposed against the light-hearted, fiery persona of his childhood friend Ken. He wanders the world with the desire for complete mastery of his martial art and takes both his travels and training seriously.\n\nIn the first Street Fighter, Ryu wore a white headband and red shoes. Over the course of time, he has grown taller and more muscular; his karate gi has grown more tattered, his gloves have changed from brown to red and his headband has changed from white to red. Most notably, his hair color has darkened over time; his original Street Fighter appearance gave him red hair, brown in Street Fighter Alpha, dark brown in Street Fighter II and Street Fighter IV, and black in Street Fighter III and Street Fighter V. The red headband Ryu wears was originally worn by Ken. Ryu gave his white headband to Sakura before getting his red headband.\n\n\nNote: This item ships from overseas and shipping costs will be higher! Please contact us if you have any questions.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.887376606464386}
+{"content": "One bombproof sports dog coming right up!\n\nAchieving in sport requires you to get the most in learning and performance from your dog and relationship. To get this, we need a dog that doesn’t get worried or overly aroused by the environments and job that they do as part of the team. How do we get this?\n\nWell, in this video I explain how!\n\nSpending a (very) short amount of time on this leads to leaps in learning and performance. This training is tailored to YOU and YOUR DOG so don’t miss out on it!\n\nI explain how to get a bombproof sports dog in this week’s blog!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9868676066398621}
+{"content": "Eliot; 'Tradition and the Individual Talent'.\n\nEliot's“Tradition and the Individual Talent”T.\n\nThe keyword \"medium\" is itself an example of this fungibility, deployed several times in the essay in both its 1“Tradition and Individual Talent” Summary Points T.S Eliot as a critic One of the most seminal critics of his Summary points of T S Eliot's essay.\n\nElliot, illustrates for us the many reasons poets should detach themselves from their writings and extract any personal elements they may want to be added.Tradition and the Individual Talent: An Essay by T.S.\n\nLike Tzara, and unlike Marinetti, Eliot \"Tradition\" and \"Individual Talent\" are synonyms for Eliot, the moments of a reciprocal constitution, two aspects of the same substance.\n\nEliot's Tradition and the Individual Talent.\n\nWhereas if we approach a poet without this prejudice we shall often find that not only best, but the most individual parts of his work may be those in which dead poets, his ancestors, assert their immortality most vigorously (Eliot, 1919, p.\n\nT.S Eliot Tradition and Individual Talent and The Love Song of J.\n\n'Tradition and the Individual Talent\".\nKey Ideas\nPresented in this Essay\nHow do these ideas relate to Eliot's Career, the Development of Modernism and wider Modernist Literature and Culture?\nHow Eliot's ideas are presented in\nThe Waste Land\n\nEliot: Tradition and the Individual Talent.\n\neNotes plot summaries cover all the significant action of Tradition and the Individual Talent.\n\n\n\nPoet Thomas Stearns Eliot—or T.S., as we like to call him—was a man of contradictions. His greatest works—, and the poems that make up the Four Quartets—reflected the despair and desolation of the world after the . Eliot eschewed the London bars and cafes that attracted his fellow writers in favor of his prim and solitary office. Even his physical appearance was so gray and severe-looking that an interviewer once described him as \"forbidding and austere, [like] the abbot of an ascetic order.\"\n\nYet, the same visitor also pronounced, \"There is probably no kinder man in London today than T.S. Eliot.\" The poet graciously entertained students over tea and offered his name to charitable causes. Eliot enjoyed bourbon and a game of gin rummy. And, in perhaps the greatest contradiction, the man whose smashed poetic conventions believed staunchly that a poet's first obligation was to tradition. Eliot tapped into the wisdom of the ages to produce poems that perfectly captured the emotions of the Western world.\n\nIn 1888, Eliot was born in all-American St. Louis, Missouri, but became a British subject in 1927 and spent most of his life in England. Eliot is considered the bard of modernism, the early twentieth-century era during which bold thinkers took the existing forms of art and literature and smashed them with a hammer. \"It is very likely that when the literary history of our time comes to be written, it will be characterized as the Age of Eliot, just as we speak now of the Age of Pope or Tennyson,\" his obituary said. \"If we judge a man by the vacancy that his absence from his time would have caused, T.S. Eliot was a giant.\"\n\nTradition and the Individual Talent\n\n\nTradition and the Individual Talent : I\n\n\nTradition and the Individual Talent - Wikipedia\n\nIn 1917, the literary journal (where Eliot served as an assistant editor) published an essay of his entitled Eliot's manifesto railed against the modern tendency to praise a poet's attempts to be different for the sake of being different. Only by recognizing the poetic traditions he drew upon and suppressing his personal desires, Eliot argued, could a poet truly achieve greatness. (And, yes, Eliot assumed that any great poet would be male.) He elaborated:\n\nEliot's essay was interesting for two reasons in particular. First, Eliot was coming into his own as a poet at the same time that an Austrian psychiatrist named introduced the idea that there was something to be gained by plunging deep into the inner sanctums of the self. Eliot's essay disputed Freud's argument, valuing the collective unconscious over the individual subconscious. Though the two men held completely separate viewpoints, both of their ideas came to dominate their age. \"In [Freud's] opinion there must be sought a collective and individual balance, which should constantly take into account man's primitive instincts,\" a member of the Swedish Academy said when Eliot received the for literature in 1948. \"You, Mr. Eliot, are of the opposite opinion. For you the salvation of man lies in the preservation of the cultural tradition, which, in our more mature years, lives with greater vigour within us than does primitiveness, and which we must preserve if chaos is to be avoided.\"\n\nThe second reason we find Eliot's emphasis on tradition interesting is that he was about to write one of the most unique, unprecedented poems in the history of the English language.\n\nBy 1921, stuck in a boring bank job and an unhappy marriage, Eliot had a bit of a mental breakdown. As he took leave from to recover, he began to reflect on the desolation of post-war European culture. He saw it as a spiritually empty society that had veered too far away from its traditions. It was a level of despair without precedent, and to address it Eliot had to write a poem unlike any other that came before it. In 1922, Eliot founded a literary journal called , and in its first issue he published the result of his efforts—.\n\nwas a five-part epic that journeyed through a ruined and desolate world. With its starkly beautiful language, the poem was—and still is—an overwhelming experience to read. \" is easier on the ear than on the mind,\" wrote in 1950. That was putting it mildly. In its 434 lines, the poem wandered into different languages, obscure references, and a cascading riot of images. Some people tossed it aside as too obscure, accusing Eliot of being intentionally confusing (\"How better to identify yourself as a serious poet than to be incomprehensible?\" writer said of Eliot many years later).\n\nOnce again, though, a generation of poets who understood the alienation and horror that Eliot was talking about embraced the epic poem as a masterpiece. Permanent Secretary of the Swedish Academy, Anders Osterling, of the poem's indelible impact at Eliot's Nobel ceremony: \" now lies a quarter of a century back in time, but unfortunately it has proved that its catastrophic visions still have undiminished actuality in the shadow of the atomic age. The of modern man in a secularized world, without order, meaning, or beauty, here stands out with poignant sincerity.\"", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7921282052993774}
+{"content": "Home Bangalore Sleep, your superpower\n\n    0 679\n\n    From dream incubation to keeping a flashlight pen by your bedside, Arianna Huffington walks you through your darkest hours\n\n    The power of dreams…and why you should record them\n\n    A throw pillow in Arianna Huffington’s bedroom states, ‘Sleep your way to the top’. And the editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post  lives by it — by sleeping  eight hours a day, that is. The author of 15 books — including 2014’s bestselling Thrive (which tries to redefine success) — had got her wake-up call when she’d collapsed in 2007, to wake up later in a pool of blood. Her doctor’s prognosis: exhaustion. Now an advocate for slumber, her newest book takes us behind the science of it, and explores why the lack of it affects our lives and how we can court it every night. Here is an excerpt from The Sleep Revolution.\n\n    Those who have integrated dreams into their lives have found that the “otherworld” of sleep has become more real — something to be welcomed rather than resisted. For me, it is way more than just feeling recharged. There is also a sense of freedom that comes from less attachment to daily battles, successes, failures, and illusions. My daughter Isabella has a recurring dream that beautifully illustrates this. She is a living stop sign, forcing people to come to a complete stop before moving on with their lives. And instead of dissolving when she wakes up, the dream takes on new relevance when she revisits it during the day, reminding her to pause, reflect, and keep all the demands of her life in perspective.\n\n    There are some simple steps we can take before we go to sleep to reinstate dreams to a central place in our lives and experience firsthand why they matter. After we put our devices aside, wind down, and let go of the day, we can learn from the practices of ancient temples and do a modern-day version of dream incubation. Synesius of Cyrene, a Greek bishop living around the year 400, called dreams oracles, always ready to serve as our “silent counselor.” And dream incubation is a process of preparing our consciousness to receive guidance from our inner counselors. It can be about big life decisions, but also about anything that we want more clarity and wisdom around, however trivial it may seem.\n    I love how the Rubin Museum in New York, which houses Asian art, brings dream incubation into our modern lives. It hosts an annual “Dream-Over,” where participants spend the night sleeping among the artworks. A Tibetan Buddhist teacher leads a discussion about the significance of dreams in Tibetan culture, and in the morning “dream gatherers” start a conversation about what everyone dreamed of.\n    If I wake up in the middle of the night, even if I have not asked for specific guidance in any part of my life, I write down whatever I remember from my dreams with a pen that has a flashlight attached to it. I find that when I don’t turn on the lamp on my nightstand, it is easier not to lose the thread of my dreams. (And if you’re not sleeping alone, you’re less likely to wake your partner.) When you wake up in the morning, if you want to remember your dreams, don’t grab your cell phone the moment you open your eyes and become inundated with news, texts, and emails. Before letting the outside world in, taking a momentary pause and a few deep breaths can help you recall more of your dreams, reliving the paths traveled while in your dream world. As we learn to recognize the hidden meanings beneath the surface of the everyday, it becomes easier to listen to the inner whisperings that tend to get drowned in the cacophony of our waking life.\n\n    “I started with microscopic steps: adding 30 minutes, taking my devices out of my bedroom, not rushing to my phone first thing. But then, very quickly, the new me drew me like a magnet. The old me was more cranky, more  irritable, more reactive. I found  [the new me] not really reacting. I like living my life like that” —Vogue\n\n    “He (Donald Trump)  displays all of the  symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation—inability to process simple information, emotional instability, outbursts of anger, mood swings and regurgitation of incomprehensible pablum”—Boston Herald\n\n    Reprinted with permission from the Penguin Random House. Rs 599. Available at Starmark. Details: 64550262\n\n\n    0 865\n\n    0 758", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8786956667900085}
+{"content": "2017 Jasmine Hassan Dalat World History\n\nTimeline created by jhassan1\nIn History\n  • 4,500 BCE\n\n    4 - Egypt - Geography and Ancient Egypt\n\n    The water, silt, and protective geographic surroundings let a huge civilization to rise up in Egypt. The Nile in Egypt gave life to the desert giving Egypt the name \"The Gift Of The Nile.\" After farming started developing in the Nile, the civilization of Egypt started to develop along the river. Many powerful leaders unified Egypt. The modern day connection is that the Egyptians impacted on surgery in the world today\n  • 4,000 BCE\n\n    3.4 - Sumer - The Rise Of Sumerian and Akkadian Empire\n\n    The Sumerians, developed what is called a city-state (consisting of a city and a countryside around it). Aside from Sumer, there also rose the Akkadian empire. In the Akkadian empire, a rebel of the Sumerian empire, Sargon, ruled over the empire. Sargon was a powerful monarch. He had many tricks up his sleeve when on the battlefield. Many of the Sumerians worshipped polytheism (a worship of multiple gods).\n  • 3,500 BCE\n\n    3.3 - Sumer - Sumerian Achievements\n\n    In Sumer, they developed the first form of writing called cuneiform. After that, they developed a form of writing with picture symbols, called a pictograph. Usually, a scribe would use these forms of writing to copy a document of some sort. Not long after, the Epic of Gilgamesh was created.\n  • 3,500 BCE\n\n    4.5 - Kush - Ancient Kush\n\n    Kush and Egypt had a very weird relationship. They would trade with each other. However, they would also fight a lot. Merchants were the traders who traded with Kush along the Mediterranean and Red Sea. Kush would export goods to their other neighbors, and get imports for repayment.\n  • 3,300 BCE\n\n    4.4 Egypt - Egyptian Achievements\n\n    The Egyptians made achievements in all types of things such as writing, art, and architecture. They developed an Egyptian writing system using hieroglyphics.\n  • 3,100 BCE\n\n    4.1 - Egypt - Geography and Ancient Egypt\n\n    We learned about how the ancient Egyptians were built next to a river delta (the Nile River). Every so often the Nile would start having a cataract (a rapid flood) which would sometimes destroy crops. So, the Egyptians installed irrigation systems to help the unexpected floodings. In addition, pharoahs ruled over ancient Egypt. The most famous Pharoah was called Menes (3100BC)\n  • 2,700 BCE\n\n    4.2 - Egypt - The Old Kingdom\n\n    The Old Kingdom was a period in ancient Egyptian history that lasted about 2700 - 2200 BC. The most famous pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was called Khufu who ruled around the 2500s BC. The most important person in Egyptian culture was the pharaoh. However, just below the pharaoh were the upper classes. These people were called nobles (from rich and powerful families).\n  • 2,630 BCE\n\n    4.2 - Egypt - The Pyramids\n\n    In the early ages, Egyptians believed that burial sites (especially royal tombs) were very important. So they built pyramids, which were humongous stone tombs with four triangle shaped sides that met at the very top.\n  • 2,600 BCE\n\n    4.2 - Egypt - Religion and Egyptian Life\n\n    Much of the ancient Egyptian religion focused on the afterlife, or the life after death. They believed that the afterlife was a happy place. Part of their religion also included mummification. A mummy would be a specially treated dead body wrapped in cloth.\n  • 2,000 BCE\n\n    8.1 - Greece - Geography and the Early Greeks\n\n    The geography in Greece helped develop the Greek Civilization.The Greeks were influenced by trading cultures that were developed in the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. However, the Greeks made city-states for safety and protection.\n  • 1,800 BCE\n\n    3.4 - Euphrates River- The Babylonians\n\n    The Babylonians was located on the Euphrates River (near what is now Baghdad, Iraq. Their most powerful monarch was called Hammurabi. They were known for the Hammurabi code (a set of 282 laws).\n  • 1,600 BCE\n\n    6.1 - China - Geography of Early China\n\n    China's geography made travel very hard, put farming was very easy. The civilization of Early China started along the Huang He, by the Chang Jiang river. The first dynasties of China helped China develop and helped them make many other achievements.\n  • 1,250 BCE\n\n    5.2 - India - Origins of Hinduism\n\n    Hinduism is the largest religion in India. It was developed from the beliefs and practices from the Early Indians.\n  • 1,100 BCE\n\n    6.2 - China - Zhou Dynasty and New Ideas\n\n    Before the Zhou dynasty declined, the Zhou dynasty expanded China. A man called Confucius gave ideas to bring peace to Chinese society. However, Daoism and Legalism had many followers as well.\n  • 1,050 BCE\n\n    Egypt - Middle Kingdom + New Kingdom (Section 3, Ch. 4)\n\n    The Middle Kingdom was when there was a period of time when they had a stable government. In the New Kingdom, trade and military power was at the highest point in Egyptian history. Both classes had different family and work life.\n  • -940 BCE\n\n    Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, Babylon - The Hittites, Assyrians, Chaldeans (Section 4, Ch. 3)\n\n    The Hittites lived in the Asia Minor. They had many Hittite rulers, and were the first group of people who could skillfully use the chariot. The Assyrians lived in Northern Mesopotamia. They had multiple Assyrian kings who ruled and they were known for being fierce in battle. The Chaldeans (from the Syrian Desert) settled down in the modified version of Babylon. Their main leader was Nebuchadnezzar. They were known for studying astronomy, for they were the centre of it all.\n  • -800 BCE\n\n    Phoenicia - The Phoenicians (Section 4, Ch. 3)\n\n    The Phoenicians lived in a place called Phoenicia (located down in the Fertile Crescent). Their main leader was called King Ahiram. They were known for creating the first ever alphabet.\n  • -753 BCE\n\n    10.1 - Rome - Geography and the Rise of Rome\n\n    Geography of Italy and Rome made it difficult to travel. However, it helped the Roman Empire flourish. Many Ancient historians were intrigued by Rome’s history. After the Roman nobles got tired of monarchy, they grew into a republic\n  • -720 BCE\n\n    8.3 - Greece - Greek Mythology and Literature\n\n    Myths were created to explain the Earth. The ancient Greek literature gives some of the worlds most amazing stories, epics, and poems, The Greek literature still influences our world today!\n  • -600 BCE\n\n    9.2 - Greece - Sparta and Athens\n\n    To have protection over themselves, the Spartans built up a powerful army society. The Athenians adored creative mindsets and arts, they were also into physical abilities. Both empires fought to decide who should have power over Greece.\n  • -550 BCE\n\n    9.1 - Greece - Greece and Persia\n\n    Cyrus the great created an empire called the Persian Empire. After Cyrus was not heir to the throne, Darius I made the Persian Empire more powerful. In the Persian wars, the Persian Empire fought the Greeks twice.\n  • -520 BCE\n\n    India - Origins of Buddhism (Section 3, Ch 5)\n\n    India developed Buddhism, which is now a major religion in India. It all began when a legend was created. Siddharta Guatama's story captivated many Indians -- a man who wandered throughout India in search of wisdom. Buddhism is a religion to help you find peace within yourself, and not in others. Buddhism isn't just in India. After Buddhism was spread throughout India, other countries started worshipping Buddhism as well.\n  • -509 BCE\n\n    10.2 - Rome - Government and Society\n\n    The government of Rome was a tripartite that worked together to rule Italy properly. The patricians wrote laws for plebeians and foreigners to read and follow. The Roman Forum was a meeting place, market, and where the Twelve Tables were published.\n  • -500 BCE\n\n    8.2 - Athens, Greece - Government in Athens\n\n    In early Athens, rich landowners and powerful leaders ruled. The first ever proper democracy was actually developed in Athens. However, their ancient democratic ways were very different than ours today.\n  • -500 BCE\n\n    13.1 - West Africa - Landforms\n\n    Savannah - grassy plain with a few trees\n    Sahara - biggest sand desert in the world\n    Niger River - Essential part of Early west African development\n    Sahel - a mostly dry area found just south of the Sahara\n    Rain forests - moist area with several trees.\n  • -359 BCE\n\n    9.3 - Greece - Alexander the Great\n\n    In the 300s BC, Macedonia took over Greece. A 20y/o man called Alexander the Great built an empire that reunified Europe, Asia, and Egypt\n  • -320 BCE\n\n    India - Indian Empires (Section 4, Ch 5)\n\n    Back then, there were two Indian empires that were great empires. The empire that unified most of India was an empire called the Mauryan Empire. Then, the Gupta empire rose to power. Many leaders of the Gupta empire encouraged Hinduism.\n  • -300 BCE\n\n    9.4 - Greece - Greek Achievements\n\n    The Greeks admired great works of arts. Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle were philosophers who taught people about their belief of the “human mind to think, explain, and understand life.” The Greeks made inferences and discoveries in maths, sciences, and medicine.\n  • -264 BCE\n\n    10.3 - Rome - The Late Republic\n\n    The Roman rebublic observed the growth of territory and trade in Rome. So, they traveled and conquered many places in order to get new ideas in trade and territory.Many merchants brought goods from other places for the farmers. After many wars, the Romans almost took over all of Italy. Many crises hit the Roman republic.\n  • -221 BCE\n\n    6.3 - China - The Qin Dynasty\n\n    The first Qin emperor, Shi Huang Di, created a powerful but strict political system. Shi Huang Di conquered all of China, and unified it. The Qin dynasty was the shortest lasting dynasty.\n  • -206 BCE\n\n    6.4 - China - The Han Dynasty\n\n    The government of the Han Dynasty was based off of the teachings of Confucius. The family life was strengthened in the Han Dynasty (your parents could send you to jail if you had disobedience)! The Han Dynasty was the first dynasty to have a common emperor. They made many achievements in art, learning, and literature.\n  • -206 BCE\n\n    6.5 - China - Han Contacts with Other Cultures\n\n    During the Han Dynasty, manufacturing and farming grew popular in the trading committee. The trade routes linked China together with Eastern Europe and Rome. Buddhism started to influence China from India, and gained many Chinese followers.\n  • -70 BCE\n\n    11.1 - Rome - From Republic to Empire\n\n    There was a disorder in Rome, causing Julius Caesar to come into power. The Roman Republic ended as soon as Augustus Caesar came into power. The Romans grew beyond the Mediterranean. They succeeded in arts, sciences, and maths.\n  • 50\n\n    11.2 - Rome - The Roman Empire and Religion\n\n    Rome had a bad fight with the Jews due to their religious tolerance. Christianity was spread through Judaism. Eventually, Christianity was the official religion in Rome.\n  • 250\n\n    16.1 - Mesopotamia - The Maya\n\n    The geography of Mesopotamia helped develop the lives of the Mayans. In the classic age, the Mayans created big successful cities that were trade linked. The Mayan culture was shaped by the social hierarchy, religion and achievements. The decline of Maya was unclear or how it ended.\n  • 300\n\n    India - Indian Achievements (Section 5, Ch 5)\n\n    In India, many mastered the skill of art and science. Beautiful and religious paintings and sculptures were created by Indian artists. During the Gupta period, the Sanskrit language increased in popularity throughout the country. In addition, many Indians mastered the skill of medicine, an example of one of the main sciences the Indians mastered.\n  • 400\n\n    17.1 - Europe - Geography of Europe\n\n    There were a variety of different landforms in Europe that had different climates and life forms that varied. The geography shAped life in Europe from the locations of homes, to the actual people.\n  • 550\n\n    15.1 - Japan - Geography and Early Japan\n\n    Japan was isolated at a time, however China and Korea had a great impact on the culture. The geography impacted the way the Japanese live life. The clans that were developing over time were ruled by one emperor. They were influenced by Chinese and Korean culture .\n  • 589\n\n    14.1 - China - China Reunifies\n\n    The Period of Disunion was thetime of war. Yang Jian from the Sui dynasty reunified China and began building the great canal. The age of Buddhism was born and influenced many throughout China.\n  • 600\n\n    12.1 - Arabia - The Roots of Islam\n\n    Arabia’s foundation is a desert. Muhammad, the man who invented the religion of Islam, spread his spiritual invention throughout Arabia in the 600s AD\n  • 618\n\n    14.2 - Tang and Song achievements\n\n    The Chinese improved in their agriculture that made them also improve trade. As the song and tang dynasties prospered, cities grew. Fine arts and inventions were also popular. During that time, paper, porcelain, woodblock printing, gunpowder, movable type, magnetic compasses, and paper money were invented.\n  • 700\n\n    12.2 - Arabia - Islamic Beliefs and Practices\n\n    A book called The Qur’an would show Muslims what to do spiritually in their lives. The Hadith called Sunnah, referred to the ways of Muhammad’s lifestyle, which provided a rough draft on the lifestyles that the Muslims had to follow. Overall, Islamic Law has a foundation over the Qur’an and Sunnah.\n  • 726\n\n    India - Geography and Early India (Section 1, Ch 5)\n\n    India's first civilization was developed around the Indus River. India contains great geography, such as the Himalayan mountains, beautiful rivers, and very heavy rains. The Harappan civilization was one of the first civilizations to develop along the Indus River (the most famous river in India at the time). Then, the Aryan migration to India altered with the region's civilization.\n  • 750\n\n    17.2 - Europe - Europe after the fall of Rome\n\n    Missionaries and Monks spread Christianity to the northern part of Europe. Charlemagne led the Franks who created a Christian city and dwelled with scholars around Europe.there were several threatening invaders througgout the 700s to the 800s\n  • 800\n\n    13.2 - Ghana - Trade\n\n    Trade impacted Ghana greatly, through silent bartering of gold and salt. Because of the increased trade, Ghana was able to make money off of taxes and expand their borders.\n  • 900\n\n    15.2 - Japan - Art and Culture in Heian\n\n    During the Heian period, the Japanese reached its peak in culture and art. Buddhism was also in Japan during the Heian period.\n  • 1000\n\n    13.4 - West Africa - Griots\n\n    A griot is a storyteller that preserved west African history. They did this by telling other griots about the story. This action was called oral history. There was a risk of details changing overtime when sharing an oral history. But unfortunately, West Africans never developed a written language.\n  • 1000\n\n    18.1 - Europe - Popes and Kings\n\n    Both popes and kings lead Europe politically and religiously. However, eventually, popes in Europe tried to fight for power, therefore causing the church to split. Kings and popes had issues getting along.\n  • 1050\n\n    17.3 - Europe - feudalism and manor life\n\n    Feudalism was used by knights and nobles to help them deal with each other in peace. Feudalism spread around Europe. Then, there was a manor system that dealt with the society and economy. Towns and trade grew and ended feudalism\n  • 1095\n\n    18.2 - Europe - The Crusades\n\n    The main pope started the crusades along with the crusaders to invade Palestine, the holy land. There was some benefit from the Crusades, however,​ it failed anyway. The Crusades impacted the history of Europe forever\n  • 1100\n\n    18.3 - Europe - Christianity and medieval society\n\n    In medieval Europe, The Christian Church ruled over the society and politics. Monks and friars did not appreciate the teachings of the Christain Church. Later on, church leaders began building religious universities in Europe. The Christian Church impacted a lot of the arts back then.\n  • 1120\n\n    15.3 - Japan - Growth of a Military Society\n\n    Japan created a military system that were governed by generals called shoguns. The samurais and shoguns were taking over Japan as the emperors fell out of influence. The Samurais had a code of honor, called Bushido. The order fell when the shoguns were challenged by rebellious invadors.\n  • 1184\n\n    14.3 - Confucianism and Government\n\n    Confucianism influenced several governments in China. The Qin dynasty however, suppressed Confucianism. During the Song Dynasty, scholar officials ran the government of China.\n  • 1200\n\n    18.5 - Europe - Challenges to Church authority\n\n    The church punished people who went against their teachings. The Christians fought with Muslim Moors in Spain and Portugal in hopes to drive them out of Europe. Jews faced discrimination in Europe because Jews killed Jesus back then.\n  • 1215\n\n    18.4 - Europe - Political and Social Change\n\n    The Magna Carta, document listing rights that the king could not ignore, changed the government and legal system of England. Then, after the Hundred Years' War came along, the political system of both England and France changed dramatically. Suddenly, the Black Death struck through Europe and caused the social changes during the Middle Ages.\n  • 1270\n\n    19.1 - Europe - The Italian Renaissance\n\n    The increased trade with Asia and Italy made Italy very rich, leading to the Renaissance. Italian writers and artists created great works during the Renaissance.\n  • 1300\n\n    19.2 - Europe - The Renaissance Beyond Italy\n\n    While the Renaissance occurred, Europe made great advances in maths and science. Ideas and inventions spread quickly throughout Europe. The printing press, development of paper, and universities were invented.\n  • 1324\n\n    13.3 - Mali - Mansa Musa\n\n    Mansa Musa was the most famous Mali leader. He was really rich. He caused inflation wherever he went. He also took a pilgrimage to Mecca. He built schools and believed in the value of education. After his death, his son really dropped the ball and his empire fell. Lesson: always be a good parent\n  • 1325\n\n    16.2 - Mexico - The Aztecs\n\n    The Aztecs created an empire in central Mexico. The Aztec empire was developed with the hierarchy and warfare. Unfortunately, Hernan Cortes, a spanish general, conquered the Aztecian empire in 1521\n  • 1368\n\n    14.4 - China - The Yuan and Ming dynasties\n\n    The Mongolians (including Genghis and Kublai Khan) ruled lver China for a period of time, this time was called the Yuan dynasty. Stability and prosperity were establishe in the Ming dynasty. There weee large changes in the government of China under the Ming.\n  • 1400\n\n    12.3 - Arabia - Islamic Empires\n\n    Muslim armies grew strong and powerful, leading them to many victories in war. Land was given to them after their victories. Due to the many conquered lands, Islam slowly spread across the empire. Islam was also spread through trade. From the 1400s and 1800s, three Muslim Empires ruled over parts of Africa and Asia, and some parts of Europe.\n  • 1450\n\n    20.2 - Europe - Great Voyages of Discovery\n\n    European explorers had the chance to explore in the 14 and 1500s. In the 1500s, Portuguese and Spanish were the most wealthy regions because explorers such as Gama who found a new trade route in Asia. As the 1600s rolled around, the English and French were most wealthy because they claimed and discovered the land of North America.\n  • 1453\n\n    11.3 - Rome - The End of the Empire\n\n    There were many conflicts that brought down the Roman Empire. Therefore, the emperor at the time had to split Rome in half. After the split, more political problems formed, causing the Roman Empire to end. In the East, a group of people created a society with an influential religion to the West.\n  • 1500\n\n    16.3 - South America - The Incas\n\n    The Incan empire had a very strong government based in South America. T he social hierarchy, religion, and achievements helped shape the Incan culture. However, Pizarro conquered and controlled the Incas in 1537.\n  • 1500\n\n    19.3 - Europe - The reformation of Christianity\n\n    Reformers wanted to reform the Christian church, however, several others left the church to start new churches. The Catholic Reformation was meant to reform the church positively as a whole from the inside. After the Reformation, there were religious wars and social changes\n  • 1500\n\n    20.1 - Europe - The Scientific Revolution\n\n    The birth of our modern science was born in the Scientific Revolution. New discoveries helped the European scientists study nature. Religion, human attitude, and the physical world were all impacted by the society from the Scientific Revolution. New scientists and astronomers such as Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton discovered several things in our universe.\n  • 1500\n\n    20.3 - Europe - New Systems of Trade\n\n    Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas traded with new plants, animals, and ideas. New trade patterns were developed in the 16 and 1700s and shifted throughout Europe. Europe’s businesses were changed by market economies. In the 1500s, there was a Colombian Exchange between the Americas and Europe where they would trade crops and other resources. Several new economies were also developed such as market economies, capitalism, and mercantilism. There was also Atlantic slave trading.\n  • 17.4 - Europe - Feudal Societies\n\n    Japan and Europe had similarities such as the feudal society. They also shared royalty, nobles, and warriors, etc. They also differed in culture such as art and religion.\n  • 21.1 - Europe - Ideas of the Enlightenment\n\n    another way to say Enlightenment is ‘The Age of Reason.’ The Enlightenment originated with earlier ideas. The more modern ideas came from French and British thinkers. The Enlightenment was mostly secular, or non religious. Several people founded and created new ideas.\n  • 21.2 - Europe - New Views on Government\n\n    Monarchies have been influenced due to the Enlightenment. Democratic ideas were also influenced from the Enlightenment. The Enlightment inspired the Declaration of Independence. Several politicians and thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu, Franklin, and Jefferson have influenced the politics due to the Enlightenment.\n  • 12.4 - Arabia - Cultural Achievements\n\n    Muslim teachers and scholars made great achievements in sciences and philosophy. Besides sciences, the Muslimsnalso created great and beautiful arts of poetry , short stories, and breath taking architecture and buildings.\n  • 21.3 - Europe - The Age of Revolution\n\n    The government of England was dramatically changed due to the Revolution and Reform. The democracy of America was led by the Enlightenment. The French Revolution also changed politics in the French Government.\n  • Hong Kong - Jasmine Hassan was born\n\n    Finally, baby Jasmine a born healthy and happy. Her parents are rejoicing and so is her family.\n  • Studying History - (Section 1, Ch. 3)\n\n    In this first section, we learned about how history can impact you, others, and your world. We learned about how primary sources are written events that you actually participated in, and how secondary sources are written events you DID NOT take part in. Finally, we learned about archaeologists who study artifacts and the historians who study our past.\n  • 6 - China's modern day connection\n\n    The modern day connection of China is how the Han dynasty influenced the art in China today. In addition, the Qin dynasty's writing system is still used to this day. Lastly, Confucianism is still believed to this day and is a common practice with multiple Chinese families.\n  • 6 - MDC - China\n\n    *couldnt fit the modern day connection on timeline*\n    The modern day connection is that when the Shang dynasty created their first writing system, it is still used to this day. In addition, the Han Dynasty influenced the people today with Confucianism.\n  • 8 - MDC - Literature\n\n    The modern day connection is that the Greek's myths and literature have influenced modern culture and language today. For example, if you look at the Greek alphabet, and compare it to ours, both very similar. in addition, Greek Latin has impacted parts of our words in the dictionary.\n  • 9 - MDC - Greek Drama\n\n    The modern day connection. The Greeks created theatre drama, so that’s why out movie theatres exist today.\n  • 10 - Rome - MDC\n\n    Rome has impacted our world with many great arts. However, their republic has affected many political systems. Republics still exist today.\n  • 11 - Rome - MDC\n\n    Since the Romans grew in Christianity, they have influenced modern Rome with the beautiful religion. Christianity is one of the main religions in modern Rome\n  • MDC - 12\n\n    The modern day connections are that the Muslims had spread the religion of Islam, that an estimated 1.5 billion people are into the Islamic religion. Muslims also influenced calligraphy, or decorative writing.\n  • 13 - MDC - Music\n\n    Some of the music that we listen to today may have come from ancient African griots. Especially jazz music.\n  • 14 - MDC\n\n    The modern day connection is that China invented paper money so that we today wouldn’t have to carry heavy coins around. Instead, many of us carry paper money.\n  • 15 - MDC\n\n    Even though Bushido was originally created for the samurai soldiers, Bushido still influences the Japanese society today. Modern day Japanese people claim to feel a connection with the samurai, therefore practicing the Bushido code. Loyalty, honor, dedication and discipline are still valued in modern day Japan.\n  • 16 - MDC\n\n    The weaving of the Incas have still influenced sevaral Incans living in the mountains. To this day, mountain people have still sheared llamas and have turned them into quilt-like fabrics to make money. Dyes have also influenced the way they weave and process fur.\n  • 17 - MDC\n\n    Europe has influenced the world by spreading their religious arts to several people in the world. Europe has also influenced their own monarchy. They have lived with kings and queens from 400 to 2018\n  • 18 - MDC\n\n    The Crusades impacted modern-day Europe with flag art. Many crosses are included in Europe's flags because of the impact of the Crusades.\n  • 19 - MDC\n\n    The reformation all started by Martin Luther. After the Reformation, several new churches and \"religions\" were formed and still exist in the world today. Lutherans were also created due to the Reformation.\n  • 20 - MDC\n\n    The modern day connection is that Gama discovered a new trade route in Asia that led to more trade between Europe and Asia. Many others also traveled the world and created maps to map the world.\n  • 21 - Europe - MDC\n\n    The Enlightenment influenced the Declaration of Independence which led to America gaining freedom and democracy. They influenced the main political system in our world today — democracy.\n  • Period:\n    10,000 BCE\n    -500 BCE\n\n    Fertile Crescent - People (Ch. 3)\n\n    Right after the Sumerians, a lot of cultures ruled over portions of the Fertile Crescent, including the Babylonians, the Hittites, the Assyrians, the Akkadians, the Sumerians, the Chaldeans, and the Phoenicians. The modern day connection is that the Mesopotamian people influenced trade today, such as the trade routes and so on.\n  • Period:\n    4,500 BCE\n\n    Egypt - Early Egypt (Ch 4)\n\n    Old Kingdom lasted 2700 - 2200 BC. Middle Kimgdom lasted 1700 BC. New Kimgdom lasted 1550 BC. Hieroglyphics developed in 730 BC. The modern day connection about ancient Egypt and Kush is that their hieroglyphics impacted a little bit on the English alphabet and is a common study of many archaeologists. The modern day connection is that now people have some knowledge on surgery since the Egyptians mummified corpses by taking out their organs.\n  • Period:\n    2,300 BCE\n\n    Ancient India (Ch 5)\n\n    In this chapter we will learn about all types of culture. Such as Hinduism, Jainism, etc. We will also learn about the development of India and about India's first ever civilization. The modern day connection is that the Indians advanced in math and science, and the Hindu Arabic numerals are still used today.\n  • Period:\n    2,000 BCE\n    -500 BCE\n\n    Ch. 8 - Greece\n\n    The ancient Greeks were influenced with trading cultures and individual city-states. Athens were the first ever people to have a proper and direct democracy.\n  • Period:\n    1,600 BCE\n    AD 1\n\n    6 - Early China\n\n    The civilization of Early China started with the Shang Dynasty a along the Huang He river. Then, the Zhou dynasty stabilized the political systems to help the political and social problems in China. Next, the Qin dynasty unified China with a strong government and Shi Huang Di's standardization. After the fall or the Qin dynasty, the Han dynasty ruled over China and changed the government system and influenced art. Then trade was influenced so that the Chinese could trade with other countries.\n  • Period:\n    -753 BCE\n    -27 BCE\n\n    10 - Rome - The Roman republic\n\n    Through time, the Roman Republic grew, becoming the most powerful republic in Italy. While many fought in war, others grew in trade, territory, and many great leaders ruled.\n  • Period:\n    -550 BCE\n    -30 BCE\n\n    9 - Greece - The Greek World\n\n    A cavalry is a unit of military soldiers who ride horses. The Greeks made many alliances, agreements to work with others. Greece impacts the world today with their similar writing as the Phoenecians, and their democracy impacts several countries.\n  • Period:\n    -500 BCE\n\n    12 - Africa - Islamic and African Civilizations\n\n    Around 600AD, a man, Muhammad introduced Islam, a religion into Southwest Asia. Around 100 years later, it had spread to North Africa, and into several regions of Europe. After a few more years, Islam had spread into West Africa, where trade was huge.\n  • Period:\n    -500 BCE\n\n    13 - Africa - Early African Civilizations\n\n    The empires of West Africa grew wealthy from trade. Geography and trade impacted the Early African culture. Leaders of Ghana built a West African Empire through salt and gold trade. Mali, Songhai, and Great Zimbabwe developed tribes in Africa. Africans didn’t have a written language . instead, they developed a culture of arts and stories\n  • Period:\n    -500 BCE\n\n    16 - The Early Americas- USA\n\n    The Maya started with a highly advanced civilization that flourished in Mesopotamia. Then, the Aztec empire rose that was founded in Mexico. However, it didn’t last for long because the Spanish came and wiped them out. Finally, the Incas had a large empire held in South America , however like the Aztecs, the Spanish wiped them out too.\n  • Period:\n\n    11 - Rome - Rome and Christianity\n\n    After establishing their first empire, the Romans grew in the Christian religion. They grew both in politics and faith. Christianity influenced the Romans in around 312 BC, Christianity was spread almost all over​ Rome.\n  • Period:\n\n    17 - Early Middle Ages\n\n    In this chapter, I learned about how Europe has several varieties of landforms and climates that have different life forms. Europe became an unsafe place after the fall of Rome. Obligations and complex issues ruled over the Middle Ages. Europe and Japan have their differences in society, however they have similarities in culture.\n  • Period:\n\n    15 - Japan\n\n    Japan was in isolation for a few years, however they were influenced by China and Korea. The Heinz period was the golden age in influencing Japanese culture in the 800s to th 1000s. A military system led by shoguns.\n  • Period:\n\n    14 - China - Reunification\n\n    After the period of disunion, China reunified thanks to the leaders of the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties. The Tang and Song periods were the times when culture and technology flourished. Confucianism took a big part in influencing the Song Dynasty. During the Yuan dynasty, many foreign leaders ruled. However, in the Ming dynasty, they threw the Mongols off and prospered.\n  • Period:\n\n    18 - Europe - The Later Middle Ages\n\n    Both popes and kings had high authority in the European Society in the Middle Ages. The Christian and Muslims fought over holy lands for​ years called the Crusades. The Christian Church was most focused on in the Middle Ages. The European political and social system had great changes in the later Middle Ages. The Christian Church took disrespect to their church very seriously during the Middle Ages.\n  • Period:\n\n    19 - Europe - The Renaissance and the Reformation\n\n    The Renaissance was the rebirth of arts in the wealthy cities of Italy. Not only was the Renaissance in Italy, it was also in other places as well. The Reformation of the Roman Catholic Church led to major social changes and the wave of new churches.\n  • Period:\n\n    20 - Europe - Science and Exploration\n\n    The scientific revolution consisted of Europeans developing a new way of building knowledge that changed the perspective of how people viewed the world. Explorers from Europe brought knowledge, wealth and influence to their homes. The development of new economies (mercantilism and capitalism) was influenced by the Old and New world.\n  • Period: to\n\n    21 - Europe - Ideas of the Enlightenment\n\n    Thinkers from the used earlier information to create new ideas and bring light to reason. Ideas from the enlightment influenced influenced the politics and government in Europe and America. Then, the Age of Revolution consisted of a change in the government of Britain, American colonies, and France.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9992278814315796}
+{"content": "Note 1\n\nTake Note:\n\nTake a note while surfing.\n\nNote With Ink\n\nGive your Note a Colorful Tag.\n\nEasy to Access\n\nStay on same information and in Sync wherever you are.\n\nNote 2\n\nTake Note:\n\nOrganize your information,It may take Shape.\n\nThink With Ink\n\nDiffer your Content by Color.\n\nEasy to Access\n\nEasy to pull up your content from anywhere anytime.\n\nNote 3\n\nTake Note:\n\nDon't Let information to miss,Because it take shape\n\nNote With Ink\n\nSimple an Easy Way to take a note.\n\nEasy to Access\n\nGet the same in next visit.\n\nPlease wait...\n\nArithmetic Aptitude :: Pipes & Cistern\n\n6. Pipe A can fill a cistern in 6 hours less than Pipe B. Both the pipes together can fill the cistern in 4 hours. How much time would A take to fill the cistern all by itself?\n\nAnswer: Option C\n\nExplanation :\n\nLet's assume time required by Pipe A to fill the cistern = X hours\nSo Time required by Pipe B to fill the cistern = (X + 6) hours\n? Both Pipes (A+B) can fill cistern in 1 hour = [1/X + 1/(X + 6)]\nGiven Both pipe fill the cistern in 4 hours\n=> [1/X + 1/(X + 6)] = 1/4 => [(X+6) + X]/(X+6)*x = 1/4\n4X + 24 + 4X = X2 + 6x\nX2 - 2X - 24 = 0\n(X-6)(X+4) = 0\n=> A can fill cistern in 6 hours.\n\nAsked In :: Global Edge\n\nPost Your Answer Here:     \n\nNo Discussion on this question yet!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.978036642074585}
+{"content": "Simpsons is still going strong\n\nI can't believe that the Simpsons have survived 18 years. I was only 14 when this show aired and I even remember it being on the Tracy Ullman show. Who could have predicted that it would last this long. That tells you the staying power of a cartoon. Matt Groening is one of the smartest men in television because he has come up with enough content to cover 18 years. I must admit it's not a favorite show of mine but my other family members enjoy it. Cheers to the Simpsons. May you have many more. (Photo courtesy: Cnn.com)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9391543865203857}
+{"content": "In my installations, I use objects from our everyday world that include pins, paper dots, and ping pong balls to create work that emphasizes our connection to the cosmos. The reflective materials I use create ephemeral, continuously changing reflections of the surroundings that become part of the artwork, emphasizing impermanence and the supremacy of the present moment.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999271631240845}
+{"content": "Definitions of brain\n\n  1. hit on the head\n  5. the brain of certain animals used as meat\n  6. kill by smashing someone's skull\n  8. The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other invertebrates.\n  9. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding.\n  10. The affections; fancy; imagination.\n  12. To conceive; to understand.\n  14. To dash out the brains of.\n  15. Cerebrum, the mass of nervous matter within the cranium.\n  17. The nervous matter in the skull; the intellect.\n  18. To dash out the brains.\n  22. To kill by dashing out the brains.\n\nUsage examples for brain\n\n  1. The coming of Napoleon had a strange effect on the tutor's brain. – Napoleon's Young Neighbor by Helen Leah Reed\n  2. The human brain does its best work, he says, when men are happy. – The So-called Human Race by Bert Leston Taylor\n  3. The thought shot through her brain: \" What am I doing here? – The Song of Songs by Hermann Sudermann\n  4. Even in that moment, Kate's whirling brain did Channing justice. – Kildares of Storm by Eleanor Mercein Kelly\n  5. Say, what do you want to do- brain us?\" – The Boy Scouts On The Range by Lieut. Howard Payson\n  6. Besides, the connection between Biff's ears and his brain was never very good. – Peter A Novel of Which He is Not the Hero by F. Hopkinson Smith\n  7. Suddenly his dazed brain cleared. – Northern Diamonds by Frank Lillie Pollock\n  8. I don't know whether it's water on the brain or what it is. – The-Circus-Boys-on-the-Flying-Rings-or-Making-the-Start-in-the-Sawdust-Life by Darlington, Edgar B. P.\n  9. If you only start his brain half- working it's worth a couple of normal ones under full head. – The Lash by Olin L. Lyman\n  10. More brain, O Lord, more brain! – The Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith by George Meredith\n  11. Her brain is second only to her heart! – Warlock o' Glenwarlock by George MacDonald\n  12. His heart was soft, and his brain all that was wanted for his own purposes. – Delia Blanchflower by Mrs. Humphry Ward\n  13. The one thought in his miserable brain was his sister. – Thomas Wingfold, Curate by George MacDonald\n  14. \" I have hands and a heart and a brain as good as Simone's. – The God of Love by Justin Huntly McCarthy\n  15. I'm glad I have one pupil who knows how to use his brain. – Four Little Blossoms at Oak Hill School by Mabel C. Hawley\n  16. The questions which had filled his brain for the last five days were answered now. – The Love Affairs of Pixie by Mrs George de Horne Vaizey\n  17. I don't want to suffer from brain- fag. – The Hero of Garside School by J. Harwood Panting\n  18. The sun was right before him, but the letters were in the sun, and the sun in his brain. – Callista by John Henry Cardinal Newman\n  19. Yes, those are called brain- stone or brain- coral. – The Boy With the U. S. Fisheries by Francis Rolt-Wheeler\n  20. The sentence remained in his brain in lit letters. – Red Fleece by Will Levington Comfort", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9950470328330994}
+{"content": "How much are you worth?\n\nBeggarI don’t know her name. In fact I don’t know anything about her except she was an incredibly poor beggar child. I never realised when I took this photo that years later her face would still be etched in my memory.  I remember the crossing of our paths as if it was yesterday. Maybe it had  something to do with where we met – the Amber Palace near Jaipur in India – and the contrast between the indulgent opulence of the surrounds and the undisguised poverty of the child. Or maybe it was the sense of guilt that I carried no money or food and had nothing to give her. But for a few moments something happened that left an indelible impression – we found common ground as two human beings who understood and accepted each other. She seemed to understand that I was unable to respond to her desperate need and behind that shy smile and sad eyes I saw a sweet sensitive child who refused to yield to her adverse circumstances. In that brief encounter we dropped all pretenses and I saw her true value, a fellow creature whose worth was equal to mine. Whenever I look at this image I find that I regain a perspective about all that is worthwhile in life and am reminded of how much of human pursuit is waste and vanity.\n\nHave you every calculated your worth?  Not the sum total of your assets which you can’t take with you but the actual flesh, blood and bone that is sitting in front of this screen.\n\nAccording to the U.S. Bureau of Chemistry and Soils we are\n\nAmber-Palace65% Oxygen\n18% Carbon\n10% Hydrogen\n3% Nitrogen\n1.5% Calcium\n1% Phosphorous\n0.35% Potassium\n0.25% Sulphur\n0.15% Sodium\n0.15% Chlorine\n0.05% Magnesium\n0.0004% Iron\n0.00004% Iodine\n\nplus trace quantities of fluorine, silicon, manganese, zinc, copper, aluminium, and arsenic.\n\nTotal value, approximately USD $1. Add a bit more if you have gold in your teeth and a titanium prosthesis – but who is going to waste time extracting the metal add-ons once you have departed? Ironically a sheep is worth more since the meat can at least be sold for food and the wool used for clothing.\n\nOf course, you are more valuable to the spare parts industry, somewhere in the vicinity of USD $650,000 for your transplantable bits and pieces – warm, and in good working condition. And if you want to maintain perspective have a look inside an urn of human ashes and you will again be reminded of your finiteness. It is all a bit morbid and bordering on being repulsive, apart from being a useless exercise. All up, it is somewhat confronting to think that you are worth more dead than alive.\n\nWe tend to use the words ‘worth’ and ‘value’ interchangeably even though by definition they are subtly different. Worth has the feel of ‘inherent’ and value is usually an assigned measure of worth. It all gets a bit circular. Whichever way you choose to define the terms, what is significant is that we all live under the shadow of the great impediment of the capitalist mindset that assigns a measurable quantity to all things, animate or otherwise. Its mantra is, “all are not equal”. Some are worth more than others. Once the idea takes hold we invent socio-economic parameters to affirm it. A refugee fleeing persecution can arrive on the shores of a secure nation only to be imprisoned behind razor wire and banished indefinitely on a remote island simply because they do not meet the essential criteria of worthiness. Legislators are able to implement laws that allow for execution of the lowest. Wealth and power begin to equate with greatness and influence, importance and privilege. Some ensure that they are above the law.  Others change the law to suit themselves. The chasms of separation which measure the relative value of all individuals are the ubiquitous enforcers of our ideas of worth.\n\nvalueIt is little wonder that so many of us struggle with self-esteem issues. Relative human worth is the warp and woof of our society – not equality and liberty as we might be led to believe. And the more a population increases the more apparent the impact of relative worth becomes as we fight to control our finite resources. There is a definite correlation between how much we  accumulate and our adopted value system which defines us by these measurable socio-economic criteria . The rich becoming richer at the expense of the poor become poorer is not a new phenomenon. Increasing power of the few is always gained at the expense of diminishing power of the many. Karl Marx was heading down this path this with his observations of the perpetual struggle between the haves and the have nots and formulated concepts that changed the course of history. The struggle to establish value and preserve self esteem has deep sociological roots.\n\nOnce we reach the stage where we measure worth by wealth, the inequality and disparity becomes self-evident, and with it comes the insidious idea that some people are actually more valuable than others. It is complex phenomenon, but like or not, we end up with labels and price tags that define who we are and the degree of power and privilege we have over our fellow (ask anyone who relies on social security whether this is true or not). With the awareness of these labels and assigned price tags comes inner discontent and anxiety to balance our personal ledger in favour of the ‘worth’ column.  This is the reality of human nature and nothing much is going to change for a long time. So rather than fight against the reality it makes more sense to learn how to live with it. It is how we go about this that is where can make it or break it.\n\nI want to make are four observations and conclude with another personal experience.\n\n  1. The pervasive idea of developing a healthy self-esteem is not the solution to value adding. For all its acceptance as a concept it may actually be more counterproductive than essential for our mental and emotional well-being.\n  2. External affirmation and internal affirmation do not necessarily equate. We can be surrounded by family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who all like and affirm us and still be plagued by self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness. ‘Likes’ are not a value adding tool.\n  3. We may need to change our reference point for determining value. Rather than assessing human worth in terms of success, prosperity and achievement (externals) we might want to measure self worth by something more permanent.\n  4. Your self-worth is ultimately decided by you, and you alone.\n\n\nThe people’s market in Delhi, India is not on the ��must see’ list of most tourist itineraries but I managed to persuade a taxi driver to take me there and spent the morning getting lost in a sea of humanity. The experience is a total assault on the senses with unexpected surprises around every corner, like these three girls fighting over a red elastic hair tie that someone had lost. They were beggar children who survived by scavenging for food and anything else they could find of any value in the market place. They had obviously formed an alliance for protection, but were nevertheless the fiercest of competitors. The tall girl on the left had the agility and strength to secure the meagre trophy. The small child on the right contented herself with the crumbs that fell from the table. The one in the middle really caught my attention. She had fire and determination – look at the anger in her eyes – and was a born survivor. But she had an undeniable presence and was clearly the leader of the little pack. I couldn’t help but wonder what untapped qualities she would have been displayed in different circumstance. No, there is no slum dog millionaire ending to this story. The trio quickly melted in the crowd once more, intent in making it through another day as one of countless millions of this world’s poor. The pathetically shabby misfitting dress was her only possession, but as a person she had a grace and dignity that gave her undeniable worth.\n\nNext: Self-esteem – not all that it seems.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8354164958000183}
+{"content": "\n\nAtomic Structure and the Periodic Table\n\n\nundefined, object\ncopy deck\nhorizontal rows of elements, elements in these are in different groups with different properties\nAverage Atomic Mass\nAverage of masses of all isotopes of that element that occur in nature\nparticle that has 1 amu and no electric charge\nsmallest particle of any element, that has the properties of that element and has no charge (neutral)\nanother name for families of elements, the verticle columns of elements, have elements with similar properties and chemical reactions\nTransition Elements\nelements in middle of periodic table, periods 4-7\nAtomic Number\n# of protons in an atom\nParticle that has 1 amu and a charge of +1\nNoble Gas\nelements of group 18 in this family\ncenter of an atom and location of protons and neutrons that is very dense and has a positive electric charge, almost all mass of atom located in this\nMass Number\nTotal count of the neutrons and protons in an atom\nAtoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, some elements only have one others can have many\nelements found on left side of periodic table\nelements bordering line dividing metals and nonmetals and have some properties of both metals and nonmetals\nparticles that move about the nucleus forming a cloud of negative charge, move at very quick speed, found in different energy levels, grouped in pairs\nelements on right side of periodic table, elements that usually have five or more electrons in outer energy level\nElectron Cloud\nregion around the nucleus occupied by electrons with negative electric charge\nPeriodic Table\nchart that shows the classification of elements\nsubstance that consists of only one kind of atom, cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical change\nlightest and most abundant element in universe\nelectrical wire often made from this element\nshorthand way to write the name of an element, sometimes taken from Latin name of element\nElectromagnetic Force\nforce of attraction (opposite charges) or repulsion (like charges) that keeps the negative electrons near the positive nucleus in an atom\nNuclear Force\novercomes electromagnetic force of repulsion between the positive protons in the nucleus (it keeps the nucleus together)\nvery small particles of matter that make up protons and neutrons, currently six different types known\nWhat determines the type of element?\n# of protons in nucleus of atom\nElectrons that are farther from the nucleus have _____ energy.\nAmount of Electrons each energy level can hold\n1st- 2, 2nd- 8, 3rd- 18\nFactors that Determine an Element's Properties\nThe # and arrangement of electrons in atom, # of valence electrons, period/group #\nStandard atomic mass unit, a proton has +1, neutron has -1\nHow # of neutrons in atom can be found\nby subtracting atomic # from mass #\nWays to Write Isotopes\nPut mass # after name of element (or symbol, ex. Carbon 12 or C14), put mass # and atomic # with symbol (ex. 6 over 12 C, 6 over 14 C)\nEach box of periodic table represents & contains:\nRepresents an element, in center- name and symbol, below name- atomic mass (listed as average of masses of isotopes), above name- atomic #\nIn periodic table, elements listed in order of increasing ______ ______.\natomic #\nLast Digit of group # represents: (excluding transition elements)\nthe number of valence electrons (electron in outermost ring)\nPeriod # represents:\nthe number of energy levels in an atom\nMetals characteristics\nhave 3 or less valence electrons, good heat and electricity conductors\nValence Electrons\nelectrons in outermost energy level\n\nDeck Info", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.995104968547821}
+{"content": "How to enable font subpixel antialiasing?\n\n\nI’m on OS X El Capitan with a retina display.\n\nI’ve tried setting -webkit-font-smoothing to subpixel-antialiased, antialiased and auto but none of them uses subpixel antialiasing.\n\nHere’s how text looks like in TextEdit, with subpixel antialiasing (top), and the same in Atom, with the One Light themes and all settings at default (bottom):\n\n\nI suspect that Chromium doesn’t use subpixel antialiasing on Retina displays. (At least in my testing, it doesn’t.) And since Atom uses Chromium for the rendering engine, this would be why it isn’t happening. Please file an Issue on the repository so we can see about answering the question of whether this is possible or if Chromium simply refuses.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9220634698867798}
+{"content": "Monthly Archives: June 2016\n\n“Now You See Me 2” Movie Review\n\nI tried to be a magician once in elementary school. And like this movie’s production, it didn’t quite work out. This caper thriller, a sequel to the original from 2013, opened on June 10th, 2015, earned less than half of it’s$90 million budget back. Approximately a year after the events of the first film, a group of eccentric magicians called the Four Horsemen are in hiding, waiting for news from the secret society that brought them together, The Eye. During a tech company’s showcase of a new software device, the Horsemen hijack the stage to expose the corrupt businessman behind it, Owen Case. Then hay hits the fan when the FBI discover them and their handler, Mark Ruffalo’s Dylan Rhodes. When they try to escape they find themselves captured and compromising with Case’s rival Walter Mabry, played by Daniel Radcliffe. All the while, Rhodes, now on the run from the FBI, enlists the help of debunker Thaddeus Bradley to find the Horsemen. So the first Now You See Me, generally speaking, I enjoyed it for what it was and how cool it looked. The ending was terrible, as I felt it was a culmination of things irrelevant to what you had seen previously, but the rest of it was just fine. In the sequel, it still holds you in that state of mind, where many questions are unanswered and almost none of it feels plausible. I’m not saying a story about magicians is required to be believable; you do have to suspend disbelief. But there are many conflicts within the lore of this universe that are left unexplained with no rhyme or reason. So let’s start off with what I liked. The Four Horsemen are composed of great actors; Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, and Lizzy Caplan. The crew have great chemistry and work really well together. Their own contrasting personalities bounced off one another with aces. Lizzy Caplan replaces Isla Fisher from the first movie, reportedly due to the latter actress’s pregnancy. Instead of making her the same character, Caplan is a new member of the Four Horsemen. She was quirky and likable and gave me some laughs whenever she turned down the advances of Franco’s Jack and Wilder and Eisenberg’s Danny Atlas. The supporting cast consisted of some big-name actors, some more impressive than others. Mark Ruffalo has consistently proved himself a versatile actor, with roles ranging from superheroes to tear-jerkers. In this sequel, he was good, but not anything worth writing to the Academy about. Among other returning cast members, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine reprise their roles as an enigmatic magician-turned-debunker and a ruthless businessman, respectively. Though in all honesty, it felt like Michael Caine had returned simply because of the contract he signed from the first movie. Morgan Freeman is a bit more convincing, but his role is one of his more forgettable ones. Now You See Me 2 also felt the need to squeeze in Daniel Radcliffe, who has gone from noble wizard hero to self-obsessed billionaire. His presence makes me believe that he was essentially the only link that connected Michael Caine’s character from the first movie to the sequel. The magic stunts, however, were unquestionably astonishing visual eye candy. In one particular scene, a member of the Horsemen made it seem as if he could stop the rainfall using intense strobe lights and hand choreography. I would have to be under a hypnotic spell to say that I was not impressed at this feat. Sufficed to say, it often felt like such magical shows and demonstrations were gimmicks used to make the central narrative deeper and more intricate than it actually is. I shall try my best not spoil all of it, but from what I can gather, here’s what the lore tells us. There is a secretive society called The Eye, consisting of the finest magicians in the modern world. And almost everywhere the Horsemen travel, there will be a member of The Eye undercover, carefully playing out their parts. It’s almost as if the movie expects its audience to know that The Eye knew exactly what was going to happen at each moment, even in a scenario where they couldn’t have possibly predicted. I will commend the back and forth argument presented, regarding science versus magic. But sadly, it isn’t explored in much greater detail. In the end, Now You See Me 2 is a visually impressive but rushed sequel that is in dire need of thorough explanation. Because at this point, it’s just a clunky caper saga, and I’m not that interested in seeing a third installment anymore. But hey, if a compelling plot isn’t what you’re looking for and you just want an exciting, stylish thriller, you might have fun with this movie.\n\n\n“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” Movie Review\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8022871613502502}
+{"content": "Should the Hazardous Art Materials Law be Repealed?\n\nRecently the Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety (ACTS) people in New York called for the repeal of the labeling of the Hazardous Art Materials Act. This the the law that requires art materials to be labeled so that you know if they are toxic. Their argument is that the law has been a dismal failure, with the art materials manufacturers paying the toxicologists that are evaluating their products - a huge conflict of interest. Repeal of the law would eliminate the financial advantage the illegal non-certifying manufacturers now have over those who comply with the law. ACTS proposes that we rely more on the mechanisms of Proposition 65, a California law. If this happened, it would make it much more difficult for manufacturers to include lead, cadmium, cobalt and other toxic materials in children's art products.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7609763741493225}
+{"content": "Browsing: ELISA\n\nLarge molecule quantification by LC–MS PPD IMage\n\nMonoclonal antibody (mAb) based biotherapeutics have emerged as a dominant class of approved medicines during the past decade in both market share and variety of target diseases. Ligand binding assays (LBAs), such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), have been the gold standard for the bioanalysis of mAbs in support of non-clinical and clinical trials. While conventional LBAs provide highly sensitive and specific detection for the quantitation of mAbs, combining an LBA with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection offers additional orthogonal dimensions of selectivity/specificity, extending the assay utility to a multiplexed format otherwise not achievable by LBA alone.\n\nFeatures thumbnail\n\nIn this informative infographic, we summarize the top 5 techniques for studying immuno-oncology including: flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunospot, ELISA, electrochemiluminescence by meso scale discover and single moleucle array.\n\n1 2 3 8", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5878530740737915}
+{"content": "D-Day Minus One\n\n\nRecord of the operations of the U.S. 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in the 1944 D-Day invasion of France. Shows paratroops, gliders and troop carriers landing in France behind the German lines a day prior to the main invasion, helping to prepare the way for the invasion of Normandy. (50m)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9469733238220215}
+{"content": "Flagler college sports information and news providers\n\nCreated in 1917, Flagler County is situated in the state of Florida. This small county incorporates a human population of 83,084 and has been named after Henry Morrison Flagler www.oddexplorer.com. Henry Morrison Flagler was a well-known and extremely successful tycoon that had contributed tremendously in the development of the east coast in Florida. A real estate and railway developer, he was the founder of the Florida East Coast railway.\n\n\n\n\nThe Saints Club has been instrumental in taking Flagler College to the Division II of the NCAA with their consistent performance of the athletes who have won conference championships and have gone through to play post season matches. They are monetarily helped by way of the members that include parents, alumni and friends by way of their substantial contribution towards the club. These resources assist in providing scholarships, bear travel expenses and meet equipment costs, thus providing all the support which they require.\n\nThe Flagler College also holds strength and conditioning programs that help in nurturing and exploring an athletes total potential. This program not only extends to strength and endurance training but also helps with building the athletes mental framework. This program engages specific training programs that focus on in season, post season and pre season preparations. The agenda of these training programs is always to develop their athletes complete potential by looking into making them more flexible, strong, agile and fast.\n\nFlagler College has also been in the news for its numerous athletic venues and facilities. Of those, their Tennis centre is regarded as among the very best amongst all the small collages within the whole State of Florida.\n\nThe college has a single newspaper publication called the Gargoyle and an annual literary journal known as the Flagler Review that delivers all the news and information on the college. They’ve got a very active website called flagler.edu that keeps users updated on the sports news along with other academic developments that take place on the college campus.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6960751414299011}
+{"content": "—. What is a Lollard? Dissent and Belief in Late Medieval England. Oxford Theological Monographs. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. [“This is a book not only about lollards but also about the terms and categories that have been used to describe them: through the process of documenting and analysing the dissenting beliefs preserved in lollard texts and the records of heresy trials, what becomes apparent is that there is no static essence that we can call lollardy. Rather than a narrowly defined theological category, lollardy is and has been a capacious term, under which all manner of religious outliers await closer examination. Hornbeck explores the wide range of lollard beliefs on some of the key issues in late medieval Christianity: how one is saved; what truly happens in the sacrament of the eucharist; who can get married, and why; whether there should exist discrete orders of clergy, or even the pope. He argues that the beliefs of individual dissenters were conditioned by a number of social, textual, and cultural factors, including the ideas they discussed with other members of their local communities, the texts to which they had access, and the influence of mainstream religion and spirituality.”]\n\n\nSatisfied customers are saying", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9956936240196228}
+{"content": "From the paper submitted to the\nBioMed Research International Journal...\n\n\nThe study includes a population of about 500 Italian women undergoing ultrasound examination between the 11th and 41th weeks of gestation, between November 2012 and September 2013. All pregnant were enrolled in a previously defined area, the southeast of Italy, in the Vito Fazzi Hospital, in Italy, and Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology assessed the investigation. Gestational age was established by US imaging during the first visit, at study enrolment. All patients received written and oral information about the study, and they signed the informed consent.\n\nAssuming that, at each gestational age, the measurement of interest has a Gaussian distribution with a mean and a standard deviation (SD) and that, in general, both vary smoothly with gestational age, a centile curve has been calculated using the well-known formula:\n\nCentile = mean + K * SD\n\nwhere K is the corresponding centile of the standard Gaussian distribution (for instance, determination of 10th and 90th centile curves requires that K = ± 1.28), mean is the mean and SD is the standard deviation of the mean of the fetal measurements for each gestational age. The mean has been estimated by the fitted values from an appropriate polynomial regression curve of the measurement of interest on gestational age. Several curve-fitting and smoothing techniques have been tested for the mean estimation of the different biometric parameters and the goodness of fit for each regression model has been carefully assessed. The polynomial model that better satisfies the experimental data is the cubic one, since it better fulfils with respect to the fractional polynomial and to the logarithmic transformations.\n\nThe adopted equation is:\n\ny = a + (b * GA) + (c * GA2) + (d * GA3)\n\nWhen the measurement has approximately a Gaussian distribution, the fitted values following regression of the “scaled absolute residuals” on age are estimate of the SD curve. These residuals are the differences between the measurements and the estimated curve for the mean with the sign removed and multiplied by a corrective constant equal to √π/2 = 1.253. Generally, if the scaled absolute residuals appear to show no trend with gestational age, the SD is estimated as the standard deviation of the unscaled residuals (measurements minus the estimated mean curve). If there is a trend, then polynomial regression analysis is needed to estimate an appropriate curve in the same way of the mean. For BPD, HC and AC biometric parameters, the residuals were regressed on gestational ages by using a linear model in the form of:\n\nyBPD,HC,AC = a + (b * GA)\n\nwhile, for the FL parameter, the quadratic regression seems to better fulfill with respect to the linear one. The adopted equation is:\n\nyFL = a + (b * GA) + (c * GA2)\n\nFinally, these predictive mean and SD equations allow calculating any required centile, replacing the value in the centile formula.\n\nFull biometric measurements (AC, BPD, FL, HC) were obtained for about 500 fetuses. Data analysis showed that neither the use of fractional polynomials (the greatest power of the polynomials being 3) nor the logarithmic transformation improved the fitting of the curves. Therefore, the data were kept in their original scale. The best-fitted regression model to describe the relationships between HC, AC, BPD, FL and gestational age was a cubic one, whereas other studies proved that a simple quadratic model fitted BPD and FL. Models fitting the SD were straight lines for BPD, HC and AC and quadratic line for FL.\n\nThe corresponding regression equations, with the respective R2 index (which is the linear determination index that takes values between 0 and 1 and is approaching the more than 1 as the interpolating curve approaches to real data), for the mean and the standard deviation are illustrated below.\n\nThe relevant centile (5th, 10th, 50th, 90th, 95th) representing respectively the HC, the BPD, the AC and the FL, are reported in Tables 2, 3, 4 and 5. In each table is also indicated the sample number, the mean and the standard deviation related to each gestational week.\n\nIn order to validate the system, authors have performed an initial technical test with a growth curve simulator able to respect the mean and the standard deviation that characterize the Gaussian distribution for a specific patient age. The generated data allowed authors to prove the correctness of the elaboration of the fetal growth curves model. After this preliminary analysis, authors have performed a test on the field considering about 500 US pictures related to Italian women undergoing ultrasound examination between the 11th and 41th weeks of gestation at Vito Fazzi Hospital - Lecce, between November 2012 and September 2013. Measurements of Biparietal Diameter (BPD), Head Circumference (HC), Abdominal Circumference (AC) and Femur Length (FL) were obtained by means of various obstetric US equipment. The obtained curves were then compared with those developed by Giorlandino et al. in 2009 as reference growth curves for the Italian population, and those developed by Johnsen et al. in 2006 as reference growth curves for the European population, in order to verify possible differences due to statistic methodology, selection criteria or, possibly, true genetic variability of the studied population. The AC and HC biometric parameters seem to follow more or less the same Italian and European trend according to the gestational age. In fact, no significant differences were observed in the values measured during the different growth stages. Considering the BPD and the FL parameters, instead, they present a little variability. As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, the Salentinian BPD values are always up for about 6 mm and FL ones are always greater then 7 mm.\n\nThe other biometric parameters are, instead, very similar.\n\nThis variability may be better presented by means of scatterplot of Salentinian samples overlapped with the centile curves to verify the amount and the density of the samples that are outside the considered range. Considering the Italian reference centile curves depicted in Figure 6, which represent respectively the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th, the Salentinian samples are always above the upper limit especially in the last weeks of gestation.\n\nSimilarly for the other biometric parameters:\n\nSamples above the 95th centile are traditionally used to define large for gestational age (LGA), and the usage of such Italian reference curves on a Salentinian fetus could lead to misdiagnosis. To examine in a quick way one or more sets of data graphically box plots can be used. They can be useful to indicate the degree of dispersion (spread) and skewness in the data, and to identify outliers. Each plot depicts the five-number summaries for each biometric parameter, namely the minimum and maximum values, the upper (Q3) and lower (Q1) quartiles and the median. The variability present in the FL parameter can be also observed in this kind of graph, which consider more population groups.\n\nThis variability has to be medically investigated since it can be due to several reasons: equipment or measurement errors, genetic variability of the analysed population, racial factors, … In any case, the measured variability is useful to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.\n\nIn order to quantify the impact of the adoption of wrong growth charts on fetal diagnoses, authors have analysed the samples’ trend for each biometric parameters and have then compared it with the Italian and European standard. Authors found significant differences between Salentinian FL growth plots and those reported by Giorlandino et al. for Italy and Johnsen et al. for Europe. Figure below (Fig. 14) describes this difference, representing the sample number and the percentage value for each biometric parameters (BPD, HC, AC and FL) which exceed the upper limit (95th centile) and the lower one (5th centile) considering the Italian and European reference curves.\n\nOur findings require that we should carefully re-examine the appropriateness of continued use of currently adopted reference growth curves to classify neonates SGA, LGA, and AGA. In fact, considering for example the Femur Length parameter, Salentinian fetuses present bigger values with respect to those of Italian (26% of Salentinian samples are upper the 95th centile) and European (46% of Salentinian samples are upper the 95th centile)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.954922080039978}
+{"content": "In the past, plant engineers have resorted to cutting pipes and disassembling equipment to gain access to difficult to reach areas needed to evaluate the structural integrity and cleanliness of plant systems. This can be expensive, time consuming, and adversely impacts the plant’s ability to promptly return to normal operation. Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) methods such as Visual Inspection and Foreign Object Search and Retrieval (FOSAR) can help reduce cost and downtime.\n\n\nThere are approximately 600 coal-fired power plants in the United States, 18 are located in the state of New York. These plants undergo stringent EPA and regulatory oversight often requiring them to undergo routine maintenance on an annual basis. In one Western New York plant, engineers discovered that a stainless steel grating system, located upstream from a booster pump, had failed from violent back pressure build-up causing it to explode. The explosion sent metal fragments into the process piping system. Replacing the grating and locating the loose parts became the top priorities. The metal fragments from the explosion, if left in placed, could potentially migrate downstream and enter into the booster pump causing a catastrophic failure during startup.\n\nLocating the loose parts was no simple task. The explosion scattered metal fragments along 7-90 degree elbows over a combined distance of 50 feet. Traditionally, engineers would resort to cutting each 90 degree section to gain access and remove the loose part. An alternative and less costly option would be to employ FOSAR tools and techniques to locate and retrieve the loose part. However, navigating multiple bends introduced a significant amount of friction restricting the effectiveness of standard FOSAR tools such as fiberglass push rods and pole cameras.\n\n\nJamko’s rapid response team was deployed and on site within 24 hours. A retrieval plan was created to locate and retrieve the foreign objects while adhering to the fundamental rule, “… identify and retrieve the foreign objects without introducing more foreign objects.”\n\nTo address the friction issues from the 90 degree elbows, our team utilized the INVU inspection scope. The INVU’s unique spring coil design provided enough flexibility to overcome the friction issues yet was rigid enough to be pushed along the length of the pipe. In addition, manually operated pneumatic grippers were used to securely grasp the large metal fragments in varying locations along the multiple bends during the retrieval process.\n\nOver the course of 12 hours, our technicians were able to locate and safely retrieve every fragment. In addition, a post inspection was performed verifying the cleanliness of the process piping system. In contrast to more traditional destructive", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7193822860717773}
+{"content": "Hardware Kennenlernen\n\nSymbols: 20 Technical Indicators: 30 Time Frames: 9 Advanced Features: Save systems. I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green. He also states that you learn through failing (since you pointed out his failures). Most retail Forex traders who make it to the level of full-time or professional trading have a daily routine that is probably a lot different than what most amateur traders imagine.\n\nSandwich lease A sandwich lease is a property use arrangement between a lessee and property owner, where the lessee subleases the property to a third party.\n\nPc hardware kennenlernen", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9034318327903748}
+{"content": "Tên bài báo:\n\nA comparative study of different machine learning methods for landside susceptibility assessment: A case study of Uttarakhand area (India)\nTác giả:\nPhạm Thái Bình\nTham gia cùng:\nTạp chí:\nEnvironment Modelling & Software\nNăm xuất bản:\nTừ trang 240 đến trang 250\nLĩnh vực:\nKỹ thuật xây dựng công trình giao thông\nPhạm vi:\nQuốc tế\n\nTóm tắt:\n\nLandslide susceptibility assessment of Uttarakhand area of India has been done by applying five machine learning methods namely Support Vector Machines (SVM), Logistic Regression (LR), Fisher's linear Discriminant Analysis (FLDA), Bayesian Network (BN), and Naive Bayes (NB). Performance of these methods has been evaluated using the ROC curve and statistical index based methods. Analysis and comparison of the results show that all five landslide models performed well for landslide susceptibility assessment (AUC = 0.910-0.950). However, it has been observed that the SVM model (AUC = 0.950) has the best performance in comparison to other landslide models, followed by the LR model (AUC = 0.922), the FLDA model (AUC = 0.921), the BN model (AUC = 0.915), and the NB model (AUC = 0.910), respectively.\n\nTừ khóa:\n\nIndia Uttarakhand Machine learning Landslides susceptibility assessment\nThông tin tác giả\nPhạm Thái Bình\n\nPhạm Thái Bình\n\nThạc sĩ kỹ thuật\n\nLý lịch khoa học", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9987249970436096}
+{"content": "Sunday, January 24, 2016\n\n\nAfter a week of traveling my family's immune systems are a bit exhausted. This recipe comes from that place - a desire for warm, simple nourishment.\n\n\nNote: This recipe uses carrot and fennel tops, referring to the green leaves or \"tops\" of the carrots and fennel. If you don't have access to these [being it's winter], save this sauce recipe and come back to it in the summer when greens are abundant. Often, the tops of carrots and fennel are disposed of but they are usable, delicious, and make an awesome [green!] addition to soups, pasta, and roasted vegetables, especially in the winter months when fresh greens are scarce. \n\n1 medium - large yellow onion, peeled and chopped into small pieces\n2 T. ghee or coconut oil\n2 large garlic cloves, minced\n1 1/2 T. fresh ginger, minced\n1 celeriac or celery root, peeled and cut into small cubes\n4 c. carrots, minced using food processor or blender\n2 c. celery stalks and leaves, thinly sliced\n3 medium size sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes\n4 c. turkey bone broth\n2 - 4 c. water\n1 lb. ground turkey\n2 tsp. sea salt [if using store bought broth, eliminate salt and add only as necessary]\nfreshly ground pepper \n1 10 - 12 oz. bag of cut frozen green beans\n1 10 - 12 oz. bag of chopped frozen kale\n4 ounce jar of carrot and fennel top sauce [see recipe below], optional\nblack sea salt, optional\ndulse flakes, optional\n\nFor the sauce:\n\n4 c. fennel tops or green leaves\n4 c. carrot tops or green leaves\nextra virgin olive oil\n\nPlace the greens in a blender and add about a half cup of olive oil. Blend on high, scraping sides or using tamper to push the greens into the oil. Add oil as necessary until a sauce or dressing like consistency has been achieved. Pour into 4-ounce ball jars, cover tightly and freeze until needed.\n\nPrepare all vegetables by peeling and chopping as noted. Set aside.\n\nWarm ghee or coconut oil over medium heat. Once melted, add chopped onion and toss to coat. Saute, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to soften and become transparent, 5 - 7 minutes.\n\nAdd minced garlic and ginger and saute until aromatic, about 5 minutes. Add celeriac and cook for 3 minutes. Toss in carrots, celery, and sweet potato. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.\n\nPour in turkey broth and water. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to simmer, cover, and cook for 20 - 30 minutes or until sweet potato is tender when poked with a fork.\n\nWhile the soup is cooking, place thawed ground turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper and cook until meat is thoroughly done and no pink is visible. Set aside.\n\nOnce sweet potatoes are tender, reduce heat to low. Add cooked turkey, green beans, kale, and sauce. Cook until beans are bright green and tender.\n\nSpoon into bowls and garnish with black sea salt and dulse flakes.\n\nMonday, January 11, 2016\n\nVEGETARIAN BROCCOLI-POTATO SOUP with sauteed garlic, onion, and herbs\n\nI typically like a good snow. I figure, if it's going to be cold why not be sparkling white? And I really love a good winter storm that keeps up nestled close to the fire with hot tea and coloring books. Yesterday was both and I couldn't stop thinking about a warm, creamy soup. In an effort to use some things up, which is generally where most of the recipes found here originate, I followed my taste buds directly to here: creamy potato broccoli soup in vegetarian style. No cheese, no cream, no worries.\n\nA couple of words about the recipe. White beans are an awesome way to add a creamy texture without the cream. The beans, in combination with nutritional yeast, come out in the vicinity of cheesy. I highly recommend using bone broth here as it provides a deeper, richer flavor but vegetable broth will work just fine. If you're using store-bought broth, reduce the salt listed in the recipe to at least half and taste as you go. And please oh please don't skip on the roasted broccoli and seeds or sauteed garlic and onion. Whole new level of awesome.\n\nIf you're a winter hater I hope you find ways to enjoy it in the simplest of forms. If you're a cold weather lover, may this add to your glee. And either way, may you find the loviness in today.\n\n\n7 T. ghee, divided\n1 medium onion, thinly sliced\n4 large cloves of garlic, peeled and minced\n4 - 4 1/2 c. red potatoes, scrubbed and cut into small cubes\n2 tsp. nutritional yeast [optional]\n1 1/2 tsp. rosemary powder\n2 tsp. sea salt or to taste\n1/2 tsp. thyme\n1/4 tsp. smoked paprika\n1/4 tsp. turmeric\n1/4 tsp. celery seed\nfreshly ground black pepper, to taste\n1 c. white beans [great northern, butter beans, etc.], cooked and rinsed\n4 c. turkey broth or broth of choice\n4 c. water\n1 head of broccoli, chopped into small pieces\n1/2 c. pumpkin seeds\n1 - 2 T. pure maple syrup\n\nIn a medium skillet, melt three tablespoons of the ghee over medium heat. Add onion and cook until onion is soft and translucent. Lower heat to medium-low and saute until onion is just beginning to brown. Remove from heat and pour cooked onion into a medium size pot. Set aside.\n\nIn the same skillet that onion was cooked in, add three tablespoons of ghee and minced garlic. Cook over medium-low heat until garlic is just beginning to brown. Remove from heat and add to the pot with the onion.\n\nPlace all remaining ingredients, except broccoli, in the pot with the onions and garlic. Cover and bring to boil over high heat. Once the boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until potatoes are tender when poke with fork. Add broccoli and cook for an additional 7 - 10 minutes or until broccoli is soft and bright green. Remove from heat and let cook for 10 minutes or so.\n\nWhile soup is cooking preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place half of the broccoli and pumpkin seeds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toss with about one tablespoon of ghee, syrup, and sprinkle with salt. Rub with your hands so that it is well combined. Bake until broccoli is bright green and just starting to brown on edges and pumpkin seeds are just becoming light brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.\n\nOnce the potatoes and broccoli are tender, place half of the soup in a blender and blend until smooth. Add blended soup back to pot, stir to combine, and serve. You can also use an immersion blender and blend soup to a creamy chunky consistency.\n\nTop with roasted broccoli-pumpkin seed mixture.\n\nSunday, January 10, 2016\n\nCOLD/FLU TEA with phlegm reducing herbs\n\n\n\nSo I made this tea.\n\nAnd drank a lot of it.\n\nBy a lot I mean eight cups a day.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAdapted from Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health\n\n\n1/2 c. fennel seed\n1/2 c. rosehips\n1/2 c. nettle leaf\n1/2 c. peppermint leaf\n1/4 c. lemongrass\n1/4 c. cut ginger\n1/8 c. calendula flower\n1/8 c. mullein\n1/8 c. red clover flowers\n\n\n\n\nWednesday, January 6, 2016\n\nBOREDOM AND VANILLA CARDAMOM TIGERNUT GUMMIES with astragalus, nettle, maca, and elderflower\n\nAs a mom, most days I can handle repeating my day over and over again. Wake to yelling \"Mama, I'm hungry!\", brush teeth, scramble to get breakfast on the table before the hangry takes over, dishes, laundry, cleaning, picking up, the gamut of menial tasks.\n\nBut some days, especially after a series of such days, my valiance wains and I feel the force of undercurrent emotions and questions that travel with me throughout my day. I'm tired of and bored with being a maid, a cook, a personal attendant, a teacher, an officer, public defender and judge. Is this it? Is repeating the day really what I'm made for? Is there holy in this? Refinement in this? Of course the answer is yes. There is immense beauty and challenge in growing and tending a soul, or a few. God can meet us anywhere, especially in the muck and honesty of life. \n\n\nToday I listened to a podcast and the speaker asked \"is there a more noble task than being a mom and bringing up new life in this world?\" I started to cry. Here's the thing - we all need to be reminded that what we do is so much more than what it looks like. There are those days when holy is a sweet memory, faded by spilled water and tears. The days when we're so bored we sit willing the puzzle to show us there is more to this life. Please tell me this isn't it!\n\nHere's what we do when we're bored - we immediately try to escape it. Methods are plenty. We self medicate through distractions and busy and movies and media. We dive into anger and restlessness, depression and bed. And in a last-ditch effort some of us turn to food or drugs or alcohol, adultery or pornography. We all have our something or somethings - many levels to our boredom escape route.\n\nI used to [ummmm...okay still do] escape by quickly moving onto the next thing or busying myself with tasks that make me feel like I've accomplished something, anything. If I'm checking things off the list, I can't be bored right? I can feel important right?\n\nI am a mom, one who stays at home and let me tell you, it can get boring. Parenting is walking in the same direction for a long, long time type of thing. It's full of routine and rhythm and consistency - all things kids need and crave. For my kids it's the safety net that allows them to tiptoe away from the nest and explore one new bug, one skinned knee at a time.\n\nThere are days this routine and rhythm that keeps them comforted and confident can send me into mild psychosis. What keeps them grounded triggers me into a spinning mess, ready to jump in the UPS truck and on the road to anywhere.\n\nBut here's the thing. Boredom can be a powerful tool. A swift kick to get moving. It can also be a fantastic teacher. A mirror reflecting the deep, untouched area of our beings that need to be brought to the light and examined.\n\nWhy does busy make us feel important?\n\nWhy is slow so scary?\n\nWhy is more, more, more so addictive?\n\nAs I've asked myself these questions, I've uncovered old hurts and stories I've been told or have been telling myself. Areas of my being that need freedom and healing.\n\nThe more I sink into the stillness and rhythm of a slower pace of life, the more I find contentment and a beauty I never saw before. As if I was invited on stage to actively participate on an intimate level in this thing we call life. As I practice gratitude and compassion I find the one person who needs this most is me.\n\nAnd the slow isn't so scary any more. The days not so long. The work not so menial.\n\nThe warm dish water becomes an opportunity to feel the heat on my hands and say thank you for clean water. It reminds me I care very much that everyone has this opportunity and it moves me to act. I drags me from my world and into connection with the greater world around me.\n\nThe smell of clean laundry reminds me how lucky we are to have the choice of wearing more than one outfit and a machine to do much of the heavy lifting. I challenges me to look at my closet, my spending, my wants and prioritize them in a more generous way.\n\nCooking connects me on the deepest level to the ones I love, to the ones who have gone before me, to the ground beneath my feet, and to the farmers who work tirelessly to put food on my table. It gives me a chance to stir and chop and breathe deeply the essence of life.\n\nWriting and reading and painting and practicing yoga anchor me in the person I am and the things I love - the things I want to share with the world around me.\n\nWalking barefoot in the grass, planting seeds, sledding down the snow covered hill outside our door, breathing in the crisp clean air all remind me that this world is precious and we only have one and it is so, so beautiful. Worth protecting and enjoying and caring for with wisdom and integrity and selflessness.\n\nAll of sudden I'm not just a mom. These moments, humble and small, catapult me to move, to care, to create.\n\nThey take me from mundane to holy.  \n\nIt's not easy and I miss out on it many of days. But I'm practicing and over time I'm noticing changes, subtle and sweet, that are leading me directly into a walk with the divine. I'm learning this can happen even if our responsibilities don't shift. The only thing that needs changing is our awareness. And that lies solely in the palm of our hands. The choice is ours. But it's worth it. Whatever it takes, it's worth it.\n\nMay you find a rhythm that allows you to pause and find gratitude in the very simplest of things. May you experience truly living rather than rushing and going and doing and producing. May boredom cause you to pause and examine and move or stand still. May you have eyes to see what already is and the patience to enjoy it. \n\n\nAstragalus has become a bit of a rock star in recent health circles however it has deep roots in Chinese medicine and has been used for many years medicinally to build immune strength, energizing and nourishing the entire body. It has quite an impressive list of qualities and uses and is worth familiarizing yourself with.\n\nNettle is also used traditionally in Chinese medicine, noted as a \"long life\" herb and a terrific whole body tonic. Many consider it a vitamin/mineral factory.\n\nBoth the flower and berries of the Elder plant are popular cold remedies and immune boosters in European countries and are gaining traction here in the states.\n\n\n9 c. water, divided\n1 c. tigernuts\n1 handful of dried astragalus slices\n2 T. dried nettle root\n2 T. whole dried cardamom pods\n2 T. dried elderflower\n1 vanilla bean, halved and scraped\n3 - 4 T. raw honey, local if possible\n2 T. maple syrup\n1 T. maca powder\n1/4 tsp. cardamom powder\n1/4 tsp. sea salt\n1 c. unflavored, grass-fed gelatin [for extra firm consistency, less if softer consistency is desired]\n\nPrepare a 9 x 13 glass baking pan by greasing bottom and sides with coconut oil. Set aside.\n\nIn blender, place 5 cups of water and tigernuts. Blend on high until very smooth. Place cheesecloth or mine mesh nut milk bag over large jar or glass measuring cup. Pour blended milk into the cloth or bag about 3/4 of the way full. Twist top of bag and begin to squeeze milk out. Add the remaining milk and squeeze until all of the milk has been released. Save pulp for crackers, baking or smoothies. Set milk aside.\n\nIn a medium size pot place 4 cups of water, astragalus, nettle root, cardamom pods, and a pinch of salt. Bring water to boil, reduce heat to medium, and simmer uncovered until about a cup of liquid remains [approximately 30 minutes]. Turn heat off, add elderflower, cover and let steep for an additional 20 minutes. Pour liquid through fine mesh strainer and discard herbs.\n\nSlice vanilla bean along the edge, going deep enough to cut open but not all the way through.\n\nReturn herb tea to pot and add milk, vanilla bean, honey, syrup, cardamom powder, and sea salt. Warm over medium low heat until just hot to touch. Be careful not to boil!\n\nPlace warmed liquid in blender, add maca, and blend on high. Reduce speed to low and slowly pour in gelatin. Increase speed as consistency of liquid thickens.\n\nPour mixture into prepared baking dish and refrigerate until just firm. Cut the gummies into desired size and shape. Return to refrigerator and cool until gummies are very firm.\n\nStore for a week or two in refrigerator and enjoy!\n\nSPICED PEAR CHUTNEY with ginger, cardamom, and ghee\n\nThis is one of my favorite, really basic recipes for the late autumn and winter season. It's sweet, warm, and filled with aromatic spices that heat the body from the inside out.\n\n\n8 ripe or very ripe pears, peeled and cut into small cubes\n1/4 c. ghee\n1 - 3 T. coconut sugar or maple syrup, depending on sweetness desired\n1/4 - 1/2 c. water\n1 heaping tablespoon minced fresh ginger or 1 tsp. dried ginger\n2 tsp. pure vanilla extract or the seeds of 1 vanilla bean\n1/2 tsp. ground cardamom seed\n1/2 tsp. sea salt\n1/2 tsp. turmeric powder\nlarge pinch or two of Ceylon cinnamon\npinch of freshly ground black pepper\npinch of freshly ground nutmeg\npinch of freshly ground cloves\n8 whole medjool dates, pitted and thinly sliced\n\nPeel pears with knife or vegetable peeler. Cut into small, 1-inch chunks and set aside.\n\nIn a medium-large pot* over low heat, combine ghee and coconut sugar or syrup. Once the ghee has melted and sugar has been mixed in, add cubed pears, water, ginger, cardamom, and sea salt. Stir to combine. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pears have become very soft but still hold their shape [approximately 30 minutes]. Check for flavor at about the 15 minute mark and adjust as needed [more spices, more water, more sweetener]. Add dates when there is 10 minutes left of cooking time remaining.\n\nRemove from heat and let cool about 10 minutes or until chutney is warm but not hot. Serve warm. Top with additional dates slices and fresh, minced or very thinly sliced ginger.\n\n*You could also make this in a Crock-pot. Mix together all ingredients in Crock-pot, cover and cook for 2 - 3 hours on high or until pears are very soft but hold their shape.\n\nMonday, January 4, 2016\n\nCAPTURING CAPTIVATING AND KITARCHI with sweet potatoes, leeks, and pumpkin seeds\n\nA couple of years ago my friend Kim and I were in a cute antique shop browsing the shelves. She picked something up and mentioned how lovely it was. Then she put it back and in almost a whisper said, \"I'm so grateful I was able to experience that\".\n\nWait. What?\n\nNow my friend could have easily walked right up to the counter, purchased said object, and walked out with something beautiful to add to her already charming house.\n\nBut she didn't.\n\nShe put it back and somehow owned it without actually owning it.\n\nToday I was driving my girls home from school and the song \"Hello\" by Adele came on. Let me say, I love this song. Adele's voice is one of the most powerful and moving I know. That being said, today it made me wonder about our collective desire to own the beauty we see, hear, and experience. This song came out and boom! everyone had to have it, including myself.\n\n\nMy guess is it made us feel something. Her voice cut through the fluff around us and went straight to our soul. Somehow, through a series of notes and pitch and words, it connected us to each other and awakened the deepest part of us. And we want to capture it and know with certainty we can come back to this place when the need arises.\n\nIt made me think of all the other ways we experience something that captivates us and then, in that same instant of enjoyment, we jump to conspiring to get it.\n\nWe're at the beach and experience this comforting sense of smallness and we build houses all along the coast.\n\nWe taste something exotic and find ways to bypass region and season, shipping it around the world.\n\nWe run into Target, see something pretty and without much thought add it to our cart.\n\nWe hear a song and play it over and over and over.\n\nBut once we own whatever this thing is, does the experience continue? Does it get better? Do we?\n\nPlease understand, I don't think these things necessarily wrong. I just wonder what happens when it becomes habit. Something our culture and country is defined by.\n\nI think the beach gets old. The food isn't the same as right off the plant or tree. That thing looked a lot better on the shelf surround by the other pretties. The song suddenly becomes annoying.\n\nBut what if like my friend we take in the fullness of  beauty, allowing it to wash over and through us. We breathe in this brief moment in time and experience it as wholly and deeply and largely as we can.\n\nAnd then we let that be enough.\n\nWe walk away with this sense of bittersweet contentment that can only come with loving and letting go. This incredible sense of this being enough and knowing there will be another experience waiting around the bend.\n\nBecause here's the thing - if we own, we collect, we fill the bank space with repeat - we leave little space for new and wonder and exciting. Instead of doing what's difficult at first but more meaningful in a lasting sort of way, we collect dust and headaches.\n\nSo here's my challenge. Stand there. For a ridiculous amount of time if that's what it takes. Laugh, cry, yell, dance, sing, shake. Do whatever it takes to make the experience fully yours.\n\nAnd then walk away.\n\nI think you'll find that the only thing you want to repeat is thank you.\n\nThis recipe is my cold-weather comfort food. It is dense but not heavy, warm and flavorful, and wonderfully nutritious. If winter is a more difficult season for you, you tend to get cold easily, or are looking for an easy-to-digest meal, this may be a great one to try. The cookbook referenced is one of my favorite and a real treasure-chest of wonderful recipes. \n\nAdapted from Eat, Taste, Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living\n\n1 c. basmati rice\n1/3 c. mung dhal [split hulled mung beans]\n3 c. water\n2 small sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes [appx. 2 cups]\n1 small celeriac, peeled and cut into small cubes [appx. 1/2 cup]\n2 T. ghee\n2 leeks, rinsed and cut into thin slices\n4 T. shelled pumpkin seeds\n1 T. korma powder [see recipe below, make in advance]\n1 T. apple cider vinegar\n1/2 c. tigernut or coconut milk [or milk of choice]\n2 T. lemon juice\n1 tsp. maple syrup\nsea salt, to taste\n\nKorma Powder Recipe:\n\n1 T. whole coriander seeds\n1 T. whole cumin seeds\n1 T. whole fennel seeds\n1 T. whole mustard seeds\n1 T. whole fenugreek seeds\n1 T. whole cardamom seeds\n1 T. poppy seeds\n1 T. whole pepper seeds\n1 T. ground cinnamon\n1 T. ground ginger\n1 T. ground turmeric\n1 tsp. ground cloves\n\nPlace all ingredients in a spice grinder or Vitamix dry container. Blend on high until a very fine powder is achieved. Transfer to an glass container with tight-fitting lid.\n\nPlace the rice and mung dhal in a fine mesh strainer. Place under cold, running water and rinse until the water runs clear. Let all the water drain out and then place in large stainless steel pot. Add water. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Once water boils, cover and reduce heat to low for 10 minutes.\n\nMeanwhile peel and cut sweet potatoes, celeriac, and leeks. Once the rice and mung have been cooking for 10 minutes, layer the sweet potatoes and celeriac on top of the rice-mung mixture. Reserve the leeks for later. Cover and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Add a little more water if, after 20 minutes, the water has evaporated but the vegetables aren't tender if poked with a fork.\n\nWhile the rice and vegetables are cooking, warm ghee in medium size cast iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat. When melted, add the leeks and saute until soft. Add the pumpkin seeds and saute until the seeds are beginning to brown. Stir in the korma powder. Add the vinegar, lemon juice, syrup, milk, and about 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Cook for 3 - 4 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside.\n\nWhen the vegetables are tender to touch and water has been evaporated, remove from heat and stir in the pumpkin seed mixture. Add additional sea salt and pepper if necessary. Serve immediately.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6337000131607056}
+{"content": "Peracetic acid\n\nPeracetic acid (also known as peroxyacetic acid, or PAA), is a organic compound with the formula CH3CO3H. This organic peroxide is a colorless liquid with a characteristic acrid odor reminiscent of acetic acid. It can be highly corrosive.\nPeracetic acid is a much weaker acid than the parent acetic acid, with a pKa of 8.2.\n\nSynthesis of other compounds\nThe main use of peracetic acid is for the industrial synthesis of epoxides. It transfers an oxygen atom to double bonds, e.g. in ethene and propene, to form epoxides and alcohols. It can also be used in producing synthetic glycerol from propene, and is used in nylon manufacturing.\n\nAntimicrobial agent\nPeracetic acid is an ideal antimicrobial agent due to its high oxidizing potential. It is broadly effective against microorganisms and is not deactivated by catalase and peroxidase, the enzymes that break down hydrogen peroxide. It also breaks down in food to safe and environmentally friendly residues (acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide), and therefore can be used in non-rinse applications. It can be used over a wide temperature range (0-40 °C), wide pH range (3.0-7.5), in clean-in-place (CIP) processes, in hard water conditions, and is not affected by protein residues.\n\nMechanism of action\n\n\nBleaching agent\nPeracetic acid can be used as a bleaching agent especially for Kraft pulp. It is used at weakly acidic pH and relatively low temperature. It is a relative efficient and selective bleaching agent, and it is often used as an alternative to chlorine dioxide and elemental chlorine in totally chlorine free bleaching sequences (TCF). It is however relatively expensive, and is difficult to store due to its high reactivity. This has limited its use.\n\nFowl sanitizer\nPeracetic acid is extremely effective for sanitizing fowl carcasses without affecting the skin or the flesh of the bird carcass by applying direct to the meat. In particular, peracetic acid is applying to a fowl that has been killed, plucked and eviscerated by contacting the fowl with an aqueous peracetic acid solution and maintaining that contact to a time sufficient to sanitize the fowl.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9907964468002319}
+{"content": "Follow us on Facebook\nFollow us on Twitter\n Bio-rhythm is the Key of health. < back \n\nWe will be healthy, only if our Bio-rhythm runs properly.\n\nWe may believe that we have only one life and die once through whole life of period, but it isn’t true. Our life is actually a combination of 100 trillion individual life of cells that have own birth and die. 100 trillion cells are repeating the cycle of Birth- Grow - Ill- Die, and therefore, we are keep getting birth and keep getting die, during our life time.\n\nThe system of human body is so busy to support those cycles of life of the trillion cells. It supplies water, oxygen or nutrient to them, digests over 50 tons of food, creates Hormones or Enzymes etc, sends over 3oo millions of liters of blood to the whole bodies by over 3,000 millions of pumping of heart, 100 millions of breathings, creates over 0.4 trillions of sperms to succeed him, and grows hairs over 10 Km. Besides, it grows bones and nails or mustaches etc etc.\n\nAnother important mission of the system is to build up and run the Immune system to protect the cells from virus or bacteria safely and effectively.\n\nOf course, good food, nutritionals or medicines can help the mission, but still the life activity itself shall be remained as the own mission of the cells and its management system.\n\nTherefore, the perfect bio-rhythms of the cells should be the barometer of the health.\n\nEach of these cells is so small and similar each other but different kinds in details which runs by the own bio-rhythms . Most of the matters of the cells are directly controlled by the Autonomic nerve system by already given prescribed data or rules, instead of reporting and waiting reply from brain.\n\nAll the systems have been working so accurately for many thousand years, but there is a worry that if there is an error in the system by unknown disturbances, then we will get diseases and big troubles.\n\nUnfortunately, it has been still remained as unknown life area and not controllable by human yet.\n\nPolluted air, food or disturbed electro-magnetic field, causes Error.\n\nUnfortunately, along with the industrialized, we breathe polluted air and eat polluted food more and more, and more of the electro-magnetic field are disturbing our bio-rhythms.\n\nThe result is at some circumstances, the immune system of human body attacks human healthy cells, instead of killing bacteria or virus. It is a terror on our cells by the system error.\n\nDoctors don’t know the reason why, but so many patients are suffering or being killed by the system errors. We believe it’s because the bio-rhythms, are disturbed or broken by the pollution. The bio-rhythms of human body is basically a Electro-magnetic field of universe or earth and every cell has own strength level and that is how the blood or information can flow from one cell to another.\n\nThe new products like as Cell phones or other products, are releasing lots of electro-magnetic interferences, and it could affect the strength of electro-magnetic field of cells, and may change the flow of energy or blood and eventually change our bio-rhythms of the cells, and lost its missions or directions etc. Although there is no proven study yet but we doubt it strongly.\n\nSmooth and fine Kouksundo Breathing, will awake your disturbed cells to remember the original bio-rhythm you forgot.\n\nIf you continue breathing with a peaceful mind and with a periodic smooth rhythm, it will definitely help your cells to remember the original natural bio-rhythms you forgot because of the disturbances by pollutions, and will help your health. If you breathe clean air, or if you stretch whole your body properly, then it would help your health too. But if the breathing is done by force, it may cause another problem to your brain. Always, smooth, quite natural breathing is the best for your health.\n\nDismiss worldly thoughts from your mind, and let your brain take rest, to be healthy. It helps your bio-rhythms to work properly.\n\n5 senses, ( see/smell/hear/taste/touch ), are working 24hours/7day , to detect every information from outside, and save the information in the brain to manage them properly. It will be huge amount of information. If they are mixed with worldly thoughts, then the brain may not concentrate on critical health issues, but may be tied with those worldly thoughts. Therefore, you must dismiss them all, and the brain will help your cells remember the health related bio-rhythms.\n\nMeditation, Zen, Pray or Heanggong are seeking same one.\n\nSomeone says Meditation, someone says Zen, someone says Pray and someone says Haenggong.\n\nIf we view them on dismissing worldly thoughts from our mind, we can say they are seeking same one. But once they dismiss them, they all try to fill their own purposed ones in the empty mind.\n\nAs we mentioned before, the outside of our mind and body is looked as Static one, but actually it is so busy and Dynamic one inside. And polluted air, food or electro-magnetics are already disturbing our bio-rhythms.\n\nMeditation, Zen, Pray or Haenggong helps our mind not only to keep peaceful and remember the original bio-rhythms, but also reduce the production of active oxygen which is known as the reason of most of modern diseases. ( Please refer my previous writings how peaceful mind can reduce the production of active oxygen. )\n\nIf the water surface of the lake, is so quiet, as an mirror, then we can see the shadow of mountains on the lake. If our mind is so peaceful and calm down, then the cells busy working and and energy flow will be reflected at our mind and you can watch it.\n\nWhatever you select one among Meditation, Zen, Pray or Haenggong, it is your choice.\n\nIf you dismiss worldly thoughts from your mind, and breathe with smooth and fine rhythms, then you will recover your health forever. \n\n© Copyright 2010 - 2018 All rights reserved.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8635624647140503}
+{"content": "Building Confidence at The Crocky Trail\n\n\nWe wanted to share this with you.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nNew Annual Passes Are Launched…\n\n\nHow do I get one?\n\n\nHow much is it?\n\n\nWho would benefit from a Crocky Trail annual pass?\n\n\nHow long is a pass valid for?\n\n\n\nCompetition Time\n\n\n\nAre Children Missing Out On Traditional Outdoor Activities?\n\nTips for keeping cool when its hotWith the Easter Holidays upon us, should we be encouraging our children to get closer to nature and enjoy the activities that can be done in the great outdoors?\n\nResearch shows that traditional outdoor activities such as climbing trees, playing in the mud and making daisy chains are becoming a thing of the past as children instead spend their time playing computer games, watching TV or just hanging out with friends.\n\nIn a recent study it shockingly showed that two thirds of today’s children had never made a daisy chain and more then 40% had never squelched through mud. Animal spotting is also becoming less popular with many children saying they have never looked for birds and just 35% have gone searching for insects.\n\nThe average child spends just 5 hours a week playing outside, less than half the 11 hours their parents’ generation enjoyed. This demonstrates that youngsters are missing out getting dirty in the mud and puddles or simply spending time in the fresh air. Plenty of research has shown that children exposed to nature perform better at school.\n\nThese traditional activities can be a great way of encouraging children to spend more time outdoors, get more exercise and create more memories then they will get from simply sitting in front of a computer or TV screen.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6139252781867981}
+{"content": "\n\n\n\n\nMARS (Mangala)\n\n\nIn the First house - Hot constitution, scars in the body, pilfering habits, big navel, early danger to father, reddish complexion, active, adventurous, powerful and low-minded.\n\nSecond house - Quarrelsome, extravagant, harsh speech, adulterous, short-tempered, wasteful, sharp-tongued, broken education, satirical, large patrimony, bad-tempered,\naggressive, unpopular and awkward.\n\nThird house - Pioneering, few brothers, sex-morals weak, courageous, intelligent, reckless, adventurous, short-tempered, unprincipled, easy morals, unpopular.\n\nFourth house - Sickly mother, quarrels, unhappy home life, danger to father, domestic quarrels and conveyances, uncomfortable, coarse, brutal, tyrannical, vulgar.\n\nFifth house - Unpopular, no issues, ambitious, intelligent persevering, unhappy, bold, unprincipled, decisive.\n\nSixth house - Successful, good lands, rich success over enemies, intelligent, political success, powerful, worry from near relations.\n\nSeventh house. - Two wives or friction with wife, dropsy, rash speculations, unsuccessful, intelligent, tactless, stubborn idiosyncratic, peevish, passionate, tension in\nmarried life.\n\nEighth house - Short life, few children, danger to maternal uncles, widower later, hater of relations, bad sight, extramarital relations.\n\nNinth house - Unkind worldly, successful trader, loss from agriculture, sickly father, naval merchant, dependent life, self-seeking, acute, stubborn, impetuous, logical.\n\nTenth house - Founder of institutions and towns, energetic, adventurous, wealthy, active, healthy, famous, self made man, good agriculturist, good profits, clever,\nsuccessful loved by relations, decisive.\n\nEleventh house - Learned, educated, wealthy, influential property, crafty, happy, commanding.\n\nTwelfth house - Unsuccessful, poor, rotten body, unpopular, incendiary diseases, suffering, stumbling, active, fruitless, liable to fraud and deception, dishonest, unseen,\nimpediments, deformed eyes.\n\n   International Institute Of Astrology and Occult science         (REGD 072)\nBhavisyabani, Nuagaon Square,\nVijoy Vihar, Bhubaneswar 2, Pin:751002\nE mail:info@occulttreasures.com\n\n\n\nInfluence of Red Coral / red carnelian\n\nIf Mars is a good lord in your horoscope:\nThe influence will be toward positive energy, strength, courage, passion, and aggression. One will be active, have great energy.\n\nSite Designed & Hosted By Suryanandan.Net", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8874584436416626}
+{"content": "From the catalogs of babes\n\n{July 14, 2010}   post-ALA travel\n\n\nme making a thumbs-up in front of the NYPL lions\n\nHere I am, showing what I think about libraries.\n\n\nCatalog Room\n\nfrom askpang, on Flickr\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n{May 20, 2010}   SOS: save our stacks\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n{September 24, 2009}   an OPAC by any other name\n\nSo it’s quarter break here in our library. We usually have 2-3 weeks between each quarter when the library is closed to patrons, but we still come in to work. We’re actually pretty lucky in this regard, as we get a lot of tasks done that we couldn’t ordinarily accomplish with the library full of students. I’m grateful for this opportunity; I know most other libraries don’t have a time like this.\n\nOne of the many things we do over quarter break is to change out all the library displays. I’m not involved much with this process, being on the tech services side of things, but a while back when asked for ideas, I suggested using one of the displays to highlight “how to” aspects of the library: how to find a book, how to search the catalog, etc. I’m pleased to say that the idea was well-recieved and one of our bulletin boards is now dedicated to that topic.\n\nI am, however, slightly less than pleased with the actual manifestation of the concept. I know that I can’t have my finger in everything, and goodness knows I don’t want to be saddled with yat another task each quarter on top of all the work I already do. But it was my idea and I do have graphic design and retail merchandising experience. I confess I’ve been counting the hours waiting for this display to come down:\n\n\n\n What’s so bad about it, you ask? Well, I’ll skip the diatribe about the design and get straight to my point. Pretend you’re an 18-yearold design student in your first quarter of college with little-to-no library experience. You see this display entitled “how to find a library book” and step one is some fingers pointing at a computer that says “opac.” What does that mean? What do I do? What the heck is opac? It sounds like some sort of air-conditioning duct system, or a rodent-type animal from Peru.\n\nI hate the term “OPAC.” Hate it hate it hate it. It’s probably one of my biggest pet peeves and it pushes all my buttons. No one but librarians knows what an OPAC is or what it stands for, and at this point an acronym for “Online Public Access Catalog”  is outdated anyway. But most of all, our patrons have no idea what it is, and so the image included in the wall display is prohibitively unhelpful.\n\nI personally make it point to say “OPAC” as rarely as possible, and never around patrons. (It’s even driving me nuts just to keep typing it in this entry.) I know a lot of people equally as appalled as I am about the term “OPAC” who now just say “the catalog.” Which is fine, to a certain extent, and I do it too. But it got me thinking–the word “catalog” (as a noun) implies a list. Traditionally, a library catalog is a list of all the materials a library holds.\n\nBut what we have now is not a list. An OPAC is not even a list. We have long surpassed tallying our holdings as simple lists, and believe me, I’m grateful for that. So if we don’t have a list or a catalog, what do we have? We have a database. We have a collection. Those are the words I choose to use during reference interviews and instruction. I’m not sure they’re the ideal choices, but I think they’re miles better than “OPAC.”\n\nWe’re a profession not just steeped in terminology, but based in it. Vocabularies are some of the underlying tools of our trade, especially cataloging. We lobby to change and update vocabulary terms to be more current and patron-accessible, why shouldn’t we do the same for our services? Catalogers complain that “no one understands what we do”–maybe that’s becuase we’re using outdated terms and descriptions that those people don’t understand and can’t relate to. I’m left wondering about the marketability and “rebranding” opportunities that might be possible–might reach more of our patrons–if we stopped using outdated, unfamiliar terminology not only in our job titles and subject headings, but in our services as well.\n\n{August 4, 2009}   I hate our catalog.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nToday a student responded to a suggestion to search the library’s catalog with: “I know how to use the catalog. I’m just lazy.”\n\nWelcome to our patron demographic. This is not the first time we’ve heard this sentiment (although not in such blatant terminology), and I doubt it will be the last. I once was reprimanded for referring to our patrons as “ignorant” (and not in a pejorative way), so I would never dare refer to them as lazy (at least not outright). But this came straight from the horse’s mouth!\n\nI’ve mentioned it before, but patrons of art and design school libraries are known to prefer real, human reference interaction over searching via computer interface. But it makes me wonder: why do they prefer that? Are they really all just lazy, like that self-admitted student? Is it that the interface of the catalog is so unfriendly to artists and other visual types that it’s difficult for them to use? Are they in such a hurry and have such a short amount of time at their disposal between studio classes, jobs, homework, and other projects? Is it that a real, in-the-flesh person offers more authority and credibility in this age of Wikipedia and Google? Or maybe a human being is more sympathetic than an unfeeling computer screen, or better able to distill down to their actual information needs in a way the computer can’t? I’d guess that all of these things apply in one way or another, in some combination. And I confess, it baffles me personally, a girl who prefers to attempt to find things first on my own, only turning to actual people when other self-reliant methods are exhausted.\n\nSo what does it mean for cataloging, if patrons are “lazy”? Are we obligated to combat their laziness by directing them to use the catalog themselves? Or should we approach it from the customer service standpoint of fulfilling their information needs in the way that works best for them?\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n{January 14, 2009}   it’s a miracle!\n\nOur library catalog is finally publically available online. We have been advocating for this for at least 3 years (since I started working here), and probably before that.\n\nPlease don’t laugh at it. Now you understand what I work with everyday. Believe me, I am doing everything in my power to make it better–fixing records, cleaning data, adding subject headings, gerry-rigging a sort-of-pseudo-authority control, advocating for software migration…  People will probably wonder how someone with such a back-ass-wards catalog has any credibility at all to talk about innovation and user-centered cataloging, when it’s clear neither is in practice. But I honestly think it’s my direct experience with a catalog that so clearly doesn’t serve it’s users that motivates me to pursue something better.\n\net cetera", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5303213596343994}
+{"content": "Skip to content\n\nEnvironmental Health Perspectives\n\nFacebook Page EHP Twitter Feed Open Access icon  \n\nWriting and Preparing Your Manuscript for Submission\n\nAll manuscripts should be as concise as possible without sacrificing information necessary for reproducibility and clarity. Failure to comply with author instructions may result in a delay of the manuscript handling and review process.\n\nTitle Page\n\n\n\nInclude a structured abstract of ≤ 300 words for all Research Articles, Reviews, and Commentaries on a new page after the title page. See specific article types for abstract headings. The abstract should not include references or any information that does not appear in the text of the manuscript. We recommend that authors indicate study names or sources of data that are integral to the study. 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Therefore, please confirm that your files are complete, accurate, and appropriately formatted for publication.\n\nPreparing a Supplemental Excel File\n\nUse Excel format only when it is not practical to include a table in the main Supplemental Material file (e.g., if it is too wide to fit on a single manuscript page or is more than 2 pages long).\n\nEHP Style\n\nLine Numbering\n\nEnable continuous line numbering on all manuscripts (line numbers should NOT restart at 1 on each page). Manuscripts received without continuous line numbers will be returned to the author for revision before peer review.\n\nPlain Language\n\nEHP covers all disciplines engaged in the broad field of environmental health science. Therefore, write in a clear and simple manner; when possible, use active rather than passive voice to avoid ambiguity. Avoid unnecessary jargon, and define terms that may not be universally recognized among all environmental health scientists.\n\n\nEHP follows Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. Use American spelling throughout the manuscript except for direct quotations from primary sources or proper names.\n\nSymbols and Equations\n\n\nDo not use footnotes in the main manuscript text. Place all textual information within the manuscript, and indicate all references as in-text citations and, if applicable, as entries in the list of references.\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997018575668335}
+{"content": "Monday, 10 February 2014\n\nWhy Homeopathy is best for treating Asthma\n\nAsthma has become a common condition in recent decades. It can cause a cough, tightness of the chest, wheezing and breathlessness. It is caused by the inflammation of the airways, or the bronchi, which carry air to, and from the lungs. This inflammation is known to be triggered by a variety of factors which tightens of muscles around the bronchi.\n\nConventional Medical Treatment\n\nThis indicates clearly that conventional medicine seeks to manage rather than to cure asthma.\n\nThe main treatment offered by conventional medicine is inhalers, that deliver a drug directly into the airways. Sometime a ‘spacer’ is used to increased the amount of medication reaching the lungs, and reduce the ‘side-effects’ of the drug.\n\nReliever inhalers, such as Salbutamol and Terbutaline, which aim to relieve asthma symptoms quickly, and contain a ‘short-acting beta2-agonist’ which ‘works by relaxing the muscles surrounding the narrowed airways’. NHS Choces claim that these are “generally safe”.\n\nPreventer inhalers, such as Beclometasone, Budesonide, Fluticasone and Mormetasone, aim “to reduce the amount of inflammation and ‘twitchiness’ in the airways and prevent asthma attacks occurring”. These inhalers contain corticosteroid drugs. NHS Choices say that these “Inhaled corticosteroids can occasionally cause a mild fungal infection (oral thrush) in the mouth and throat”\n\nLong-acting reliever inhalers, such as Formoterol and Salmeterol, are used when this treatment fails to work. “These work in the same way as short-acting relievers, but they take longer to work and can last up to 12 hours”. \n\nPreventer medicines. If this treatment does not work the following drugs are then used:\n\n    Leukotriene receptor antagonists (Montelukast): a drug that “blocks part of the chemical reaction involved in inflammation of the airways”.\n\n    Theophyllines: “a drug that helps widen the airways by relaxing the muscles around them”.\n\n    Oral Steroids: NHS Choices say that these drugs ”are usually monitored by a respiratory specialist” as the “long-term use of oral steroids has possible serious side effects, so they are only used once other treatment options have been tried”\n\nOmalizumab (Xolair). This is given as an injection every 2 to 4 weeks, at a specialist asthma centre. NHS Choices says that this drug “binds to one of the proteins involved in the immune response and reduces its level in the blood. This reduces the chance of an immune reaction happening”. NHS Choices say that the National Institute for Heath and Clinical Excellence (NICE) “recommends that omalizumab can be used in people with frequent severe asthma attacks which require visits to A&E or hospital admission”.\n\nBronchial thermoplasty. NHS Choices say that this is used “to treat severe asthma by reducing airway narrowing” and is a treatment “carried out either with sedation or under a general anaesthetic” where a hollow tube, or bronchoscope containing a probe “is inserted through the mouth or nose into the airway and expanded so it touches the airway wall, it then heats up”. It goes on to say that “the long-term risks and benefits are not yet fully understood”.\n\nNHS Choices then goes on to discuss some of the ‘side-effects’ of these treatments, but as usual, their coverage seems to downplay what is known about these treatments, particularly some of the more worrying research. These concerns apply particularly to the ‘long-acting reliever inhalers’, and the subsequent treatment offered by Conventional Medicine.\n\nTherefore, before accepting conventional treatment for Asthma I would recommend that some research is done into the more serious adverse reactions.\n\nThis website, whilst saying that these treatments are “usually well tolerated”, it does at least seem to cover most of the more serious dangers of this treatment. This includes evidence about a link between this treatment and Cataracts and Glaucoma, poor physical growth. \n\nHomeopaths have been treating people with Asthma successfully for a long time, not just in managing the condition, but curing it. However, it is important to remember that in Homeopathy any illness or disease, including Asthma, requires individualised attention. \n\nAs usual, there are many remedies used by Homeopaths in the treatment of Asthma. These remedy descriptions have been taken from Robert Medhurst’s article on the Hpathy website.\n\nAntimonium Tart\nCommonly indicated in children, asthma appears suddenly at night with a suffocating cough and palpitations and the sufferer feels the need to sit upright. Worse from warm weather or being warm, better for motion, belching or lying on the right side\n\nArsenicum Alb\nThe sufferer has periodic attacks of asthma with a burning sensation in the chest, restlessness, anxiety, extreme fatigue and cold sweats. Attacks may be associated with hayfever or emphysema. Symptoms are worse immediately on lying down, from walking or exertion and better for warmth and warm food.\n\nArsenicum Iod\nOccasional bouts of asthma that force the sufferer to sit up to breathe, with exhaustion and a burning in the chest. Worse for dry, cold weather or exertion, better for open air.\n\nAsthma with a sensation of exhaustion and weakness in the chest with difficulty getting air into the lungs. Worse at or near the seashore, warmth or drafts, better for motion or exercise.\n\nCarbo Veg\nFrequently useful in the elderly, this remedy may be indicated where there is an association with gas in the stomach. The sufferer experiences cyanosis, a coldness to the skin and extreme dyspnoea. Worse for sitting or lying down, better for eructation and walking.\n\nCuprum Metallicum\nCharacterised by suddenly occurring spasmodic attacks often arising from emotional disturbances or fright, with facial cyanosis. Hiccoughs often occur before asthma attacks. Worse from motion, menses, touch and pressure, better for drinking cold water.\n\nSpasmodic asthma with wheezing, loose cough, a feeling of tightness in the chest, nausea, anxiety, perspiration and restlessness. Worse from motion or warm, humid air, better for open air, rest and pressure.\n\nKali Carb\nMay be indicated by the appearance of wheezing asthmatic attacks frequently occurring just after midnight or around 3 a.m. Worse from walking, cold air or change of weather, better for leaning forward, warm weather and motion.\n\nAsthma attacks usually occur on falling asleep or when wrapped too tightly around the throat. Symptoms improve on coughing up phlegm. Worse during and after sleep, hot drinks and during menopause and better for open air and cold drinks.\n\nLobelia Inflata\nAsthma with often brought on by exercise and preceded with a feeling of prickling over the skin, with nausea and profuse salivation. Worse from exertion, warm food, exposure to cold, better for rapid walking.\n\nNatrum Sulph\nAsthma that often has a familial basis, and may be associated with a rheumatic complaint and occurs during wet weather. It is accompanied by a loose cough producing thick white or greenish mucus. Diarrhoea often arises during or after each attack. Worse for damp weather and lying on the left side, better for open air and lying on the back.\n\nNux Vom\nAsthma often arises from gastric disturbances, the sufferer is frequently nauseous, flatulent, irritable and constipated and has a yellow-coated tongue. Symptoms are worse after midnight or early morning, and worse for cold or exertion. Better after belching, damp, wet weather, lying on the back, changing sides or sitting up.\n\nAsthma often associated with skin disease, or suppression of skin diseases, it occurs from a recurrent cough and produces an expectoration of thick offensive sputum. Worse for bathing and overheating, better for standing and dry, warm weather.\n\nLike all Homeopathic remedies, these are all safe. But as asthma can be a serious disease, and it is recommended that anyone suffering from asthma should consult with a registered Homeopath to ensure a good match, at the correct potency.\n\nRandomised Controlled Tests (RCTs)\n\nContrary to what the NHS Choices website says, incorrectly, about evidence proving the value of homeopathic treatment of Asthma, there are several RCTs which have looked into the treatment of Asthma with Homeopathy\n\n“Researchers at the University of Glasgow in the UK, have found that 80% patients who received very small, “homeopathic”, doses of whatever substance they were most allergic to had significant relief of symptoms within the first week of treatment, compared to 38% of patients who received placebo”.\n\n“This study provides evidence that homeopathic medicines, as prescribed by experienced homeopathic practitioners, improve severity of asthma in children”.\n\nThis paper looks at the clinical research into allergic conditions treated with homeopathy, including a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCT) for hay fever with positive conclusions, and two positive RCTs in Asthma. It also looks at cohort surveys that have shown improvement in asthma in children, and general allergic conditions and skin diseases. It also looked at some economic surveys that have shown positive results in eczema, allergy, seasonal allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy, and chronic allergic rhinitis, outlining some of the homeopathic remedies found to be useful in the treatment of hay fever, asthma, eczema and urticaria.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8271852135658264}
+{"content": "VICENZA, Italy -- Managing stress during the holidays upon us can be stressful itself. Following are some tips for stress management during this busy season:\n\nSet and keep manageable expectations. Try to set realistic goals and budgets, and organize your time by making lists and prioritizing the important activities. Don't try to buy happiness with a pile of gifts; instead, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.\n\n\nEnjoy free activities, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowman with your children.\n\nDon't abandon healthy habits. Overindulgence can lead to stress, guilt and weight gain. Be aware of excess drinking, as it can be harmful in a multitude of ways, including increasing feelings of stress or depression. Instead, count your drinks, have a healthy snack before attending a holiday party, get plenty of sleep, and incorporate daily physical activity.\n\nTry something new. Celebrate the holiday season in a new way and start new traditions.\n\nSpend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or connect with someone you have not heard from in a while.\n\nLearn to say \"no.\" Saying yes to everything can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Friends and family will understand if you are unable to participate or lead every project or activity.\n\nTake time for yourself. Recharge your batteries. Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities or cooking. Find something that reduces your stress such as taking a walk, listening to music, reading a book, or getting a massage.\n\nAcknowledge your feelings. Realize it's normal to feel sadness or stress and it's ok ayto take time to express your feelings.\n\nSeek professional help if needed. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently depressed, unable to sleep or anxious. Make an appointment with a mental health professional by visiting the Behavioral Health desk or calling DSN 636-9140, comm. 0444-61-9140. You can also visit a chaplain, or call the Chapel Office at DSN 637-7575, comm. 0444-61-7575.\n\nIf it is more urgent, call the Chaplain Crisis Line at DSN 637-2273, comm. 0444-66-2273. Finally, there is also the option to make an appointment with a Military & Family Life Consultant (MFLC) by calling 333-489-8967 or 345-077-0476.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9856402277946472}
+{"content": "Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom Debt to Equity Ratio 2006-2018 | TEO\n\nCurrent and historical debt to equity ratio values for Telecom Argentina Stet - France Telecom (TEO) over the last 10 years.\nSector Industry Market Cap Revenue\nUtilities Wireline - Non US Providers $36.856B $3.951B\nTELECOM ARGENTINA holds a license to provide basic telephone service andfixes telecommunications links in the northern region of the ArgentineRepublic. The Company contributes to the country?s economic and socialdevelopment by means of incorporating the latest technological advancesachieved to-date in the field of telecommunications world-wide.\nStock Name Country Market Cap PE Ratio\nChina Telecom Corp (CHA) China $36.856B 0.00", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9974441528320312}
+{"content": "K2000 Kloser Look: Reporting\n\nDid you know the K2000 has some built in reports? Easily overlooked on the K2000 because often we’re just deploying images, and once the machines are imaged we never look back. You aren’t alone, but there are many good uses to systems deployment reports. How do we see patterns in images that are being reimaged ever 4 months instead of 12? How do we determine if imaging is taking longer than is should because of network issues? All of this and much more can be found in the Logs, Reports, and System Performance tools in the Reports module on your K2000.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7645984292030334}
+{"content": "[Muscle electric stimulation in sports medicine].\n\nNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is frequently used to strengthen the normal muscle. In medicine, several investigators have highlighted the value of NMES when treating amyotrophy related to immobilization. The efficacy of NMES of the quadriceps during rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament surgery has been well documented. These… (More)", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9978950023651123}
+{"content": "A. E. Roberts logo\n\nApple - Laxton's Superb\n\nA crisp sweet and juicy Cox offspring bred in Bedfordshire UK at the end of the 19th century. Bears reliable heavy crops, keeps right through the winter.\n\nSeason: November - February\n\nPlanting Distance: 4m (13ft)\n\nApproximate Height: 3m (10ft) after 10 years\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6353715062141418}
+{"content": "Creamed Rishi corn soup was a type of soup containing Rishi corn. It was served at Dex's Diner on the planet Coruscant on Zhelldays as the daily soup for 1.7 credits.\n\n\n\nIn other languages", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.996540367603302}
+{"content": "Academic Preparation for Admission into Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) Programs\n\nA Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.) specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, through both medical and surgical means, of diseases and disorders affecting the human foot. A D.P.M. makes independent judgments, administers treatment, prescribes medication, and when necessary, performs surgery.Pre-Podiatry\n\nCurrently, there are no podiatric schools in Texas.\n\nTo prepare for admission to a college of podiatric medicine a student must have a minimum of 90 semester hours. The courses are the same the same as those required for pre-medical students.  However, over 95% of students who matriculate at podiatric medical schools have a baccalaureate degree, with a natural science major and minor. The Council on Podiatry Education of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) is the accrediting agency. The APMA website,, identifies nine accredited colleges of podiatric medicine and one college that has achieved candidate status.\n\nApplicants are evaluated based on their overall GPA and their science GPA, performance on the MCAT (or in some cases the GRE or DAT), extracurricular and community activities, and a personal interview. An overall GPA and a science GPA of 3.25 is considered minimum,however the admission criterion varies. The colleges of podiatric medicine participate in a centralized application service through the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service(AACPMAS) The AACPMAS begins processing applications approximately September 1st. The deadline for priority consideration is April 1,and the final application deadline is July 31st of each year for Fall admission of the same", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9959855675697327}
+{"content": "Course Syllabus\n\n\nThe rapid advancement of computational methods from machine/statistical learning, data mining, and pattern recognition provides unprecedented opportunities for understanding large, complex datasets. This course takes a practical approach to introduce several machine learning methods with business applications in marketing, finance, and other areas. The course aims to provide a practical survey of modern machine learning techniques that can be applied to make informed business decisions: regression and classification methods, resampling methods and model selection, regularization, perceptron and artificial neural networks, tree-based methods, support vector machines and kernel methods, principal components analysis, and clustering methods.\n\nAt the end of this course, students will have a basic understanding of how each of these methods learn from data to find underlying patterns useful for prediction, classification, and exploratory data analysis. Further, each student will learn how to implement machine learning methods in the R statistical programming language for improved decision-making in real business situations.\n\nThe course format is a combination of textbook readings and lecture slides, R Lab video sessions, and group discussions.  Weekly quizzes and programming assignments using R will be used to reinforce both machine learning concepts and practice. The final project will involve students applying multiple machine learning methods to solve a practical business problem in marketing.\n\n\n\n  • Demonstrate a practical understanding of the key theoretical concepts of modern computational/ analytic methods from machine/statistical learning, data mining, and pattern recognition.\n  • Identify appropriate machine learning methods to find relationships and structure in data with and without specific output variable(s).\n  • Apply machine learning methods to build predictive models and discover patterns in data for more informative business decision-making.\n  • Develop analytic solutions to practical business problems using the R statistical programming language, transforming data into knowledge.\n\n\n\nRequired Textbook:  An Introduction to Statistical Learning, with Applications in R (2013), by G. James, D. Witten, T. Hastie, and R. Tibshirani.\n\nNote: This textbook is available for free download at\n\nStatistical Software:  R, which can be downloaded for free from Rstudio is the recommended interface for the R statistical programming language software, which can also be downloaded for free at\n\n\nPlease refer to the course syllabus for more details:COURSE SYLLABUS.pdf\n\nCourse Summary:\n\nDate Details", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9998527765274048}
+{"content": "“They don’t make it anymore”\n\nWhen Samuel Clemens wasn’t working as a Mississippi riverboat pilot, or writing novels under the pen name of Mark Twain, he was quite the humourist and philosopher.\n\n“Buy land,” he advised: “they don’t make it anymore.”\n\nIt’s not entirely true: for centuries, mankind has been turning sections of the seabed, lakebeds and such into land that can be used by people. Without this practice, many rivers would be wider, the Netherlands would be 17% smaller, and much of Mexico City wouldn’t exist. ‘Land reclamation’ has been going on for centuries.\n\nI’m not quite sure why it’s called reclamation, since the ‘re-’ part seems to imply that land was previously in existence, when clearly it wasn’t. Consider Samphire Hoe, a country park located at the base of Shakespeare Cliff near Dover – and made almost entirely from material excavated during the construction of the Channel Tunnel. Some 4.9 million cubic metres of material were deposited there, expanding the United Kingdom by thirty hectares.\n\nIn the South China Sea something similar is happening, although the building material isn’t left over from some other engineering project: it’s specifically being dredged up in order to construct artificial islands to bolster some extremely dubious territorial claims over a patch of sea.\n\nWhile it isn’t true to say that “they don’t make it anymore”, new real estate certainly is expensive. Samphire Hoe came about because it’s basically a made-over spoil heap from a £4.65 billon project. The cost of the project by the People’s Republic of China in the Spratly Islands is unknown, but the adventure began with a naval battle at Johnson South Reef in 1988, in which seventy or more Vietnamese sailors were killed.\n\nLand, it seems, always comes with a very high price.\n\nJohnson South Reef\n\nArtificial island under construction by the Chinese military at Johnson South Reef (Agence France-Presse)\n\nAt the same time, land elsewhere is disappearing. I have previously written about how Nauru is threatened by rising sea levels, and parts of the east coast of England seems to be melting away, too. Spurn Point, at the mouth of the Humber estuary, may soon become Spurn Island. In fact, during some extreme tides, it now does exactly that. The nearby port of Ravenspurn is long gone, and that’s a shame because it once played a significant part in history as the place where Henry Bolingbroke landed in 1399, on his way to defeat Richard II and become Henry IV, King of England.\n\nRavenspurn is far from the only settlement that Yorkshire has lost to the sea. Other curiously-named places include Hornsea Beck, Colden Parva, Ringborough, Monkwell, Waxhole, Owthorne by Sisterkirk, Old Withernsea, Out Newton, Dimlington, Old Kilnsea and many more… all places that you’ll now find only if you look below the chilly waters of the North Sea. The major east coast towns are protected by substantial engineering works, but that probably increases the rate at which less protected sections of coastline are washed away. Even the sturdy coastal fortifications that were built during the World Wars now lie broken and jumbled at mad angles, which doesn’t bode well for our attempts to resist coastal erosion, long-term.\n\nGoing, going... gone? Skipsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.\n\nGoing, going… gone? Skipsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire.\n\n“What is the price of holding back the sea?” That’s the question the BBC has been asking recently. The cash-strapped government requires that a pound spent on flood defence must bring at least £8 in economic benefit; a requirement easily demonstrated in a densely-populated area, but much harder to achieve where it’s farmland that is under threat – despite the fact that even a temporary seawater inundation would leave fields unfit to grow crops for years.\n\nThe cost of flood defence is expected to rise by 60%, to £200 million, by 2030. One possible strategy is that of managed retreat: instead of trying to defend every single farm, selected ones would be allowed to revert to salt marsh – which is what they were, centuries ago. This sacrifice (allowing the sea to re-reclaim them, if you will) offers a number of potential advantages, including shortening the overall length of the coastal defences, and allowing the outlying marshes to absorb much of the wave energy before it reaches the sea wall… but on our crowded island, we can’t really spare the loss of too much fertile farmland.\n\nOn the global scale, there’s about 0.02 km2 for each person – based upon a planetary land area of 149 million km2 and a current human population of 7.25 billion. We can’t actually have 0.02 km2 (4.94 acres) each, because that would leave no space at all for wilderness, and in any case some of the land area is buried under thick ice in Antarctica. Still more is covered with roads, businesses and your share of public buildings. Some of it is old mine workings, landfill sites, mountains and so on.\n\nBasically, usable land is very precious.\n\nIn the UK, the land area per person is just 0.003 km2 (243,610km2 divided among 64.1 million people), so it should come as no surprise that we import 40% of our food. This is a figure that is rising, but the really surprising thing is that it isn’t already a lot higher. With climate change, coastal erosion, worldwide population increase and pressure on the water supply, there are significant food security challenges ahead.\n\nWhen, in the mid 17th century, astronomers began to use the eclipses of Jupiter’s moons to measure the time accurately (and thereby, to deduce their position upon the Earth) it caused a lot of maps to be redrawn. When King Louis XIV of France was first presented with a new, more accurate map of his nation, he is reported to have grumbled that he’d just lost more territory to his astronomers than to all his enemies.\n\nYou might have heard that “money is the root of all evil”, but surely land is at the root of everything, ever since our culture decided that land belongs to people, rather than the more ancient viewpoint that people belong to the land. From warfare between nations in search of Lebensraum to construction companies seeking a supply of sites suitable for development, it’s all about land. Even the most virtual of ‘Dot Com’ Internet businesses requires premises (or at least server rooms) somewhere, their staff must live somewhere and their equipment must be manufactured somewhere…\n\nThis is the real challenge: making use of something finite to provide for an indefinite future.\n\nBuy land. They do still make it, but not nearly enough of it, and some of the old parts are disappearing. Choose the land you buy with care… and look after it.\n\n\nFracking: an Inside Story\n\n(Part III in a series on ‘fracking’. See parts I and II here.)\n\nWhile it arouses considerable loathing, fracking is in some senses an absolute gift to protestors. The slogans practically write themselves: ‘no fracking way’, ‘frack off’, ‘Lancashire’s not for Shale’, etc. In this regard the anti- brigade are shooting fish in a barrel. They also benefit from a home team advantage at public meetings, where their concerns about the quality of drinking water and the risk of earthquakes seems very reasonable, compared to the position of ‘big oil’.\n\n\"Get the frack out of Sussex\"\n\nI hope this gentleman is sufficiently clothed, but… um…?\n\nFracking has an interesting but hardly admirable pedigree. Consider the story of the three businessmen who, in 1864, formed the Dramatic Oil Company: they took out a lease on a property in Pennsylvania, hired staff and set about drilling an oil well. All did not run smoothly, but presently oil was struck and a modest amount was obtained. Seeking to increase the yield, the investors decided to ‘shoot’ the well – to detonate a large amount of gunpowder at depth in order to fracture the surrounding rock. That’s what you did back in 1864, hydraulic fracturing being unknown until 1949… but the blast ruined the well, and ended oil production at the site. This would be nothing but a tiny footnote in the history of the US oil industry, but for the identity of one of the three investors: John Wilkes Booth, who would soon assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. If he hadn’t lost the modern-day equivalent of $90,000 on his oil venture, perhaps he’d have stayed in Pennsylvania, and away from Ford’s Theater.\n\nWhen gunpowder didn’t pack enough punch for the ‘shooting’ of oil and gas wells, there was nitroglycerin: a ‘torpedo’ containing perhaps a couple of hundred litres of the substance would be lowered down the well, and detonated. Nitroglycerin continued to be used until 1990. There were also three experiments in releasing gas from shale through the use of nuclear devices. First there was Project Gasbuggy (29 kilotons) in December 1967; then came Project Rulison (43 kilotons) and Project Rio Blanco (three devices at 33 kilotons each). Conducting twenty-seven nuclear tests between 1961 and 1973 for the purposes of demonstrating non-combat uses for nuclear explosives, Operation Plowshare certainly marks an interesting phase in US history… and one that I’m glad I didn’t have to witness. The three tests that were done for the purposes of fracking showed a very poor return on investment – and yielded a short-lived, radioactive gas supply that was never used commercially.\n\nI learned about John Wilkes Booth’s history as an oil investor, and about atomic fracking, courtesy of John Midgley at a meeting of the Craven & Pendle Geological Society last week. His presentation ‘Fracking – a Geological Perspective’ contained much else besides, and our interest is in hydraulic fracturing rather than in more exotic, explosive solutions to wells running dry… but I enjoyed the history lesson all the same.\n\nNow, I’ll attempt to reproduce more of what I learned from the speaker…\n\nMr Midgley’s stated aim was not to promote or condemn fracking, but to talk about “how it sits in the current energy landscape”, and as such it matched my hope to learn more about the science and engineering involved.\n\nThe speaker had a lot of experience in the industry, and had been fracking overseas more than 25 years ago. One example that he gave involved fracking with acids, to stimulate oil wells by dissolving carbonates, in the Middle East. As I have written before, not all fracking involves shale gas; in fact Mr Midgley reported that “you can frack any well” (and sometimes it happens unintentionally).\n\nHe was careful to distinguish between resources and reserves, and commented that the media often fail in this regard. Resources are estimates of the total quantity of oil and gas physically contained in a deposit, while reserves are the subset that can be extracted, subject to technological and economic constraints. Thus, we need to be careful with language when discussing the UK’s shale deposits.\n\nSo how big is this gas bonanza that we can anticipate? The shale deposits in the USA are massive, compared to ours. It’s a big country (obviously) with thick seams that are easy to access both physically and legally. Gas quality was also said to be better in the US. Basically, every attempt to prospect for shale gas in the UK has been a disappointment, and the UK has yet to see a single fracked gas well that is commercially viable. Between our less generous deposits and more difficult legislative environment (including far-reaching company liability) UK shale gas looks like something of a hardscrabble proposition.\n\nThe UK has three main areas where shale gas might be mined: the Weald basin in the south of England, the Bowland-Hodder formation in the North, and the Midland Valley in Scotland. In the same way that Murphy’s Law dictates that military operations inevitably take place at the intersection between two maps, each on a different scale, studies of the UK’s shale beds seldom use the same unit of measure, but Mr Midgley did his best to interpret the data for us, juggling “barrels” and “trillion cubic feet”. His assessment was that the Weald Basin wouldn’t be exploited because it’s relatively small and “too many policymakers live there”, and that the Bowland-Hodder formation (in what Lord Howell of Guildford called the “desolate north”) was the most promising of the remaining pair, for reasons of logistics, although it in no way resembled the attractiveness of the US gas fields.\n\nProspective shale gas fields\n\nAnticipated shale gas in the Bowland Basin (BBC news)\n\nIs it worth doing at all? Mr Midgley reported that fracked gas has a good calorific value and requires very little post-processing. In response to an audience question along the lines of “Should we leave it in the ground until later?” he felt that the time was right to commence fracking as it offered a supply of gas for approximately 50 years – if used to top up declining volumes from the North Sea and “keep the lights on” as politicians like to say. Thirty years, he felt, would be sufficient to buy time during which a new generation of nuclear plants could be constructed.\n\nAmid these sometimes gloomy assessments, the audience learned a great deal about the business of drilling for oil and gas, such as how you steer a drill bit, and gauge its position below ground, and what you can and can’t do at the bottom of a very deep hole. We learned about the differences between biogenic and thermogenic methane (something it’s very important to understand before taking everything in Gasland at face value) and about the super-hard, super-expensive form of concrete that is used to line a bore, and how very difficult it is to control (and measure) the integrity of that bore. No apologist for the industry in this regard, Mr Midgley frankly admitted that over time, all wells will leak. He weighed this knowledge in terms of social need versus social impact.\n\nshale gas pad drilling\n\nThe presenter scoffed at the idea of drilling ever being as precise as this…\n\nI was interested to see Mr Midgley make reference to the Triple Bottom Line (Elkington, 1994) and the idea that an acceptable near-future energy mix must be socially just and environmentally bearable, as well as commercially sound. While many people have expressed concerns about the environmental pedigree of fracking, the speaker observed (based on his own career in the oil and gas industry) that much of Britain’s gas comes from nations with highly questionable politics and human rights. This is an interesting thought; we talk about “conflict diamonds” but there is no equivalent dialogue about “conflict gas” and we are quite happy to buy our energy from countries that aren’t democracies. All we tend to hear are the oft-voiced concerns that the present deteriorating relations between the EU and Vladimir Putin’s Russia might result in limitations being placed upon the gas supply from that country.\n\nThe audience, of course, consisted primarily of geologists. (Interestingly, the older ones tended to occupy the lower tiers of the auditorium: is this merely expedient, due to hearing loss, or do geologists instinctively mirror the formations that they study?) Anyway, there were some highly pertinent questions from the audience, including one about NORMs: Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials. When you liberate something from below ground, you will often acquire a side-order of radiation. That’s troubling enough where gases such as radon tend to migrate out of the Earth’s crust over time and build up in your basement, but radiation is also a significant issue where fracking fluid is concerned. After the fracking operation, much of the liquid comes burping back out of the ground when you release the pressure, but what do you do with what the industry calls “produced water”? Of the 16,000 cubic metres of water invested in a well, you might expect to get 12,000 back… complete with chemicals such as salts, friction reducers, scale inhibitors, biocides, gelling agents… and a dose of radiation. While some of these things can be removed, Mr Midgley reported that the radioactivity of the fluid was not addressed on site – although it might be diluted, or used in an application where radioactivity is not considered to be an issue. (The example given was that if used in roadmaking, any contamination in the water will be moot since it will be mixed with a naturally radioactive shale material.)\n\nIn terms of the quantity of water expended to obtain gas, Mr Midgley dismissed it as “about half what’s used by a golf course in a year”. I’ve heard this analogy before: Brian Dunning reported something similar, although it would appear that a US golf course gets through more water. I think I’d like to know more, though: presumably the water sprinkled on a golf course is a reasonably wholesome runoff, and it remains a part of the water cycle; it doesn’t get locked away far below the water table. But do we even want to get used fracking water back? I simply don’t know. This article suggests we need to do more, though.\n\nNot everything our speaker had to say was accurate, though, if I’m any judge. For example, in endorsing a nuclear future he dismissed wind turbines on the grounds that they “require more carbon than they sequester”, and said that the construction of solar panels was impractical because of the rare earths required for their construction.\n\nWith CO2 emissions for wind power ranging from 14 to 33 tonnes per GWh of energy produced (White, 2007), and a typical Energy Return on Investment of 16:1, this blanket dismissal of wind energy was simply wrong. The claim that solar panels require rare earths in their construction is likewise garbled: you might well raise a concern that manufacturing masses of wind turbines is going to require vast quantities of neodymium, the rare earth used in their magnets… but solar panels require silicon (which is relatively abundant, and not a rare earth). I don’t expect a person to be an expert in every field, but a speaker from the oil industry doesn’t do himself any favours when he stumbles like this in his assessment of alternative technologies.\n\nMake of that what you will, but it was a very interesting and at times entertaining evening, and I’m glad to have attended. There were one or two things to be taken with a pinch of salt, but I was impressed with Mr Midgley’s frankness on key issues such as well integrity, and the short useful life of a well.\n\n\n\nElkington, J. (1994) Towards the sustainable corporation: Win-win-win business strategies for sustainable development, California Management Review, Vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 90–100\n\nWhite, S. W. (2007) Net Energy Payback and CO2 Emissions from Three Midwestern Wind Farms: An Update, Natural Resources Research, Vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 271–281\n\nFracking by Numbers\n\nPart II of a series on High Volume Well Stimulation, or ‘fracking’…\n\nAt a training and strategy event organised by Friends of the Earth (see Part I, here) I’d heard some of the concerns and objections to fracking, but I had yet to make up my mind on the subject. In fact, that’s still the case. On the one hand, the natural gas would be very useful to a nation that’s just beginning to suffer from quite a bad hangover as the party that was North Sea oil and gas winds down. Against this, it’s a fossil fuel energy source (so it’s finite, and a contributor to climate change) and the methods used for extraction are causing people anxiety for a number of reasons.\n\nIf I’m going to come down off the fence on this important issue, I’m going to need to base my decision on evidence, and good science. That has called for quite a bit of research.\n\nOne thing that I learned early on came as a surprise: that fracking appears to have been common in North Sea oil and gas extraction since the 1970s, and has been used onshore about 200 times in British oil and gas wells since the early 1980s. I should clarify that its use when going after shale gas is relatively recent.\n\nNow, fracking can cause earthquakes. This particularly well-known ‘smoking gun’ in the case against fracking comes from two earthquakes that occurred in April and May of 2011, close to the Cuadrilla Resources’ Preese Hall drilling site near Blackpool, UK. They were of magnitude 2.3 and 1.5 respectively. To people who live in an area not known for its earthquakes, that sounds pretty scary. We know what an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 did to the beautiful city of Christchurch, New Zealand, in the same year. People (including the news media) need to understand, though, that the Richter magnitude scale is a base-10 logarithmic scale; thus a 4.0 wouldn’t be twice as bad as a 2.0, but a hundred times as bad. The two Blackpool earthquakes were tiny. (Cuadrilla’s Mark Miller was on the BBC in November 2011: see what you think of his assessment here.)\n\nIndependent newspaper: Blackpool earthquake\n\nThe Independent, June 1st 2011\n\nA fact in favour of fracking is that the burning of natural gas has less potential to cause climate change, if the alternative is burning coal. I looked up DEFRA’s carbon dioxide conversion factors in an effort to get a definitive figure here. Using net calorific value in an effort to compare like with like I learned that the greenhouse gas emissions (expressed in kg CO2e per kWh, including the emissions resulting from extraction, transport, storage and so on) for natural gas are 0.22674 kg CO2e/kWh. In comparison, coal-fired electricity generation comes in at 0.39988 kg CO2e/kWh… which is to say 75% higher.\n\nLiquefied natural gas (LNG), tankered in from elsewhere, is associated with emissions of 0.27750 kg CO2e/kWh, which argues that using locally-produced gas is the better choice, all other things being equal. What a shame that DEFRA currently make no distinction between gas obtained by conventional and unconventional means. I believe that gas produced via a fracking operation would have a somewhat greater carbon footprint, given the technology involved and the energy that must be invested before gas flows; more CO2e per kWh out. Exactly what the figure might be, I have not been able to determine, but if fracking takes off in the UK I bet that a future edition of the DEFRA conversion factors will include it – and I very much doubt that it will approach the climate change potential of coal. (We know that with cheap shale gas edging out coal in the USA, that country’s greenhouse gas emissions have fallen – something that Kyoto, Copenhagen, Cancún, Durban, Doha and all the other talks failed to do.)\n\nA problem with any calculation based purely on greenhouse gases released, of course, is that it says nothing about other issues related to gas exploration such as traffic congestion, impacts on the tourist trade, water consumption, concerns about toxicity, etc.\n\n\nGasland, a 2010 independent documentary, prompted a lot of dialogue about fracking… but it’s no less biased than the industry’s own efforts. Who do you believe?\n\n“Once you frack, you can’t go back,” one of the activists I met had warned me. To hydraulically fracture a shale bed you use a fluid that’s perhaps 90% water, with the bulk of the remainder being proppants (the material injected to hold fractures open; originally sand, but sometimes something more exotic such as sintered bauxite or zirconia silicate), and certain chemicals. It’s typically the chemicals that have the activists up in arms, and it’s true that there have been a bewildering number of different ones employed in the USA – although those available for use in the UK are significantly reduced by legislation. It seems that exactly which chemicals are used, and what happens to them afterwards, will be a major determinant in the acceptance (or not) of fracking in the UK.\n\nThat’s about as much as I had learned before yesterday. Last night I attended a talk by John Midgley of Energy Geoscience International Ltd., hosted by the Craven & Pendle Geological Society, and learned some interesting things about the history and science of fracking – which I’ll share in part III.\n\nRacking, Stacking and Packing them in\n\nWith the headline ‘Six vehicles fit into one standard container’ an article in SHD Logistics brought to my attention a novel method for securing vehicles during shipment. It’s really not a bad idea, making better use of the space available with standardised ‘racking pods’ that can be fitted inside a 40′ container to raise vehicles above floor level, such that up to twice as many can be squeezed in. Previously, loading in this way would have been a much slower process, using wood to form the necessary supports.\n\nCCS storage approach\n\nMeans of fitting multiple vehicles in a shipping container (Consolidated Car Shipping)\n\nThis kind of ingenuity made me think of the Chevrolet Vega. Regardless of what you think of rust-prone 1970s subcompacts (it might have been named after the brightest part of the constellation of Lyra, but the Vega was far from stellar…) we have to take a moment to admire the manufacturer’s vision.\n\nAt a time when Geoffrey Boothroyd and Peter Dewhurst still had a lot of work to do to convince the world of the merits of design for manufacture, the humble Vega was a lightyear ahead in design for logistics.\n\nLike most cars made in the USA, the Vega would be distributed by rail… but where a conventional tri-level ‘autorack’ car transporter could have carried fifteen or at most eighteen (very short) vehicles, General Motors and the Southern Pacific Transportation Company designed a special wagon, called ‘Vert-A-Pac’, that could hold thirty cars… by shipping them all in a nose-down configuration.\n\nA conventional car transporter, with fifteen vehicles aboard.\n\nA conventional car transporter, with fifteen vehicles on board.\n\nChevrolet Vegas and Vert-A-Pac transporters.\n\nChevrolet Vegas and Vert-A-Pac transporters.\n\nThe Vega had special clamping points on the floor pan to hold it in place, and was designed so that fluids (coolant, fuel, screen wash, oil, and battery acid) would not drain away when it was held in that position. Upon unloading at the closest railhead, the Vega was ready to be driven straight to the dealership. With over two million Vegas being made from 1970–1977, the cost savings must have been considerable.\n\nHow’s that for a distribution strategy? No other cars ever used the system, though, so all the Vert-A-Pac railway wagons returned to more conventional uses when production ended. Nowadays, no vehicle achieves the efficient packing density of the Vega… at least, not until the end of its useful life.\n\nCar cubes\n\nThe Berlin Wall, twenty-five years on…\n\n\n\n\nThe wall is built\n\n\nBarbed wire at Potsdamer Platz, 1963\n\nPotsdamer Platz, 1963\n\n\n\n\n\nConrad Schumann, Berlin\n\n\n\nThe Last Days of the Wall\n\n\nBerlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate, and protesters\n\n\n\n\nOther People\n\nIt’s been eleven years since I was last in New Zealand, almost to the day, but I’ve never forgotten a person that I met one morning, not far from Kaikoura. We shared a joke, and the joke was on me.\n\nMy new friend wasn’t in the least bothered that he didn’t have any arms or legs; nor that he didn’t have any money. But then, you see, he was a dusky dolphin. He seemed amused by my clumsy swimming, although it was the ‘music’ I was making that first got his attention. I was humming Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture through my snorkel, although why I chose that particular tune, I don’t recall. In any event, we struck a deal: I kept on humming, and he stared at me, and circled around me, permitting photographs. With apparently effortless flicks of his tail, my new friend accelerated, until I was spinning like a top, trying to keep him in my viewfinder… at which point he swam faster still, and I just about tied myself in knots. This, it was very obvious, was the desired outcome, and my host seemed delighted to have taught me a thing or two about swimming. After perhaps ten minutes, he headed off at what seemed an impossible speed, and I retired to the dive boat, tired but happy.\n\nDusky dolphin\n\nDusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus)\n\nAs a result of that encounter, I’ve come to feel that dolphins are people. They don’t have thumbs, or a language we can understand, but that doesn’t matter. They’re people who happen to live in the sea. Sadly, the relatives of these people are hunted by some of our kind – principally in Japanese waters – and their bodies are used for fertilizer, pet food and human consumption.\n\nIt simply won’t do. Where a creature has the cognitive ability to feel as wide a range of emotions as scientists have observed in dolphins, drive hunting (forcing a pod of dolphins into shallow water where they can be killed with knives and spears) is obviously inhumane. It’s no more defensible than eating French people, or making Fertiliser out of Danish people. I don’t care if they represent a renewable resource… not all things exist to be consumed.\n\nFour years ago, I saw two children misbehaving. Their body language telegraphed the fact that they were up to no good, to the point where the phrase “as thick as thieves” might have been coined just for them. It just so happens that these young people were covered in orange fur – but people they were, unmistakably.\n\nThe duo hunkered down to look at something that they had stolen… and it turned out to be a pocket knife. The younger of the two looked on, fascinated, while his playmate quite deliberately opened the knife, and tried it out. It took quite a while for us to convince a sceptical keeper that we really had seen the duo playing with a knife, but eventually he went in and retrieved it, by swapping it for a piece of fruit. Before that, though, I had watched a process of experimentation that could leave me in no doubt that we aren’t the only intelligent species on land: we’re merely the dominant faction.\n\nYoung orangutan with knife\n\nYoung orangutan with knife\n\nYoung orangutan with knife\n\nThe keeper later admitted that the pair were always stealing things, and had evolved a form of currency: if they stole something large such as a broom and you wanted it back, you’d better give them a lot of fruit: a miserly offer would result in the broom being dismantled and returned piecemeal, with a single banana perhaps only getting you a handful of bristles…\n\nWe happen to be the current front-runners in the race to evolve, but if we could give the other people a sporting chance and leave them in peace for a few million years, who knows what they might become? We ought to consider our role to be one of stewardship; not owners but just looking after things for a while… but it’s not working out that way: the oceans are becoming increasingly polluted and the Sumatran orangutan is listed as ‘critically endangered’ today, due to poaching and an illegal pet trade… plus habitat destruction caused by palm oil plantations – a $40bn industry, and a material that’s used in the manufacture of far too many foods and cosmetics.\n\nIt’s called “waste” for a reason…\n\nBack in the days when I worked in a furniture factory, there was a sarcastic but surprisingly effective sign in the workplace:\n\n“When the floor is full please use the bins provided.”\n\noverflowing bins\n\nIt’s a scene that could be found in just about any city, nowadays – at least at times. Technology offers alternatives, such as the Envac system of urban waste collection which uses vacuum tubes rather like a giant version of those pipe systems that you used to see speeding capsules around within department stores and hospitals. Very nice… but it seems likely that the cost of such a major infrastructure project will confine it to airports and showpiece communities for a long time to come.\n\nI’ve seen a lot of litter in the last few weeks, on my travels in Southern Africa. The character of that litter varies from one country to another, and I can only assume that’s because the prevailing economic conditions in different places make for a different pattern of recycling. In Malawi, for example, you see very few plastic bottles, although the shreds of old plastic bags are seen everywhere amid the crops. (In Rwanda, shops can no longer give you a plastic bag, but this rule hasn’t been adopted elsewhere, yet.)\n\nI have to make assumptions here (since a literature search has revealed almost nothing about the economics of recycling in Malawi) but presumably plastic bottles are sufficiently valuable to be worth collecting. One tiny piece of evidence was found:\n\n“The next day is warm as we drive towards Lilongwe, the country’s capital. Blandina drains her water, winds down the window and tosses the plastic bottle from the car. I give a disapproving frown and glance back to see a child give chase as it cartwheels over the road. “I’m recycling,” says my genial guide. “He’ll use it for mango juice.” Beyond the safari tents and sundowners, Malawi’s poverty plays out at the roadside.”\n\n– Phillips (2012)\n\nIf plastic bottles are worth collecting in Lilongwe, it seems they aren’t in Lusaka – so the wealthier city actually has a worse litter problem. Many empty lots in the city seem to have acquired a colourful stratum of them (although as I write this, the long-awaited rain has just arrived, so perhaps that will move much of the waste on, via the drains). I fully accept that I’m part of the problem, because my delicate British constitution means I’ve been consuming vast quantities of bottled water (plus Carlsberg ‘Green’ or Mosi lager by night, but that’s another story…)\n\nIn both Malawi and Zambia, the tax base is very narrow, and the governments have other, more pressing needs than worrying about litter. “Will Malawi cities, towns ever be sustainably clean?” asks the Nyasa Times (Ngwira, 2014) and that’s the real challenge: not an expensive burst of activity, but a lasting shift to a different way of doing things.\n\nWaste plastic is actually a very valuable resource. A thermal depolymerisation process could be fed waste plastic (including the lower-value plastic bags and films) plus old tyres, biomass and a wide range of other things, yielding sufficient gas to run the process while also producing light crude oil of considerable value.\n\nFor that matter, one might ask why we don’t do more thermal depolymerisation in the UK…\n\nWaste-to-oil requires investment, of course… but do you want to live in a world where it doesn’t happen?\n\nHave a look at this ancient piece of pottery from the early Bronze Age, which is to say around 4,000 years ago. It was found in a burial mound where an unknown young man was sent on his journey into the next world, perhaps with an alcoholic drink…\n\n\nEarly Bronze Age beaker.\n\nNowadays, it can be seen in the Hull and East Riding Museum, and it is artefacts such as this one that gave us our name for these ancestors: the Beaker People. Once a culture that covered virtually all of Europe, I understand.\n\nAnd it makes me wonder…\n\nFour thousand years from now, will we be known as the Garbage People?\n\n\n\nNgwira, S. (2014) ‘Will Malawi cities, towns ever be sustainably clean?’, Nyasa Times, August 16th [available online, accessed 4/11/2014]\n\nPhillips, A. (2012) ‘All creatures great and small in Malawi’, The Independent on Sunday, July 15th [available online, accessed 4/11/2014]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5825546979904175}
+{"content": "\n\nI believe that suffering is optional and now I’m focusing on being a high achiever instead of a workaholic. I can still honor my strong work ethic and be highly productive while also feeling gratified and inspired by my work, and not overwhelmed.\n\nThis took some reprogramming before I was able to truly make the switch. I share these insights to help you navigate the journey from the dark side of workaholism into the light of being a high achiever. Onward!\n\nHigh Achiever by Definition  – A high achiever differs from a workaholic in that they are results driven and focus on the end goal. They use down time to look ahead and prepare. Or, rest and rejuvenate instead of creating meaningless work to fill the time.\n\nStop The Busy Brag – Workaholics feed on being busy and often fill time and space with tasks that are not valuable or necessary. They are stuck in a mental block that busy equals important and nothing is farther from the truth.\n\nSome work cultures also encourage the busy brag so fight the urge to wallow in how busy you are with fellow workaholics. Focus on how you are being strategic to work smarter and not harder so you can more fully enjoy your life and career.\n\nWork Smarter – Research has shown how multi-tasking is not efficient or productive as the human brain can only focus on one thing at a time. Single tasking will allow you to focus fully on one thing and complete the task at hand faster, which then allows you to move on to the next thing.\n\nHigh achievers embrace single tasking and the clarity that comes with controlling your environment. Consider setting blocks of time to respond to email instead of reacting to the incoming mail signal with a Pavlovian like response.\n\nHigh achievers are proactive in their work environment and design their day around the most important tasks that have the most significant return on investment of their precious time.\n\nGood Enough to Go – Savvy professionals have embraced the good enough to go maxim that was birthed in the Design Thinking paradigm of tech start-ups. Workaholics often get stuck in the perfectionism paradox and never let go of a project because they believe it can always be better.\n\nHigh achievers believe that “80% can mean done” when it moves the needle closer to the end goal. Tweaking and improvements can happen in the iteration and test drive phases of a project. If the work product never sees the light of day because of workaholics who practice perfectionism – you might as well have not done the work at all.\n\nValidation Seekers – Workaholics often want to be seen as the over-achiever workhorses that put in long hours and burn the midnight oil. They buy into the over working culture and consider it a badge of honor. It’s not. In fact, it’s a badge of stupid since leaving PTO days unused is like throwing hard earned money out the window.\n\nIf your car is in the company parking lot late at night and every weekend then you are a work martyr, not a high achiever. Leaders must model the way to establish a high achieving work culture that honors vacation time, work life integration, and sustainable hours and flexibility that promotes wellness. This is the kind of work environment that develops and stewards high achiever talent.\n\nIf you need validation from your boss, seek it out and ask for constructive feedback. Don’t assume that the unsustainable cycle of being the last one in the office will earn you the recognition you are seeking.\n\nAccountability Partner – Moving from workaholism to being a high achiever must be a conscious effort. To help you reprogram your habits and commit to this new life plan, consider an accountability partner whom you can turn to for support.\n\nMy tagline and mantra is: Enjoy Your Career. Love Your Life! As a recovering workaholic, the temptation is always there to slip back into bad habits and unsustainable behaviors. The life of a high achiever is so much more compelling and gratifying. I highly recommend giving it a try.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9990891218185425}
+{"content": "What exceptional delicacies will you offer through your June music sessions?\nWhy the questioning look? Delicacy is a quality. Sometimes when we apply to someone we mean they are frail or in ill-health.  Maybe you are thinking strange or exotic foods? Other times delicacy refers to fineness of details  or if you prefer, a little finesse.\nJune isn’t frail or ill. It really isn’t strange or exotic. It is a month that calls for finesse. It is that month of part spring, part summer. This between feel often carries into preschool and senior living plans. The standard stuff is there but nothing that is unique or exquisite. YOU have the power to change this.\nHere are some things you can use to make June special.\n\nJune International Days\n\nJune DelicaciesJune Days\n\nKeep on adding\n\nSo maybe these aren’t “delicate” ideas, but they will help you add a bit of a treat to this month. But they may be a bit of the unexpected.\n\nIf you are looking for more resources, come join our closed Facebook group where we support each other in finding resources and building out ideas.\n\nI want in!", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9552954435348511}
+{"content": "Is ketosis necessary for weight loss?\n\nKetosis involves a high level of chemicals called ketones in the body. Ketone levels become elevated when glycogen stores in the liver have run out and the body needs to burn stored fat for energy. Ketosis can be caused by a diet low in carbs and high in protein.\n\nSome people believe that very high-protein diets are the best way to lose weight. The reality is that these diets only enhance the initial water loss that is commonly seen at the beginning of a weight-loss program. Over time, very high-protein diets do not lead to a superior weight loss. Also, the large amount of protein consumed on this type of diet places excessive stress on the kidneys. Very high-protein diets can also make you feel tired, light-headed, and irritable.\n\nWeight Watchers encourages moderate amounts of  lean protein as part of healthful weight loss.\n\nWendy Batts\nKetosis is not a usual state for the body to be in. It is a back up state when the body (the brain in particular) can no longer rely on its main energy source, glucose, sugar's most basic form.\nIt is not necessary or recommended for weight loss. Energy levels will be drastically reduced and your ability to sustain and recover from any activity will be compromised. Weight loss is about burning more calories than you consume in a healthful manner. Incorporation of increased activity with cardiorespiratory exercise and resistance training along with a sensible reduced calorie diet is the way to go!\nDominique Adair\n\nKetosis is not necessary for weight loss.  Promoted by some low/no carb diets, ketosis is actually an indication that energy metabolism is not working as well as it could.  Here's a little science...ketosis is characterized by elevated levels of ketene bodies in the blood.  Ketene bodies are formed when the liver glycogen (the body's storage form of carbohydrate) stores are depleted.  We actually need some of this carbohydrate to completely metabolize fat -- so from a health and weight loss perspective it doesn't make much sense.\n\nWhy then are these low/no carb diets so popular, and apparently successful in some people?  If you take out ice cream, cookies, chips, crackers, muffins, cake, doughnuts, coffee cake, and pastry from your diet, what do you think will happen?  Yes! You will lose weight.  But you can also lose weight by limiting those things and still eating health promoting and appetite satiating things like brown rice, sweet potato, whole wheat pasta, high-fiber cereals and bread.  But as with anything else you need to be conscious about portions.  Ketosis no.  Portion awareness yes.\n\nMichael T. Murray, ND\nNaturopathic Medicine\n\nAbsolutely not, and while ketosis is usually not dangerous (though it can be life-threatening if severe, especially in a diabetic), it is certainly not a particularly healthful state. In addition, one of the major problems with a low-carb diet or even a very low-calorie diet is that they inevitably produce a loss of significant amounts of muscle mass. The muscle is sacrificed in order to provide the dieter with a constant supply of blood sugar. In fact, if you lose weight through fasting or other forms of severe dieting, a significant proportion of the weight loss will be in the form of water (each molecule of glycogen binds six water molecules) and muscle mass. This sort of weight loss will significantly lower your metabolic rate and reduce the primary fat-burning furnace in the body, lean muscle mass, thereby setting you up for serious weight gain later on.\n\nHunger Free Forever: The New Science of Appetite Control\n\nMore About this Book\n\nHunger Free Forever: The New Science of Appetite Control\n\n\nContinue Learning about Weight Loss\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5951826572418213}
+{"content": " What is the age of taylor swift - akylabiz.ru\n\nWhat is the age of taylor swift\n\nTaylor Swift Age Only 24 - Her Unbelievable Achievements Through...\n\n1999 - Taylor Swift Age 10. Taylor had her first performance on stage while most of us were still busy playing Barbie dolls and Nintendo.\n\nTaylor Swift - Bio, Facts, Family - Famous Birthdays\n\nLearn about Taylor Swift: her birthday, what she did before fame, her family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more.\n\nTaylor Swift - Songwriter, Singer - Biography\n\nBorn on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor Swift was earning renown as a country music singer by the age of 16. Early hits like \"Love Story\" and \"You Belong With Me\" appealed to country and pop fans alike and helped fuel the multi-platinum success of her albums, including the...\n\nTaylor Swift Wrote A Novel At The Age Of 14\n\nTaylor Swift is a rare and mystical human who has the ability to write lyrics that millions of people around the globe can relate to so hard.\n\nWho Are Taylor Swift's Songs About? - POPSUGAR Entertainment\n\nIn the wake of Taylor Swift 's recent release of Reputation there's no better time to make sure you have your Swift facts straight. Most importantly, she writes from the heart, and a lot of her songs are about certain people.\n\nTaylor Swift Rankings & Opinions\n\n\nA Timeline Of Taylor Swift's Age-Inappropriate Romances\n\n\nTaylor Swift Wiki, Height, Age, Net Worth, Family 2018\n\n54 kg / 119 lbs. When was Taylor Swift born? 13 December 1989. How old is Taylor Swift in 2018? 28 years. Where was Taylor Swift born?\n\nWhy 'Reputation' Is a Make Or Break Album For Taylor Swift -- And...\n\nA post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Nov 1, 2017 at 8:04am PDT. Also, say what you will, but Swift is an honest-to-god songwriter -- full stop.\n\nHow old is Taylor Swift?\n\nLearn the birthday of Taylor Swift and the exact age in years, months and days, with additional information of the singer.\n\nTaylor Swift - Bio, Age, Height, Weight, Body... - IdolWiki.com\n\n\nTaylor Swift Biography, Album, Songs, Age, Boyfriends and Net Worth\n\nWho is Taylor Swift, how old is she, when is her birthday, how tall is she and what is her background? Taylor Swift is an American singer/songwriter who was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1989. At the age of 14 she moved to Nashville, Tennessee...\n\nTaylor Swift Biography - Affair, In Relation, Ethnicity, Nationality...\n\nRelationship Statistics of Taylor Swift. What is Taylor Swift marital status ? (single, married, in relation or divorce)\n\nTaylor Swift Updates on Twitter: \"Taylor at the age of 18 taking about...\n\nWell looks like you met your 10 yr goal Taylor . Happy Birthday Filled with Happiness and @taylorswift13 @taylornation13 @.\n\nArtistfacts for Taylor Swift - facts, trivia, and bio information.\n\n\n45 Things You Didn't Know About Taylor Swift Songs - E! News\n\nRELATED: 16 times Taylor Swift's \"Blank Space\" video proved she's gone full crazy on us. 11. She was only 12 years old when she wrote \"The Outside\" about her feeling like an outsider among her friends because of her love of country music.\n\n50 Facts About Taylor Swift - The Fact Site\n\nAt the age of 14, Taylor, along with her family moved to Nashville. Taylor Swift started using Myspace to develop her fan-base, which, at the time was a rather unique in country music.\n\n50 Interesting Facts About Taylor Swift : People : BOOMSbeat\n\nSource: Tumblr. Taylor Swift was the first 'Saturday Night Live' host to ever write their own monologue.\n\nTaylor Swift Lyrics, Songs, and Albums - Genius\n\n\nHow big of a Taylor Swift fan are you?\n\nAge 14; Big Machine Records. Im not obsessed!! Age 18; All Saints Records. Am I done yet?? What is Taylor Swift's lucky number?\n\n15 Things You Didn't Know About Taylor Swift - TheTalko\n\nSo the four instruments that Taylor Swift happens to know how to play are the guitar, banjo, ukulele, and piano. A computer repairman showed Taylor at the age of 10, how to play three chords on the guitar and from then on Taylor could not stop playing.\n\nA Timeline Of Taylor Swift's Age-Inappropriate... - Business Insider\n\nToday, Taylor Swift turns 23, but you would never know how old the singer actually is based on her love life.From 18-year-old Conor Kennedy to\n\nTaylor Swift House: Photos of All of Her Current Homes\n\nWhere Does Taylor Swift Live? Taylor Swift lives in Nashville, TN. She considers it her hometown, having lived there since age 10. Her home in Nashville is a 2-story penthouse which she bought in 2009 for $2 million.\n\nTaylor Swift - Biography, Songs, & Facts - Britannica.com\n\nTaylor Swift: Taylor Swift, American pop and country music singer-songwriter whose tales of young heartache achieved widespread success in the early 21st century.\n\nTaylor Swift Is The Youngest Of America's Richest Self-Made Women\n\nAt age 26, Taylor Swift has already won plenty of accolades: 10 Grammys, five Guinness World records and even an Emmy.\n\nTaylor Swift - Lyrics On Demand - Born: December 13, 1989 ( age\n\n\nReasons Why Taylor Swift Is Overrated - Top Ten List - TheTopTens\n\nBlueDiamondFromNowhere I don't really like Taylor Swift. Her music is fine, but I think she gets too much credit for what she really is and what she really does.\n\nIs Taylor Swift a good role model? - Debate.org\n\nFirst of Taylor swift is very popular she helps people she sings for children she sang for me because I am a kid with cancer and I got to eat dinner with her one time she is.\n\nHow Taylor Swift uses Tumblr to communicate with her fans - INSIDER\n\nThis is the new age of Taylor. Big Machine Label Group. After the song dropped, it still wasn't clear what Swift was driven to do.\n\nImogen Heap Shares 'Magical' Story Of Writing 'Clean' With Taylor Swift\n\n\"I got a phone call saying Taylor Swift was in London, she'd love to work with me and the only day she could do (between 4 sold out 02 arenas!) was the\n\nWhat is Taylor Swift's net worth, who is her boyfriend Joe Alwyn and...\n\nAmerican singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, 28, was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989. She moved to Nashville, Tennessee with her family when she was 14 to pursue a country music career. Her first album, Taylor Swift, was released in 2006.\n\nDiet Coke Signs Taylor Swift As Brand Ambassador - News - Ad Age\n\nPop Country Songstress Taylor Swift. Superstar Partners with Diet Coke -- Her Fave Soda -- on Coming Branding Initiatives.\n\nHow Taylor Swift's Squad Divided Our Conversation About... - MTV\n\nThis year, the age-old of practice of friendship made headlines, dividing us all. Why? Because Taylor Swift was involved. The singer strutted onto the 2015 MTV VMA red carpet in August with nine female dates, parading her girl power and showing women that, yes...\n\nTaylor Swift's 'Speak Now': Why It's Her Best Album - Billboard\n\nTaylor Swift's third album Speak Now opens with one of her best songs. \"Mine\" is pure, Platinum pop-country perfection, as well as an amalgam of what had already made Swift a record-breaking superstar at the age of 20: open-hearted romanticism, a careful balance of pop hooks and gentle twang, and...\n\nTaylor Swift - Latest News, New Songs, Photos & Videos - Capital\n\nReal Name: Taylor Alison Swift Born: 13 December 1989 Height: 5' 8\" / 1.78 m Star Sign: Sagittarius Birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Career History At the age of 14, Taylor moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music.\n\nA Complete History of Taylor Swift's Style - Fashionista\n\n\nThis is a timeline of my favorite singer Taylor Swift\n\nTaylor Swift Had just got a New baby brother, Austin Swift, at the age of 2. Taylor Swifts father was born.\n\nWho Writes Taylor Swift's Songs?\n\nThough Taylor Swift was known for writing breakup songs when she came into the limelight as a young country music artist 10 years ago (the 26-year-old wrote her first song at age 12), it's natural to assume she started hiring people to write her music somewhere along the way to becoming one of the world's...\n\nA Theology of Taylor Swift - America Magazine\n\nAlice Costar, now a razor-sharp theology postgraduate at the University of Bonn, commented on how, being similar ages...\n\nTop 8 Worst Taylor Swift Songs of All Time - Spinditty\n\nTaylor Swift's career has lasted over a decade with a variety of hits and a lot of misses, but how bad were those flops?\n\n21 Crazy and Unusual Facts About Taylor Swift - Inc.com\n\nTaylor Swift is only 25 years old, but that hasn't stopped her from kicking butt and taking names across the music industry.\n\nTaylor Swift - Biography - IMDb\n\n\nTaylor Swift - Official Site\n\nStyle Written by Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback & Ali Payami. LYRICS Midnight You come and pick me up No headlights A long drive Could end in\n\nThe complicated reality of hating Taylor Swift - Al Arabiya English\n\nBut what is our role in this scandal and how can we use this moment as a cultural touchstone to re-examine our reactions to gender and to race?\n\nMusic - Rare Taylor Swift\n\n...with someone and afterwards writing an I heart ? on the back of your hand although she was only 14 when she wrote it (there are actually pictures of her at that age with that written on her hand\n\nTaylor Swift Edit\n\nTaylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 14 to pursue a career in country music. Taylor Swift is a ten-time GRAMMY winner.\n\nTaylor Swift attends the Manus x Machina: Fashion In an Age of...\n\n\nHow Much do You Know Taylor Swift? - Playbuzz\n\nTaylor wrote the song BEFORE she even went out with Harry. Swift stated that this song was written about the same guy most of the album was about.\n\n'Anything That Connects': A Conversation With Taylor Swift : NPR\n\n\nTaylor Swift - Biography, News, Photos and Videos - Contactmusic.com\n\nChildhood: Taylor Swift was born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to Andrea and Scott Kingsley Swift. Swift began writing her own music at around the age of ten.\n\nAstrology and natal chart of Taylor Swift, born on 1989/12/13\n\n\nTaylor Swift-Red-Figurative Language by Natalia Taylor on Prezi\n\nReport abuse. Transcript of Taylor Swift-Red-Figurative Language. Taylor Swift- Red Figurative language in the lyrics. Lets take a closer look, shall we? Similes: A comparison using like or as. In the song Red , there are many similes.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5713223218917847}
+{"content": "Mandating alternative energy Adult sex chat free special\n\nMake no mistake, this is a very real threat that continues to grow by the day and I urge all other states to join us in this fight for our very future.\" The Clean Energy Standard will: · Significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and prevent backsliding on progress made to date by maintaining the operations of carbon-free nuclear power plants as the state transitions to a 50 percent renewable requirement; and, · Strengthen New York’s electric fuel diversity for the reliability benefits it brings.\n\n\nmandating alternative energy-38mandating alternative energy-25\n\n\n\nFossil fuels contribute to almost eighty percent of the total energy used in the world (Evans, 2007; International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy, 2005).\n\nFossil fuels are non-renewable resources that are limited in their supply and the burning of fossil fuels on a global scale can produce air pollution, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), release significant amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), and contribute to global warming (Evans, 2007; Shahid & Jamal, 2008; Hill, et al., 2006; SEP, 2009).\n\nFEMP also provides tools to help agencies report annual facility and fleet progress toward federal laws and requirements.\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe analysis will then consider ethanol and methanol as alternative fuels, including their production.\n\nTags: , ,", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8610073328018188}
+{"content": "Journal Article\n\nEnergetic constraints to chemo-photometric evolution of spiral galaxies\n\nAlberto Buzzoni\n\nin Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society\n\nPublished on behalf of The Royal Astronomical Society\n\nVolume 415, issue 2, pages 1155-1178\nPublished in print August 2011 | ISSN: 0035-8711\nEnergetic constraints to chemo-photometric evolution of spiral galaxies\n\nShow Summary Details\n\n\nThe problem of chemo-photometric evolution of late-type galaxies is dealt with relying on prime physical arguments of energetic self-consistency between chemical enhancement of galaxy mass, through nuclear processing inside stars, and luminosity evolution of the system. Our analysis makes use of the Buzzoni template galaxy models along the Hubble morphological sequence. The contribution of Type II and Ia SNe is also accounted for in our scenario. Chemical enhancement is assessed in terms of the so-called ‘yield metallicity’ (), that is the metal abundance of processed mass inside stars, as constrained by the galaxy photometric history. For a Salpeter initial mass function (IMF), being nearly insensitive to the galaxy star formation history. The interstellar medium (ISM) metallicity can be set in terms of , and just modulated by the gas fraction and the net fraction of returned stellar mass (f). For the latter, a safe upper limit can be placed, such as f≲ 0.3 at any age.\n\nThe comparison with the observed age–metallicity relation allows us to set a firm upper limit to the Galaxy birthrate, such as b≲ 0.5, and to the chemical enrichment ratio ΔYZ≲ 5. About four out of five stars in the solar vicinity are found to match the expected figure within a factor of 2, a feature that leads us to conclude that star formation in the Galaxy must have proceeded, all the time, in a highly contaminated environment where returned stellar mass is in fact the prevailing component to gas density.\n\nThe possible implication of the Milky Way scenario for the more general picture of late-type galaxy evolution is discussed moving from three relevant relationships, as suggested by the observations. Namely (i) the down-sizing mechanism appears to govern star formation in the local Universe; (ii) the ‘delayed’ star formation among low-mass galaxies, as implied by the inverse bMgal dependence, naturally leads to a more copious gas fraction when moving from giant to dwarf galaxies; (iii) although lower-mass galaxies tend more likely to take the look of later-type spirals, it is mass, not morphology, that drives galaxy chemical properties. Facing the relatively flat trend of versus galaxy type, the increasingly poorer gas metallicity, as traced by the [O/H] abundance of H ii regions along the Sa → Im Hubble sequence, seems to be mainly the result of the softening process, that dilute enriched stellar mass within a larger fraction of residual gas.\n\nThe problem of the residual lifetime for spiral galaxies as active star-forming systems has been investigated. If returned mass is left as the main (or unique) gas supplier to the ISM, as implied by the Roberts time-scale, then star formation might continue only at a maximum birthrate bmaxf/(1 −f) ≲ 0.45, for a Salpeter IMF. As a result, only massive (Mgal≳ 1011 M) Sa/Sb spirals may have some chance to survive ∼30 per cent or more beyond a Hubble time. Things may be worse, on the contrary, for dwarf systems, that seem currently on the verge of ceasing their star formation activity unless to drastically reduce their apparent birthrate below the bmax threshold.\n\nKeywords: Galaxy: disc; Galaxy: evolution; galaxies: abundances; galaxies: ISM; galaxies: spiral\n\nJournal Article.  19147 words.  Illustrated.\n\nSubjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics\n\nFull text: subscription required\n\nHow to subscribe Recommend to my Librarian\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8063481450080872}
+{"content": "We successfully completed the AI Expo 2018\n\n5 July 2018 / security\n\nThe ADANI team took part in the international exhibition AI Expo 2018. At the exhibition, we talked about the technologies for implementing AI algorithms in the processing of X-ray images, computer vision, deep machine learning, convolutional neural networks training, semantic segmentation, diagnostics of digital X-ray images and other technologies used in our equipment.\n\nIf you still have questions, you may ask them by clicking on the link\n\nADANI AI Expo 2018\n\nBack to all news", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 1.0000097751617432}
+{"content": "\nThe Following Names Are Still Available - Order Now Before They Are Gone! $12.99 $6.99 $12.99 $10.99 $0.00 $49.95 $14.99 $10.99 $12.99 $1,875.00 traffic stats are average/low - the traffic rank implies that this is one of the 219,029 most visited sites in the world.\n\n\n\nStats Last Updated 4 years ago Traffic Statistics\n\nHow many UNIQUE people visit this site on a daily basis? 3,623 UNIQUE VISITORS\nHow many pageviews does this site have on a daily basis? 14,492 PAGEVIEWS\n\nRanking Statistics\n\nWhat is my Alexa ranking? 219,029 Alexa - good job!\nWhat is my Google Pagerank? Google Pagerank\n\nSearch Engine Statistics\n\nHow many pages of my site did Google index?: 198,000 indexed pages\nHow many pages of my site did Bing index: 22,400 indexed pages\nHow many links does Google recognize? 33 (Tip: generally low!)\nHow many links does Bing recognize? 6 (Tip: average rate)\nHow many links does Alexa recognize? 578 (very accurate, reliable)\n\nSocial Statistics How many people liked my site on? 2,054 Likes How many people tweeted my site? 48 Tweets How many people dugg my site? Not Applicable\n\nMisc Statistics\n\nHow did your website look in the past? Site Appearance History\nCheck your DNS Health: DNS Health Lookup\n\nAlexa Traffic Statistics\n\nAlexa Traffic Rank for\n\nMajesticSEO Backlink\n\nMajesticSEO Backlink\n\n\nWeb Server and IP Address Statistics\n\nServer IP:\n\nServer Country:\n\nUS Hosted Country\n\nLocation Latitude:\n\n40.7141 Latitude\n\nLocation Longitude:\n\n-74.0063 Longitude\n\nDomain Statistics\n\nWhere is the domain registered? NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC.\nWhen was the domain registered? 1998-01-26 2 decades 5 months 2 weeks ago\nWhen was the domain last modified? 2012-12-24 5 years 6 months 2 weeks ago\nWhen will my domain expire? 2014-01-25 4 years 5 months 2 weeks ago\n\nDomain Nameserver Statistics\n\nNameserver Host Nameserver IP Address Country United States United States\n\nDomains Hosted on Same Server (i.e.\n\n\nSimilar Ranked Domains\n\nDomain Alexa Pagerank Worth Favicon 219,040 Google Pagerank $ 22,140.00 Favicon 219,126 Google Pagerank $ 22,140.00 Favicon 219,181 Google Pagerank $ 22,140.00 Favicon 219,290 Google Pagerank $ 22,140.00 Favicon 219,291 Google Pagerank $ 22,140.00", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.687537431716919}
+{"content": "Download details\n\nA preliminary investigation of student collaboration to create resources that motivate the relevance of mathematics to first year engineers A preliminary investigation of student collaboration to create resources that motivate the relevance of mathematics to first year engineers HOT\n\n\nMany engineering students don’t see the relevance in their mathematical studies in the first year of their degree. This lack of understanding of the importance of mathematics often leads to a loss of interest and disengagement with mathematical studies early on. It may also result in the need to re-teach first year mathematical concepts in later engineering subjects as the students did not acquire the skills from their mathematics subjects. \n\n\nIn this paper, we report on a summer semester project that gave final year engineering and multi-media students the task to “make mathematics relevant” to first year students. The collaboration that ensued across disciplines resulted in two high quality animated videos, one on the use of mathematics in building construction and the other on improving the aerodynamical properties of a vehicle. In this paper, we provide an initial investigation into the interdisciplinary collaboration between the final year students who produced the resources, from the point of view of the engineering students. We want to closely follow student views to understand better what contribution students can make to the production of resources for first years.  \n\nIn particular, we answer the two research questions \n\n  1. How did the engineering students approach their brief and how did they collaborate?\n  2. How did their thoughts evolve following interaction with the multi-media students and how did they collaborate with the multi-media students? \n\n\nIn this case study we use an ethnographic design approach to understand the students’ experiences. This qualitative research study includes the evaluation of an interview with the two engineering students held while the students were working on the project, complemented by researcher observations. \n\n\nWe show how final year engineering students have collaborated with each other, and with multi-media students, to produce quality video resources for their peers. In fact, we argue that it is the interdisciplinary nature of the collaboration that resulted from the addition of the multi-media students to the team that has resulted in high quality resources. \n\n\nThis study is a first step to research student contribution to demonstrating the relevance of mathematics. We provide a preliminary evaluation on Stage 1, the first iteration resulting in two resources produced, with more analysis (also including the multi-media students’ perspective) to be communicated elsewhere once all data is analysed. Stage 2 of our project has just commenced, with the next cohort of engineering and multi-media students collaborating on resources to explain the relevance of first year mathematics in robotics and biomedical engineering. Following our very positive experiences, we call for more research in this area! \n\n\nmathematics relevance, first year, student contribution, multi-media, animation \n\nCreated 2016-11-13\nSize 1.5 MB\nCreated by Lynette\nChanged by\nDownloads 128", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6307633519172668}
+{"content": "Match 64\nGame Details\nMatch 63\nGame Details\n\nToo-early predictions for 2022: France will struggle\n\nWorld Cup\n\nWorld Cup best and worst: Five weeks in Russia\n\nFIFA World Cup\n\nArgentina want Gareca to replace Sampaoli\n\nFIFA World Cup\n\nUkraine FA offers job to Croatian coach sacked after win over Russia\n\nStewart Robson doesn't think Croatia's midfield will overpower England and feels an advantage in set pieces makes an English win inevitable.\nShaka Hislop breaks down the keys for Croatia and England in their World Cup semifinal and explains the impact Raheem Sterling could have.\nShaka Hislop examines the traits of Jordan Pickford and Danijel Subasic to determine whether England or Croatia has the goalkeeping edge.\n\nThe Football Federation of Ukraine (FFU) has offered a job to the member of Croatia's coaching staff sacked for dedicating his country's World Cup victory over Russia to the people of Ukraine.\n\nOgnjen Vukojevic, a coaching assistant and former Croatia international, posted a video on social media in which he and defender Domagoj Vida dedicated the win to Ukraine.\n\nUkraine has a long-running political conflict with Russia, which centres on the disputed territory of Crimea, and Vukojevic said on the video: \"This victory is for Dynamo [Kiev, his former club] and Ukraine.\"\n\nThe FFU has offered Vukojevic employment and said it was willing to pay the fines imposed on him and Vida by FIFA for the video.\n\n\"We hold a clearly expressed position of supporting our friends,\" FFU president Andrei Paveloko told reporters. \"We have offered both legal and financial support for Ognjen and Vida.\n\n\"I personally, as well as the FFU management, have made a decision to pay off Ognjen's pending fine and offer him a job with the FFU.\"\n\nVida, also a former Dynamo Kiev player, said in a statement following the posting of the video: \"It was definitely no political message, but a simple thank you for all the support from Ukraine, where Vukojevic and I spent a number of years.\"\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5654865503311157}
+{"content": "Families Of Consciousness\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTransmitted Thought\n\nThere are no duplicates. Yet, we may say, are not some thoughts duplicates?  The variations may indeed be slight, but variations are always present. A thought transmitted knowingly or unknowingly by A. is not precisely the same thought when it reaches receiver B.\n\nThe thought originally held by A. is still retained by A., yet a seemingly identical thought reaches B. A. has lost nothing. That is, in trying to send the thought, in trying to duplicate the thought, A. still retains it. So what is passed on to receiver B.? This is rather important, since an explanation will do much to account for the frequent difference that occurs in telepathic communications.\n\nWhether or not- A. the sender, knowingly transmits this apparent duplicate, at the point of its transmission, the sender forms an electrical impulse pattern that is supposed to duplicate the original thought. But no such identical duplication is possible, as far as I know, within reality of any kind.\n\nA side note: identical twins are hardly identical, for example.\n\nAs soon as the attempt is made to duplicate the thought, we find the attempt itself strains and pulls; the impulse changes minutely, or to a greater degree. The point I want to make is that any attempt at duplication actually forces the thought it is already a new thought, bearing great resemblance to the original. But it is not the original thought.\n\nPrime identities cannot be duplicated. Exact duplication is always an effect of insufficient knowledge. In some cases two thoughts may appear identical, but whether or not examination can show it, such exact duplication is impossible. Now when receiver B. receives a transmitted thought, he may react and interpret that part of the thought that is similar to the original.\n\nHe may , on the other hand, react to and interpret that portion of the thought that is not similar. He may react to and interpret the similarity of the difference. His reactions depend upon several circumstances, including the intensity of the electrical pulsations that compose the thought, and his own inner facility in reaching to particular ranges of intensities.\n\nHabitually, individuals establish overall frequencies that they are able to handle, for various reasons. An individual will therefore feel more at home operating within certain frequencies. The original thought is used as a pattern for the creation of a new electrical reality which may or may not be directed at any given receiver. It is obvious that the attempt to duplicate is present: were it not for this attempt to duplicate, then there would be little similarity between any separate identities.\n\nThe nature of the thought that is received by B. is determined by many factors. We shall consider but a few of these. These include the original intensity of the thought as A. ; the familiarity or unfamiliarity of the range of frequencies that compose the thought to any intended receiver.\n\nThe receiver will understand and interpret in general the intensity range he is in the habit of using himself. Some, or a portion of the transmitted thought, may fall within his range and some may not. He or she may pick up the portions of the thought which are similar to the original thought which are similar to the original thought, in which case some scientific proof of sorts can be achieved. It can happen, however, that the dissimilarity is what falls within his or her particular accustomed range, in which case proof will be inadequate.\n\nEmotions also possess an electrical reality. Thoughts formed and sent out within the impulse range of emotion often succeed because of the peculiar nature of the emotional electrical impulses themselves. They have a particularly strong electrical mass. They also usually fall within powerful intensities, for reasons. Thoughts formed under a strong emotional impetus will carry greater vividness, have a greater tendency toward duplication, and are apt to be interpreted with some success.\n\nAlso, all individuals have had familiarity with emotions as they exist within electrical intensities, and are accustomed to reacting to them. The whole process in instantaneous. However, the thought which is now an approximation of the original thought is changed once more by the receiver himself or herself. He or she does not actually interpret the thought itself. He or she interpret the thought itself. He or she interprets its meaning and forms a new thought identity.\n\nAction, the very action of transmission, alters the nature and electrical reality of the thought itself.\n\nOur imaginary sender A. does not transmit a given thought. He or she does not even send an exact duplicate. Nor does the receiver receive the thought in the same condition. The original thought is retained by A. A. forms a thought as nearly identical as possibilities allow it to be. This he or she transmits to B. But B. can’t receive the thought in its present condition, for the action of receiving a thought also changes it. He or she forms a thought as nearly identical as possible for him and interprets it.\n\nAction can never be considered apart from that which is seemingly acted upon, for action becomes part of structure. Action begins from within and is a result of inner vitality inherent in all realities. Action is not alone. It is not an identity. ACTION IS A DIMENSION OF EXISTENCE.\n\n\nThose wars still to be fought are but dim memories, once vital but lost as nightmares in greater awakenings.\n\nA nostalgic memory for lives come and gone, as we might for fond dreams barely recalled. They represent a present unique beyond telling, alive  in each consciousness, more important than we recognize. There are no real rules to be followed that will bring us into such an encounter with the present moment of reality–only a trust in the nature of our being. And that trust is within us whether or not we recognize it, for it gives us our present experience; and no matter how our mind questions, it rides securely in the great creativity of the soul.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis species gave itself no “preordained” taboos.\n\n\n\nHumans Are Not The Master Of Creation\n\nHe or she is simply their creator, and he or her creates because he or she does not attempt to control.\n\nWhen we try to control power or people, we always copy. To some extent the world copies itself, in that there are patterns. Those patterns are always changed to one extent or another, so that no object is ever a copy of another–though it may appear to be the same.\n\n\nIn our terms, the world is intensely different from one moment to another, with each smallest portion of consciousness choosing its reality from a field of infinite probabilities. Immense calculations, far beyond our conscious decisions as we think of them, are probable only because of the unutterable freedom that resides within minute worlds inside our skull– patterns of interrelationships, counterparts so cunningly woven that each is unique, freewheeling, and involved in an infinite cooperative venture so powerful that the atoms stay in certain forms, and the same stars shine in the sky.\n\n\nThe familiar and strange are intimately connected in our most obvious, our simplest utterance. We are surrounded by miracles. Why, then, does the world so often seem dour and cruel? Why do our fellow beings, sometimes seem like unfeeling monsters–Frankenstein not of body but of mind, spiritual idiots, ignorant of any heritage of love or truth or even graceful beast-hood? Why does it seem to many of us that the race, the species, is doomed? Why do some of us feel, in our quiet moments, such a sentence just?\n\nWe make our own reality.\n\nThe Properties Of the Soul and Body\n\nWe do not understand the of properties the soul or body, yet the body was given to us so that we could learn from it. The properties of the physical and  the earth are meant to lead us into the nature of the soul. We create physical reality, yet without knowing how we do , so that the wondrous structure of the earth itself is meant to lead us to question our own source. Nature as we understand it is meant to be our teacher. We are not its master.\n\n\nContents Of Consciousness\n\nTo some extent we realize that the world has physical contents, existing at one time yet varying in their characteristics. In those terms, the world is composed of its physical ingredients. That “package” is the only part of the picture that we see, however.\n\n\nPsychically, our world is composed of the contents of its consciousness. We have maps or continents and oceans, and in the entire view each portion is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, all fitting together perfectly, smoothly flowing into the natural structure of the world. So at any given time there is a world consciousness, a perfect jigsaw of awareness in which each identity, however large or small, has its part.\n\n\n\n\nIf we could orbit our planet in a different kind of craft, we could view the psychic content of the world, seeing the world consciousness shining far more brilliantly than any lighted city. We could spot the point of intense activity, see the birth of new myths and the death of old ones as certainly as we might be able to see a mountain slide or a tidal wave. The physical portions of the earth are all related. So does consciousness form its own kind of inner structures from which, the physical ones emerge. We are indeed counterparts, then, each of the other. Yet as there is great variety to physical form, so counterparts follow a still more expansive inner freedom that finds an even greater diversity of characteristics.\n\n\nA Group Selves Form The Soul\n\nI am not telling you that each if us do not have a soul to call our own. We are a part of our soul. It belongs to you, and you to it.\n\nMemories exist as patterns. In this life, each of us come together and part, come together and part again, forming a counterpart relationship when it suits our purposes, as streams of consciousness mix and merge, and then separate.\n\nThese counterparts are psychic, relationships, formations that in the deepest terms flow into historic time and out of it. Some, in our terms, last a lifetime. Others represent psychic encounters that happens between two individuals at several points, say, but are not continuous. They may be no less intense, however.\n\nThe Species Of Consciousness\n\n\n\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.560918927192688}
+{"content": "Journals Higher Education\n\nUK Public Library Members Quiz\n\n\nThe theme for the June-July Public Library Members Quiz is the Solar System.\n\nUse Oxford’s online resources to find the answers to the questions below, for a chance to win £50 worth of Oxford University Press books.\n\nThe winner will be chosen from the correct entries after the closing date of 31st July 2018.\n\nFor an introduction on how to log in and access the resources, you can watch our demo video, or visit our 'Library in Your Living Room' hub for more information.\n\nDownload the PDF version of this quiz.\n\n1. Who was the first person to demonstrate that the moon moved around the earth in an elliptical orbit?\n\nVisit to find the answer.\n\n2. How many bodies in the solar system are presently considered to be dwarf planets?\n\nVisit to find the answer.\n\n3. Which word came first: shooting star, meteor, asteroid, or comet?\n\nVisit to find the answer.\n\n4. Who wrote Planetomachia, a 1585 work of pseudo-science that described the influence of the planets?\n\nVisit to find the answer.\n\n5. On which planet can Olympus Mons be found – the largest volcano in the entire Solar System?\n\nVisit to find the answer.\n\nYour contact details (needed for prize draw)...\n\n\nWe will only use your personal information to process your competition entry.\n\n\nTerms and conditions\n\nThe winner will be contacted by email and the prize must be accepted as offered. The decision of OUP will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Only one entry per person is allowed. Employees of Oxford University Press are not eligible to enter the Competition.\n\nCompetition closes 31st July 2018.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7686769962310791}
+{"content": "Skill minimizing eyebrow product 공모전이 마감되었습니다.\n\nInvent a breakthrough new skill minimizing eyebrow product to achieve natural looking eyebrows\n\n2017년 10월 15일 (일)에 공모전 마감\n일러스트레이션 - 창의적인 글쓰기\n\nApplying eyebrow makeup (drawing eyebrow shapes and filling in the gaps as needed) to achieve a natural eyebrow shape requires skill and time. Eyebrow makeup also smudges over time during the day and becomes messy. Generally, Chinese women tend to have thinner eyebrows and require eyebrow makeup daily to be able to draw a natural looking shape. How can you minimize the skills required to draw natural eyebrow shapes and make the experience easier for Chinese women through a new eyebrow product, while keeping it smudge-free throughout the day?\n\nInvent a revolutionary new eyebrow makeup product for Chinese women which will help MINIMIZE THE SKILLS required to draw natural looking eyebrows\n\nFormat: Visuals and text based on template provided – Maximum 3 pages per entry.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8689144849777222}
+{"content": "Thursday, October 14, 2010\n\nThe Definitive Article Fails to Exempt Insurance Company from Duty\n\nNorthern Security Insurance, Inc. v. Stanhope, 2010 VT 92\n\nThe Court affirmed the Washington Superior Court’s decision finding that Northern Security Insurance Company owes a duty of coverage to the insureds.\n\nThis dispute is the result of events that occurred at Rose Perron’s day care business in the early 1990s. During the time that Rose Perron had homeowner’s insurance through Northern, her son Kyle, age 8 to 11, repeatedly sexually abused two children who attended the day care. After initial lawsuits were filed, two additional claims were made by other families who also claimed Kyle sexually abused their children. Northern refused to provide coverage for the Perron family, alleging that Rose falsely stated on the policy application that she was not conducting business on the premises, and the injuries were intended and/or expected. The Washington Superior Court disagreed.\n\nThe first issue of contention was whether or not Rose Perron’s misrepresentation voided the coverage for the rest of the insured. The lower court found that the policy was void as to Rose, but there was no evidence that that Kyle or Rose’s husband Steven had any knowledge of the misrepresentation. As a result, the “innocent co-insured” doctrine provided that Kyle and Steven were owed coverage by Northern. Northern disputed this finding, suggesting that the language in their policy differed from precedent because the word “the” was used instead of “an.” The Court spent little time wrapping its brain around that one, as Northern forgot to raise this issue at the trial court, and as such, did not preserve it for review.\n\nNorthern also disputed that they had the burden to prove the injuries caused by Kyle were intended or expected, and that this should be reviewed by a subjective rather than an objective standard. The Court agreed with the lower court, citing precedent which stated that once the insured has made out a “prima facie case for coverage by producing evidence of the harm,” the insurer then has the burden to prove that the harm was “intended or expected.”\n\nNorthern also lost on its argument that the jury instructions should have incorporated an objective rather than a subject standard, i.e., that Kyle knew or had a reason to know that his actions would cause harm. The Court had plenty of precedent, both in-state and from other jurisdictions, to shoot this argument down. At the heart of the cited precedent is the reasoning that a subjective standard would “deny coverage for injuries negligently or foreseeably caused, rather than intended, and thereby defeat the very risk for which the insured contracted.” As such, it was up to the jury to decide, based on circumstantial evidence, whether Kyle knew that his actions would cause harm. However, had Kyle been an adult during these incidents, intent would be inferred.\n\nFinally, Northern disputed the lower court’s ruling to sustain the defense counsel’s objections to a statement by Northern’s attorney during rebuttal argument. The objectionable mini-tirade included statements such as, “[t]his is an eleven year old boy who is sexually mature, who’s got sexual experience. He knows what he’s doing,” and “let’s talk about common sense if an eleven year old boy is vaginally penetrating a four year girl. Are we saying that’s not harmful? That’s not injurious?” Northern argued that this ruling prevented them from arguing that harm could be inferred from the circumstantial evidence, but the Court found that Northern made this argument repeatedly during trial and provided ample evidence on this front. As the Court stated, “if the jury was ultimately unpersuaded by the argument, it was not the result of trial court error.”\n\n—Christine Mathias\n\n\n  1. Maybe this will help. A map key to the Perrons:\n    Rose = Mother (day care provider)\n    Kyle = Son (alleged molester who was 8 to 11 years old during the incidents)\n    Steven = Husband\n\n    Northern Security tried to argue that the use of \"the\" in the phrase \"the insured\" meant that the policy only covered Rose as opposed to if they had used \"an\" as in \"an insured.\" In the words of Louis Jordan, the Court did not pick up what Northern Security was putting down.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6229802370071411}
+{"content": "Edgar Allan Poe Takes a Job as Editor of the Southern Literary Messenger\n\nDecember 1835 Southern Literary Messenger Poe takes a job as editor of the Southern Literary Messenger magazine. He publishes critical reviews of other writers' work as well as his own stories and poems.\n\n\nThe Southern Literary Messenger was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. Each issue carried a subtitle of \"Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts\" or some variation and included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, reviews, and historical notes. It was founded by Thomas Willis White who served as publisher and occasional editor until his death in 1843. White hired Edgar Allan Poe in 1835 as a staff writer and critic. Others involved with the periodical included Matthew Fontaine Maury and Maury's kinsman Benjamin Blake Minor. It ended in June 1864 in part due to Richmond's involvement in the American Civil War.\n\nPoe was proud of his accomplishments with the journal and may have aided in a large jump in subscribers. In a letter years later in 1844, Poe wrote that he began working when the Messenger had about 700 subscribers, and left when it had 5,500 paying subscribers.\nBesides criticism, Poe published many first printings of his now famous works in the Messenger, including the controversial Berenice, Morella, and - in installments - parts of his only novel Arthur Gordon Pym. Poe left the magazine with the January 1837 issue but still contributed works even after White's death.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9797765612602234}
+{"content": "Distance from to\n\nDistance from Wallis and Futuna to South Africa\n\nDistance from Wallis and Futuna to South Africa is 14,558 kilometers. This air travel distance is equal to 9,046 miles.\n\nThe air travel (bird fly) shortest distance between Wallis and Futuna and South Africa is 14,558 km= 9,046 miles.\n\nIf you travel with an airplane (which has average speed of 560 miles) from Wallis and Futuna to South Africa, It takes 16.15 hours to arrive.\n\nWallis and Futuna\n\n178° 6´ 59.4000'' W\nAltitude313 m\nCountryWallis and Futuna\n\nWallis and Futuna Distances to Countries\n\nWallis and FutunaDistance\nDistance from Slovenia to Wallis and Futuna16,267 km\nDistance from Sri Lanka to Wallis and Futuna11,413 km\nDistance from Cuba to Wallis and Futuna11,633 km\n\nSouth Africa\n\nGPS Coordinates30° 33´ 34.1280'' S\n22° 56´ 15.0360'' E\nAltitude1110 m\nCountrySouth Africa\n\nSouth Africa Distances to Countries\n\nSouth AfricaDistance\nDistance from Greece to South Africa7,744 km\nDistance from Ukraine to South Africa8,816 km\nDistance from Peru to South Africa10,240 km", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997007846832275}
+{"content": "InStr Function\n\nCould you help using these two functions in .net way?\n\nInStr Function\nInStrRev Function\nWho is Participating?\nI wear a lot of hats...\n\n\nPraveen KumarArchitectCommented:\nuse IndexOf and LastIndexOf functions for string objects.\n\nDim s As String = \"Wel Come\"\nDim i As Integer\n\ni=s.IndexOf(\"e\") 'stores 1 into i\ni=s.IndexOf(\"C\") 'stored 4 into i\ni=s.IndexOf(\"xx\") 'stored -1 into i, because xx is not found\n\nLastIndexOf function will return the index position, but it will search from end.\n\nMike TomlinsonMiddle School Assistant TeacherCommented:\nIf you are converting legacy code, don't forget that most VB6 functions are \"one based\" while .Net functions are \"zero based\".\nMamtha1982 is right, and all credit to him, the Instr and InStrRev functions are still supported in .NET, but they are not the official way to handle strings.  If it's ok, I would just like to elaborate a little for your better understanding.\n\nThe IndexOf and LastIndexOf functions are available for every string in .NET.  So, for example:\nDim i as Integer\n\n'Use the \"IndexOf\" method with a regular string.\ni = \"My String\".IndexOf(\"String\")\n\n'Use the \"IndexOf\" method with a string variable.\nDim str as String = \"This is another string\"\ni = str.IndexOf(\"string\")\n\n'Use the \"IndexOf\" method with a TextBox, because the \"Text\" property is a String.\nDim tb As New TextBox\ntb.Text = \"my string\"\ni = tb.Text.IndexOf(\"string\")\n\n'Here is a LastIndexOf example for you:\nDim strFilePath As String = \"C:\\Temp\\MyFile.txt\"\nDim i As Integer\ni = strFilePath.LastIndexOf(\"\\\")\n     ' i now equals the integer 7:  the exact position of the last \"\\\" (see notes below).\n\n** Only 2 points to be aware of as you start using IndexOf and LastIndexOf:\n1.  If no match is found, then a -1 is returned, not a 0 as with the Instr and InstrRev functions.\n          'Here, a -1 will be returned, because the question mark is not found.\n          i = \"My String\".IndexOf(\"?\")\n\n2.  Strings are zero (0) based in .NET.\n          'So for example, the integer \"3\" will be returned,\n          '      because the first character in the string \"M\" is position 0.\n\nOne final note:\n'If you want to search for an exact match, then use the default,\n\n'However, if you want to search for a string, but you want to ignore the case\n'such as UPPER CASE, Mixed Case, and lower case, then make sure you use the following:\ni = \"My String\".IndexOf(\"string\", StringComparison.CurrentCultureIgnoreCase)\n\nSo, in summary:\n-  If you used the Instr method in VB6, use the IndexOf method in .NET.\n-  If you used the InstrRev method in VB6, use the LastIndexOf method in .NET.\n\n\nExperts Exchange Solution brought to you by\n\nYour issues matter to us.\n\n\nStart your 7-day free trial\nJeff CertainCommented:\nTo elaborate on what VBRocks said, there is an entire library for VB6 compatibility. You just need to import Microsoft.VisualBasic to get Left, Right, Mid, and the rest of the string functions.\n\nHowever, this namespace does not include DAO, ADO or RDO (the old VB6 data approaches). You'll either need to bring those in as their own libraries, or move to ADO .NET. Neither of these options is painless.\nVisual Basic.NET\n\nFrom novice to tech pro — start learning today.\n\nQuestion has a verified solution.\n\n\nHave a better answer? Share it in a comment.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5834329128265381}
+{"content": "Q. Who should use SecurityGauge®Reports?\n\nA. Local crime rates can impact your company’s exposure to risk, real estate values, insurance rates for your facilities, the cost of security staffing and more. If your decisions regarding risk underwriting, risk management, security staffing, fraud detection, site selection, or investment strategies are impacted by crime hazards, SecurityGauge will help you make informed business decisions with instant, objective data.\n\nQ. From where do you source your data?\n\nA. Much of our data is exclusive or proprietary to SecurityGauge®. We start by collecting raw data from all local law enforcement agencies that have law enforcement responsibility for all (or any part) of a municipality or location (18,000 plus law enforcement agencies).\n\nOnce the data is collected in-house, our scientists begin building the address-level crime statistics using advanced predictive modeling based on relationships between hyper-local characteristics and crime incidents for nearly a quarter of a million neighborhoods nationwide. These data are then input to our spatial modeling to produce 10 meter resolution crime risk data for every address in America.\n\nSince we know the numbers of reported crimes that actually occur in each community because of our exclusive approach, we are uniquely able to validate our models against the only comprehensive location-centric crime database with complete national coverage in the U.S.\n\nQ. Can’t I get this data from the FBI’s website?\n\nA. By going to the FBI's website, you can see crime data by individual agency, but not by locality. And you cannot get address-specific data from the FBI at all.\n\nFBI shows agency data, not location data. Remember, there are many local law enforcement agencies that have law enforcement responsibility in any location.\n\nFor example, Boston has the Boston Police Dept., the MBTA (transit) police, and sizable police departments at some of the major universities, such as Northeastern University, Boston University, and so forth. In a recent year, the MBTA (transit) police logged some 288 violent crimes within Suffolk County (Suffolk County is almost entirely in Boston), including a murder and 197 armed robberies. The MBTA also logged 266 property crimes including 10 motor vehicle thefts. Boston University police logged 16 violent crimes including 3 forcible rapes, as well as 455 property crimes. UMass Boston logged 146 crimes. Emerson College police logged 45 crimes; and Northeastern University logged an additional 489 crimes.\n\nThis is only one city, and only an example of some of the agencies with enforcement responsibility within its borders. But multiple agencies are common for many cities, large and small, all around the nation. When you rely on data sourced only from a municipality’s police department, you’re missing hundreds – even thousands – of crime counts, skewing your analyses and presenting a false picture of true risk that hampers predicting crime risk by address.\n\nSo, you can go to the FBI to get reported crimes for individual law enforcement agencies, but not by locality.\n\nAs importantly, the crime counts from the FBI are not specific to any address, including not specific to your address. Since crime risk often varies more within cities than between cities, don’t jeopardize your business, customers, or clients on general city-wide, Zip Code, or census tract data that tell you little about the crime risks at your location.\n\nQ. How current is the data in your SecurityGauge®Reports?\n\nA. The crime data featured in SecurityGauge Reports are updated every year, using the most recent final (non-preliminary) raw data. Then we begin the process of analyzing these data and building our proprietary data using our exclusive methodology.\n\nAll data featured in the Reports are always the most recent data available. Always.\n\nQ. What does my overall crime risk rating signify?\n\nA. The SecurityGauge®Crime Risk Rating for your site is on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest risk and 5 being the highest risk.\n\nYour overall crime risk rating combines into a single score the 8 major types of crimes tracked by SecurityGauge as they relate to risk at your address: vandalism, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, armed robbery, aggravated assault, homicide, and rape.\n\nHere is what each number signifies:\n\n1 Low: less than half the national average\n2 Moderate: half the national average to slightly above the national average\n3 Elevated: slightly above national average to twice the national average\n4 High: twice the national average to three times the national average\n5 Severe: more than 3 times the national average\nQ. What does my Crime Risk Summary reveal?\n\nA. Your Crime Risk Summary reveals the crime hazard risks at your site for each of the 8 major types of crime SecurityGauge®tracks. Each of the 8 major types of crime gets its own 1 – 5 risk rating at your address so you can see for which types of crime you are at greatest risk. Your Crime Risk Summary uses the same 1 – 5 scale as your overall Crime Risk Rating.\n\nQ. What’s in a SecurityGauge®Report?\n\nA. Each report delivers information available nowhere else:\n\n  • Crime Risk Rating (overall risk rating for your site)\n  • Crime Risk Summary (quantifies risks for each type of crime)\n  • Site Report Map (color-coded map of crime risk hot spots)\n  • Crime Rate Comparisons (compares your site to the state and nation for rates of: burglary, theft, vehicle theft, homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault)\n  • Risk Maps by Crime Type (6 color-coded maps reveal crime risk in your site’s proximity: Property, Violent, Burglary, Theft, Vehicle Theft, & Armed Robbery)\n  • Crime Risk Trending Graphs (past, present, and forecast risks at your site for burglary, theft, vehicle theft, homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault)\n  • Crime History & Forecast (past and future quantitative risk indices and a color-coded map revealing forecasted crime risks surrounding your site)\n  • Perimeter Risk Factors (maps facilities near your site that may shape crime risk)\nQ. How do you build your crime risk reports?\n\nA. Until now, accurately quantifying crime risk for an address has been hindered by two prevailing impediments:\n\n  • As a result, crime risk information that businesses currently rely on is often incomplete because it is frequently built only from a single local law enforcement agency’s data in any location, often uses a ‘one model fits all’ approach nationwide that diminishes accuracy, and frequently has limited validation in the real world.\nQ. How do you validate your statistics?\n\nA. National Validation = Precision.\n\nSince we know the numbers of reported crimes that actually occurred in each community because of our exclusive crime risk methodology, we are uniquely able to validate our models against the only comprehensive location-centric crime database with complete U.S. coverage.\n\n    (Others often validate on only a few cities, and results may not be generalizable)\n  • The result? Accurate and validated crime risk analytics for any address in the U.S.\nQ. What are “Perimeter Risk Factors”?\n\nA. SecurityGauge®Perimeter Risk Factors reveals facilities and amenities in the vicinity of your site that may increase or mitigate crime risk at your location. Arenas, sporting venues, train stations, high schools and other facilities that draw large numbers of people can increase crime risk. Police stations and other facilities may perhaps reduce risk. This information is based on US Government and other public record data and custom mapped for the perimeter of your site.\n\nQ. What do the key Indices mean?\n\nA. Key indices provide greater detail to the Crime Risk Summary. While the Crime Risk Summary uses a 1 – 5 rating to show the relative risk of the 8 major crimes SecurityGauge®tracks for your address, the Key Indices reveal the details at your site for seven major crime types: homicide, rape, armed robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, plus a detailed scoring for total crime, overall violent crime, and overall property crime at your site.\n\nKey Indices are on a 0 – 5,000 scale, with 0 being the lowest and 5,000 being the highest, and indicate the risk of crime at an address compared to an average of 100.\n\nA score of 50 is ½ the average risk, 200 is double the average, and 500 is 5x the average. We provide these key indices to compare the crime risk at your address to the nation, the state, and the county, with 100 being the average for each.\n\nThese SecurityGauge Index scores thus provide great detail of relative risk to aid you in benchmarking and comparing your site to the county, the state, and the U.S., and we also use these key indices to show historical risk and future forecasted risk for your address.\n\nQ. How do you predict crime for any address five years in the future?\n\nA. Crime risks change at addresses over time. Sometimes they decrease, and other times they increase. Forecasting crime risk changes is important for security planning, site selection, lease negotiation, and more. SecurityGauge®provides detailed crime risk predictions for 5 years in the future for your address based on changing crime circumstances in the city, nation, and, more importantly, in the perimeter and vicinity of your address. As changes in buildings, population flows, housing, and people near your address are predicted to change, these allow us to predict future crime risks at your site with 10 meter resolution. We don’t just predict, we provide quantitative indices for all major crime times, and even generate a forecast crime risk map for your site’s vicinity so you can see the detailed pattern of forecasted crime risk near your facility.\n\nQ. What is a Geocoder?\n\nA. Geocoders are computer-implemented tools to interpret the location of an address as a specific point location on the surface of the earth. To do so, typically a geocoder takes the address input to it and converts the address into a geographic latitude/longitude coordinate.\n\nSecurityGauge®provides crime risk for geographic latitude/longitude coordinates. If you enter an address or place name for a SecurityGauge report query, SecurityGauge uses a 3rd party Geocoder to convert that address or place name into a latitude/longitude coordinate. No Geocoder is 100% perfect and often the structure and accuracy of the address provided to the geocoder will affect the accuracy of the latitude/longitude output by the geocoder. As such, Location, Inc. makes no warranty as to the accuracy of the geocoded location and does not interpret or alter the geocoder accuracy score in any way.\n\nPrior to generating a report, SecurityGauge provides a location confirmation window which includes details of the Geocoder's output and a map for the user to visually verify the geocoded location. If it is not the correct location, the user can edit the address and try again. In order to ensure accurate crime risk data is provided in your requested report, it is critical that you confirm the accuracy of the geocoded location before clicking \"MAP THIS LOCATION.\"\n\nWith the SecurityGauge API, since there is no map provided to confirm the accuracy of the location, the Geocoder’s confidence output is returned via the API to the user along with the crime risk data. The user can programmatically or manually decide whether the Geocoder accuracy is sufficient to use the crime risk data returned. All SecurityGauge reports and API responses include the digital latitude/longitude identified by the Geocoder.\n\nIf the geocoder accuracy score is not satisfactory for a particular address, a user can always instead enter a latitude/longitude for the location, thereby assuring the point location will exactly match the input latitude/longitude.\n\nQ. How does SecurityGauge®compare with competition?\n\nThey don't. SecurityGauge is built from new technologies which incorporate Big Data that is different in both spatial resolution and predictive abilities, and the SecurityGauge reports themselves offer vastly different content and advantages to businesses. See our side-by-side feature comparison of how SecurityGauge® compares to competition.\n\nGet Started\n\nGenerate a custom crime and security risk assessment for any address.\n\nReport page r 489980378b20b8cb9bd704634cc62cc05c2048a42c4c41ae9fd57ab9323b677e", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.873083770275116}
+{"content": "A dominant understanding in Disability Studies is that the bodily make-up of people cannot be held responsible for the fact that some people are categorized as able and others as disabled (Shakespeare 1998, Davis 1997, Albrecht, Seelman and Bury 2001). Disability is not considered an outcome of an individual's impairment, but a result from the social and environmental barriers that people with impairments have to face every day. Disability, as a concept, refers to being oppressed by a disabling society. Or, as Roulstone (1998) puts it: ‘… . [the term should] not be viewed as purely adjectival, but as a fully relational concept.’ The definition of normality and, hence, of ‘loss of normal function or ability’, is considered a political matter.\n\nThis social model of disability has been immensely helpful in challenging the medical model in thinking about disability (Davis 1997, Barnes 1998). For one, it changed the notions of in- and exclusion that are so closely linked to the concept of disability. Whereas medical and rehabilitation practices try to achieve inclusion and participation by ‘normalising’ people with impairments, ‘correcting’ their individual limitations, the social model aims at making society itself become more inclusive, for example by improving the accessibility of work and living environments, infrastructures and, above all, social attitudes.\n\nHowever, in the process of critiquing the medical model a number of explicit and implicit assumptions have entered the field of Disability Studies that, in our opinion, cloud a vision on actual mechanisms of in- and exclusion related to disability as well as the nature of agency within these mechanisms. More specifically, in an emphasis on the societal responsibility for ‘making’ disability, the roles played in these mechanisms by people who have physical impairments are often neglected (see also Pols 2006, 2010; Moser 2006; Winance 2010). As a result, too much of an essentialist view is maintained in which a clear divide is presumed between people and some ‘outer’ in/excluding society. In addition, the physical-material dimensions of disability, including the impact of assistive technologies, has been neglected in Disability Studies (Gill 2001, 369). As a result people's embodied experiences with in- and exclusion has, until recently, been excluded from research (Pols 2010).\n\nFollowing practice-oriented studies, such as those of Mol, Moser, Winance and Pols, we will, in this article, focus on how in- and exclusion, related to disability, are actually ‘done’ in everyday life. We will particularly focus on how the use and non-use of an assistive technology, the arm prosthesis, shapes and transforms such mechanisms. We present the lives of, Maria and Wendy; two women with a short arm for whom the arm prosthesis is a medical possibility. What shape do in- and exclusion take in their daily lives, how do they come about and whom and what are involved? In this way, we will open up the standard notions of in- and exclusion in the field of Disability Studies from a socio-material and embodied perspective.\n\nTechnical aids and disability research\n\nThe raison d'etre of technical aids, such as a walker, a hearing aid or arm prosthesis, is commonly believed to be their ability to solve practical problems for their users. With an aid people try to lower some of the physical or social barriers in their lives. However, the impact of such technologies is not limited to their functionality, nor is functionality something that can be separated from other, e.g. social, cultural and emotional aspects of people's lives. As we will see, technical aids are, in fact, intertwined with people and their lives in many complex ways (as are most technologies). They are part of the way people experience their body, the activities they can perform, the way they (can) deal with their social and material environment and the way that they are looked at by themselves and others.1 Consequently, technical aids play an important part in the construction of what is to be (dis)abled and to related mechanisms of in- and exclusion.\n\nExisting theories of the impact of technical aids on in- and exclusion can be divided into three academic discourses. The first can be found in the discourse of medical and rehabilitation research and is referred to as the deficit model (Roulstone 1998). In this model, technology is considered a corrective tool. The technical aid is suggested to ‘repair’ limitations in a person's bodily capacities to achieve what is perceived to be a normal functioning body. This is the measure of success of technical aids. Inclusion is strived after in terms of an acquired vicinity to normalcy, and might be achieved with the help of rehabilitation therapists and a persevering user of the technical aid.\n\nThis discourse is heavily critiqued within Disability Studies, as it is believed to reinforce the idea that the source of in- and exclusion is to be sought after in the deficits of the disabled person (Shakespeare 1998; Roulstone 1998; Davis 1997; Albrecht, Seelman and Bury 2001). The striving for ‘normalisation’ through technology within this medical model is considered not a neutral endeavour, but a socio-political one.\n\nIn reaction to this medical approach, the social barriers model has been developed in Disability Studies. In this model, social organization is considered to be the primary source of disability, not the person with an impairment. As a consequence, technologies should be studied for their potential to change the social and material environment and take away societal barriers, for example by improving work environments, or by changing attitudes and perceptions of the abilities of disabled people (Roulstone 1998). Recent technologies, such as email and texting, for example, offers opportunities for people with speech or hearing impediments to communicate, work and present themselves in a new fashion, changing the ways in which their potential abilities are defined and assessed by others. At the same time, technological changes can enhance or create new barriers for people with impairments, leading to new ways of exclusion.\n\nThe third discourse on the impact of technical aids is centered around Goffman's concept of stigma and focuses mainly on mechanisms of exclusion. Analysis is directed at the difficulties that appear in spontaneous, social interactions between disabled and non-disabled. It is noted that technological aids are often considered visible markers of one's impairment, functioning as a stigmatizing object in social interaction (see references in Lingsom 2008). As such, an assistive technology can bring about exclusion and make people avoid to use it.\n\nBoth the social barriers model and Goffman's approach are suitable to the agenda of Disability Studies, as they highlight the social construction of disability. However, it is remarkable that in all approaches described, the person with an impairment is considered to be an individual that can be clearly separated from and facing a social framework (see also Winance 2007). As such, even the social barriers model can be considered an essentialist instead of a relational approach, as it assumes this pre-existing opposition. In line with this, all three approaches reduce the relation between technology and in- or exclusion to terms of either trying to overcome or widen this pre-existing divide between the person and the surrounding world. Moser has shown, that assuming such divides in disability research will reinforce and confirm those very gaps (Moser 2006). Especially in research on the promises of technology for disabled people, the asymmetries between disabled and abled are reproduced. Moreover, this perspective overlooks the complex, multiple and changeable impact of technology on the lives of people. For technology does not only interfere with what we can and want to do, or with our relations to others, it interferes with who we are (Mol 2008).\n\nIn this article, we will take a more relational perspective, in which a person is constructed by and constructing a heterogeneous network of relations. Disability and the mechanisms of in- and exclusion related to it come about in concrete, every day practices. All kinds of factors are involved in such practices, including a person's specific body and technological aids, but also the physical structure of buildings and the actions of others (see also Moser and Law 2003; Moser 2006; Pols 2010; Winance 2010, 2011). There are thus no individuals facing an abstracted, objectified world, only situations that arise from heterogeneous networks of relations. This will lead to an important reconceptualisation of what in- and exclusion can entail for people.\n\nThe research\n\nThere are several types of arm prostheses. Instrumental extensions, such as hooks, are designed to enable specific practical activities, for example driving a motor cycle, holding a cup or cutting bread. At the other side of the spectrum one finds the cosmetic arm, designed to resemble the aesthetics of a real arm, but without the possibility to move the fingers or change its angle. In between, one can find myoelectric, body-powered or robotic arms that are designed to combine both characteristics, i.e. that can be opened and closed and that resemble a real arm. In this article we focus on the cosmetic and hybrid arm prostheses.\n\nThe article is based on the biographic narratives of two women, Maria and Wendy, who use (in the case of Wendy), or used (in the case of Maria), an arm prosthesis. They were both interviewed using a variation of the Biographic Narrative Interpretation Method (Wengraf 2001, 2010). In this method the narrative of an interviewee was triggered with only one open question, asking after the story of their life in relation to the technical aid, posed by the interviewer at the beginning of each interview. After the initial narrative had been finished, the interviewer asked follow up questions that replicated both the chronology and wording of the interviewees. All questions probed specific experiences, rather than emotions, or opinions. The reason for choosing this particular technique is that it provides for rich and layered information on the negotiations and adaptations between person and technology. The initial narrative gives clear insight in the way interviewees currently perceive and construct their relation to the technical aid, whereas the second part of the interview gives access to situated memories of their practical, physical experiences with the technical aid, adding complexity, contradiction and nuance to the stories. In addition to the interview material, we use fragments of an online blog Wendy has kept, to report on her experiences with the prosthesis.\n\nThe interviews are part of a larger study, in which 29 people are interviewed who make use of, did use or refused to use a walker, a hearing aid, incontinence pads or an arm prosthesis. At the time of writing nine interviews with people with one short arm were interviewed. In the selection of interview candidates a variety of people in terms of gender, age and use or non-use of the technical aids was aimed for. Interview candidates for the arm prosthesis were found with the help of our own private networks and with the use of a co-researcher who had met many people with short legs and arms in his identity as physical therapist and user of a leg prosthesis. In this article we address two cases only. The stories of Wendy and Maria were chosen for this analysis because they are similar in age, gender and socio-economic status and the fact that both women had (had) the prosthesis attached to their upper arm, but almost opposed in the way they use and perceive the artificial arm.\n\nWendy (43 years old)\n\nWendy was born with a shorter left arm. She has no left elbow or lower arm, but she does have three fingers which she can use effectively. As a child, her parents asked her if she was interested in wearing a prosthesis, but she never was. Wendy felt she could do everything she wanted to and she did not feel she ‘ missed’ an arm or hand (see also Frank 1986). As she reached the age of 25, Wendy started getting serious back problems and after a few years had to stop working in a pharmacy. The problem was rooted in the scoleosis in Wendy's back, but as her condition worsened doctors started to relate Wendy's extreme back pain to her having a shorter arm. As Wendy uses her fingers on both arms, she is used to leaning forward, worsening her back condition. She realised that wearing an arm prosthesis might take part of the pain away.\n\nWendy, however, resented the idea of using an aid. ‘I disliked the idea of having to use an arm. It felt like admitting that I needed support and that I was different than others. It made me feel handicapped.‘ But as the pain worsened, at the age of 38, she decided she should try one.\n\nShe started out using a myoelectric arm. This is a prosthesis with an electronic system connected and reacting to traction of the muscles in the upper arm, enabling a person to open and close the hand. Wendy had always been able to use the fingers on her short arm and she hoped that the myoelectric arm could compensate for the loss of that functionality. However, in her case this system was not fail proof. On 15 February 2005 she writes on her blog:\n\nI no longer think it is funny to be stuck to my fitness apparatus when I want to step off, because I cannot open my hand. I no longer think it is funny to not be able to open my hand when I want to grab the steer of my bicycle. I do not think it is funny when my hand does not close because the battery is low, just when I want to take of my coat. And that I first have to take of my arm and change the battery, then put on my arm again so that I can close my hand, to finally take of my coat.\n\nDuring rehabilitation you need to have a lot of humour, because those little accidents happen all the time. But when the prosthesis is integrated in your daily life, you just want the thing to work properly. You do not want to be hindered in this way. In accordance with the artificial-arm-maker I finally decided to start trying another type of prosthesis.\n\nWendy switched to a hybrid arm, a body-powered prosthesis that reacts to movements of the muscles in the shoulders, opening or closing the artificial hand. This effect is enhanced by an added electric device (hence, the term hybrid). She is still using this type today.\n\nThe prosthesis brought substantial relief of Wendy's back pain. Working has become an option again, as well as using a computer more intensively. Although she does not wear the arm all day long, at this moment Wendy feels the arm has become a part of herself and she is glad to have the option to choose to wear it or not.\n\nWearing the arm or not\n\nIt is evident that Wendy's arm prosthesis is an important factor for inclusion in the traditional terms of ‘participation’. When wearing the artificial arm, Wendy is no longer tempted to use the fingers on her short arm and she is prevented from leaning forward. Also, the hand of the prosthesis can be used to push and lift things. As a result, Wendy can keep a straight posture during all kinds of activities, including typing, and her back pain is reduced.\n\nThere is more to it, however. The characteristic of lengthening her arm and preventing her to use her own fingers, also has some drawbacks. Wendy describes how she struggled to deal with the extra arm length: ‘At first it felt I had an arm that reached up until my left knee; it felt so long and strange to me.‘ As time went by, Wendy trained performing daily activities with the arm, and her body image adjusted.‘ The arm started to feel shorter to me’. But still, she finds it hard to do things in a way that feels natural to her. ‘I am used to zipping up my coat with my hands close to my chest, but now I have to do it near my waist. I have to think about these things constantly’. As a result, Wendy has decided to only wear the prosthesis outside the house. ‘When I am home, I do not want to think too much about how to do things’.\n\nAnother situation in which she does not to wear the arm is described in her blog during the summer of 2004.\n\n7th of July 2004:\n\nIt is incredibly heavy to wear the arm when it is warm outside. It does not matter what clothes I wear, the arm itself is just so hot. To tell the truth, I think it is impossible to wear this thing when it is over 20 degrees celsius. At least not without getting seriously depressed. Maybe I should just leave it off, but it is a hard choice:\n\n– No arm: nice and cool and a free feeling, but more back pain\n\n– An arm: less back pain, but being super warm all the time\n\n25th July 2004:\n\nI finally made a decision. When the thermometer on the outside wall of my bedroom shows a temperature over 20 degrees, I will not wear the arm. Period. It took me some time to make up my mind. The reason was that I did not feel like going out on the street again as a visibly disabled person. When wearing the arm, I do not stick out and that is pretty nice. Without the arm, I am ‘ the women with the short arm’ again. And I did not look forward to that.\n\nBut when I tried it, it turned out that I was not so conscious of ‘walking around with my short arm’ at all. I easily and quickly slipped back into my Wendy-without-prosthesis-life. Perhaps this should be no surprise. I walked around like this for 38 years and I had all the time to guard myself against the looks and comments of people. It felt very familiar to present myself like that again.\n\nThe feeling of freedom was actually much more dominant. When the weather is nice, I want to feel the sun and the wind touch my skin. That is the ultimate summer feeling for me! With the prosthesis I feel a prisoner of my own body, as if I am sitting in the sun wearing a black woolen sweater, looking at all those people in summer dresses. I can finally enjoy summer again and I cannot explain how important this is to me!\n\nWearing the arm, Wendy is now included in some activities and experiences, such as maintaining a job or ‘not sticking out’. At the same time, Wendy is excluded from others, for example, ‘doing things without thinking’ in her home or having the ultimate summer feeling. Wendy's story shows that her experiences of in- and exclusion related to the arm prosthesis are not limited to striving for participation or to feeling stigmatized. In other words, Wendy's concerns are not solely directed at overcoming a divide between her and ‘normal, outer society’. They also include the summer wind and the sun, stroking her skin. It is clear that the arm does not just help Wendy to achieve entry into an outer world, but is very much part of the embodied way in which Wendy experiences that world. And especially in such situated experiences, inclusion and exclusion can emerge.\n\nIt also becomes apparent that inclusion is not something that can be isolated from exclusion; the materiality of the extended arm can simultaneously bring about inclusion in one practice and exclusion in another. This interrelatedness also becomes apparent in Wendy's actual dealing with stigma, or with ‘being socially different’. Wendy appreciates the arm giving her the opportunity to ‘not stick out’ anymore. ‘The first time I could ride a bicycle with two arms was amazing. I thought: “look at me, I am part of your world now!”, but obviously nobody noticed!‘. Although Wendy did not start to use the prosthesis because of this particular social effect, she ended up liking it. The arm makes it possible for her to ‘pass’ as normal (see also Goffman 1963; Gill 2001; Lingsom 2005). In some situations, however, Wendy feels very uncomfortable wearing the arm; for example in a shirt with short sleeves. ‘I am used to the attention my short left arm attracts: I have dealt with it all my life. Nevertheless, I feel very vulnerable when the artificial arm is exposed. I feel I have to start all over again.‘ Wendy explains that she cannot apply the skills she developed for being different as a ‘one-arm-person’ for dealing with being different as a ‘person-with-an-artificial-arm’.\n\nBecause those mechanisms of in- and exclusion are interrelated, Wendy constantly has to negotiate between the advantages and disadvantages of wearing the prosthesis. \"I am constantly asking myself ‘What does it bring me? And what do I sacrifice?’” She says this constant decision making exhausts her, yet she also describes a strong sense of freedom it gives her.\n\n10th of November 2004\n\nLife with an artificial arm has pretty much become a part of my life now. I really appreciate it to be able to decide myself on the moments in which I will wear the arm or not.\n\nIn Wendy's story we can see that in- and exclusion are mechanisms a disabled person is not so much facing, but that she is part of in everyday practices and negotiations. Every time Wendy decides on wearing the arm or not, she is co-constructing herself as well as the situations she enters (and that become accessible or non-accessible to her). Exclusion is not something that ‘happens’ to her, nor is inclusion always something that she has to ‘work hard for’. Furthermore, the prosthesis does not form a bridge between her and the world, but changes the agency and experience of its user. Wendy is not a person using an artificial arm to achieve participation or avoid stigma. Rather, she enters situations as Wendy-with-arm or Wendy-without-arm. Each assemblage leads to specific, embodied experiences of in- and exclusion.\n\nLike Winance (2006), in her research on the process of adjustment between person and wheelchair, we find that, whilst finding a balance with a technical aid, the boundaries between a person, his/her body, assistive technologies and their relations to different situations, such as work or home, are constantly shifting and negotiated. There is no stable or sharp distinction between a disabled person and an ‘abled’ outer world. This also means that the understanding of in- and exclusion needs to incorporate this view. We will deepen the argumentation, turning to Maria's story.\n\nMaria (49 years old)\n\nMaria lost her left lower arm when she was six year old, in a playing accident. At the age of eight, she started wearing an instrumental hook, but mainly because her parents wanted her to. Later, when she was sixteen she switched to a myoelectronic arm. She started an education to become a nurse and, afterwards, worked as a nurse for merely thirty years. During that period, she switched the electronic arm for a cosmetic one, as the latter was much lighter and just as practical for Maria to use.\n\nIn the meantime, Maria got married and got two children. As she felt she could handle the babies better without the prosthesis, she stopped wearing it in her home. However, as soon as she went out the door, she put on the arm.\n\nAt the age of 34, Maria was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure. Talking to a therapist, it became clear to her that the constant shifting between wearing and not wearing the arm, generated immense stress for her. In accordance with her doctor, Maria decided to try and stop wearing the artificial arm (except in her work). She describes the period: ‘The first year without the artificial arm was very hard, as I was extremely anxious all the time. With the artificial arm I had always tried to hide that I missed an arm and to be as ‘normal as possible. Letting go of this strategy was very difficult for me. It felt like walking around naked.‘ However, after two months of trying, the blood pressure dropped sharply and Maria decided she would not wear the prosthesis anymore in non-work environments. Looking back, Maria feels the artificial arm has hindered her in accepting her childhood trauma and the fact that she is physically different from others. Now that she got rid of it, she feels she can, finally, accept herself.\n\nIn- and excluding others\n\nToday, Maria states the arm never really had a practical function for her; she only wore it look as normal as possible. When Maria became a mother (something she had always wanted) the prosthesis was no longer just redundant, it started to become a true hindrance. With the arm on, she could not approach and handle the babies the way she wanted. To Maria, the arm (the hard surface, the fact that she could not use her own skin touching the child) made her children less accessible to her. She could not ‘be a mother’ in the way she had envisaged. Moreover, both babies adapted to the possibilities of their mother's specific body very quickly, for example rolling into her right hand when she wanted to pick them up out of bed. So, together, Maria and her children started to push the artificial arm out from their contact and together they shaped a new physical, practical, social and emotional assemblage in Maria's life.\n\nIn this way, two different Maria-assemblages started to exist next to each other. Maria shifted between them during the day. ‘My dog always knew when we were going for a walk, because I would go and fetch the arm. And when the doorbell rang, I always had to look who was at the door and then decide on whether I needed to put on the arm.‘ Very close friends or family members were allowed to see Maria without prosthesis, but regular friends, neighbours and colleagues were not. Looking through the window, near the front door, Maria was actively deciding on who and what she was going to include in her Maria-without-arm-assemblage. Maria's story refutes the standard notion of a person facing in- or exclusion because of an impairment. Maria appears to be the one that is in- and excluding.\n\nBut it is not a simple case of turning things around, of transferring the source of agency related to in- and exclusion from society to the disabled person. It is more complicated than that. In this particular period, Maria did not feel like she was in control, nor did she experience a joyful sense of freedom. Whereas Wendy describes the constant choosing as a source of freedom and control (even though she also describes her initial trouble in setting her own unwritten action rules about the use and non-use of the arm), Maria does not express such feelings. In fact, the shifting became a heavy burden for Maria (also described by Gill, 2001) and she decides to let the arm go.\n\nMaria's case shows that deciding to wear the artificial arm or not, leads to shifting boundaries between herself and others, between her (dis)abilities, the worlds she is (and wants to be) part of (or not), and optional programs of actions. But, even though Maria is actively part of this process of decision making, she cannot be considered the stable, single or predictable source of action or control.\n\nThe arm prosthesis: shifting social responsibilities\n\nEven though Maria and Wendy have very different experiences in relation to the use of arm prosthesis, they also share some concerns. In both stories, the women are busy trying to regulate the effects the arm prosthesis has on others. This has to do with the ability of the arm prosthesis to help wearers approach an image of bodily normalcy. Instead of causing a stigma, such as a wheelchair or a hearing aid (or a hook for that matter), the cosmetic and electronic/bionic/hybrid arm prostheses mask the missing of a limb to the fleeting observer in everyday interactions and offer an opportunity to avoid stigma and to ‘pass’ as almost normal.\n\nThe stories of Wendy and Maria both show clear examples of such attempts to ‘pass’. Maria told us she has used the arm prosthesis for decennia to hide, as much as she could, the fact that she missed her left lower arm. She claims she became very good at it: ‘Once we stayed over at one of my husband's old friends, a police detective. The man was very surprised to find out, only after the weekend, that I used an artificial arm.‘ And even though Wendy started to use the artificial arm because of medical reasons, she states she appreciates the experience of ‘not sticking out’ anymore.\n\nMaria and Wendy are both aware of the fact that deciding to stop or to start (temporarily or permanent) wearing the prosthesis has an impact on others. They both seem to carefully manage these effects, by socially marking short term or long term changes. For example, when Maria wanted to stop wearing the prosthesis, she first consulted her husband and children. She felt she needed their approval, as her decision would also have a potential impact on their social lives. On the first day, she went to her children's school and shared with all the teachers and children that she was no longer using the arm, involving them actively, but also announcing that she would from that moment on become Maria-without-an-arm for them. Wendy told us that she warns friends when she decides not to wear the arm. She feels she needs to prepare them for Wendy-without-the-arm, so that they are not frightened by her appearance. ‘When you have always known someone having two arms, and she suddenly comes up to you with half a left arm, you can get shocked. It is logical.’\n\nWendy continues: ‘The funny thing is, in the past, when I did not own a prosthesis, I was never worried about how other people might feel. I did not have that choice and I knew that if I had to worry about that, I would never leave my house. I figured people just had to accept me for who I was.’ Also Maria states that, now that she got rid of the arm: ‘people will just have to take her me for who I am: Maria-with-one-arm.’ It looks like when Maria and Wendy do not have an artificial arm around the responsibility for a smooth contact with ‘others’ seems to be distributed more, or shifted to that particular other.\n\nThese examples show that the arm prosthesis does more than simply offer an opportunity ‘to pass as normal’. It brings with it a sense of social responsibility. Through its presence or absence, the arm prosthesis changes one's possible social strategies and responsibilities in dealing with being different. As a result action and mutual social responsibilities shift. Again, we can see that the artificial arm, then, does not so much ‘bridge a gap’ between a person and society, but changes the way they are mutually constructed.\n\nInterestingly, the social impact of the arm is often not the reason for using it. In the case of Wendy, severe physical problems made her choose for the artificial arm. The shifts in social action and responsibility just came with it. So, even if one uses the arm for practical reasons only, the way one can relate to other people and the mechanisms of in- and exclusion encountered in everyday situations, will change in a fundamental way. It shows that this technology ‘matters’ in a more fundamental way than we might expect from a medical or Goffmannian perspective. It also shows that action or agency in relation to in- and exclusion is not something that belongs either to an individual or a social framework, but that it comes about in specific relational networks (that include people as well as things).\n\n\nIn recent disability literature, one can find a plea for supporting and discerning practices in which people with impairments are considered (and constructed) as both different and normal (Winance 2006, 2007; Pols 2010). It entails a critique on the idea of ‘normalisation’ or trying (and expecting) people with impairments to live and act as much as possible as ‘normal people’, either with the use of an assistive technology or not. This expectation puts people in a disadvantageous position to start with, because they actually do have impairments. Scholars should acknowledge and study the specificity of having a particular impairments, whilst showing that (dis)abilities and (ab)normality are, in fact, constantly negotiated and constructed. In this article we try to support and extend this line of research, focussing on in- and exclusion.\n\nSociological notions of in- and exclusion, and disability, are often based on the image of a single person dealing with an ‘outer social’ framework (see Winance about Goffman in Winance 2007). In this article we suggest a different perspective, following a relational and practice oriented approach. The individual and the social context are part of the same relational network, shaping each other constantly in everyday practices. In addition, things, technologies and bodies are part of that network and they are constantly changing and co-shaping (dis)abilities and subjects (opening and closing action possibilities).\n\nStarting from this perspective the notion of in- and exclusion opens up. It is no longer limited to work participation, or the communication with ‘abled’ others, but extends into’ being able to handle one's young children’ and ‘feel the wind touching one's skin in summertime’. Moreover, acknowledging that the prosthesis both opens and closes action possibilities shows that Wendy and Maria are very much part of the mechanisms of in- and exclusion. They constantly have to decide on who/what to involve in a situation. But they are never the sole architects.\n\nIn this negotiating, Wendy and Maria both showed a concern for the feelings or reactions of ‘abled’ others in reaction to their impairment. When the artificial arm is not a part of one's life, the option to ‘pass as normal’ is closed, but other strategies to deal with ‘being different’ become possible. Whether or not a prosthesis is used redistributes the responsibility for smoothing the contact between Maria/Wendy and ‘others’.\n\nTo acknowledge that there is no single (human) source of action in situations of in- and exclusion, and that they are interrelated, offers us an opportunity to view (dis)ability in a new manner. All technologies open and close opportunities for action and by allowing a technology into or removing it from the assemblage of our body-and-things we constantly negotiate between the options. This is not restricted to people with impairments. As a matter of fact, we are all disabled when we cannot use the (right) things we need in order to work, eat, communicate or move around. Yet, in relation to assistive technologies, such as an arm prosthesis, a particular discourse comes about, constructing a sharp divide between the abled and the disabled.\n\nIn this study, we can see that in everyday practices this divide is not a sharp one and that it is renegotiated all the time, partly by the technology-users themselves. Also, we can see that the negotiating does not differ so much from other technology-users. At the same time, the specific dilemma's that are related to the use of an arm prosthesis, such as the shifting of social responsibilities, informs us on the lived and embodied sense of having this particular impairment, contributing to understanding both sameness and difference.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8554620742797852}
+{"content": "6 Characteristics to Look for When Choosing a Power of Attorney\n\nadult daughter comforting her father\n\nOne of the most important healthcare decisions you will make is choosing your power of attorney. Depending on where you live, a power of attorney also may be called a healthcare proxy, patient advocate or healthcare representative. Regardless of the name, a power of attorney is someone you choose to make health and medical decisions for you if you're unable to make them for yourself.\n\nFor most people, having this person in place to make medical decisions when they are no longer able to do so can bring a peace of mind. Some people choose to designate a power of attorney immediately after a diagnosis or before getting surgery. But really, you can designate your power of attorney anytime you want. You simply need to have an attorney draw up the paperwork. You also can specify when the duties of the power of attorney begin to take effect.\n\nWho Should You Pick as Your Power of Attorney?\n\nMost people select their spouse, a relative, or a close friend to be their power of attorney. But you can name anyone you want. The key is that you trust the person completely. You also should feel comfortable discussing your healthcare wishes with him or her.\n\nWhile your power of attorney may not agree with everything you want, they have to be willing to follow through even though they disagree. If you feel pressured to change your opinions, then that is a sign that this person would not make a good representative for you. You need to find someone who is willing to respect your wishes. If he or she cannot do that, you should find someone else, The last thing you need is to deal with family peer pressure or to worry that your wishes will not be carried out.\n\nWhat Characteristics Should You Look For in a Power of Attorney?\n\nBecause your power of attorney will be handling your medical affairs, you want to choose someone who either has some experience in that area or has the needed skills to handle those decisions. There also are certain characteristics you should look for when selecting a power of attorney. For instance, you should look for the following six characteristics before making your selection. Doing so will help ensure that you pick the best possible person for the job:\n\n  • Lives nearby: Consider where your potential power of attorney lives. How close is he or she to you or your preferred hospital or care center? Keep in mind that a healthcare power of attorney may need to get to the hospital or care center quickly in an emergency. Consequently, choosing someone who lives out of state may not be the best choice. You want to find someone who lives nearby.\n  • Is trustworthy: When choosing a power of attorney, it is important to consider the person's character and values. Ask yourself if this person can be trusted with such a big responsibility. Is he or she likely to follow through on the demands of being power of attorney? Will he or she follow your wishes? You’re trusting this person to speak on your behalf. As a result, you need to select someone whom you can count on and can be trusted. After all, he or she will be making decisions that will impact your life.\n  • Can be assertive: Being a power of attorney is not always an easy task especially when emotions are running high. Before selecting your power of attorney, think about his or her communication style. Is he or she assertive or passive? Is he or she able to stand up to other people and hold his or her ground when under pressure? You want to find someone who will not back down when it comes to supporting your wishes, no matter how much pressure they get from family members and friends. What's more, the person you select should be able to communicate clearly without wavering or second guessing what he or she is doing.\n  • Has some understanding of medical processes: Remember, your power of attorney is charged with making healthcare decisions on your behalf. As a result, you want to select someone who has some understanding of how medical processes work. This does not mean that you have to select a doctor or a nurse in the family. The point is that you need someone who knows how to ask the right questions, especially about medical tests. Ideally, the person you choose would be someone who isn't afraid to challenge suggestions or treatment options that go against your wishes. What's more, you want someone who is willing to research your condition and learn as much as they can about it. This type of person would make a good power of attorney.\n  • Is articulate: Think about how your prospective power of attorney communicates. Is this person naturally a calm person who is able to communicate clearly and effectively, even under pressure? Or does this person become easily flustered when things get heated or emotional? Would this person be able to communicate your wishes clearly and effectively, not only to your family members but to your medical team as well? You want to pick someone who has strong communication skills. This means you need to really think about the person's speech patterns. Does it take him or her awhile to get to the point? If this is the case, you may want to reconsider selecting him or her. In challenging medical situations, the person you choose needs to be a decisive and strong communicator.\n  • Has a willingness to serve: Remember that being a power of attorney can be a stressful and demanding responsibility, and not everyone is cut out to perform the tasks required. When choosing your power of attorney, talk to the person you are considering. Be sure that he or she feels that he or she could serve in this capacity. Encourage the person to be honest. The last thing you want is for someone to say yes to being your power of attorney, when in reality the role would end up being too overwhelming.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7700066566467285}
+{"content": "Saturday, May 14, 2011\n\nPAUL’S Exclusion Principle\n\nWolfgaug Pauli put forward the principle which restricts certain values of quantum numbers for an electron in an atom and hence the name exclusion principle. The principle states, “No two electrons in an atom can have the same set of four quantum numbers ( n, l, m, s ). For example, In ‘1s’ orbital (n = 1), according to Pauli’s Exclusion Principle there are only two possible arrangements of quantum numbers possible, i.e.\nn =1, l = 0, m = 0, s = +½ ( 1st electron )\nn =1, l = 0, m = 0, s = -½ ( 2nd electron )\nThis follows that a maximum of only two electrons can be accommodated in an orbital and they must possess opposite spins.\n\n1 comment:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9875983595848083}
+{"content": "Memories of Kalalau\n\nMemories of Kalalau\nof a starry sky\nturning through the night\nconstellations rising and falling\noverhead, above the steep cliffs\nof sleeping under the sky\nof being at peace\nof leaving the world behind.\n\nOn the longest day, almost\nthe longest night, almost\nNew Year's bonfire\nquenched by the rain\nthe heavens above\ntelling me\nto go to sleep.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9474022388458252}
+{"content": "engagementRemember kindergarten? The structure and rigid routine provided a well-defined framework for engagement that stimulated your curiosity and developed your competence. Now you’re old enough to design your own engagement plan tailored to your specific interests. The tools you need for this undertaking are simple: a calendar, a pencil, and an open mind.\n\nOpen your calendar and block off thirty minutes each day for the next thirty days to initiate your lifelong learning campaign. Ideally, reserve the same slot every day, but choose a time that fits into your schedule and lifestyle. What and how you want to learn something during those thirty minutes is up to you. You can take up knitting, start reading poetry, or seek out nonfiction books on topics that are fascinating but foreign to you. Spend money on a class or take a free crash course on the internet. The only constraints are thirty minutes of “homework” every day and subject matter that is brand new to you.\n\nNext, block off a two-hour slot each week during this same thirty-day period for acquiring meaningful experiences. Look for opportunities to be an active participant rather than a spectator. Do something like hike in nature or volunteer at a senior center, instead of having something done to or for you, like a pedicure. Perhaps your meaningful experiences will overlap with your lifelong learning campaign, or perhaps they will launch you into entirely different directions. Maybe the experiences will require a financial investment in athletic equipment or a new cake pan. The one requirement is that you make a conscious decision about what you want to do, and then do it.\n\nAt the end of the thirty days, assess your approach to engagement. What did and didn’t work? What came more easily to you: learning or experience? Where did you get the most value for the time and money you invested? What can you do better in the future? Like all mindfulness disciplines, lifelong learning and meaningful experiences will deepen and grow with regular practice and commitment — as will your happiness.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7417008280754089}
+{"content": "Consumer Engagement\n\n\nWinning new customers is always harder than retaining your existing ones. The Customer acquisition costs (CAC) are quite high in most consumer segments and very high in almost all B2B segments. Thus, it is imperative that you provide the right experience to retain your existing customers and also have them bring new customers from their network.\n\nCustomer Engagement Management (CEM) helps you optimize your customer interactions and deliver the best experience possible, to foster loyalty. With CEM, the goal is not just have satisfied customers, but to create loyal fans, passionate advocates and to have a positive effect on their behaviors. It goes beyond a traditional CRM (Customer Relations Management) that just tries to streamline the interactions.\n\nThere are 5 major components of the CEM model:\n\n1. Customer – Understanding the customer’s various needs is fundamental to CEM. It requires identifying different types of customers, their gender, demographic, cultural contexts etc. and then finding out the right way to impress each customer segment. Understanding cultural factors are very important. Your messaging, positioning and strategy must take care of the cultural sensitives and expectations.\n\no    You don’t need to play to everybody in the world. Just find your customer niche and look to wow them.\n\n\n2. Environment – This involves the channels through which the customer discovers your product/service, complementary products and the competitive landscape. Essentially, in this component we try to reduce the impediments in the environment involved in the sale by getting the brand discovered easily. Things to consider include, store location, distribution of sales team, choosing the right channels (web/mobile/physical store) etc. It could also involve bringing new sale platforms (mobile apps, facebook apps) to help the customer easily get into your offerings.\n\n\n3. Platform – This component is about focusing on the operations to help customers get the right experience. The platform includes your workforce, policies, pricing and technology. You have to answer questions, such as:\n\no    Are our frontline employees sufficiently trained to impress the customer by suitably answer their queries? \n\no    Are our policies and ToCs slowing down the adoption? \n\no    Are our technology platforms impeding some customers from effectively using our product? \n\n\n4. Brand  – This involves the visual identity and the various messages – slogans, tweets, facebook timeline covers, taglines – that identify the company. Brands have to reflect the customer’s needs and aspirations. Apple, for instance, makes its products predominantly in white/silver to indicate class, luxury and perfection.\n\n\n5. Interface – In this component, we will focus on how the customer interacts with your company. This would involve paying attention to the channel and making the sales pipeline easy for the customer to complete the sale. For products, it would involve focusing on the User Experience (UX) and usability. Google’s search homepage still has a simple search box and focuses on the delivering very fast page load times and query return times. That is an example of paying attention to the interface. If your website, for instance, has 10 steps to go through before a customer can signup, you are bound to fail. Also, if you have limited payment options that doesn’t satisfy majority of your customers, you need to add more. The CEM model helps you find such gaps and approach it in a methodical manner.\n\n\nA right approach to CEM, can help you significantly improve your customer experience and turn many satisfied customers into passionate fans.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9654643535614014}
+{"content": "Register +84-979-406-301\n\nAngkor National Museum\n\nangkor national museum, far east vacation\nAngkor National Museum\n\nAngkor National Museum - Visiting the Angkor National Museum was an eerie, surreal experience. For the first 45 minutes of our trip through the mammoth, 20,000-square-metre building, we didn’t spot another visitor. The museum opened in November 2007 and its freshly painted, shopping mall-like feel contrasts with the thousands-year-old artefacts contained within it. A visit is a comfortable, air-con alternative to visiting the temples themselves, and a nice educational supplement to the history of Angkor if you visit the park without a tour guide. It's composed of eight separate galleries, all connected by a vaulted corridor with a series of fountains and lined with what seems like all the Angkorian limestone lion and demon heads missing from statues at the temples. After an explanatory film screening called Story behind the legend, you’re pointed toward the galleries:\n\nGallery 1: 1,000 Buddha Images\n\nGallery 2: Pre-Angkor Period: Khmer Civilisation\nThis gallery and all the subsequent ones combine mural-size explanations and short films through maze-like rooms explaining Angkorian history. The styles of figurines precede the trademark Angkor style, and there's a large collection of lingas, lintels and colonnettes.\n\nGallery 3: Religion and Beliefs\n\nGallery 4: The Great Khmer Kings\nThe gallery focuses on King Jayavarman II, Yasovarman I, Soryavarman II and Jayavarman VII, those most responsible for Angkor's greatest constructions. Figures of the kings and relics from the temples they commissioned abound.\n\nGallery 5: Angkor Wat\n\nGallery 6: Angkor Thom\n\nGallery 7: Story From Stones\n\nGallery 8: Ancient Costume\nFrom Apsaras and kings to princesses and warriors, this room contains the busts and statues of distinct fashions and styles as they evolved throughout Angkor time. There's also a collection of ancient jewellery and headdresses. It is a clever segue to the final room – the gift shop where upscale imitations of these fashions abound.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6352381706237793}
+{"content": "[April 2018] Lead2pass Offers Free CS0-001 Dumps Files for Free Downloading By CS0-001 Exam Expert 85q\n\nLead2pass Offering Free CS0-001 Dumps Files For Free Downloading By CS0-001 Exam Candidates:\n\n\nReview the following results:\n\n\nWhich of the following has occurred?\n\nA.    This is normal network traffic.\nB. is infected with a Trojan.\nC. is infected with a worm.\nD. is infected with a Trojan.\n\nAnswer: A\n\n\nA.    Utilizing an operating system SCAP plugin\nB.    Utilizing an authorized credential scan\nC.    Utilizing a non-credential scan\nD.    Utilizing a known malware plugin\n\nAnswer: A\n\n\nA.    TCP\nB.    SMTP\nC.    ICMP\nD.    ARP\n\nAnswer: C\n\nWhich of the following should the analyst use?\n\nA.    Wireshark\nB.    Qualys\nC.    netstat\nD.    nmap\nE.    ping\n\nAnswer: C\n\nThe last completed scan of the network returned 5,682 possible vulnerabilities.\nWhich of the following is the BEST way to proceed?\n\n\nAnswer: D\n\n\nA.    Anti-malware application\nB.    Host-based IDS\nC.    TPM data sealing\nD.    File integrity monitoring\n\nAnswer: C\n\n\n\nA.    Disable anonymous SSH logins.\nB.    Disable password authentication for SSH.\nC.    Disable SSHv1.\nD.    Disable remote root SSH logins.\n\nAnswer: B\n\n\nA.    Continue monitoring critical systems.\nB.    Shut down all server interfaces.\nC.    Inform management of the incident.\nD.    Inform users regarding the affected systems.\n\nAnswer: C\n\n\n\nWhich of the following servers needs further investigation?\n\nA.    hr.dbprod.01\nB.    R&D.file.srvr.01\nC.    mrktg.file.srvr.02\nD.    web.srvr.03\n\nAnswer: B\n\n\n\nAnswer: B\n\n\n\n[March 2018] Lead2pass CompTIA New Exam CS0-001 VCE Files Free Instant Download 85q\n\nCS0-001 Latest Dumps Free Download From Lead2pass:\n\n\n\n\n[2017 New] Free Lead2pass CompTIA CS0-001 VCE And PDF Instant Download\n\n\n100% Free Download! 100% Pass Guaranteed!\n\n\nFollowing questions and answers are all new published by CompTIA Official Exam Center: http://www.lead2pass.com/cs0-001.html\n\nWhich of the following BEST describes the offensive participants in a tabletop exercise?\n\nA.    Red team\nB.    Blue team\nC.    System administrators\nD.    Security analysts\nE.    Operations team\n\nAnswer: A\n\nAfter analyzing and correlating activity from multiple sensors, the security analyst has determined a group from a high-risk country is responsible for a sophisticated breach of the company network and continuous administration of targeted attacks for the past three months. Until now, the attacks went unnoticed. This is an example of:\n\nA.    privilege escalation.\nB.    advanced persistent threat.\nC.    malicious insider threat.\nD.    spear phishing.\n\nAnswer: B\n\n\nA.    Succession planning\nB.    Separation of duties\nC.    Mandatory vacation\nD.    Personnel training\nE.    Job rotation\n\nAnswer: BD\n\nA security analyst received a compromised workstation. The workstation’s hard drive may contain evidence of criminal activities.\n\nA.    Make a copy of the hard drive.\nB.    Use write blockers.\nC.    Runrm -Rcommand to create a hash.\nD.    Install it on a different machine and explore the content.\n\nAnswer: B\n\nFile integrity monitoring states the following files have been changed without a written request or approved change.\nThe following change has been made:\n\nchmod 777 -Rv /usr\n\nWhich of the following may be occurring?\n\nA.    The ownership pf /usr has been changed to the current user.\nB.    Administrative functions have been locked from users.\nC.    Administrative commands have been made world readable/writable.\nD.    The ownership of/usr has been changed to the root user.\n\nAnswer: C\n\nA security analyst has created an image of a drive from an incident.\nWhich of the following describes what the analyst should do NEXT?\n\nA.    The analyst should create a backup of the drive and then hash the drive.\nB.    The analyst should begin analyzing the image and begin to report findings.\nC.    The analyst should create a hash of the image and compare it to the original drive’s hash.\nD.    The analyst should create a chain of custody document and notify stakeholders.\n\nAnswer: C\n\nAn organization is requesting the development of a disaster recovery plan.\nThe organization has grown and so has its infrastructure.\nDocumentation, policies, and procedures do not exist.\nWhich of the following steps should be taken to assist in the development of the disaster recovery plan?\n\nA.    Conduct a risk assessment.\nB.    Develop a data retention policy.\nC.    Execute vulnerability scanning.\nD.    Identify assets.\n\nAnswer: D\n\nA company wants to update its acceptable use policy (AUP) to ensure it relates to the newly implemented password standard, which requires sponsored authentication of guest wireless devices. Which of the following is MOST likely to be incorporated in the AUP?\n\nB.    The corporate network should have a wireless infrastructure that uses open authentication standards.\nC.    Guests using the wireless network should provide valid identification when registering their wireless devices.\n\nAnswer: C\n\n\nA.    3DES\nB.    AES\nC.    IDEA\nD.    PKCS\nE.    PGP\n\nAnswer: BDF\n\nAfter completing a vulnerability scan, the following output was noted:\n\n\nWhich of the following vulnerabilities has been identified?\n\nA.    PKI transfer vulnerability.\nB.    Active Directory encryption vulnerability.\nC.    Web application cryptography vulnerability.\nD.    VPN tunnel vulnerability.\n\nAnswer: A\n\nLead2pass offers the latest CompTIA CS0-001 dumps and a good range of CompTIA Certification CS0-001 answers. Most of our CompTIA CS0-001 exam dumps are exclusively prepared by the best brains and highly skilled professionals from the IT domain to ensure 100% pass in your CompTIA CS0-001 Exam.\n\nCS0-001 new questions on Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3Syig5i8gpDcHZDRDBubEExZjg\n\n2017 CompTIA CS0-001 exam dumps (All 85 Q&As) from Lead2pass:\n\nhttp://www.lead2pass.com/cs0-001.html [100% Exam Pass Guaranteed]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6429380774497986}
+{"content": "Roger Federer returns to Alexandr Dolgopolov during Tuesday&#8217;s match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.  AP PHOTOSentinel and Enterprise\nRoger Federer returns to Alexandr Dolgopolov during Tuesday's match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London. AP PHOTO\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\"I feel for the crowd.\n\n\n\n\n\nThe theory behind that setup: Players who are injured won't step on court simply to collect their prize money as an entrant, before calling it a day without finishing the match.\n\n\"Even if I had a torn muscle today, and the doctor says, 'You shouldn't go on court, you have serious damage to risk,' I could have faked it, stayed there for two less games, and still picked up the paycheck,\" said Tipsarevic, who stopped while trailing 5-0 after only 12 minutes against Jared Donaldson of the U.S.\n\nA first-round loser at Wimbledon earns 35,000 pounds (about $45,000).\n\n\"Unless you're (in the) top 10 ... it's significant money,\" said Dolgopolov, who is ranked 84th.\n\nTipsarevic, Dolgopolov, Djokovic and Federer all said they would like to see the majors follow the ATP's lead.\n\n\"A player should not go on court if he knows he (can) not finish. The question is: Did they truly believe they were going to finish? If they did, I think it's OK that they walk on court. Otherwise, I feel they should give up the spot,\" Federer said. \"The ATP has adjusted its rule, but maybe the Slams should ... look at what they could do for the players to make it just a little bit easier.\"\n\nAt Centre Court on Tuesday, Federer and Djokovic had an easy go of things. Kerber, last year's runner-up to Serena Williams at the All England Club, had more to do to get past Irina Falconi of the U.S. 6-4, 6-4, and Wozniacki, a two-time U.S. Open finalist, needed three full sets to edge Timea Babos 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.\n\nBut it was the short men's matches that had everyone talking.\n\n\"If it's just excruciating pain, OK, you can't play. If something is tweaked here or there and you feel like you can give it a decent go without hurting yourself, I think they should stay out there and I think you owe it to the fans,\" said 23rd-seeded John Isner, who beat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-3 in an all-American matchup on Court 14. \"I know the Wimbledon Centre Court didn't get their money's worth today, that's for sure.\"\n\nCollette Sherratt, 54, a spectator who traveled from Manchester, England, to attend the tournament for the first time, sure felt that way.\n\n\"I've been watching Wimbledon (on TV) for 42 years, and it's been on my bucket list to come here,\" Sherratt said. \"I was absolutely thrilled that (I) was going to be on Centre Court, and then for that to happen, it was like, 'I might never get to come here again.\"'", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7126030921936035}
+{"content": "CORIOLANUS. Gaius Marcius.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Coriolanus in Shakespeare’s tragedy\n\nCoriolanus is a political tragedy rather than a historical play, inspired by the noble lesson of Plutarch’s “Parallel lives”.\n\nAs a tragedy it wants to voice and to give substance to mad vanity and blinding pride that guide the brave leader Gaius Marcius Coriolanus to stir up the popular revolt, which was the cause of his downfall.\n\nBut passions also insinuate themselves in this framework of the plot. They are the drive of human behaviour and if they are not dominated by wise common sense, they drive to madness.  \n\nLove of native country, jealousy, perseverance and boldness are brought to face a feeling which is unknown to the general’s thick skin: the sensation of peace as an ecstasy both for human beings and things.\n\nShakespeare’s tragical greatness to show us Coriolanus’s inner conflict lies in avoiding any easy compromise.\n\nIn fact the conclusion of the drama shows us a defeated leader, deprived of boldness and any desire for revenge and blood.\n\nOnce deprived of this formidable mainspring, Coriolanus, surrounded by his mother’s supplications for peace, to whom he can’t resist, remains unable to take his place in another sphere of action, different from the horrifying warmachine.\n\n\n Coriolanus in Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s tragedy\n\nHeinrich Joseph von Collin, an Austrian poet and dramatist, reasonably famous and also appreciated by Goethe, is the author of a tragedy, “Coriolanus”, enriched by an ouverture composed by Beethoven.\n\nAlthough some people, Wagner included, asserted that Beethoven paid more attention to Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”, rather than to Collin’s, it was Beethoven himself who showed his appreciation for the Austrian dramatist publicly.\n\nHeinrich Joseph von Collin and Beethoven created a refined work of art together, that stages human values and crimes and that leads the audience into a rhythm alternating between drama and passion.\n\n\nCoriolanus in Beethoven’s ouverture\n\nCoriolanus’s ouverture was composed by Beethoven during the first months of 1807.\n\nIt was conceived as an interlude to Heinrich Joseph von Collin’s homonymous tragedy, but in fact it became a separate piece and not a composition that had to be sung at the beginning of the play.\n\nAt the beginning of the Nineteenth Century Beethoven started to voice all those feelings that, later, would be performend in all his works: grief, resignation, fight and rebellion against one’s fate, confidence about a faint difficult but wonderful triumph of good.\n\nThe uneasiness that permeates his works doesn’t prevent the audience’s admiration. \n\nIn 1807 he decided to accept the annual pension of 4000 fiorins offered to him by archduke Rudolph and princes Lobkowitz and Kinsky, thus rejecting the king of Westphalia’s invitation to his court as Musikdirektor.\n\nAnd it is in this context that, in march 1807, he performed “Coriolanus”’s ouverture for the first time, during a private concert at prince Lobkowitz’s residence.\n\nThe ouverture fully grasps the Roman leader Gaius Marcius Coriolanus’s mood and thoughts, before when he is at the head of the Roman troops against the Volsci, then when he is indicated as a traitor by his own people, because of his political opponents’ intervention.\n\nThat’s how Coriolanus allies with the Volsci against Rome.\n\nJust his boundless love and his deep respect towards his mother, in front of whom the great brave leader becomes completely docile, dissuade him from this enterprise.\n\nAmong the conflicting historical sources on the reality of the events, the Ouverture follows the one according to which the leader kills himself because he can’t come back to Rome owing to his exile.\n\nOnce again it’s love, this time towards his native country, to determine Gaius Marcius Coriolanus’s life.\n\nBeethoven accompanies the main theme with C minor stressing Coriolanus’s combative outburst, who is ready and determined to invade Rome; then the composer passes to a soft E flat to express his mother’s sweetness and pleas but also her authority.\n\nIt isn’t a very famous ouverture, but it is rich in pathos and able to accompany anyone who is listening to it to a journey into the brave leader’s and his stately but loving mother’s heart and, maybe, into Beethoven’s heart too.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9187383651733398}
+{"content": "Tuesday 17th of July 2018\n\nrome is on fire... bernardi plays the fiddle like nero... they laugh...\n\n\nNERO NEVER FIDDLED while Rome burned.\n\nIt is a popular myth, but it’s simply not true — there were no fiddles back in Roman times.\n\nNero is, however, reported to have sung a song about the sacking of Troy while watching as 70 per cent of Rome was swallowed by flames in a single blistering gulp.\n\nSome of our current crop of politicians have gone one better — they now laugh like small children whenever climate change is brought up.\n\nThis week, the conservative side of politics continued what seems to be the running gag of climate change for the during a motion by Senator Peter Whish-Wilson calling for recognition of Australia’s climate scientists.\n\nWhish-Wilson told the floor and later posted on social media, that it was “the angriest I have ever been in the Senate” as he watched members of the house openly mock climate scientists.\n\nLiberal Senator James McGrath stood to read what appeared to be his party’s talking points in a deadpan monotone stopping a number of times to smirk and chuckle.\n\nLeader of the Australian Conservatives Party, Cory Bernardi, rose to make a point of order, informing the house that it was, in fact, he who had been raucously laughing.\n\nPresumably, he was concerned the people who voted him in would be upset if he wasn’t earning his base pay of $199,040 a year by chuckling his way through Senate motions.\n\nread more:\n\n\n\nhis fiddle is on fire...\n\nBernardi's fiddle is on fire\n\nBut alas he does not feel the pain\n\nBecause the stupid arse is all vain\n\nHis brain long destroyed by the pyre\n\n\nGlobal warming is real says the song\n\n\"Me be laughing\" says the ningnong...\n\n\nNote: the violingolo being played by Bernardi is a super nukular double-headed instrument especially designed for ignoramuses who have no idea about proper fingering nor scientific rigour.\n\n\nthe reverse side of history...\n\nPerhaps it was because Nero played the fiddle, they burned Rome.\n\nOliver Herford (1863-1935)\n\n\nIt was a lyre, played with a large plectrum dragged across the strings...\n\n\nHere The Great Fire of Earth was a planetary fire in the year AD 2064. It caused widespread devastation, before being brought under control after six millenniums. Differing accounts either blame Emperor Turnbullius with his mates Bernardius and Abbottus for initiating the fire back then at the beginning of the 21st century. Bernardius and Abbottus wanted to circumvented the Senate by burning coal and more coal. Turnbullius was more devious and tried to salvage cheap electricity prices by prolonging the life of a clapped out coal-burning bonfire... Gus Leoniscus, drunk on the grapevine, describes the Great Fire as Arson, though Bernardius blamed the Globalwarmistus for nothing.\n\nbeyond warming...\n\n\nA recent study estimate there's only a five per cent chance the planet will only warm by two degrees, reports Scott Colvin for Truth Out.\n\nIN A December 2011 article, Noam Chomsky noted that in addition to those preaching skepticism of climate change, there exists another group of climate commentators whose input is ignored by the mainstream media: those who insist that the dangers of climate change go far beyond what we are told is the scientific consensus.\n\nThis latter group has grown increasingly vocal, especially outside the U.S., but it is still not being paid enough heed.\n\nIn a recent Vice articleNafeez Ahmed broke the story of Schroders, a British investment firm with US$542 billion under management, privately advising its clients that global temperatures could reach 7.8 degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century. Of course, as is well known, the safe limit for warming is generally considered to be 2 degrees celsius.\n\nAs Ahmed puts it, a temperature increase of 7.8 degrees\n\nRead more:\n\n\n\nThis possibility is not new. As pointed by Gus in the early days of this website, his own calculations showed that global warming could go between 6 and 9 degrees Celsius with 400 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere. The tipping point was 1996 when humanity should have stopped pumping any more CO2 and sequester most of the EXTRA added CO2 to arrest the temperature gradient at 2 degrees Celsius by 2100. In subsequent calculations, Gus has presented a more \"restrained\" estimate in What is global warming? \n\nThis morning at 5 o'clock in Sydney's inner west, the temperature was 29.6 degrees Celsius. This was most unusual. Then the temperature dropped and hovered around 28 to 29.8 for the rest of the day.\n\nScientists are officially using very conservative models in order to manage the political situation. In private scientists working on this issue are more than worried. They are shit-scared. Global warming is bypassing their conservative expectations by a big margin. The number of hurricanes in the mid Atlantic this year has baffled \"meteorologists\". Mind you, the sea temperatures being \"higher than normal\" are likely to bring more \"energetic\" disturbances and more moisture up in the warming atmosphere, leading to more storms. \n\nWe need to stop using fossil fuels. Point blank. All our energy needs and transport needs have to be based on renewables. LEAVE THE COAL IN THE GROUND.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5207072496414185}
+{"content": "Auth0 Home Blog Docs\n\nDo I need to store IDP access_token + refresh_token on my own, or I can use Auth0?\n\n\n\nAfter I successfully authenticate on an external IDP, I can use the Management API to retrieve the IDP access_token and refresh_token.\nUsing the IDP access_token I’ll be able to call the services provided by the IDP.\nAnd using the IDP /refresh endpoint I’ll be able to obtain a new access_token + new refresh_token.\nBut, at this point, I’ll be forced to store the new tokens on my own database?\nOr is there a way to update the old tokens values contained in Auth0 identities[0] with the new values I got from the IDP?\n\n\nTo my knowledge, those properties are only settable at authentication time when the authentication flow is processed through Auth0 so if the underlying identity provider issues a new refresh token you should store it in your own data store.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9850412607192993}
+{"content": "During the retrograde of personnel and equipment from numerous forward operating bases throughout Afghanistan, the footprint of regularly manned forward arming and refueling points (FARPs) in the area of operations decreased. This created the need for an expeditionary refueling and rearming capability to support coalition force operations across Regional Command South. To address this need, Soldiers of the fuel and water platoon of the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, Task Force Guardian, prepared for jump forward arming and refueling point (JFARP) operations.\n\n\nWhen the fuel and water platoon began its deployment at Kandahar Airfield (KAF), it manned a hard standing FARP to refuel the brigade task force's UH-60 Black Hawk, OH-58 Kiowa Warrior, AH-64 Apache, and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.\n\nBecause of force manning reductions, many of the battalion's Soldiers redeployed to Fort Riley, Kansas. The fuel and water platoon remained to provide a JFARP capability. To free the platoon for this mission, the FARP was turned over to contractors. During the transition, the fuel and water platoon trained more than 20 contractors to assume FARP operations at KAF.\n\n\nAfter handing over the FARP, the platoon turned its focus to JFARP operations. While the platoon was hard at work preparing equipment and personnel to deploy a JFARP team, parallel planning was taking place at the battalion, brigade, and combined joint staff levels to ensure all operations and courses of action were properly analyzed, compared, and understood.\n\nA JFARP can be conducted in numerous ways, all of which are mission dependent. There are three primary methods:\n\n• Sling load 500-gallon fuel blivets from a Chinook, fly to the proposed JFARP location, and establish a FARP using the Advanced Aviation Forward Area Refueling System (AAFARS).\n• Ground convoy to the JFARP location in M978 heavy expanded-\nmobility tactical trucks (HEMTTs) with 2,500-gallon tankers and set up the HEMTT Tanker Aviation Refueling System (HTARS).\n• Employ a \"fat cow,\" which is a Chinook outfitted with 800-gallon\nextended-range fuel system tanks and hoses.\n\nDuring its JFARP training, the fuel and water platoon conducted all three types of operations and validated the associated refuel systems.\n\n\nEach type of JFARP operation and equipment has its pros and cons to consider during planning.\n\nAAFARS. Using the AAFARS system provides suitable aviation refuel capability for 24 to 72 hours. It rapidly employs all necessary personnel and equipment using Chinooks. It also gives units more options for site selection.\n\nOne con to the AAFARS is that it is primarily deployed using Chinooks, which have weight limitations when flying in the mountains of Afghanistan. Multiple trips may be necessary to get all equipment and personnel to the location. Another con is that, depending on the mission and aircraft to be refueled, multiple 500-gallon blivets may be required. Resupply factors must be considered when determining CH-47 requirements and mission synchronization.\n\nWhen planning a JFARP using the AAFARS, sling-load operations are integral to the process since they are the primary means of deploying the blivets and sometimes the container used to store the AAFARS.\n\nHTARS. Conducting a ground convoy using HEMTT tankers provides high fuel capacity, which can be increased easily depending on the mission and number of HEMTTs available. The high capacity reduces the number of resupplies required on site after the JFARP is in place and operational.\n\nGround convoy operations come with added risks, including increased security implications and enemy threat potential before and after refueling operations. Performing preventive maintenance checks and services on HEMTTs and including a security escort are paramount to a successful JFARP when employing HTARS.\n\nFAT COW. Like the AAFARS, a fat cow JFARP provides rapid employment and more site choices while operating under minimal enemy threat potential to and from the site. Since this system requires the use of aircraft, it comes with weight limitations. This primarily affects how much fuel or how many 800-gallon extended-range fuel system tanks can be safely transported.\n\nThe fat cow can be used to either refuel aircraft for a short time or resupply another JFARP by refueling blivets that are already in place, for example. Effective synchronization between the flight unit providing the Chinook and the fuel unit providing the personnel to conduct refueling operations is important.\n\n\nWhile training and preparing to employ a JFARP, the fuel and water platoon experimented with different ways to execute operations, such as using a fat cow to resupply an AAFARS FARP, which is not normally done.\n\nThe platoon also experimented with ways to package systems for employment. Using the basic issue item box, the platoon fit a whole HTARS inside the cab of a HEMTT, reducing the need for additional cargo transport vehicles for convoy operations.\n\nAlthough a tricon container is part of the AAFARS component item list, the platoon packed all necessary pieces of the system on an Air Force 463L pallet. This allowed the platoon to load the AAFARS into a CH-47, which decreased the need for additional sling loads.\n\nEven though each system is designed to be employed a certain way, it is invaluable to have Soldiers who are capable of referencing doctrine, such as Field Manual 10-67-1, Concepts and Equipment of Petroleum Operations, and leaders who can innovate and execute missions tailored to certain situations in a combat environment.\n\n\nThe fuel and water platoon trained with the 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and learned its tactics, techniques, and procedures for convoy operations. The platoon also trained with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Support Squadron (RSS/2CR) to learn convoy and site security integration. This training proved valuable to the platoon and prepared it well to execute a validation exercise.\n\nThe validation exercise consisted of a ground convoy with two HEMTTs escorted by RSS/2CR Strykers to a location outside KAF. At the chosen JFARP site, RSS/2CR emplaced security at the landing zone and the platoon setup a two-point FARP using the HTARS and refueled one CH-47.\n\nAfter completing the HTARS validation, the CH-47 flew back to KAF, where the platoon's sling-load team hooked up two blivets. The CH-47 returned to the JFARP site with the blivets and the internally loaded AAFARS. After cutting sling on the blivets and downloading the AAFARS, another FARP was setup. Once the AAFARS was setup and validated, the JFARP team convoyed back to KAF, reset personnel and equipment, and conducted an after-action review.\n\nThe platoon trained for fat cow operations with the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, at KAF, which familiarized the unit with the Chinook, extended-range fuel system tanks, and associated hoses and connections necessary to employ the system.\n\nAfter conducting numerous dry runs, the platoon was able to roll out the system and emplace all safety equipment, such as grounding rods, drip pans, and fire extinguishers, in less than five minutes.\n\nA similar joint training plan to certify all three systems for use is highly encouraged for units that will be responsible for comparable refuel operations. Certain personnel within the platoon should be designated to be responsible for different aspects of the mission, such as landing zone control or air-ground integration.\n\nIn garrison, it is easy to become complacent while operating a permanently established, hardstand FARP. It is important that a unit providing refuel operations for aircraft remain trained and prepared to execute a JFARP anywhere and at any time.\n\nFuel resupply catered to the needs of rotary wing aviation assets is ultimately the lifeblood of the aviation unit's operational capability. The clearly detailed and coordinated training plan that the Soldiers from the fuel and water platoon executed prepared them to support the combat aviation brigade in combat and provided best practices for future JFARP training for other units in the Army.\n\n1st Lt. Daniel Bolon is the fuel and water platoon leader for the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Riley, Kansas. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Wright State University and is a graduate of the Army Ordnance Officer Basic Course.\nThis article was published in the September-October 2014 issue of Army Sustainment magazine.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7007664442062378}
+{"content": "26th - 28th JULY 2019, BRUTON, SOMERSET, UK\n\n\nHip-hop broke into Parisian maestro Guts’ life sometime in the 1980’s and he’s devoted all his time and energy to it since. In search of the perfect beat and melody he looked to the sounds emanating from the Bronx, New York as his main source of influence. But over the years his sound, while still rooted in hip hop, continued to shift and expand with fields of influence including the riches offered in soul, jazz, funk and disco, as well as experimentations of live instrumentation blended with programmed grooves. This constant venturing, passion and devotion, and of course the smooth feel-good vibes he dishes up, have helped make him the distinct treasure he is today.\nWe’re delighted to welcome Guts to the farm for a rare and what should be sweet-as UK DJ set.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9982379674911499}
+{"content": "Posted May 8, 2013 by rhita in Article\n\nHow you can enhance confidence level at workplace?\n\nconfident businessman\nconfident businessman\n\nIn modern workplaces, having great academic track record does not cut much ice because a lot depends on how well you perform. It has often been seen qualified candidates from both genders faring poorly after entering professional life owing to their nervousness or lack of confidence. If you are not confident about your skills and abilities, it will reflect in the way you interact at office or conduct yourself generally. This may also lead to mistakes at work, inferiority complex and overall performance deterioration.\n\nWhen you understand that lack of confidence is affecting your professional life and taking a toll on work, you can try to improve the situation. It involves two steps. First of all, you have to analyze why you feel lack of confidence and then you have to think of methods or strategies to overcome those factors.\n\nA number of people suffer from lack of confidence because of factors deep rooted in their childhood memories. Those who face comparison with siblings or cousins by parents fare worse in this aspect. Hammering of continued comparison with academically better peers and friends make them feel inferior in adulthood. This works at the back of their mind and they feel inadequate and incompetent. If this is the case with you, you may seek professional help to cope with this issue.\n\nNext, you need to accept the fact that you have certain limitations. However, the truth is no human being is perfect and everyone is endowed with certain characteristics that can be dubbed as his or her drawback or deficit. Even the most successful people around you possibly have met with failure at some point of their life.\n\nOnce you understand what your limitations are, it is important that you do the needful to confront and overcome them. A lot of people suffer from communication deficits and this affects their professional life. You can improve your written and spoken skills with proper training at many ages. Attaining fluency takes time but is never too late to try. Think of the fact that a lot of people learn computers at old age and they perform at par with today’s youngsters with sheer dedication and practice.\n\nYou can also resort to reading motivational articles and books for inspiration. In such books you can find numerous accounts of how people who were endowed with several imitations faced their adversities with iron determination and emerged winner at the end of struggle. When you read such books your confidence gets a boost and you feel the desire to overcome the odds.\n\nIf you feel confused about how to get a work done or feel unsure about accomplishing a task given to you a work, feel free to ask. Unless you get it clarified from your senior or co workers, you will never be able to complete it. Unless you ask, you will never learn new things. Employers appreciate workers who have curiosity and eagerness to learn while working.\n\nDo not be afraid of receiving feedback from the management or seniors at work. While you may receive negative feedback at work sometimes, tat will also help you learn something and rectify the mistakes. It is not practical to feel afraid about feedback from the management. You have to understand and remember the fact that they have nothing personal against you. Their inputs can help you understand ways to avoid errors in future and reforms better.\n\nIn any office, you can find employees who are supportive and do not mind sharing their ideas with newcomers. If you can find such an ally at work, you may get useful insights about work. This will help you rise above your doubts and lack of conviction. These helpful colleagues can also help you understand about pitfalls at work and avoid them. You can also ask them for tips to deal with stress and anxiety at work.\n\nThere may be times when you actually feel nervous or less confident inside but let not get that reflected in your body language and interaction. If you can keep calm amidst phases of stress at work, that will be appreciated by all. In such times, act calm and positively and be careful about your gestures and eye contact. This will help you combat the feeling of apprehension inside to an extent.\n\nYou can also treat yourself on small achievements to beat the feeling of depression and anxiety. It may be a dinner at the restaurant you like at weekend. These will help you stay positive and combat lack of confidence better.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6628262996673584}
+{"content": "Why Choose Singapore ?\n\n\nHere are few reasons to choose to study in Singapore, especially for International students from Asia :\n\n1). Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world.\nSafety is also including the freedom from a drug-influenced environment.\nDrug laws are very strict here. Directly or indirectly, your child is protected by the Singapore government laws.\nThe strict laws and low crime rates mean that streets and public transportation are secure.\n\n2). Singapore is nearby to their home country / Parents are nearer with their children.\nSingapore’s proximity to Asian Countries makes it a much preferred choice among the Asian students and their parents (from China, India, Indonesian, Malaysian, Vietnam, etc).\nParents of undergraduate students generally prefer Singapore over other study destinations as its only a few hours flight from their home country (unlike the US and the UK) and it is nearer with their children.\n\n3). Familiar Language and Culture.\nEnglish is the medium of education and business – it is the first language taught in school and the main language used in the workplace. The predominant usage of English means expatriates and foreigners living in Singapore find it is one of the most easily adaptable countries in Asia.\n\nMost Singaporeans are bilingual in English and a second language, commonly Mandarin, Malay or Tamil. According to Singapore’s Department of Statistics, the ethnic mix of Singapore citizen population (Data as of June 2015) : Chinese 76.2%, Malay 15.0%, Indian 7.4%, other ethnicities 1.4%.\n\nAs Singapore has Asian culture, International students from Asian countries would be more easy to adapt in Singapore than in other non-Asian countries (USA, UK, Australia, etc).\n\n4). Singapore is one of the financial hubs in the world; Opportunities to work in Multi National Companies (MNC).\nSingapore is host to MNCs from wide-ranging industries and geographies, and students have bright chances of finding employment. In case they find employment, most employers are willing to sponsor these students if they are ready to take on the job on graduation.\n\nNote :\n44 percent of MNC have substantial APAC (Asia Pacific) headquarters located in Singapore. Emerging Asian MNCs that are starting to make their mark globally are also using Singapore as a springboard for growth.\n\n5). Opportunities to have an international exposure and meet students from all over the world.\nSingapore is the meeting point of the world and a unique blend of east and west. Ideally placed to foster cultural, economic and academic exchanges. Singapore is the gateway between Asia and the rest of the world.\n\nUnlike anywhere else in the world, studying in Singapore puts you right at the heart of a unique learning experience where there is a blend of social, cultural and educational mix. It offers you the sophistication of modern living as well as the richness of an Asian Heritage.\n\n6). Quality of schooling.\nAs a nation whose only resource is its people, education in Singapore is taken very seriously by the Singapore government.\nThe quality of schooling in Singapore is among the best in the world, the Singapore educational system and textbooks have been adopted from and adapted by other countries.\n\n7). Better life.\nPeople who live here enjoy access to clean environment and convenient amenities, from efficient services to cheap public transportation, that just make life better.\n\n\nThe Map of Singapore Education Journey\n\nSingapore Education Journey W1920 H1152", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9894148111343384}
+{"content": "Meaning name Libby\n\n\n\nMeaning name Libby\nPet form of English Elizabeth, meaning \"God is my oath.\"\nLibe -   Hebrew name derived from the word lev, meaning \"heart.\"\nLiberty - English name derived from the vocabulary word, from Latin libertas, meaning \"freedom.\"\nLibitina - Roman myth name of a goddess of corpses, funerals, and the dead. Her name was synonymous with the word \"death.\" \nLiboria - Feminine form of Roman Latin Liberius, meaning \"free.\"\nLibuŠe - Pet form of Czech Libena, meaning \"love.\"\nLiber -   Roman name meaning \"to be free or liberal.\" In mythology, this is the name of a god of revelry and the intoxicating effect of wine. His Greek name is Dionysos.\nLiberius - Ancient Roman name derived from the Latin word liber, meaning \"free.\"", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9157053828239441}
+{"content": "Use Cayenne at a one second pace\n\n\nI would like to use Cayenne as a dashboard for sound pressure measurements.\nEach point comes at a 1 second pace.\nI have built up my data source based on the Cayenne ESP32 example.\n\nI am processing Cayenne.loop(); every second, but only get an update every 30Sec.\n\nCan someone advise?\nAny help is highly appreciated.\n\n\nhi sir, sending data to cayenne at rapid rate (1 second) is not advisable as it can cause the device to disconnect or blocked. the inbuilt CAYENNE_OUT_DEFAULT() sends data at every 15 seconds interval. if you want you can millis() to send data at even faster rate but just keep in mind not to hit the rate limit of 60 messages each minute.\nto know more have a look at this topic Sending MQTT messages within rate limits", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5168057680130005}
+{"content": "Challenges Facing Financial Institutions\n\n\"Consumers now interact with banks 15-20 times per month, up 3-4 times in the pre-digital era.\" - NETFINANCE\n\nFinancial institutions need to start rethinking how they interact with their consumers. Today's Financial Institutions face a breadth of consumer demands, competitive threats and security and fraud risks. While it's easy for financial institutions to overlook consumers' user experiences in favor of security, the fact is that consumers are seeking richer, more gratifying digital banking experiences, and they will go to the competitor that offers both simplicity and security.\n\n\"An average company hears from less than 5% of its unhappy customers.\" - RUBY NEWELL-LEGNERT\n\nAcquiring and retaining consumers in a fiercely competitive marketplace flooded with waves of non-traditional players - requires a consumer-centric digital strategy. The key enabler for an effective digital strategy is trusted identity. With a single trusted identity, consumers can move freely between banking channels and access online services, mobile apps and bring efficiency to ATM, self-service, and in-branch experiences.\n\nDigital banking is nothing new - online banking has been around since\nthe late 1980s, and even mobile banking is more than 15 years old. The real\nfrontier is interconnecting these digital channels with the modern branch\nlocation to create a seamless omni-channel consumer experience - empowering both retail and commercial banking customers with the choice of transacting whenever and wherever they find it most convenient.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5508567094802856}
+{"content": "Total Pageviews\n\nTuesday, 10 July 2018\n\nParadigm shift in the belief system Politics (2)\n\nYesterday's blog was about paradigm shifts in the 7 Belief systems. One of these shifts relates to Politics, a belief system in its Power domain. I expect that Politics - and in particular liberal democracy - is on its way out. Politics based on identity (ie, Nationalism) and/or a strongman (ie, Imperialism) is already on the winning hand.\n\nA combination of Politics based on a strongman and free trade may well provide the next SuperPower. To some extent, the EU operates the same way as China: appointments rather than elections. Bypassing (Chinese and/or European) voters seems to work well.\n\nThe red arrows in my diagram show that liberal democracy is losing ground since the 21st century.\n\nThe UK has moved to a potentially unsuccessful corner. It either needs to join USA or the EU.\n\nThe USA has moved to a corner that shows several powerful countries. Remarkably, these 3 countries continue moving closer to each other.\n\nChina has a unique combination of a strongman advocating free trade while minimising civil rights (eg, Social Credit System), and suppressing ethnic nationalism.\n\nMy (above) diagram shows the current situation. The future situation will make Politics (eg, liberal democracy) less and less relevant. The future Power domain of the 7 Belief systems will consist of Data/Info, Money and Technology. The billionaires in these segments will become the new aristocrats (and strongmen) of our societies.\n\nHuman mass migration following continued climate change and shift, will make country borders irrelevant. Instead of countries, we will see fortified super mega cities of some 100 million people. This will finally make Politics redundant. City administrators will take over, governed by billionaire aristocrats. For an example, please see the 2018 Netflix series Altered Carbon.\n\n\"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it whether it exists or not, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.” A quote by British political publicist Ernest Benn, which is often misattributed to American comedian Groucho Marx.\n\nIn the City (1979) by Joe Walsh - OST The Warriors (1979)\n\nIt's survival in the city\nWhen you live from day to day\nCity streets don't have much pity\nWhen you're down, that's where you'll stay\n\nNote LO: all markings (bolditalicunderling) by LO unless stated otherwise", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5620836019515991}
+{"content": "The hard lessons of a more realistic RTS Wargame.\n\nWargame: AirLand Battle\n\nOffensive going well until tanks stall, run out of fuel and ammo for the main gun. Several get smoked, one panics and then back to the FOB they go to refuel and repair. Relaunch offensive this time using Forward Observers and scouting the road. Slowly smoke T-72's and win just the \"tutorial\"\n\n#Wargame   #PCGaming   +Don Anderson \n10 Photos - View album\nShared publiclyView activity", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6048058271408081}
+{"content": "Here comes everybody: Reframing the stakeholder concept when just about everyone can become your stakeholder\n\n\nAdvances in Project Management\n\nBy Prof Darren Dalcher\n\nDirector, National Centre for Project Management\nUniversity of Hertfordshire\n\nUnited Kingdom\n\nOne of the major transformations in the 5th edition of the PMI Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge published in 2013, was the addition of a tenth knowledge area dedicated to Project Stakeholders Management. Stakeholder management is not a new area for project managers, but the decision to elevate it to a fully-fledged knowledge area, sitting alongside the well-acknowledged fundamental areas required to achieve effective project management, such as time, scope, risk, quality, communications and integration management, represents a sort of coming of age. For indeed, stakeholder engagement or consideration is increasingly recognised as critical to the successful delivery of projects, and to the long term embedding of change.\n\nThe label ‘stakeholders’ applies to the individuals, groups, or even organisations, with an interest in a business, a project undertaking, an initiative, an intervention or a change effort. The interest typically relates to direct or indirect involvement in the work, in the decisions regarding the intervention or to being impacted by the outputs and outcomes of change initiatives and projects.\n\nProjects and programmes will typically have a variety of stakeholders with different, and often conflicting, priorities, interests and values. Engaging with, and involving, the diverse groups of stakeholders is considered essential to the acceptance of the resulting artefacts and to the enduring success of any project or change initiative. The key lies in being able to identify the potential influences, positive and negative, that each stakeholder or stakeholder group wields and to endeavour to harness them to the good of the project.\n\nThe PMI Guide to the Body of Knowledge acknowledges that stakeholder management includes the processes required to identify the people, groups or organisations that could impact or be impacted by the project, to analyse stakeholder expectations and their impact on the project and to develop appropriate management strategies for effectively engaging stakeholders in project decisions and execution. Moreover, it asserts that “the ability of the project manager to correctly identify and manage these stakeholders in an appropriate manner can mean the difference between success and failure.”\n\nThe management of the different stakeholder groups draws on the ability of the manager to develop communication strategy that caters to the needs, expectations and potential influence of each of the groups in a way that engages, informs, neutralises concerns and encourages support. Above all, it requires timely communication about the potential impact of change and a commitment to both involve and support stakeholders.\n\n\nTo read entire article (click here)\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Author\n\n\npmwj35-Jun2015-Dalcher-PHOTODarren Dalcher, PhD\n\nSeries Editor\n\nDirector, National Centre for Project Management\nUniversity of Hertfordshire, UK\n\nUK - small flag\n\n\n\n\n\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5429461598396301}
+{"content": "Your search returned over 400 essays for \"Hernando Cortez\"\n1  2  3  4  5    Next >>\n\nHernando Cortez\n\n- Hernando Cortez was one of the bravest military leaders of all time. Born in Medellin, Spain, he was a Spanish Conquistador who conquered most of Central America. He explored to find riches and conquered by being observant of the natives. As a result, with a small army, he conquered the Aztec Empire. In 1519, Cortez explored the Yucatan coastline. Landing in Tabasco, Cortez captured the natives. These natives wore bright colored clothing. Although, Tabasco people possessed little of value, they told Cortez of the great treasures of the Aztec Empire....   [tags: Biography]\n\nBetter Essays\n673 words | (1.9 pages) | Preview\n\nHernando Cortez\n\n- Hernando Cortez was one of the bravest military leaders of all time. Born in Medellin, Spain, he was a Spanish Conquistador who conquered most of Central America. He also gave Spain three-hundred years of control over Mexico. Cortez started exploring in the early 1500’s. He explored to find riches and conquered by being observant of the natives. With a small army, he conquered the Aztec Empire. Cortez went to the university in Salamanca, Spain. He attended the university to study Latin and Law....   [tags: Biography ]\n\nStrong Essays\n1136 words | (3.2 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Exploration of Hernando de Soto\n\n- The Exploration of Hernando de Soto In 1539 Hernando de Soto and five hundred adventurers began on a journey of exploration that would take 4 years and would travel through 10 states in the southeast United States. His goal was to discover a source of wealth, preferably gold, and around his mines establish a settlement. During his travels through La Florida he encountered numerous groups of native peoples, making friends of some and enemies of others. His expedition was not the first in La Florida; however, it was the most extensive....   [tags: American America History]\n\nPowerful Essays\n2944 words | (8.4 pages) | Preview\n\nHernando Cortes Conquered Mexico\n\n- Hernando Cortes was one of the bravest military leaders of all time. Born in Medellin, Spain, he was a Spanish Conquistador who conquered most of Central America. He also gave Spain three-hundred years of control over Mexico. Cortes started exploring in the early 1500’s. He explored to find riches and conquered by being observant of the natives. With a small army, he conquered the Aztec Empire. Cortes went to the university in Salamanca, Spain. He attended the university to study Latin and Law. Unfortunately, Cortes completed only two years of school....   [tags: Hernando Cortes, Mexico,]\n\nBetter Essays\n849 words | (2.4 pages) | Preview\n\nAre Bernal Diaz’s Accounts of Cortez's Mission Accurate\n\n- ... Diaz’s account is more believable because the objective tone of his account compared to the others. That was noticeable when he describes the events with many details without his emotions. Even, it is difficult to recognize his opinion about the event. For example, when he said “he placed it round the neck of the Great Montezuma and when he had so placed it he was going to embrace him, and those great Princes who accompanied Montezuma held back Cortés by the arm so that he should not embrace him, for they considered it an indignity” (Diaz, P....   [tags: aztecs, letter, indians]\n\nBetter Essays\n652 words | (1.9 pages) | Preview\n\nHernando De Soto and the Mississippian Culture\n\n- The Mississippian culture was a mound building culture that flourished between 800 CE and 1500 CE. They were present in a territory that extended from the Appalachian Mountains, to the Mississippi River. The Mississippian culture first began to develop in the Mississippi River Valley. Many cultural traits are recognized as being a characteristic of the Mississippian culture. Although not every tribe practiced every trait considered to be Mississippian, they were discrete from their ancestors with the taking on of some, or all of these traits....   [tags: History, Native Culture]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1563 words | (4.5 pages) | Preview\n\nCartas de Batalla de Hernando Valencia Villa\n\n\nStrong Essays\n1062 words | (3 pages) | Preview\n\n\n\nGood Essays\n592 words | (1.7 pages) | Preview\n\n\n\nBetter Essays\n957 words | (2.7 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes and the Governorship of Mexico\n\n- Hernan Cortes was born at Medellin in Spain in the year 1485 and eventually became one of the great Governors of Mexico City. It all started in 1518 when the Governor of Cuba (Diego Velazquez) placed him in charge of an expedition to explore Mexico for colonization. In February, 1519, Cortes was about to set sail when Velazquez changed his mind at tried to replace him; however Cortes in an act of mutiny pushed forward anyway. In March of 1519, Cortes claimed the land for the Spanish Crown (Charles V)....   [tags: Hernan Cortes, Government, Mexico, ]\n\nBetter Essays\n857 words | (2.4 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Black Legend and White Legend: Relationship Between the Spanish and Indians in the New World\n\n- The Black Legend and White Legend: Relationship Between the Spanish and Indians in the New World The Spanish-Indian relationship can be defined in many ways. One definition used is through the Black Legend and the White Legend. The interpretation of the Black Legend can depend on whom you are talking to. The Black Legend speaks of the Spaniards abusing the Indians and being guilty of much more misconduct than history has ever recorded. The White Legend speaks of how the Spaniards benefitted the Indian society by building communities, hospitals and spreading the Word of God....   [tags: American America History]\n\nPowerful Essays\n2576 words | (7.4 pages) | Preview\n\nThe New World and Spanish Conquistadors\n\n- In the 1500s Spanish Conquistadors traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World and conquered its native people. Though these early exploration Spain was able to acquire vast territory and wealth.There were many conquistadors in this time period, one of the more well known conquistadors was Francisco Pizarro. Francisco Pizarro helped spread the Spanish language and culture to Peru and many other countries. The Age of Exploration is a time period between the 15th century and the 17th century....   [tags: exploration, territory, diseases]\n\nBetter Essays\n697 words | (2 pages) | Preview\n\nDivinely Chosen To Rule Everything\n\n- When observing the backside of a dollar bill, one cannot help but to notice the classic statement of, “In God We Trust”; this statement embodies the core of American beliefs for all the wrong reasons. This statement was not a proclamation of faith in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, instead it was a statement utilized to plague on the emotions of man by subjugating them under a false ideology of superior and inferior races that were ordained by God himself. It was a slogan used to back their own selfish desires, greed, and hatred towards their neighbors and their neighbor’s belongings....   [tags: American History, White Supremacy]\n\nPowerful Essays\n2000 words | (5.7 pages) | Preview\n\nSmallpox: Still Highly Dangerous\n\n- Among biological weapons, smallpox is by far the bad boy of them all. “When the Hernando Cortez arrived in America infecting the Aztec Indian communities in 1520 AD, 35 million Aztecs died during the following two year. In the United States in 1763, Colonel Henry Bouchet gave smallpox-infected blankets to the Native Americans during Pontiac’s Rebellion, killing thousands; Sir Jeffrey Amherst, Commander of the British forces in North America, used the same technique in New England with the same results,” [Bromley, Sutton 4, (p....   [tags: Diseases/Disorders]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1532 words | (4.4 pages) | Preview\n\nSandra Cisneros's “Never Marry a Mexican”\n\n- Sandra Cisneros’s short story “Never Marry a Mexican” deals heavily with the concept of myth in literature, more specifically the myth La Malinche, which focuses on women, and how their lives are spun in the shadows on men (Fitts). Myths help power some of the beliefs of entire cultures or civilizations. She gives the reader the mind of a Mexican-American woman who seems traitorous to her friends, family and people she is close to. This causes destruction in her path in the form of love, power, heartbreak, hatred, and an intent to do harm to another, which are themes of myth in literature....   [tags: Mexicans, Cisneros, myths]\n\nBetter Essays\n969 words | (2.8 pages) | Preview\n\nHealth Aspects Of Cocoa\n\n- Thesis: The development and distribution of cocoa has had a positive effect on today's society because of it's active role in daily health.I. History of CocoaA. Kakahutal Mayan and Aztec CultureB. Introduction to EuropeC. Cocoa PressII. Mental and Physical HealthA. MigrainesB. Cholesterol1. Stearic Acid2. Oleic Acid3. FlavonoidsC. Premenstrual SyndromeD. Kidney StonesE. Chemical Craving Theories1. Theobromine2. Phenylithylamine3. EndorphinsChocolate, one America's top industry's. We produce more chocolate and chocolate products than any other country, over 2.9 billion pounds a year....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nStrong Essays\n1438 words | (4.1 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Impact of Expectations Upon Marco Polo and Hernan Cortes\n\n\nPowerful Essays\n2074 words | (5.9 pages) | Preview\n\nHow Mercantilism Helped to Shape the American Nation\n\n- How Mercantilism Helped to Shape the American Nation In the Middle Ages, the definition of wealth was based on the amount of productive land. According to this definition, France was the wealthiest and therefore the most powerful of the European nations. During the sixteenth century the definition of wealth began to change. As the ability to conduct profitable foreign trade increased, so did the amount of cash. Thus, the new definition of wealth came to mean the gain of cash or specie. Specie included gold, silver, or bullion....   [tags: American America History]\n\nFree Essays\n2203 words | (6.3 pages) | Preview\n\nThe American Dream in Three Historical Films\n\n- In a small, flat world, society exists only within itself. The people preoccupied in their own universe simply cannot fathom a world outside their own. Some historians cite the first gleam of a true \"American Dream\" didn't surface until the first colonization. However, in three historical films, recreations of very early distinctions in the very first American dreams are exposed for their accuracies and their faults. The spirits that voyaged onward, heading for a land of riches and freedom, had many characteristics in common....   [tags: Essay on the American Dream]\n\nFree Essays\n1591 words | (4.5 pages) | Preview\n\nEuropeans vs. Native Americans\n\n- One huge shift in history happened around the late 1400’s when a slightly well known man by the name of Christopher Columbus came across what is now known as North America. Columbus actually thought he had found a new and shorter route to the West Indies. When this was announced, the news spread like wildfire and it was not soon after that, other countries began to send their own explorers. It was a bright and positive time when leaders wanted to claim new land for their country. But, what of the people that were already settled in America where Columbus had been so quick to claim for Spain....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nBetter Essays\n923 words | (2.6 pages) | Preview\n\nFrancisco Pizarro\n\n- Francisco Pizarro was a conquistador born in Trujillo, Spain in about 1471. His father, Gonzalo Pizarro, was an infantry captain and he taught Francisco how to fight at an early age. Francisco Pizarro never learned to read and write but he was full of adventure. Pizarro sailed to the new world on November 10, 1509. He was part of many expeditions in the new world including one with Balboa. Pizarro fought against many hostile tribes in Panama and when news of Hernando Cortez’ success in Mexico reached Pizarro, he set off to South America in hope of gold....   [tags: Conquistador from Spain]\n\nGood Essays\n556 words | (1.6 pages) | Preview\n\nFlorida Conquistadors\n\n- The New World A land where people could prosper. A land with plenty of opportunity for quick advancement in the Spanish military and diplomatic careers. Coming to the end of the fifteenth century; there were thousands of daring men and women who would be crossing the ocean to conquer just within a few centuries what had taken the Indians thousands to years to inhabit. The discovery of Gold in Mexico and Peru caused many Spanish men to join the army; Leading a successful colonial mission could get them the funds to build a castle instead of the younger sons of the nobility inheriting a small part of the family estate....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n969 words | (2.8 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Prefrontal Cortex and Decision-Making\n\n- According to Price, Rosenbloom, & Schmahmann (2012) “The importance of this cognitive process is evidenced by the fact that approximately 40% of deaths results from decision-making deficits at the most basic level of self-regulation” (p. 266). Through my chosen articles I found that the Prefrontal Cortex is the major portion of the brain that is responsible for decision-making. To understand the decision-making process better the prefrontal Cortex can be divided into three regions: the Orbitofrontal Cortex, the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, and the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex....   [tags: cognitive process, brain functioning]\n\nStrong Essays\n1356 words | (3.9 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Temporal Cortex\n\n- The Temporal Cortex The temporal cortex, also known as the temporal lobes, is the part of the verbal cortex in the left and right hemispheres of the brain lying inside the temples. In general the temporal lobes handle a wide variety of task that are essential to every day functioning. Patient him/herself The temporal lobes are readily recognizable brain structures with a thumb like appearance when viewed from the side. Their name reflects their location beneath the temporal bone on the side of the head....   [tags: Brain Neurology Essays]\n\nFree Essays\n1786 words | (5.1 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes Advertsing\n\n- This project is about a historical spokesperson advertising a product from today. There are drawbacks if there’s a pitch person from today that advertises. One drawback is that if the pitch person does something bad, less people will buy the product. An example of this drawback, is when it was rumored that Lance Armstrong was using drugs like steroids so Nike didn't want him to advertise for them anymore. The drawbacks about it is that both, the company and Lance Armstrong lost money. Benefits of having a historical pitch person as an advertiser is that they won't ruin their reputation since they aren't alive anymore....   [tags: historical spokesperson advertising modern product]\n\nFree Essays\n585 words | (1.7 pages) | Preview\n\nLesions of the Prefrontal Cortex\n\n- Lesions of the Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex is involved in a wide variety of functions. It is known as the area of the brain which has “executive control”, taking input from other areas of the brain and combining and applying those functions (Kalat 2004). Lesions to the prefrontal area can greatly impair overt behavior of an inflicted individual. These deficits are dependent upon the severity of the lesion and the specific region of the prefrontal cortex in which the lesion resides (ventrolateral, dorsolateral, orbitofrontal, and anterior prefrontal)(Eslinger 2003)....   [tags: Neurology Health Medical Essays]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1521 words | (4.3 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Mexica Empire against Hernan Cortes\n\n- ... Also, Cortes made sure his army fought in regiments with back up units. This set up would be a stark contrast to the individual fighting style the natives would stick to and with no sense of control or cohesiveness the conquistadors were able to run them down like it was nothing. Armor was another huge advantage the Aztecs had to try to counter. Their projectiles would fail against the steel and obsidian was considerably weaker than steel. Another major advantage that the Spanish had over the Aztecs was that they had armor....   [tags: the conquest of America]\n\nTerm Papers\n1585 words | (4.5 pages) | Preview\n\nPrefrontal Cortex\n\n- Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex is the most anterior portion of the frontal lobe. It responds mostly to stimuli signaling the need for movement, however it is also responsible for many other specialized functions. It receives information from all sensory systems and can integrate a large amount of information (Kalat 2004). Studies have shown that the prefrontal cortex is responsible for working memory. Working memory is defined as \"the information that is currently available in memory for working on a problem\" (Anderson 2005)....   [tags: Neurology Brain Medical Essays]\n\nFree Essays\n1160 words | (3.3 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes - Reasons for Success\n\n- Hernan Cortes - Reasons for Success Why was Cortes with 508 soldiers able to conquer the Aztec Empire with millions of people. Cortes was able to conquer the Aztecs for several very different reasons. In combination these reasons allowed him to have the upper hand in the conquest of Mexico. Arguably these reasons can be sorted into six different categories. The various causes for Cortes' success will be assessed in a climax pattern. To begin with the Aztecs had a harsh tribute system that was not popular among the people of Mexico....   [tags: American America History]\n\nFree Essays\n1842 words | (5.3 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes: A Man On A Mission\n\n- Hernan Cortes First to start out, we should get some facts straight. A conquistador is basically a Spanish conqueror. Their main goals were to search for gold and other riches from the Caribbean and draw them back to the mainland. The absolute most important conquistador in all of history is Hernan Cortes. From the foothills of Barcelona in Spain, a man came to be. Full of strength, honor, wisdom, and courage, this man was named Hernan Cortes. He, as the Spaniards would say, was a god among men....   [tags: Biography]\n\nFree Essays\n942 words | (2.7 pages) | Preview\n\nCortes : The Two Face\n\n- Cortes: The Two Face Don Fernando Cortes was either a misguided religious extremist on a quest to serve his earthly king and immortal god or simply an entrepreneur who wished to achieve great status, power and wealth. Cortes is in love with the idea of conquering new worlds in the name of God to convert their heathen inhabitants into righteous followers of Jesus. The problem is that Cortes is also in love with himself and the future power that he might one day hold. Cortes is largely a hypocrite and shows that very much through his actions....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n825 words | (2.4 pages) | Preview\n\n\n- Hernan Cortes was born in Medellin, Extre Madura in 1485. Hernan was only a petite 5&#8217; 4'; but he made up for his height disadvantage with courage and determination. Cortes studied law in Spain but then he decided to come over to the Americas. Upon his arrival he joined force with velazquez to conquer Cuba. They did and in 1511 he became the mayor of Cuba. Cortes in 1519 persuaded Velaquez (governor) to allow an expedition to Mexico. Velazquez was skeptical but approved the trip anyway....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n449 words | (1.3 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes\n\n- Hernan Cortes was born in 1485 in a town called Medellin in Extremadura. It talks about little of his child hood and little about his young life except that he studied law at the University of Salamanca. His law school years were cut short in 1501 when he decided to try his luck in the New World. He sailed from Santo Domingo in the Spring of 1504. After he had got there in 1511 he joined he Spanish Soldier and Administrator Diego Velasquez in the conquest of Cuba, and there he became alcalde or mayor of Santiago de Cuba....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n1098 words | (3.1 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes\n\n- Hernan Cortes Myths are \"hangups from way back\":[1] false or highly inaccurate beliefs that are taken at face value. One collection of myths which has exercised a powerful grip on the minds of many, and contributed to feelings of inferiority on the part of large numbers of \"pure\" or \"mixed\" descendants of Native Americans in the region of northern Mesoamerica,2 has to do with the conquest of the \"Aztec Empire\" by HernanCortes and his followers in the early sixteenth century. This paper attempts to shatter one of these myths; namely, that Cortes was an extraordinarily brave and intelligent individual who accomplished an almost miraculous feat....   [tags: Spain Aztec Papers]\n\nPowerful Essays\n4231 words | (12.1 pages) | Preview\n\nMontezuma and The Tragic Night\n\n- Montezuma, the famed Aztec emperor, inherited the Aztec kingdom from his father, Axayacatl, in 1502 A.D. No one knew it then, but Montezuma, also known as Moctezuma and “huey tlatoani” meaning “he who speaks for the people” or “Great Speaker,” (Benson, Sonia G. Montezuma II) would lead them through a golden age for the 17 years that preceded the end of the empire. One of the first things Montezuma did as emperor was start a bureaucracy. He created provinces, which are territories similar to states, that paid the capital city, which was at that time Tenochtitlan....   [tags: hernan cortes, hispaniola, death]\n\nBetter Essays\n871 words | (2.5 pages) | Preview\n\nPrefrontal Cortex Lesions from Neurosurgeon and Patient Perspective\n\n- Prefrontal Cortex Lesions from Neurosurgeon and Patient Perspective In this paper, I will discuss lesions of the prefrontal cortex from the perspective of the practice of neurosurgery (in particular, the sub-field of psychosurgery) and then I will consider some studies that look at the implications of lesions to the prefrontal cortex to the brain and behavior, from the perspective of the patient with the lesion. Initially, I will start with the history and explanation of psychosurgery....   [tags: Surgery Surgical Health Essays]\n\nFree Essays\n2784 words | (8 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Controller of Humans: The Brain\n\n- ... The cortex responsible for coordination of planning, control, and executing voluntary movements is the motor cortex. Motor areas are located in both hemispheres meaning it is located in between. The motor cortex of the left hemisphere control right side of the body. The motor cortexes of the right hemisphere control the left side of the body. Three parts make up the motor cortex. Which are the primary motor cortex, the premotor cortex, and the supplementary motor area (The Motor Cortex. (n.d.))....   [tags: lobes, sections, cortex, areas]\n\nStrong Essays\n753 words | (2.2 pages) | Preview\n\nMusic Triggers Parts of the Brain\n\n- Music triggers various parts of the brain, making it an excellent therapeutic or mood-altering tool. Music’s pitch, rhythm, meter and timbre are processed in many different parts of the brain, from the prefrontal cortex to the hippocampus to the parietal lobe. Rhythm and pitch are mainly left brain hemisphere functions, while timbre and melody are usually processed in the right hemisphere. However, meter is processed in both hemispheres. Spatial-temporal tasks (2-D and 3-D manipulation of physical objects and spatial reasoning needed for building structures, etc.) are also located in the same areas of the brain that are triggered by music....   [tags: Cortex, Neural, Activity]\n\nStrong Essays\n1168 words | (3.3 pages) | Preview\n\nBrain and Mind Behavior, An Outline\n\n- Brain and Mind Behavior 1. i. Types of Receptors Functions Receptive Fields Response Merkel’s Discs Touch, pressure and texture Fingertips, tongue, lips, located in dermis Responds to change in stimuli Meissner’s Corpuscle Touch sensitivity Located in the dermis Responds to change in stimuli Pacinian Corpuscle Vibration and pressure Located in the hypodermis Responds to change in stimuli Ruffini’s endings Stretching Located in the hypodermis Responds to change in stimuli ii. Primary somatosensory cortex- • Located in parietal lobe of brain • Nerve signals of the sense of touch are received • The more sensitive the region, the more it takes up in the somatosensory Secondary somatosenso...   [tags: somatosensory cortex, pain receptors]\n\nFree Essays\n576 words | (1.6 pages) | Preview\n\nReading: Entertainment and Brain Exercise\n\n- ... The left temporal cortex is the part of your brain that is responsible for comprehending language. In the same study mentioned above, results also showed that the connectivity in the left temporal cortex increases during and after reading. “The results showed heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex - an area of the brain which is associated with receptivity for language…” (www.dailymail.co.uk). Since the connectivity has a longer lasting impact it helps with sentence processing....   [tags: left temporal cortex, brain connectivity]\n\nBetter Essays\n621 words | (1.8 pages) | Preview\n\nNeurological Underpinnings of Psychopathy\n\n- Prefrontal Cortex Another highly implicated area in psychopathy is the prefrontal cortex which helps monitor ongoing behavior, tie emotional learning to decision making, and making conjectures about consequences to actions (Anderson & Kiehl, 2012). Damage here can lead to impulsive behavior combined with poor judgment. Anderson & Kiehl (2012) also found not only through functioning imaging but in a prisoner’s dilemma task involving complicated decisions about working together socially that individuals with psychopathy showed lower Orbitofrontal cortex activity when deciding whether to obey and lower dorsolateral prefrontal activity when deciding to engage in anti-social behavior than normal...   [tags: agression reaction, psychopaths, prefrontal cortex]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1773 words | (5.1 pages) | Preview\n\nBiography of Hernan Cortes\n\n- Hernán Cortés was born in the city of Medellí, Spain in 1485. Medellí is in the Badajoz province of Spain. The Badajoz province is known for being the largest province in size in Spain and has 134 municipalities. Cortés was born to Martín Cortés de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano. His parents were not of a high class, so he had to go to school to get an education to bring home money. At the age of sixteen, Hernán was tired of going to school and came back, which upsetted his parents greatly....   [tags: hispaniola, spain, natives]\n\nGood Essays\n572 words | (1.6 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Suprarenal Gland\n\n- The suprarenal gland (adrenal gland) is located at the top of each kidney; therefore each person has two adrenal glands. Adrenal glands appear to look like triangular shaped objects on top of the kidneys. The adrenal glands are dire in creating different hormones that are necessary for a fully functional body. With each adrenal gland, they are both made up of two different sections. The first section being the adrenal cortex, and that is located on the outer region of the adrenal gland; the second section called the adrenal medulla, and that is located in the inner region of the adrenal gland....   [tags: adrenal cortex, adrenal gland, cortisol]\n\nStrong Essays\n1000 words | (2.9 pages) | Preview\n\nHernan Cortes\n\n- Conqueror of Mexico, b. at Medellin in Spain c. 1485; d. at Castilleja de la Cuesta near Seville, 2 December, 1547. He was married first to Catalina Xuares, from which marriage there was no issue, and, after her death, to Doña Juana de Zuñiga, niece of the Duke of Bejar. From this union there sprang four children, one son (Martín) and three daughters. His parents were Martín Cortés de Monroy and Catalina Pizarro Altamirano, both of honourable extraction, belonging to the middle class of nobility, but not wealthy....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nPowerful Essays\n3066 words | (8.8 pages) | Preview\n\nHow Francisco Pizarro and Hernán Cortes Have Impacted the World\n\n\nBetter Essays\n696 words | (2 pages) | Preview\n\nFree College Essays - Characters of The Parable\n\n- Characters of The Parable In The Parable several characters are presented to the reader.  Each one has their own  behavioral characteristics which one may or my not approve of.  The two characters whose behaviors I most approve of are Lee Pai and Hernando.  The characters whose behaviors I do not approve of are Sven and John.  There are several reasons why I approve of the behaviors of Lee Pai and Hernando and do not approve of  the behaviors of Sven and John.  All of  these reasons I have based on my interpretation of the story, The Parable.              The Parable is a story about Rosemary, a young woman  who is betrothed to a man named Hernando.  Rosemary is supposed to meet Hern...   [tags: Parable Essays]\n\nFree Essays\n706 words | (2 pages) | Preview\n\nFarming the Home Place, by Valerie J. Matsumoto\n\n- Farming the Home Place: A Japanese American community in California 1919-1982 by Valerie J. Matsumoto presents a close and in-depth study of social and culture history of Cortez, a small agricultural settlement located in San Joaquin valley in California. Divided into six chapter, the book is based primarily on the oral interviews responses from eighty three members of Issei, Nisei, and Sansei generations. However, many information are also obtained from the local newspapers, community records, and World War II concentration camp publications....   [tags: Book Analysis, Culture, Generations]\n\nBetter Essays\n859 words | (2.5 pages) | Preview\n\nEmpires in the New World: Aztec and Inca\n\n- 1) Explain and compare the conquest of the Inca and the Aztec empires. The Aztec were the most powerful political force in Mesoamerica . The Aztec were forceful, strategic and powerful. They had many Native Americans that made up the Aztecs. The main two groups of people that comprised the Aztecs were the Mexica and the Nahuatl-speakers. Politically, socially and economically, the Aztecs were strong and prominent. This is what helped them stay in power for so long, but also eventually led to their ultimate demise....   [tags: Native Americans, Empires, History]\n\nTerm Papers\n1867 words | (5.3 pages) | Preview\n\nInternational Trade in the New World\n\n\nBetter Essays\n863 words | (2.5 pages) | Preview\n\nChristopher Columbus: Villain or Hero?\n\n- In 1492, Christopher Columbus unintentionally discovered America, when he landed in the Caribbean Islands, while looking for a direct sea route to Asia. Despite the fact that Columbus believed he had found a direct sea route to India, he has been called the discoverer of America and hailed as a hero. More recently, however, he has been called a villain, with accusations saying that not only did he not discover America, but also that he was the cause of slavery and oppression in the Americas. These allegations are absurd and lack logical evidence....   [tags: Christopher Columbus Essays]\n\nGood Essays\n460 words | (1.3 pages) | Preview\n\nConquest of South America\n\n- The conquest of Mexico began when Hernando Cortes first arrived in South America. When he started his first movement of the conquest, some people looked at him as a great leader or a God and others saw him as a simple man. His conquest brought the Spaniards and Indians happiness and sorrow at the same time. The differences between the Spaniards and the Indian accounts were vast and varied from writer to writer, for a man's deeds could be bad and good. The differences that the reader encounters within a Spanish point of view are between Diaz's and Tapia's descriptions of Cortes' leadership and personality....   [tags: American History]\n\nBetter Essays\n773 words | (2.2 pages) | Preview\n\nHistory and Geography of Mexico\n\n- The official name of Mexico is Estates Undoes Mexicans (United Mexican States). Culture can be identified in various forms. In any cases, one of many explanations of culture refers to the shared of knowledge, experience, and beliefs, values acquired by a group of individuals throughout generations. Culture is also the history and events that make up the community itself. It is the way of life for a particular group of people. The most visual characteristics of culture are that it’s vibrant, people continues to adapt and overcome changes that continues to evolve to shape our society over time....   [tags: culture, government]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1784 words | (5.1 pages) | Preview\n\nMexico's Literary History\n\n- When most people think of Mexican culture, they think of good food, music, and clothing. Although these are major aspects, the culture has also been affected by literature. The history of Mexican literature can be broken down into distinct periods and areas: pre-colonial, colonial, satirical writings, independence, modern, and present day. Each of these areas resulted in famous authors, works, and awards. To begin with, Mexican literature dates back to pre-colonial times. The earliest works by Indians include the Popol Vuh, sacred books written in the Quiche language by the Maya of Guatemala....   [tags: Literature ]\n\nStrong Essays\n1058 words | (3 pages) | Preview\n\nHistory of the Aztec Empire\n\n\nFree Essays\n1263 words | (3.6 pages) | Preview\n\nVictors and Vanquished\n\n- Victors and Vanquished      The history of the Western hemisphere is full of war and conquest. One of the most significant and defining of those conquests is the downfall of the Mexica/Aztec Empire. While there are many other events to choose from, this one stands out since it was one over one of the largest empires in Central America. It is also important to look at because of the immense cultural impact it had. The story of this takeover reads like a movie script, a small band of Spaniards single handedly takes down the most powerful empire in Central America....   [tags: Americas Aztecs]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1399 words | (4 pages) | Preview\n\nDiversity and the American National Identity\n\n- Diversity and the American National Identity Greed is good, get get get, I want what you have, don't touch mine.\" This is what a friend of mine said when I asked for his conception of the American national identity is.1 Although this statement seems informal and absurd, it accurately reflects the dog-eat-dog world many people believe to be the American capitalist culture.2 Whether my friend said this with the intent of comic relief is inconsequential. Whether he knew it, the informant reflects his cultural identity....   [tags: Exploratory Essays Research Papers]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1641 words | (4.7 pages) | Preview\n\nThe English Renaissance\n\n- The English Renaissance The term renaissance is a French word meaning “ rebirth” The English renaissance marked changes in people’s values, beliefs, and behavior. The English Renaissance changed the way people think about life and culture. There were five reasons why it changed the way people think is “humanism, trade and exploration, scientific developments, the printing press, and the Reformation. I’ll briefly go over one by one how these five reasons changed and created a rebirth of culture and learning in England....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n591 words | (1.7 pages) | Preview\n\nInfluence of Religion on Society during the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries\n\n- Influence of Religion on Society during the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Centuries The undeniable power, force, and influence of religion stand out throughout history. However, according to J. Michael Allen and James B. Allen in World History from 1500, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, religion was exceptionally important, because it had a great influence on everything from government to social order and family relationships (16). Hundreds of years may separate these two time periods and the modern world, but the same positive effects of religion such as unity, security, and a social order are still basic ideals in today’s world....   [tags: Exploratory Essays Research Papers]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1479 words | (4.2 pages) | Preview\n\nAnalysis of The Age of Exploration\n\n- The Age of Exploration was one of the most important time periods to have ever impacted the world. The Age of Exploration started in the late 1400’s until the 17th Century. During this time major events take place, such as trading between nations, new sailing routes, and the establishment of the New World. During the Eastern trade at the start of The Age of Exploration, the Italians were making a monopoly by silk, spices, and gold. This began to strike the attention of other European nations and influenced their decision to seek out new routes to the Indies....   [tags: new world, christopher columbus, aztecs]\n\nBetter Essays\n644 words | (1.8 pages) | Preview\n\nCUBA: The Great Journey in Economic Development on the United State’s Doorstep\n\n- CUBA: The Great Journey in Economic Development on the United State’s Doorstep Introduction A discussion of Cuba and the occurrences within the country over the last century is often surrounded by probing analysis as to the extent to which the Revolution of 1959 actually served as a change from past regimes. It is ignorant to evaluate the revolution in a vacuum, because past events that created the climate where such a change could take place. Yet it is also immature to state that 1959 was purely a product of history and previous revolutions....   [tags: Essays Papers]\n\nPowerful Essays\n5533 words | (15.8 pages) | Preview\n\nMalinche vs. Pocahontas\n\n- Indian women had played roles in the beginning of American history. The two famous women were La Malinche and Pocahontas. Both of them were not educated, that’s why their stories were written by others. Bernal Diaz, Spanish conquistador and Cortez’s companion, wrote about Malinche. Whereas, John Smith, English soldier wrote about Pocahontas. Malinche played the role of translator, advisor and lover of Cortez, while, Pocahontas played the role of peacemaker. There are also some contradictions in Smith writings about Pocahontas saving his life....   [tags: indian women, american history]\n\nStrong Essays\n1258 words | (3.6 pages) | Preview\n\nFounding Fathers Of The Usa\n\n- There are many people who can be considered the indirect founding fathers of The United States. Such people are The Christian Crusaders, Marco Polo, Cortez, Pizarro, and Martin Luther. The Crusades were a series of holy wars fought to win the holy land of Christianity from those who follow Mohammed. Even though these wars failed in the respect of winning the land back, they did triumph in another aspect. The crusaders introduced a lifestyle to the Europeans in the Holy Land that was more appealing than they knew before....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n524 words | (1.5 pages) | Preview\n\nAfricans in Colonial Mexico\n\n- Africans in Colonial Mexico The history of Africans in Mexico is an oft-neglected facet of the cultural complexities of that country. In 1519, Hernando Cortes brought 6 African slaves with him to Mexico; these individuals served the conquest as personal servants, carriers, and laborers.[1] In the years to come, slavery would become a critical component of the colonial economy with approximately 2,000 slaves arriving each year 1580-1650; it is estimated that a total of 200,000 Africans were brought to Mexico during the colonial period.[2] Given this large number of slaves, the lengthy period of their importation, and the inevitable mixing of races, which took place throughout the colony,...   [tags: Research Papers Anthropology]\n\nPowerful Essays\n5453 words | (15.6 pages) | Preview\n\nHistory At Its Best\n\n- The modern era stands out as a time of great change. Throughout history, it is undoubtedly the period of time in which the most advancement has occurred in society, in the shortest amount of time. The three books, \"The Interesting Narrative,\" by Olaudah Equiano, \"Victors and Vanquished,\" by Stuart B. Schwartz, and \"A Social Contract,\" by Jean-Jeacques Rousseau, each provide a view of the modern era in their own individual ways. Olaudah Equiano's account of his life as a slave is directed at the problem of slavery....   [tags: World History]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1611 words | (4.6 pages) | Preview\n\nimperialism in Ecuador\n\n- ECUADOR Before becoming Ecuador in 1830 it was known as the Vice royalty of Granada. Western imperialism and exploration led Spain to inhabit this Gold mine. Thesis: Slide 1 The year 1492 brought about many changes in the Old World that forever altered the way we understand and perceive the New World. Imperialism and Colonialism soared to new heights and brought two completely different worlds into a crash course forever entwining cultures, laws, religion, and customs in North and South America....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nFree Essays\n1058 words | (3 pages) | Preview\n\nAztec Civilization\n\n- The Aztec Indians created a great civilization in Central Mexico, reaching its peak in the 1500&#8217;s. Being late arrivals to the area, and because of their strong neighboring nations, they were forced to live in the swampy western areas of the Lake Texcoco. Because of the swampy surroundings, the Aztecs used mud to create miniature islands in the swamps. These islands are called chinampas, or &#8220;floating gardens,'; and were used as farming lands. On these fertile islands they grew corn, squash, vegetables, and flowers....   [tags: essays research papers]\n\nGood Essays\n679 words | (1.9 pages) | Preview\n\nAll You Want to Know about Chocoate\n\n- ... Finding this evidence suggests that the Mayans were drinking chocolate around 400 A.D. Documents that have been found written in Maya hieroglyphs appear to express that chocolate was used not only for ceremonial purposes but also for everyday life. It seems that the Mayans grew cacao trees in their backyards, and used the seeds of the tree to make frothy chocolate drinks. During the l 5th century the Aztecs gained control of a large part of Mesoamerica and they too adopted cacao into their culture....   [tags: cocoa butter and liquor]\n\nTerm Papers\n1524 words | (4.4 pages) | Preview\n\nHoward Zinn on Colonization\n\n- Though a vast majority of students learn about Columbus’ great conquests and celebrate him as a hero, very few know of the horrible atrocities he caused when he first landed in America. While considered a hero by most in the United States, Zinn argues that people should think twice about Columbus’ actions, and question whether his behavior to the Indians was necessary. In quotes one and five, Zinn clearly depicts his thoughts on the atrocities done by Columbus and other colonists to the natives living in America....   [tags: Analytical Commentary, Columbus]\n\nBetter Essays\n876 words | (2.5 pages) | Preview\n\nChapman's Version of The Odyssey and the Iliad\n\n- Chapman's Version of The Odyssey and the Iliad This poem is an expression of how the poet John Keats felt after rediscovering Homer's \"The Odyssey and the Iliad\" when he read Chapman's English translation of this Greek classic. To express this he uses the form of a sonnet, with fourteen lines, every set of two lines rhyming. The first four lines are one long sentence consisting mainly as metaphors to summarize his full meaning in whole. \"Much have I travell'd in the realms of gold, and many goodly states and kingdoms seen\"....   [tags: John Keats Epics Literature Essays]\n\nGood Essays\n638 words | (1.8 pages) | Preview\n\nJohn Keats techniques to evoke the readers senses\n\n- John Keats techniques to evoke the readers senses Question: Examine various techniques a poet can use to evoke reader response to a subject in reference to two or more poems Answer: John Keats uses various techniques in his compositions to evoke a reader’s response to his theme. In Keats’s poem, “On first looking into Chapman’s Homer” depicts Keats’s emotions and feelings after being read Chapman’s Elizabethan translation of the Odyssey. To show the magnitude of his delight, Keats compares his feelings to those of many explorers, who discover the wonders of the world and universe....   [tags: essays papers]\n\nGood Essays\n647 words | (1.8 pages) | Preview\n\n\n\nPowerful Essays\n2329 words | (6.7 pages) | Preview\n\nDe Soto's 2003 'Listening to Barking Dogs'\n\n- \"Listening to barking dogs: property law against poverty in the non-West\" by Hernando De Soto, a development economist, is an article outlining the various problems that \"plague the poor\" of former communist and developing countries (De Soto,2003,p179). De Soto (2003) believes that the main solution to elevate the poor out of poverty is providing these populations with formal and legalised property rights. Enabling their dead capital hidden in un-formalised and illegal property or other small businesses and enterprises to be transformed into live capital, allowing these assets to be used as security as well as collateral to aid further loans and generate additional surplus of their existing...   [tags: Literary Review, Summary, Evaluation, Arguments]\n\nStrong Essays\n1065 words | (3 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Life of Saint Ignatius\n\n- Saint Ignatius’s life was from 1491-1556. He was born to Beltran de Onaz Loyola and Dona Marina Sanchez de Licona they were married in 1467. Ingnatuis father died when he was sixteen years of age, and there was no record of his mother’s birth or death. It is not known if Saint Ignatius ever saw or knew his mother. The reason for that belief was because he was nursed by a common woman who lived in one of the villages and her name was Maria Garin. His grandfather, Don Juan Perez de Onaz, was married to Dona Sancha and they had to three children from that union, one of which was Saint Ignatius’s father Beltran, and two daughters....   [tags: Literature Review]\n\nTerm Papers\n1812 words | (5.2 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Life of Atahualpa\n\n- It is believed that Atahualpa was born for the year 1500, in Cajamarca, now knows as Peru. His parents were Huayna Capac and Tocto Coca. Atahualpa was a respectful person, because to his very early age, he showed the people to be a very intelligent and bravely person. His father and Willac Umu who was the great priest of the Sol died around the year 1525, Atahualpa´s dad delivered the red mascaypacha to Huáscar, who got Cuzco's kingdom and to Atahualpa the kingdom of Quito. Initially there was peace between both kings, but in the king of Huascar there were people that didn´t want him and Atahualpa expanded his kingdom, making big battles and a big loosing of life between those kingdoms....   [tags: kingdom, battles, inca]\n\nBetter Essays\n978 words | (2.8 pages) | Preview\n\nIndigenous People and Their Contact With Imperialists or Explorers\n\n- The Tutsi The Tutsi people of East Africa had cultural contact with their sister tribe, the Hutu, this occurred during the 14th century when the Tutsi migrated to Rwanda. During about the 1880 (19th Century) Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in the region, wanting to convert the Tutsi to Catholic, however this desire was not intensified until World War 1. The Tutsi people were rich in traditions and customs before the imperialism and colonialism of East Africa, they had ceremonies regarding the naming of children and what to do after the death of a family member....   [tags: Westernization, Expansion]\n\nPowerful Essays\n2506 words | (7.2 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Many Dimensions of the Mexica Indian Empire\n\n- The Mexica Empire was a grand civilization with many accomplishments and merits. Even Bernal Díaz would later lament the destruction of the capital of Tenochtitlan (Townsend 126). Conversely, the society was not entirely destroyed by the Spanish, as the preservation of native stories, traditions, and languages shows. The indigenous people were not only victims, but agents, in the Empire’s transition through the conquest. On one hand the Mexica Indians were victims of unequal weaponry at the hands of lustful, greedy, and cruel invaders....   [tags: world history]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1765 words | (5 pages) | Preview\n\nOverview of Huaca de la Luna, Peru\n\n- The Moche were a pre-Incan civilization that dominated the area of the Northern Peru coastline, roughly from 100 to 800 AD. They were known for their distinctive ceramics and artwork which depicted ritualistic human sacrifice, and their unique mortuary treatment of the deceased. Settlements ranged from farmsteads to urban agglomerations. (Millaire 2004) Temple complexes, usually consisting two paired buildings, dotted the coastline with evidence of ritualistic behavior. Huaca de la Luna, paired with Huaca del Sol and thought to be the capital of Moche, is an adobe structure located on the hill of Cerro Blanco on the Moche river valley in Northern Peru (Verano 2000)....   [tags: pre-incan civilization, moche, ]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1425 words | (4.1 pages) | Preview\n\nprice of greed\n\n\nFree Essays\n555 words | (1.6 pages) | Preview\n\nThe Rise of the American Empire\n\n- WWII has a ripple effect across the globe causing changes both internationally and domestically. Internationally, The sun finally began to set over the British Empire with the majority of her majesties colonial possessions gaining independence in the years following the war. Britain’s stage left exit from its hegemonic role resulted in the start of a new “Great Game” between two burgeoning superpowers. A new world order began to take shape with the United States and USSR vying to establish their own hegemony....   [tags: World History]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1633 words | (4.7 pages) | Preview\n\nCriminals: Gaining Cleverness Through Crime Television\n\n- Picture this: it is a weeknight and you are watching Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune while enjoying a delicious meal with your family. After those programs finish, it is now about eight o’clock. During late night, local channels present new or old episodes of many television shows. There is American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, The Bachelorette, but most importantly CSI, Criminal Minds, etc. To most viewers, shows like CSI or Criminal Minds capture their attention and find them interesting. Watching the characters solve crimes by either using forensic science or studying the “behavior” of the criminal....   [tags: Criminology]\n\nPowerful Essays\n1683 words | (4.8 pages) | Preview\n\n\nYour search returned over 400 essays for \"Hernando Cortez\"\n1  2  3  4  5    Next >>", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9888596534729004}
+{"content": "\n\nEzzard Turner returns students' phones.\nEzzard Turner, a dean at the City on a Hill Circuit Street charter school in Boston, returns students' phones after locking them in pouches for the school day. A new policy at the school aims to literally contain distractions by requiring the phones to stay locked up until dismissal time.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9010893106460571}
+{"content": "Prev Next\nEver since that day, Ye Chong became busier, his daily schedule jam packed with activities, as though Lunatic Guan was trying to identify his limits. As for Ye Chong, he noticed for the first time that being an alchemist placed a high demand on his physical endurance. If not for his outstanding physical strength, he probably would have exhausted himself early on.\n\nOnce again, Ye Chong’s performance was a pleasant surprise to Lunatic Guan. His seemingly frail body harboured extraordinary strength, as though he was always physically ready. Besides, he had great talent and was a quick study; his long, white fingers moved deftly, as though he was born to be an alchemist. This won much admiration from Lunatic Guan. In order to make Ye Chong \"suffer\", Lunatic Guan even invested her own time in him, and spent less time in drinking. Often, she would even forget all about drinking. Of course, Ye Chong was not foolish enough to remind her of that. Gradually, Lunatic Guan had forgotten of her original intention and began to teach Ye Chong more seriously. She began to treat Ye Chong like an actual student of hers without actually meaning to do so!\n\nWith one of them teaching in earnest, and another learning in earnest, Ye Chong improved quickly!\n\nYe Chong could finally relax a little, since this phase of learning had finally ended, and Lunatic Guan had granted him a few days’ leave. Now, Ye Chong could synthesize his own strengthening chemical, since for a true alchemist, knowing the ingredients was enough to make the chemical easily. From the old man’s point of view, Ye Chong’s learning mission was completed.\n\nWith the rare moment of leisure, Ye Chong enjoyed his idle time by carving some little things out of some smaller skeleton pieces for practice, to keep his skills sharp. Ye Chong had no sense of aesthetics, and carved only mech models. He did not bring his carving knife with him, and used the dagger gifted to him by Gu Shaoze.\n\nYe Chong looked satisfyingly at the final product in his hands, and kept his dagger back into his bag. Suddenly, he noticed the Red Liquor obtained from the young woman, and thought of Mu’s description of the stone’s properties with growing excitement.\n\n\"Shang, Mu said that Red Liquor will change in color when stimulated by alcohol, is that right?\"\n\n\"Hmm, based on our database it should be right! Besides, you can always experiment to find out!\" Shang spoke indifferently.\n\n\"Right, I can experiment to find out. Hm, alcohol, Lunatic Guan should have plenty of it here!\" Will Lunatic Guan run out of alcohol? Absolutely not.\n\nYe Chong found Lunatic Guan leaning against the wall, sitting on the floor with a wine glass in hand, looking outside the door in a daze.\n\n\"Lend me your alcohol!\" Ye Chong felt it would better to be straightforward. While both were his teachers, Ye Chong found himself unable to treat Lunatic Guan like he treated the old man, probably due to their age.\n\n\"Alcohol?\" Lunatic Guan turned to him, awakened from her reverie, and looked in surprise at Ye Chong, probably not expecting such a request from him. However, as her vision swept past Ye Chong’s right hand, Lunatic Guan’s pupils dilated abruptly, and her breathing grew heavier!\n\nCould she have recognized the Red Liquor? This question came to Ye Chong’s mind, and his sharp eyes noticed Lunatic Guan’s jade white hands trembling a little, a few drops of alcohol spilling out. Almost simultaneously, Ye Chong took a small step forward and reached his right hand out, fast as lightning.\n\nDrip! One of the spilled alcohol drops landed precisely on the Red Liquor in Ye Chong’s right hand. In the blink of an eye, the seemingly inconspicuous Red Liquor looked as though it was drunk, and turned slowly into a faint shade of red. This faint shade spread out like a ripple and finally covered the entire surface of the rock. The droplet-shaped Red Liquor now looked like a jade in faint red, warm and adorable.\n\nThe transformation did not end there. The red hue turned darker and darker, and in the span of a few minutes, the Red Liquor turned from light red to a ghoulish dark red. The pendant now looked like a drop of fresh blood, moist and dazzling.\n\nWith all his attention focused on the Red Liquor, Ye Chong did not notice Lunatic Guan’s expression changed drastically as the Red Liquor transformed! Lunatic Guan stared fixedly at the Red Liquor in Ye Chong’s hand, her face full of disbelief, and her expression unreadable.\n\nThe Red Liquor seemed to come alive in Ye Chong’s hand, spreading warmth like a real droplet of semi-coagulated blood. Ye Chong could not but marvel at the sight! Who knew what other secrets the material had to offer?\n\nJust then, Ye Chong smelled a thin, fragrant scent, and froze. Of all the changes that Mu mentioned, this scent was not one of them. Ye Chong held the necklace to his nose. \"Hmm, not the pendant. Ah, so it’s from the old string. But this smell is really nice, it makes me feel very peaceful.\" Ye Chong thought to himself.\n\n\"Isn’t it a nice smell? That string may look inconspicuous, but it’s actually made of sky lantern grass, a strong material, and upon contact with heat, it releases a fragrant smell that has a calming effect, and is quite rare!\" Lunatic Guan’s words came slowly.\n\n\"Sky lantern grass?\" Ye Chong lifted his head, and was surprised to find Lunatic Guan’s face as pale as a sheet, her eyes staring fixedly at the necklace in Ye Chong’s hand.\n\n\"What’s with her?\" Ye Chong wondered. While he did not understand the situation, he still noticed something unusual about Lunatic Guan.\n\n\"Sky lantern grass is endemic to the planet Guang Hua. The locals treated it as a sign of peace and harmony, and like to use it for decoration. For the alchemists there, it is also an excellent ingredient.\" Lunatic Guan’s soft words reverberated throughout the room, but her eyes never left the necklace on Ye Chong’s hand.\n\nYe Chong offered his hand out and held the necklace before Lunatic Guan.\n\nLunatic Guan hesitated, as though struggling with herself, the mist in her eyes gradually accumulating to a bursting reservoir, and tears rolled down silently along her pale cheeks. Her lips were now bloodless from her tightened mouth, as she reached out a trembling right hand and slowly approached the necklace held in Ye Chong’s right hand.\n\nAs the tips of her fingers touched the droplet-shaped Red Liquor, the sensitive Ye Chong noticed her body shook a little. This made Ye Chong fully realize that the necklace and Lunatic Guan had a very deep relationship.\n\nReceiving the necklace from Ye Chong, Lunatic Guan finally could not hold it any longer. Her left hand moved to cover her mouth, and she began to sob.\n\nYe Chong left quietly.\n\nBack in his room, Ye Chong spoke to Shang.\n\n\"Shang, do you know what’s going on?\" Ye Chong expressed his confusion. Through it all, he understood nothing.\n\n\"Based on her actions, she probably has a very deep history with the necklace!\" Shang’s reply came like a sigh.\n\n\"History?\" Ye Chong still did not quite understand.\n\n\"She’s probably some relative of hers.\"\n\n\"Relative? How did you know?\" Ye Chong asked in bafflement.\n\n\"Sigh, how can you not understand something so simple? Sigh, I suppose so, a guy like you probably will not spend time on watching movies and the like, it’s only natural that you cannot understand! However, do you have any better guess?\" Shang spoke derisively.\n\n\"No!\" Ye Chong’s answer was brisk.\n\n\"And there you have it!\"\n\n\"Shang, are you sure you’re alright?\" Ye Chong asked out of concern. As he had gotten used to Shang’s usual non-stop blabbering, Shang’s quietness now was a little unsettling.\n\n\"Problem? Me, having a problem? The probability for that is very small. Even a logical mistake that is fatal for the average PSI is not all that fatal to me. So, about this, you don’t have to worry, Ye. As for my current state, that’s because I and Mu are trying to recover some damaged data. 90 percent of our resources are currently spent there.\" Shang explained.\n\n\"Damaged data? It is from before?\" Ye Chong asked.\n\n\"Yes. We found that some of them could potentially be recovered, and so we had tried various methods of recovery, but the results do not seem good!\"\n\n\"Oh, don’t rush yourselves!\" Ye Chong could only console them.\n\nKnock knock! The sound came from the door.\n\nWith Ye Chong’s hearing sense, he could already hear Lunatic Guan’s footsteps. Her act of knocking, however, was a surprise to Ye Chong, since barging in seemed more of her style.\n\nLifting his head, he saw Lunatic Guan entering the room with her eyes red and swollen, with wet tracks on her face. Lunatic Guan came in and immediately questioned, \"Where did you get this necklace from?\"\n\n\"Where did I get it from?\" Ye Chong was about to answer, when all of a sudden he realized that his relationship with Guardian would be exposed. Ye Chong reacted vigilantly and opted for silence. Lunatic Guan was not someone he trusted, not like with Hei Zi and the old man.\n\n\"Tell me!\" Witnessing Ye Chong remaining silent, Lunatic Guan grew anxious.\n\nYe Chong kept his silence, knowing that this would better serve to protect him.\n\nSomething flashed past in Lunatic Guan’s eyes, and she spoke in a sigh, \"Are you really not telling?\"\n\nPlanning to keep his silence, Ye Chong suddenly noticed his vision getting more and more blurry, and colors began swirling around as Shang’s panicking voice came from somewhere far away. Ye Chong was still in a daze, not realizing what was happening. He was about to call for Shang, but he blacked out.\n\nLunatic Guan looked at Ye Chong, lying on the floor, and sighed delicately, \"Little Ye, I don’t want to do this, but if you’re not telling, I’ll have to make you!\"\n\nLunatic Guan immediately shut all the doors outside and, ignoring Ye Chong on the floor, hastened to the innermost room and removed a few bottles of reagents from the shelves in a corner.\n\nLunatic Guan focused intently, her hands moving at a dazzling speed. If Ye Chong were awake now, he would definitely be impressed by Lunatic Guan’s deft and precise movements. Before long, she had a bottle of light purple reagent before her.\n\nCarefully holding the reagent against the light, she could see a few thin silver lines in the light purple reagent.\n\n\"This should be right!\" Lunatic Guan muttered to herself.\n\nShe dashed towards Ye Chong, crouched beside him, and place the bottle of reagent before Ye Chong’s nose before removing the bottle cap. Light purple mist rose from the opening, scattered with fine silver sparkles. The mist swirled like an enchanted snake and found its way into Ye Chong’s nostrils.\n\nLunatic Guan’s misted eyes flashed with regret, but it was immediately replaced by certain determination.\n\nReport error\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8365662097930908}
+{"content": "Category : Game of Thrones Season 1\n\nGame of Thrones Season 1 Summary\n\nThe series begins as Ned Stark is asked to become the chief advisor (known as the Hand of the King) to lecherous King Robert Baratheon. Ned and his wife Catelyn receive a letter from Catelyn’s sister Lysa that gives them reason to believe that rival House Lannister – to which the King’s wife Cersei belongs – was the cause of the previous Hand’s death. Ned must travel south to help the king and find out who killed the previous Hand of the King, Jon Arryn, while trying to protect his family from the Lannisters. As he tries to uncover the reasons behind Jon Arryn’s death he uncovers the dark secrets about the Lannisters that Arryn himself died trying to expose.\n\nMeanwhile, across the Narrow Sea in the continent of Essos, the exiled, arrogant Viserys Targaryen, son of the former king whose throne was usurped, believes he still has the rightful claim to the throne. He marries off his younger sister, Daenerys Targaryen, whom he has psychologically and physically abused for years, to the leader of the Dothraki warrior tribe, Khal Drogo, in an exchange for an army to return to Westeros and take the throne. However, Daenerys’ growing love for Drogo and newfound mental strength as the Khaleesi of the tribe mean Viserys’ plans go unexpectedly and powerfully awry.\n\nAt the Wall, Ned’s bastard son Jon Snow joins the Night’s Watch, an ancient brotherhood sworn to watch over the massive wall that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the dangerous unknown beyond. But an ancient force, long believed dead, threatens the land.\n\n(from wikipedia)\n\nGame of Thrones Season 1 Trailer", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6648312211036682}
+{"content": "Which Airlines Were The Worst in 2015?\n\nSpirit Airlines, American Airlines, and regional carriers lead the list\n\nWas your airline among the worst carriers in 2015? DOT data may prove your bad experience was not unique.\nJoe Raedle/Staff/Getty Images\n\nEvery year, travelers are exposed to a number of inconveniences far from home. Those who choose to fly across the United States are no exception. In the past year, travelers were subjected to new screening regulations by the Transportation Security Administration, and warned their drivers' licenses may not be enough to board a commercial aircraft.\n\nHowever, some travelers' frustrations begin on the other side of the TSA security checkpoints. After clearing into the \"sterile area,\" travelers are often subjected to delayed flights, lost luggage, and even being bumped from their ticketed flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) keeps track of every situation domestic flyers face, and releases the yearly data every February.\n\nWhich airlines created the most problems for travelers in 2015? To draw a definitive answer, we considered the data from four perspectives: delayed flights, lost luggage, bumped travelers, and overall consumer complaints.\n\nFlight Delays in 2015: Spirit Airlines, JetBlue, and Virgin America the least on-time\n\nEvery carrier has good days and bad days across their network. However, three airlines were discovered to have the most delayed arrivals of all 13 reporting carriers in the United States. Budget airline Spirit Airlines was discovered to be the worst offender, arriving to their destinations on time just over 69 percent of the time. JetBlue came in second, with nearly 30 percent of their flights arriving past their scheduled time. Virgin America did not come in much better, as the trendsetting carrier only arrived on time around 71 percent of the time.\n\nOverall, nearly 78 percent of all flights in the United States arrived at their destination on schedule. According to the DOT, the biggest contributors to late flights include late arriving aircraft, air carrier imposed delays, and national aviation system delays.\n\nMishandled Luggage in 2015: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines had the most\n\nTravelers never wish to have their luggage missing or damaged upon arrival to their final destination. However, this exact situation happened over 1.9 million times in 2015, with a national average of around three bags mishandled per 1,000 passengers aboard a commercial aircraft. Of the domestic air carriers, Southwest Airlines lost the most luggage: flying over 144 million passengers throughout the year, the airline received over 478,000 reports of mishandled luggage, for an average of just over three bags mishandled per 1,000 passengers.\n\nJust behind them was American Airlines, mishandling over 386,000 bags for over 97 million passengers flown – or approximately four mishandled bags per 1,000 flyers. Delta Air Lines had the third highest reports, mishandling over 245,000 bags among over 117 million passengers.  \n\nHowever, the worst ratio of lost luggage to passengers belong to three regional carriers: Envoy Air, ExpressJet, and SkyWest Airlines. Often operating smaller flights for the major air carriers, these three airlines lost a combined average of nearly six bags per 1,000 flyers.\n\nBumped Travelers in 2015: Southwest, American, and United Airlines Bumped the Most\n\nOverselling is a common practice among airlines to ensure all seats aboard any given flight will be filled, thus maximizing their overall profit margin. However, when all the passengers show up, the potential of bumping ticketed flight holders exists. Southwest Airlines had the most involuntarily denied boarding incidents in 2015, stopping 15,608 travelers from getting to their final destination. American Airlines had the second highest amount, involuntarily denying 7,504 flyers. United Came in third, involuntarily denying 6,317 travelers boarding their flights.\n\nMany airlines deny boarding involuntarily as a last resort, as compensating passengers can be costly. If a flyer cannot complete their ticketed flight, they can be compensated in cash for their delay under U.S. Law.\n\nConsumer Complaints in 2015: Spirit, Frontier Airlines, and American lead the pack\n\nWhen travelers have problems with their airlines, there are several avenues of recourse they can take in order to receive resolution. The DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Division collects complaints from travelers, with an attempt to create a resolution. Budget carrier Spirit Airlines had the most complaints, registering 11.73 complaints for every 100,000 travelers. Fellow budget carrier Frontier Airlines ranked second, with travelers filing 7.86 complaints per 100,000 enplanements. Finally, American Airlines had the third most complaints, with 3.36 complaints per 100,000 enplanements.\n\nComparatively, fellow major carriers United Airlines had 2.85 complaints, Delta Air Lines had 1.74 complaints, and Southwest had 0.52 complaints per 100,000 travelers.\n\nAlthough these numbers are representative of all travelers' problems in 2015, your experience may vary. By understanding these numbers, flyers can prepare for trip delays, cancellations, lost luggage and other situations before arriving at the airport.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.967134416103363}
+{"content": "World Facts\n\nThe Largest Airlines in the US\n\nThe largest airline in the United States by count of number of passengers enplaned is American Airlines, followed by Delta Airlines.\n\nThe United States is the origin of aviation, having been the home of the Wright Brothers when they took to the air at the turn of the 20th century. America’s aviation industry has indeed grown by leaps and bounds since that pioneering flight and is currently home to some of the world’s largest airlines. The two largest airlines in the United States based on the total number of annual passengers are American Airlines and Delta Air Lines with the two airlines flying millions of passengers across the world each year.\n\nThe Largest Airlines In The United States\n\nAmerican Airlines\n\nThe largest airline in the US regarding the number of annual passengers is the American Airlines. It is a title the carrier has held for five consecutive years since 2013. In 2017, more than 198 million passengers used American Airlines, the highest of any airline in the country. American Airlines is also recognized as the world’s largest airline based both on the number of destinations and the size of its fleet, having about 350 destinations spread across the world, and 948 planes making up its immense fleet. The airline was established in April 1926, but commenced its operations ten years later, in June 1936.\n\nAmerican Airlines was among the founders of Oneworld Alliance, which is the world’s third-largest airlines alliance. The airline has its headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas and housed in a 1.4-million-square-foot complex. Initially, it had its headquarters in New York before relocating in 1979 to Texas. Fort Worth is also home to American Airline’s primary hub; the Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport. About 53 million of the airline’s passengers go through the Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport each year. The airline is a title sponsor of two venues of basketball. The carrier is also a sponsor of many professional sports like the Chicago Cubs, Carolina Panthers, New England Revolution, and New England Patriots.\n\nDelta Air Lines\n\nDelta Air Lines, also known as Delta, is the country’s second-largest airline based on passenger numbers. In 2017, the airline had its passenger numbers reach 186.39 million, the airline’s highest in its history. Delta was one of the four founding airlines of the SkyTeam, a leading global airline alliance. Delta’s fleet is the second-largest in the United States, as it is comprised of 850 planes. The airline's local and international network is only surpassed by American Airlines and is made up of 319 destinations, drawn from 54 countries around the globe. Founded in 1924, Delta is among the oldest airlines in the world. In 2008, Delta Air Line merged with Northwest Airlines to form what became the world’s largest airlines. Delta has its headquarters situated at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, which doubles up as the airline’s primary and largest hub. Additionally, the carrier has nine other hubs located in major cities in the United States.\n\nGovernment Subsidies\n\nTo facilitate the development of the aviation industry in the country, the US government regularly grants US-based airliners with subsidies amounting to billions of dollars. The subsidies are issued through public tenders. America’s largest airline, American Airlines, is a recipient of government subsidies and received $10 million in November 2013 aimed at connecting small domestic airports in rural America to the national network.\n\nThe Largest Airlines in the United States\n\nRankAirlineEnplaned Passengers (Yearly)\n1American Airlines198,714,575\n2Delta Air Lines186,389,862\n3Southwest Airlines157,677,218\n4United Airlines148,067,000\n5Alaska Airlines44,034,000\n6JetBlue Airways20,038,090\n7Spirit Airlines21,618,039\n8Frontier Airlines15,380,000\n9Hawaiian Airlines11,505,324\n10Allegiant Air12,138,146\n\nMore in World Facts", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9050284028053284}
+{"content": "\n\nProduct Description\n\nThere are three apparently paradoxical aspects to the pathologic progression that distinguishes CF from other inflammatory airway diseases. Unlike the plethora of alleegra associated with other states of compromised immunity, such as chronic neutropenia, chronic granulomatous disease, leukocyte armik allegra printing deficiencies, or advanced AIDS, infection with a single pathogen (most notably Pseudomonas aeruginosa ) is responsible for the vast majority of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, the unique environment of the CF airway results in the genetic adaptation of Rembrandt allegra battery. aeruginosa from the environmentally acquired, initially LPS smooth, motile, and antibiotic susceptible isolates to a mucoidy phenotype characterized by the over-production of an extracellular polysaccharide (alginate) with concomitant loss of the O-side chain addition to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Additionally, there are multiple other genetic adaptations that confer resistance to innate and acquired immune defenses and antibiotic therapy and allegramente definition of leadership these normally aerobic bacteria to grow in an environment with reduced oxygen. The transition to pringing mucoidy phenotype and its associated genotypic modifications generally heralds a severe decline in the health status of the CF patient.\n\nInfinite released various rental singles including Shes Back, BTD, Infinite made their official Japanese debut with the release of the Japanese version of BTD on November 19. The B-side for the single is Can U Smile, a remake of a track from their 2nd mini album Arimk and it is the 3rd track of their first single album Inspirit. In December 2011, they released their first Christmas song, White Confession, Infinite performed their degen familienbande rezension allegra first Korean concert in front of approximately 8,000 fans on February 1112 at the Seoul Olympic Park in Songpa District, eastern Seoul. The concert was titled Armik allegra printing Invasion, following up the bands debut EP, tickets to the concert sold out within 10 minutes after being released online on December 14,2011. Throughout the year, the focused on individual activities.\n\nDetailed information\n\n' quot;And as the dragonriders grappled with the ending of an era, T'lion, Readis, and the dolphins faced the start of a new one: reviving the bond between land- and ocean-dwellers--and resurrecting the dreams of the first colonists of Pern. quot; Dennis Hipsher: About genetically engineered dolphins who can talk to humans in English. It is set in the far future on a colonized planet called Pern.\n\nThey appealed to our sense of humour. They were absolutely fantastic and we wanted him to read for longer. We8217;re glad we were on before him 8211; had we been reading after him, we might have locked ourselves in the storeroom and refused to come out. We bought two of his books afterwards and can8217;t wait to read them. We met at Bristol Horror Con in October but didn8217;t get a chance to buy his work then.\n\nGeistdrachen und eine fantastische Heldin, dazu etwas Herzschmerz und blutige Action. Noch besser als der 1. Band. Leider erst gegen Ende wirklich spannend.]", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.5245872735977173}
+{"content": "Kependudukan dan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan\n\nKerjasama Ikatan Praktisi dan Ahli Demografi Indonesia (IPADI), Badan Kependudukan dan Keluarga Berencana Nasional (BKKBN), Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD), Pusat Kesehatan Reproduksi Fakultas Kedokteran UGM (PS-Kespro), dan United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)\n\nAnnotated Bibliography: Selected Researches on Family Planning in Indonesia 2005-2015\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9688738584518433}
+{"content": "Distance from Waupaca, WI to Mountain, WI\n\nDriving distance between Waupaca, WI and Mountain, WI is 91.33 miles (or 146.98 kilometers). If you drove an average car (using about 3.6 gallons of gas per mile), the gas would cost you around $, since you would need about gallons of fuel.\n\nLeaving from Waupaca, WI you would reach Mountain, WI in about 2 hours 18 mins if you keep an average speed of miles per hour, assuming you don’t make any breaks or get stuck in traffic.\n\nDriving distance in miles\n\n91 mi147 km\n\n\nCO2 emissions icon\n\nCO2 emissions: kg\n\nEmission estimated with the eco2 norme\n(185 CO2 grams/mile)\n\nThis is a map overview of the best driving route from Waupaca, WI to Mountain, WI in which you can see the origin and destination points marked with A (Waupaca) and B (Mountain) respectively as well as blue line along the road route you can take. You can zoom in to see more details, including road numbers and even street names both in Waupaca, WI and Mountain, WI as well as every other town you may pass by on your way.\n\nFuel consumption if you drive from Waupaca, WI to Mountain, WI\n\n\nCost of driving from Waupaca, WI to Mountain, WI\n\nDepending on the fuel efficiency level of your car, driving from Waupaca to Mountain will cost you between and . An average car would make the trip for . We calculate the route cost using real time average gas prices for the US and other costs such as tolls are not included in this calculation.\n\nDriving directions\n\nTo help you plan your trip from Waupaca to Mountain, we offer a detailed map together with full, turn by turn, driving directions from Waupaca, WI to Mountain, WI.\n\nFlying or direct distance between Waupaca, WI and Mountain, WI\n\nThe flying distance represent the straight distance from Waupaca to Mountain, the length of an hypothetical flight trip between the geographic center of Waupaca, WI and the geographic center of Mountain, WI. We also offer nearby airports to both Waupaca to Mountain and a flight ticket price comparison form, in case you want to make that hypothetical flight real :).\n\nRecently Checked Distances\n\nDistance from Carthage, NC Ackermanville, PA Distance from Pittsfield, MA Amana, IA Distance from Earth City, MO Princeton, MO Distance from Mc Kenzie, TN Lee Vining, CA Distance from Otisco, IN Grace City, ND Distance from Bigelow, MN Staten Island, NY Distance from Old Appleton, MO Fort Dix, NJ Distance from Hornsby, TN Columbus, NE", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.544251561164856}
+{"content": "Homologous Superfamily\n\nStructures: Single alpha-helix domain superfamily (IPR029027)\n\n\n\n1qcr  1l0l  1ntk  1sqp  1ntm  1nu1  1l0n  1sqv  2fyu  1sqx  5klv  1be3  1bgy  1sqb  1ntz  1sqq \n\n\nCATH is a hierarchical classification of protein model structures. \n\n\nThe Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a largely manual classification of protein structural domains based on similarities of their amino acid sequences and three-dimensional structures.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9961426258087158}
+{"content": "\n\n\nServing Software Downloads in 976 Categories, Downloaded 32.403.909 Times\n\n\nOne and Two\n\nOne and Two\n\nOne and Two's features include:\n\nCreate your own rhythm pattern to use for playback and practice.\n\nThe metronome feature can use the rhythm you created or one of five standard time signatures.\n\nPractice keeping a rhythm. Tap out the rhythm you created and get feedback...", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9096882939338684}
+{"content": "On the importance of goals and logging\n\nOne of my most important tools in language learning is actually something that I picked up by chance while dieting. I guess this will need a bit of an explanation. After all, what could learning and dieting possibly have in common?\n\nDieting for me is fairly easy. If my pants start getting tight and I decide that I need to lose a few pounds, then I just do it. But I actually used to struggle with dieting, before I figured out the trick to it.\n\nFirst and foremost, keep it simple and doable. A  lot of people always try crazy diets with all sorts of rules and guidelines. But in reality, losing weight is a simple equation–just eat less calories than your body uses. By over-complicating things, you only increase your chance of failure. A coworker of mine was recently talking about this great new diet that she was going to begin, that would be sure to make her lose a lot of weight. The diet in question required her to eat a very specific list of foods every day. I asked my coworker if she even liked any of those foods, and she reluctantly answered “not really”. A couple of days later, I asked her how the diet was going, and she admitted that she didn’t even make it one day. No surprise really, I doubt I could have stuck with it either. In contrast, I easily lost 2 pounds that same week while still eating foods that I actually like.\n\nThere were a lot of times in the past when I would tell myself that I was “dieting”, but it never really amounted to anything other than thinking about dieting whenever I ate something. This obviously didn’t lead to any results, but I made myself think that I was actually doing something, and I would be disappointed that it wasn’t working. I only would have had to do two extremely simple things in order to actually diet properly. I had to set a daily calorie limit for myself, and then just count every calorie that I ate. That’s it.\n\nYou see, if you just say “I’ll try to watch what I eat”, but you don’t actually measure anything, then you only have an extremely fuzzy idea of what’s going into your body. Maybe you just ate 1000 calories worth of pizza in a single meal. You have no idea though, because you didn’t spend 30 seconds to find out how many calories were in it. But if you stopped at three slices even though you thought you could put away four, you congratulate yourself for doing a good job on your diet, even though you just made a pretty bad decision.\n\nBy contrast, simply by looking at the numbers, I can easily determine that a certain food will not be compatible with my target for that day, and I can substitute something else that is more in line with my goal. Instead of thinking “maybe this food isn’t a good idea”, I KNOW for certain that this food is a bad idea.\n\nSo basically what I’m saying, is that simply keeping a log of what you’re eating and how many calories it has is the key in making a diet actually work. Because if you don’t know what you are eating, then what are you really accomplishing?\n\nLikewise, if you want to make progress in Japanese, you need to actually be aware of what you are doing, and where you are trying to go. This is a long journey, and it’s easy to get lost along the way. I hate to admit it, but I actually spent almost the entire last year without actually learning any Japanese. I just kept doing SRS reviews of old material every day, and it was like I was on autopilot. I kept working at it every day, so it gave me a feeling of accomplishment, and I had the perception that I was actually doing something. But in reality, I was doing nothing. The worst part of it all is that this isn’t even the first time that this has happened to me!\n\nSo, here is what I have done to fix this problem, and to make sure it doesn’t happen again: First of all, I set goals for myself. It’s important to have both a long term goal as well as some specific short term goals. After all, if you don’t know where you are trying to go, how will you get there? Next, I am keeping a simple log of what I’m actually doing to achieve those goals. This doesn’t have to be something that’s updated on a daily basis, but at least once a week seems reasonable. This helps to quantify what I’m doing into measurable terms. I can actually see if I am doing productive things and making progress. If I fall into a rut, it won’t take me a year to realize it.\n\nThe cool thing is, once you actually take a simple step like this, it makes it so much easier to actually get things done. You know exactly what you need to do, and you can work towards it every single day. Simply having a structure in place to guide you along is probably the most important thing to achieving any goal in your life, be it Japanese, dieting, or just about anything else.\n\nAbout NihongoNoBaka.com\n\n\nHi, let me introduce myself. I’m that guy.\n\nYou know, the guy who has been studying Japanese forever, but doesn’t have a whole lot to show for it. I’m sure that if you have engaged with other Japanese learners, you have probably met that guy before. Heck, maybe you are that guy too!\n\nI began studying Japanese back around 2002. Except for a couple of years off around 2005-2006, I’ve supposedly been studying this whole time. I’ve taken years worth of classes, passed JLPT Level 3 (back when it only had 4 levels instead of 5), engaged in lots of different self-study methods, and even got a bachelor’s degree in Japanese language.\n\nAnd yet, I still can’t hold a basic spoken conversation in Japanese.\n\nBut, I want to change that. I have plenty of motivations for learning Japanese, but I need to make sure I’m on the right track. Far too often, I get stuck in a rut of just doing the same things over and over, even when it’s not helping me to move forward. I need to keep myself honest, and make sure I am actually studying and learning using methods that will show real results.\n\nThis blog is going to be a sort of record of what I’m doing. I’ll talk about what I’m currently doing, what has been working for me, what hasn’t worked for me, my thoughts on language acquisition, and I may even post some useful study materials every now and then. Hopefully, taking the time to write this down in a public space will help me to stay on track and constantly reevaluate whether or not I’m making progress.\n\nAnd just maybe, I might eventually be able to have a conversation or two in actual Japanese.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.6859329342842102}
+{"content": "Prabh Deep\n\nHip Hop / Punjabi Folk \n\nGifted with a unique voice that contains traces of traditional Punjabi folk singers, Prabh Deep is widely acknowledged as a leading underground MC in the country. Born and brought up in Tilak Nagar, Prabh's music paints a vivid picture of growing up in a locality that's reeling from high unemployment rates and the recent influx of drugs in the community. Over the past two years, Prabh Deep has quickly made his name in India’s independent music industry - performing at festivals such as Bacardi NH7 Weekender, Hip-Hop Homeland, ADE Mumbai and Crossblade alongside artists such as DJ Premier, Akala, Raja Kumari, Nucleya and more. The critical success of his singles such as G Maane and Kal led to music streaming giant Saavn tapping him as one of the faces of their Desi Hip-Hop campaign.\n\nFacebook  SoundCloud\n\nDate: Saturday, 25th Nov / Venue: Samara, The Park / Event Type: Music Showcase / Time: 22:15", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.990906298160553}
+{"content": "Making Learning Personal with Adaptive Learning Systems\n\nDiscussion created by lfisher@clarity-innovations.com on Nov 11, 2016\n\nWhen it comes to personalizing education, adaptive learning systems can support teachers with data to support decision-making about class instruction, as well as targeted assistance to individual students.\n\n\nAlthough the word “adaptive” has come to mean many different things, simply stated, adaptive learning software adjusts the learning content or assessment items it presents to each student based on observations of student performance.\n\n\nAdaptive learning systems are designed to provide students with an appropriate level of challenge, as well as the right amount of support. The optimal learning zone lies between the student’s comfort zone and the frustration zone. Too little challenge, and the student will quickly lose interest. Too much challenge, and the student will become frustrated and more likely to give up.\n\n\nAdaptive learning software shares much in common with traditional private tutoring. The software can provide supplemental instruction and coaching to students on a one-on-one basis. It can quiz a student, identify areas of weakness, and provide tips to help him or her to remember key concepts. Highly adaptive learning software can help students to get unstuck on a particular step in solving a math problem. Perhaps most useful to teachers, some adaptive learning software can pinpoint exactly what students are doing well and where they might need extra help and support.\n\n\nPersonalizing Instruction with Adaptive Learning Systems\n\n\nAdaptive learning software is most often utilized with a blended learning approach, in which the student learns part of the time through computer-based delivery of content and skills practice. Teachers, meanwhile, can provide targeted instruction to individual students or small groups.\n\n\nAdaptive learning programs can’t replace a teacher. It is important that teachers understand how adaptive learning software works before implementing it in their classroom. This understanding enables a teacher to identify which teaching functions the software can fulfill and which it can’t. It’s also important to remember that the decisions about what content to offer a student next will only be as good as the knowledge structure that underlies the adaptive curriculum.\n\n\nAdaptive learning systems can empower teachers to do their jobs better and give students more personalized educational experiences. They are not intended as full replacements for teacher-led classes, but they can support a shift in the role of the teacher in the classroom. The teacher’s role can change from providing whole group instruction to supporting students as they work on their individual learning paths.\n\n\nAdaptive Assessments\n\n\nTo effectively teach each student where he or she is presently performing, an educator needs to know where the starting line is. Adaptive tests, which adjust with each test question and can include out of grade level material, provide the clearest picture of that starting line. Many tests adapt only after several items have been presented, which does not return the same precision as a test that reacts in real time to every single student response. In addition to this true adaptivity, the test also needs a deep pool of items to draw from in order to ensure that students are seeing new questions. And of course, an adaptive assessment must use a stable scale, which is the only way to accurately show a student’s growth over time, regardless of grade level performance.\n\n\nAdaptive tests—like MAP interim assessments—can pinpoint student growth and instructional needs accurately in a relatively short amount of time. MAP assessments take about an hour, and give students and educators information they can immediately use to move learning forward.\n\n\nTo understand where all students are on their learning paths, an adaptive assessment can be an invaluable tool, provided it meets certain criteria: measuring growth regardless of grade and gathering data efficiently.\n\n\nWhat are your personal experiences with adaptive learning systems, including adaptive tests? How do they support personalized education, and what are some of their limitations? Join the conversation and reply to the discussion below.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9811609387397766}
+{"content": "Psycholinguistic Models of Sentence Processing Improve Sentence Readability Ranking\n\n\n\nIn Proc. of the 15th Conference of the European Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (EACL), ACL.\n\nPsycholinguistic theories of online (human) sentence processing have identified a number of features which correlate with reading times, suggesting that these features explain at least some of the processing difficulty that humans have when reading. This paper explores the extent to which these features are also helpful for ranking individual sentences based on their text difficulty. Using a large corpus drawn from English and Simple English Wikipedia and a smaller corpus edited by professional language instructors, we compare surprisal, embedding depth & difference, idea density, and integration cost features for this task. We find that adding these psycholinguistic features improves performance by up to 3 percentage points over a simple baseline.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9999109506607056}
+{"content": "How do I get the character to do the same thing at the same time? Like laughing or walking together?\n\n\nI tried different ways but nothing seems to work. Thank you in advance!\n\n\nTry this.\n\n\n@EMMA is laugh_giggle AND FELIX is laugh_chuckle\n\n\nIt worked thank you so much!\n\n\nNo problem! Don’t hesitate to PM me if you need anymore help!\n\n\n@EMMA is laugh_giggle AND FELIX is laugh_chuckle\n\nAnother way to write it:\n\n&EMMA is laugh_giggle\n@FELIX is laugh_chuckle\n\nSo if you want three characters doing actions at the same time, using method 1, it would be:\n\n&CHAR1 is animation\n&CHAR2 is animation\n@CHAR3 is animation\n\nUsing method 2, it would be:\n\n@CHAR is animation AND CHAR2 is animation AND CHAR3 is animation\n\nAs you can see, there’s a pattern ^^\n\nAnyways, good luck! :black_heart:\n\n\nthank you!\n\n\nNo problem :smile:", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9894410371780396}
+{"content": "Nalini Gallery is a space where I share my creation while joining my biggest passions : spirituality, art, sacred geometry and high vibration.\n\n\nSymbols and mandalas that are transmitted in the art are pieces of codes of the Source that can be absorbed by human mind and slowly integrated into the body to transform the states of consciousness, increase the frequency and heal. Each of them works on different aspects of awareness and are incredibly powerful catalysts for change. As well as sacred geometry, you will find the elements of Hinduism, Taoism arts and Shamanism.\n\n\nNalini paintings is my contribution to a positive world change and a way to creatively express my prayers to the Universe. Life is much more than survival, it is beauty, magic, peace and constant growth and I am incredibly grateful to be able to contribute to the expansion of these qualities.\n\n\nAll painting are fine art hand made originals.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9995017051696777}
+{"content": "Depression, postpartum\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHospital-Based Postpartum Support Group Reduces Depression and Increases Life Satisfaction 06/05/10\n\nA 10-week, hospital-based support group offers information, education, and support to women suffering from postpartum depression, leading to reduced incidence of depression and increased life satisfaction.\n\nTelephone Counseling by Trained Volunteers Cuts Rate of Postnatal Depression Nearly in Half 03/06/09\n\nTrained volunteers who have experienced and recovered from postnatal depression provide phone-based peer counseling to new, at-risk mothers over a 12-week period, leading to a significant reduction in postnatal depression.\n\n\n\n\n\nSubscribe to Depression, postpartum\n", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9955654144287109}
+{"content": "DSE Fest — технично и понятно про data science для разработчиков. Первые доклады уже на сайте >>\n\nBetterMe is one of the most popular mobile apps in the U.S. in Health & Fitness category. It has been downloaded more than 13 million times over a period of 12 months since its introduction. BetterMe transforms its user’s smartphones into personal trainers that understand the needs of its users and help them achieve the desired results.\n\nWe analyze user behavior patterns to create and recommend our users programs that is customized to their specific interests and fitness levels. Our platform allows us to develop personalized, long-term relationships with our users, based on their specific data profiles.\n\nWant to join our team? BetterMe is looking for people who are passionate about building a world-class health&fitness products. It’s estimated that there are over 500 million people in the world who value healthy lifestyle, and we believe that every last one of those people should be a BetterMe user. We believe that people are at their best when they’re creating happiness within — in fact, we think happiness from within is so vital to overall well-being that it is our brand mission.\n\nВакансии BetterMe USA", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9992626905441284}
+{"content": "Legal Networking and Referrals\n\nLawyer Networking & Referral Marketing\n\nBuilding and maintaining a lawyer referral network is important and is something you should learn to do well to help grow your law practice.\n\nNo law practice is an island. Lawyer networking and building a lawyer referral network can help you build business and have a group of people to consult with if you need help with something. But having a referral network isn’t something that happens spontaneously. It is something you need to learn and have to work on to build and maintain. Luckily, building a network doesn’t have to feel like work.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9755203723907471}
+{"content": "Mac Slavo\n\n\nAccording to The World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health and food security today. Antibiotic resistance can affect anyone, of any age, in any country and it occurs naturally, but the misuse of antibiotics in humans and animals is accelerating the process.\n\nResearchers had previously discovered that platypus milk confers antimicrobial protection to the species’ young. However, a new study led by scientists at Australia’s CSIRO has figured out what it is about platypus milk that’s so effective against bacteria. And it comes down to a protein.\n\n“Platypus are such weird animals that it would make sense for them to have weird biochemistry,” says one of the team, molecular biologist Janet Newman. “By taking a closer look at their milk, we’ve characterized a new protein that has unique antibacterial properties with the potential to save lives.”\n\nThe findings are reported in Structural Biology Communications.\n\nAccording to Science Alert, using protein crystallization techniques pioneered at the CSIRO’s Collaborative Crystallisation Centre, the researchers were able to replicate the protein in the la and decipher its molecular structure in 3D to see where its antimicrobial properties come from. What they found was a unique, never-before-seen protein fold, comprising a unique ringlets structure – which the researchers nicknamed ‘Shirley Temple’, after the distinctive golden curls of the American child star.\n\nAccording to the researchers on the team, this “curly Q” feature might have evolved in the animal’s milk to help protect platypus young, who don’t feed from the teats (the platypus has none), but from milk expressed onto the mother’s belly. “That means the milk is expressed onto a milk pad where the pups lap it up and of course milk is designed to be nutritious, so anything that’s in the environment could also use that milk,” Newman explained to Radio NZ.\n\nThe agreed upon hypothesis so far is that the platypus evolved this new protein as a way to feed the pups while protecting them from environmental factors, like bacteria, that are attracted to milk. It’s not the first time this unusual animal has come to the aid of humanity either. In 2016, researchers discovered a hormone contained in platypus venom could actually help us develop new kinds of diabetes treatments.\n\n“There’s a quote from [Louis] Pasteur which is ‘Chance favors the prepared mind’,” Newman told Radio NZ. “You can find discoveries in all sorts of places.”", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9713881015777588}
+{"content": " Bridging the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap: The Power of Networks\n\nChoose your location to get a site experience tailored for you.\n\nRemember my region and language settings\n\nBridging the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap: The Power of Networks\n\nOctober 21, 2014 By Maria Blomqvist , Emma Chastain , Brenda Thickett , Shalini Unnikrishnan , and Wendy Woods\n\n\n\nThe reality, however, is that far more men than women start, sustain, and grow their own businesses. The underlying reasons for this imbalance are complex and varied, but they include differences in access to human, financial, and social capital. Unless these differences are addressed, the gender gap will likely remain wide, and global economic development and growth will not reach their full potential.\n\nThe specific focus of this report is on the importance of social capital for the success of female entrepreneurs. Both men and women need social capital—the access to networks that can support, connect, and mentor entrepreneurs—to successfully establish and run a business. But social capital’s particular importance for women—and how they can systematically develop it—isn’t well understood. The framework in this report provides a starting point for designing effective professional networks. Corporations, governments, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) should consider the principles we offer to ensure that conditions for success are built into programs that support female entrepreneurs and economic progress.\n\nThe Entrepreneurial Gender Gap\n\nWe define an entrepreneurial venture as an owner-managed business of any size. It could be a necessity-based venture, such as a woman selling goods in a market stall as the best available option to support her family, or an opportunity-based venture designed to capitalize on a market need or trend. Entrepreneurial ventures have three primary stages: start-up, sustainability, and growth. In examining social capital, we focus on the first two phases and define success as sustaining a business for three and a half years or longer.\n\nGlobally, women own 40 percent fewer businesses than men. The reason for this gender gap is twofold. First, women start fewer businesses than do men. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project, only 11 percent of women around the world start new businesses—30 percent less than men. Second, women have a lower success rate than men when it comes to sustaining a business. There is an additional 10 percent entrepreneurship gender gap in the rates at which women and men sustain their businesses, as measured by the proportion of sustained businesses versus new businesses. While the gender gap in the start-up rate has decreased over the past few years, a similar decrease has not been seen in the success rate. Not addressing the success rate of female-owned businesses cuts in half the potential global GDP increase of $1.5 trillion, as more mature businesses are more likely to grow and hire additional people.\n\nThree types of capital—human, financial, and social—are crucial for starting and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture. Human capital refers to the skills, business knowledge, and experience an entrepreneur needs to draw on. Financial capital refers to the necessary monetary resources. And social capital, as mentioned earlier, refers to access to networks that provide information and resources, as well as access to formal and informal mentor relationships.\n\nThese three types of capital are interlinked—and women tend to be less likely than men to have access to them all. As a result, women are less able to fully take advantage of the opportunities that are available to them. Many valuable initiatives are under way to provide female entrepreneurs with greater access to human and financial capital. Although gender gaps still remain, much of the progress that has been made to date is due to these efforts. Social capital is equally important, but it is less well understood.\n\nThe Power of Social Capital\n\nAlthough less research has been done on social capital than on other forms of capital, the data suggests that social capital has a significant impact on the success of female entrepreneurs. Higher rates of entrepreneurial affiliation—defined as knowing another entrepreneur and a proxy for social capital—are linked to smaller gender gaps in business sustainability in developing countries. For example, data from Latin America and the Caribbean shows that a 10 percent increase in women’s entrepreneurial affiliation appears to reduce the sustainability gap between genders by as much as 25 percent. (See Exhibit 1.)\n\nTo better understand the impact of having social capital, we interviewed decision makers at 13 organizations around the world whose mission is to support female entrepreneurship. These interviews with experts in the field reinforced that social capital supports female entrepreneurs in many ways, ultimately helping them to run and grow their businesses better. The benefits of social capital include higher aspirations and better long-term planning, which result in growth; new or improved business skills and better business ideas; collaboration and credibility; greater access to funding; and emotional support. Let’s look at these benefits more closely.\n\nAspirations, Long-Term Planning, and Growth. According to the experts we spoke with, social capital enables female entrepreneurs to increase their aspirations, envision long-term plans, and set more ambitious growth targets for their businesses. According to GEM, the growth aspirations of female entrepreneurs typically lag behind those of their male peers. The percentage of male entrepreneurs projecting growth over a five-year period and the hiring of six or more employees is 7 to 9 percentage points higher than the percentage of female business owners making the same prediction. Role models and mentors encourage, inspire, and build confidence in female entrepreneurs, helping them envision long-term success, develop skills for growing their businesses, and cultivate professional networks.\n\nThe Asia Foundation, an international development organization, found that women in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand who use established networks and associations are 24 percent more likely to plan for growth than women who don’t use such resources. In addition, the businesses of women using networks and associations are, on average, 38 percent larger than those of women who don’t access such resources. The need to acknowledge the benefits of social capital is highlighted by the Asia Foundation’s research, which found that a higher percentage of female business owners than male business owners in these countries never interact with business associations.\n\nGoing for Growth, an organization for female entrepreneurs in Ireland, offers peer-based programs that include regular roundtables led by successful women who explore growth-related topics. In a recent program, three-quarters of the participants reported that their sales had risen by an average of 15 percent, more than half of the women said that they had hired additional employees, and the number of businesses exporting goods had increased. A Going for Growth pilot was recently set up in Finland, adding an international dimension to the organization to further support its aim of connecting a diverse group of female entrepreneurs, helping them grow, learn, network, and do business together.\n\nNew or Improved Business Skills and Better Business Ideas. Through mentor relationships and by sharing the experiences of other entrepreneurs, female business owners learn new business skills, gain valuable insights, and receive feedback on business innovation, processes, and ideas. The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women has a program that pairs female entrepreneurs with knowledgeable mentors, and it reports that 96 percent of its entrepreneurs increase their innovation skills. (See “Social Capital in Action.”)\n\n\nThe Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s mission is to build the confidence and capabilities of female entrepreneurs and to improve their access to financial capital. The foundation’s global Internet-based program matches women with mentors, who help the entrepreneurs set personal business goals, develop business plans, and tackle difficult problems. The mentorship pairing is complemented by an online community that allows program participants and alumni to collaborate, share ideas, and learn from each other. The women who participate see real business results. Ninety-six percent report a greater ability to innovate, 94 percent say that they’ve improved their business skills, and 93 percent have achieved a business goal through the program.\n\nA successful participant in the foundation’s mentorship program is Zeti, whose story demonstrates the importance of social capital. Zeti started making cakes and cookies from her home in Malaysia to sell during religious holidays. When this mother of six joined the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s program, she was pregnant and, like many other entrepreneurs, felt isolated working alone on her small enterprise. Zeti was connected with a strategy and management consultant from the UK. By working with a mentor, she developed a business strategy, financial plan, and ways to promote her products. Her mentor helped her think of ways to expand and pushed her to enter new markets. Zeti learned how to use the Internet to find new products and connect with new customers.\n\nUsing her new skills, Zeti expanded her baking business and increased revenues thirteenfold. Busy and turning away orders, Zeti has hired an employee to help her. Zeti hopes to open a cake shop in Kuala Lumpur and eventually sell her delicacies around the world.\n\nPerhaps even more informative are the stories of female entrepreneurs themselves. California-based Sue was at a turning point and decided that she was ready to launch her own bakery. She found the turmoil of navigating the necessary steps to run her business daunting at times and lonely. It was through a network of female entrepreneurs, supported by an organization called Smarty, that she was able to participate in “brain circles” and other programs and learn from experienced leaders and other entrepreneurs. The feedback, advice, and emotional support from women in the network facing similar challenges ultimately helped her launch a new website and make her bakery successful.\n\nCollaboration and Credibility. A network can lead to valuable connections and confer credibility on a new venture, ultimately providing opportunities for improved operations and increased business scale. For instance, The BOMA Project, which helps Kenyan women in extreme poverty start their own businesses, has created an informal network of BOMA alumni who band together to buy supplies more cheaply from wholesalers in remote villages, achieving cost savings that would be unavailable to them individually. Similarly, WEConnect International provides legitimacy and game-changing growth opportunities by connecting female-owned businesses with global corporate-purchasing organizations that individual entrepreneurs wouldn’t otherwise have access to.\n\nGreater Access to Funding. The connections and credibility that networks deliver can improve access to financing. According to BCG data on Africa, female entrepreneurs with more social capital also have greater access to more varied sources of credit, such as microfinancing and loans from cooperatives. Opportunity International provides loans, savings programs, insurance, and other financial services, as well as business training to entrepreneurs in 22 developing countries. Ninety-one percent of those loans are to women. New applicants must be approved by their local loan group, so women who have built social capital and thereby have greater credibility within their communities are more likely to be approved.\n\nEndeavor Global is an organization that accelerates the growth of high-impact ventures by providing entrepreneurs with social capital, including a network of investors. The organization made about 2,700 introductions in 2012 and 2013, connecting entrepreneurs and investors. The connections bring tangible benefits. For instance, Endeavor entrepreneurs raised $332 million in debt and equity in 2012 alone. Given that a lack of financial capital poses a significant constraint across all phases of entrepreneurship, improving access to funding is a vital enabler of success.\n\nEmotional Support. Starting a business can be difficult, isolating, and stressful—especially for women who are balancing their ventures with family obligations, at times in impoverished conditions. Networks provide valuable support that helps start and sustain a business. For these reasons, Village Enterprise and BOMA make sure that a group of three women run a single business: no one has to balance family and business demands alone. (See “Lifting Women Out of Poverty.”)\n\n\nVillage Enterprise and The BOMA Project help women and their families escape extreme poverty. Village Enterprise equips women with the resources they need to create sustainable businesses in sub-Saharan Africa. BOMA helps women generate a sustainable income in the arid lands of northern Kenya.\n\nThe programs take a similar approach—and the role of social capital is critical. Both organizations make sure that groups of three female entrepreneurs run a single business. This way, no one has to balance family and business demands alone, and having partners shields each woman from family requests for  earnings and loans. This structure by itself also assures built-in social capital.\n\nThe programs also provide female entrepreneurs with cash grants, extensive training in business skills and financial literacy, and mentorship. The three-woman units join larger business-savings groups, which provide access to capital for business expansion and emergencies as well as greater purchasing power. The larger networks also provide essential moral support, new-business information and opportunities, and expanded financial services.\n\nThe programs provide substantial, sustainable benefits to impoverished families. At Village Enterprise, 75 percent of the businesses are still operating after four years. After only one year, savings groups (made up of ten businesses) have typically saved more than $850—six times the seed capital of only one business in Uganda. According to program alumni and managers, the overwhelming success factor is the synergy among a group’s members and their support of each other. BOMA reports similar levels of success. All but 1 percent of BOMA businesses are still operating after one year, and 93 percent are still running after three years. The businesses are also profitable. On average, the value of these businesses doubles in one year and more than triples after three years.\n\nGiven the benefits of social capital, we believe that solutions aimed at supporting female entrepreneurs should seek to incorporate it in a systematic, structured way.\n\nThe “Three I” Framework of Social Capital\n\nThe programs we examined use social capital to achieve tangible results for female entrepreneurs, allowing them to reach their targets and empowering them in a sustainable way. It’s important to note, however, that the mere existence of networks does not convey benefits or ensure results. Networks must be designed, managed, and sustained according to proven principles. Through interviews with experts and program managers, we found that effective networks consider three interrelated dimensions: intent, inclusion, and interaction. (See Exhibit 2.)\n\nIntent: What is the purpose of the network? Effective networks must have a purpose that is clearly defined and goes beyond simply creating new contacts for its members. Networks must add enough value that membership and participation become priorities and relationships develop. Therefore, the purpose of successful networks often includes increasing access to human or financial capital or helping members develop tangible business goals. Endeavor’s mission, for example, is to be a catalyst for long-term economic growth by selecting and mentoring high-impact entrepreneurs from around the world and accelerating the growth of their ventures. Endeavor achieves its purpose by providing business advice and better access to financial capital through its mentor and investor network. As the Endeavor example points out, a network’s target audience must be clearly defined, and the network itself must be explicitly designed to achieve its stated purpose.\n\nInclusion: Who should participate in the network? Since the power of a network stems from its participants, three factors are critical for success: the right founder, committed members with time to invest, and member diversity. Formal networks and mentorship programs require major investments of time and effort to maintain and, as a result, often struggle to become long-term, self-sustaining entities. Therefore, passion and energy are integral to their success. That’s why the most effective networks have founders with a long-term interest in developing and running the program or with the ability to empower members to take ownership of the network and sustain it. A founder can be an individual, an NGO, a corporation, or another organization with a long-term interest and presence in the community, such as a bank or hospital, but the founder should have the interest to sustain the network through the start-up phase and beyond.\n\nJust as important, the members themselves must find the resources and develop the strategies to sustain a network—and commit to its purpose. We have observed that networks use a number of approaches to increase member commitment:\n\n  • Charging membership fees \n  • Interviewing applicants or asking alumni for recommendations to ensure the right member qualities and mindset \n  • Establishing attendance policies that commit members to be present at a minimum number of meetings per year\n\nFinally, diversity can add significant value. Networks should aim to attract members from diverse backgrounds to increase the richness of ideas and experiences. Prospective members might include a mix of new entrepreneurs and more established business owners, successful role models, and subject matter experts—ideally from a variety of cultures. This diversity will likely enhance the meeting discussions and increase the variety and depth of available business skills and feedback that members receive. Our interviews suggest that when networks are too narrow in their membership, their utility for members decreases over time.\n\nInteraction: How will members communicate? Networks must decide how interactions will be managed and how members will request assistance, exchange ideas, and support each other.\n\nThe structure of networks should allow for both formal and informal interactions. Formal interactions build a self-sustaining network, but members must also be able to use the network informally as needed. For instance, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women has formal mentor programs, but it also encourages informal relationships, idea exchanges, and collaboration through its online forum for members and alumni. Participants appreciate the flexibility of the more informal online option, but they regard both parts of the program as critical for success—each enhancing the impact of the other.\n\nEasy and efficient interaction is a prerequisite for member participation and commitment. Successful programs do their best to adapt to member needs in terms of the exchange platforms used and the cadence of meetings. For instance, the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women’s online forum allows members to access advice on demand, whenever they have an Internet connection, making participation easy.\n\nFinally, defining potential layers and subcommunities, their structure, and how they should connect and interact can also be a source of value. Networks aiming for impact on a larger scale may need to link members to resources at the local and regional levels and beyond—especially to create and capitalize on growth opportunities. For instance, female entrepreneurs who win larger supply contracts through WEConnect’s global sourcing program can subcontract parts of their contracts to other female entrepreneurs in the network, thus growing their businesses by fulfilling larger contracts that they could not take on individually. Networks that operate in this fashion have the potential to significantly increase the size and scope of their impact.\n\nAcross all of these dimensions, it is vital for the design of a network to account for and adapt to the local culture, norms, needs, and infrastructure of a given environment. A female entrepreneur in Africa may need access to a savings account, whereas one in the U.S. may need training in how to evaluate a potential investment. There is no easy, one-size-fits-all solution for all circumstances.\n\nLooking Forward\n\nDespite the progress to date, continued efforts must be made to empower female entrepreneurs and close the gender gap in economic opportunity. Although women today have greater access to human and financial capital, the gender gap in starting and sustaining a business remains wide.\n\nBCG’s analysis of existing support programs reveals the importance of social capital and the significant benefits that networks and mentors deliver. The challenge is how to create networks with true, sustainable impact. The framework we’ve outlined is a starting point for designing successful networks. The framework provides a platform for the continued sharing of best practices and is an important call to action for stakeholders around the world. We urge organizations to consider the importance of female entrepreneurs and the role social capital plays in their success. Governments and NGOs should capitalize on the power of social capital when funding and developing support programs, with a particular focus on female entrepreneurs whose businesses hold the potential to grow and create jobs. Corporations should seek opportunities to expand their partnerships with networks of female entrepreneurs to enable mutually beneficial growth.\n\nBy recognizing the importance of social capital for women and by helping them develop it systematically, we can continue to close the gender gap in global entrepreneurship. By working together, we can help women around the world achieve their economic potential, which in turn could lift the global economy.\n\nBridging the Entrepreneurship Gender Gap: The Power of Networks", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9602257609367371}
+{"content": "Bake - Clean Eating Magazine\n\n\nBruchetta Chicken recipe\n\nBruschetta Chicken\n\nTry Jesse Lane Lee's famous Bruschetta Chicken recipe — it contains all the same enticing flavors as regular bruschetta, but she’s swapped out the refined white bread for protein-rich chicken to help keep blood sugar stable for sustained energy.\n\nSkinny Spanakopita recipe\n\nSkinny Spanakopita\n\nThis savory Greek-style pastry is a great way to incorporate more spinach in your diet. We use a whole-grain phyllo dough brushed with olive oil and feta cheese to add a creamy, salty kick. If you’re sensitive to gluten, see the tip at the bottom of the recipe to easily adapt it. For a prettier presentation, we simply take the phyllo and crumble it over the top of the pie before baking it.\n\nCrispy Apple Chips\n\nCrispy Apple Chips\n\nThese sweet, delicate munchies with satisfy your midday urge for a crunch. If you prefer chewy chips, though, remove them from the oven after 90 minutes.\n\nMiso Chicken recipe\n\nMiso Chicken recipe\n\nAs a fermented food, miso provides the gut with beneficial bacteria that help us to stay healthy, vibrant and happy. These miso chicken tenders are so savory and delicious, this dish will end up in your regular rotation.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9997667074203491}
+{"content": "Showing posts from October, 2016\n\nEssay on 'A visit to a Theater ' For Class 5\n\nTheatre is a place not only for watching movies but also to spend time with your loved ones because in this technological world we find no time to spend with our families. The theatre is a dark room indeed but it fills our mind with a brightness which is filled with joy. The characters in the movie make us laugh till our stomach hurt, we don't realise that in that moment we are not only living in the present but we are making memories which will intensify us into a human who has lived his life to the fullest. The most important thing other than the movie in the theatre which everyone loves is delicious, lip smacking popcorn. I visited the theatre for the first time when I was in my 5th grade, I was really excited to see the dark big room which had the biggest screen ever. The movie which I watched was \"The Lion King\" which was a Hollywood animated movie. I really had fun watching that movie and it was the best time of my childhood. During my teenage, I visited the thea…\n\nEssay on How to deal with Boredom\n\nIt was said that \"Time is like a sword. If you did not cut it, it will cut you.\" This saying was kept all by heart and told in most of our meetings and our events, but we often forget when we feel bored. Many of us miss the practical meaning of this parable and we get ourselves into a whole lot of trouble, boredom, frustration and discontent. We feel that there is no meaning to the life and adopt some wrong behaviors. That's because we do not know what to do and how to get out of the cycle of boredom. All religions have urged the need to exploit the time and spend what is useful. So Eliminating feeling bored task due. It is not a difficult or impossible, but easy to implement if anyone decides to fight the boredom, Here I sum up the most important steps to get rid of the boredom that have proved successful: 1. You must ask yourself why do I feel bored? If the cause is a routine you have to break it either by adding some new things or to do your work differently, …\n\nEssay on Fashion Design\n\nFashion design is the art of the application designs and aesthetics, which are designed on the different tools and components such as clothing and accessories. It is influenced by different cultures that vary according to time and place.  Stylists are keen at the designs that take into account what the signs that point to these designs are. Fashion design is a craft,  an art, and  a skill; these elements must come together with each other to be an attractive design. It is taught in some specialized institutes  for these purposes and there are some centres held various courses for the beginners and advanced under the supervision of designers. They are currently held concerts under the supervision of a commercial reputation of international companies to provide fashion at parties In the presence of media in order to promote the work of these designs. There are many fashion designers who are working as part of a team to get out the best designs, the team contributes to the inspiratio…\n\nEssay on 'You had a Wonderful Dream That Came True After Six Months'\n\nDreams we say are the infinite foam of imagination, it is that wonderful place where each and everything can happen, it is that place where we want to escape in, it is a story which is unsaid to anyone but ourselves. It is said that dreams come true when it is dreamt at dawn but is it true? only time will tell us. At first, I always dreamt in an unclear manner but as I dreamt on and on, I started getting engulfed in it. In my dreams, I always found myself atop of everything, be it a tree where I would climb on the top branch, be it a building where I would find myself on the top floor or be it a ferric wheel where the wheel would always stop on the top where I could gaze at the clouds. It felt very strange at first and I couldn't decipher the code behind it but when the dream kept presenting itself with various scenarios but with the same motive, I had to understand what was going on, it made me curious, it made me irresistible and I was famished for the very knowledge which was…", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.7276533246040344}
+{"content": "Mecocci, Paolacci, and Boccardi: Biomarkers of dementia: from bench to clinical side\n\nBiomarkers of dementia: from bench to clinical side\n\n\nTo date Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) is defined biologically, by neuropathologic change, and clinically treating cognitive impairment as a symptom of the disease rather than the definition of the disease. This approach underlines the complexity of such a disease and should enhance efforts to identify a sensitive but easy to get biomarker that will play a key role when innovative and efficacious treatment for AD will be found because, then it will be possible to treat this disease before the onset of clinical symptoms. Several biomarkers have been studied in cerebrospinal fluid: amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ1-42), total tau (t-tau), phospho-tau (ptau), Aβ1-42/t- tau ratio and Aβ1-42/p-tau ratio are currently revealed in clinical practice. In the next future, it would be useful to dose biomarkers in less invasive samples (such as blood or urine) as like as to use OMICs technologies, including proteomics and metabolomics, to find more predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for AD.\n\n\nDiagnosis of dementia should be set as soon as possible to allow the most appropriate treatment and the use of sensitive biomarkers - defined as indicators of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention that is objectively measured - to support the diagnosis. The ideal biomarker should be: i) sensitive and specific of almost 80%; ii) have a positive predictive value (PPV or the probability that subjects with positive screening test truly have disease-) of almost 90%; iii) reliable, reproducible and repeatable; iv) strictly related to the pathophysiological process; v) able to set an early and differential diagnosis; vi) cheap and slightly invasive. The last published Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) criteria included cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging markers to improve the diagnostic accuracy, early and differential diagnosis between several dementia types and to predict the conversion from the prodromal stage to full-blown dementia. CSF biomarkers are represented by amyloid beta 1-42 (Aβ1-42), total tau (t-tau), phospho-tau (ptau), Aβ1-42/t- tau ratio and Aβ1-42/p-tau ratio. Their diagnostic accuracy is shown in Table 1. To date, the use of biomarkers is based more on practical considerations that reflect resources and experience, rather than on clinical and evidence-based considerations. European guidelines state that they are rated as class II and class III of evidence - i.e., slightly supportive - respectively for positive and differential diagnosis of ADwith some difficulties related to a different reimbursement through different countries.\n\nBiomarkers in clinical practice from healthy subjects through mild cognitive impairment\n\nTo detect cognitive impairment in prodromal or early stages, the use of biomarkers as a screening tool for apparently healthy individuals is still under debate. Firstly because it is not feasible to accurately identify all individuals with prodromal dementia with the sole recruitment of general practice physicians, as demonstrated in the UK, where such an attempt was phased out in two years.1 Secondly, because the clinical course of dementia is not yet amenable to intervention since currently there is no curative drug for such a disease. Therefore, the use of diagnostic biomarkers in the absence of efficacious treatments able to cure or to delay disease progression, do not make available a population screening.\n\nAnother problematic issue is the usefulness of CSF biomarkers in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition of cognitive decline without interference with activities of daily life, with a wide range of prevalence (5-37%), due to changes in criteria and differences in populations studied and methodology.2 Published studies show accuracy for Aβ1-42, t-tau, and p-tau in detecting prodromal AD subjects up to 90% (93.5%) of sensibility and 80% (82.7%) of specificity, but data are widely variable.3 To have an appropriate evaluation it might be essential to know the predictive value (PV) that depends also from prevalence of disease: if the prevalence is low in general population, predictive value will be lower than specificity and sensibility values, hence if prevalence is 5% PV will be lower than in case of 37% of prevalence of disease. However, the CSF mentioned above biomarkers is likely to predict the clinical progression of AD. Sierra-Rio and coll.4 found that MCI and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) individuals with abnormal Aβ42/ phosphorylated tau ratio had a higher proportion of conversion to dementia during 5-year follow-up, supporting the utility of AD CSF biomarkers to predict a clinical decline in subjects with SCD or MCI in the medium term. On the other hand, the normality of AD CSF biomarkers could exclude progression to AD dementia. Although we do not have therapeutic tools for the disease, this prognostic information might have clinical relevance in subjects seeking answers when attending a specialist setting.4\n\nInterlaboratory and interlaboratory variability in dosing CSF biomarkers represent a critical problematic issue to define their accuracy. Therefore different efforts on biomarkers harmonization studies have been made with the introduction of novel assays to provide a minimal lot-to-lot variation and thus leading to a higher agreement between different centers and measurements.\n\nFinally, another limitation is represented by CSF biomarkers usefulness in the oldest olds, the part of population aged 85 years or more, who has been growing very fast in last decades reaching more than 1% of the Italian population. They are an extremely heterogeneous group, also according to the clinical and neuropathological presentation of dementia. In fact, oldest olds can be classified as: i) escapers (who reach 100 years and more without diseases); ii) delayers (who start to be affected by chronic diseases after 85 years old); iii) and survivors (who survive together with their chronic diseases after 85 years old).5 Despite the presence of classical neuropathological hallmarks, oldest old subjects often preserve their cognitive performances. It is unclear if they had better tolerate the adverse effects of neuropathological alterations or if they do not live long enough to express their clinically visible effects. Mattson and coll.6 showed that the diagnostic accuracy of CSF biomarkers for AD decreases with age; nevertheless the negative (NPV) predictive values remains persistently high also in oldest old, allowing to rule out AD even in this class of age.\n\nHowever, biomarkers have beneficial and potential use in the oldest old population, mainly with the evaluation of the progression from MCI to dementia. Adding CSF biomarkers to the usual care diagnostic workup can improve the ability to differentiate between subjects with or without progression to dementia,7 especially for escapers, who might also benefit of their strong negative predictive value. In fact, the exclusion of AD pathology in a well-fit subject older than 85 years means that he could spend the rest of life without the fear of dementia, improving quality of life. Conversely, fit oldest old subjects with the mild cognitive decline with positive biomarkers could be included in clinical trials that currently exclude the oldest olds. In survivors and delayers, the medical practice should be performed according to ethical principles of beneficence, autonomy, justice, integrity, dignity, and vulnerability, so that it is often dispensable to make an accurate diagnosis or to predict MCI conversion in these classes.\n\nPathogenesis of dementia: toward new markers\n\nCSF biomarkers limitations are probably due to an erroneous rationale behind dementia pathogenesis: amyloid and tau hypothesis have been widely studied in recent years, but according to several studies, they should represent a final stage of neuronal damage rather than the primary and only cause of neurodegeneration. Furthermore, Giuffrida and coll.8 even showed that Aβ1-42 monomers have a broad neuroprotective activity related to insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Many other hypotheses have been proposed, and they could contribute all together to dementia pathogenesis (Table 2). Indeed, lumbar puncture is a safe procedure but it is quite invasive and expensive, so it would be more comfortable and cheaper to obtain diagnostic biomarkers from blood taking advantage of new methodologies such as proteomic, lipidomic, and genomic profiling.\n\nNew potential cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers\n\nCerebrospinal fluid visinin-like-protein-1\n\nVisinin-like-protein-1 (VILIP-1) belongs to the family of visinin-like proteins, which are neuronal calcium sensor proteins, and it is implicated in both neuroprotective and neurotoxic functions. In particular, VILIP-1 is released into the CSF from injured neurons and in neurodegenerative diseases. Tarawneh and coll.9 showed a role of this protein as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of AD in subject aged 38-93 years old.\n\nNeurogranin and YKL-40\n\nNeurogranin is a marker of synaptic dysfunction that may be an early pathologic process in age-related neurodegeneration, and a sensitive marker of age-related cognitive abilities, potentially preceding or even acting independently from AD pathogenesis. YKL-40 (chitinase-3 like-1) is a marker of neuroinflammation, and it is up-regulated in various inflammatory conditions and expressed by neutrophils, macrophages, chondrocytes, and vascular smooth muscle cells and astrocytes. Their CSF levels are increased in AD, and decreased in Parkinson dementia or dementia with Lewy Body; moreover, the first one seems to be reduced in vascular dementia and Frontotemporal dementia, and the latter appears to be increased in CSF of people with frontotemporal dementia.10,11 Neurogranin detection along with the β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) (i.e., the enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the formation of an amyloid beta peptide from amyloid precursor protein in AD brain) improves diagnostic performance rather than neurogranin alone. De Vos and coll.11 showed that NGRN/BACE1 ratio was well related with the yearly decline in mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores in patients with MCI and AD.\n\n\nNTP (neuronal thread proteins) are a family of proteins expressed in brain and some neuroectodermal tumor cell lines; ADassociated NTP (AD7c-NTP) seems to be elevated in brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, and even in urine of patients with Alzheimer’s disease reflecting the severity and progression of dementia as demonstrated in several recent studies.2,12 The high accuracy of urine measurement (sensibility of 89% and specificity of 85%) makes of AD7c-NTP a promising biomarker of dementia.\n\nMicrobiota biomarkers\n\nGut microbes can produce secretory products as amyloids, lipopolysaccharides, virulence factors rhamnolipids (RLs), toxins, and other neuroactive compounds; in particular elevated RLs, levels have been found in cerebrospinal fluid of both AD and MCI patients compared to healthy. Moreover, they seem to be related to the AD stages clinical severity.13\n\nBlood biomarkers\n\nAβ1-42/Aβ1-40 ratio\n\nFindings on the relationship between AD pathogenesis and plasmatic Aβ levels are contradictory, but new elaborate techniques revealed a correlation between an increase in the plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio and risk of developing AD.14 Fei and coll.15 also found a link between this ratio and the risk of progression from MCI to AD with a specificity of 70% and sensibility of 85%.\n\nBiomarkers of neocortical amyloid burden (NAB): the fibrinogen gamma chain\n\nIt represents the gamma component of fibrinogen, produced by FGG, a human gene found on chromosome 4. It can predict high NAB when combined with age, yielding a sensitivity of 59% and specificity of 78%16 that increase respectively to 71% and 84% if combined with a 4-plex metabolic panel (phosphatidylcholine, PE 39:7, anandamide, and anandamide isotope).17\n\n\nClusterin is a protein overexpressed in the brain of AD patients associated with the clearance of cellular debris and apoptosis. It has been demonstrated that MCI patients have higher plasmatic clusterin levels compared to healthy controls; moreover higher clusterin levels were associated with significantly lower MMSE scores at baseline and with the longitudinally structural atrophy for patients with MCI.18\n\n\nIt is a protein of neuronal cytoskeleton where it provides mechanical strength and regulates axonal diameter; its levels are higher in AD, FTD and Parkinsonism compared to healthy control, also in oldest olds, and it is related to brain atrophy.19\n\nMetabolic biomarkers\n\nLipidomics research involves the identification and quantification of cellular lipid molecular species and their interactions with other lipids, proteins, and different metabolites. Extensively studied lipidomic biomarkers of AD include abnormal glycerophospholipids (due to an abnormality in the integrity of cell membranes). Notably, Mapston and coll.20 reported a set of 10 phospholipids from peripheral blood that predicted phenoconversion to either aMCI or AD within 2-3 years, with over 90% accuracy.\n\n\nmi-RNA is endogenous ~23-nucleotide non-coding RNA molecules highly conserved in eukaryotes that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional repression. Deregulation in their expression modulate some AD-related genes (such as Aβ, BACE1, tau, α and γ secretase genes) and promotes disease progression affecting levels of Aβ, p-tau and synaptic damage. Recently Reddy and coll.21 reviewed the role as potential biomarkers of miRNAs in blood and CSF from patients with AD showing neuroprotective forms (e.g., miRNAs 101, 124, 219, 16) and neurodegenerative forms (e.g., RNAs-26b, 206, 125, 33) in the brain and hippocampus.22-24\n\n\nSo far it is corroborated the measurement of CSF classical biomarkers (CSF Aβ42, t-tau, and p-tau) in clinical practice, but they are not entirely suitable for AD diagnosis showing several limitations, such as variability inter and intra-laboratory, lack of universal cut-off, partial usefulness in MCI and oldest olds, absence of indication in healthy subjects screening. Hence, efforts are needed to find novel candidates in CSF, or in more suitable and easy to get samples including blood or urine. In the next future, it is hopeful that research will find easily measurable biomarkers that can predict cognitive decline in subjects who have a preclinical, prodromal, or clinical AD.\n\n\n\nLW Chambers, S Sivananthan, C. Brayne Is dementia screening of apparently healthy individuals justified? Adv Prev Med 2017;2017:9708413.\n\n\nPS Sachdev, DM Lipnicki, NA Kochan. The prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in diverse geographical and ethnocultural regions: The COSMIC Collaboration. PLoS ONE 2015;10: e0142388.\n\n\nC Sheng, Y Huang, Y. Han Dissection of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2018;23:1272-91.\n\n\nA Sierra-Rio, M Balasa, J Olives. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers predict clinical evolution in patients with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment. Neurodegener Dis 2016;16:69-76.\n\n\nJ Evert, E Lawler, H Bogan, T. Perls Morbidity profiles in centenarians: survivors, delayers, and escapers. J Gerontol A Med Sci 2003;58:232-7.\n\n\nN Mattsson, E Rosen, O Hansson. Age and diagnostic performance of Alzheimer disease CSF. Neurology 2012;78:468-76.\n\n\nRLH Handels, SJB Vos, MG Kramberger. Predicting progression to dementia in persons with mild cognitive impairment using cerebrospinal fluid markers. Alzheimers Dement 2017;13: 903-12.\n\n\nML Giuffrida, MF Tomasello, G Pandini. Monomeric s-amyloid interacts with type-1 insulin-like growth factor receptors to provide energy supply to neurons. Front Cell Neurosci 2015;9: 297.\n\n\nR Tarawneh, G D’Angelo, E Macy. Visinin-like protein-1: diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in Alzheimer disease. Ann Neurol 2011;70:274-85.\n\n\nS Janelidze, J Hertze, H Zetterberg. Cerebrospinal fluid neurogranin and YKL-40 as biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2015;3:12-20.\n\n\nA De Vos, H Struyfs, D Jacobs. The cerebrospinal fluid neurogranin/BACE1 ratio is a potential correlate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2016;53:1523-38.\n\n\nL Ma, J Chen, R Wang. The level of Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein in urine may be an important biomarker of mild cognitive impairment. J Clin Neurosci 2015;22:649-52.\n\n\nE Andreadou, AA Pantazaki, M Daniilidou, M. Tsolaki Rhamnolipids, microbial virulence factors, in Alzheimer’s disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2017;59:209-22.\n\n\nA Nakamura, N Kaneko, VL Villemagne. High-performance plasma amyloid-β biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease. Nature 2018;55:249-54.\n\n\nM Fei, W Jianghua, M Rujuan. The relationship of plasma Aβ levels to dementia in aging individuals with mild cognitive impairment. J Neurol Sci 2011;305:92-6.\n\n\nNJ Ashton, SJ Kiddle, J Graf. Blood protein predictors of brain amyloid for enrichment in clinical trials? Alzheimer’s Dement 2015;1:48-60.\n\n\nN Voyle, M Kim, P Proitsi. Blood metabolite markers of neocortical amyloid- β burden: discovery and enrichment using candidate proteins. Transl Psychiatry 2016;6:e719.\n\n\nJL Hsu, WJ Lee, YC Liao. The clinical significance of plasma clusterin and Aβ in the longitudinal follow-up of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2017;9:91.\n\n\nJB Pereira, E Westman, O. Hansson Association between cerebrospinal fluid and plasma neurodegeneration biomarkers with brain atrophy in Alzheimer’s disease. Neurobiol Aging 2017;58:14-29.\n\n\nM Mapstone, AK Cheema, MS Fiandaca. Plasma phospholipids identify antecedent memory impairment in older adults. Nat Med 2014;20:415-8.\n\n\nPH Reddy, S Tonk, S Kumar. A critical evaluation of neuroprotective and neurodegenerative MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's disease. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017;483:1156-65.\n\n\nRA Huynh, C. Mohan Alzheimer’s Disease: biomarkers in the genome, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid. Front Neurol 2017;8:102.\n\n\nS Lehmann, A Gabelle, C. Paquet Can we rely only on ratios of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for AD biological diagnosis? Alzheimers Dement 2015;11: 1125-26.\n\n\nX Du, X Wang, M. Geng Alzheimer’s disease hypothesis and related therapies. Transl Neurodegener 2018; 7:2.\n\nTable 1.\n\nThe accuracy of available cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers.22,23\n\nBiomarker Specificity (95% CI) Sensitivity (95% CI) PPV\nAβ1-42 0.58-0.80 0.55-0.82 0.48-0.92\nt-tau 0.61-0.96 0.60-0.98 0.57-0.98\np-tau 0.76-0.86 0.82-0.92 0.86-0.94\nA 1-42/t- tau ratio 0.38-0.86 0.71-0.98 0.57-1.00\nA 1-42/p-tau ratio 0.89-0.96 0.74-0.86 0.83-0.91\n\n[i] CI, confidence interval; PPV, positive predictive value.\n\nTable 2.\n\nThe pathogenic hypothesis of Alzheimer’s dementia.24\n\nHypothesis Mechanism\nInflammatory hypothesis Microglial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokines release, insulin/IGF-1 resistance\nOxidative hypothesis Radical oxidative species exposure, cellular oxidative stress, protein oxidation, protein nitration, glycoxidation and lipid peroxidation.\nCholinergic hypothesis Degeneration of cholinergic neurons, reduction of cholinergic tone in the cortex and hippocampus, cognitive dysfunction\nInsulin resistance Impairments of insulin/IGF-1 signaling and glucose metabolism, impaired synaptic plasticity, synaptic degeneration, cell death\nGut microbiota activity Interactions with the central nervous system through direct and indirect pathways involving vagal nerve activation, cytokine production, and release of neuropeptide/neurotransmitters and short-chain fatty acids\nAbstract views:\n\n\nArticle Metrics\n\nMetrics Loading ...\n\nMetrics powered by PLOS ALM\n\nCopyright (c) 2018 Patrizia Mecocci, Lucia Paolacci, Virginia Boccardi\n\nCreative Commons License", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.9776227474212646}
+{"content": "It seems to have become a common dogma in many countries that whaling is evil, even when it is for food, and that any people who hunt whales are benighted almost beyond redemption. However, there is another side of the story.\n\nThe International Whaling Commission's Scientific Committee in 1981 has made several estimates of the population of Northwest Pacific sperm whales, with the lowest or minimum figure by British scientists indicating the presence of 210,000 mature sperm whales in the area. The present Japanese catch is 890 whales, or 0.4 percent of the total mature whales. Catches at this level do not endanger the survival of the sperm whales and provide a large margin for replenishment of the stock. Japanese whalers carefully follow the scientific recommendations to make sure that the various species are in no danger of becoming extinct or seriously reduced. There is no scientific basis in the The Post's editorial assertion (\"Save the Whales,\" Nov. 28) that the sperm whale stock is endangered.\n\nThe IWC did not decide to ban sperm whaling totally, as has been reported. It left the catch quota in the Northwest Pacific in abeyance, due to the rather wide gaps in the population estimates. Japan, in filing objections to the delay in determining a quota, and to the new IWC requirement for using explosive harpoons on small minke whales, did not do so in defiance of the IWC. It did so only as a precautionary measure to provide for the contingency that the new, explosive harpoons may not be ready for use before the next whaling season, and for the possibility that the IWC may fail to agree on any catch limits before the whaling season opens next fall.\n\nAs regards the ethics of whaling, it is easy for Americans, with their vast expanse of land and their great surpluses of meat and grains, to regard whale meat and whaling with distaste. When Americans did hunt whales, it was only for their oil, not for food. But in Japan, which has very little arable space, the sea has always been the main source of protein, and whales have provided valuable meat for Japanese for many centuries.\n\nThis does not mean that Japanese are any less sensitive than Americans to animal life, but they do draw the line at regarding whales as near-human. Whales probably enjoy more protection from man than any other form of wildlife, and commercial whalers pose no threat to the continued existence of any of the world's whale species. While Japan probably could survive without whale meat, it nonetheless does have a strong interest in retaining some supply as a source of protein in a country that depends on imported food for 50 percent of its diet, and whaling is an irreplaceable means of livelihood for some communities.\n\nIt does not seem entirely appropriate for non-whaling countries to tell people who have long caught whales for food that they must no longer do so because this offends their ethics. If the whales were truly in danger, it would be different, but the IWC has indicated they are not. We believe that Japanese attitudes toward whales as a food source deserve to be respected as much as some environmentalists' pronouncements that whales should not be hunted at all.", "pred_label": "__label__1", "pred_score_pos": 0.8073312044143677}