The unavoidable urgency of a campaign to eliminate the zero lower bound that I wrote about in my 3d anniversary post “Beacons” has taken me away from campaigning for another proposal that is closer to the heart of what it means to be a Supply-Side Liberal: my proposal of a “public contribution program.” Once the campaign to eliminate the zero lower bound is won, I hope to devote more energy to campaigning for a public contribution program.

A public contribution program requires donations to charity in place of higher taxes–or if what needed to be done were less expensive–allowed tax reductions accompanied by required donations. The basic logic is that, in areas where it is possible, public goods should be provided by the nonprofit sector rather than government, with government’s role in those areas being pared back to making sure that people direct enough resources toward that provision of public goods by the nonprofit sector. Or as I wrote in The Red Banker on Supply-Side Liberalism:

… my central proposal for keeping the burden of taxation down while providing abundant public goods: a public contribution system that raises taxes rates, but lets people avoid 100% of the extra taxes by making charitable donations focused on doing things the government might otherwise have to do. …

In my book, it isn’t Supply-Side Liberalism without a serious effort to lower the burden of taxation for any given level of revenue, using everything we know about human nature.

For some time, I have hoped to have a post like this, parallel to my post “How and Why to Eliminate the Zero Lower Bound: A Reader’s Guide.” What finally helped me get this done was coming across a passage from John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty discussing the nonprofit sector. That passage is the grand finale of this post.

I can think of six basic arguments for preferring nonprofit sector action to government action in many areas:

  1. Because the nonprofit sector is more decentralized, it involves a more diverse body of key decision-makers and so can be more creative than government.
  2. In the nonprofit sector, it is easier to sunset programs that don’t work well than in government; people can stop donating to them.
  3. Nonprofit sector provision of public goods tends to be cheaper since wages in the nonprofit sector tend to be lower than in the private for-profit sector, while government wages tend to be higher than in the private for-profit sector.
  4. Even if giving to some charity is required, giving to a charity of one’s choice is much more fun than forking over taxes to the government. Therefore, people will distort their behavior less to avoid required charitable donations than they would to avoid taxes.
  5. Through cognitive dissonance, many who are required to give to charities will end up thinking of themselves as more altruistic and end up actually becoming more altruistic (including for many donating time as well as money to a charity). This tendency will be reinforced by discussing with friends what charity to give to. And children will be brought up surrounded by a culture of giving.
  6. Thinking about which charity to give to will help educate people about the issues surrounding public good provision.

John Stuart Mill argues especially for 1 and 6. I would be glad to hear any other arguments. In all of this, it is important to recognize that the nonprofit sector is far from perfect. But fortunately, we have a lot of experience with government regulation of the nonprofit sector to keep things from going too far off track.

The Core Argument

The core argument for public contribution program can be found in these three posts:

Additional Arguments

Twitter Discussions

Brief Appeals for Relying More Heavily on the Nonprofit Sector Relative to Government, Short Enough to Copy Out Here

The quotation from John Stuart Mill is the grand finale here. The others are from me. I give the name and link to the post they are drawn from first, then the quotation.

Speaking of decentralization, some government functions (such as taking care of the poor) might be better served if they could be decentralized to nonprofit organizations. In particular, such decentralization allows a trial and error process to work its magic as donations shift away from the least effective nonprofits to more effective nonprofits. Because people love freedom, such decentralization of certain government functions has other advantages as well, as I argue in my post “No Tax Increase Without Recompense.” In that post, I propose a way to make sure such nonprofit efforts are adequately funded.

Growing up, I was often told “You love those whom you serve.”  That is a true principle of psychology. If you help someone out without too much of an ulterior motive, parts of your brain outside the localized glow of consciousness start trying to make sense of why you are being so nice. A handy explanation for your subconscious to turn to is that whoever it is means something to you. And this process of what in economists’ jargon would be called “developing a new altruistic link” works even if you know full well that it is happening. I remember when bargaining with the head of my department over the terms on which I would serve (a now completed term) as director of our Masters of Applied Economics program knowing that I had to be ready for a situation in which I would come to care about those students, even though I didn’t know them yet.

Community and religious organizations that get people involved in helping others—especially when they get people involved in helping others who are in especially bad situations—do a lot to help generate new altruistic links that make the world a fairer, more benevolent place in ways that come easily to us, psychologically, after getting over the initial hump of dealing with someone new. Strangers become friends. And our friends’ problems become our own.

Even government policy can help. Paying taxes does very little toward making us care about those who are helped from those tax revenues. But if, instead of raising taxes, we insisted that those who are comfortable contribute a substantial amount to a charity of their choice, as I advocated in my column “Yes, there is an alternative to austerity versus spending: Reinvigorate America’s nonprofits,” we would care more. And caring more, we would be likely to volunteer our time as well as giving money. And best of all, our children would see us helping other people’s children, and learn early on that loving others—even beyond our own families—is what brings us to the highest level of our own humanity.

One key to sustainably getting resources for helping the poor is to do it in a way that causes the fewest economic distortions. In addition to focusing on the right kinds of taxes, to the extent that there must be taxes, I believe that there is great potential in the kind of public contribution system that I talk about in the links in my post “The Red Banker on Supply-Side Liberalism.“ People often hate taxes, so they try to avoid them. Those efforts at tax avoidance are a social waste. So it makes sense to get many of the resources for helping the poor from public contributions that people won’t want to avoid as much as taxes, and that allow those contributing to be creative in making the world a better place. The creativity and flexibility fostered by a public contribution system are also bound to lead to technological progress in ways to help the poor.

For the record, my proposal for dealing with the long-run budget issues that are the heart of the disagreements between Republicans and Democrats is the system of “public contributions” laid out in my post “No Tax Increase Without Recompense.” This public contribution system would help make sure that the poor and afflicted are taken care of while reducing the footprint of the government in society.

[The] public contribution program will do a lot more to take care of the poor and the sick and to honor the elderly than we do now. [We] just need to be careful not to cut back on direct government programs until we are really confident that the decentralized efforts from the public contribution program are taking care of things in specific areas.

Update: This post engendered a lively Facebook discussion, which you can see here


Our body consciousness is so older, thicker and stronger we can’t transcend it easily nor quickly. Lifelong habit energy can’t be annihilated in one life, it takes so many lives to be completely destroyed. Buddhahood or Enlightenment or Complete Nirvana takes place only by going beyond body consciousness. The happening of Enlightenment is also not enough, but to make it perfect, developed and permanent is most important and inevitable.

Buddha has mentioned in his Jatak Kathas, for his uncountable past lives, he had been on journey to transcend body consciousness and to attain Buddhahood. If any trace of body consciousness remains, one can’t attain Complete Liberation from cycle of birth and death i.e., NIRVANA. Before Ultimate Stage of Enlightened Life, there are several other stages, an aspirant has to ascend one by one, by Insight and Meditation constantly and persistently . This itself is Sadhana or Tapas or Austerity.  Buddha calls it Paramitas. There are six Paramitas Buddha has explained in Diamond Sutra, to be practiced, developed and brought to maturity and perfection , viz. 1. Dana (Charity) 2. Sheela (ideal behaviors or morality), 3. Kshanti (Tolerance or Endurance), 4. Veerya (Energy), 5. Dhyana (Meditation) & 6. Prajna (Insight or Noble Wisdom). Bodhisattvas have to perfectly observe these Paramitas / Sadhana to attain Ultimate Liberation from sufferings.

The Bodhisattvas are those earnest disciples who are enlightened by reason of their efforts to attain self-realization of Noble Wisdom and who have taken upon themselves the task to enlighten others. They have gained a clear understanding of the truth that all things are empty, un-born, and of a maya-like nature; they have ceased from viewing things discriminatively and from considering them in their relations; they thoroughly understand the truth of twofold egolessness and have adjusted themselves to it with patient acceptance; they have attained a definite realization of imagelessness; and they are abiding in the perfect-knowledge that they have gained by self-realization of Noble Wisdom.

In the Avatamsaka Sutra Buddha refers to the following ten spiritual bhūmis (grounds or stages):

1. The first bhūmi, the Very Joyous. (Skt. Paramudita), in which one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the truth;

2. The second bhūmi, the Stainless. (Skt. Vimala), in which one is free from all defilement;

3. The third bhūmi, the Luminous. (Skt. Prabhakari), in which one radiates the light of wisdom;

4. The fourth bhūmi, the Radiant. (Skt. Archishmati), in which the radiant flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires;

5. The fifth bhūmi, the Difficult to Cultivate. (Skt. Sudurjaya), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way;

6. The sixth bhūmi, the Manifest. (Skt. Abhimukhi) in which supreme wisdom begins to manifest;

7. The seventh bhūmi, the Gone Afar. (Skt. Duramgama), in which one rises above the states of the Two vehicles;

8. The eighth bhūmi, the Immovable. (Skt. Achala), in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything;

9. The ninth bhūmi, the Good Intelligence. (Skt. Sadhumati), in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction;

10. The tenth bhūmi, the Cloud of Doctrine. (Skt. Dharmamegha), in which one benefits all sentient beings with the Law (Dharma), just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all things.

Well stamped by the seal of “Suchness” they entered upon the first of the Bodhisattva stages. The first stage is called the Stage of joy (Pramudita). Entering this stage is like passing out of the glare and shadows into a realm of “no-shadows”; it is like passing out of the noise and tumult of the crowded city into the quietness of solitude. The Bodhisattva feels within himself the awakening of a great heart of compassion and he utters his ten original vows: To honor and serve all Buddhas; to spread the knowledge and practice of the Dharma; to welcome all coming Buddhas; to practice the six Paramitas; to persuade all beings to embrace the Dharma; to attain a perfect understanding of the universe; to attain a perfect understanding of tile mutuality of all beings; to attain perfect self-realisation of the oneness of all the Buddhas and Tathagatas n self-nature, purpose and resources; to become acquainted with all skillful means for the carrying out of these vows for the emancipation of all beings; to realise supreme enlightenment through the perfect self-realisation of Noble Wisdom, ascending the stages and entering Tathagatahood.

In the spirit of these vows the Bodhisattva gradually ascends the stages to the sixth. All earnest disciples, masters and Arhats have ascended thus far, but being enchanted by the bliss of the Samadhis and not being supported by the powers of the Buddhas, they pass to their Nirvana. The same fate would befall the Bodhisattvas except for the sustaining power of the Buddhas, by that they are enabled to refuse to enter Nirvana until all beings can enter Nirvana with them. The Tathagatas point out to them the virtues of Buddahood which are beyond the conception of the intellectual-mind, and they encourage and strengthen the Bodhisattvas not to give in to the enchantment of the bliss of the Samadhis, but to press on to further advancement along the stages. If the Bodhisattvas had entered Nirvana at this stage, and they would have done so without the sustaining power of the Buddhas, there would have been the cessation of all things and the family of the Tathagatas would have become extinct.

Strengthened by the new strength that comes to them from the Buddhas and with the more perfect insight that is theirs by reason of their advance in self-realisation of Noble Wisdom, they re-examine the nature of the mind-system, the egolessness of personality, and the part that grasping and attachment and habit-energy play in the unfolding drama of life; they re-examine the illusions of the fourfold logical analysis, and the various elements that enter into enlightenment and self-realisation, and, in the thrill of their new powers of self-mastery, the Bodhisattvas enter upon the seventh stage of Far-going (Duramgama).

Supported by the sustaining power of the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas at this stage enter into the bliss of the Samadhi of perfect tranquillisation. Owing to their original vows they are transported by emotions of love and compassion as they become aware of the part they are to perform in the carrying out of their vows for the emancipation of all beings. Thus they do not enter into Nirvana, but, in truth, they too are already in Nirvana because in their emotions of love and compassion there is no rising of discrimination; henceforth, with them, discrimination no more takes place. Because of Transcendental Intelligence only one conception is present-the promotion of the realisation of Noble Wisdom. Their insight issues from the Womb of Tathagatahood and they enter into their task with spontaneity and radiancy because it is of the self-nature of Noble Wisdom. This is called the Bodhisattva’s Nirvana-the losing oneself in the bliss of perfect self-yielding. This is the seventh stage, the stage of Far-going.

The eighth stage, is the stage of No-recession (Acala). Up to this stage, because of the defilements upon the face of Universal Mind caused by the accumulation of habit-energy since beginningless time, the mindsystem and all that pertains to it has been evolved and sustained. The mind-system functioned by the discriminations of an external and objective world to which it became attached and by which it was perpetuated. But with the Bodhisattva’s attainment of the eighth stage there comes the “turning-about” within his deepest consciousness from self-centered egoism to universal compassion for all beings, by which he attains perfect self-realisation of Noble Wisdom. There is an instant cessation of the delusive activities of the whole mind-system; the dancing of the waves of habit-energy on the face of Universal Mind are forever stilled, revealing its own inherent quietness and solitude, the inconceivable Oneness of the Womb of Tathagatahood.

Henceforth there is no more looking outward upon an external world by senses and sense-minds, nor a discrimination of particularised concepts and ideas and propositions by an intellectual-mind, no more grasping, nor attachment, nor pride of egoism, nor habit-energy. Henceforth there is only the inner experience of Noble Wisdom which has been attained by entering into its perfect Oneness.

Thus establishing himself at the eighth stage of No-recession, the Bodhisattva enters into the bliss of the ten Samadhis, but avoiding the path of the disciples and masters who yielded themselves up to their entrancing bliss and who passed to their Nirvanas, and supported by his vows and the Transcendental Intelligence which now is his and being sustained by the power of the Buddhas, he enters upon the higher paths that lead to Tathagatahood. He passes through the bliss of the Samadhis to assume the transformation body of a Tathagata that through him all beings may be emancipated. Mahamati, If there had been no Tathagata-womb and no Divine Mind then there would have been no rising and disappearance of the aggregates that make up personality and its external world, no rising and disappearance of ignorant people nor holy people, and no task for Bodhisattvas; therefore, while walking in the path of self-realisation and entering into the enjoyments of the Samadhis, you must never abandon working hard for the emancipation of all beings and your self-yielding love will never be in vain. To philosophers the conception of Tathagata-womb seems devoid of purity and soiled by these external manifestations, but it is not so understood by the Tathagatas,–to them it is not a proposition of philosophy but is an intuitive experience as real as though it was an amalaka fruit held in the palm of the hand.

With the cessation of the mind-system and all its evolving discriminations, there is cessation of all strain and effort. It is like a man in a dream who imagines he is crossing a river and who exerts himself to the utmost to do so, who is suddenly awakened. Being awake, he thinks: “Is this real or is it unreal?” Being now enlightened, he knows that it is neither real nor unreal. Thus when the Bodhisattva arrives at the eighth stage, he is able to see all things truthfully and, more than that, he is able to thoroughly understand the significance of all the dream-like things of his life as to how they came to pass and as to how they pass away. Ever since beginningless time the mind-system has perceived multiplicities of forms and conditions and ideas which the thinking-mind has discriminated and the empirical-mind has experienced and grasped and clung to. From this has risen habit-energy that by its accumulation has conditioned the illusions of existence and non-existence, individuality and generality, and has thus perpetuated the dream-state of false-imagination. But now, to the Bodhisattvas of the eighth stage, life is past and is remembered as it truly was–a passing dream.

As long as the Bodhisattva had not passed the seventh stage, even though he had attained an intuitive understanding of the true meaning of life and its maya-like nature, and as to how the mind carried on its discriminations and attachments yet, nevertheless, the cherishing of the notions of these things had continued and, although he no longer experienced within himself any ardent desire for things nor any impulse to grasp them yet, nevertheless, the notions concerning them persisted and perfumed his efforts to practise the teachings of the Buddhas and to labor for the emancipation of all beings. Now, in the eighth stage, even the notions have passed away, and all effort and striving is seen to be unnecessary. The Bodhisattva’s Nirvana is perfect tranquillisation, but it is not extinction nor inertness; while there is an entire absence of discrimination and purpose, there is the freedom and spontaneity of potentiality that has come with the attainment and patient acceptance of the truths of egolessness and imagelessness. Here is perfect solitude, undisturbed by any gradation or continuous succession, but radiant with the potency and freedom of its self-nature which is the self-nature of Noble Wisdom, blissfully peaceful with the serenity of Perfect Love.

Entering upon the eighth stage, with the turning-about at the deepest seat of consciousness, the Bodhisattva will become conscious that he has received the second kind of Transcendental-body (Manomayakaya). The transition from mortal-body to Transcendental-body has nothing to do with mortal death, for the old body continues to function and the old mind serves the needs of the old body, but now it is free from the control of mortal mind. There has been an inconceivable transformation-death (acintya-parinama-cyuti) by which the false-imagination of his particularised individual personality has been transcended by a realisation of his oneness with the universalised mind of Tathagatahood, from which realisation there will be no recession. With that realisation he finds himself amply endowed with all the Tathagata’s powers, psychic faculties, and self-mastery, and, just as the good earth is the support of all beings in the world of desire (karmadhatu), so the Tathagatas become the support of all beings in the Transcendental World of No-form.

The first seven of the Bodhisattva stages were in the realm of mind and the eighth, while transcending mind, was still in touch with it; but in the ninth stage of Transcendental Intelligence (Sadhumati), by reason of his perfect intelligence and insight into the imagelessness of Divine Mind which he had attained by self-realisation of Noble Wisdom, he is in the realm of Tathagatahood. Gradually the Bodhisattva will realise his Tathagata-nature and the possession of all its powers and psychic faculties, self-mastery, loving compassion, and skillful means, and by means of them will enter into all the Buddha-lands. Making use of these new powers, the Bodhisattva will assume various transformation-bodies and personalities for the sake of benefiting others. Just as in the former mental life, imagination had risen from relative-knowledge, so now skillful-means rise spontaneously from Transcendental Intelligence. It is like the magical gem that reflects instantaneously appropriate responses to one’s wishes. The Bodhisattva passes over to all the assemblages of the Buddhas and listens to them as they discourse on the dream-like nature of all things and concerning the truths that transcend all notions of being and nonbeing, that have no relation to birth and death, nor to eternality nor extinction. Thus facing the Tathagatas as they discourse on Noble Wisdom that is far beyond the mental capacity of disciples and masters, he will attain a hundred thousand Samadhis, indeed, a hundred thousand nyutas of kotis of Samadhis, and in the spirit of these Samadhis he will instantly pass from one Buddha-land to another, paying homage to all the Buddhas, being born into all the celestial mansions, manifesting Buddha-bodies, and himself discoursing on the Triple Treasure to lesser Bodhisattvas that they too may partake of the fruits of self-realisation of Noble Wisdom.

Thus passing beyond the last stage of Bodhisattvahood, he becomes a Tathagata himself endowed with all the freedom of the Dharmakaya. The tenth stage belongs to the Tathagatas. Here the Bodhisattva will find himself seated upon a lotus-like throne in a splendid jewel-adorned palace and surrounded by Bodhisattvas of equal rank. Buddhas from all the Buddha-lands will gather about him and with their pure and fragrant hands resting on his forehead will give him ordination and recognition as one of themselves. Then they will assign him a Buddha-land that he may possess and perfect as his own.

The tenth stage is called the Great Truth Cloud (Dharmamegha), inconceivable, inscrutable. Only the Tathagatas can realise its perfect Imagelessness and Oneness and Solitude. It is Mahesvara, the Radiant Land, the Pure Land, the Land of Far-distances; surrounding and surpassing the lesser worlds of form and desire (karmadhatu), in which the Bodhisattva will find himself at-one-ment. Its rays of Noble Wisdom which is the self-nature of the Tathagatas, many-colored, entrancing, auspicious, are transforming the triple world as other worlds have been transformed in the past, and still other worlds will be transformed in the future. But in the Perfect Oneness of Noble Wisdom there is no gradation nor succession nor effort, The tenth stage is the first, the first is the eighth, the eighth is the fifth, the fifth is the seventh: what gradation can there be where perfect Imagelessness and Oneness prevail? And what is the reality of Noble Wisdom? It is the ineffable potency of the Dharmakaya; it has no bounds nor limits; It surpasses all the Buddha-lands, and pervades the Akanistha and the heavenly mansions of the Tushita.


Thursday, October 06, 2011

Literature and Philosophy class notes- 4th oct.2011

Today the last chapter, “Towards a Critical Theory of Literature”  from The Philosophy of Modern Literary Theory by Peter Zima, was discussed in the class. This chapter concludes with the ideology of Literature and Philosophy and he conveys the concept of literariness; that every idea has a philosophical background. In the poststructuralist view, it’s asking questions to its own very foundation therefore it’s a theoretical improvement of questioning the literary text. Through this chapter Zima suggests how to build up a new theory and shows the dialectic between openness and closure, polysemy and monosemy; and the relationship between expression plane and content plane. Research therefore is primarily meant to build theory. It synthesises the literary theory which aims at certain degree of universality that can be obtained by permanent dialogue between heterogeneous and particular positions..

 The objectives of a research is to build up theory, by this, one may reject the existing theory, find gap in the existing theory and propose a new theory. A good research, essentially be a construction of literary text, with its multiple possibilities that distinguishes and analyses to verify  in what extent it is relevant. Each literary theory comes out with its own ideology, constructed to convey its truthful representation. In this process the reader has a multiple engagement, he engages himself with the theoretical text very closely. So, for a scholar any text is a material to analyse, justify, categories  and find something new

Although the book The Philosophy of Modern Literary Theory began its chapters with Kantian concept; that one literary text cannot anchor itself to other concept. But as per Jameson and Jacobson’s’ view that one can keep one’s own ideology and  stand on its own field, at the same time  it’s possible to appreciate the ideology of the others, so it’s moving away from Kantian ideology. This sheds new light on the conceptuality of literary structures that exists in literary texts with in particular theoretical perspectives.

Then we moved on to the topic of how to make the class room teaching and learning, interesting and alive.  In the class room, discussions may be one of the solutions, where interactions, sharing ones ideas, and asking questions. Thus every participant actively participates in the   discussion and learns something new from the work that is being read and the teacher would be totally engaged and alert in the class.
Prepared by  Gracy Simon

Pinto, Anil. Literature and Philosophy. Christ University. 4 Oct. 2011. Lecture.
Zima, Peter. The Philosophy of Modern Literary Theory. New Jersey: The Athlone Press, 1999. Print.

No comments:


APOD Retrospective: April 7

A nostalgic look back at Astronomy Picture of the Day
User avatar
Apathetic Retiree
Posts: 15962
Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 2:06 pm
Location: Oklahoma

APOD Retrospective: April 7

Postby bystander » Sat Apr 07, 2012 5:31 am

<< PreviousIndexNext >>

The Virgo Cluster of Galaxies is the closest cluster of galaxies to our Milky Way Galaxy. The Virgo Cluster is so close that it spans more than 5 degrees on the sky - about 10 times the angle made by a full Moon. With its heart lying about 70 million light years distant, the Virgo Cluster is the nearest cluster of galaxies, contains over 2,000 galaxies, and has a noticeable gravitational pull on the galaxies of the Local Group of Galaxies surrounding our Milky Way Galaxy. The cluster contains not only galaxies filled with stars but also gas so hot it glows in X-rays. Motions of galaxies in and around clusters indicate that they contain more dark matter than any visible matter we can see. Pictured above, the heart of the Virgo Cluster includes bright Messier galaxies such as Markarian's Eyes on the upper left, M86 just to the upper right of center, M84 on the far right, as well as spiral galaxy NGC 4388 at the bottom right.

Sister planet stands
together with sister stars.
Celebrate the sky.

NGC 2438 is a planetary nebula, the gaseous shroud cast off by a dying sunlike star billions of years old whose central reservoir of hydrogen fuel has been exhausted. About 3,000 light-years distant it lies within the boundaries of the nautical constellation Puppis. Remarkably, NGC 2438 also seems to lie on the outskirts of bright, relatively young open star cluster M46. But this planetary nebula's central star is not only much older than the stars of M46, it moves through space at a different speed than the cluster stars. Distance estimates also place NGC 2438 closer than M46 and so the nebula appears in the foreground, only by chance along the line-of-sight to the young star cluster. This deep image of NGC 2438 highlights a halo of glowing atomic gas over 4.5 light-years across, extending beyond the nebula's brighter inner ring. Similar haloes have been found in deep images of other planetary nebulae, produced during the earlier active phases of their aging central stars.

In this twilight skyview, a windmill stands in silent witness to a lovely pairing of planets in the west. The picture was recorded on April 5 from Gallegos del Campo, Zamora, Spain. Venus (left) and Mercury (right) are near their much anticipated conjunction in the early evening sky. But even in the coming days, these two evening stars will remain close in the western sky at sunset. In fact, with brighter Venus as a marker, sky watchers will have an excellent guide for spotting Mercury nearby, a planet often hidden in the Sun's glare.

Two galaxies are squaring off in Virgo and here are the latest pictures. When two galaxies collide, the stars that compose them usually do not. This is because galaxies are mostly empty space and, however bright, stars only take up only a small fraction of that space. But during the collision, one galaxy can rip the other apart gravitationally, and dust and gas common to both galaxies does collide. If the two galaxies merge, black holes that likely resided in each galaxy center may eventually merge. Because the distances are so large, the whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years. Besides the two large spiral galaxies, a smaller third galaxy is visible on the far left of the above image of Arp 274, also known as NGC 5679. Arp 274 spans about 200,000 light years across and lies about 400 million light years away toward the constellation of Virgo.

What caused this unusual white rock formation on Mars? Intrigued by the possibility that they could be salt deposits left over as an ancient lakebed dried-up, detailed studies of these fingers now indicate that this is not correct. The light material appears to have eroded away from the surrounding area, indicating a very low-density composition, possibly consistent with volcanic ash or windblown dust. The stark contrast between the rocks and the surrounding sand is compounded by the sand's unusual darkness. This picture was taken from the Mars Express spacecraft currently orbiting Mars. Planetary scientist Emily Lakdawalla, among others, has followed her curiosity about this unusual Martian landform into a fascinating investigation that is eloquently described in the Planetary Society Weblog. The mysterious white rock spans about 15 kilometers across inside a larger crater that spans about 100 kilometers.

During a total solar eclipse, the Sun's extensive outer atmosphere or corona is an awesome and inspirational sight. The subtle shades and shimmering features of the corona that engage the eye span a brightness range of over 10,000 to 1, making them notoriously difficult to capture in a single picture. But this composite of 33 digital images ranging in exposure time from 1/8000 to 1/5 second comes very close to revealing the crown of the Sun in all its glory. The telescopic views were recorded from Side, Turkey during the March 29 solar eclipse, a geocentric celestial event that was widely seen under nearly ideal conditions. The composite also captures a pinkish prominence extending just beyond the upper edge of the eclipsed sun.

Friday's solar eclipse will be a rare hybrid - briefly appearing as either an annular eclipse or a total eclipse when viewed from along the narrow track of the Moon's shadow. Unfortunately that track, never more than about 30 kilometers wide, lies mostly across the Pacific Ocean, beginning south of New Zealand and just ending in Venezuela. Skywatchers along the beginning and end of the shadow track will see an annular eclipse of the Sun, with the Moon's silhouette briefly surrounded by a bright ring of fire, while observers along the middle of the track will witness a total eclipse phase. But the good news is that over a much broader region of the globe, including New Zealand and much of South and North America, a partial eclipse can be seen as the Moon appears to take a bite out of the Sun. If you want to view the eclipse, take care to do it safely, and check the times for your specific location. So, what location is this solar eclipse view from? The picture above was recorded in November of 2003 from within the track of the Moon's shadow across Antarctica, of course.

Why isn't spiral galaxy M66 symmetric? Usually density waves of gas, dust, and newly formed stars circle a spiral galaxy's center and create a nearly symmetric galaxy. The differences between M66's spiral arms and the apparent displacement of its nucleus are all likely caused by the tidal gravitational pull of nearby galaxy neighbor M65. Spiral galaxy M66, pictured above, spans about 100,000 light years, lies about 35 million light years distant, and is the largest galaxy in a group including M65 and NGC 3628 known as the Leo Triplet. Like many spiral galaxies, the long and intricate dust lanes of M66 are seen intertwined with the bright stars and nebulas that light up the spiral arms.

NGC 281 is a busy workshop of star formation. Prominent features include a small open cluster of stars, a diffuse red-glowing emission nebula, large lanes of obscuring gas and dust, and dense knots of dust and gas in which stars may still be forming. The open cluster of stars IC 1590 visible around the center has formed only in the last few million years. The brightest member of this cluster is actually a multiple-star system shining light that helps ionize the nebula's gas, causing the red glow visible throughout. The lanes of dust visible below the center are likely homes of future star formation. Particularly striking in the above photograph are the dark Bok globules visible against the bright nebula. Stars are surely forming there right now. The entire NGC 281 system lies about 10 thousand light years distant.

This week's stereo offering features the now famous Active Region 9393, the largest sunspot group in the last 10 years. Viewed with red/blue glasses, the stereo pair of images merges into one 3D representation of the Sun with AR9393 above and right of center. The images were recorded in extreme ultraviolet light and AR9393 is seen as an extensive array of bright patches laced with large graceful loops of arcing plasma. In the extreme ultraviolet, active regions outshine the solar surface, just the reverse of their appearance as dark sunspots against a bright photosphere when viewed in visible light. Recorded 96 minutes apart on March 30 by the space-based SOHO EIT camera, the pair produces an exaggerated but pleasing stereo effect due to solar rotation -- the Sun's surface moving slightly between the two exposures to offer different perspectives.

Yesterday the Mars Global Surveyor project released a new close-up image of a portion of the Cydonia region on Mars. This cropped and processed version shows an area about 2 miles wide (the full version covers a strip nearly 2.6 miles wide by 25 miles long) and at full resolution has a pixel size of about 14 feet. The rock formation visible is the famous feature seen as the "Face on Mars" in 1976 Viking orbiter images. Such complex looking landforms in the Cydonia region are thought to be the result of erosion and weathering of ancient crust by Martian winds, frost, and possibly surface water. Mars Global Surveyor is scheduled to take other images of the Cydonia region and the Mars Pathfinder and Viking landing sites this month.

Could this fuzzy blob be the key to the whole gamma-ray burst (GRB) mystery? Astronomers the world over are now scrambling to determine the true nature of the extended emission seen to the lower right of the bright source in the above image. The bright object in the center is rapidly fading - and thought to be the first true optical counterpart to a GRB. But is it housed in a galaxy? If so, after the central emission has faded, this galaxy should be identifiable. Today, follow up observations of this blob are planned with the Hubble Space Telescope. If the extended emission does come from a galaxy it would bolster indications that the February 28th GRB occurred in that galaxy, across the universe from us. This, in turn, would imply that GRBs are truly the most powerful explosions ever known.

Why is Umbriel so dark? This dark moon reflects only half the light of other Uranus' moons such as Ariel. And what is that bright ring at the top? Unfortunately, nobody yet knows. These questions presented themselves when Voyager 2 passed this satellite of Uranus in January 1986. Voyager found an old surface with unusually large craters, and determined Umbriel's composition to be about half ice and half rock. Umbriel is the fourth largest and third most distant of Uranus' five large moons. Umbriel was discovered in 1851 by William Lassell.

<< PreviousIndexNext >>
— Garrison Keillor

Return to “Ship's Log: APOD Retrospectives and Collections”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: CommonCrawl [Bot] and 1 guest


Going Places
.Mixed Media 36 x 60 x in

From the series "Spaces" an interpretation of abstracts landscapes .
    I paint remembered landscapes, travelled at different times and part of the world to create a  synthesis of “transformed space ” . The memory enhance the emotion felt at the time of contemplation, allowing a freedom of expression and license to interpret visual boundaries.
Location: Artist’s studio


Friday, March 9, 2012

Germanophobia or Anglophilia: Why Is There Such a Lack of Books Relating to Germany?

Map of Germany from worldatlas.com
I’ve started writing a new book in the past week, a historical urban fantasy set in Germany, and I’ve had the most frustrating time with research. The sheer lack of information on Germany prior to the world wars, particularly World War II, is shocking. Naturally, living in the U.S., I expect a greater proportion of books on America, but the lack of information on Central Europe is still dizzying.

There are vastly more books on England and even France, and of course, there are a number from other areas of the world, particularly Asia, Central America, and the Middle East, if I recall correctly. There are also a number of other locations around the world that suffer a similar lack to Germany in their coverage in English, but this begs the question of why?

The other day, I found a book on castles and fortresses around the world that I hoped would have some information, yet it illustrates my point. This book included castles from England, France, Italy, Russia, Japan, crusader castles, which I take to mean ones in Turkey and Israel, and Indian fortresses. I sat in the middle of the aisle with the book in my lap, aghast. Why had the author illustrated castles from so many other places in Europe and left such a gaping hole in their coverage. Spain was also not included, by the way, a fact I also found unsettling.

To explain my shock a bit better, Germany has lots of castles, and, on the Rhine River, many are closely clustered. Germany is also home to Neuschwanstein, built by King Ludwig II, a beautiful though not terribly defensible castle, but one that exemplifies modern concepts of castles. It looks closer to Cinderella’s castle than any other. Besides this, Germany was the place where the Germanic tribes halted the Roman advance some 2,000 years ago. Germany has also been a major component of military history: from their part in the crusades to the Thirty Years War to the world wars that I think some acknowledgement to their fortifications is in order, yet its lack is louder than its presence.

Again, I ask why? But in this question there are two parts. Is the lack of information in English on Germany due to the fact that it is Germany?  A result of a tight focus on the British Isles, an anglophilia, if you will? Or is it a combination of the two?

If the problem is the first, my only explanation is that, for the past hundred years, Germans have stridden the stage in theater and in Western perceptions as the villains. World War I began that image, and the Nazis solidified it into something truly terrifying. Honestly, when most people think of Germany, some of the first things that come to mind are still Hitler and the Holocaust. With these images, it is no wonder that some might shy away from the study of Germany.

But Germany and the German people have existed well before and after the atrocities of World War II, and while I will never excuse those acts, it would be a shame to allow them to paint our whole perceptions of the country that brought us the printing press, the Protestant Reformation, and some of the most brilliant composers in history.

If, however, the issue is more an overemphasis on Britain, what does it say about us, a country that claims multiculturalism and diversity? Naturally, we would tend to lean toward a country that speaks our same language, but that cannot be an excuse. Yet, time and again, I find that most historical books, whether on knighthood or the Industrial Revolution, are through the British lens, as if England were representative of the entirety of Europe. If so, our perceptions of history and culture are concernedly biased and misleading. Granted, there are commonalities and similarities on certain subjects in European history, but England was by no means the beginning, end, and epitome of European culture, movements, social institutions, or technology.

Whatever the reason or combination of reasons for the lack of material on pre-modern Germany might be, it puts me in a frustrating position as a writer interested in telling stories set in Germany. As of now, my best option is to finish learning German and start browsing Amazon.de for German-language books on the subjects I’m researching.

What are your thoughts? What other parts of the world do you think suffer a lack of English language coverage?

  1. Dear Laura,

    I have been reading your Blog for a while now (ever since you did the Laurell K Hamilton books). I really like it.
    After reading this one I thought I should comment. I have been a student of history, mostly medieval, in the Netherlands. I am Dutch by the way. In my experience there is lots of English language information on countries that either have English as their language or were part of the British Empire. Books about other areas are mostly written in the language of the area. So for German castles you should indeed learn German. However, if you are looking for information on specific areas or castles, try contacting the tourist information of the area through email. They usualy have information in English and a small library of books with information on the castle and the surroundings. Some of the books will probably no longer be in print, but maybe you can find them in used book stores. Another possiblitily is to look for general histories on the country or even on Europe. They often have interesting information and lots of really long bibliographies that could lead you too other books and articles.

    Anyway that is about all I have to say on this. Other then keep up these truly nice blogs. I am always looking forward to what your next topic is going to be.

    Kind regards, Liesbeth

    1. Liesbeth,

      Thank you so much for your sweet words and suggestions. Checking the tourist information centers is a great idea. And yes, I am going to learn German. I’ve been meaning to for a while. I just need to sit down and do it.

      I’m delighted to hear that you’re reading the blog and enjoying it. Comment anytime.


Cerberus by genzoman-d3kkisd

Cerberus, in Greek myth, is a monster that guards the gates of the underworld, the realm of Hades and the dead .Cerberus was one of the monsters born from the union of Echidna and Typhon, both as monstrous and hideous as their offspring. Echidna was half-woman, half-serpent, while Typhon was the most fierce of all creatures.

Among his brothers, the most famous are Hydra, Chimera, and Orthrus. It is generally depicted as a vicious, gargantuan dog with three heads, although accounts may vary. Cerberus is in fact the Latin transliteration of the Greek name Kerberos.

The dominance of Latin throughout the modern Western world was for many centuries precipitated by functionaries of the Roman Catholic Church. However within contemporary non-denominational academic discourse, the use of Latin for non-Roman words is in sharp decline.

Ad blocker interference detected!


Tagged with open

minutes | 2937 plays |
Mark Suppes built a nuclear fusion reactor with no formal science background. Prior to the fusion project, Mark became comfortable tackling the improbable with eight years of web startups. In these startups, he learned that...
minutes | 7333 plays |
minutes | 4049 plays |
and independent satellite...
minutes | 6579 plays |
minutes | 2816 plays |
minutes | 5207 plays |
What happens when global games meet local culture? In this talk, Florence Chee discusses the idea of games as a medium of communication and how it may look the same or different depending on where in the world you may find...
minutes | 2211 plays |
minutes | 1249 plays |

Creative Commons License


Belfast Telegraph

Customers hit in the pocket as cost hikes passed on by business

By John Mulgrew

Retailers and manufacturers are lumbering customers with rising costs at a record level, a new report reveals.

The construction sector in Northern Ireland is now growing for the first time in 11 months, according to the latest Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) with Ulster Bank.

But input costs for retailers are now at a nine-year high.

The report stated: "The rise in charges at companies in Northern Ireland was faster than the UK average.

"According to respondents, the principal cause of higher output prices was the passing on of higher input costs to their clients."

Overall, the economy continues to grow, but at a slower rate, posting a figure of 53.5, where 50 means no change.

That was slightly ahead of overall private sector growth in the UK as a whole. Employment levels are also up, with job levels in construction rising at their fastest rate in 12 months.

Once again the greatest level of expansion was in Northern Ireland's retail sector.

New export orders continued to rise sharply amid growing business from the Republic.

And while Northern Ireland business activity continued to expand in February, "it was the second month in a row in which growth eased", according to Ulster Bank chief economist Richard Ramsey.

"All four segments of the private sector also recorded increases in both output and employment, with construction returning to expansion after 10 months of contraction, and retail - the fastest growing sector - continuing to experience buoyant demand.

"However, significant inflationary pressures continue to be a key theme, with price rises evident across all sectors."

It was the manufacturing sector that saw the most marked increase to costs, with input prices rising at their fastest rate on record.

Mr Ramsey added: "Where possible, manufacturers seem to be passing these increased costs onto their customers, evident in a record rise in output prices.

"Escalating prices are also apparent in the retail sector, with input price inflation at a high of almost eight-and-a-half years.

"The prices that retailers charge to consumers are now rising at their fastest rate since the survey began around 14 years ago."

He said the increasing costs were continuing to be driven by a weak pound. But it's also driving exports - with manufacturing and cross-border retail witnessing a surge.

"The danger is that the economy takes a back seat as politicians grapple with triggering Article 50 in the UK and re-establishing political stability in Northern Ireland."

Belfast Telegraph

From Belfast Telegraph


" Hay Luke! Where ya off to? "  Asked his neighbor John. Adding,
" The steaks are just about done. "  John was referring to the backyard barbeque they had planned to celebrate the start of the summer solstice.

" A carrier brought me a message from Bonesky - referring a fellow professor. Someone brought in a two hundred pound hunk of pyrite. He doesn't want to leave it, so if I want a look I gotta do it now. Shouldn't be more than an hour. Save one for me. "  Said Luke as he saddled his horse.

John shook his head with a smile. He knew Luke would be gone for a lot more than an hour.

" Luke had to go look at a rock. "  John said to his wife, who was busy with the food

" I knew that was going to happen. He's never made a barbeque on time. Stacey called and they were bringing Jack's brother. "  John's wife stated.

Luke rushed through the door of the science lab in geology building.

" Hi there, I'm Luke Summers. "  Luke said while staring at the large pyrite sample resting on a lab bench.

" Hi. "  Said the boy who brought in the pyrite.

" Where did you find this. It's magnificent. "  Said Luke as he walked around it.

" In an abandon mine up Slow Mile Canyon. "  Said the boy beaming over his find.

" Wow. I have never even seen a picture of a sample this magnificent. Would you consider selling it? "  Luck asked.

" Na. I just wondered what it was. It sure looks neat. "  Tommy replied.

" Are there more pieces like this one? "  Luke asked.

" I don't know. It's real narrow in the back, and I could feel the rock shift, so I got out. "  Tommy replied.

A week later Luke and John were on their way to Slow Mile Canyon. When they got there at nine o'clock it was already 106 degrees. The smooth ventricle sandy colored cliffs glistened in the morning sun, and there was no shade or hint of water.

" We should have brought more water.  "  Said Luke shaking his canteen.

" We should have sent a couple under grads to do this. "  Replied John staring upward.

They tied their horses and began to make their way through the bolder field at the mouth of the canyon, then trudged up the narrow ravine toward the top.

" We're gona die up here. "  John said breathing as hard as he could.

" Yah. Isn't what I was expecting. At least not this time of year. "  Said Luke.

" Sounds like their blasting at PICO. "  John stated.

" Pico has a mining operation around here? "  Asked Luke.

" Gold. Probably why there was a mineral deposit like that pyrite. PICO has mine sites all over this area. Could be anybody. "  Answered John.

" Look up there. Looks like a cave. "  Said Luke.

" Well, lets take a look. "  John said looking around for the easiest way up.

" I'm guessing repelling down. "  Luke stated.

" Luke old boy. That's not going to happen. By me anyway. "  John replied looking at the top of the cliff face.

" No rope anyway. "  Luke said as he began climbing towards the cave entrance.

John walked up the ravine a bit to avoid a being hit by a falling rock, or Luke.

" Kinda small. Doesn't look like this has had as visitor for a long time. There's a pictograph though. Some kind of bird. "  Luke reported.

John started to make his way to cave entrance. About halfway he exclaimed, "  Did you feel that? "

" I didn't feel anything. There's some rubble bouncing around. You all right? "  Asked Luke.

" Yeah. " Replied John.

" That's not old. It's a band. The kind they put on cattle. Probably by someone who used to ranch around here. "  John stated.

" Let's see what they left behind. "  Luck said as he crawled into the darkness.

" Smell guano? "  John asked.

" Na. Humid though. Kinda earthy. There's a soft breeze. I guess it goes thought to someplace. There's a heavy quartzite vain. Somebody's hacked it up. Real tight. Looks like a collapse about twenty feet ahead. "  Luke stated.

" How bad? "  John asked.

" Can't tell just yet. The quartzite vain is getting a lot bigger. "  Luke said moving rocks to the side.

" Cave-in, blasting, let's go. "  Suggested John shining his lite around.

" Looks sound. Besides, it's cool in here and an oven out there. " Luke replied while pushing rocks from the cave-in out of his way.

" That breeze hits the spot. Here's the remains of a cigar. "  John said.

" Did you touch it? "  Asked Luke.

" Why? "  John replied.

" You hope it's the remains of a cigar. "  Luke chuckled.

" Very funny, and no, I didn't touch it. But to make sure, here, what's it taste like? "  Said John, pushing the item in question toward Luke with his foot.

" I'll take your ward for it, for now. Put it you pocket, and we can discuss it later. "  Luke suggested.

" I'll leave it for the next passer-by if you don't mind. "  Replied John.

" Ah. The vain looks untouched up ahead. "  Luke stated.

Thirty minutes later they where both on hands and knees making their way further into the cave. They were mesmerized by the quality of the quartz crystals protruding from the vain on the side of the cave.

" Ah. Pyrite. "  Luke announced focusing his light on a portion of the quartz vain.

" Significant? "  Asked John.

" Na. It looks like it's just the beginning of the pyrite deposits. Seems to increase from here. "  Luke replied shining his light along the vain.

The thought of making a grand find drove them further into the mountain. Before long, Luke was on his stomach, and John was on his back squeezing inch by inch deeper and deeper into the dark.

" Kinda tight. "  Said John.

" Widens up a bit about three feet in front of me, and I can see a pin point of sun light. There's water seeping from the roots hanging from the ceiling, and the rocks a bit cooler too. "  Luke stated.

" I can't go much further. "  Said John in a strained voice.

Robert Evan Howard


Michael Barenboim

The leader of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on playing Beethoven

In August 2010, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel Barenboim launched the ‘Beethoven for All’ tour. Encompassing performances of Beethoven's Nine Symphonies in four continents, it culminates with a complete Symphony cycle at this year’s Proms. And the orchestra’s recording of these iconic works is out as part of the ‘Beethoven for All’ cycle on Decca Classics on 18 June.

What has it been like to be involved in this Beethoven project?
It was planned several years in advance, to take place over a number of years, not just one summer. So, the first time we did the whole cycle was in Buenos Aires two summers ago. It's the first time for this orchestra that we had the chance to work on something like this over the span of years.

And this deep involvement with the works has presumably changed your relationship with them?
Yes I think for a lot – actually for all – of the members of the orchestra it was a great learning experience. And also often when you learn something thoroughly, and then you leave it for a few months, and then you take it back, you get to a whole new level of understanding. So when we played it last summer, we probably played it differently than how we played it two summers ago and this summer we’ll probably play it yet differently again. In that way it develops in, I hope, a positive way.

Michael BarenboimUnder the umbrella title 'Beethoven for all', you've been touring in four continents. How do different audiences react?
The idea is that as different as the people in different countries might be, their reactions must have something similar. Otherwise we would probably have to play differently for each audience, which we don’t. So, in a way, there is always a similarity in the reaction, some human response that resembles everywhere else, whether in South Korea or Argentina. Of course there are different traditions, for example, the classic thing with whether to clap between the movements, but there’s a human reaction to music which is universal I would say. That’s why it’s ‘Beethoven For All’ as in a sense it’s music that is written for all humanity.

And this set of the Symphonies was recorded when you were playing in Cologne...
We played all Nine Symphonies there in five concerts and I remember it being all very tiring. Because of the recording we had to play everything twice: in the morning we had to play the programme that we would play in the evening. And it’s not something that’s really easy to do over a span – you can do it one day, or two days – but if you have to do that for a whole week, it’s quite tiring. And we like to work in a lot of detail; to work very hard. But I think that it was also a great journey for the orchestra, you really had to push yourself. I remember being very happy.

In a nutshell, could you give an overview of Beethoven's Symphonies?
Of course there are similarities between all the Symphonies as they’re written by the same composer, but each one has its own idiom and principal idea. In that sense they are completely different. If you think, the Seventh Symphony and the Eighth Symphony were written almost one after the other, and when you listen to them they bear almost no resemblance to each other. It's also interesting to see the development of Beethoven as a composer, from the First via the milestone of the Third to the Ninth, which is a completely other kind of writing than before. Also there are certain gestures and characters that he develops that get more and more present, or less and less present. Unlike Haydn and Mozart Symphonies, each forms a world of its own, its own universe.

Michael BarenboimThe West-Eastern Divan Orchestra is founded on the idea of 'equality, cooperation and justice' for all, with Arab and Israeli musicians sitting side by side. What is it like to play in this ensemble?
There’s something that comes from grouping people from that region - [Israel, Palestine and the Middle East] - which you don’t have from Germany, England or France. But there’s also a certain energy and drive that stems from the situation in the region, and also all the members are people who really want to be in the orchestra. They stand behind it and give 100 per cent every time, so that, of course, creates an atmosphere that’s very intense. When we rehearse it's only about the music and getting the best result. But also we see music not as something separate from life but something that's integrated into society. It can take you out of your social environment, but it can also explain and make you understand it.

How influential has your father, Daniel Barenboim, been on your musical life?
I am lucky to have enjoyed a very thorough and good musical education, and a lot of that is thanks to him. It's also thanks to the Divan orchestra. I started coming to it when I was 14, and so I can more or less say that my musical development, and my instrumental development, happened there.  My violin teacher was the coach for the first violins there, for example, and I learned a lots of things about music in general. And I’m very privileged to have someone like my father to ask questions to like that, and who can help me for anything.

The orchestra will be returning to the Proms across five concerts this summer. How’s that going to be?
For me personally, the experience of playing at the Proms has always been overwhelming. It’s not only because of the number of people that are there, it’s that the atmosphere in this place is so special you really want to come back as much as you can. I’ve never come anything remotely close to this feeling anywhere else and I’m not only saying that because it’s you. But it’s really true – it’s something special that happens there, I can’t really explain it. And I wouldn’t want to miss it. I mean, we’ve played there before and each time it was amazing, for us. I hope for them, the audience, also.

'Beethoven for All' is out on 18 June on Decca Classics and is available on iTunes at the special price of £9.99 only for two weeks.

James Naughtie talks to Daniel Barenboim in the July issue of BBC Music Magazine, out now.


Fiction is not science

I would be surpised if Asimov thought his laws could become the basis of the real science of AI or sentient robots. The fun of his short stories, and probably of writing them as well must have been been also coming from the quirks of the interactions of the laws with the real world, and how their vagueness permitted paradoxes, interpretations, and doubts in the minds of both humans, and robots. The Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence (SingInst) has been studying the ethics of AI and now published a new site,, devoted to the popular discussion of the three laws of robotics, and their fallacies. Hosting a blog (should it be a wiki?), it will foster the right kind of public debate.


The Genetic Link with Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1

A person with type 1 diabetes has white blood cells that attack islets, cells that produce insulin, because they read them as a foreign substance per the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, DRIF (DRIF, 2016). This is a rare disorder that mainly happens inside of Caucasians. Only about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1. Since this is also known as juvenile diabetes, many people wonder if it is caused by genetics.

According the American Diabetes Association, ADA, children must inherit risks from their mother and father (ADA, 2017). However, most people that are at risk for type 1 diabetes never develop it. Scientists are currently researching on environmental factors that trigger the development of the disease.

There are several different factors that could possibly be linked. Type 1 diabetes is more common in colder climates. There are more cases that are reported during the winter than other months (ADA, 2017). So, temperature could very well be a factor.

A child’s diet at a young age is also being examined. People who are breastfed are less likely to develop type 1 diabetes (ADA, 2017). Viruses can also trigger type 1 diabetes, even if the virus is mild in most cases.

The development of type 1 diabetes normally take several years. Per the ADA, “In experiments that followed relatives of people with type 1 diabetes, researchers found that most of those who later got diabetes had certain autoantibodies in their blood for years before” (ADA, 2017). Autoantibodies are antibodies that have started attacking good cells and tissues in the body.

Genetics does play a role inside of the development of type 1 diabetes. However, it cannot be the only factor since people who are at risk normally do not develop the disease. There must be some environmental factors that set it off.

If type 1 diabetes not completely genetic, then what are some things that a person can do to make sure that their child does not develop it? Making sure that your child is eating a healthy diet is a great idea. Due to the research from the ADA, breastfeeding would be recommended for your child.

If your child becomes sick, it is best to seek medical help. Since some viruses can trigger type 1 diabetes, it is important to have your child checked, especially if you know they are at risk for developing the disease.

Limiting the amounts of trans fats and the sodium intake of your child should help as well. Not only that, changing your diet and exercising will lower your risk for type 2 diabetes.

In conclusion, genetics undeniably plays a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. However, it is not the deciding factor. Although there is not certain evidence of the possible environmental causes, studies show that colder climates, diet, and viruses can all trigger the start. Asking your doctor questions about type 1 diabetes will help you stay educated on what will be best for your child.

American Diabetes Association. (2016). Genetics of diabetes. American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from

Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. (2016). What is type 1 diabetes?. Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. Retrieved from


Our Story

Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) is an award winning community arts organization that offers high-caliber arts programming that ignites creative expression, cultivates elders' role as bearers of history and culture, and generates new pathways to connect them to their communities. ESTA's residencies are a springboard for developing and researching replicable programs, and through our training we provide opportunities for organizations to help serve this growing population.

ESTA's programs address needs arising from the rapid aging of New York City's population. In less than 10 years, older adults will outnumber youth. Many are looking for meaningful, creative ways to engage with their community. Our city needs a major paradigm shift in the types of services delivered to communities, and ESTA's programs, which serves isolated, low-income older adults in areas that are art deserts, has been recognized as a model program fulfilling this mandate. Interested in getting involved? Contact us!

Susan Perlstein, Founder

Susan Perlstein, Founder

Starting in 1979 by Susan Perlstein with a single living history theater workshop at the Hodson Senior Center (the nation's first senior center located in the heart of the South Bronx), ESTA soon grew to work in five other senior centers in the Bronx, and from there it became a citywide program. The performing groups that emerged, all working with material drawn from their own lives, laid the basis for the formation of the Pearls of Wisdom, an acclaimed ensemble of elder storytellers that continue to tour New York City to this day. Soon after, ESTA began to explore the use of other art forms such as writing, dance, and the visual arts so that living history theater quickly became living history arts.

Our Methodology

Living History is the main methodology through which ESTA conducts all its programs. Our methodology is grounded in the belief that art provides a significant opportunity for social engagement. Much like physical exercise, some of the benefits of long term participation in arts activities include increased brain function and general well-being. Studies show that when older individuals have a sense of control or mastery in what they are doing, and are exposed to situations that enhance meaningful social engagement with others, they experience positive health outcomes. ESTA's art programs promote creative risk-taking and the building of social skills, which include participation and interpersonal interaction. As the programs are attended by the elders week after week, the positive effects on the individuals' mental and physical state are multiplied.

Our Values

ESTA values work that sheds light on stories that might otherwise go untold.

ESTA advocates for equal arts access on behalf of older adults and the artists who challenge traditional notions about how people experience aging.

ESTA strives to foster the idea of healthy aging by focusing on the potential of the individual through creative expression.

ESTA supports the creation and presentation of the elders' art and the opportunity they have for strengthening community relationships.

ESTA acknowledges elders as artists and respects them as creative individuals.


Free Resources

Subitizing Worksheet

Prepare Your Child for a Lifetime of Math Achievement

A child’s math skills in pre-school and kindergarten are a primary indicator of his or her overall academic success. Yet, research shows that less than 2.5 percent of each school day is spent on teaching young learners mathematics.

If you’re reading this, then you are already motivated to help your child get a head start on their journey toward mathematics. Fret not your interest in bolstering your child’s math education doesn’t make you a tiger parent. It’s a fact, for decades early education has been focused on “reading, writing and arithmetic” – in that order. The focus on early literacy is paying off. Yet today, mathematics is still on the bottom of the priority list for early learners; while a vast amount of research points toward the need to introduce mathematics education at an early age and spend more time teaching it.

You’re Not the Only One!

Academics, researchers, educators, policymakers, and business leaders are all calling attention to the need for more math education in the U.S. And successful mathematics education begins early. The National Academy of Science has called for increasing and improving K–12 science and mathematics education in order to secure and maintain the country’s worldwide foothold in technology innovation. The Common Core State Standards Initiative increases math education in the early grades.

Build on Your Child’s Natural Ability for Number Sense

It’s true, the ability for conceptual subitizing – a key component of number sense – begins in infancy. As children grow, they naturally show the ability to subitize. As parents, you can build on that natural gift by helping your child train their brains to quickly identify sets of numbers, know how numbers relate to each other and solve traditional mathematical equations. Mastery of number sense skills frees children from relying on finger or nose counting which often leads to mistakes and slows students down as they progress to more challenging math work.

The KENS Math methodology focuses on the development of three essential number sense skills:

  1. Subitizing– the ability to see a set of objects instantly without counting. Well-developed subitizing skills allow students to process math equations quicker and avoid mistakes common to counting.
  2. Creating number combinations– traditional math facts like 2 + 2 =4
  3. Recognizing number magnitude using number lines– linear representations of number magnitude help children remember numbers more easily, particularly larger numbers. And number memory is strongly related to academic achievement.

Also, a vast amount of research indicates that subitizing, number line, and number magnitude skills are reliable predictors of later math achievement at all grade levels. These skills are essential to the development of basic math skills including addition and subtraction. Linear board games and play-based math activities also reinforce those skills.

Mathphobes Can Teach Number Sense!

The good news is that number sense isn’t quantum physics, so you can help your child embrace these concepts through fun interactive activities and games at home. Here is how to kick start your number sense brain training at home:

  • Spend 2 minutes a day practicing subitizing. Using the KENS Math subitizing flashcards have your child practice subitizing at each level. When he or she can identify the set of dots in a second, he’s mastered that card. When he can identify each card in that level he’s ready to move on to the next level. What is subitizing?
  • Play math games 3 times a week. Linear board games and play-based math activities reinforce number sense skills. You can easily make fun math games with things you have around the house – dominos, a pair of dice, etc.
  • Incorporate number combinations during daily activities. For example ask your child questions like, “If you have 3 chicken nuggets on your plate, and you eat one, how many are left?”
  • Play teacher – the KENS Math Assessment Tests and free exclusive printables to use at home


How Personal Injury Lawyers are Quickly Settling Cases

A personal injury claim can take a couple of years to move through the court system. However, more and more personal injury lawyers are taking advantage of a new legal strategy that helps to resolve injury claims in a fraction of the usual time. Settlement conferences, which use mediation, are similar to arbitration in bringing the claim before a neutral third party with experience in this area of law. The mediator will work with both sides to try and resolve the case so that it doesn't have to go to trial.

How it works.

Following the discovery phase of litigation when personal injury attorneys work to learn all they can about lawsuit-related factors, a pretrial is scheduled and the judge may recommend a settlement conference to try and resolve the issues in an expedient and fair manner. A date will be set when opposing lawyers and their respective clients will meet in an informal proceeding to summarize their findings and look for common ground on which to settle the case. Typically, the plaintiff will ask a certain amount for damages, and the defendant will counter with a lower offer. Both sides will go back and forth with the help of the mediator to try and agree on settlement terms. The process can take anywhere from a few hours to all day. One or both parties may only go through the motions rather than seriously try to settle as a way of learning more about the opposing side so they can prepare adequately for trial. Some experts claim that anywhere from two-thirds to ninety-seven percent of claims that go through a settlement conference are successfully resolved.

There are several advantages to this approach. One is that it is faster waiting for a trial, with a date set for the conference within a few months of discovery. Another benefit is that it is cheaper than going to trial, since no witnesses and perhaps limited exhibits are included in the proceeding. A third positive outcome is that everyone's stress level is reduced, and the claim can end in a satisfactory way for both parties.

If both parties and their personal injury lawyers Toronto are not committed to the settlement conference option, it has little chance of success. One side may go through the motions just to please the judge, with no intention of adjusting compensation demands or offers in negotiation. Another downside is that neither party will likely get what he or she really wants, so both must be willing to negotiate and surrender part of their expectations.

Settlement conferences are being increasingly used in the court system. Understanding how they work and being prepared can optimize chances for a good outcome. Speak to an experienced lawyer like to discuss the possible strategy of your case.


Videos: 10 Utterly Devastating Film Endings That Totally Came Out Of Nowhere

This is a new video from WhatCulture that lists 10 utterly devastating film endings that totally came out of nowhere. Most films follow the standard tropes and normal routes, leaving you expecting a specific ending that fits within that genre. Family friendly films don't typically toss out a deeply depressing and unexpected ending, like in Old Yeller. Some through out all conventions just for the sake out shocking or surprising the audience. Are there any endings that they missed? Check out the video below.


Cosmic Meditation

Cosmic Meditation

The Technique of Cosmic Meditation represents a revival in the understanding of how simple and effective meditation can be. The Cosmic Meditation technique is the natural procedure for allowing the mind to gain a state of maximum strength and clarity while the body settles into deep rest. The physiological changes which accompany this state of restful alertness account for the wide range of immediate and cumulative benefits of Cosmic Meditation program.

Though the Cosmic Meditation technique is enjoyable to do, people do not practice it for the experience of meditation but rather for the benefits in daily life. For maximum results, a person practices the Cosmic Meditation technique for about 25 minutes in the morning and again in the early evening before dinner.

How does one learn the art of Cosmic Meditation?

We have designed a seven steps course, standard throughout the world, for learning the cosmic meditation technique. The course begins with two introductory lectures.

The First explains the general benefits of the Cosmic Meditation program and the Second gives an overview of how the technique works.

The third step is a personal interview with a Cosmic Meditation instructor. If a person decides to learn the technique after hearing the lectures, he must complete a one – page application form which becomes the basis of the interview.

The next step in learning is personal instruction.  In this step, an instructor teaches how to do this cosmic meditation in detail.

From this fourth step on, as the new meditator begins practising the Cosmic Meditation technique on his own for 15 to 25 minutes morning and evening, he also begins enjoying the benefits of the program.

The Fifth, Sixth and Seventh steps of the course are on the three days following the day of personal instruction.

Once a person completes this seven step course, he is capable of enjoying all the benefits of Cosmic Meditation benefits.

The Cosmic Meditation Technique, Concentration, and Contemplation

Most meditation techniques other than the Cosmic Meditation technique fall into two categories: concentration and contemplation. Concentration techniques, nearly endless in variety, are all those which involves an effort to focus the mind on a particular thought, sensation, image, part of the body, or other objects of experience. Typical concentration technique requires that a person count his breaths, staring at a candle flame, maintain an image of light in the mind’s eye or a sweet taste in the mouth, hold a particular thought in the mind, or try to make the mind blank. Concentration techniques waste energy in controlling and focusing mental activity, thereby increasing stress and strain, whereas the Cosmic Meditation technique requires no effect either to control, direct or focus the mind. A distinguishing mark of concentration techniques is the requirement to push random thoughts out of the mind and hold the mind on the object of concentration whenever the mind tends to wander. When learning the Cosmic Meditation technique, a person discovers that a wandering mind and random thoughts are natural, and controlling the mind in such an unnatural manner is incorrect Cosmic Meditation practice.

Contemplative techniques comprise the second principle category of meditation methods other than the Cosmic Meditation technique. When most Westerners describe what they believe meditation to be, they describe the contemplative process. Contemplation involves thinking about an important idea or question in a free and unconstrained manner.

Cosmic Meditation – Essence of Yoga

The Key Success in any enterprise is epitomized by Lord Krishna ‘s advice to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita: “Established in Yoga, perform an action, ” for “Yoga is a skill in action.” The word “Yoga” means “Union”, the Union of outer, ever-changing, seeking nature of mind with the inner source of thought, Being, defined as a field of bliss consciousness. Established in Yoga means that this state of the union is permanent, that the mind is permanently attuned to that inner richness, never out of touch with its own essential nature.

Why is this called “Skill in Action”? We liken the practice of Cosmic Meditation to pulling an arrow back on a bow- a process that, with a minimum expenditure of energy, sends the arrow flying forward with maximum force. Cosmic Meditation, by bringing the mind to the state of restful alertness, allows the individual to live a life most efficiently and skillfully, utilizing his maximum potential. He finds that he can do less, expend less energy and yet accomplish more.

The need for a Teacher

Each person learns the Cosmic Meditation Technique at his or her own pace. Instruction in the technique is entirely experience based, meaning that each succeeding step of instruction is tailored to each step of the person’s experience in learning, Initial experiences during first stages of learning Cosmic Meditation techniques vary widely from person to person; therefore, instruction must vary widely from person to person.  When a person takes the initial Cosmic Meditation course, he learns the Cosmic Meditation, but he does not learn how to show others the proper way to handle all experience that arises when first learning the technique.

Consequently, the initial Cosmic Meditation course no more qualifies a person to teach the technique than a few psychotherapy sessions qualify a person as a psychotherapist.

 How can one do this at home?

After learning Cosmic Meditation technique properly from Instructor, a person can easily do this meditation regularly for 20 minutes, two times, every day in the home.  No need to change Food Habits, Life Style and any religious belief.

The Cosmic Meditation Technique –

The Cosmic Meditation technique is taught in a standard seven-step course, which includes public lectures, private instruction and group seminars. At each step of instruction, new knowledge is presented to provide a clear understanding of your growing experience.

Step 1: Introductory Lecture— A vision of all possibilities through the Cosmic Meditation program (1 hour)

Step 2: Preparatory Lecture—The mechanics and origin of the Cosmic Meditation technique (1 hour)

Step 3: Personal Interview—Interview with a qualified teacher of the Cosmic Meditation program right after the Preparatory Lecture (10-15 minutes)

Step 4: Personal Instruction—Learning the Cosmic Meditation technique (1-2 hours)

Step 5: First Day of Checking—Verifying the correctness of the practice and further instruction (1-2 hours)

Step 6: Second Day of Checking—Understanding the mechanics of the Cosmic Meditation technique from personal experiences (1-2 hours)

Step 7: Third Day of Checking—Understanding the mechanics of the development of higher states of consciousness (1-2 hours)

This seven-step programme is sufficient to establish everyone in the correct understanding and practice of the Cosmic Meditation Technique.

After this, one only needs about 15 to 20 minutes of the Cosmic Meditation Technique in the morning and evening.

Periodic verification of experience is encouraged to ensure that maximum results are being gained at all times.

Although it only takes a few days to actually learn the technique, the programme continues, offering the opportunity to enjoy group meetings and advanced lectures for those who wish to take advantage of them.

Cosmic Meditation Program & Its Benefits

  1. Cosmic Meditation is as old as time. It was introduced by Adi Yogi Lord Shiva, from the Vedic Tradition of India, the most ancient tradition of Total Ancient Knowledge on earth.
  2. Cosmic Meditation is a simple, natural, effortless mental procedure which takes the mind to deeper levels of the thinking process until the conscious mind arrives at the source of thought, the field of pure consciousness—Cosmic Consciousness, Bliss Consciousness.
  3. This process can be likened to a river which naturally and effortlessly flows into the ocean and gains the status of the ocean.
  4. Cosmic Meditation is practised for twenty to thirty minutes in the morning and evening while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It dissolves deep stress in body and mind and opens to our awareness a new experience of a relaxed life that is more alert, more creative, and more fulfilling.
  5. Cosmic Meditation is a programme to unfold the full potential of life. It is the most direct way for the fulfilment of the supreme philosophy of life, where the individual lives life in full enlightenment, and where the individual breathes life in Cosmic Reality. It is universally applicable for the well-being of the individual and society as a whole.

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Cosmic Meditation”

Powered by


King Lear

Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear is a detailed
description of the consequences of one man's decisions.
This fictitious man is Lear, King of England, who's
decisions greatly alter his life and the lives of those
expects, a man of great power but sinfully he surrenders
all of this power to his daughters as a reward for their
demonstration of love towards him. This untimely abdication
of his throne results in a chain reaction of events that
send him through a journey of hell. King Lear is a
metaphorical description of one man's journey through hell
in order to expiate his sin.
As the play opens one can almost immediately see that
Lear begins to make mistakes that will eventually result in
his downfall. The very first words that he speaks in the
play are :-

"...Give me the map there. Know that we have
In three our kingdom, and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths while we
Unburdened crawl to death..."
(Act I, Sc i, Ln 38-41)

This gives the reader the first indication of Lear's intent
to abdicate his throne. He goes on further to offer pieces
of his kingdom to his daughters as a form of reward to his
test of love.

"Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous
And here are to be answered. Tell me, my
(Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state),
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
where nature doth with merit challenge."
(Act I, Sc i, Ln 47-53)

This is the first and most significant of the many sins that
he makes in this play. By abdicating his throne to fuel his
ego he is disrupts the great chain of being which states
that the King must not challenge the position that God has
given him. This undermining of God's authority results in
chaos that tears apart Lear's world. Leaving him, in the
end, with nothing. Following this Lear begins to banish
those around him that genuinely care for him as at this
stage he cannot see beyond the mask that the evil
wear. He banishes Kent, a loyal servant to Lear, and his
youngest and previously most loved daughter Cordelia. This
results in Lear surrounding himself with people who only
wish to use him which leaves him very vulnerable attack.
This is precisely what happens and it is through this that
he discovers his wrongs and amends them.
Following the committing of his sins, Lear becomes
abandoned and estranged from his kingdom which causes him to
loose insanity. While lost in his grief and self-pity the
fool is introduced to guide Lear back to the sane world and
to help find the lear that was ounce lost behind a hundred
Knights but now is out in the open and scared like a little
child. The fact that Lear has now been pushed out from
behind his Knights is dramatically represented by him
actually being out on the lawns of his castle. The
terrified little child that is now unsheltered is
dramatically portrayed by Lear's sudden insanity and his
rage and anger is seen through the thunderous weather that
is being experienced. All of this contributes to the
suffering of Lear due to the gross sins that he has
The pinnacle of this hell that is experienced be Lear
in order to repay his sins is at the end of the play when
Cordelia is killed. Lear says this before he himself dies
as he cannot live without his daughter.

"Howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones.
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so
That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone
for ever!
I know when one is dead, and when one lives.
She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking glass.
If that her breath will mist or stain the
Why, then she lives."
(Act V, Sc iii, Ln 306-312)

All of this pain that Lear suffered is traced back to
the single most important error that he made. The choice to
give up his throne. This one sin has


CLIL: an Introduction at the Depth Analysis

If you are involved in the creation or design of visual documents, an understanding of color will help when incorporating it into your own designs. Choices regarding color often seem rather mystical, as many seem to base decisions on nothing other than “it looks right.” Although often told I had an eye for color, the reason why some colors worked together while others did not always intrigued me and I found the study of color theory fascinating.

While attending the University of Minnesota I enrolled in almost every course I could from different departments: graphic design, interior design, and fine arts. During my studies, I learned that there were 2 main reasons why scholars investigated color—the first involved the communication of colors; the other involved the application of color.

What is red? Candy apple red, blood red, catsup red, rose red… to try and communicate a specific hue is difficult without some sort of coding system. Early in the 1900’s, Albert Munsell, a professor at an art school in Boston developed a color system which offered a means to name colors. With a published system, people could be specific about which red they were referring. Munsell’s system has been reworked for today’s use with the Pantone color system, TRUEMATCH, CIE systems and others.

html redHTML Red

pantone redPantone® Red

warm redPantone® Warm Red

truematch redTRUEMATCH® 6-a

With respect to the arts, color was part of the realistic, visual representation of form, but one group of painters abandoned the traditional practices regarding color in painting. This group of artists were influenced by Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. Led by Henri Matisse, they were known as the Fauves, or “the wild beasts.” Their exuberant use of brilliant hues seem to disregard imitative color1. Whereas other artists had used color as the description of an object, the Fauves let color become the subject of their painting. A painting in the “Fauvist Manner” was one that related color shapes; rather than unifying a design with line, compositions sought an expressiveness within the relationships of the whole. This turn from tradition brought an integrity to color in that color was regarded on its own merit.

The next several pages of this site offer a tutorial regarding color theory. After reviewing the information, I hope you will see that the successful use of color is not at all mystical, and that by understanding a few things about color, it is possible to incorporate into your designs with a confidence based on tested concepts and methods.

A color is described in three ways: by its name, how pure or desaturated it is, and its value or lightness. Although pink, crimson, and brick are all variations of the color red, each hue is distinct and differentiated by its chroma, saturation, intensity, and value.

Chroma, intensity, saturation and luminance/value are inter-related terms and have to do with the description of a color.

Chroma: How pure a hue is in relation to gray
Saturation: The degree of purity of a hue.
Intensity: The brightness or dullness of a hue. One may lower the intensity by adding white or black.

Shade and tint are terms that refer to a variation of a hue.

Shade: A hue produced by the addition of black.
Tint: A hue produced by the addition of white.

Available color systems are dependent on the medium with which a designer is working. When painting, an artist has a variety of paints to choose from, and mixed colors are achieved through the subtractive color method. When a designer is utilizing the computer to generate digital media, colors are achieved with the additive color method.

When we mix colors using paint, or through the printing process, we are using the subtractive color method. Subtractive color mixing means that one begins with white and ends with black; as one adds color, the result gets darker and tends to black.

CMYK is a subtractive color system
The CMYK color system is the color system used for printing.

Painter color wheel
Those colors used in painting—an example of the subtractive color method.

If we are working on a computer, the colors we see on the screen are created with light using the additive color method. Additive color mixing begins with black and ends with white; as more color is added, the result is lighter and tends to white.

RGB is an additive color system
The RGB colors are light primaries and colors are created with light.

RGB color wheel
Percentages of red, green, & blue light are used to generate color on a computer screen.

The Visible spectrum consists of billions of colors, a monitor can display millions, a high quality printer is only capable of producing thousands, and older computer systems may be limited to 216 cross-platform colors.

Reproducing color can be problematic with regard to printed, digital media, because what we see is not what is possible to get. Although a monitor may be able to display ‘true color’ (16,000,000 colors), millions of these colors are outside of the spectrum available to printers. Since digital designs are generated using the RGB color system, colors used in those designs must be part of the CMYK spectrum or they will not be reproduced with proper color rendering. Working within the CMYK color system, or choosing colors from Pantone© palettes insures proper color rendering.

Informazioni su vincegargiulo

Nato a Napoli dove ho studiato arte. Insegno grafica e fotografia nella scuola statale. I miei interessi spaziano dalla comunicazione visiva alla filosofia, fotografia, cinema ...
Questa voce è stata pubblicata in CLIL, progetti, tecnologia dei processi di produzione e contrassegnata con , , , , . Contrassegna il permalink.

Benvenuti su Classroom_news!

Stai commentando usando il tuo account Chiudi sessione / Modifica )

Foto Twitter

Foto di Facebook

Google+ photo

Connessione a %s...


Neurocentre Magendie

Wilfrid MAZIER

Tél :
Envoyer un email

3 publication(s) depuis Octobre 2015:

Trier par

* equal contribution
Les IF indiqués ont été collectés par le Web of Sciences en

01/02/2017 | Endocrinology   IF 4.3
Islet Endothelial Cell: Friend and Foe.
Mazier W, Cota D

09/11/2016 | Nature   IF 40.1
A cannabinoid link between mitochondria and memory.
Hebert-Chatelain E, Desprez T, Serrat R, Bellocchio L, Soria-Gomez E, Busquets-Garcia A, Zottola AC, Delamarre A, Cannich A, Vincent P, Varilh M, Robin LM, Terral G, Garcia-Fernandez MD, Colavita M, Mazier W, Drago F, Puente N, Reguero L, Elezgarai I, Dupuy JW, Cota D, Lopez-Rodriguez ML, Barreda-Gomez G, Massa F, Grandes P, Benard G, Marsicano G

10/2015 | Trends Endocrin Met   IF 10.9
The Endocannabinoid System: Pivotal Orchestrator of Obesity and Metabolic Disease.
Mazier W*, Saucisse N*, Cherifi-Gatta B, Cota D

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) functions to adjust behavior and metabolism according to environmental changes in food availability. Its actions range from the regulation of sensory responses to the development of preference for the consumption of calorically-rich food and control of its metabolic handling. ECS activity is beneficial when access to food is scarce or unpredictable. However, when food is plentiful, the ECS favors obesity and metabolic disease. We review recent advances in understanding the roles of the ECS in energy balance, and discuss newly identified mechanisms of action that, after the withdrawal of first generation cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor antagonists for the treatment of obesity, have made the ECS once again an attractive target for therapy.