Strictly speaking, this post is about a project that is only tangentially related to mechatronics. However, given Pocobor’s name and history (and my background as a native Michigander), I couldn’t resist passing along an update regarding a unique public art project coming to Detroit.

In 2011, there was a successfully funded Kickstarter project to create a “life-sized” monument in Detroit that would pay tribute to that city’s greatest half-man, half-machine crime fighting hero. Although the pace has been slow, things are still moving forward and the makers have given us an update.

It’s nice to be reminded that sometimes, science fiction decides to look at the positive side of a future, more mechatronically advanced world. I can’t wait to see the statue.

(Context: this is the final installment in our look at the future of smart product interface technology. Part I set the stage, Part II looked at touch-based systems, Part III covered touch-free approaches, and Part IV dug into brain-computer links.)

Well, this is it – the day that you’ve no doubt been waiting breathlessly for since July, when the gorgeous half-faces of Nic Cage and John Travolta confusingly headlined a mechatronics blog post. We are (finally) concluding our Interface/Off series examining the state and future of smart product interface technology.

How Did We Get Here?
As a very brief refresher, we’ve structured our look so far in roughly increasing order of sophistication. We started with touch-based interface technology such as physical buttons, touch sensing, and touch screens – these systems are simple and well-understood (by both designers and users) but are hobbled by physical limitations such as proximity requirements and dimensionality (it’s hard to make a 3-D touch-based interface). Touch-free systems, such as gestural interfaces and voice control, eliminate some of these limitations and broaden the designer’s palette, enabling more intuitive user behavior. However, they have their own disadvantages, including “translation” issues (both gestures and spoken language) and scaling issues when multiple potential users are present. Finally, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have the potential to maximize the communication bandwidth between the user and the smart product but require the solution of thorny issues in fields as diverse as medicine, engineering, and ethics.

Judge’s Decision
So, what is the interface of the future? A realistic answer is inevitably something of a cop-out; I expect to see all of these interface types in applications that they are particularly well suited for throughout the foreseeable future. For instance, there will always be contexts in which the low price, simplicity and reliability of a physical button will make it the preferred solution.

Furthermore, as these technologies mature, I think we will see more blended systems. Let’s not forget – even touch screens have only become ubiquitous with the rise of smart phones over the past 5 years; nearly all of the technologies we’ve looked at have a tremendous amount of room left to grow and evolve. For example, imagine a product that offers the ability to communicate with it via voice commands and/or gestures (actually, this is strikingly similar to face-to-face human conversation, where a mix of verbal and body language is typically used).

However, it would be too anticlimactic to leave you with such a non-answer after all these months. So, if I have to choose one technology to rule them all, there’s no way I can choose anything other than direct brain-computer links.

Think of it this way: the whole history of communication is an effort, with increasing success, to convey thoughts and ideas with more precision and accuracy, in as close to real time as possible. Languages create more and more new words; technology has let us communicate from a distance, then actually talk to each other, then even see each other live (so to speak), all so we can communicate the most accurate possible representation of what we think and feel at a given time. However, even when talking with each other face to face, there is a middleman. Language (both spoken and body) is a double-edged sword, allowing us to better understand ourselves and our feelings by giving us a framework with which to think but also requiring that we translate thoughts and feelings into that framework, sometimes inelegantly or inaccurately. Have you ever struggled to find the word to express something or felt like your words can’t keep up with your thoughts? Imagine cutting out that middleman and communicating what you are thinking with no mouth-enforced bandwidth limitations or language-driven description restrictions. The possibilities in both depth of communication and also efficiency and even privacy are staggering.

The above vision is ambitious, and we may even find that parts of it are physically or physiologically impossible (e.g. directly conveying a feeling from one person to another). And, unlike a lot of mechatronic technology we write about on this blog, it is not around the corner. However, despite those and a whole host of other issues currently associated with the technology, the potential is too great for humankind not to keep reaching for that future.

Inflatable Robotics

I recently saw a cool article and video (below) on a new project from Other Lab, one of the most interesting groups in the Bay Area robotics scene.

The video gets into some inflatable robotics work that they are doing, with some really interesting potential applications around human-safe robots and medical robotics. However, what I found most interesting were some thoughts from Otherlab co-founder Saul Griffith on the impact that engineers can and do have on the world around them. The topic of how and how meaningfully we as engineers can affect the world really resonates with me and I am happy to see it get discussed in a larger forum. I couldn’t agree more with Saul’s challenge to all of today’s (and tomorrow’s) engineers: keep dreaming and stretching your notions of what is possible. The world is a canvas with infinite possibility for improvement and beauty.

21st Century Pack Mule

Interface/Off (Part IV): Brain-Computer Interfaces

(Context: this is Part IV of a look at the future of smart product interface technology; Part I set the stage, Part II looked at touch-based systems and Part III delved into touch-free systems.)

This week’s no doubt eagerly awaited installment of our series on smart product interfaces looks at some even more novel technology. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are direct communication pathways between a human brain and an external device (i.e. without using things like hands or voices to intermediate). Various types of sensor networks are used to directly measure brain activity, which is then converted to something recognizable to external systems.

The Technology
Without getting too deep into the nitty gritty of the technology, it’s worth a brief look at some of the common approaches used in these systems. Both invasive (implanted into the body) and non-invasive systems exist, with unsurprising trade-offs: invasive systems increase medical risks and non-invasive systems often yield poor signal resolution because the skull dampens signals. For both practical and psychological reasons, commercially plausible systems outside special circumstances are almost certain to be non-invasive for the foreseeable future .

On the sensing side of the system, electroencephalography (EEG) is the most common technique and typically involves an array of electrodes mounted to the scalp that measure voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within neurons. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has also been used effectively, where brain activity is scanned by detecting changes in blood flow associated with different brain activity. However, fMRI has vastly increased hardware requirements regarding size, cost and complexity and thus early commercial systems have typically utilized an EEG headset (such as the systems we looked at a few years ago).

On the processing side, I am confident that progress over the next few years will be rapid, partly because the current state of the art is so crude (relatively). Historically, BCIs have had the most success translating physical commands (“Clench left fist”), but newer research has made strides in extracting more specific data (such as addresses or ATM numbers). However, one of the most interesting parts of BCIs is that processing can be addressed from both sides of the problem. The traditional engineering approach would be to work on developing and refining algorithms that can understand what the subject intends; to correlate certain brain activity measurements to physical commands or ultimately language. However, because of the remarkable neuroplasticity of the human brain, it is also possible to work in reverse and train the brain to think in certain ways that are more easily measured and understood by existing systems. It will be fascinating to watch the interplay between these two approaches as the technology matures.

The Why
Given the technical hurdles currently associated with BCIs, some people question whether they are worth the development headaches. Perhaps the most powerful potential application is for disability treatment – there is an already impressive body of research exploring the use of BCIs to control prosthetics and even, for instance, to restore non-congenital blindness. The ability to give a person back the use of a body part is a profoundly valuable result and should justify development of these systems all by itself.

However, there are other applications with larger potential markets that are also pushing both research and commercialization. Two of the major drivers are laziness and bandwidth. Laziness seems like a pretty minor incentive but the galvanizing force of annoyance should not be underestimated. History is littered with product improvements that did nothing more than save users a few seconds but came to dominate the market anyway (does anyone under 30 even know what a rotary phone is anymore?).

The bandwidth issue is more powerful. In previous posts, I’ve described the progression of interface technology in terms of increasing technical sophistication but another way to look at it is as a journey of increasing information transmission capacity. Buttons or even keyboards can convey only a single bit of information with each press. Touch screens improve on this but are inherently 2D. Gestural interfaces or voice command systems enable communication that is richer yet but the ultimate in bandwidth will occur when we can cut out the middleman (e.g. hands or mouth) altogether. Despite the sci-fi and touchy-feely connotations of a “mind-meld” (sarcasm intended), that concept embodies the pinnacle of possibility for human communication bandwidth and arguably also richness of communication, depending on how philosophical we want to get.

Such potential value does not come without potential costs, however. The idea of letting a person or system look directly into one’s thoughts will be considered creepy by many and there are significant technical obstacles between today’s state of the art and the kind of interface I posit above; it is even possible that the architecture of our brain does not lend itself to outputting the full information content of all our thoughts. Also and most importantly, we might have to wear dorky-looking helmets or headsets.

All in all, I expect brain-computer interfaces to become increasingly common in the world around us over the next few decades. In my next post, I will wrap up the series and summarize my best guess for where smart product interfaces are going – what would a competition be without a winner?

$300 Prosthetic Arm

Came across this uplifting video about a super affordable ($300!) prosthetic arm. For comparison, a prosthetic arm typically ranges from $3,000 to $30,000, depending on how much articulation the prosthetic allows. This prosthetic arm was developed by a team of engineers at the University of Illinois who then went on to form their own company, Illini Prosthetic Technologies (IPT).

Village Tech Solutions

Interface/Off (Part III): Touch-Free Systems

(Context: this is Part III of a look at the future of smart product interface technology; Part I set the stage and Part II looked at touch-based systems.)

Continuing along the spectrum of increasing sophistication and novelty, we come to touch-free interface systems. In the last post, I talked about some of the limitations of touch-based systems (usage scenario rigidity, physical contact requirements, and inherent 2D-ness). Some of the interesting advantages of touch-free approaches revolve around their ability to address those same limitations.

Gestural interfaces typically use a vision capture system such as a camera and image processing algorithms to recognize hand and arm gestures made by the user. If you have seen the movie Minority Report, it contains a scene with a good example of the concept. This type of approach enables the use of very intuitive behavior from the user (e.g. grabbing or tapping an icon to interact with it) but, in contrast to touch screens, do not require the user to make physical contact with the interface and can be much more flexible in terms of user location. As an example, imagine a TV with a gestural interface that could be controlled equally well regardless of whether you were sitting on a sofa on one side of the room or a chair on the other side. There have also been some interesting developments in wearable systems, such as the SixthSense developed by Pranav Mistry and MIT’s Media Lab:

However, there are also some inherent limitations to these types of systems as well as challenges with implementation. First of all, the same gesture can look very different for different users, or even for the same user in different instances. Gestural systems have to be able to “translate” gestures that may look different but mean the same thing. Second of all, the hardware (a camera that can distinguish minute hand movements) and software (the algorithms to translate those subtle movements into the intent of the user) are non-trivial from an engineering standpoint.

Eye Tracking

Eye tracking could be considered a variant in the gestural interface family, albeit one that is better suited to close-in use. The idea is that instead of looking at hand and arm gestures, these systems look at tiny movements of the user’s eyes. For instance, imagine flicking your eyes down then back up to scroll this webpage down. The main advantage is ease of use, often for those with medical reasons preventing them from using traditional interfaces. There are a number of companies that have made impressive progress in commercializing systems for a broader audience, such as Tobii, but I question whether these systems will be able to match the performance of some alternatives in the long run. The size and range of motion of human eyes is sufficiently limited relative to the size and freedom of hands that I think it will be an uphill battle for eye tracking systems outside of applications where they are the only option.

Voice Command
In fundamental contrast to the eyes, which are typically used to receive data, and the arms and hands, which rarely convey large amounts of data, the human voice is anatomically and culturally evolved to transmit lots and lots of data. This makes it very well suited to telling your smart product what you want it to do. However, implementing an effective system is quite a technological challenge. The first step is recognizing words – imagine a voice control system used for keyboard replacement. However, newer systems, such as Siri for the later iPhone models, attempt to make the jump from recognizing words to understanding meaning and responding appropriately. This is a profound shift and one that will likely require continued refinement to accommodate different accents, dialects, styles of pro- and enunciations, and other peccadillos of individual human speech. The brain is an astounding processing tool but I believe that speech recognition algorithms will continue to make significant strides over the next few years and will be able to match the ability of humans to understand each other within a decade.

One arena in which voice systems are limited, however, is in conveying information back to the user. There is a reason for the expression “a picture is worth a thousand words” – there are certain concepts that are easier to convey visually than verbally. There are also potential scaling issues with voice systems – imagine everyone on a subway or in an office trying to control their phone or computer simultaneously with voice commands. All in all, though, I think that when combined with displays, voice control systems will be a significant part of the technology landscape in the future.

In my next post, I will look at the most sci-fi-esque possibility – brain-computer interfaces (thought control again!).

Brain Hacking

Interface/Off (Part 2): Touch-Based Systems

In my last post, I set the stage for a multi-post look at the future of smart product interfaces. To recap briefly, I believe that interface technology is at a really interesting point, where older approaches such as the keyboard and mouse are being superseded by new possibilities. However, there are lots of options and I thought it would be worth looking at some of the major contenders to understand the pros and cons of each and see if any look particularly well-suited to become as ubiquitous as keyboards were. In today’s post, I look at the simplest class: touch-based systems.

Physical Buttons
The simplest touch-based interface is a physical button, whether used as an on/off switch, a part of a keyboard, or otherwise. They are simple, cheap, reliable and well-understood, both by users and system designers. However, they are static and immutable – you can’t make them disappear when you don’t need them and you can’t really change how they look or what they do. They offer very limited versatility and are often not the cleanest or most elegant solution.

Touch Sensors
At the next level up in sophistication are discrete touch sensors (usually capacitive) – picture a lamp with no switch that you can touch anywhere to actuate. The use of capacitive and other types of touch sensors can liberate designers from some button-placement restrictions but that is about the extent of the benefits. Most of these sensors are binary (either on or off; no other states) and again offer limited versatility as their function cannot easily be changed during operation.

Touch Screens
Continuing the trend towards increasing complexity brings us to touch screens, which are essentially just an array of touch sensors overlaid on a display. The monumental benefit of this approach is the versatility enabled by the screen – the same “button” (or area of the screen) can have an infinite number of purposes if the system merely changes what the user sees. However, touch screens have their limitations as well – their inherent 2D-ness requires a level of abstraction to map the real, 3D world and they have some proximity restrictions (the user has to be close enough to physically touch them).

The smart phone revolution of the last few years has given us a powerful illustration of how useful and popular touch screens can become and I think that they are by far the most powerful interface currently available at a production level of sophistication and usability. However, in my next post I will start getting into some new technologies that are quickly advancing and could supplant touch screens in the not-too-distant future.


Foods that help lower blood pressure to normal levels

0 votes
asked Jan 23, 2016 in Fashion & Style by Md Ariful Islam (770 points)

1 Answer

0 votes
answered Jan 23, 2016 by Md Ariful Islam (770 points)

The pace of decline may be. Such as overwork, anxiety, fear and nerve weaknesses. If the low pressure rotating head, Kanti, fainting, nausea, palpitations, fatigue, blurred vision come and normal breathing difficulty occurs. If the low pressure at home, some of the initial steps jaruri

Coffee: - Strong coffee, hot chocolate, caffeine-rich drinks lily drinks that quickly helps to increase blood pressure. The low pressure that occurs suddenly can eat a cup of coffee. Who have been suffering from the problem, they are heavy in the morning after breakfast you can eat a cup of strong coffee. However, if the low pressure Eat like cola. Because there are other harmful aspects.

Salt-water: - sodium is salt. It increases blood pressure. However, the salt water is safe to do. Like most, one glass of water and two teaspoons of sugar and one teaspoon of salt mixed in two plays. However, those who have diabetes, the sugar should be discarded.

Raisins: - hyper-tension medicines have been used since ancient times as well as raisins. Soak the raisins in two cups of water throughout the night. Raisins soaked in hot water in the morning on an empty stomach to eat. The five almonds and peanuts can eat 15 to 0.

Mint: - vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and pantothenic material quickly with increased blood

pressure, relieves mental fatigue. Pudinapata paste mixed with honey to drink.

Licorice: - from ancient times been used as a cure various diseases yastimadhiu. Drink a cup of water with a tablespoon of licorice. The benefits of eating with milk and honey.

Ross bits - bits juice is beneficial for both high and low presara. It also contributes to normal blood pressure. Thus, the benefits of playing in a week. here you find  If sudden high blood pressure then What you do

Related questions

0 votes
1 answer 8,242 views
0 votes
1 answer 141,852 views
asked Jan 29, 2016 in Fashion & Style by Md Ariful Islam (770 points)
0 votes
1 answer 4,111 views
0 votes
0 answers 19 views


    Dismiss Notice

Turkish House

Discussion in 'Talk about Turkey' started by VivaKusadasi, Sep 15, 2004.

    The Turkish house can be defined as those in which Turks have lived throughout their history. Since they first appeared on the stage of history, their settlements have been greatly diversified. They spread from Central Asia to the Balkans, from North Africa to Arabia and right up to the northern coast of the Black Sea, and founded a number of different states. In our definition of the Turkish house, we can include houses that were inherited from the Ottoman Empire, some remaining examples of which can be traced back to the 17th century, as well as all those which have the following characteristics:

    Original room shape: The room is the most important component of the Turkish house. Its characteristics have rarely changed.

    Plan Layout: The most characteristic plan types are those with outer or open sofas, using projections and eyvans. The authentic aspect of these plan types is the independent nature of the room, which instead of being adjacent is separated from the others with extensions of the sofa. Plan types with central sofas emerged in the periods.

    Multi-storeyed buildings: Most houses have at least two storeys. The upper storey is the main living area and reveals details about the flor plan. The ground floor generally has a high, solid stone wall, almost like a fortification. The upper floor extends over the street.

    Roof Forms: The roof is pitched on all four sides and has a simple form, avoiding indents or extensions. The eaves are wide and horizontal.

    Construction: The basic system of construction is the timber frame with in-filling material or lathe and plaster.

    All these characteristics are the same for all houses, regardless of the social class of their owners. Wealth is only reflected in the number of rooms and in the decoration. This house type can be compared to a seal which Turkish culture has stamped wherever it has settled. It can immediately be distinguished from houses belonging to other cultures.

    There have been relatively few studies of the Turkish house. Sedat Hakkı Eldem, who was quick to notice the significance of the Turkish house and began to put together all the documentation he could find as a young professional, conducted the earliest, most comprehensive and competent studies in this field. Some of these were published only a short time before his death. Thus we can study the last significant examples of the Turkish house from his books. Archaeologist

    Mahmut Akok has also contributed to the field with his measured drawings and articles on houses from various regions. In the 1950s, several theses were prepared in the Faculty of Architecture of Istanbul Technical University on the domestic architecture of major towns. Following a silence lasting almost 20 years, recent doctoral theses and studies have once again taken the subject up, and using more scientific methods they are mainly concentrating on studies of smaller towns.

    The main reason for this recent interest is the recognition of the fact that the traditional housing pattern is rapidly disappearing and losing its character as new buildings emerge. Nevertheless, the Turkish house is still an astonishing subject. It is still possible to come across admirable examples of Turkish houses that have not yet been discovered. Most of these may not have measured plans and may not even have been photographed properly.

    A ground floor closed to the street with a stone or adobe wall and an upper floor which sits on either load-bearing stone walls or wooden studs characterizes the house type generally seen within the geographical boundaries where the Turkish house is to be found. The upper floors have a timber frame construction. The middle floor, if there is one, has a low ceiling and is either a mezzanine or a whole floor. The top floor has, through time, become ever more intricate with several projections and a multitude of windows of a standard size. In earlier houses the windows were not glazed, but eventually, as glass became ever more widely used, windows began to glaze panes opening on either side. Vertical sliding windows (sash windows) emerged only after Western influence made its influence felt. The standard size of the window creates a sense of unity with its recurrent rhythm, not only in each house but throughout a whole town. The roof is always pitched on all four sides. This is one of the main distinguishing characteristics of the Turkish house.

    The room is the most important unit in every Turkish house. It is possible to sit, recline, wash, eat and even cook in each room. All rooms have similar characteristics. The size may change, but fundamental characteristics do not. These are strictly related to a way of life which has not changed much over time. Consequently, the room has also remained the same. An arrangement which allows for change has been developed, so as to meet the prerequisites of all the different functions mentioned above. This arrangement is based on the prevailing customs of nomadic times. The tent, which was the living unit then, has now been replaced by the room. The tent also has areas which are not strictly delineated, allocated to different functions. In the room, areas are separated from one another with partitions, or semi-partition levels. The interior of the room has been shaped in dimensions necessitated by human activities. The room can serve different functions as needed, with the very few pieces of movable furniture it contains. These are immediately put away once there is no more use for them. Beds are kept in built-in closets. They are laid out when it is time to go to bed and put away again in the morning. When it is time to eat, the tablecloth, table base and copper tray or wooden tabletop are taken out of the cupboard and put away after dinner.

    Thus, the center of the room was always left free. The divans used for seating are placed near the walls. The arrangement for eating and sleeping is the same both in palaces and in tents. The multipurpose use of the room with its furniture-free area is also a characteristic of the Japanese house. It is interesting to note that Japan did not adopt its furniture from China, from which it has borrowed several of its cultural and functional features. Central Asia, which is one of the two origins of the Japanese people, inevitably comes to mind in this context.

    The plan of the Turkish house is formed with the arrangement of the rooms around a sofa. The room is a living unit, the form, size and characteristics of which are basically the same from one to the other. On the other hand, the sofa may vary in all its different aspects. This is why the house type is usually defined by the sofa within it.

    Turkish house plan types were first classified by S. H .Eldem. The most significant of these, in the proper order of development are: Outer sofa, inner sofa and central sofa types.

    Plan Types with Outer Sofa: This is one of the oldest types of the Turkish house, of which there are many beautiful examples. Although they exhibit a lot of variety, there is still very little symmetry. The sofa is exposed to the outside world with no wall to hide it away. It is an excellent reflection of the Turkish way of life, with very intimate relations with nature and the transition from the nomadic life in tents to permanent settlements. In good weather, and especially in summer, the sofa is a busy living and production area. In this plan layout each room represents a tent, while the sofa stands for the natural environment which has been brought under partial control. It was only much later that the colonnade of the sofa was enclosed with glazing. The richest examples are those with bay windows and eyvans. The corner sofa type was until recently built with its sofa closed to the exterior. This plan type continued up to the 19th century.

    Inner and Central Sofa types: These emerged in the 18th century, but it was in the 19th century that they were most widely employed. The population increase in the cities resulted in smaller plots with higher values, which consequently this led to a denser and inward-looking floor plan. The desire for a more comfortable way of life without being exposed to dust and cold, and the need to use the sofa all year round were among the social reasons for preferring this type. This compact plan enabled more rooms to be put in, which when placed side by side eliminated the need for a number of walls, thus leading to a measure of economy. According to another view, the central sofa plan type has been in use since Central Asian; times and in Anatolian-Turkish architecture has been mostly used in medreses, mosques and mansions. From the 18th century onwards it was revitalized, and was first used in the houses of the ruling classes in large cities and in time also in the surrounding areas. In the inner sofa type there is symmetry in only one plane, while in the central sofa type generally symmetry can be found in two planes, perpendicular to one another.

    Various factors which have been influential in the design of the Turkish house have already been discussed in the chapters on "Historical Influences" and "Evolution of Forms." All these factors led to the formation of the characteristics of the Turkish house. Once this house type had been developed, it spread all over the area delineated in the preceding chapters, even though there might be great climatic differences between regions. Coming across the same open sofa in both an Antalya house and a Kütahya one is a clear indication of a strong tradition of design. This design offers provisions for both summer and winter use within the same house, hence enabling the implementation of the same house type in many different climatic regions. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the Turkish house is a building which uses the same prototype all over. The house design is influenced by such factors as lifestyle and production, the existing building materials and the construction technology influenced by their use, the topography and characteristics of the site, and the structure and wealth of the family. One other main factor is the distance of the region from the nearest cultural centre. The most influential cultural centre was the capital, Istanbul. This was followed by Edirne and other major cities. The degree to which urban fashion was reflected in other areas depended largely on the density of the relations in terms of administration and trade between them. There has always been a tendency to imitate the style used in the capital, although this has rarely happened at the same time everywhere. In most cases, by the time the rural centres adopted the styles of the city, the capital had turned to a new or different architectural style.

    The main building material in the Turkish house is wood, and the main building method is generally timber frame. Timber frame construction is compatible with the forest cover of Anatolia and the Thrace region, and is also preferable because these regions are within seismic fault zones. Furthermore, this method enabled quick construction and therefore suited the needs of an ever expanding society, continuously on the move. For the same reason, the details of wood construction are very simple; simple joints and nailed bindings were preferred over complicated joint details. The broad-sectioned timber elements and carefully designed details seen in German, British or Japanese communities do not exist in the Turkish house. It is not just a coincidence that the same simple construction details can be traced in America, where throughout their history the people have been on the move towards the West. This construction method also facilitated reconstruction within a short time when whole quarters had been destroyed by fire. The way in which people look at life also plays a role in the selection of timber frame construction: Human life is temporary; it is only natural that houses should also be built to last for a temporary period only. There is no reason for greed for worldly belongings. As a result of this outlook, repairing or renewing the house as it wore out helped to update the style and meet the growing needs of the family. On the other hand, communal buildings and religious structures were built to last as long as possible.

    Timber frame construction also allowed more windows, building projections and wider eaves. This provided control over climatic conditions, and enabled the building to breathe in humid climates which, in turn, helped prevent condensation and moisture in the rooms.

    Timber frame construction is capable of meeting different needs of various artistic trends. In the Baroque period, curved stripes were made by carving the wood and applied in the best way. In the neo-classic period, semi-buried columns, triangle heads, plain and squared arches could also be used in wooden houses. The Sultan Abdülhamid period can be considered as a renaissance for wooden houses. Art-Nouveau was totally successfully adapted to wooden buildings. The new curves which followed the Erenköy style were also appreciated and applied. At the end of the 19th century, all these new trends were combined with traditional Ottoman arts, thus producing unique examples of wooden work. With boards, lathes and profiles used in combination, proportionate and rhythmic division appeared on the façades, which were enhanced by the effects of light and shade and sometimes with the addition of coloured decoration, paintings and mouldings.
  2. Susanc

    Susanc Addict

    Wow Viva that was something else brilliant excellent and very informing.

    A structure which holds groups of Irish people in various states of inebriation. Also a place where a group of Irish people sleep after being inebriated. A meeting place where a group of Irish people meet to get inebriated and eat so they wont die.

Share This Page


According to Wikipedia (2006) a developing society is one with relatively low standard of living, undeveloped industrial base and moderate to low human development index (HDI)

Chassy (2003) reported that 800 – 850 million people are malnourished, more than 200million of these are children, many of whom will never reach their full intellectual and physical potential, another 1-1.5 billion humans have only marginally better access to food and often do not consume balanced diet containing sufficient quantities of all required nutrients and majority of this nutritionally at risk population live in developing countries and this number will grow as human population growth is  ever on the increase. The question now is how will Agriculture carter for this pending problem of food shortage and the expected increase in nutritionally at risk people while maintaining a healthy environment and biodiversity? Will it be by expanding cultivated land area? Or by increasing the use of inputs? How friendly are these practices to the environment? It can only be achieved through crop and livestock improvements (Biotechnology) as stated by an international conference of experts convened World by the Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the food and agriculture organization (FAO) in 1992.

Biotechnology has prospects to remedy the problem of food shortage as research in this field aims to develop plant varieties that provide reliable high yield, at the same or lower costs by breeding in qualities such as resistance to diseases, pest and stress factors which will contribute gainfully to food production while maintaining a healthy environment by reducing the amount of fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides used in farming. These shows clearly that biotechnology seeks to improve Agricultural practices by making it cost effective, increase productivity and bridging other gaps which pose serious challenges to Agriculture. These gains will lead to capacity building, create numerous jobs, and reduce poverty as well as ending malnutrition. Annon (2002) reported that the United Nations Economic and Social commission for western Asia Cooperation with International Labour Organization (ILO) sought to identify the best approach for regional capacity building in new  technology to improve employment rate, sustainable development and poverty alleviation in developing Arab Nations came to a conclusion that identifying new technologies, adopting, regulating and implementing them will serve the purpose for national economic and social development. In the report, it was emphasized that countries that adopt a better approach to the four novel technologies of biotechnology, genetic engineering, biomaterials and informatics will develop a better capacity for economic and social development than their counterparts.

It becomes very pertinent in this era of dwindling oil prices and mass unemployment that Nigeria incorporates biotechnology into its agricultural programme as the Present administration seeks to savor the economy by diversifying it to Agriculture which promises to be the best substitute. It should however be noted that for Agriculture to be worthwhile, appropriate technologies (Biotechnology) must be employed rather than relying on the very crude techniques that will not carter for the present day challenges posed to Agriculture e.g. Climate change, erosion and leaching of farm lands, arid and unfertile lands etc.

It is obvious that to meet the food demand in a developing economy like ours using a novel technology like biotechnology requires meeting a number of social, political, economic and technical challenges.

We are thankful to the Nigerian Government for passing the biosafety bill into law, establishing the National Biosafety Management Agency; however we still experience a major problem of social acceptability, which I know is a misconception a majority of the Nigerian populace holds about biotechnology and GM products. In a survey carried out in my 4thyear in 2012, it showed that 85% of Nigerians don’t know what biotechnology entails but have their own personal philosophies in the best ways it appeals to their knowledge, and their knowledge is only associated with the negatives of biotechnology . It should however be stressed that biotechnology is a household name for everything  that has to do with manipulation of living things ranging from the very simple process of alcohol fermentation to cloning of plants and animals. It should also be known that genetic engineering; transgenic organisms are quite different from cloning and cloned organisms. It should also be known that they is no innovation that lacks disadvantages, just like cars, airplanes, electricity had  their advantages and disadvantages so also is biotechnology. Owing to the fact that the advantages of this innovations outweighs the disadvantages, policies, regulatory bodies are constituted to regulate this innovation within the confines of its advantages while on the other hand greatly reducing the disadvantages, this is no exception with biotechnology as the National Biotechnology Management Agency (NBMA) was constituted to regulate the activities of biotechnology, and they will deliver on this core objective. In criticizing biotechnology and its products, we should offer a hard-look rather than our personal philosophies as the problem of social acceptance is a major setback to the proliferation of this technology in Nigeria.

The economic and technical issues relate to funding of biotechnology researches, infrastructure for researches and manpower to put this technology into practice, since it is novel and the practice within the country is small scale. This however have discouraged individuals from venturing into this field of study as it is assumed to have very grim opportunities for its graduates and practitioners, but we have faith owing to the importance attached to this discipline that our well-meaning, experienced and exposed leaders will tap into the potentials of this discipline providing funding which will result in the training of personnel to adequately fit into this field.

Agricultural biotechnology will be a major part of the solution to the problem of increasing food demand while at the same time conserving biodiversity. It has been shown to improve yield around the world especially in developing countries and this increased yield will spare land for natural ecosystems to co-exist with agro ecosystems, improve GDP, generate income, create employments and consequently greatly reduce poverty and malnutrition which is the bane of developing countries. We implore Nigeria to join other developing and developed nations who have resorted to biotechnology on the basis of their needs and empirical based reports on biotechnology products by open minded, well-meaning scientist rather than taking queues behind developed countries who don’t have the need we have, who don’t suffer what we suffer, who have adopted the technology with respect to their own needs and claim the entire technology is not safe. We therefore call on individuals, opinion leaders, students, policy makers, authorities in the agriculture sector, private sector, sister and supporting MDAs like the ministry of information, national orientation agency, ministry of science and technology, ministry of finance, ministry of environment to partner with the National Biotechnology development agency to achieve its objectives of promoting and implementing evidence based science and technology of which agricultural biotechnology is cardinal.

You can read the part one here

Written by Opuah Abiekwen( Graduate of Biotechnology and Genetics, University of Calabar

As a graduate of biotechnology and genetics I am poised to write to authorities in the agriculture sector, policy makers, sister and supporting Ministries departments and Agencies, opinion leaders, well spirited individuals, private sector and students to describe the usefulness and applications of this novel field of agricultural biotechnology and show how it can contribute to the agriculture sector as well as the economy of a developing country like Nigeria. I think these authorities will be interested to know the achievements of this field, the potential estimated market volume, the demand from agriculture and the role of Agricultural biotechnology in meeting this demand, and its impact on National development. Although some in-depth studies have been performed on this topic and literature documented, it is pertinent that I bring some salient features to light. Using information available from other findings, this write up is aimed at bringing the science of Agricultural biotechnology to the attention of busy stakeholders in the agriculture sector and other related sectors in the country and encourage them to understand the potentials that lie fallow in this novel science.

Briefly, agricultural biotechnology is the manipulation of Crops and Animals or their parts for the production of value added goods and services for man use.

Ever since the dawn of time, man kind has been in constant practice  of agriculture as the most fundamental means to satisfy the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. This need therefore calls for a proper understanding of the underlying principles of agriculture so as to exploit them for maximum productivity. Thus this field has been subjected to series of reassessment of its practices and innovations not only to achieve its immediate benefits but to carter for the rapidly growing population.

In the early years of agriculture, from 10th century BC man started exploiting crops and livestock using informal and crude practices which involve the reliance on the biological methods of pest and weed control, shifting cultivation, bush fallowing etc. down to the formal era of inputs such as herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and to the classical breeding era of hybridization, evaluation, and selection. These practices though helpful had shortcomings in terms of inadequate food production to meet the demands of the growing population and destruction of the natural ecosystem and biodiversity. In the quest to carter for these shortcomings came the birth of the science I describe as the best of the epoch, a science with impetus for more agriculture research and that which has all the potentials to unlock the mechanisms of living machines “Recombinant genetics and biotechnology”

A few of its applications and achievements are discussed below;

 Insect resistant crops: These crops have been engineered to express a self-defense for insect pest so as to enhance productivity and reduce crop losses for e.g. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringienesis). This cotton has DNA (genetic material) from the soil microbe Bacillus thuringienesis incorporated into its genome (Entire genetic make up) which enables it to express resistance for insect pest. This cotton was adopted by Indian farmers and it increased their average yield by 70% between 2001 and 2008 and half of this increase is attributed to the Bt cotton adopted by Indian farmers (James 2009), this also suggest why India is presently the highest exporter of cotton. A decrease in cotton boll insecticide use by 56% between 1998 and 2006, which is cost saving for 6million Indian farmers who grew Bt cotton in 2009 (James 2009). In 2009, 7million Chinese farmers also grew Bt cotton and yield was increased by 10% and insecticide use decreased by 60% (James 2009) other engineered insect resistant crops include Bt corn, rice, etc.

 Herbicide tolerant crops:  These are crops that have been engineered so that their growth and development is not significantly affected by herbicides used on the weeds growing around them. This will enhance crop yield, reduce wastage, reduce cost and as well help in maintaining biodiversity. Crops such as maize, wheat, sugar cane, rice, onions etc. have been genetically modified to express this trait.

 Protein enhanced sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes is known for its carbohydrate rich content, recently scientist have developed a protein rich sweet potatoes by isolating a gene AmA1 rich in lysine from the amaranth plant and incorporating it into the genome of sweet potatoes and it is well expressed. This protein AmA1 is not known to be an allergen.

 Cheese Making: Because of the insufficiency in rennet production from animals, and other natural sources, rennet which is an enzyme which produces chymosin which curdles milk in cheese production is now been mass produced by isolating the gene for rennet production from animal stomach and insert them into certain bacteria, fungi to make them produce chymosin during fermentation. The genetically modified microorganism is killed after fermentation and chymosin is removed from the fermentation broth so that the fermentation produced chymosin does not contain any GM component or ingredient.

Due to empirical facts that biotechnology products are safe to use, and the promise biotechnology holds to bring more innovation to agriculture; producing more food to meet the growing demand while maintaining the biodiversity. The market potential is estimated with respect to the growing population, availability and acceptability of products. Presently some biotechnology products have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are on shelves, they experience a high demand and have not been reported to have any negative effect on consumers. It is anticipated that as more products receive approval of regulatory bodies and come into the market in the near future so, will the market demand increase, hence its volume. Recently Genetically Modified Salmon was approved in the US and is already being consumed by many people.

Why have some countries accepted GMO? Why the misconceptions? Is this technology truly beneficial and how? The next part of this article will tell us


Public Release:

Scientists map sex chromosome evolution in pathogenic fungi

Swaps at the centromere had been thought impossible

Duke University

IMAGE: A new paper from Duke molecular genetics and microbiology shows how pathogenic Cryptococcus fungi evolved from having many sexes to just two through 50 million years of gene swapping. view more

Credit: Kara Manke

DURHAM, NC -- Biologically speaking, nearly every species on Earth has two opposite sexes, male and female. But with some fungi and other microbes, sex can be a lot more complicated. Some members of Cryptococcus, a family of fungus linked to human disease, can have tens of thousands of different mating types.

In a study appearing early online Aug. 11 in PLOS Biology, Duke researchers have mapped the evolutionary turning point that transformed the pathogenic form of Cryptococcus from an organism of many sexes to one with only two. They found that during evolution, a reshuffling of DNA known as translocation brought together separate chunks of sex-determining genes onto a single chromosome, essentially mimicking the human X or Y chromosome.

Surprisingly, they've shown that these crucial translocations occurred at the centromeres, the twisty ties that hold together chromosomes at the center of an x-shaped pair. These regions of the chromosome are so dense that they were once thought to be removed from recombination.

"Recombination at the centromere doesn't have to happen frequently, it just has to happen often enough that it punctuates the evolution of the organism," said Joseph Heitman, MD, PhD, senior study author and professor and chair of molecular genetics and microbiology at Duke University School of Medicine. "With each translocation, the genome is altered again and again, until you have evolved an entirely new species."

Scientists have been studying the evolution of sex chromosomes for more than a century. In the 1960's, Japanese-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist Susumu Ohno proposed a theory in which the genes determining sex first arose at various spots scattered across the entire genome, but over time were "captured" on the sex chromosomes. In humans, those chromosomes go by the familiar X and Y; in birds, they are known as Z and W; in moss, they are called U and V.

In C. amylolentus, dozens of genes at two different locations on the chromosomes control what's called a tetrapolar, or four-part, mating system. At one location or locus known as P/R, genes encode pheromones and pheromone receptors that help the fungus recognize compatible mating types. At the other locus, called HD, genes govern the development of sexual structures and reproductive spores.

The researchers sequenced the entire genome of C. amylolentus, mapping the location of all the genes as well as the centromeres on each of the organism's 14 chromosomes.

"That was very surprising. The dogma has been that recombination is repressed in centromeric regions," said Sheng Sun, PhD, lead study author and assistant research professor at Duke University School of Medicine.

In the 1980's, a seminal paper by Duke colleague Tom Petes demonstrated recombination could occur across the centromeres in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but some attributed the finding to a quirk of the favored model organism with its tiny point centromeres. But since then, other studies have emerged suggesting that the phenomenon was wider spread.

"In any kind of model like this, you are thinking about what could have been the organization in the last common ancestor, which is now extinct so you can't know definitively," said Heitman. "But in each of these lineages, there are multiple evolutionary events that have occurred, and you can use genomics to turn back the hands of time and deduce the trajectory."

Heitman says their study suggests that other researchers should actively look for translocations, both in the expected locations as well as within centromeres. These chromosomal rearrangements are a common cause of birth defects and cancer in humans.

He and his colleagues are currently investigating whether similar translocations occur in the evolution of sex chromosomes in other fungal families, such as Ustilago and Malassezia.

The study was an international collaborative effort, involving key contributions from Vikas Yadav and Kaustuv Sanyal at the Jawarharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research in Bangalore, India; Christina Cuomo at the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Minou Nowrousian at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany; Teun Boekhout at CBS in the Netherlands; and Jean-Luc Souciet, Betina Porcel and Patrick Wincker at Genoscope in France.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R37 MERIT award AI39115-20 and R01 grant AI50113-13), National Human Genome Research Institute (U54HG003067) and the German Research Foundation (NO407/7-1).

CITATION: "Fungal genome and mating system transitions facilitated by chromosomal translocations involving intercentromeric recombination," Sheng Sun, Vikas Yadav, R. Blake Billmyre, Christina A. Cuomo, Minou Nowrousian, Liuyang Wang, Jean-Luc Souciet, Teun Boekhout, Betina Porcel, Patrick Wincker, Joshua A. Granek, Kaustuv Sanyal and Joseph Heitman. PLOS Biology, Early online Aug. 11, 2017. DOI:10.1371/journal.pbio.2002527


What Do the New DOL Overtime Regulations Mean for Not-for-Profit Organizations?

Higher Education|Not-for-Profit

By Mary Lynn Gimigliano

President Obama has recently proposed new overtime pay regulations that would change when an employer is required to pay overtime pay to salaried employees.  The changes are intended to go into effect in 2016 and would replace current overtime regulations.  Currently, an employer is required to pay overtime pay for salaried employees if they are paid a base salary of less than $23,660 per year.  Under the Obama proposal, that threshold would be increased to $50,440, and then it would be adjusted upwards every year.

So what does this mean for not-for-profit organizations?   Holding down expenses is always an area of concern for not-for-profit organizations, and salary expense can be a major element of the organization’s total expense picture.   The new proposed overtime pay regulations could substantially increase salary expense for an organization if it currently has a number of salaried employees earning a base salary of between $23,660 and $50,440 who also work a large amount of overtime hours.

In an effort to lessen the effect of the proposed regulations, the organization could make changes to its compensation structure for their salaried employees.  If they believe that overtime pay is already factored into their pay scale for salaried employees, they could convert the salaried employee to an hourly employee with an hourly rate that would bring the employee’s annual compensation with paid overtime to the same level as their current salaried compensation.  If the employee is close to the new threshold and works a number of overtime hours, the organization could raise that employee’s salary to just over the threshold.  This would avoid overtime pay and could be a positive outcome if the former salary plus overtime pay would be an amount higher than the new salary.  For other salaried employees, the base salary of the employee could be lowered with the expectation that overtime pay will bring that employee’s total compensation back to the pre-change amount.  However, any change to an organization’s compensation structure will need to be communicated in a manner that will alleviate any fears and perceptions by the employees that their compensation has been reduced.

The proposed changes to the regulations will be open to public comment and are not expected to be finalized until next year, so organizations have time to consider their options.

Contact us with questions or concerns regarding the proposed regulations and the impact that it may have on your organization and visit our Not-for-Profit Industry Group services page to learn about the services we offer the industry.


SOLANACEAE - Nightshade or Potato Family

Herbs, shrubs, trees, and vines

Leaves alternate and simple

Flowers bisexual, actinomorhic, sepals and petals fused into tube, stamens sometimes porcidal

Fruit a berry or capsule

85 genera, 2800 species, cosmopolitan but most common in tropical South America

Members of this family produce a wide range of toxic alkaloids, including nicotine

Atropa belladonna - deadly nightshade
Datura - Jimsom weed
Nicotiana tabacum - tobacco

Economic importance:
Nicotiana tabacum - tobacco
Lycopersicon - tomato
Solanum tuberosum - potato
Solanum melongena - eggplant
Capsicum annuum - peppers
Petunia - ornamental annual

The potato has the most positive economic value of any member of this family and its introduction in Europe was a key component to the Industrial Revolution

Diagnostic characteristics: simple, alternate leaves, flowers 5-merous and actinomorphic, sepals and petals fused into a tube


// archives

This tag is associated with 65 posts

Waterloo: The Fall of a Superpower

Thursday is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, and in the course of the day you are almost bound to hear or read somebody claiming that it “changed history.” It was a very big battle, after all, and it would be a century before Europe saw war on that scale again. But did the events of 18 June 1815 “change history”? Probably not.

The really decisive battle was fought a year and a half before that near Leipzig in Germany: the ‘Battle of the Nations’. Three times more men were involved in that battle than fought at Waterloo. There were many more battles before the Russian, Austrian and Prussian armies entered Paris and Napoleon finally abdicated as Emperor of the French in the spring of 1814, but he never won another battle.

Napoleon was given a mini-kingdom on the island of Elba, off the Italian coast, to keep himself busy. The victors began to put Europe back together after twenty years of almost unbroken war, around 3 million combat deaths, and a comparable number of civilian casualties. And after only ten months, Napoleon escaped from Elba and went back to France for another try.

But it was really already over. The British (the paymasters of the coalition), the Austrians, the Prussians and the Russians were all still mobilised, and their armies started closing in on France. In the ‘Hundred Days’, Napoleon managed to lure many men who had fought for him in past wars back into his new army, but it was pure nostalgia.

He moved fast, hoping to defeat the British army in what is now Belgium before the other allies arrived to reinforce it, and he almost succeeded. The British commander, the Duke of Wellington, said that the battle of Waterloo was “the nearest-run thing you ever saw in your life.” In the end, late in the afternoon, the Prussian (German) army showed up and turned the tide. But if Napoleon hadn’t lost at Waterloo, he would have been defeated a little later.

“God is on the side of the heaviest battalions,” said Voltaire, and Napoleon agreed, just substituting “the best artillery” to demonstrate that his military knowledge was fully up to date. But his political knowledge was woefully deficient: God is actually on the side of the biggest economies, especially if they know how to turn their wealth into military power.

Britain had already overtaken France as Europe’s biggest economy (and in those days, that meant the world’s biggest economy). The industrial revolution in Britain was already into its second generation, while France had barely entered the first. Even in sheer numbers of people, a low birth rate meant that France would fall behind Russia, then behind Germany, and eventually even behind Britain in population.

So even if Napoleon could go on winning battles, he couldn’t win the war. In the end he couldn’t even win the battles. He was running out of soldiers, and his enemies had spent a generation at war learning (very expensively) to fight battles just as well as he did. Waterloo only confirmed what everybody with eyes could see already: France was finished as Europe’s superpower.

Then Britain got a century at the top (and after 500 years of Anglo-French wars, it never had to fight France again). The United States is now about 75 years into its term as the reigning superpower – and you are probably assuming that I am now going to speculate who gets the crown next. Wrong on two counts.

First of all, it’s a thorny crown, and nobody in their right mind would want it. The relevant statistic (which hides in plain sight) is that the more powerful a country is, the more wars it fights and the more people it loses. More power doesn’t give you greater security; it just gets you into more trouble.

Secondly, about half the time there is no undisputed top dog. That was the situation for the century 1600-1700, when Spain was in visible decline but France was not yet ready to assume the mantle of sole superpower. It was equally true in 1945-1990, when nuclear weapons (the great equaliser) meant that the United States and the Soviet Union were co-equal superpowers even though the US economy was far bigger than the Soviet one.

And now, with the American superpower allegedly in decline, there is obsessive speculation about when China will step in and take over the role – or might it turn out to be India instead? As though it were still the early 19th century, when France was going down and Britain was taking over. It isn’t.

Military power doesn’t deliver the goods any more. The United States has lost almost every war and mini-war it has fought in the past fifty years (except Grenada and Panama), even though it accounts for around half of the planet’s spending on defence. In the present global strategic environment, decisive victories are about as rare as unicorns.

This is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is probably a good thing. Victory is a much over-rated concept.
To shorten to 725 words, omit paragraphs 4 and 6. (“But…nostalgia”; and “God…power”)

Putin on D-Day

4 June 2014

By Gwynne Dyer

Not only were the Russians on the same side as the “Western” allies in the Second World War. They did most of the heavy lifting in the war against Nazi Germany, and they paid by far the highest price.

While 850,000 American, British and Canadian troops were landing on the French coast in June of 1944, 6 million soldiers of the Soviet army were fighting massive battles with the German army in eastern Europe. The land war on the Eastern Front was already three years old, and by June of 1944 the Russians had won: the Germans had already begun the long retreat that ended above Hitler’s bunker in Berlin eleven months later.

President Putin, who began his career as a KGB agent working in Soviet-dominated East Germany, will certainly be aware of the irony that he is commemorating a military operation whose main result was to contain Soviet power. And his presence will remind all the other participants that the Second World War was not really fought to defend democracy from tyranny.

Hitler never intended to conquer Britain, and was surprised when his armed forces conquered France in 1940. He was certainly not out to “conquer the world”, a preposterous ambition for a country of only 80 million people. His real target was Russia: the “Jewish-Bolshevik” Soviet Union. And he couldn’t even conquer that.

The people who lived through the First World War were fed that lie, but we no longer believe it now. To a remarkable extent, the Western countries that fought in the Second World War still believe that it was a moral crusade, because Hitler was a very evil man.

So he was, but almost nobody in the countries that were fighting him knew about the death camps until the war was over. Moreover, the country that was carrying the heaviest burden in the war against Nazi Germany was a monstrous tyranny led by Joseph Stalin, a man who certainly rivalled Hitler in terms of how many millions of people he murdered.

It seems churlish to insist that the Second World War was just another great-power conflict on the day when the last survivors of the generation who fought in it are gathering to honour, probably for the last time, those who died on the beaches of Normandy. But there is no other time when people will actually pause to listen to such an assertion, and it is important that they understand it.

That was the real conclusion of the governments on the winning side in both world wars. It’s why they created the League of Nations after the first one, and the United Nations after the second. Both organisations were designed to break the cycle of great-power wars by criminalising those who start wars and taking the profit out of victory (because nobody will recognise your conquests even if you win).

To shorten to 725 words, omit paragraphs 8, 9 and 10. (“Unlike…murdered”)

It’s Abrupt Climate Change, Stupid

16 February 2014

It’s Abrupt Climate Change, Stupid

That was unfair, because it was the people of the rich countries in the temperate zone – North America, Europe and Japan, mainly – who industrialised early and started burning large amounts of fossil fuel as long as two centuries ago. That’s how they got rich. Their emissions of carbon dioxide over the years account for 80 percent of the greenhouse gases of human origin that are now in the atmosphere, causing the warming, yet they get hurt least and last.

“In 2012 we had the second wettest winter on record and this winter is a one-in-250-years event,” British opposition leader Ed Milliband told The Observer newspaper last Friday. “If you keep throwing the dice and you keep getting sixes then the dice are loaded. Something is going on.”

The “something” is abrupt climate change. In Britain, it’s an unprecedented series of great storms blowing in off the North Atlantic, dropping enormous amounts of rain and causing disastrous floods. In the United States and Canada, it’s huge blizzards, ice-storms and record low temperatures that last much longer and reach much further south than normal. Welcome to the “temperate” zone of the northern hemisphere.

Geography may explain the differences. There isn’t all that much land in the southern temperate zone, and the vast expanses of ocean that surround it moderate the land temperatures. Moreover, the polar jet stream in the southern hemisphere simply circles the Antarctic continent, and does not operate over land – whereas the northern polar jet stream flows right across North America and Europe. And it’s the jet stream that matters.

The paper, entitled “Evidence linking Arctic amplification to extreme weather in mid-latitudes,” was written by Jennifer Francis of Rutgers University and Stephen Vavrus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The authors’ methodology has been challenged by other climate scientists, but I think that in the end Francis and Vavrus will turn out to be largely right. That is not good news.

Now, a fast jet stream travels in a pretty straight line around the planet from west to east, just like a mountain stream goes pretty straight downhill. A slower jet stream, however, meanders like a river crossing a flood plain – and the big loops it makes extend much further south and north than when it was moving fast.

In a big southerly loop, you will have Arctic air much further south than usual, while there will be relatively warm air from the temperate air mass in a northerly loop that extends up into the Arctic. Moreover, the slower-moving jet stream tends to get “stuck”, so that a given kind of weather – snow, or rain, or heat – will stay longer over the same area.

Hence the “polar-vortex” winter in North America this year, the record snowfalls in Japan in 2012 and again this winter, the lethal heat waves in the eastern US in 2012 – and the floods in Britain this winter.

“They’ve been pummelled by storm after storm this winter (in Britain),” said Jennifer Francis at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Chicago last week. “It’s been amazing what’s going on, and it’s because the pattern this winter has been stuck in one place ever since early December.” There’s no particular reason to think that it will move on soon, either.
To shorten to 725 words, omit paragraphs 6 and 7.  (“There have…matters”)

The Arab Spring Three Years On

27 January 2014

The Arab Spring Three Years On

By Gwynne Dyer


Nursery Manager

Corus Consultancy
£32000 - £36000/annum
17 Jul 2017
16 Aug 2017
Contract Type
Full Time
Job Title : Nursery Manager

Location : West London

Salary: £ 32,000.00 - 36,000.00 Per Annum

Corus Consultancy are seeking a passionate Nursery Manager, for our client in West London, to develop an exceptional Early Years environment.

Main Responsibilities:

* Drive and deliver the highest standards of care throughout the nursery as detailed in the EYFS
* Ensure Policies & Procedures are effectively implemented

* Involving all aspects of managing the budget
* Meeting revenue targets through proactive management of occupancy and fee rates
* Working with the commercial team to proactively market the nursery, ensuring positive show rounds for parents
* Monitor the budget and expenditure in the nursery and ensure that agreed budgets are not exceeded
* Ensure all nursery policies and procedures are implemented effectively

* To manage the day to day operations of the nursery
* Provide line management, induction, appraisal and supervision, to ensure professional support
* Manage staff annual leave requests to ensure the nursery is adequately staffed at all times
* Ensure all staff rotas are accurate, including reporting of absence through sickness and holidays

Experience and Qualifications:

* Minimum NVQ Level 3, University degree desirable
* Deep understanding of EYFS and regulatory framework
* Previous similar experience essential
* Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office and basic finance skills

If you are interested in this position please apply as soon as possible


All posts in hospital in uganda

Fighting for Lives (May newsletter)

This past Sunday there was a horrific attack at a church in Iganga just a few miles away from Musana due to a land dispute between the church and community members. During service, a group of men attacked members in the congregation with machetes, killing two people and injuring many others. After the attack, the victims were rushed to the main hospital in Iganga for treatment. One of the injured was Musa Kabale. Musa was slashed multiple times on the head and on his body with the machetes and was losing blood rapidly. The main hospital did not have blood to do a transfusion so Musa was rushed to Musana Community Health Center (MCHC). Our amazing medical team worked tirelessly to stitch up all the wounds and give him the blood that saved his life. There is no question that Musa would have died without the efforts of our doctors, clinicians, and nurses. As the only income earner in the family, Musa would have left two wives and ten children with no means to provide for themselves.

Reaching the Community (March newsletter)

I want to build a hospital

I want to build a hospital.

We were touched by this blog written by a volunteer who recently visited Musana and saw with her own eyes the need for a Health Center. Alissa writes, “The need is great.  The need is so so so great.  For rescuing children.  For providing education.  For helping widows.  And also, as I learned, for healthcare.  So enough beating around the bush.  Here’s the deal: I want to build a hospital.  Or, rather, I want to get a hospital built.  And I want to ask for YOUR help to do that.


Scientific Name:
Family Name:
Plant Description:
There are two varieties of Bergamot planted in the garden including: Bergamot - Orange, AND, Bergamot - Wild - Bee Balm. Each has it's own page on the site if you'd like further details on either plant.


Medical Malpractice Tips

Medical Malpractice Tips has been rated 3.0 out of 5 based on 104 ratings and 1 user reviews.
What are the differences in medical malpractice laws?

Medical Malpractice Laws

The laws governing medical malpractice vary from state to state. As these laws are complex and difficult for some people to understand, it is important to retain a lawyer with experience trying medical malpractice cases in your state. A good place to find an overview of the medical malpractice laws where you live is Expert Law, where they have an index of laws by state, or through your attorney's office.

Can medical malpractice cases be both civil and criminal?

Medical Malpractice - Both Criminal and Civil

Medical malpractice cases are almost always handled in the civil courts, but they can lead to criminal prosecutions as well. If a doctor or other medical professional has committed a grossly reckless or intentionally harmful act against a patient, it could be considered a crime. In the event the prosecutor decides it is worthy of criminal prosecution, that person may be tried for criminal behavior, such as abuse or even murder. This case may be on top of any other cases which you are bringing against this individual or hospital for monetary compensation (medical bills and/or pain and suffering).

What is a statute of limitations in regards to medical malpractice?

Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

Medical malpractice cases have a statute of limitations on when you can file your claim. A "statute of limitations" is defined as the maximum period of time after an event (such as a surgical mistake or misdiagnosis) that can elapse before a case is filed in court. The statute of limitations can be applied in both civil and criminal cases. This statute is to prevent medical malpractice cases that took place a very long time ago from being brought into court when little of the evidence surrounding the case may still be found. It is important to consult a medical malpractice lawyer soon after you believe the case of medical malpractice occurred, so that you can file your claim before the statute of limitations runs out.

What is a medical malpractice lawyer?

Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Medical malpractice attorneys are lawyers who specialize in cases involving the medical field. Often they have undergone additional training to be able to understand the complex medical situations in which the malpractice has occurred. These lawyers are familiar with the laws in your state and will be able to tell you what information you may need in order to bring a lawsuit against your doctor, hospital or other medical personnel. Often a medical malpractice lawyer will take your case on contingency, meaning they will not get paid any of their fees if you do not recover compensation for your claim.

Guru Spotlight
Patricia Walters-Fischer


We Use Your Vehicles Computer To Diagnose Problems

Of all the things that can go wrong with a car electrical system flaws can be the most maddening. They’re difficult to trace, often come and go as they please and the symptoms often appear far from the source. Sometimes the symptoms of electrical problems don’t even seem electrical in nature. The engine control module basically controls the intersection of the engine’s necessary ingredients to make energy- fuel, air and spark. The engine control module (ECM) accomplishes this considerable chore by constantly monitoring a vast network of sensors around the car to ensure conditions are within normal operating range. When something goes wrong, the engine control module adjust conditions or, if it can’t the car won’t run properly or at all. When there is a problem the engine control module stores a trouble code so it can be diagnosed by a technician using a scan tool.

Newer engine computer systems also feature lightweight memory systems that can be easily accessed by the technician to fix programming issues and update specifications, just like you would on your home computer. The engine control module also makes sure the car meets emissions standards, by monitoring and regulating the fuel mixture to ensure the engine isn’t running too rich and emitting pollutants beyond the established parameters.

So far we have only discussed the running of the engine. Today’s vehicles have modules to control brakes, climate control, air bags, steering and almost every other system on the vehicle. Some of these systems depend on information from the others so finding a problem can become a very complex process.

We have the equipment and skilled technicians to diagnose and repair these complicated systems. Guess work can be expensive and cause more problems than originally existed. Take out the guess work and contact us today!


April 30, 2014

On Sunday night I finally had my interview with George Kavassilas.  What a fun experience!  I think you will enjoy our conversation very much.  It will show up on Super Woo Radio sometime in the next few days.  I will be traveling to California tomorrow to teach the Quantum Sphere Healing workshop and will send out a post on the show when I get back.  In the mean time, enjoy the beautiful Utah penstemon that I encountered during my foray into the canyonlands of SE Utah last week.

April 26, 2014

The Shaman's Altar

This is a continuation of the last post on the Witness and the Wisdom Keeper.  The day after our group explored the ancient Dance Plaza with the nearby male and female monoliths anchoring that sacred space, we went in a different direction to another sacred site.  This was a place that I had only visited once a few years ago.  It was with a different and more experienced eye that I approached it now.

The hike almost to the top of a rock strewn hill was somewhat strenuous but very rewarding as the hillside was covered with blooming springtime wildflowers.  I had been searching for the Utah penstemon in bloom for several years now, and was suddenly surrounded by them!  What a magical sight.  After spending some time photographing them I caught up to the rest of the group at our destination.

The site we were investigating is composed of a super massive monolith which sits on the north end of a carefully crafted stone circle.  There is an entrance into the circle to the left of the monolith, and a pointed standing stone in the wall of the circle directly opposite that stone.  Behind the place where the circle can be entered, there is a passageway between some rocks that leads out to what I guessed to be an  alcove or waiting area for whomever was to conduct the ceremonies here.  This was traditional at many different ancient sites in the southwestern US, as the ceremonial did not want to mingle with the participants before the ceremony.  He or she would want to make a grand entrance as soon as the crowd was settled in.

If you look at the massive rock in the photo, you can see what looks like a mouth about 1/3 of the way up from the ground.  That is actually a large “scoop” in the rock with several smaller scoops inside of it.  Below that scoop is a white band of rock which actually forms a ledge to sit on.  While the others were busy mapping the site and taking measurements and calculating alignments, I sat on that seat to do my thing.  It didn’t take too long to realize that I was sitting on the spot from which the ceremonies were conducted.   That is why I labeled it “The Shaman’s Altar”.

After settling in, I tuned into the sublime vibration of this place.  Even Virginia was having trouble with her GPS and compass because of the energy that was being generated there.  Undoubtedly, this is another ancient huaca consisting of a natural energy vortex with man made features added to it.   I could just image the whole monolith decked out with ceremonial objects that could be placed on ledges and hung from stony knobs.

I then reached behind me and put my hand into the largest of the smaller scoops.  I immediately felt the energetic residue of a liquid that had been there many hundreds of years ago.  It felt wet, even though there was no liquid in it when we were there.  Was this scoop used to store a sacred liquid for some sort of anointing?

After tuning into the type of ceremony that might have been here, I got a strong sense of coming together in community and united purpose.  The individuals would be merged into one group body through ceremony.  What a tight knit group indeed!  Of course, this would be necessary for their survival, and the fertility of the clan and abundance of their crops.  We modern humans are such individualists that it is hard to imagine living this way.

Before I got up, I glanced to my right past the smaller boulders that were near the entrance to the circle.  No surprise, but I was looking right at the Dance Plaza on that baldy hill perhaps a mile away in the distance.  Were ceremonies done in both places at the same time?  Were bonfires built there so that the sites could locate each other in the dark?  Were we looking at alignments with either the solstices or equinoxes?  Clearly this was a society that performed many kinds of sacred ceremony for the benefit of their community.  We might take a page from their book and do the same.

April 23, 2014

The Witness and the Wisdom Keeper

April 20, 2014

April Launch

Our launching group got together today and the information that came in did not disappoint.  This post really deserves its own title, but right now, I can’t think of one!  We chose this date because it is in between this last week’s lunar eclipse on the 15th and the upcoming solar eclipse on April 29th.  A very high energy time indeed.  The planet has also recently experienced several earthquakes in the 7.0 range and higher and we are experiencing the latest round of solar flare bombardment this weekend.

Right before the first participant launched, I started feeling a familiar deep and low vibration going through my body.  On the occasion that I have felt this it usually means that there is some sort of large UFO in the area above me, cloaked of course.  Actually, after the whole launch was over, one of the participants said that she thought that we were being watched today.
When it came for my turn to be launched, I used the deep low vibration as the focus of my intent.  I wanted to know what its origin was.  To my surprise, I was shown a cut away version of planet earth with all of the layers visible.  Here is the information that I perceived.  We know scientifically that the inner and outer core of the earth’s center rotate in different directions, and that the movement of molten metal in the outer core generates the earth’s magnetic field.  What I got was that there has been a shift in the speed of rotation of these 2 layers and that the difference in speeds between them has gotten bigger.  In fact, even though it cannot be scientifically proven, it felt to me that all of the other layers of the earth have started rotating in opposing directions, too, with a much greater difference between their vibrational states.

This increasing difference of speed of rotation between the layers of the planet will affect the magnetic field and also gravity.  The change will be seen and felt from the micro levels of the atom to the planet as a whole and all life that she hosts.  In other words, matter is starting to be affected.  That makes sense to me as the end product of our dropping down into density is the 3D world of physicality, and matter would be the first to start the shift back to a higher and lighter dimension.  Several years ago when I asked what the first symptoms of “ascension” would be, I got that my energy bodies would  change and differentiate vibrationally from each other, and then they would start to separate.  Could this be happening to the earth as well?

I then hovered above the earth’s surface and gradually backed up to take a broader view of what was happening.  There were streams of energy connecting the heart of our planet to all other planets and moons in this solar system, in addition to our sun.  I also suspect that these connections were being made to the consciousness of stars, planets and moons in other parts of the Milky Way Galaxy.  All roads lead to Rome, with us being Rome!  We truly are at the very center and core of the upcoming changes for all sentient life in our galaxy.

So, be alert and aware to the changes in matter, whether it is keys that no longer work because of a slight change in their shape, fruits and vegetables that suddenly taste very different, objects disappearing before your eyes, animals (and people) acting strangely, or even being able to pass your hand right through a wall because the atoms of that wall have spread apart to leave more energetic space between them.  As a matter of fact, I had an extra front door key made just yesterday.  It works the lock in the doorknob just fine, but will not turn the deadbolt at all.  Shades of things to come?

Dr. Richard Alan Miller has recently been on Coast to Coast AM and John B. Wells' new radio show Caravan to Midnight.  He is a real hoot, with tons of very interesting information.  If I get the story correct, at one time he was helping to develop a criteria for choosing soldiers who would have the lowest mortality rate in dangerous and high pressure combat situations.  He found that the ones who did the best went by their gut instinct and not their rational brains.  IQ did not win out here.  This is a skill that we all have to develop and trust in the crazy times ahead, especially if some very strange things start happening. Go with your guts!  (By the way, I never did bother to verify the presence of a space craft over the house.  I do believe however that one was there during our launch today.)

April 16, 2014

Blood Moon

Early this morning of Tuesday the 15th of April, North America experienced the much heralded occurrence of a total eclipse of the moon, known as a blood moon on prophesy circles.  What a sight it was indeed!  I wanted to experience it but did not want to set an alarm clock to get me up at any specific time.  I just set my inner alarm clock and hoped for the best.  After being asleep for a few hours, I woke up around 1 AM to see the last small crescent of light remaining before the total eclipse took place.

With camera in hand, I went out into the 25° cold with just my PJ’s and a winter coat on.  While taking some photos and trying to keep warm, I also opened myself up to receive any impressions emanating from this event.  After I was in for the night, I wrote everything down.  Here’s the scoop.

The main and predominant emotion that I felt was an overwhelming sadness coming from our moon.  This in turn generated a matching response of sadness coming from me that I am still feeling as I write this.  I realized that during an eclipse such as this, the moon is seen as it is, totally itself without any light from our Sun impacting it.  All we see is that faint reddish glow which is an indirect kind of lighting.

I believe that our moon is a hollow vessel with no soul or energy of its own.  It only reflects the light that comes from our Sun.  It is a shadow of its former self.  Ancient cosmic mythology says that the moon was a space traveling vessel that was brought to our solar system to seed life here eons ago.  At that time, it was considered to be a feminine, mother or grandmother energy.  It has not been that way for millennia through a variety of circumstances.  People have not forgotten about the former feminine nature of the moon and still refer to it as such with great affection.  I know that in shamanic traditions, ceremonies are done on full and new moon nights, but that hasn’t seemed right for me for a long time now.  I prefer solstices and equinoxes for my fire ceremonies, as these have nothing to do with the moon.

Our Earth Mother is actually the divine feminine archetype now.  Imagine a time before the moon arrived here. Each and every night would have been pitch black except for the stars above.  This is the true feminine energy, which is dark, receptive, hidden, and yet nurturing as a womb at the same time.  Nights would have truly been a time of going back into the “womb” for rejuvenation and dreamtime exploration facilitated by our planet.  A reconnection of our soul to hers in a way.

A night like last night would be the closest we could get to that dark and feminine state, except for the very sad and even creepy energy that was coming from the moon.  Let me delve into the sadness first.  According to George Kavassilas, the forces that co-opted the moon also co-opted and sublimated the sacred feminine energy on planet earth.  Conquer the feminine and you conquer the earth and her human population.  No wonder I was and still am feeling such sadness.  My womb was literally aching last night as I gazed at the blood moon.  I ache for the loss of the honoring of the feminine here, amongst both women and men.  So very sad.

The creepy part of last night came in the form of a vision I had after I went to bed.  I saw many thin dark tentacles moving, probing, hooking and grabbing.  Almost like seaweed flowing in the ocean currents, but with a malevolent consciousness directing it.  It was my sense that this energy was and is emanating from the center of the moon.  It was clearly evident last night because the light of the Sun was not masking it.  These flowing tentacles are not only being directed at us, but at the times of the full moon, the light from the Sun is used to amplify this energy.  Why do you think that there are more people who lose it in many ways during a full moon?  All the more reason to remove your chakras, as they are input mechanisms that draw this dark energy into the human form.

I also felt a profound sadness for the forces that are using the moon to do their dirty work.  Their time in this arena is limited now and they know it.  We are gaining the upper hand.  One of our jobs now is to continue to connect deeply with our dear Mother Earth, heal our own inner feminine nature and bring that feminine nature out into our daily life.  We have 3 more blood moons coming up spaced 6 months apart.  The next one is in October.  Three more opportunities to get clarity around what our moon really is and to do your personal work around the Divine Feminine energy.


Our Story

this is who we are

During this time Jim took his skills regarding the human mind, and combining it with trainings on influence, persuasion and communication strategies he launched Lutes International in the early 1990s. Based in San Diego California Jim has taught seminars for, corporations, sales forces, individuals and athletes. Having appeared on television, radio and worldwide stages, Jims style, knowledge and effectiveness provide profound results.
“Jim Lutes possesses a unique ability to create performance change in an individual in a fraction of the time it takes his competitors”. The core of humans decisions are based on the programs we acquire, reinforce and grow. Combining Jims various trainings individuals can reach new levels of achievement and fulfillment in all areas of life. The results are at times nothing short of astonishing.

Our Vision

this is what we do

Lutes International is the world's premier company regarding the use of the human mind to enhance productivity and results within an individual or company. Why is it that some people and companies flourish, while other seem to be stuck in a never ending cycle of struggle? If you're looking for the answer, you have come to the right place.
Jim Lutes is one of the most successful experts in the world on how to "re-program" the software that runs on a daily basis. As a motivational speaker, hypnotist, successful entrepreneur and Mind Programming Expert, the tactics and strategies he has developed have assisted corporations and individual perform and live at a new level of existence, correcting the problems of wrong thinking and habits that may literally be robbing you of joy, companionship, health and profits. Based in beautiful San Diego California Jim has attracted executives, athletes and other elite top performers who know that working from the inside out is paramount to their success in all areas.

Monday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Tuesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM

Contact Us

Email. info@lutesinternational.com


F/A-18D Hornet

F/A 18D Hornet

Primary function: Attack and destroy surface targets, day or night, under all weather conditions; conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance; provide supporting arms coordination; and intercept and destroy enemy aircraft under all weather conditions.

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Propulsion: Two General Electric F404-GE-400 afterburning, low bypass turbofan engines
Thrust: 16,000 pounds per engine
Length: 56 feet (17.06 meters)
Wing span: 37.5 feet (11.43 meters)
Cruise speed: High subsonic to supersonic
Ferry range: Over 2,000 nautical miles (2300 miles)
Combat radius:
    Fighter mission: 400 nautical miles (460 miles)
    Attack mission: 575 nautical miles (661.25 miles)
Armament: Nine external wing stations, comprising two wingtip stations for AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; two outboard wing stations for an assortment of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including AIM-7 Sparrows, AIM-9 Sidewinders, AMRAAMs, AGM-84 Harpoons and AGM-65 Maverick missiles; two inboard wing stations for external fuel tanks or air-to-ground stations; two nacelle fuselage stations for Sparrows or AN/AAS-38 Forward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) pods; and a center station for fuel tank or air-to-ground weapons such as GBU-10 and -12 laser guided bombs, Mk 80 series general purpose bombs, and CBU-59 cluster bombs. An M61 20mm six-barrel gun is mounted in the nose and has a McDonnell Douglas director gunsight.
Crew: 2
Introduction date: October 1989
Unit Replacement Cost: $28,000,000

Mission: Specific F/A-18D tasks include:
   - Conduct day and night deep air support, in all weather. Deep air support consists of armed reconnaissance, radar search and attack, interdiction, and strikes against enemy installations, using all types of weapons compatible with assigned aircraft.
    - Conduct multi-sensor imagery reconnaissance to include pre-strike and post-strike target damage assessment and visual reconnaissance.

    - Conduct day and night supporting arms coordination to include forward air control, tactical air coordination and artillery/naval gunfire spotting.
    - Intercept and destroy enemy aircraft in conjunction with ground and airborne fighter direction.
    - Conduct battlefield illumination and target illumination.
    - Conduct armed escort of friendly aircraft.
    - Be able to operate from aircraft carriers, advanced bases, and expeditionary airfields.
    - Be able to deploy or conduct extended range operations employing aerial refueling.

Features: Marine F/A-18D aircraft are unique within the Department of the Navy because the Marine Corps employs the F/A-18D as a tactical strike aircraft while the Navy uses it as a trainer. Marine F/A-18Ds may be land-based from prepared airfields, or they can operate from expeditionary airfields (EAF). They may also be sea-based, operating from the decks of Navy aircraft carriers.

Inventory: Currently 72 (6 active squadrons).

Background: The Marine Corps F/A-18Ds have replaced 108 OA-4M, RF-4B, and the A6-E aircraft. The F/A-18D functions not only as a strike fighter, but also as a Forward Air Controller (Airborne)/Tactical Air Controller (Airborne) (FAC(A)/TAC(A)) and tactical reconnaissance aircraft. In addition, the night attack suite allows the F/A-18D to conduct operations below weather at low altitude using night vision goggles and Foward Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) systems. Using a variety of precision guided weapons, the F/A-18D provides a precision strike capability.
Operation Desert Storm in 1991 was the operational proving ground for the F/A-18D. Twelve F/A-18D aircraft deployed to SWA to participate in combat operations. Used solely in a Tactical Air Coordinator (Airborne)/Forward Air Control (Airborne) or "Fast FAC" role, the F/A-18D proved to be a superior TAC(A)/FAC(A) platform. The F/A-18D's flew into target areas, ahead of strike aircraft, to locate and identify high value targets for USMC, USAF, USN, and Kuwait Air Force TACAIR missions. By providing target location and identification, threat updates, and the overall battlefield situation, the F/A-18D proved very effective in controlling as many as 20 strike fighters in a single 30-minute period.

Date last modified: 12/05/95