Monday, November 08, 2021, 13:29 (GMT+7)
Signal Brigade 601 maintains the "blood vessel" of communication

The central political task of Signal Brigade 601 is to ensure communications for Military Region 1 (MR1) Command to lead and direct the main force and the local forces in the provinces within its area of operation. Deeply aware of the task and the importance of maintaining the "blood vessel" of communication, over the years, the Brigade Party Committee and Command have strictly followed the reality and characteristics of its assigned tasks, and set out solutions for comprehensive leadership and direction of all work aspects.

Notably, it has led and directed to build the Brigade into a unified block of will and action; pay attention to building pure and strong party organisations in politics, ideology, morality, structure and personnel, and comprehensively strong, "exemplary and typical" unit; render its cadres, especially those in command of units stationed in remote, isolated and extremely difficult areas "both red and expert" to meet requirements and tasks; conduct spiritual education, nurture the will to overcome difficulties, self-reliance, self-resilience, high determination when performing tasks in the condition of independent operation and insufficiency in all aspects, etc. In order to turn that determination into reality, the Brigade conducts thorough brief of the Party's defence and military lines, directives and resolutions at all levels, in addition to the “four Goods, three Nos", "three Upholds, five Againsts” contents to all troops; direct each unit and individual to develop plans and make commitment to realise the target in a specific and relevant manner.

Commander of the Military Region presenting the Brigade with the Second-Class Homeland Protection Order

Its affiliated departments and units have enhanced political and legal education for their troops through various forms suitable to the nature of their tasks, cognitive levels and working environment; promoted the study and follow-up of Ho Chi Minh's thought, morality and style by taking realistic measures, creating a spillover effect and having a positive impact on each cadre, party member and the masses. This is also an effective measure to build cadres and soldiers with solid political zeal, promote exemplification, solidarity, determination, and to improve revolutionary morality, maintaining and promoting the quality of "Uncle Ho's Soldier" in the new period; repel the degradation of political ideology, morality, lifestyle, internal "self-evolution" and "self-transformation", etc. As a result, 100% of the brigade's officers and soldiers strictly abide by State law, Military discipline, regimes and disciplines in communication. In 2020, the Brigade Party Committee and 100% of Party members successfully completed their tasks, in which 97.31% were rated good and excellent, and 100% of agencies and units are rated comprehensively strong.

Moreover, the Brigade maintains strict watch mode to ensure smooth and stable line of communication. Adhering to the motto of "Proficient at traditional signal - Elite in mobile signal - Mastering modern signal", the Brigade Party Committee and Command set forth guidelines and solutions to lead and implement in a practical manner. Affiliated departments and units thoroughly grasp and strictly abide by orders, directives and instructions of the Ministry of National Defence, MR1 and functional agencies on combat readiness and communication support; adjust and supplement the system of documents on combat readiness and communication in accordance with the requirements, instructions of higher echelons and the reality of the unit; hold practice and drill to master the plans; strictly maintain watch mode at all levels and stations, concentrating on peak days, such as anniversaries, holidays, Tet, important events of the country; at the same time, handle all communication situations well, firmly grasp the situation round the clock, not to be made passive or surprised.

In order to maintain the effective and stable communication system, the Brigade focuses on the breakthrough in improving its training quality. As it is holding training for different subjects of different majors with a large number of watch forces, meanwhile, the task of communication support  is always developing with increasing requirements, new and modern hardware while the training experience of a number of officers is still limited; every year, the Brigade thoroughly briefs and issues specific plan to implement Resolution No. 765-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission and Resolution No. 703-NQ/ĐU of the MR1 Party Committee on improving the quality of training; combat training orders of MR1 Commander and the instructions of the superior authorities to each unit, focusing on small and independent units, operating far away from the Brigade Command. On the other hand, sticking to the motto of "basics, practicality, solidity, safety, thrift", the Brigade requires its units to hold synchronous and comprehensive training of contents and programs for all troops, focusing on specialised and in-depth training on communication, specific task, and equipment to master new and modern hardware. To make it highly effective, the Brigade directs its agencies and units to develop concrete training plans and schedules; hold refresher courses for trainers with contents and methods relevant to task requirements; approve 100% of the lesson plans through trial teaching; invest in training facilities, etc. At the same time, it focuses on regular and irregular inspection of training; has objective assessment, timely rectification and remedial measures of shortcomings and deficiencies. Therefore, its soldiers have firmly grasped the technical and tactical specifications, mastered and fully exploited signal equipment. For many years in a row, the Brigade has been awarded the "Good Training Unit" flag by the Ministry of National Defence. In particular, in June 2021, the Brigade was honourably awarded the Second-class Homeland Defence Order by the State President for its outstanding achievements in training, combat service, Military building, and national defence consolidation in the 2016-2020 period.

Besides the new generation and state-of-the-art hardware equipped recently, the Brigade is still managing and exploiting a large number of old, degraded and vulnerable ones. Meanwhile, the levels of its technical cadres and staff have yet to keep up with the development of technology. In order to maintain the "blood vessel" of communication, the Brigade pays special attention to managing, using and exploiting signal hardware. Along with promoting the qualifications and capacity in the maintenance and repair, increasing the service life and efficiency of the equipment, upholding the initiative, positivity and creativity in exploiting and using modern technical equipment and technologies, the Brigade has proposed to superiors and closely coordinated with military and civilian telecommunications enterprises to train and foster its officers and employees to gradually master advanced equipment and technology; effectively exploit Vinasat satellite communication network; actively coordinate with units of the Signal Corps to effectively exploit the military digital network, connect with the Army-wide computer network to create basis and foundation for the automation of command at all levels.

In order to improve the sustainability of the communication system, the Brigade directs its departments and units to strictly maintain the regimes and orders of technical work, maintenance, storage, and repair to increase the lifespan of the equipment; promotes the Campaign of "Managing and exploiting weapons, technical equipment sustainably, safely, economically  and traffic safety"; mobilises and encourages officers and soldiers to promote their initiatives, apply technical improvements into training and communication support ; promotes the role of mobile technical teams and technical support centres in remote technical troubleshooting; regularly checks the technical condition of vehicles when transferring and receiving documents, official documents and when travelling on roads. Thereby, the Brigade has fostered and improved the level of management, maintenance and repair of the technical staff of the stations, contributing to the effective management and exploitation of the military communication system, meeting the requirements and missions in all situations.

The above practical results and the experience will serve as an important ground for Brigade 601 to further research, apply flexibly and creatively in the coming time; maintain the “timely, accurate, confidential and safe” communication for MR1 Command, meeting military and defence requirements and tasks in the new situation.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN QUANG THAI, Brigade Commander

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How Freud Helps Writers: Keeping Objections in Mind

How do you really learn the ins and outs of your subject matter? Nothing makes you know material better than teaching it. That’s why Freud’s Introductory Lectures makes such an interesting read. They are his lectures presented on psycho-analysis (Freud’s original spelling), which would have been fascinating anyway. But Freud keeps in his writing a key aspect of this lecture, literally interrupting the flow of his explanation with key questions that others may be thinking (and may have actually asked him in objection or skepticism). Discover how this book is more than a transcript but captures an introduction of the subject matter in a way that is helpful for your writing.

1. Intrigue your audience. Freud found an interesting way to delve into the subject of psycho-analysis. He started with some the most common and perhaps most interesting mysteries of human behavior and experience: parapraxes and dreams. Parapraxes literally are “faulty acts,” including the infamous Freudian slip or slip of the tongue. Freud presented these common mistakes and dreams, offering a fascinating theory for why they happen. Freud used these common mistakes as a doorway into the subject matter and built on this theory to construct a methodology for the treatment of neurotic disorders. So from the most simple, everyday experiences that are intriguing to people, he grabbed attention of listeners and readers alike and did not let go.

Likewise writers can grab their audience with this level of interest. Writers are often told to hook the writer with an interesting story, put them at ease with a joke, or involve them conversationally to win them over. Freud intrigues the reader with examples of slips of the tongue, which is a mystery that can leave even the person uttering the comment scratching his head as to why he said those very words. I wanted to know Freud’s answer as I read. Leave your readers wanting more and turning the page for the next nugget!

Along the way, listeners had to apply Freud’s theories to their human experience. Everyone has slips of the tongue. Everyone has dreams. Readers cannot help but start thinking, do Freud’s theories fit my reality? Why did I have that slip of the tongue? What does that dream mean? Freud’s theory became the subject matter of conversation about the topic, whether people agreed with him or not.

2. Identify possible objections. Freud had already experienced criticism for psycho-analysis as his treatment model. Perhaps this criticism put him on guard. Perhaps he had carefully debated all of these objections previously. In any case, with each point of his discourse Freud dealt with objections that people might be thinking among his audience. With humor at times, Freud took on possible critiques and made a stronger argument as a result.

In years of answering critical letters of the publishing products I work with, I have learned that sometimes people just want to be heard, understood, and validated as having a noteworthy argument, even if the discussion ends with both sides agreeing to disagree. Freud truly had a talent for noting objections in a way that validated questions and arguments just before he dismantled the argument.

For all of these reasons, I would argue Freud thought through his theories and their implications to a greater degree than most writers spend thinking about their topic. Every writer can learn from this type of clear thinking, noting grey areas or possible objections, and addressing them head on. Perhaps the possibility of being asked a question or being faced with an objection is the reason why every teacher learns his subject matter better. Anticipating objections and questions may actually cause you as a writer to think more clearly and succinctly in how you present your material and make your argument.

3. Provide examples to illustrate truths. Freud was the master of the case study. Freud’s case studies illustrated both his methods and the successful use of those methods in curing neurotic behavior. Freud’s case studies made his theory and treatment come alive. On a smaller level, Freud gave memorable examples of parapraxes and dreams that beautifully illustrated the heart of each type of slip and its connection to his model of interpretation.

There is a reason why most cultures told stories to pass down their history and beliefs from generation to generation. They are powerful tools in teaching and bringing alive truths that would otherwise be missed. Even in the most theoretical paper, your argument will be strengthened with examples. Illustrations give a concrete example of the theoretical.

4. Examine your deepest thoughts and dreams. Most people do not realize that Freud’s first patient was himself! He psycho-analyzed himself to discover the reasons for his behavior and actions. There is some validation in theories that powerfully help you understand your strengths and weaknesses, especially those areas of life that trouble you, where you can’t explain your own behavior. Freud specialized in those areas of life. Literally, he delved into the world of dreams to help free people from the obstacles that held them enslaved.

Some of the best writers explore their own issues, thoughts, hopes, dreams, difficulties, and successes to infuse their writing with emotion and reality. Don’t be afraid to go places in your writing that others consider taboo. Sometimes taking on one’s greatest fears and areas of frustration turn out to be the most freeing experiences.

5. Be willing to apply concepts to other areas of life and learning. Freud did not stop at the development of psycho-analysis and the examination of the human psyche. He used his methodology to explore group psychology, cultural anthropology, the development of art and religion, and the birth of the consciousness of the human species. Freud was a master at using his theory to other studies and areas of life.

Likewise never limit your thoughts and writing to one field of study. In today’s race to specialize in a specific field, we sometimes overlook areas that overlap and connections that naturally occur outside of our area of study. Similarly, don’t limit your writing and expertise. Life is a journey much like writing is a journey. Enjoy each step along the way!

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Circulating infatuation: Japanese visuality, technology and sexuality in the Western imagery and imagination

Katja Valaskivi

The article contextualizes the so called Cool Japan phenomenon and its’ features in Finland through three themes: visuality, technology and sexuality. Taking a historical approach, the article describes in what ways in the West in general and in Finland in particular Japanese culture has been used as the Other, as “different”: a mirror, through which perceptions of desirable and undesirable societal and cultural features have been discussed in the West. The article uses the concept of circulation as a tool for analyzing how visuality, technology and sexuality in relation to Japan have been represented in various (audio)visual materials since the opening up of Japan in late 19th century.

It is not the first time for Japan to be trendy in the West. In the current Cool Japan phenomenon there are many features of earlier periods of infatuation with Japan, starting with the Japonisme of late 19th century. Meanings, images and collective imaginaries circulate from culture to other and societal sphere to another through (audio)visual representations. Mental images of other cultures are building material of imagined (national) communities (Anderson 1983). (Mental) images on Japan have in different times served different national, political and economical purposes. Perception of Japan has been utilized for local purposes not only in Finland but generally in Europe and United States. Japan has provided a possibility to reflect utopian and dystopian imaginaries depending on the atmosphere, political situation and trade balance.

The article discusses how the otherness of Japan has been represented through visuality, technology and sexuality, and how the “difference” of Japan has been a part and parcel in the birth and sustaining of the infatuation both from the late 19th century Japonisme to the present Japanese popular culture craze as well as in dystopian perceptions during the Second World War and 1980s Japan bashing.


An Attorney At Legislation is a lawyer that techniques law for other individuals. This sort of expert does not choose for their customers; instead, they recommend them on the validities entailed. In the common law courts, this type of lawyer is able to represent a huge volume of clients on an independent basis. These attorneys typically focus on household regulation and criminal cases, yet they might likewise prosecute various other locations, such as Employees’ Settlement as well as Social Security Disability. Going Here

While there is no lawful distinction between a lawyer at legislation and also a lawyer actually, the terms are used reciprocally. A lawyer at legislation is a legal representative that has passed the bar examination to exercise legislation. A lawyer actually is an individual who has the authority to represent another person and also can represent them in court, usually via a power of visit. In some territories, the terms coincide, however the term is generally abbreviated as a variant of the former.

An attorney at legislation is a legal professional that represents a customer in court. While the ordinary individual does not have the legal expertise to seek a legal action by themselves, there are some circumstances where a lawyer is required. In these situations, the attorney can supply representation, advice, and lawful advice. A person who has lawful training and also experience must always look for the support of a qualified and also experienced legal representative. A good lawyer at law can help you obtain the most effective offer.

Besides education and learning, an attorney needs to have a master’s level in a relevant area. Since 2018, just 6.6% of attorneys at regulation did not go to college. It is very important to comprehend that obtaining a master’s degree is needed to come to be an Attorney At Regulation. While a senior high school diploma might be adequate, you will not be able to achieve success in this field if you do not total university. A master’s level or higher is required for a job as an Attorney At Regulation.

The title “attorney at regulation” is likewise used in the lawful area. The term is typically shortened as at * torney in day-to-day speech. Likewise, an attorney at legislation is a lawyer who methods regulation. This expert carries out legal benefit a customer in a court of laws. Some attorneys are lawyers, while others are lawyers at legislation. An attorney at regulation is a person that benefits a law office.

An Attorney At Legislation must have at least a bachelor’s level to become a Lawyer. One in nine attorneys at legislation did not go to university. It is essential to note that the role of a Lawyer At Law is very competitive. It is likewise essential to understand that in order to prosper in this field, an attorney has to have an university degree. A secondary school diploma is not enough. Regardless of the location of study, an Affiliate’s level in regulation is needed for a Lawyer at law.

The term “lawyer at law” can be an excellent way to explain a legal professional. In some nations, the term is made use of to refer to an attorney who methods law for a client. In various other nations, this is the favored term for an attorney in a certain jurisdiction. The term is also utilized to define a legal professional. Furthermore, it can be a phrase for an attorney. Nevertheless, the title can be a bit deceptive for individuals that do not know the meaning of this term.

To end up being an Attorney At Regulation, a prospect must have a regulation degree. An Affiliate’s level in legislation is generally sufficient to practice regulation. In various other nations, the term amounts a bachelor’s level. Because of this, it is very important to think about a variety of factors before picking an occupation in regulation. As an example, an individual must have a high school degree to certify as an Attorney At Law.

The terms “lawyer at law” are typically used reciprocally in modern conversation. In some territories, the term is utilized for lawyers that are certified to prosecute in court. In other territories, it is utilized for any type of attorney who practices legislation. The terms “attorn” and “at-law” are both legal terms. While they have the same meaning, they are two different.


The theft and murder of at least two dogs in Darby is bringing the community together to help find the culprit. Jennifer Woirhaye is a close friend of the family who lost their dogs and has been leading the charge in helping them find justice.

"Back in January, Charlie and Stacey Heiland's beagles were stolen from their home and the female was pregnant," Woirhaye said. "The people kept the dogs, had the puppies, kept the puppies, and then killed the mom and the male dog they had stolen. It's just really disturbing that someone would do that and that person needs to be found and put away."

This week, April 11, Woirhaye organized an effort to help bring information into the Ravalli County Sheriff’s office.

"I started a reward fund through Farmer's State Bank and we've had quite a few donations, Woirhaye said. "The reward is now up to over $3,000. So, we're putting the information out there and hoping that someone, maybe even driven by the money, will turn somebody in."

Woirhaye says the Sheriff’s office will connect tip providers with the money, so the public just needs to call law enforcement. All kinds of information could be helpful, even simply reporting sightings of new beagle pups.


how to pronounce willpower

audio example by a male speaker

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willpower frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word willpower occurs in english on average 0.2 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.

willpower is pronounced in three syllables

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of willpower

example pitch curve for pronunciation of willpower

test your pronunciation of willpower

video examples of willpower pronunciation

An example use of willpower in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… up to lack of willpower no amount of …”

meanings of willpower

  1. The unwavering strength of will to carry out one's wishes.

words with pronunciation similar to willpower

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How do you keep veggies from getting soggy in a stir fry?

How do you keep vegetables crisp in stir fry?

Heat the pan over high heat. No medium-high heat here; it’s the high heat that gives you quickly cooked veggies that are crisp, tender and bright. Heat the pan for a few minutes before adding the oil.

Why is my stir fry always soggy?

If you add too many ingredients at once, they will overlap and steam, rather than sauté, making them rubbery or soggy. “Cook each ingredient separately,” advises Martinez. Not only does this ensure that you won’t pile too much in the pan at once, but it will also account for different cooking times.

When stir frying vegetables which should be added first?

How do you fix mushy stir fry?

If you see watery liquid in the bottom of your pan, you’re boiling/steaming instead of frying. Try lightly coating your meat in cornstarch to dry off the surface and aid browning. Get your wok smoking hot. Best way to check is after you let the wok heat up for about 2 minutes (gas stove, obviously.

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How do you keep vegetables green in stir fry?

I regularly blanch them and only stir-fry the vegetables over high heat briefly. Set aside for later use. This method will destroy the enzymes which will discolor foods and cause them to deteriorate. By doing this, the color will maintain even though after a few hours.

How do you keep stir fry from drying out?

When to add liquid

Water, stock, coconut milk, soy or fish sauce can help stop ingredients sticking but use towards the end of cooking, once the ingredients have cooked through. Liquid will coat and glaze ingredients so the end result isn’t dry. However, too much will result in a soggy stir-fry.

How do you fix mushy vegetables?

Overcooked Vegetables

Mushy, soggy veggies can ruin a perfectly good meal, so revive them by: Blanching – Toss them in cold water right away to stop the cooking process; blanching will also help firm them up a little.

What are 3 important steps to a good stir fry?

What are 3 important steps to a good stir fry?

  1. Get the wok ready. An authentic stir-fry is made in a wok, which is a bowl-shaped pan. …
  2. Choose an oil. Since a stir-fry is cooked at a high temperature, choose oil with a high smoke point. …
  3. Cook the vegetables. Add garlic to the hot wok. …
  4. Add flavour.

Do you pre cook veggies for stir fry?

Blanch vegetables before stir-fry

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Do you put a lid on stir fry?

Yes, I recommend you start stir frying in the deepest frying pan you have before buying to a wok. If you are worried about the oil splattering out of the frying pan, you can use a lid to shield yourself. But don’t completely cover the frying pan with the lid because you want the steam to escape.

What’s the best oil for stir fry?

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Why is my stir fry sticky?

Keep them Al Dente, if too soft, all the starch comes out and that’s what makes them stick to wok! … Drain really well, wet noodles are another reason for noodles sticking to your wok. Sprinkle toasted sesame oil and make sure oil is covering all the noodles well, use chopsticks and separate them.

How much oil should I use for stir fry?

Put a small amount of oil (1-2 tablespoons) in your wok. You won’t typically need much oil – you’re stir frying, not deep frying. At this point, you’ll also want to add any seasoning and/or spices you’re using in your dish.


Economic Growth, Inflation, Interest and Exchange Rates

Economic Growth, Inflation, Interest and Exchange Rates

Economic Growth

Each nation’s government takes steps to help the economy achieve the goals of employment, stable prices, and growth. Monetary policy is one of the mechanisms a central bank uses to manipulate the entire level of economic growth by targeting money supply and interest rates.

In this regard, monetary policy can be depicted as accommodative if the interest rate is intended to create economic growth. If it is intended to combat growth (or, more often, combat inflation), it will raise interest rates to lower borrowing. These measures balance economic growth and maintain stable inflation.

Expansionary Money Policy and Its Effects

To counter a recession, central banks use expansionary policies. An expansionary policy aims at reducing interest rates and raising money supply. This increases the ease of accessing money because banks will be more willing to lend money. Interests are more attractive, encouraging borrowers to borrow money and expand their businesses. Consequently, consumer demand rises.

Contractionary Money Policy and Its Effects

When the central bank believes that inflation is a problem, it will use a contractionary policy to counter the effects of inflation. A contractionary policy increases interest rates and reduces money supply. Borrowers then have to pay more for money borrowed while banks become more selective and cautious in giving out loans. This makes the acquisition of loans more difficult, and consequently, demand for goods and services decreases.

How Interest Rates Affect Exchange Rates

With all other factors held constant, high interest rates increase the value of a country’s currency and vice versa. Further, higher interest rates attract foreign investment, increasing demand for a country’s currency, while lower interests reduce foreign investment.

However, interest rates alone cannot determine the value of a currency; a country also needs to be economically and politically stable. These are some key factors investors consider when appraising the desirability of owning a given currency.

How Inflation Affects Exchange Rates

The inflation rate can also greatly affect the value of a currency and the rates of exchange with other countries’ currencies. The effect is usually undesirable – a low inflation rate does not guarantee a suitable exchange rate for a country. In contrast, an extremely high inflation rate has a very high chance of negatively affecting a country’s exchange rates. That is why countries aim at equalizing inflation and interest rates for higher economic growth.

A contractionary monetary policy will most likely have which of the following effects?

A. An increase in interest rates and a decrease in inflation.

B. A decrease in interest rates and an increase in inflation.

C. A decrease in interest rates and a decrease in inflation.

The correct answer is A.

When a central bank believes that inflation is a problem, it will use a contractionary policy to counter the effects of inflation. A contractionary policy increases interest rates and reduces the money supply.

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A Beginner’s Guide To Chinese Medicine And Herbs

Chinese ancestors who lived thousands of years ago established a set of principles in understanding the human body. From these principles, they studied the external and internal factors that create imbalance and disconnection—a major factor in a person’s sickness or odd feelings—and sought to restore balance with various methods underlined in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

From cupping, acupuncture, to herbs and exercises, this article will run you through the TCM basics, starting from its cornerstone principles and common methods.

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine?

In essence, traditional Chinese medicine focuses on the force of life, also known as Qi. The Chinese believe that a skewed Qi, triggered by external forces that upset the yin and yang balance, is what makes one feel off, eventually causing pain and illnesses. You may have known yin and yang as the opposing positive and negative forces.

The same goes for TCM, where there are four opposing principles in a person’s overall wellbeing. Traditional medicine methodologies focus on bringing back your body’s natural harmony.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has funded ongoing researches on the impact of traditional Chinese medicine on fibromyalgia, the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving pain from breast cancer after-treatments, and the integration of tai-chi as an alternative cardiac rehabilitation program for a selected group of patients.

The Eight Principles Of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine has four pairs of opposing elements, namely yin and yang, hot and cold, deficiency and surplus, internal or external. Yin and yang occupy the main subcomponent of Qi, and the rest of the components are organized under each element.

Under the yin are the elements such as cold, deficiency, and internal. Inversely, yang elements include external, hot, and surplus or excess.  The Eight Principles of Chinese traditional medicine were first discovered by TCM scholar Zhang Jie Ben in the 17th century.

Yin And Yang Combinations

In most cases, particularly in long-term ailments, all of these elements are critical, being that not all disorders can be clearly classified as caused by a single group of elements. For instance, not all sicknesses can be triggered by yang, external, and excessive factors. Diseases are typically a combination of all of these eight principles.

A practitioner can determine whether a certain illness is caused by an excess or deficiency of both yin and yang. After finding out the imbalance considering all the elements earlier mentioned, traditional medicine can be tapped to restore harmony. Few of the methods commonly used in treating the condition will be discussed in the succeeding sections.

Hot Or Heat

These elements relate to temperatures, as set off by the specific illness. The most telling sign of an infection, for example, is a fever; a hot temperature. In traditional Chinese medicine, there are more symptoms of heat. Rashes, flushed cheeks, a dark yellow excretion, and offensive odor are all indications of heat in a patient’s body.

Inversely, chills, a pallid complexion, and coldness are the signs of coldness in the body. A patient will have a light-colored urine and clear mucus. The limbs, abdomen, and other areas of the body may also feel cold to the touch.

Excess and deficiencies refer to the state of qi, blood, and yin and yang in a person’s body.

As the name suggests, excess elements in the body means an oversupply of something. Persons suffering from a pattern of imbalance leaning towards excesses are most likely to suffer heavily once they’re exhausted. Examples of excess or full patterns include restlessness, irritability, constipation, and acute diseases.

In addition, sweating and colds indicate an excess of heat in the body.

Generally speaking, deficiency means something lacking in the body. This rather develops slowly, as in the case of most chronic diseases. Its symptoms include pain, fatigue, sleepiness, and signs of most common chronic illnesses.

Chinese ancestors believe that pain is caused by a lack of substance in your body. Have you ever wondered why pain is relieved by putting pressure on the affected area?  That’s because pressure fills the empty substances that trigger the discomfort.

A patient who doesn’t have adequate yin and blood will likely experience dry skin and eyes, as well as brittle hair and nails. A deficiency in the body will feel better when the body part is warmed or heated.

Internal Or Interior

The external and internal elements describe the origins of location of a certain disease.  Apart from its location, a disease could be triggered by external influences and/or conditions inside the patient’s body.

In Chinese traditional medicine, this can be anything that affects the internal organs—lungs, kidneys, and heart, among others. Exterior influences can develop with poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, and persistent stress. If exterior problems are left unaddressed, they can enter the body and turn into a chronic disease.

Matters of internal disharmony include chronic digestive problems, persistent headaches, gynecological issues, and other signs.

External Or Exterior

This condition is marked typically by viral conditions. Hence, a common cold is considered an external imbalance based on the traditional Chinese medicine. In most cases, this refers to the diseases that affect the skin, hair, nails and muscles.

Clinical manifestations of external disharmony include chills, fever, a dislike of cold temperatures, a weak pulse, and headaches.

Common Methods Used In Traditional Chinese Medicine

Although each treatment will require customization based on a patient’s specific conditions, TCM requires external patterns to be addressed first before the interior elements. Additionally, the surplus patterns should be solved before moving on to the deficiencies. In restoring the balance between hot or cold, a practitioner needs to identify which of the two is more severe and causing major health problems.

Clearing imbalances among the eight elements include the following treatments:

1. Chinese Herbs

Chinese herbs, also called botanicals, are known for their medicinal or therapeutic properties. They’re sold in the market in-store and online via shops like People’s Herbs and come in various forms. It’s common to see herbal oils, tea and powdered herbs, as well as botanical products processed into capsules and gel, and labelled as dietary supplements. Chinese herbs can also be mixed with other minerals and nutrients.

Herbal products have been the subject of small studies in the treatment of mental disorders, respiratory illnesses, stroke and cardiovascular conditions, often with mixed results. This fact, however, doesn’t discourage users from buying various herbal concoctions.

Below are the most common herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine and their purported benefits:

  • Ginger
  • Ginseng
  • Cinnamon
  • Dong quai
  • Gingko biloba
  • Reishi mushrooms
  • Lotus seeds
  • Astragalus
  • Lingzhi

Various factors need to be considered in the efficacy of Chinese herbal products. These include chemical composition, interactions in the body, the manufacturing process, and the overall potency of the product.

2. Acupuncture

This method involves the stimulation of specific points in the body by inserting needles superficially. Studies suggest that acupuncture stimulates the body’s natural healing and pain-fighting properties, in part by controlling the way the pain is processed by your brain. A study also indicated that acupuncture may help minimize inflammation, and may be effective in addressing back, knee, and neck pain, as revealed by NCCIH.

3. Tai Chi

If needles don’t appeal to you, consider practicing tai chi. This practice, which is also known as meditation in motion, involves specific poses, movements, correct breathing, and mental focus. Like its close counterparts, such as yoga and meditation, tai chi can contribute to one’s overall wellbeing.

Some studies suggest that tai chi may help promote balance and stability in the elderly. This form of Chinese martial arts is also said to be beneficial for patients with Parkinson’s disease. Tai chi is also said to be useful in patients suffering from fibromyalgia, by reducing pain and improving a person’s overall mood.

4.  Moxibustion

Moxibustion, also known as moxa, is a practice that’s closely linked to acupuncture. Patients suffering from cold imbalances may benefit best from moxa as it aims to warm the body and regulate blood and Qi flow.

There are a few ways to carry out this method. Some burn a Chinese herb called mugwort close to one’s skin. Other practitioners gather a small pile of mugwort on the skin and removed before it can burn the skin. Some use this with acupuncture by heating the needles before and after insertion.

Asthma, colds, diarrhea, pain, and kidney-related ailments, are among the disorders that may be addressed by this method.

5. Massage (Tui Na)

A cross between massage and acupuncture, tui na is believed to be effective in addressing chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders. Complemented by herbal compresses and ointments, tui na involves a therapist to guide a fully clothed patient to perform various healing poses.

A therapist uses several techniques in restoring harmony and balance in the body, which includes pressing, kneading, lifting, rejoining, pushing, and holding the patient’s body.  These healing are said to improve blood circulation, reduce neck and back pain, and may help treat depression.

6. Cupping

This method will cause you to end up with weird circular red marks all over your body. That’s because cupping involves placing jar-like pieces on your skin in order to create a suctioning effect. This ancient practice is said to promote blood circulation, relieve pain, ease muscle soreness, remove heat, and pull toxins away from your tissues.

Final Thoughts

Because of its perceived health benefits, traditional Chinese medicine enjoys a wide following worldwide. The methods used in TCM are touted as therapeutic, although they don’t intend to replace medications and other medical treatments recommended by your healthcare professional.

*collaborative post

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Securing access to projects in Sonar

by freddy mallet|

    When used out-of-the-box, Sonar is a code quality radiator accessible by everyone at anytime. Like for JIRA, Hudson, a post-it dashboard or any other piece of the development toolset transparency is a key success factor for adoption. So, by default in Sonar, anyone can access any project under continuous inspection and navigate through it.

    But of course, there are situations where securing Sonar is necessary. Let's imagine for 2 minutes a consulting company that does development for customers and wishes to allow those customers to follow their own projects in Sonar. Since the company has many customers, it is necessary that group of projects can be isolated to make sure each customer only has access to his own projects. Prior to Sonar 1.12, this was only possible by having one instance of Sonar per customer.

    Since Sonar 1.12 there are services available in the web interface to handle this and to cover the following use cases :

    • Secure a Sonar instance by forcing login prior to access to any page
    • Make a given project non accessible to anonymous
    • Allow access to source code (Code Viewer) to a given set of people
    • Restrict access to a project to a given group of people
    • Define who can administer a project (setting exclusion patterns, tunning plugins configuration for that project, ...)
    • Define who can administer a Sonar instance

    All those use cases can be implemented through the Sonar web interface and will take effect immediately. The way security is handled in Sonar is pretty classic as the security policy is based on the following three concepts : user, group and role (global or by project). Let's take the example of the "Project roles" page available at project level :
    Three roles are available at project level : Administrator, User and Code Viewer. Users and/or a groups of users can be associated to each of those roles to get the required permissions.

    User and group can be first created through the "Users" and "Groups" services available in the administration configuration section. Here is the screenshot of the "Groups" service :
    That was authorization, let's now talk about authentication. By default, user authentication is done against the Sonar DB (user table) but an external authentication engine can also used : OpenLDAP, Microsoft Active Directory, Apache DS, Atlassian Crowd ... Three identity plugins already exist : two open source LDAP Plugin, Crowd plugin and a commercial one Identity Plugin. They all use the public Sonar authentication extension point.

    To conclude, it is possible since Sonar 1.12 to easily implement a robust enterprise security policy. Those new functionality have been done with no impact whatsoever on Sonar users who do not want to activate security and want to keep full transparency.


Commonly Asked Plant Questions

Commonly Asked Plant Questions

Stop scrolling through endless amounts of information to find a simple answer! We answered five common plant questions to help you throughout your plant journey. Keep reading for the answers you've been looking for!

Plants 101

Plant Answers

While plants have always been a household staple, the pandemic sparked a wave of indoor gardening like never before. With so many new plant enthusiasts eager to learn about the wonders of indoor gardening, we’re answering the question we receive most to shed some light on these topics.

Answers to your Questions

How often should I water my plants?

The most popular question we receive is, “how often should a plant be watered?” but many different factors affect the answer regardless of the plant. Temperature, humidity, light, and species play a role in the response. The best way to determine your watering routine for a particular plant is to understand your environment. If you place your plant in a warm & brightly-lit area, you’ll find that the soil tends to dry faster, meaning you’ll need a more frequent watering routine. The more humid the space, for example, a bathroom, the more the soil will retain moisture leading to less watering. A pothos placed in a brightly lit room near a south-facing window, will likely need a change to its watering routine if moved to a space with different lighting and humidity. If you’re having trouble deciding when to water, keep a watering schedule to reference how much you’re watering and adjust the routine if you notice the plant is unhappy. A moisture meter is a great tool to have on hand for plant care. The moisture meter will measure to let you know if it’s time to water. When bringing home a new plant you’re unfamiliar with, do a little research to better gauge the care routine based on your home environment.

Why are my plant’s leaves turning yellow/dropping?

There is never a one-size-fits-all answer to troubleshooting plant care, so you’ll need to assess a few things when spotting yellow or dropping leaves. Various situations can cause leaf discoloration. The most common culprit for experiencing dropping or yellowing leaves is insufficient lighting. If a plant is not receiving enough light, it will begin to dispose of its older leaves and recycle nutrients as the new growth makes its way to a brighter spot. In the case of plants like alocasia and aglaonema, they may just be going through a natural leaf turnover process. If you notice this is happening with some of your plants, trim the discolored leaves and try moving your plant into a brighter area.

Does my plant need to be in a pot with drainage?

The short answer is no, but here’s why we do not recommend planters without drainage: With nowhere for the water to escape, there is a risk of standing water in the planter, leading to root rot. Some more moisture-demanding plants may be more tolerant to pottery with no drainage, but a drainage hole at the bottom of the pot will always help mitigate these issues.

Do I need to mist my plants?

A standard tip you’ll hear is that misting increases the humidity in your home, but is that true? While misting can raise the humidity levels for your plant, it can only do so for a short period. It’s always good to keep leaves free of dust and debris by misting, but having standing water on foliage without proper airflow can be detrimental. Misting your plants is an excellent alternative if you notice you tend to overwater. A great tool to add to your plant care kit is the Mossify Mister that we carry online and in-store. It’s automatic and cordless! Still confused by this topic? Read on to the next question!

How do I maintain humidity indoors?

There are a couple of ways to increase ambient humidity in your home to benefit your plant collection. The easiest way is to simply get more plants! When grouping plants together, they create a micro-biome that maintains higher humidity. If you only have one or two plants that demand high humidity, another way to achieve that is by putting the plants on a shallow tray with pebbles and water. As the water evaporates, it raises the humidity around your plant. While these methods work, the best way to increase humidity is to invest in a good humidifier.

Find Your Soilmate: The plant for your Zodiac sign Reading Commonly Asked Plant Questions 1 minute


How to use when the model architecture is changing?

I have asked this before and did not get an answer. So asking again to see if someone has an idea about it.

I am working on a project that prunes neurons (i.e. the architecture of the network is consistently changing by removing some neurons from layers). I need to save models during training which have different architectures. As far as I know, i have two options:

First option:, PATH)
model = Net()

Second option, PATH)

I am currently using second option, however it is saving a lot of stuff somehow and although the memory it should take for networks like alexnet and resnet should not be more than 100 mb, my models take 10-15 GB. In other words it is saving some other tensors which i don’t know what they are.

I would like to use the first option, however since i am pruning the network and the architecture is changing constantly, i will not be able to load it back unless i know the architecture and also have a code that make that arch for me which is not convenient.

Now my question is that, is there a way to use the second option while i also save the model architecture so i can load them back? I would appreciate any help. Thanks.

Are you using torch.nn.utils.prune to prune your models?

@Michela No, I have my own algo to prune.


Teleport Unity SDK

The Teleport Unity SDK provides everything necessary to run a Teleport server as a Unity application. In typical usage, only the server need run Unity - the client will be a standard Teleport client app such as the Teleport reference client.

Get the Teleport Unity plugin from its Git repo at

You can install it as a Git submodule or copy the code directly, it should go in a subfolder of your Unity project’s Assets folder, e.g. Assets/Teleport.

From your unity project, launch the Package Manager, and install the Core RP Library.

If you’ve installed the Teleport Unity SDK as a prebuilt package, you’re ready to go. But if you’re building the Teleport C++ Server SDK from source, you’ll need to follow the instructions in the Server section of this documentation. Use CMakeGui to set:

  • TELEPORT_UNITY to true

  • TELEPORT_UNITY_EDITOR_DIR to the folder where Unity.exe resides.

  • TELEPORT_UNITY_PLUGINS_DIR to the folder Plugins/x86_64 in the Teleport Unity assets folder, so that the C++ SDK will build TeleportServer.dll to that directory.

  • TELEPORT_UNITY_PROJECT_DIR to the root folder of your Unity project.

Then build the Teleport_Server_Unity.sln solution. You can run Unity as normal, or debug the C++ code by setting TeleportServer as the active C++ project in the solution, and launching it for debugging.

The global settings for the plugin are found in the Edit menu, under Project Settings…. In the Project Settings panel, select Teleport VR.

Teleport has a page on the Project Settings panel.

Teleport Project Settings panel

You can create a GameObject in Unity that has the Monitor component. If not, one will be created when you run the project.

When running, the server awaits connections via the Teleport protocol. When a client connects, the server creates a player instance.

To show the Inputs Panel, select Inputs from the Teleport VR menu on the main menu bar. Here, you can specify the inputs you want to receive from connected clients.

Teleport has a page on the Project Settings panel.

Teleport Inputs Panel in Unity Editor

There are three elements to each input. The Name is arbitrary, but should be unique in the application. The Type specifies what kind of input this is. A Float input is floating-point, while a boolean is either on or off, true or false. A state input is updated continuously, whereas an Event input is only updated when it changes. Finally, the input’s Path is how the client knows what to map it to.

Teleport VR clients use OpenXR interaction profiles to know what inputs the XR hardware provides. Each input (buttons, triggers, poses etc) has a path. When a Teleport client connects, it tries to match the path of each server-specified Teleport input to the OpenXR paths of its hardware. If any part of the OpenXR path matches the Teleport path, the mapping is made. One or more Teleport inputs can be mapped to a single OpenXR input if the paths match. Teleport input paths use Regular Expression syntax to match OpenXR paths.

For example, if the client recognizes your hardware as supporting the Oculus Touch Controller Profile:

It will have the path:

to represent the “x” button on the left-hand controller. We might specify a control:

Toggle Onscreen Display

Boolean Event

The syntax [a|x] means “either ‘a’ or ‘x’”, so the client will recognize this as a match, and map the “x” button on the client-side controller to the “Toggle Onscreen Display” boolean event that the server will receive.

Mapping types

Different control types can be mapped to each other. If a path match is found, it is possible for a boolean (“click”) action, which is only on or off, to be mapped to an Analogue input.

OpenXR Boolean

OpenXR float

OpenXR pose

Teleport Boolean

Yes, client decides

Teleport Analogue

Yes: false=0.0, true=1.0

The mapping of an OpenXR floating-point input to a Teleport Boolean input is determined by the client application. The usual method is by hysteresis, so when the control goes above a certain threshold, it will be considered to be “true”, and when it goes below a lower threshold, it will revert to “false”. Teleport cannot map OpenXR Pose actions to inputs, these are handled differently.

Pose Mapping

XR devices such as headsets, handsets and trackers report their state as a “pose”, containing position and orientation in space. These poses can be mapped to spatial nodes using the Teleport Controller component in Unity.

Teleport controller component in Unity Inspector

The “Pose Regex Path” for a controller is matched client-side to an OpenXR path representing a pose state. When this mapping occurs, the object will be controlled directly by the tracked controller on the client. The Teleport_Controller component can be added to any child of a Teleport_SessionComponent Game Object.

Player Session Hierarchy

Typically, the Unity Game Objects would be arranged as follows in Unity:

Typical session and player hierarchy in Unity

i.e. at the root, an object containing a Teleport_Session Component, which tracks client-specific session data. Below this, a Player object which may move in space. Below that, two controllers and a head tracking object.

  • TeleportVR : Teleport_Session Component

    • Player

      • Left Hand Controller : Teleport_Controller Component

      • Right Hand Controller: Teleport_Controller Component

      • Head: Teleport_Head Component

teleport.Monitor : public MonoBehaviour

A singleton component which stores per-server-session state.

Public Functions

delegate Teleport_SessionComponent CreateSession ()

Create a new session, e.g. when a client connects.

teleport.Teleport_SessionComponent : public MonoBehaviour

This component manages a client session, so there is one Teleport_SessionComponent per session, and this typically is attached to the root GameObject of each client.


The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with

Read More

How do you install grab bars in a shower?

How do you install grab bars in a shower?

Where should shower grab rails be placed?

Grab bars can be installed on the back wall and control wall of the shower stall. The ADA recommends that two bars be installed on the back wall, one 8 to 10 inches from the rim of the tub and the other parallel to it 33 to 36 inches from the base of the tub.

Can you drill into tile without cracking?

As mentioned earlier, drilling through tile requires a specialist drill bit – regular or even masonry bits simply won’t do the job as they’re not strong enough to penetrate tiles’ hard surfaces. Instead, you should opt for either carbide-tipped or diamond-tipped drill bits.

Can you use toggle bolts for grab bars?

Our solution, which we recommend, is to use toggle bolts to attach the grab bars. Toggle bolts have wings that open inside a hollow wall. They are commonly used to hang heavy objects on drywall where setting a screw or nail in a stud isn’t possible.

Can you use a masonry drill bit on tiles?

What is the Best Drill Bit for Tile? A carbide-tipped masonry bit is the best drill bit to use for bathroom ceramic tile. Regular twist-drill bits can’t cut through the fire-hardened glaze.

How do you install a handrail in a shower?

Make sure the holes pass through the shower surround material and into the stud behind. Replace the handrail on the wall so that the mounting bracket holes align with your pre-drilled holes. Insert the screws provided with your handrail into each hole and use a screwdriver to tighten them.

How do you attach a grab bar to a tile wall?

In the holes that aren’t into studs, use the plastic anchors supplied with the grab bar. Place the grab bar over the holes and make sure they are lined up by inserting the point of a screw into each hole. Caulk the back of the mounting flange and then attach the grab bar using the screws supplied with the bar.

What’s the best way to install a railing?

How to Install a Metal Railing. Locate a local welding company to make the railings for the steps. This process usually takes up to 3 weeks. 2. Measure roughly 4” from the wall and 4” from the edge of the steps to place the railing. Use a marker to trace around the edges of the railing. 3. Use the coring drill to drill out holes for the railing.

How to install safety bars in ceramic tile walls?

It is important to mount the bars at the correct location and height. Mount a vertical bar close to the edge of the tub to help in getting in and out. Mount one at an angle on the back wall starting about 6 to 10 inches above the tub. Adjust the height and angle so that at least one screw on each end is into a stud, but preferably two.

How many steps before handrail?

If your home has three or fewer steps, there’s no need to install a handrail. However, homes having four or more stairs must have a rail mounted on at least one side if the stairway is less than 44 inches wide.

How many exterior steps require a handrail?

The general rule for exterior steps is that railings are required if there are four or more steps. There are also specific requirements for just what constitutes a handrail. For example, a 2-by-4 is not considered a handrail because it cannot be safely gripped.

When do stairs need handrails?

Stair rails, or handrails as they are sometimes called, are required any time stairs have a total rise of 30 inches or more above the lower ground surface , or if there are four or more risers. This includes outdoor structures such as decks or porch steps. Only one railing is required for private homes or if the stairs are less than 44 inches wide

What is the standard handrail height for stairs?

Public building codes typically mandate an interior handrail height of 30 to 37 inches for staircases located against a wall and 36 to 42 inches for staircases with open sides. This height allows people to easily grab the rail for stability while climbing up and down the stairs.


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1-DSC_0053Many Druids and Pagans are vegetarian and vegan, a far greater proportion than in mainstream society. This is commonly on ethical grounds, with many rejecting the exploitation of animals by humans, whatever form that may take, whether for food, clothing manufacture, drug testing, or any other reason. There are also telling arguments that a vegetarian diet is much better for the planet than meat-eating. Despite which, even within Druidry, vegetarians and vegans are a minority, with most Druids eating meat, often locally and ethically sourced, though often not due to cost factors. Even meat-eating Druids, though, will usually have concerns about animal welfare and will happily contribute to, or act in concert with, conservation groups.

The last thirty years have seen an increasing acceptance of the concept of the Druid as animist, that is, one who sees all things as imbued with spirit, including not just humans and other animals, but plants and even apparently inanimate creatures such as rocks, clouds or stars. Seeing our human selves as part of an interlacing network of living, inspirited, intelligent beings that inhabit realms above, around and below us enhances our sense of the value of all these other lives. We see ourselves not as occupying a privileged position above, or somehow separate from, the rest of the natural world, but as a part of it. For me, this is a core aspect of being a Druid. This perspective of equality inevitably calls into question the over-exploitation of natural resources and the resulting degradation of our environment and our spirits.

Gundestrup CernunnosThe same time frame has seen an increased acceptance of the related idea of the Druid as shaman, in part meaning one who works directly with spirits, including those of animals. Many Druids who work with animal spirits have craft names that reflect this, including Bobcat (Emma Restall Orr) and Greywolf (myself). Bobcat was given her name by one of her teachers. Mine derives from a vision of a Wolf that came to me in a sweat lodge, transforming my spiritual life. I was subsequently shown that I could switch bodies with my Wolf spirit brother, experiencing for myself what it is like to be a Wolf.

Immediately after my vision, Walter, who acted as fire-keeper for the lodge, suggested I should find something physical to link me with the Wolf. This seemed incredibly unlikely. I was around 40 at the time and had never seen hide nor hair of a Wolf. However, the day after I got back from the sweat lodge, a friend invited me to a garage sale at his parents’ house. The first thing I saw on arrival was a large pelt draped over an old water tank. A closer look confirmed my first impression, that the fur was Wolf. The pelt consisted of six Wolf hides, trimmed to rectangles and stitched together as a rug. It had been in the house when my friend’s parents bought it in 1947. They hadn’t liked it, bagged it up and put it in the loft. There it stayed until the day of my vision, when my friend found it and added it the garage sale.

GWHEDGEI told them about my vision and they gave me the hides. I removed the woollen backing, added a couple of ties and started wearing the hides as a cloak in ceremony. As a connection with Wolf spirit this exceeded my wildest expectations. The six animals who died to make that Wolf-skin rug came to me during the next Pagan event I was invited to, a venison feast hosted by Ronald Hutton. They became a pack under my Wolf alter-ego’s alpha male. I recognised my responsibility to them by ‘feeding’ them with regular ingestions of meat, despite myself having previously been a vegetarian. I wore them regularly in ceremonies. I also wore them to give talks, including some to animal welfare groups. Once I had explained the circumstances by which I acquired ‘my’ Wolves and the ways we worked together, there was never any question of our relationship being ‘wrong.’

GWWolfDrumA few years later, at a medieval re-enactment, I found a stall selling Wolf pelts, complete with faces, limbs and paws. I asked the stall-holder where they came from. He said they were Siberian and derived from a cull of animals that were elderly or sick. You can tell if a canine is sick from the state of its coat, just as you can estimate its age by the size of the pelt. The stall-holder was clearly lying or, being generous, was grossly ill-informed. This left me with a quandary: did I leave the pelts to be bought by people who might not honour the spirits of the animals who had worn them in life, or did I buy one myself, albeit at the cost of giving a substantial amount of money to a man who had, I was fairly sure, lied to me, thereby supporting a trade that involved killing healthy young wolves? I spent much of the day arguing the ethics of these options with myself and others. Eventually, honouring the animal’s spirit won out and I handed over the money, albeit with a prayer that the trade in Wolf skins would soon come to an end. International trade in Wolf pelts was restricted under a CITES agreement not long after, and I’ve never since seen a complete Wolf pelt, or even a tail, offered for sale in the UK. This is, of course, a good thing.

GWRHfirex1024In 2012, at a time of family crisis, another Wolf cloak came to me, similar to the one I was given previously, only in even better condition and with longer, redder fur. I found it in an antique shop in Rye, Sussex, less than five miles from the friend’s house where I’d encountered the first one. Like that first one, it also consisted of six pelts, trimmed down and sewn together. It was of a similar vintage too, the London-based company who made it into a rug having ceased trading in the 1940s. The first cloak having become a little worn and frayed from years of use, the second arrived at precisely the right time in my life, helping to renew my relationship with Wolf spirit. It has since become my primary ceremonial cloak.

My strong feeling is that the Wolves whose hides I wear brought them to me so that I could work with them, wear them and honour them. Too many ‘coincidences’ have piled up surrounding the two Wolf-skin cloaks for that not to be the case. Plus I have the evidence of my own senses. I have seen the Wolves themselves frolicking on my bed where I keep the hides. They have also joined my Wolf alter-ego in spirit journeying. Others, of course, may think me mad or deluded. I can only report what I have seen, heard and felt.

WOLF3To work successfully with animal spirits, you have to a) believe in their existence, and b) honour them. I believe that animal spirits come to us to lend us spiritual power as well as to teach and guide us, and that failing to properly honour them can lead to a loss of purpose, health and sanity. This is not something we can afford to be casual about, take for granted, or play with for effect.

In the 22 years I’ve been wearing Wolf-skins in ceremony, I’ve been criticised for doing so only by people who didn’t know how the hides were acquired and didn’t bother to ask. It would be interesting to know how many of them would have voiced similar criticisms had I been a Siberian shaman or a First Nations medicine man instead of a British Druid. I wear them not as a fashion choice or a pose, or for warmth, but as a deep, inherent and vital part of my spiritual journey, in which I am honoured to be accompanied by fellow Wolves who choose to walk the path with me.

Golden Eagle2After Wolf, the spirit animal I’ve worked with most is Eagle, and I’m blessed to have been given three beautiful Eagle feathers, gifts from a shamanic practitioner, a Druid and a shamanic Druid. The feathers were all found in the wild by the individuals who gave them to me after having been shed by their winged owners. One came from Siberia, one from an island off the Norwegian coast, the other from Australia.

In my work, I sometimes use a Cormorant wing for fanning smoke, summoning spirits of Air, or linking me with the spirit of Morfran, son of Ceridwen. In the middle of winter, many years ago, I was walking my children through a park to their primary school when I saw a dead Cormorant floating in a hole in the ice on a lake. It being a Friday, I decided that if the Cormorant was still there on Monday, that would be a sign that I should take it and work with it. Not only had it not been removed from the lake by Monday, the hole in the ice had expanded and the Cormorant had floated to the shore so that I could reach it without even having to step onto the ice.

cormorantI took it home, removed a wing and the tail, and buried the rest in my back garden with prayers for the spirit of the animal. Returning alone to the lake, I allowed my spirit to slip back a few days in time and to inhabit the body of the Cormorant, then still living. I dived with it, seeking fish below the water on which to feed. On the third dive, a fish darted off beneath the surface ice and the Cormorant followed, couldn’t get back to open water in time, and drowned. I experienced this directly, having projected my spirit into the Cormorant. I made further prayers for the Cormorant and its family, members of which stayed at the lakeside for several weeks after the drowning. I still have both wing and tail and still use them in ceremony.

Other people I know in the Druid and shamanic communities use animals who have died a natural death or as roadkill wherever possible. In my case, few Wolves are killed on the roads, our ancestors having eradicated them from Britain centuries ago through ignorance and fear.

GWthreadingDrumx800I make drums. To do so, I fell trees for the timber hoops and use Red Deer hides for the skins. I seek permission from the spirits of the trees. The deer hides are from Bradgate Park, Britain’s oldest continuously managed deer park, enclosed since the 13th century. As an enclosed park, space is limited, limiting the number of deer that can successfully graze it and remain healthy. Since all natural predators on deer, apart from humans, have been eradicated, the number of deer born in the park always outstrips the number who die from natural causes. Therefore, to maintain the health of the herd, some animals are killed every year. Their meat is sold, raising money for the upkeep of the park and the deer. Prior to my arrival, the hides were thrown away. Now, I get them, fur on, and make them into drums and rattles. During the process, I sense from the hides that the spirits of the deer are willing to work with me, and to work with the person the drum then goes to. If it were otherwise, I wouldn’t do it.

1-DSC_0018-001My belief is that the spirits of the deer continue to live in this world through the drums I make, especially when they are played in ceremony. As part of the process of bringing the drum into use, I recommend that their owners travel in spirit to meet the spirits of the tree that died to make the hoop and the deer that died to make the skin, to witness their whole life cycle, through to the moment of death, to ask them to inhabit the drum, empower it and continue to live through it. Tree and deer thus maintain their place as part of the wider community of spirits that includes us as humans and all of nature.

wolf5My criteria is, as I believe it was for our earliest hunter-gatherer ancestors, the absolute conviction that the plants and animals themselves are willing to work with us through giving us their parts after death. Here, in our largely secular, post-industrial society, we encounter a problem. Most people, even in Druid and Pagan circles, do not communicate either with the dead or with animals or plants, and many do not believe those of us who say that we do. There’s nothing I can do about that. I can only speak for myself and from my own experience, and pass on what the animals and plants tell me. Those who work with me through feathers, wings, fur, skin, teeth and claws, do so willingly. If they didn’t, rather than gain power through forging a bond of kinship with them, they would ensure that I lost power and suffered, mentally, spiritually and physically. In working with spirit animals, unethical behaviour will ultimately receive its just reward. By the same token, ethical behaviour brings great rewards in, among other things, expanded understanding, altered perspectives, spiritual enrichment, enhanced health and greater ability to help others.

wolves-pack2The understanding I have gained from working with Wolves, and more especially from the experience of being a Wolf, has greatly increased my concern for the welfare of my Wolf kin in the wild. It has also increased my belief that wild Wolves should be reintroduced into the UK, beginning in Scotland. Reindeer were successfully reintroduced there some years ago and have since thrived. In the absence of predators, their numbers have increased so rapidly that there is now an annual cull, with large numbers being shot. There is a similar over-abundance of Red Deer. The reintroduction of Wolves would eliminate the need for a cull while ensuring that it is mainly weak, ill and elderly animals who were killed, thus improving the overall health of the herds.

I conclusion, while I fully support many of the arguments in favour of vegetarianism and veganism, oppose the cruel methods used to farm animals for food, and appreciate the validity of the ecological and ethical cases against farming animals for food, I will continue to work with animal spirits and with animal parts in the ways that I do. Doing so is crucial to the spiritual path I have been guided into. I am a Wolf. Although Wolves do eat berries and roots, the main part of their diet is meat. The spirit Wolves who work with me like to be fed. Shamanic friends have told me repeatedly that I must feed my Wolves. I know they are right. In order to sustain my relationship with them, I must feed them, and the food they crave most is meat.

While some vegetarians and vegans are quick to condemn fellow humans for eating meat, few would condemn Wolves for doing the same. There is an implicit suggestion here that humans are morally and ethically superior to Wolves. As an animist, I find it difficult to support such a proposition. One look at any news broadcast will show just how immoral and unethical many humans can be compared to many animals. We make war against others of our own species, often for the most trivial of reasons. We subject billions of our species to abject poverty, starvation and disease while allowing a tiny minority to accumulate immense wealth. We blithely cause the extinction of numerous other species. We are also, of course, the only animal whose actions are capable of bringing an end to all life on our planet.

Having come to that space between the worlds where the Wolves and I eat meat, we are also at a place where we converse regularly with other animal spirits. If they are willing to work with us, we work with them. This is my way. It is not everyone’s way, and I’m not suggesting it should be or could be. Bobcat chose a different path and adopted a vegan diet, albeit as much for reasons of health as for ethical concerns. Nevertheless, she often wore a Bobcat tail on her belt and was not averse to working with other animal parts and, through them, with the spirits of the animals from which they came. We each have our path to follow. Along the way, we must each come to ethical decisions we can live with and live by. I respect and honour those who choose paths other than mine.

Blessings to all,

Greywolf /|\

(C) Greywolf and the BDO, 2016

CultHeroes1981x600I've been writing songs since the mid-70s and fronted a number of bands in the late 70s and early 80s, including The Legendary Mutants (right, with me on vocals and rhythm guitar and MDB on lead guitar), Cult Heroes, Passing Strangers and The Levellers (no, not the Brighton-based folk-punk band, we were based in Hastings and used the name a few years before they did). In the 90s, I switched to writing for just myself and acoustic guitar and have performed solo ever since. My main instument is a semi-acoustic guitar, though I also play a variety of flutes and whistles, various percussion instruments, harp, shruti box and occasional oddities like sitar, bowed psaltery or dulcimer.
Sign of the Rose coverMy first CD, 'The Sign of the Rose,' was recorded in 1999 and released in 2000, after which life intervened and required me to bring up two sons on my own. Then I started work on the British Druid Order courses, built a roundhouse, learned to thatch, started making drums, etc., etc., so the second album has been delayed rather longer than anticipated. Meanwhile, 'The Sign of the Rose' is available as a CD or digital download from the BDO webshop.
I perform occasional gigs, and here are some videos from my set at the WildWays Mini-Folk Festival, June 6th, 2015.
First up is 'Song at Wodnesbeorg,' track 2 on 'The Sign of the Rose.' It recalls my first encounter with the Anglo-Saxon god, Woden, on a prehistoric long barrow in Wiltshire during a Hallowe'en pilgrimage from Avebury to Stonehenge. I've since taken a guitar to the very spot and sung the song, offering it to the spirits of place in return for the inspiration that led to its creation.

Next comes 'Lady of the Greenwood,' track 4 on 'The Sign of the Rose.' This was inspired by a workshop in which we were encouraged to become a variety of animals, including serpents, which worked particularly well for me. I'd recently started working with Bobcat (Emma Restall Orr) and we took our serpentine inspiration away into the woods to weave some ritual. After a while we heard an eerie, unearthly music drifting through the trees. It drew nearer and turned out to be emanating from Andy Letcher (now lead singer and songwriter with 'darkly crafted folk' band, Telling the Bees), playing two penny-whistles bound together with tape. When we asked how he'd found us, he replied, "I just followed the snake." Yes, a snake had emerged from the roots of an oak tree and led him to us.

The third song from the WildWays set is the title track from 'The Sign of the Rose.' This relatively simple love song was inspired by a night spent at an inn halfway up a mountain somewhere in the West of England. I don't remember where, but I do remember they had Pulp's 'Common People' on the jukebox. This is one of the songs that sometimes gets me likened to Leonard Cohen.

Lastly there's the song I usually close my set with, 'Lord of the Wildwood.' It's always popular live as it gives folk plenty of opportunity to chant, howl and generally go nuts. This will be the title track of that difficult second album when I finally get around to recording it. I didn't realise until after I'd written it that the four animals featured in it can be read as guardian spirits of the four cardinal directions, Stag for West, Bull for North, Eagle for East and my beloved Wolves for South. Having reailsed it, I've occasionally used the song to call the quarters when opening a circle. I've also heard people use the spoken lyrics for the same purpose.

I am, by the way, available for gigs. The easiest and most reliable way to contact me is via a PM on my facebook page. I also have a Greywolf: Music page on facebook where I put video links and gig news. Thanks to Google mucking about, I've also got two youtube channels, one as Philip Shallcrass, the other as TheOldGreyWolfTest.
Blessings to all,
Greywolf /|\

I think I could turn and live with animals,
they are so placid and self-contain'd,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
So they show their relations to me and I accept them,
Walt Whitman (1819-1892), from 'Song of Myself.'
You may have noticed that I have a bit of a thing about animals. As a child, I had an instinctive understanding that they were a special breed of people. I suspect this is an extremely common human experience. After all, traditional stories told to children around the world are full of talking animals, animal helpers, teachers and guides, and animal transformations.
One of my earliest connections with a non-human species was with herons. As a misfit amongst family and contemporaries, I was naturally drawn to these solitary birds. I saw them standing perfectly still at the edge of the ditches that criss-crossed Romney Marsh, on the borders of which I lived. They would hold this pose for hours at a time, just occasionally shifting from one leg to the other, waiting for fish or, more likely on the Marsh, eels, to swim past and provide them with food. There was a calm simplicity, an unpretentious dignity, about them. Their muted colours, pale grey with flashes of white and black, added to the sense they exuded of being “so placid and self-contain'd.” My first recollection of anything resembling meditation, before I even knew Golden Eagle2there was such a thing, consisted of trying to put myself into a similar state of calm, to render myself unruffled and untroubled like the heron. I did indeed “stand and look at them long and long.”
In my book, Druidry: A Practical and Inspirational Guide (Piatkus, 2000), I wrote of an experience at a Druid camp of swapping consciousnesses with an eagle and soaring high above the world on powerful wings. I've also written of the sweat lodge in which I first encountered the spirit wolf who was to become such a central part of my life and from whom I draw the craft name, Greywolf. He and I have also traded spirits so that I perceive the world through his eyes and he through mine. In other circumstances, when called for, I have become a serpent or a dolphin.
These experiences of becoming other-than-human are well described in Whitman's poem, famously quoted by Lord Summerisle as played by Christopher Lee in the film, The Wicker Man.

I share Whitman's sense of animals having a different, much clearer, less encumbered engagement with life than we humans with our tangled webs of guilts and fears. They perceive clearly what needs to be done and go about doing it in the most efficient way possible. We, on the other hand, often fail to act, held back by worry about possible consequences. While in many cases this is clearly a good thing, we often take it to extremes where we are paralysed from taking any action at all, even when circumstances demand it. The results of inaction then often add to our worry and frustration, erode away our sense of self-worth, and can lead to severe psychological imbalance.
wolf5Becoming animal breaks us free of this destructive cycle by allowing us a clearer perspective, enabling us to see what is really important and to discard the rest. This has been proven to me time and again. Things that have angered and frustrated me as a human and which I have felt unable or unwilling to address have often melted into insignificance when I have become wolf or eagle. Either that or, in animal form, the right and only course of action to pursue has become crystal clear and my animal self has had the strength and courage to follow it through.
In shape-shifting, the physical perspective alters, so that as an eagle you see fields and houses way below and have a clear, unbroken view to the far horizon, while as a wolf, your visual perspective is much nearer the ground while your sense of smell and hearing are hugely enhanced. However, it is not just the physical perspective that shifts. Inhabiting the body of an animal, seeing through its eyes, experiencing the world through its other senses, also changes how we feel about the world and our place in it. As Whitman says, animals “do not sweat and whine about their condition, They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins.” For us as humans, this psychological shift is profound, freeing us from doubt, fear and allWOLF3 the other stifling emotions that prevent us from achieving clarity and acting decisively on it. The importance of this gift cannot be over-stressed.
In my experience, we all have spirit animals who protect and guide us. At least, I've only ever encountered one person who didn't. He was a long-term drug addict whose physical and mental state had deteriorated to such an extent that no spirit animal had felt able to remain with him.
It is my belief that we do not choose which spirit animals we have, but that they choose us, drawn to us by who we are, how we think and what we do. When these things change, one set of spirit animals may leave us and another take their place. With me the major transition was from solitary heron as a child to pack animal wolf as an adult.
How we discover our spirit animal guardians, guides and helpers varies from person to person and place to place. They may be encountered in vivid dreams or spontaneous or deliberately sought for visions, or may emerge simply through a deep fascination with one particular species.
Having discovered one's 'power animal', what happens next? In my case, the discovery of 'my' wolf was quickly followed by the acquisition of a wolf-skin cloak, wolf stories and images, a wolf tooth and a wolf chant. The chant as originally given to me in the 1990s originated with the Seneca people of North America. However, it immediately transformed into a native British wolf chant very different from the Seneca original. I posted it on youtube a while ago.

albino fallow deerDeer are prey animals to wolves and, as such, have an important place in the wolf's world. Visiting a deer park one day about ten years ago, an albino fallow deer shed one of its antlers next to our car. I accepted this rare and precious gift, gathered it and took it home. Washing it off in the shower later, the deer's spirit gave me a song that I recently posted on youtube. I still have the antler...

Having studied other cultures and shared ceremonies with indigenous peoples including the Quileute ('Wolf People') and Makah tribes of the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest U.S.A., I know that fregerwildermannsuch animal spirit songs and chants are common around the world. In Britain and Northern Europe, they have been largely lost to the erosion of history and in particular to the onset of Christianity. Early Christian edicts specifically outlaw dressing up as, and acting like, animals. In spite of this, animal-like costumes are still worn as part of folk festivals across much of Europe. Charles Fréger has photographed several such costumes in a series called Wilder Mann.
While some of these folk figures may have traditional songs that accompany their appearance, as does the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss in Cornwall, they have no doubt changed considerably over the years under the influence of a hostile church.
Having been given the two chants featured here, it struck me as a good idea to try and restore a set of spirit animal power songs to our native tradition. The wolf and deer chants represent a beginning and other chants will be added as they come. I've worked with eagle quite a lot, so have high hopes there. My son, Joe, has strong bear magic, so I hope we can come up with a good bear chant. I already have a serpent chant, though not yet recorded. The plan is to establish a collection of songs and chants relating to some of our most prominent native (or formerly native) species and to put them out on CD. In the meantime, I'll post them on youtubBrownbear2e and facebook as and when they emerge and I have time to record them.
I'd appreciate your help. If you work with an animal spirit and have a song or chant that you use to help maintain your link with that animal, please record it (however roughly), post it (letting me know where), and we'll polish it up, re-record it if necessary, and add it to the collection. When the CD comes out you will, of course, be fully credited. Having no idea how much interest in this project there might be, I'm unable to make any estimate as to what, if any, royalties might flow from it. To be honest, that's not my concern. The intention is simply to restore or re-create another, potentially very powerful, aspect of our native spiritual tradition and to share it with those who might find it useful in making, enhancing and maintaining their own relationships with the spirit animals who have so much to teach us and share with us.
Many blessings,
Greywolf /|\


Sala snoezelen pdf viewer

Snoezelen training in different countries overview. Aldridge d, brandt g 1991 music therapy and alzheimers disease. What was once a specialist niche therapy is now commonplace in schools, hospitals, long term care facilities, dementia care units, mental health facilities, churches, community centers, community pools, rehabilitation facilities, and in many households. Mental health special interest section quarterly, 29 4, 14. Each pdf file encapsulates a complete description of a fixedlayout flat document, including the text, fonts, graphics, and other information needed to display it. The level of stimulation in a snoezelen room can be adjusted up or down to manage levels of arousal such as anxiety or drowsiness. Snoezelen enhances quality of life by using a new approach to care giving.

Book an appointment between 36 pm on march 2 or 9 wednesdays. Translation for snoezelen in the free dutchenglish dictionary and many other english translations. It lowers stress chemistry and increases relaxation chemistry. Snoezelen installation timelapse by flaghouse youtube. Sensory room and snoezelen references otinnovations. Asociacion espanola snoezelen experiencias isna espana.

The numbers next to each word or phrase represents how often we detected them and their variants on the page. Juego, infantes con paralisis cerebral y sala snoezelen. Sahlens six hours of the glen watkins glen international. Snoezelen multisensory environments sensory rooms and.

However, research on the benefits of treatment is scarce, based on variable clinical study designs. Salas multisensoriales o snoezelen, material y entornos. Build a multisensory environment southpaw products. Sometimes taking a bath is for some clients not such a pleasant experience as we think. Filmed over 2 days on location in santiago, dominican republic in. Snoezelen multisensory products and environments can be used to calm and reduce agitation through the use of gentle light, soothing sound, relaxing smells and textures. The centres multisensory room try it out with staff support. Here you see some examples of how you can apply snoezelen in the. It consists of placing the person in a soothing and stimulating environment, called the snoezelen room. Snoezelen, multisensory therapy, agitation therapy, dementia, behavior therapy, activities of daily living. Snoezelen in new settings since its conception snoezelen has evolved and has been proven useful in a multitude of settings. Rompa limited, goyt side road, chesterfield s40 2ph vat reg no.

Ashby m, lindsay w, pitcaithly d, broxholme s, geelen n 1995. Interesting light effects and comfortable seating allow your client to self regulate by choosing sensations. Eye opener snoezelen room niagara childrens centre. Show less click on an active date to see events occuring on that day. Com o editor poderao adicionarse fotografias, texto, som e musica, consoante as necessidades. Snoezelen or controlled multisensory environment mse is a therapy for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, dementia or brain injury. A snoezelen multisensory environment mse incorporates a specialized selection of sensory equipment and materials that can help clients adapt their responses to sensory stimulation and to advance education and therapy goals. Snoezelen therapy is used for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, dementia, brain injury and even toddlers. Designed for rehabilitation centres and in particular for snoezelen rooms. Pdf the effectiveness of snoezelen in reducing stereotyping in. It was developed in the netherlands in the 1970s for people with developmental disabilities.

The effectiveness of snoezelen in reducing stereotyping in adults with intellectual disabilities. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their childs life. Since then, it has also been used for different patient populations in countries such as england, germany and, more recently, in the united states and canada. The portable document format pdf is a file format used to present documents in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. We use whats called natural language processing nlp, which is a form of artificial intelligence that allows computers to read human language, to do this analysis. Pdf to mobi is a free and lightweight pdf files conversion software to convert pdf files to mobi ebooks. Analysis manual of griffiths mental developmental scales. The word snoezelen is a combination of the dutch words snuffelen and doezelen, they mean to sniff and to doze andersen et. A sala do atelier snoezelen esta equipada com uma coluna e um. The snoezelen environment the snoezelen environment provides direct and indirect stimulation of sensory modalities and can. Jennifer raftis is the snoezelen equipment, now ottawa. Find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.

Asociacion espanola snoezelen noticias isna espana. The term snoezel and the use of snoezelen rooms originated in the netherlands in the 1970s mertens, 2008, p. This data represents the words and phrases that your page appears to be optimized around. Worcester snoezelen centre is the areas leading registered charity for life enhancing activities. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Pdf estimulacion multisensorial en centros residenciales. Snoezelen with elderly people and people with dementia. Snoezelen world conference of 1999, not one focused on seniors. Hotz ga1, castelblanco a, lara im, weiss ad, duncan r, kuluz jw. Examples and fotos of snoezelen as a 24h approach english. Seven other specialties at the university of miamijackson memorial medical center also were ranked as among the.

Raftis snoezelen program includes a dedicated snoezelen room and a mobile snoezelen cart for residents with mobility impairments. These rooms are specially designed to deliver stimuli to various senses, using lighting effects, color, sounds, music, scents, etc. In some cases it might confuse them or it makes them even more restless. Each snoezelen mse is tailored to meet the needs of specific populations according to age and ability. Snoezelen manipulates brain chemistry through the senses to set the tone for motivation and functional attention. Such a behaviour can be influenced by snoezelen during bathing sessions. The main components of every mse is that it is accessible to all functioning levels, provides the opportunity for choice by the user, is meaningful, demand free and empowers the individual to overcome sensory deficits and allows them to take control to discover and. Exmetal cable glands ade 6f ade 4f5f ade 1f2 technical data ex e cable glands metal ade. Jennifer raftis is the snoezelen coordinator at carlingview manor, an ottawabased long term care facility. Environmental enhancements for acute inpatient mental health settings. Multisensory rooms can also help develop skills such as switching and cause and effect to color or handeye coordination skills among many others.

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Heat pumps
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Heat pumps: Energy from air, water and the ground

At both the national level in the Climate Protection Plan 2050 of the Federal Government and at the international level on climate and resource protection, application of near-surface geothermal energy and environmental heat are given serious consideration and are the key to the heating revolution.

Utilisation generally takes place via brine-water, water-water or air-water heat pumps, which draw up to 80 % of the energy for heating and domestic hot water from the ground or the ambient atmosphere, and the remaining 20 % from electric drive energy. The "greener" the electricity becomes, the more environmentally friendly, i.e., more CO2 free the heat pump operation.

Using free environmental energy

The principle of operation of a heat pump is equivalent to that of a refrigerator. While a refrigerator extracts the heat and dissipates it outside, the heat pump uses the heat from each heat source and delivers it as heating energy to the building.

In the cooling circuit of the heat pump, while absorbing the heat from the environment, a refrigerant is evaporated and then the refrigerant vapour is compressed in a compressor. As a result of this, both the pressure in the cooling circuit and the temperature of the refrigerant rise. This heat is now released at a usable temperature level to the heating water. In the process, the refrigerant condenses and then expands in the expansion valve, and the cycle repeats itself.

Principle of operation of an electrically driven heat pump
Principle of operation of an electrically driven heat pump

Electric heat pumps use electricity as the drive energy and work very efficiently. Depending on the type of heat source, whether air, ground or water, one heat pump can generate between three and more than five kilowatt hours of heat from one kilowatt hour of drive electricity.

Heating, cooling and ventilation

The higher the temperature of the source, the more efficiently heat pumps work. Therefore, it is worthwhile to use a heat source at as high and as constant a temperature as possible. State-of-the-art heat pumps heat up domestic hot water as required, and can also be used to ventilate or cool a building.

The commercially available variants of heat pumps

Brine-water heat pumps: Heat from the ground can be harnessed as a heat source by using the brine-water heat pump. Geothermal probes are inserted into the ground through drilled holes of up to 200 meters (in most cases up to 100 m) and use the average ground temperature of about 10°C. If the plot of land is large enough or if drilling holes is not possible, the geothermal energy can also be tapped using a flat plate collector at a depth of 1.5 to 2 m or ground cages placed at a depth of about 1 to 4 m.

Water-water heat pumps: The water-water heat pump extracts the heat from the groundwater. A suction well conveys the water for heat recovery and the heat pump transfers the energy contained in the water to the heating system.

Air-water heat pumps: Air-water heat pumps extract heat from the ambient air. They are able to extract energy from the outdoor air even if its temperature has fallen to -20 °C or less. The investment costs of an air-water heat pump are lower because tapping the heat source is not required.

Further information:

Schulung zum "Sachkundigen für Wärmepumpensysteme nach VDI 4645"

Fachbetrieb für Wärmepumpen finden

Modernisieren mit Wärmepumpe: Alles, was Sie wissen müssen

Kostenloses E-Learning/E-Teaching nicht nur für SHK-Azubis

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