Christian anarchism is any of several traditions which combine anarchism with Christianity. They may be summarized as a belief that the only source of authority to which humans are ultimately answerable is God, as embodied in the teachings of the Bible.

Christian anarchists believe that freedom is justified spiritually through the teachings of Jesus. This has caused them to be critical of government and Church authority. Some believe all individuals can directly communicate with God, which negates the need for a system of clergy.

Many regard Leo Tolstoy's The Kingdom of God Is Within You [1] (1894) as a key text in Christian anarchism.[citation needed] Tolstoy called for a society based on Christian love, Christian nonviolence, and freedom. His work was one of the inspirations behind Mahatma Gandhi's use of nonviolent resistance during India's struggle for independence, and the American Civil Rights Movement led by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The early ChurchEdit

The early church in Acts shared their money and labor equally and fairly among the members. Women played as vital a role as men in the early community.

Some, such as Ammon Hennacy and Keith Akers, have claimed that a "shift" away from Jesus' practices and teachings of nonviolence, simple living and freedom occurred in the theology of Paul of Tarsus. These individuals suggest that Christians should look at returning to pre-"Pauline Christianity". Although there is some evidence that egalitarian Jewish Christians existed shortly after Jesus's death, possibly including the Ebionites, the majority of Christians soon followed the hierarchical and authoritarian religious structure which they claim was founded by Paul. As the Church grew and spread, the emerging central authorities began to advocate legalism and strict obedience to church doctrine. This type of religious authority and adherence could be compared to the theological economy of Israelite sacrificial religion in the second Temple period which Jesus directly attacked in throwing the money changers out of the Temple district (Matt 21:12).

Other Christians point out that Paul's teachings emphasized congregational autonomy, servant-like leadership within the churches, prohibitions on one-man rule even in a local church, and other practices which contrast with this claim. Evidence of this interpretation can be found in Galatians 3:28, in which Paul describes a radically egalitarian Christian community where race, class and gender are abrogated.

The conversion of the Roman EmpireEdit

After the conversion of the emperor Emperor Constantine, Christianity was legalised under the Edict of Milan in 313 bringing an end to the persecution of Christians.[citation needed] It is significant that Constantine was a convert to Arianism (as expressed in his baptism by Eusebius of Nicomedia, an Arian) and not to the orthodox faith as defined in the Nicene Creed. In the Arian argument for a less divine[citation needed] person of Jesus, the possibility of human authority is far greater than in strict, Trinitarian Christianity.

Some Christian anarchists argue that this merger of Church and state marks the beginning of the "Constantinian shift", in which Christianity gradually came to be identified with the will of the ruling elite and, in some cases, a religious justification for the exercise of power.

Anarchist Biblical views and principlesEdit

Some Christian anarchists hold a higher critical view of the Bible and therefore do not feel obliged to follow the complete text as law. They base their beliefs on what they think are the simple principles and historic messages of Jesus, such as the Sermon on the Mount, rather than obediently following every passage in the Judeo-Christian Bible. Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy subscribed to this philosophy.

Pacifism and nonviolenceEdit

Many Christian anarchists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Ammon Hennacy, are pacifists opposing the use of both proactive (offensive) and reactive (defensive) physical force. Hennacy believed that adherence to Christianity meant being a pacifist and, due to governments constantly threatening or using force to resolve conflicts, this meant being an anarchist. These individuals believe freedom will only be guided by the grace of God if they show compassion to others and turn the other cheek when confronted with violence.

Christian anarchists appear far more likely to be pacifists than either secular anarchists or non-anarchist Christians.

A few of the key historic messages many Christian anarchists practice are the principles of nonviolence, nonresistance and turning the other cheek, which are illustrated in many passages of the New Testament and Hebrew Bible (e.g. the sixth commandment, Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17, "You shall not murder").

Simple livingEdit

Christian anarchists, such as Ammon Hennacy, often follow a simple lifestyle, for a variety of reasons, which may include reducing taxable income.

States and state controlEdit

One challenge to the legitimacy of states and state control is found in Luke 4:5-8, during the Temptation of Christ, where the Bible quotes Satan as claiming dominion over all the nations of the earth and Jesus replies that not only will he not worship before Satan, but that God is the only authority to be "served". Some hold that it may be necessary to disobey human rulers in order to obey God (Acts 4:19 and Acts 5:29).

The most common challenge for the Biblical literalists is integrating the passage in Romans 13:1-7 where Paul defends obedience to "governing authorities.For there is no power but of God:the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever resists the power,resists the ordinance of God; and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation....for he is a minister of God to you for good....therefore you need to be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake...render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due: custom to whom custom: fear to whom fear: honour to whom honour." Christian anarchists who subscribe to Paul's teachings argue that this chapter is particularly worded to make it clear that organizations like the Roman Empire cannot qualify as governing authorities because they are not "approved" of God and do not recognize Him in word or action. If it could, then, according to Paul, "they [Christians] would have praise from the authorities" for doing good. Instead the early Christians were persecuted by the Roman Empire for doing good, and became martyrs. Further, the "governing authorities" that are legitimate in the passage were never given the authority to make laws, merely to enforce the natural laws against "doing harm to a neighbor" in verses 8-10 (see tort and contract law). This interpretation makes all statute laws of states illegitimate, except as they restate Biblical moral precepts. Some Christians subscribe to the belief that God did not establish all authorities on the earth.

Ernst Kaseman, in his "Commentary on Romans," has challenged the usual interpretations of Romans 13 in light of German Lutheran Churches using this passage as justification to support the Nazi holocaust.

Others hold that Romans 13 teaches submission to the state while not encouraging or even condoning Christian participation in the workings of the state. According to this view Jesus submitted to the state while still refusing its means.

Tax resistanceEdit

Some Christian anarchists resist taxes in the belief that their government is engaged in immoral, unethical or destructive activities, such as war, and paying taxes inevitably funds these activities.

Adin Ballou wrote that if the act of resisting taxes requires physical force to withhold what a government tries to take, then it is important to submit to taxation. Ammon Hennacy, who, like Ballou also believed in nonresistance, managed to resist taxes without using force.

Opponents cite that Jesus told his followers to "give to Caesar what is Caesar's,"Matthew 22:21, not mentioning unethical activity on the part of Caesar.

Many Christian anarchists, such as Tolstoy and Hennacy, extend their belief in nonviolence and compassion to all living beings through vegetarianism or veganism. Vegetarianism is also common among non-Christian anarchists. Other Christian anarchists point out that the decision to be vegetarian or omnivore is purely a personal choice, as there are many passages in the Bible that could be interpreted as permitting inclusion of meat and fish within a diet.

The spirituality of a Christian anarchist can be as diverse as in any Christian tradition. For Christian anarchists who have their roots in the New Testament their spirituality may be described as mystical but is also very orthodox. An example, Anabaptists, whose founding point for anarchism is the claim “Jesus is Lord” a thoroughly orthodox claim. Christian anarchists reject that their theology can be alienated from worldly matters, like government, and reject any understanding that would reduce Jesus’s teachings, such as “love your enemies”, to just a internal or private matter. For Christian anarchists, feeding the poor, caring for creation, loving ones enemies and resisting the fallen Powers of this world are not a ‘worldly’ activity but the practicalities of their spirituality in imitation of Christ.

Other anarchists would hold to the New Age movement which describes a broad movement of the late 20th century and contemporary Western culture. It is characterised by an eclectic and individual approach to spiritual exploration, such as mixing Christian principles with meditation and yoga practices from the East. One could describe Spirituality as anarchic, as it's based on individual freedom and choice rather than keeping within rigid boundaries. The emphasis in Spirituality is on listening to within and personally connecting with the Divine, rather than following any set doctrines.

Later anarchistic Christian groupsEdit

The DoukhoborsEdit

The origin of the Doukhobors dates back to 16th and 17th century Russia. The Doukhobors ("Spirit Wrestlers") are a radical Christian sect that maintains a belief in pacifism and a communal lifestyle, while rejecting secular government. In 1899, the Doukhobors fled repression in Tsarist Russia and migrated to Canada, mostly in the provinces of Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The funds for the trip were paid for by the Quakers and Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. Canada was suggested to Leo Tolstoy as a safe-haven for the Doukhobors by anarchist Peter Kropotkin who, while on a speaking tour across the country, observed the religious tolerance experienced by the Mennonites.

Catholic Worker MovementEdit

The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin on May 1, 1933, is a Christian movement dedicated to nonviolence and simple living. Over 130 Catholic Worker communities exist in the United States where "houses of hospitality" care for the homeless. The Joe Hill House of hospitality (which closed in 1968) in Salt Lake City, Utah featured an enormous twelve feet by fifteen foot mural of Jesus Christ and Joe Hill.

The Catholic Worker Movement has consistently protested against war and violence for over seven decades. Many of the leading figures in the movement have been both anarchists and pacifists. Catholic Worker Ammon Hennacy defined Christian anarchism as:

Maurin and Day were both baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Church and believed in the institution, thus showing it is possible to be a Christian anarchist and still choose to remain within the Church. After her death, Day was proposed for sainthood by the Claretian Missionaries in 1983. Pope John Paul II granted the Archdiocese of New York permission to open Day's "cause" in March of 2000, calling her a Servant of God.

Biblical passages cited by anarchistsEdit

The Golden RuleEdit

  • Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31).
  • Put your sword back in its place, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword (Matthew 26:52).
  • Do not judge, or you too will be judged (Matthew 7:1).
  • Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone (John 8:7)

Pacifism, nonviolence and nonresistanceEdit

  • You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).
  • Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27).
  • And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well (Matthew 5:40).

Simple livingEdit

  • Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back (Luke 6:30).
  • At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts (Deuteronomy 15:1).

Freedom from earthly authorityEdit

  • You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you (Matthew 20:24-28).
  • We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).
  • No king but the Lord shall rule over you (Judges 8:23).
  • So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God... But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7: 4 & 6

Anarchist Biblical interpretationsEdit

  • The Kingdom of God - there are no monarchs, rulers, states, borders, governors or governments, except for one, God.
  • To seek rule by man is to reject the rule of God (1 Samuel 8).
  • Honest people are too busy making an honest living to accept political power, so only the corruptible will accept political power (The Parable of the Trees Judges 9:7-15).
  • The devil controls man-made governments (Matthew 4:8-10).
  • The gentiles have rulers over them, but it shall not be so among Christians (Mark 10:42-45). (Notice that the word for rulers here in the Greek version is archos. Therefore some say Christians are by simple deduction an-archos or in English anarchists).
  • So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined, let man not separate.(Matthew 19:6)
  • All of the Book of Exodus can be viewed as a revolution inspired, led, and achieved by God on behalf of the oppressed.

Anarchist quotesEdit

Petr Chelc(ický

  • The man who obeys God needs no other authority (over him).

Ammon Hennacy

  • An anarchist is anyone who doesn't need a cop to tell him what to do.
  • Being a pacifist between wars is as easy as being a vegetarian between meals.

David Lipscomb

  • The people of Maine and Texas, of England and India, could never become enemies or be involved in strife and war, save through the intervention of human government to spread enmity and excite to war. [. . .] Whatever tends to wean men from this government of God, and to substitute other governments for it, brings confusion and strife (95).

Leo Tolstoy

Jacques Ellul

  • What seems to be one of the disasters of our time is that we all appear to agree that the nation-state is the norm. [ . . . ] Whether the state be Marxist or capitalist, it makes no difference. The dominant ideology is that of sovereignty. (Anarchy and Christianity, 104–5.)
  • So I can very well say without hesitation that all those who have political power, even if they use it well have acquired it by demonic mediation and even if they are not conscious of it, they are worshippers of diabolos. (Si tu es le Fils de Dieu, 76)

Nicolas Berdyaev

  • It is beyond dispute that the state exercises very great power over human life and it always shows a tendency to go beyond the limits laid down for it. (Slavery and Freedom, 145)

Key individualsEdit

The following people may be considered key figures in the development of Christian anarchism. This does not mean that they were all Christian anarchists themselves.

Adin BallouEdit

Adin Ballou (1803 - 1890) was founder of the Hopedale Community in what is now Hopedale, Massachusetts, and a prominent 19th century exponent of pacifism, socialism and abolitionism. Through his long career as a Unitarian minister, he tirelessly sought social reform through his radical Christian and socialist views. Tolstoy was heavily influenced by his writings.

Søren KierkegaardEdit

Søren Kierkegaard (1813 - 1855), a Danish philosopher and theologian who some consider to be the archetypal Christian anarchist for his theory that the claims culture and state make on an individual lie in opposition to the claim God makes on all people. Kierkegaard advocated perfect obedience to God even if that conflicted with customs, secular law and government. He has been compared to Max Stirner, the great individualist anarchist. Kierkegaard is regarded as the father of Christian existentialism.

Henry David ThoreauEdit

Henry David Thoreau (1817 - 1862) was an American author, pacifist, nature lover, tax resister and individualist anarchist. He was an advocate of civil disobedience and a lifelong abolitionist, who dreamt of the world becoming a utopia. Though not commonly regarded as a Christian anarchist, his essay Civil Disobedience is accredited with inspiring some of Leo Tolstoy's ideas.

William B. GreeneEdit

William B. Greene (1819 - 1878), an individualist anarchist based in the United States, was a Unitarian minister, and the originator of a Christian Mutualism, which he considered a new dispensation, beyond God’s covenant with Abraham. His 1850 Mutual Banking begins with a discussion (drawn from the work of Pierre Leroux) of the Christian rite of communion as a model for a society based in equality, and ends with a prophetic invocation of the new Mutualist dispensation. His better-known scheme for mutual banking, and his criticisms of usury should be understood in this specifically religious context. Unlike his contemporaries among the nonresistants, Greene was not a pacifist, and served as a Union Army colonel in the American Civil War.

Leo TolstoyEdit

Leo Tolstoy (1828 - 1910) is notable for having written extensively on his anarchist principles, which he arrived at via his Christian faith. Notably his books The Kingdom of God is Within You [2], What I Believe (aka My Religion), The Law of Love and the Law of Violence, and Christianity and Patriotism which criticised government and the Church in general. He called for a society based on compassion, nonviolent principles and freedom. Tolstoy was a pacifist and a vegetarian. His vision for an equitable society was an anarchist version of Georgism, which he mentions specifically in his novel Resurrection.

Nikolai BerdyaevEdit

Nikolai Berdyaev (1874 - 1948), the orthodox Christian philosopher has been called the philosopher of freedom and is known as a Christian existentialist. Known for writing "the Kingdom of God is based on anarchy" he believed that freedom ultimately comes from God, in direct opposition to anarchists such as Mikhail Bakunin, who saw God as the enslaver of humanity (symbolically; Bakunin was an atheist). Christian anarchists claim Man enslaves Man, not God.

Léonce CrenierEdit

Léonce Crenier (1888 - 1963) first rejected religion, becoming an anarcho-communist when he moved to Paris from rural France in 1911. In 1913 he visited his sister in Portugal where he stayed for several years. During this period he suffered a debilitating and agonising illness. Receiving the attentions of a particularly caring nurse, he survived, despite the gloomy predictions of the doctors. Converting to Catholicism, he became a monk. He is particularly known for his concept of precarity, and was influential on Dorothy Day.

Ammon HennacyEdit

Ammon Hennacy (1893 - 1970) is notable for writing extensively on his work with the Catholic Workers, the IWW and at the Joe Hill House of Hospitality. He was a practicing anarchist, draft dodger, vegetarian and tax resister. He also tried to reduce his tax liability by taking up a lifestyle of simple living and bartering. His autobiography The Book of Ammon describes his work in nonviolent, anarchist, social action, and provides insight into the lives of Christian anarchists in the United States of the 20th century. His other books are One Man Revolution in America and The Autobiography of a Catholic Anarchist. Ammon Hennacy is also noted for several famous quotations dealing with force, law, and state powers which continue to inspire nonviolent anarchist action today.

Dorothy DayEdit

Dorothy Day (1897 - 1980) was a journalist turned social activist (she was a member of the Industrial Workers of the World) and devout member of the Roman Catholic Church. She became known for her social justice campaigns in defense of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless. Alongside Peter Maurin, she founded the Catholic Worker Movement in 1933, espousing nonviolence, and hospitality for the impoverished and downtrodden. Dorothy Day was declared Servant of God when a cause for sainthood was opened for her by Pope John Paul II.

Jacques EllulEdit

Jacques Ellul (1912 - 1994) was a French thinker, sociologist, theologian and Christian anarchist. He wrote several books against the "technological society", and some about Christianity and politics, like Anarchy and Christianity (1991) asserting that anarchism and Christianity are socially following the same goal.

Thomas J. HagertyEdit

Thomas J. Hagerty was a Catholic priest from New Mexico, USA, and one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Hagerty is credited with writing the IWW Preamble, assisting in the composition of the Industrial Union Manifesto and drawing up the first chart of industrial organization. He was ordained in 1892 but his formal association with the church ended when he was suspended by his archbishop for urging miners in Colorado to revolt during his tour of mining camps in 1903. Hagerty is not commonly regarded as a Christian anarchist in the Tolstoyan tradition but rather an anarcho-syndicalist. Christian anarchists like Dorothy Day and Ammon Hennacy have been members of the Industrial Workers of the World and found common cause with the axiom "an injury to one is an injury to all."

Philip BerriganEdit

Philip Berrigan was an internationally renowned peace activist and Roman Catholic priest. He and his brother Daniel Berrigan were on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for illegal nonviolent actions against war.

Ivan IllichEdit

Ivan Illich was a libertarian-socialist social thinker, with roots in the Catholic Church, who wrote critiques of technology, energy use and compulsory education. In 1961 Illich founded the Centro Intercultural de Documentación (CIDOC) at Cuernavaca in Mexico, in order to "counterfoil" the Vatican's participation in the "modern development" of the so-called Third World. Illich's books Energy and Equity and Tools for Conviviality are considered classics for social ecologists interested in appropriate technology, while his book Deschooling Society is still revered by activists seeking alternatives to compulsory schooling.

John DearEdit

John Dear is a Jesuit priest, writer and peace activist.

Dave AndrewsEdit

Dave Andrews is a prominent member of the Waiters Union, community developer, Neopelagian thinker, author of Christi-Anarchy (1999), speaker, and activist.

Vernard EllerEdit

Vernard Eller is a member of the Church of the Brethren and author of Christian Anarchy: Jesus' Primacy Over the Powers (1987).

Some Christians today believe that the Bible teaches that it is right to submit to both state government, and church leaders, although God is ultimately a higher authority in cases where the rules contradict. Some Bible passages used in favour of obeying the state include:

  • Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. -- 1 Peter 2:13-14

Many Christian anarchists point out that while these verses can be read as commands to obey or submit to agents of the state, none of them are commands for Christians themselves to do the coercive acts that are vital to the existence of the state.

Passages used to support church leaders having authority include:

  • ... if it is leadership, let him govern diligently... -- Romans 12:8
  • "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor..." -- 1 Timothy 5:17

Passages such as Romans 13:1-7 and 1 Peter 2:13-17 are used in support of the view that it is appropriate to submit to human governments, and that these have roles in restraining evil. Christian anarchists counter this by stating that submission and obedience are not the same thing and that these passages reflect a call for Christians to submit to persecution at the hands of government while offering obedience only to God. They argue that when these passages are taken in context they highlight Christ's example of self-sacrifice and his loving submission to oppressors rather than returning evil for evil. A case for this is argued here: Deconstructing Romans 13: Verse 1-2

These passages however, are discussed by John Howard Yoder in his book, The Politics of Jesus.

"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" Matthew 7:23. Christian anarchists, like Christian fundamentalists, counter this passage as a defense of the state by saying there are many laws made by Man that do not necessarily reflect the "Word of God", such as "just wars". The Judeo-Christian Bible often differentiates between the laws of God and Man.

In defense of the state, mainline Christians often cite Jesus' response to the teachers of the law who wished to trap him in his words. When asked, "tell us plainly, is it right to pay taxes or not?" His response was "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." Mark 12:13-17. The dominant theological stance on this scripture is that everything given to man is from God; so Christ escaped their trap by referring them to their national concessions already made. Other Christian anarchists, however, reason that since fiat currency is coined and printed by the state, it belongs to the state. Christian anarchists, such as Ammon Hennacy, attempt to use simple living and bartering instead.

Anarchist organisationsEdit

  • Ecclesia
  • Life and Labor Commune
  • Plowshares Movement
  • Tolstoyan Moscow Society


Siemens warns of several flaws affecting Central Plant Clocks

Siemens disclosed several vulnerabilities in some of its SICLOCK central plant clocks, including ones that have been rated as “critical.”

Siemens is warning of the presence of six vulnerabilities in some of its SICLOCK central plant clocks that used to synchronize time in industrial environments.

“In the event of failure or loss of reception from the primary time source, the central plant clock ensures stable continuation of the clock time, and tracking of the system time without time jumps as soon as reception is restored.” reads the Siemens official website.

The vulnerabilities have been assigned the CVE identifiers CVE-2018-4851 through CVE-2018-4856, three of them have been classified as critical.

“SICLOCK TC devices are affected by multiple vulnerabilities that could allow an attacker to cause Denial-of-Service conditions, bypass the authentication, and modify the firmware of the device or the administrative client.” reads the security advisory.

One of the critical vulnerabilities tracked as CVE-2018-4851 could be exploited by attackers with access to the network to cause the targeted device to enter a denial-of-service (DoS) condition and potentially reboot by sending it specially crafted packets.

The successful exploitation of this flaw doesn’t require user interaction.

“An attacker with network access to the device, could cause a Denial-of-Service condition by sending certain packets to the device, causing potential reboots of the device.” reads the security advisory.

“The core functionality of the device could be impacted. The time serving functionality recovers when time synchronization with GPS devices or other NTP servers are completed. The vulnerability could impact the availability of the device, and could impact the integrity of the time service functionality of the device.”

The second critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2018-4853, can be exploited by an attacker with access to UDP port 69 to modify the firmware on a vulnerable device.

The flaw could be exploited by an attacker to run his own code on the SICLOCK device.

Siemens Central Plant Clocks siclock

The third critical issue tracked as CVE-2018-4854 can be exploited by an attacker with access to UDP port 69 to modify the administrative client stored on the device.

“An attacker with network access to port 69/udp could modify the administrative client stored on the device.” continues the advisory.

“If a legitimate user downloads and executes the modified client from the affected device, then he could obtain code execution on the client system.”

Siemens also reported a high severity vulnerability that could be exploited by a network attacker to bypass authentication.

The other issues discovered by Siemens are a medium severity flaw that could be exploited to launch a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack and intercept unencrypted passwords stored in client configuration files, and a low severity flaw that can be exploited by an attacker with admin access to the management interface to lock out legitimate users.

The flaws impacted the SICLOCK TC100 and SICLOCK TC400.

Siemens did not release firmware updates for the products because they are in phase out, the industrial giant only provided workarounds and mitigations to mitigate the risk of attacks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did you write The Decision Maker?

Why does decision-making matter?

The importance of decision making comes down to the very fundamental nature of human beings. We are created with the ability to think, reason, make decisions and hold ourselves accountable. The only way we can really experience our humanness is to be able to do that. As adults, we all make decisions in our everyday lives; in our relationships, in our homes, with our free time, and yet in the workplace so many of us our relegated back to following instruction rather than using our decision making skills. Creating an environment that pushes decision-making down to the people closest to the action is best for the organization, and it’s even more important for the individuals that make up that organization.

Isn’t this risky for a leader or manager to assign decision making?

I think it is a phony when people say they don’t want to spread decision making around because it’s risky. It is not more risky than when the leaders make the decisions, not if it is done the way I have outlined in The Decision Maker. If someone is making a decision in this way, then they are seeking out the advice and counsel of others – not just their peers, but senior leaders too. When someone is knowledgeable in the area they are leading the decision making on, and they take ownership and seek out advice from multiple sources, they are just as likely, perhaps even more so, to make a good decision – as much as any leader would. And, yes people make mistakes and they make poor decisions, but that is true for leaders and executives too.

Why share these lessons in a fable?

A fable allows the reader to enter into the story and focus on the lessons and experiences that unfold throughout the book without getting mired by their personal feelings for any actual existing companies or brands. The goal of The Decision Maker as a fable is to create situations and characters that we can relate to without focusing on the particulars of any one actual organization.

How is the MBA case study method a model for your leadership approach?

The case study method is used by MBA programs around the world. I had the opportunity to do this hundreds of times when I was at Harvard Business School. It’s the best way to learn because it puts you in the role of the decision maker. Real-life decisions are more important – and more fun – than any case study. The Decision Maker book is about how to create a culture where everyone gets an on-the-job MBA education.

Can you make a change like this at a company if you are not the CEO or President?

If you're not the leader of an organization it will be more difficult to make changes, but you can do it.  The truth is it is challenging for anyone – including a leader – to change the way decisions are made, and to veer from an existing way of doing things within an organization. If you manage a team, a division or a department, you can still employ The Decision Maker model on your team. Your peers may choose to not operate that way in their teams, they may even think the idea is silly, but ultimately if your team continues to succeed and produce then you won’t get pushback and you can use the principles to empower those you work closely with.

Are there organizations using a similar decision-maker approach today?

Nordstrom gives decision-making power to their sales people on the front lines. They have the power to accept returns and do whatever is best for the customer in the moment without always having to escalate decisions up to management. In a few GE plants, line workers can shut down the assembly line without approval from their boss. Even the U.S. Military is starting to decentralize and push down decision-making. In a recent Fast Company interview, General Stanley McChrystal said, “Instead of decisions being made by people who were more senior—the assumption that senior meant wiser—we found that the wisest decisions were usually made by those closest to the problem.”


The Therapeutic Effects of Drumming

Drumming Therapy taps into layers of the mind and body that other modalities cannot. Studies have shown that repetitive drumming changes brain wave activity, inducing a state of calm and focused awareness.

The first sound we ever heard while still in our mother's womb was the beating of her heart, and the rhythm of her breath. No matter our race, gender, age, religion or belief system, this common experience exists for all human beings. Rhythm is our natural inheritance. It exists in our bodies, our hearts, and our breath. It exists in the vibration of atoms, the cycles of the seasons, the ticking of clocks, the orbit of the earth.

What is Drumming Therapy?

Drumming Therapy is a method of utilizing the natural power of rhythm and sound and applying it to an individual or group for healing. A truly holistic healing approach, group drumming breaks down social barriers, promotes freedom of expression, non-verbal communication, unity and cooperation. Drumming awakens dormant emotions and unexplainable feelings of excitement, peace, and ecstasy. It can elevate the mood, decrease anxiety, and stress, and it boosts immune system functioning and benefits physical health.

Repetitive drumming changes brain wave activity thus inducing a state of tranquil and focused awareness for the psychological, emotional, physical, and/ or spiritual benefit of the individuals. In a therapeutic drumming session, you are guided to achieve a targeted result by sound and rhythm.

The purpose of the drum therapy session, but not limited to are to treat stress, depression or other mental distress or trauma, supporting the body to make physical recovery from illness or disease, building self-confidence and self-esteem and embracing positive working relationships in one`s life.

Drumming induces deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. It also helps to control the chronic pain, promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, the bodies’ own morphine-like painkillers, and can thereby help in the control of pain.

This rhythmic stimulation also synchronizes the frontal and lower areas of the brain, integrating nonverbal information from lower brain structures into the frontal cortex, producing “feelings of insight, understanding, integration, certainty, conviction, and truth, which surpass ordinary understandings and tend to persist long after the experience, often providing foundational insights for religious and cultural traditions.” The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.

Drumming Therapy Applications

Other studies have demonstrated the calming, focusing, and healing effects of drumming on Alzheimer's patients, autistic children, combat veterans, emotionally disturbed teens, recovering addicts, trauma patients, and prison and homeless populations. Study results demonstrate that drumming is a valuable treatment for stress, fatigue, anxiety, addiction, hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, heart disease, mental illness, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, emotional disorders, and a wide range of physical disabilities.

Research studies mentioned below indicate that drumming:

Reduces tension, anxiety, and stress

Drumming induces deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. Stress, according to current medical research, contributes to nearly all disease and is a primary cause of such life-threatening illnesses as heart attacks, strokes, and immune system breakdowns. A 2003 study found that a program of group drumming helped reduce stress and employee turnover in the long-term care industry and might help other high-stress occupations as well. A groundbreaking 2005 study demonstrated that group drumming not only reduces stress, but reverses genetic switches that turn on the stress response believed responsible in the development of common diseases. A 2001 study, led by Dr. Bittman, have shown that blood samples from participants of an hour-long drumming session revealed a reversal of the hormonal stress response and an increase in natural killer cell activity.

Helps control chronic pain

Chronic pain has a progressively draining effect on the quality of life, and may become a significant factor triggering depression and suicide thoughts. Researchers suggest that drumming serves as a distraction from pain and grief. Moreover, drumming promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, the bodies own morphine-like painkillers, and can thereby help in the control of pain. Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and act similarly to drugs such as morphine and codeine. In contrast to the opiate drugs, however, activation of the opiate receptors by the body's endorphins does not lead to dependence or addiction. Although more research needs to be done, endorphins are believed to produce four key effects on the body/mind: they relieve pain, reduce stress, enhance the immune system, and postpone the aging process.

Boosts the immune system

A 2001 medical research study indicates that drumming circles boost the immune system. Led by renowned cancer expert Barry Bittman, MD, the study demonstrates that group drumming actually increases cancer-killing cells, which help the body combat cancer as well as other viruses, including AIDS. According to Dr. Bittman, "Group drumming tunes our biology, orchestrates our immunity, and enables healing to begin. It's simply a matter of letting go, joining in and having fun -- Mind Over Matter!"

Alleviates depression

By helping people express their emotions, music therapy appears to be an effective treatment for depression. Twice a week, with the help of trained music therapists, the participants in a 2011 research study learned how to improvise music using a mallet instrument, a percussion instrument or an acoustic, West African djembe drum. Study results demonstrated that participants receiving active music therapy in addition to standard care had a significantly greater improvement in their symptoms than those receiving standard care alone after three months of treatment.

Produces deeper self-awareness by inducing synchronous brain activity

Accesses the entire brain

The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain. Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but drumming accesses the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, "Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson's patients..." The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.

Induces natural altered states of consciousness

Creates a sense of connectedness with self and others

In a society in which traditional family and community-based systems of support have become increasingly fragmented, drumming circles provide a sense of connectedness with others and interpersonal support. A drum circle provides an opportunity to connect with your own spirit at a deeper level, and to connect with a group of other like-minded people. Group drumming alleviates self-centeredness, isolation, and alienation. According to music educator and leadership consultant Ed Mikenas, "Drumming provides an authentic experience of unity and physiological synchronicity. If we put people together who are out of sync with themselves (i.e., diseased, addicted) and help them experience the phenomenon of entrainment, it is possible for them to feel with and through others what it is like to be synchronous in a state of preverbal connectedness."

Provides medium for individual self-realization

Drumming helps reconnect to the core, enhancing our sense of empowerment and stimulating creative expression. “The advantage of participating in a drumming group is that you develop an auditory feedback loop within yourself and among group members—a channel for self-expression and positive feedback—that is pre-verbal, emotion-based, and sound-mediated.” People in a drum circle are expressing themselves through his or her drum and listening to the other drums at the same time. “Everyone is speaking, everyone is heard, and each person’s sound is an essential part of the whole.” Each person can drum out their feelings without saying a word, without having to reveal their issues. Group drumming complements traditional talk therapy methods. It provides a means of exploring and developing the inner self. It serves as a vehicle for personal transformation, consciousness expansion, and community building. The primitive drumming circle is emerging as a significant therapeutic tool in the modern technological age.

Helps us to experience being in resonance with the natural rhythms of life

Rhythm and resonance order the natural world. Dissonance and disharmony arise only when we limit our capacity to resonate totally and completely with the rhythms of life. The origin of the word rhythm is Greek meaning "to flow." We can learn to flow with the rhythms of life by simply learning to feel the beat, pulse, or groove while drumming. When drummers feel this rhythmic flow, especially at a slower, steady beat, they can shift into a state of deep relaxation and expanded awareness. It is a way of bringing the essential self into accord with the flow of a dynamic, interrelated universe, helping us feel connected rather than isolated and estranged.

Releases negative feelings, blockages, and emotional trauma

Drumming can help people express and address emotional issues. Unexpressed feelings and emotions can form energy blockages. The physical stimulation of drumming removes blockages and produces emotional release. Sound vibrations resonate through every cell in the body, stimulating the release of negative cellular memories. As a counselor of at-risk youth, Ed Mikenas finds that, "Drumming emphasizes self-expression, teaches how to rebuild emotional health, and addresses issues of violence and conflict through expression and integration of emotions." Michael Winkelman, a leader in neurotheological perspectives on shamanism, believes that drumming and other shamanic altered states of consciousness activities can also address the emotional needs of addicted populations. In his 2003 article, "Drumming Out Drugs," Winkelman concluded that, "Drumming circles have important roles as complementary addiction therapy, particularly for repeated relapse and when other counseling modalities have failed."

Places one in the present moment

Drum circle etiquette

Drum circle events of any kind, are about dynamic interactive musical and personal relationships. These relationships, when involved in any group rhythmical alchemy event, are based on a simple set of unwritten guidelines. When adhered to, these relationship guidelines can help direct the group of players to their highest musical potential.

In culturally specific circles, these unwritten guidelines have been developed through centuries of ancestral evolution. They can also apply to any contemporary western version of a drum circle, from a "free-form" drum jam to a facilitated community rhythm event. These unwritten musical and personal relationship guidelines are contained within what I call Drum Circle Etiquette. To most drum circle regulars, Drum Circle Etiquette is just a set of nonverbal agreements that everyone adheres to in order to create a fun and exciting musical experience together.

Here are some standard general guidelines:

* Don’t wear rings, watches, or bracelets while playing drums. This protects the head on the drum as well as the drum itself from the metal. It also protects your hands.
* Ask permission before playing somebody else’s drum. For some drummers, his or her instrument is a very personal possession. Also, if someone gets up and leaves the circle to get a drink or go to the bathroom, don’t immediately jump in and take their seat. In some drumming communities, the drummers will put something on their seat, cover her or his drum with something, or lay their drum on its side to signify that they will be back.
* Listen as much as you play. By listening to what is going on in the circle as you play, you will have a better sense of how you might fit into the groove that is being created.
* Support the fundamental groove that you hear in the drum song being created in the circle. You do not have to be a rhythm robot and hold down the same part all night long. There is plenty of freedom within the fundamental groove to experiment with while expressing your rhythmical spirit.
* Leave rhythmical space for other players in the circle to express themselves. Do not fill up the space with your own notes so much that there is not much creative space left for the other players.
* Play at the volume of the group. If you can only hear yourself, you are probably not having a constructive musical relationship with the rest of the players in the circle. Good volume dynamics create good relationship dynamics. Play softly enough so that you can hear everyone around you. While you are drumming, be sure to follow and support the dynamic changes in volume and tempo that the group will go through during a drum circle event.

Advice for first comers

Along with the standard drum circle etiquette’ suggestions, there are few recommendations for beginners who are joining a drum circle event for the first time:
* Enjoy the Journey. In all the excitement, do not forget to have fun. Although it will help you to follow the simple Drum Circle Etiquette guidelines, you do not really have to be an experienced drummer to fully participate and have a good time.
* Don’t worry even if you might think that you are rhythmically challenged. Just get started and you will find rhythms inside of you that you did not know you had. All you have to do is actively participate in the drum circle event and the excitement and rhythms that will surround you will pull out of you exactly what you need to fully contribute to the group song. You do not even need to play a drum. You can bring a simple percussion instrument, like a shaker, a bell or a wood block. They are a lot easier to play than a hand drum.
* Support the drum community experience. If you are participating in a drum circle event for the first time, the best way to play is with an attitude of humility and support. Be very observant of the actions and reactions of the more advanced drummers who are playing in the circle and you will learn a lot quickly.
* Keep it simple. Listen for, then play along with, and around the pulse that will always be somewhere in the music. It is like keeping the side of the pool within reach, as you are learning how to swim. The simple pulse will always be there for you to “grab on to” if you ever get rhythmically lost while playing. Once you are comfortable with what you are playing, you can explore deeper rhythmical waters. Just keep the pulse in site.
* Every rhythm event is different, and has its own particular variations of Drum Circle Etiquette. If you are not sure what is appropriate, just ask somebody. They usually will respond with supportive suggestions.

How to find Drum Circle near you?

There are many websites, listing the available drum circles by geographical location. But, I would recommend Meetup as the first place to start your search, as it lists the biggest amount of groups, and information is always updated.

Note that in most cases, you do not need even to bring your won drum, if you do not have one. Regular members are usually bringing extra instruments for newcomers.

Sources and Additional Information:

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Anemometer is an application, that measures wind velocityby analyzing spectrum of sound, created by the air flow around your Android device. It is a wind speed meter in your pocket.The app is useful for people, doing outdoor activities depending on the wind,such as paragliding, kite surfing or sailing.This wind speed meter uses quite sophisticated algorithm to extract wind speed range from zero up to about 15m/s, dependingon the device. This algorithm allows to filter out most of sounds, so that human voice, ornoise of trees on the wind do not affect measurement accuracy.Before starting to use anemometer please set zero wind level: hold your device in silent no-wind conditionsand press "Set zero" item in menu. The value will be stored in persistent memory, so you don't need todo it often. However, if you feel that zero level is wrong for some reason - just re-do it.New method of anemometer calibration is added:put phone side by side with the reference anemometer instrument to a constant air flow, click on Menu-Calibration Point and enter wind speed, measuredby reference device. Calibration constant will be re-calculated automatically.
When the anemometer is stopped measured data is saved to file (10 points per second). Directory Anemometer is created when you launch application for the first time.Data files are located in this directory, names start from W and contain date and time of saving.Saving data can be also forced during measurement by swiping the screen.
The linearity and calibration of wind speed meter are ensured for Samsung Galaxy S, other devicesmay show deviations from linear response. Use with caution!
The application is created on the basis of Hermit libraries by MoonBlink (
This program Anemometer is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY!


• Deciding on Involving Ethical Or Honest Trade Clothing

    So that you can make an educated preference among moral and truthful trade outfits, you must have a very moschino scarf distinct idea of exactly what the variance is among the two. The clothing marketplace is one which can be extremely risky in regards to fads, tendencies and clothing models that may come and go along with the blink of an eye. You can find many extremes that come to the clothing marketplace and nearly equally as immediately, their attraction is gone.
    Some garments types go moschino t shirt on to become famous or what are recognized as classics that never eliminate their attractiveness whilst the generations arrive and go. More than latest decades, there's been a modify in the clothes market. So what particularly is ethical clothes and exactly how does it differ from fair clothes? Let's examine the two sorts.
    Moral clothing addresses a wide variety of concerns that were about about providing the outfits sector itself. A few of the key fears with apparel that is not moral is the clothing is made by staff in factories or sweat retailers where wages are an total so lower that workers cannot make a reasonable dwelling to support on their own. The unfortunate reality is the fact that there are actually many patterns on the racks as part of your neighborhood outlets which have been created by these workers. Moral clothes calls moschino clothing for that employees be paid out what their labor is truly worth. Moral outfits also mandates that the workers be give added benefits for example maternity go away and insurance policies selections.
    The momentum for ethical clothes hasn't picked up for the reason that a lot of garments brands working experience substantial value cost savings by outsourcing function to these nations around the world wherever the condition of daily life is so lousy that individuals are ready to get the job done for minimum amount quantities of dollars in substandard operate situations to survive. Clothing inside the U . s . aimed at creating a better environment and superior performing conditions for people. The Reasonable Trade Federation supplies a way for garments lines to join but moschino iphone the membership requirements is demanding. Fortunately, honest trade can also be branching out into jewelry, private care, candles, bedding, toys, video games and paper merchandise. The real difference between moral and good trade garments is usually that outfits made by the latter will take the earth into account and gives outfits which is made out of organic products and solutions.
    On the subject of good trade garments, on the other hand, none of the important retailer chains carry honest trade clothing. This should not be considered a deterrent in the event you desire to buy it, just appear on line so you will find many sources from which you can buy this kind of clothes.
    Deciding on among ethical clothes and honest trade outfits does not have being a real problem. Ethical clothes is manufactured with regard to ensuring that laborers will not be overworked and underpaid. Truthful trade apparel works by using natural resources that happen to be eco-friendly friendly and don't harm the earth's ozone when discarded or constructed from recycled products.
    Even though the sorts are related, you will find some differences explained in this article that ought to assist you to generate a selection about no matter whether you desire to have on moral garments or honest trade garments.

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Arts & Culture Chronicle

Arts and culture are an integral part of effective community engagement that often also serves as a powerful catalyst for relational and intellectual development. Each publication describes, reflects and visualizes a selected geographic area that highlights the parallels of arts and culture and their life science relationships to tradition, innovation, excellence, distinctiveness and passion. To visualize selected subjects we include original art works from various artists.

The first publication of our arts and culture chronicle is dedicated to the Netherlands that consists of 250 oversized exemplars. All are individually numbered and bear the signatures from the authors and artists.

None of books are identical and each is a unique as it entails the original artworks from Dutch artists. Each exemplar comes with its own folding metal stand that enables a freestanding exposure in any room. A true bibliophile rarity.

Unique is also the option that our customers are able to personalize their books this includes also a choice of languages. In this option each book is made on order.

The launch date is planned for early September 2018.
If you appreciate receiving updates, please register here.


This assessment of the corporate governance role of corporate lawyers in the UK analyses the extent to which lawyers can and should act as gatekeepers, counsellors and reputational intermediaries. Focusing on external and in-house lawyers' roles in both dispersed share-ownership and owner-managed companies, Joan Loughrey highlights the conflicts of interest that are endemic in corporate representation and examines how lawyers should respond when corporate agents provide instructions contrary to the company client's interests. She also considers the legitimacy of 'creative compliance', the ethical arguments for and against lawyers prioritising the public interest over their clients' interests, and their exposure to liability if they fail to perform a corporate governance role. Finally, she considers whether the reforms to the legal profession will promote the lawyer's corporate governance role and advances suggestions for reform.

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Spear Drill

When the elbow gets to its highest position during the recovery, shoot the arm into the water so that the second half of the recovery speeds up instead of slows down. Keep a rigid line from fingertip to elbow thus treating the entire forearm like a spear. In a normal stroke the 2nd half of the recovery (the entry) is not the powerful phase of the stroke. The power is applied during the pull (sometimes called the drive or the stroke). For the purposes of this drill however, you will make your arm entry very snappy and deliberate. Swimmers have varying habits, but one of the habits almost all fast swimmers have is a quick recovery. A habit almost all slow swimmers have is a slow recovery (especially a recovery that gets slower through the recovery). Spear drill aims to fix the slow recovery problem.


Beef soup: a recipe for different dishes

It is a pity that among all the first courses they rarely make beef soup. The recipe for this dish is quite simple. And besides, it has unique beneficial properties: helps to improve the digestion of food and protects the body from toxins. Therefore, beef broth is recommended by nutritionists for a sparing food in case of poisoning with any products, for a number of diseases, in the postoperative period and for strengthening the body.

beef soup recipe

How to cook beef soup? Dish base recipe - broth

For the preparation of any meat broth can be used as bones and pulp. In any case, the following proportions must be observed: one and a half to two liters usually take a pound of food. The technology of different soups is somewhat different. For example, to make the broth more saturated, it is better to prebake the bones in the oven with vegetables. Then the meat ingredients are poured cold water and brought to a boil. The most transparent broth will turn out only with careful collection of the formed foam.If you have not managed to completely remove the "noise" when boiling, pour in a glass of cold water, then all the remnants will float to the surface. Many housewives cook a little differently any beef soup. The recipe for juicy meat and rich broth involves placing products (both pulp and bone pieces) in boiling water. After the meat is fully cooked, the broth is filtered through three to four layers of gauze, and then soup is cooked from it. In principle, in any case, the dish will turn out to be truly satisfying only if the main condition is met - the choice of the required duration of cooking. If the beef is “steam room”, that is, young, 1–1.5 hours will suffice. Old bones should cook for at least two and a half hours. Try to cook healthy beef soup. The recipe for this dish can also vary due to the additional ingredients. Rice, vermicelli and other cereals are commonly used as a dressing. We offer you two options for preparing a delicious first course.

vermicelli beef soup

Beef Soup with Vermicelli

Cut a pound of beef brisket into 5x5 cm pieces and fry quickly in a dry frying pan.Then put in a saucepan and pour two liters of water, boil strong broth for an hour. If necessary, add water to the original volume. Peel and dice three-four medium-sized potatoes, put them in the soup and continue cooking for another 20-25 minutes, salt to taste. Chop the leek as follows: the white part is fine, the green part is bigger. Pour the green mass into the broth at the same time as small noodles (150 g). After letting the soup simmer for about five minutes, turn off the heat. This dish turns out to be rich and can serve when serving on the table at the same time both the “first” and “the second”.

Beef Tomato Soup with Rice

beef soup with rice

Place a few stones with meat (1 kg) in cold water (3.5 l). After boiling and removing the foam, boil for the right amount of time, depending on the stiffness of the beef. At this time, finely chop the onion and fry in vegetable oil (2-3 tbsp.), After browning, pour in a glass of tomato juice and 2-3 tbsp. l any ketchup. After evaporation of the liquid gravy will be ready. Add it to the boiling broth. When the bones are cooked, remove them from the soup. Now you can add 200 g of rice, salt and season with ground pepper, bay leaf and other favorite spices. After 5-7 minutes of boiling, finely chopped two or three cloves of garlic and greens are added. The soup is ready.We ask to the table!

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T: 905-795-8991

F: 905-795-8997

E: info@ststrucks.com

Our Vision

We operate around six guiding principles aimed at increasing customer satisfaction and driving workplace productivity.

We believe in the principles of being honest and transparent. We never bury hidden costs in the fine print and always honor our side of a bargain. Without honesty, we would never have gained our customers’ trust. Simply put, without honesty, we would not be where we are today.

Safety is at the core of everything we do. From safe trucks to safe drivers, we allocate the time and resources needed to minimize risks and ensure that deliveries arrive safely on time. Being proactive is a measure in how we are working to make roadways safer.

We never lose sight of our mission to provide customers with the best logistics service possible. Part of that commitment involves making sure that everything we do has a useful purpose. We are always looking for ways to streamline our practices and eliminate waste.

Maintaining our financial integrity is the best way to ensure our long-term existence. We adopted a sustainable growth approach that keeps our debts in check while allowing the company to expand organically and responsibly.


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Ana Tab Window: Pass 29

This section describes the last analyzer pass, "output". (The complete Corporate Analyzer sequence is shown below.)

One of the beauties of using a KB-based text analyzer is that once you have everything processed, the output is a simple matter of looping through the "sentence" concepts in the "parse" area in the KB and printing out the results. If we open up the sentences under the "parse" concept, we can easily see what we want to output to the file. The rule is, if there is a child concept of the object under the sentences, print it out. If not, don't output anything. Below, this is clearly illustrated by looking at the concept for "TAI". Those with a "+" have something to output, those without do not:

We leave it to you to look at the details of the code for this pass. Please note, however, that there is no rule for this pass, just a @CODE area. The last rule-matching pass was pass 28, and all that remains is to output our results. Notice, when inspecting the output file, that information from later sentences has been copied back to earlier sentences. This is due to our analyzer's treatment of "anaphora". Namely, information later in the text has been correlated to references earlier in the text. Below is one of the more interesting outputs, taken from sentence 5:

Go forth and build better analyzers!


Considers buying shares of Nikkei, Inc.

A portfolio manager at North Point Large cap Fund, Kim Ford, considers buying shares of Nikkei, Inc. For her mutual fund management firm. In the mid of 2001, Nikkei arranges for an analyst meeting to disclose its Fiscal year results and also to discuss on renewing its strategies to boost its sales growth, profits and market share which were all declining. To cope from the situation It decides to develop athletic shoes In the mild-price segment, enhance revenues from Its apparel line and also commits to control Its expenditure.

When Ford realizes that the market analysis had mixed sections, she generates her own estimates of cash flows from the available data and asks her assistant Joanna Cohen to estimate cost of capital. Joanna considers the following parameters to estimate the value by using WAC, which are, whether to use single or multiple cost of capital, capital structure, cost of debt and cost of equity. To use single cost of capital for estimation of WAC is a correct approach since most products have similar risk factor and they usually complement one another.

We assumed Nikkei Inc. O have a single cost of capital since its multiple business segments (shoes, apparel, sports equipment, etc. ) are not very different and would experience similar risks and betas CAPITAL STRUCTURE Cohen has estimated the weights using the book value of equity and debt. This is an incorrect approach to estimate the equity weight because market values are to be used. The market values can be estimated by taking the number of outstanding shares and multiplying it with price per share.

Usage of book value of debt is accepted as an estimate of market value since they are somewhat similar to book aloes, but Cohen considers data only pertaining to 2001 to calculate this parameter. To get a better estimate of firm’s debt, average values of 2000 and 2001 can be used. COST OF DEBT This was estimated using historical data which Is also an incorrect approach. The cost of debt is simply the interest rate the firm must pay on new borrowings and this can be observed in the financial markets.

Since Nikkei has bonds outstanding, then the yield to maturity on those bonds Is the market- required rate on the firm’s debt. Cost of debt was calculated by finding the yield to maturity on 20-year Nikkei Inc. Debt with a 6. 5% coupon semi-annually. COST OF EQUITY We have considered two approaches to calculate the cost of equity- The Dividend discount model and the CAMP model. CAMP (Capital Asset Pricing Model): Cohen used the arrear yield on U. S. Treasuries as the risk free rate. Since debt that Nikkei has incurred is long term the usage of the yield on 20 year treasuries is the right thing to do.

The next task is to choose the appropriate risk premium. There are two historical equity risk premiums given for a time period from 1926 to 1999: Geometric valuation while the arithmetic mean is better for a one-year estimated expected return. Therefore, we chose to use the geometric mean which is 5. 9%. Next, we had to decide on a beta to use for Nikkei Inc. For use in the CAMP approach. There are many approaches to calculate the beta value. We felt that two methods could have been used to calculate the beta values.

One would have been to regress the beta values with the returns to get the current beta. Since this would yield a very high standard error the better method would be to use the industry beta (Nikkei has very good comparable peers as well) . But, sadly as we did not have sufficient data to regress the past betas(since tallest 30 values are required) and neither were the industry beta’s available we resorted to using the average value of Beta which Cohen used since it is a fair estimate of the probable Beta value in the future. At this point, we calculated the WAC of Nikkei Inc. Sing the weights and costs of debt and equity. The calculations are on the excel sheet. The WAC comes out to be 9. 82% EDM(Dividend Discount Model): The next model that we used to calculate the cost of capital was the dividend discount model. The assumption made with this model is that the company pays a substantial dividend. The value of WAC that we calculated using this model was about 6. 6%. This overvalues the stock to a great extent and proves the fact that the dividends being paid by NIKKEI are insufficient and hence we should stick to the CAMP approach.

This makes Nikkei Inc. Share price overvalued by $4. 81 as Nikkei is currently trading at $42. 09. Cohen had estimated the discount rate to be around 8. 4% making the cost of equity around $67. We found the WAC by using CAMP, finding a discount rate of 9. 82 percent. This discount rate results in a share price of $52. 62, meaning that Nikkei Inc. S undervalued by $10. 53 per share. Using this data, we found that Nikkei Inc. Would be added to the Northing Large-Cap Fund at this time because the stock is undervalued. This is Justified given the aggressive growth targets that the company has announced coupled with the conservative estimates that we have taken for the revenue growth. She should keep a close eye on the company because Nikkei Inc. Has growth potential that would be beneficial to the fund. All of the plans laid out at the executive meeting display that the company is taking steps to move toward the future, making this a stock very attractive.

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Charmed, the supernatural television sensation, returns in an all-new tale of magic and mystery... but this time, the adventures of the Halliwell Sisters are told as manga! Delia, a young girl with blossoming and uncontrollable supernatural powers, accidentally unleashes her powers in a school. A danger to herself and others, she draws the attention of Phoebe, Piper, and Paige - three witches with experience managing innate abilities! With their help, Delia begins to make a new life for herself... but magic has a way of getting out of control, and it's only a matter of time before this incredibly powerful novice draws the unwanted attention of sinister forces!
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A young boy grows up with his grandfather on a deserted island. Upon his grandfather's death, he climbs to the top of the island mountain to find himself in a land where the people are in hiding, a tyrant rules, and his own name has been forbidden from being spoken. He is William the Last.
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Date of Award

Degree Name

MS in Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Helen Yu

Artificial Neural networks have found many applications in various fields such as function approximation, time-series prediction, and adaptive control. The performance of a neural network depends on many factors, including the network structure, the selection of activation functions, the learning rate of the training algorithm, and initial synaptic weight values, etc.

Genetic algorithms are inspired by Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection (“survival of the fittest”). They are heuristic search techniques that are based on aspects of natural evolution, such as inheritance, mutation, selection, and crossover.

This research utilizes a genetic algorithm to optimize multi-layer feedforward neural network performance and structure. The goal is to minimize both the function of output errors and the number of connections of network. The algorithm is modeled in C++ and tested on several different data sets. Computer simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can successfully determine the appropriate network size for optimal performance. This research also includes studies of the effects of population size, crossover type, probability of bit mutation, and the error scaling factor.


New Jersey Supreme Court Unanimously Limits Scope of Consumer Protection Statute

The New Jersey Supreme Court issued an important decision on the scope of the New Jersey consumer protection statute called the Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act or TCCWNA.

The two class action matters involved allegations that Select Comfort Corp. and Bob’s Discount Furniture violated the TCCWNA by failing to include, among other things, specific language regarding a consumer’s right to cancel an order as a result of delayed delivery. The Supreme Court held that a violation of this regulation could constitute a violation of a “clearly established legal right or responsibility of sellers” to constitute a violation of TCCWNA.

Separately, and of broader significance, the Supreme Court was asked whether a consumer must suffer an actual adverse consequence to be entitled to the statutory minimum penalty of $100 per person provided by the TCCWNA.  None of the plaintiffs in either of the cases had alleged that they suffered any actual harm, monetarily or otherwise, from the defendants’ technical violations of the regulations.   The question before the Court was whether these plaintiffs could be considered “aggrieved consumers” to qualify for TCCWNA’s statutory penalties.

Analyzing the statutory language, the unanimous Supreme Court noted that certain sections of the TCCWNA use the term “consumers” whereas the term “aggrieved consumer” was used in the section of the TCCWNA discussing damages. The addition of the term “aggrieved” before “consumer,” the Court held, must be given meaning and, under a plain reading of this word, denotes the plaintiff’s suffering some actual harm, even non-monetary harm.  As an example of the type of harm that may be sufficient to render a consumer “aggrieved” under the TCCWNA, the Supreme Court hypothesized a potential furniture seller customer who contends he would have sought a refund after a late furniture delivery but did not because of a company’s “no refund” statement (in violation of the regulation).

The Supreme Court’s decision will likely impact the uptick in putative class actions filed by consumers under TCCWNA. In addition to reducing the number of individuals who might be entitled to TCCWNA statutory damages, the decision will also make it more difficult for consumers to maintain class actions since each class member potentially must demonstrate that they suffered an “adverse consequence.”

For more information on the Supreme Court’s decision, the TCCWNA or consumer class actions, please contact Kathleen Barnett Einhorn, Esq., Chair of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation Group at, or Jennifer Borek, Esq., Partner in the Complex Commercial Litigation Group at

“Blurred Lines” Infringes Gaye’s “Got to Give it Up”, Ninth Circuit Holds

Yesterday, a divided panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals largely affirmed a trial court judgment finding that Pharrell Williams, Clifford Harris and Robin Thicke’s 2013 hit single “Blurred Lines” infringed upon the defendants’ copyright in Marvin Gaye’s 1977 song “Got to Give it Up.” Williams v. Gaye, No. 15-56800.

The decision of the panel majority (Judges Milan D. Smith and Mary Murguia) is a cautionary tale of how the procedural posture of a case can be outcome determinative. The majority held that following a full trial on the merits, the appeals court could not review the trial court’s earlier denial of a summary judgment motion.  The issues to be resolved were not purely legal, the majority continued, and the factual issues hotly disputed by the parties’ experts. Because of the full trial, the majority concluded that they could not conduct its own summary judgment analysis.

The Court then reviewed the verdict and found there was no basis to overturn the jury’s decision as it related to the Thicke Parties because there was sufficient evidence from which they could conclude that Williams, Harris and Thicke had access to Gaye’s work and the two songs were substantially similar. After a jury verdict, the Court continued, an appellate court cannot weigh the evidence for itself and make credibility rulings on the parties’ experts.

The dissent (Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen) decried the majority’s opinion as allowing Gaye to “to accomplish what no one has before: copyright a musical style” and setting “a dangerous precedent that strikes a devastating blow to future musicians and composers everywhere.” Though there are some similarities between the songs, the dissent contended, most of the similarities were short patterns that are not themselves protectable under the copyright laws. The dissent warned that the majorities’ decision will stifle creativity as copyright law is only meant to protect authors’ expression as opposed to the idea underlying that expression.

Williams, Harris and Thicke now have the option of asking for review from the entire Ninth Circuit or seeking review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

For more information on copyright law or the  Ninth Circuit’s decision, please contact Kathleen Barnett Einhorn, Esq., Director of the firm’s Complex Commercial Litigation Group at, or Jennifer Borek, Esq., a Partner in the Complex Commercial Litigation Group at


ATS Management, Full Cycle

Avon, one of the largest international manufacturer and distributors of beauty and personal care products, was looking to ll several open positions quickly as well as pipeline dicult to ll positions. Among the open positions, District Sales Managers roles were in need of being lled in remote areas and required special skills such as bilingual capabilities.

Qualigence was tasked to take on the entire Midwest region of the Avon sales district to ll open District Sales Manager positions. As the project continued to be a success, Qualigence was then tasked to take on corporate and supply chain positions and ll these roles in addition to the sales positions nationally.

The Research, Account Management, and Recruiting teams at Qualigence worked vigorously to gain a comprehensive understanding of the unique roles needing to be lled at Avon.

Qualigence then began aggressively sourcing the designated areas to locate and ll the roles. The Full Cycle Recruiting project for Avon consisted of a series of steps managed by Qualigence, including: Sourcing and locating candidates, sending candidates to the ATS portal, managing candidate applications, sending qualied candidates to the Hiring Manager and HR, all steps of the interview process, integrating candidates into the background check system, writing and sending the oer letter, working through legal proceedings, the approval process, and the onboarding process.

Distinct challenges within the Avon project included the large volume of roles, of which the types of roles and number of open positions uctuated daily. New markets were continually identied for District Sales Manager positions to be lled. Additionally, each open position had a unique set of HR professionals and Hiring Managers for each market. To successfully manage this, the Qualigence team ensured they eciently prioritized projects to handle the large volume and speed of the assignment.

The ATS management for Avon required Qualigence Recruiters and Account Managers to fully adapt to, oversee, clean up and manage the system by devoting time to learning and training on the system daily. The portal also called for assessment and cleanup of the entire system, including streamlining the candidate ltering processes.

An additional challenge was the departmental budget parameters. These were distinctive per role; Qualigence worked to ensure the total dollars were in accordance with the proper budget per role. To guarantee this, Qualigence provided a comprehensive breakdown of the total spend throughout the project with each role mapped individually.

Throughout the duration of the project, Qualigence successfully placed or had in the nal oer stages 33 candidates within 4 months at an average 6.6% cost per hire. The Supply Chain roles saw a particularly low cost per hire at 3%.

As a longstanding and ongoing relationship, Qualigence continues to identify, develop and place top talent for several roles at Avon. Consistent feedback and updates with recruiters, divisional managers, and hiring managers allows both organizations to successfully work in partnership to attract the right talent for the right reasons.

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BIOL 275
To determine the growth rate of bacteria under different temperature and aeration
To establish growth curves for an unknown bacterial species and observe the
different phases of growth
To demonstrate skill and knowledge in the use of the spectrophotometer.
Bacteria normally reproduce by binary fission, forming two equal-sized progeny
cells and thus doubling their number with each division. This type of cell division is called
exponential; i.e., one cell divides to form two, each of these cells divides so that four
cells are obtained, and so forth in a geometric progression. The unit of microbial growth
is "generation time", which is the time required to achieve a doubling of the population
size and is designated as tgen. Generation time can be estimated by determining cell
numbers during the period of active cell division and is expressed mathematically as:
t gen =
t ln 2
t log 2
ln X t − ln X 0 log X t − log X 0
In the above equations, t is the elapsed time during which growth is measured,
and Xo and Xt are the number of bacteria at times zero and t, respectively. The
presence of 2 in €
the numerator of the equations is due to the fact that when doubling of
the population number occurs, the quantity Xt/Xo (called the doubling constant) will be
equal to 2. Note that ln 2 = 0.693 and log 2 = 0.301. Also note that log 10n = n. So it is
easier to use the log form rather than the ln form of the equation.
The generation time of many bacteria is usually several hours. However, under
optimum conditions, E. coli has a generation time of about 20 minutes. Thus it can be
calculated that a single E. coli cell will produce about a thousand progeny in 3.3 hours
and over a million in 6.6 hours.
If the generation time and the elapsed time are known, then the number of
generations can be estimated as follows:
Number of generations = t/ tgen
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
Since the optical density of the culture is proportional to the cell density,
measuring the turbidity of the culture solution can be used in estimating numbers of
bacterial cells, if a growth curve for the conditions used has already been established.
This is the most common method used to rapidly estimate bacterial numbers. Other
methods, such as viable plate counts, can also be used for determining bacterial growth
curves but are often more tedious than turbidity measurements.
A bacterial population follows a characteristic growth curve which has four
phases: the lag phase, the log or exponential growth phase, the stationary phase, and
the death phase.
Lag phase: During this phase, there is no increase in cell number; rather,
bacteria are preparing for reproduction and synthesizing DNA and various
inducible enzymes needed for cell division.
Log phase: This phase, also called the exponential phase, follows the lag phase
and starts with a rapid increase in bacterial number. At this stage, the logarithm
of bacterial biomass increases linearly with time so that numbers of bacterial
cells in a given interval of time is proportional to the biomass of bacteria present.
Stationary phase: The number of bacteria reaches a maximum in this phase and
does not increase further (the growth rate is exactly equal to the death rate). This
phase is sometimes called the plateau stage. A bacterial population may reach
stationary growth when a required nutrient is exhausted, when inhibitory end
products accumulate, or when physical conditions are inappropriate for growth.
The duration of the stationary phase varies, with some bacteria exhibiting very
long stationary phases.
Death phase: Eventually, the number of viable bacterial cells begins to decline,
signaling the onset of the death phase. No further divisions occur in this phase.
Death rate, in many cases, follows the same kinetics as the exponential growth.
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
In this laboratory exercise, you will work in groups and follow the normal growth
curve of an unknown bacterial species to determine its generation time at different
temperature and aeration conditions.
Turbidity, which is a measure of the growth of microorganisms, is determined via
an instrument called a spectrophotometer. The basis for the use of this instrument is that
less light passes through a turbid solution than through a clear solution; i.e., the more
turbid a solution (more growth), the less the amount of light transmitted through the
Inside a spectrophotometer, light is focused through a lens system to an entrance
slit. The light rays are refocused by a second lens to an exit slit. Between the second
lens and the exit slit is a monochromatic grating which separates the white light into its
component wavelengths in much the same way as a prism does. By proper rotation of
the monochromatic grating, specific light wavelengths may be passed on through the exit
slit to a photocell. This cell is connected directly to a galvanometer that translates the
electrical output of the activated photocell into a specific transmittance value.
In between the exit slit and the photocell is a chamber where samples may be
placed. As previously mentioned, a clear specimen will yield 100% transmittance, while a
turbid sample will deflect a considerable portion of the light rays, resulting in a lower
percent transmittance. The greater the density, the lower the percent transmittance.
The sample is placed in a special test tube called a "cuvette", which fits the
spectrophotometer snugly. Cuvettes are very expensive and care should be exercised in
handling them. To cut down on the costs, we use regular small test tubes in place of
cuvettes. If the cuvette is rotated within its holder in the spectrophotometer, the reading
would vary. For this reason, cuvettes contain a white line at the lip that should be
adjusted to the line on the machine's cuvette-holder. This is to keep the cuvette from
contributing to the reading of the sample. You can mark a vertical line on the test tube
The wavelength selection is important and should vary with the color of the
suspension medium. However, it should not be changed during the experiment. A 420
nm selection is usually used if the medium is nearly colorless; 550 nm if the solution is
Some spectrophotometers have lids over the sample holder slot. The lid should
be shut for reading the instrument. Since you will be using a spectrophotometer in this
and in future lab exercises, it is necessary to make sure that you know how to use it. The
following steps should be followed when a measurement is to be made:
Turn on the instrument by rotating the zero control knob clockwise. Wait 10
minutes for the spectrophotometer to warm up.
Select the proper wavelength by turning the knob that is located on top of the
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
Adjust the meter needle to zero (left margin) by turning the zero control knob on
the left.
Fill a cuvette with 5 ml of the broth without any bacterial growth. This is your
control blank tube. Place the blank tube in the sample holder and adjust the
meter needle to 100% transmittance by turning the light control knob (on the
Remove the blank tube.
Insert the sample to be read and note the percent transmittance (%T) or optical
density (O.D.). Continue to read any other samples you may have. If the number
of samples is great, recheck and adjust the transmittance using your blank after
every ten readings. Turn off the instrument, remove your blank or sample and
clean the instrument. Note that you will be able to read both the % T (upper
scale) and O.D. (lower scale) simultaneously.
Remember that:
1. If you are going to use a test tube in place of a cuvette, draw a vertical line near
its lip, so you can line it up with the mark on the cuvette-holder. This makes your
readings more comparable.
2. There is a mirror strip on the gauge. When reading a sample, close one eye and
move your head until the needle and its image in the mirror are superimposed.
Now take your reading.
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
10 ml culture of an unknown microorganism, kept at 30°C
50 ml BHI broth in 125-ml flasks, kept at 30°C
Water baths, 37°C & 30°C w/ & w/o shaker
Un-inoculated BHI broth in small test tube for blank
Cuvettes= small test tube
Flask weight
Liquid waste beaker
1 of each/lab
IV. PROCEDURE (The students at each tableside will work together as a group).
Your group will be assigned one of the following growth conditions:
37°C incubator with shaking
37°C incubator without shaking
30°C water bath with shaking
30°C water bath without shaking
Obtain a flask of BHI and transfer 5 ml of broth to a small test tube. This is your
blank. Adjust the wavelength to 550 nm on the spectrophotometer and calibrate
the machine to 0.0 O.D. or 100% transmittance with your blank. Take the blank
out but do not discard it.
Inoculate your BHI flask with 10 ml of the culture provided and swirl the flask well.
Work quickly to withdraw 5 ml of the sample into a clean small test tube, using a
Place the culture flask immediately at the assigned incubating temperature and
aeration condition and record the time.
Measure the O.D. of your sample next. Record the 0 time absorbance. Discard
the contents of your sample test tube. This test tube can be re-used for your next
sample without washing.
At 15-minute intervals for up to 90 minutes, shake your flask vigorously and
transfer 5 ml of the culture to your sample test tube.
Record the optical density at each time period. Use your blank each time to make
sure your readings are correct and other students have not altered the machine’s
calibration. Your instructor will ask all groups to write their results in a table on
the blackboard. Copy these results to your Results Sheet. If more than one group
is doing a growth condition, get their average data.
Plot the optical density (y-axis) versus time (x-axis) for each growth condition on
the same regular graph paper. If a log phase occurred at the test condition you
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
used, go to the next step. Otherwise, use the data of the group(s) with a log
phase and then proceed to the next step.
To determine the generation time, plot the optical density (y-axis) versus time (xaxis) on semi-log paper. Draw a straight line of best fit through the points making
up the log phase. Next draw two horizontal lines cutting the y-axis where the
optical density has doubled and then draw two vertical lines where the horizontal
lines intersect the curve and note the time period between the two points on the
x-axis. This is the generation time.
Use of any section of this Lab Manual without the written consent of Dr. Eby
Bassiri, Dept. of Biology, University of Pennsylvania is strictly prohibited.
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
Results of the Bacterial Growth Curve Exercises
NAME ______________________________DATE ____________ GROUP NAME ________
1. Your assigned growth condition: _____________________________________
Incubation Time (min)
2. Collect the data from other groups in the lab and complete the following table. If more
than one group is assigned the same growth condition, write their average results in the
table below:
O.D. at
37°, shaking
37°, no shaking
30°, shaking
30°, no shaking
Draw the growth curve at different conditions on the same regular graph paper and label
each curve carefully. Discuss the results.
Dr. Eby Bassiri
BIOL 275
3. Using semi-log graph paper, determine the generation time (tgen) under the best
assigned condition.
Dr. Eby Bassiri


Kinetic Installation | Elastic material, Mechanical systems, Metal structure
Two parts, each: 150 x 150 x 80 cm

Reshaping is a living topographical structure that is still evolving, with an embedded configuration concealed behind its external form and a natural poetic beauty showcased.
Assuming that nature is a force that could be extended, manipulated, and is a medium that is free from natural physical constraints, how, then, could we manipulate nature, and how could it be presented? Composed with a morphable, flexible interface, a mountain is slowly pushed up by the mechanical structure hidden under the interface of this art piece, and it slowly ebbs and becomes flat again. Another island also gradually caves in towards the center till it completely disappears. The two progress in spectacular ways but are also canceling each other out to simulate a sense of balance in nature.


dirty air conditioner coilsFor your air conditioning to work efficiently, it must be able to transfer heat from inside your home to the outside effectively. A coating of dirt, dust and other debris on the A/C coils can prevent this, by insulating the coils from the surrounding air and reducing the efficiency of the heat transfer process. To minimize energy usage and reduce utility costs, the A/C coils should be cleaned at least once a year.

The Importance of Clean A/C Coils

It is estimated that dirty evaporator and condenser coils can increase the energy usage of your air conditioning system by over 30 percent. Additionally, reduced heat transfer efficiency can cause other problems, such as poor cooling performance, frozen evaporator coils and compressor overheating.

How to Prevent Dirty Coils

To keep the evaporator coils clean, it is important to check the air filter at least once a month and replace it as necessary. A dirty air filter can allow dust and debris to accumulate on the evaporator instead of the air filter, and it can also reduce airflow in the system, leading to other problems. To keep the condenser coils clean, keep an area of two feet around the condenser unit clean of vegetation and debris, including trash, tall grass, plants and overhanging trees or bushes. Remove large debris as it falls into the condenser coils, and when mowing, be sure to discharge clippings away from the condenser.

Cleaning the Coils

The fins on the evaporator and condenser coils are extremely delicate and can be bent with very little force. It is best to leave the majority of the cleaning to an air conditioning contractor, who will clean the coils during a routine maintenance visit. Ideally, air conditioning maintenance should be performed twice a year, though once is sufficient for some systems. Between visits, the condenser coils can be cleaned by removing large debris and rinsing the coils with a hose, after shutting the power off. The evaporator is often difficult to access, and should be cleaned professionally.

To have your A/C coils inspected and cleaned, contact our team at Conditioned Air, serving Naples and the rest of Southwest Florida.

air conditioner troubleshootingAir conditioning problems can be inconvenient and uncomfortable even on mild days in Southwest Florida, but in many cases, the cause may be simple, such as airflow problems from a dirty filter or a compressor that overheats on an especially hot day. Before calling a professional, there are a few air conditioner troubleshooting tips that you should try first, possibly saving valuable time and money.

Check for Power

When the air conditioner will not turn on, make sure that the thermostat is set correctly and that it has power, replacing the batteries if necessary. If the thermostat is working, check for tripped breakers, and reset them, even if they are not tripped. This will often reset the control systems or safety systems. If the compressor has an overheat safety switch, reset it, as well.

Check for Airflow Problems

Poor cooling performance or frozen coils could be the result of airflow problems. Check for a dirty air filter and replace it if necessary. Check all vents and ducts for obstructions, such as furniture or curtains that block the vents, or items that have fallen into floor ducts. If the problem remains, check the evaporator and blower fan for dust or dirt accumulations, and carefully clean them with the power off.

Clean the Condenser

Poor cooling performance can also be caused by a dirty condenser outside. Make sure the area around the condenser is free of debris, such as tall grass or lawn furniture. Check the condenser coil for debris, such as leaves and grass, and clean it with a garden hose, if necessary. Make sure the fan spins freely and operates properly.

Clean the Condensate Drain

If you notice water leaking from the air conditioner or it will not turn on, make sure the condensate drain is clean. Some systems will shut down automatically if the drain is clogged. Use a shop vacuum or a thin wire to remove dirt and algae from the drain line.

For more air conditioner troubleshooting tips, talk to our professionals at Conditioned Air today. We have been serving homeowners throughout Southwest Florida since 1962.