08/22/2013 10:41 am ET Updated Oct 22, 2013

How FTD Hides

You may not have even heard of FTD, or frontotemporal dementia. Recently, it has gained some media attention but rarely gets the attention in the news or in the doctor's office as it should. It is not uncommon for patients seeking a diagnosis to get passed through multiple doctors and get routinely misdiagnosed. My mother has been diagnosed with FTD, and the process of getting to the end result was painful, frustrating, confusing, and in the end devastating. Many times medical professionals drew conclusions about her condition that just didn't seem to match up with what I knew about her and the diagnoses they were making.

One important component of FTD is how early the condition can start. Patients typically present the condition between the ages 45 and 65. People often hear the word dementia and think of someone much older than patients in their 50s or even their 40s. Those who may be concerned with a loved one may not associate the symptoms observed with dementia, let alone FTD. It then becomes difficult for someone to suggest the correct doctor for the person they are concerned about or even discuss the concern with a medical professional.

Once the patient sees a doctor with these concerns, a number of other factors can lead to misdiagnosis and mistreatment. To start, there are a number of treatable dementias such as reaction to medications, nutritional deficiencies, or infections. In the experience of my mother, doctors wanted to approach her conditions as treatable dementia. For instance, a doctor may want to focus on the patient's use of alcohol as the cause for dementia or treat the patient for an infection. The pedestrian conclusion may then move on to Alzheimer's, which has significant overlap with FTD. Key symptoms with FTD that are not associated with Alzheimer's are overeating, loss of sympathy for others, and apathy. Depression is not common with FTD, but because patients tend to be emotionally withdrawn and apathetic, this is a common misdiagnosis. FTD patients also may show symptoms of obsessive compulsion disorder as well as delusions and euphoria which can lead to a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. For medical professionals seeking to understand more about recognizing, treating, and diagnosing FTD, a pdf can be found here.

For those interested in learning more about FTD, the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center provides information and resources. The Blue Field Project was started with UCSF in 2010 to fund research into FTD. Another great source is the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, which also raises funds and spreads awareness. You can donate to both the Blue Field Project and to AFTD.

The devastating aspect of FTD is how little information is apparent to people about the disease, and it seems to impact both the medical community and the general public. Yet there is still strength in numbers. Creating awareness for FTD leads to quicker diagnoses and a more comprehensive field of research. The forefront of the battle though is simply knowing that FTD exist. Without the vocabulary and knowledge FTD can hide for many years creating a difficult situation for the patient and their loved ones. Once you know something, you can then do something. Awareness may not be the cure so many desperately desire, but it is a real hope based on knowledge and drive.


Gilbert's (zheel-BAR) syndrome is a common, harmless liver condition in which the liver doesn't properly process bilirubin. Bilirubin is produced by the breakdown of red blood cells.

If you have Gilbert's syndrome — also known as constitutional hepatic dysfunction and familial nonhemolytic jaundice — you're born with it as a result of an inherited gene mutation. You might not know you have the condition until it's discovered by accident, such as when a blood test shows elevated bilirubin levels.

Gilbert's syndrome requires no treatment.

July 02, 2015


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Midweek Devotionals

Published weekly on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays.

Midweek Devotional 12/2/2015

Robert Chen

Dear Church:

2 PETER 3:1-10

Let's imagine that you don't believe in God, that reality is essentially matter and energy, that everything real is made up of atoms and nothing but atoms. In other words, let's say you are a thoroughgoing materialist.

What is the fate of planet Earth, from a materialist perspective? The most optimistic answer is that Earth will be destroyed when the sun moves into its red giant phase. ["The sun is now in the middle of its life cycle, and will explode in about 4-5 billion years. In the few hundred million years before the explosion, it will swell up and become a red giant as big as the Earth's orbit. It will therefore swallow the Earth." (internet answer)] For those who like youtube, check this out:

What's the point?

No matter how you slice it, there will be an end to earthly life as we know it. It will not go on forever. A billion years is a long time but it is not forever. At any rate, given the speed of our planetary deterioration, biological life might not even have to wait that long. The inhabitants of Earth will be long gone before the sun swallows up the Earth during the sun's red giant phase.

How depressing, right?

Not necessarily. Sure, from a materialist standpoint, the ceasing of all conscious life is depressing. However, from a Christian standpoint, the end of this earthly life is the opposite of depressing: it is full of anticipation. It is true that the End will not be an entirely happy affair. The Day of Judgment will a fearsome day. And the destruction of the godless will be terrible as well. Yet, despite these awful things, the overall picture of the end will be one of triumph, vindication, glory, beauty, reconciliation, healing, joy, love, and worship.

This is what Apostle Peter is pressing in the passage above. Don't join in with the scoffers who think that Christ will not come back. Just as the Flood came during the time of Noah, surely Jesus will return again. Don't think that the Lord is somehow "slow" in returning. Rather, God is waiting for people to repent. The "slowness" has to do with the Lord's mercy and compassion that extend to every tribe and nation. When the time is right, then the end will come.

And while we wait, we wait with hope. The story of our earthly life will one day end. It will end with words -- or something like these words -- "... and they lived happily ever after..." This time this story is forever.

Let's pray: Lord Jesus, help us to live with the perspective of your return as the crowning achievement of your great redemption. What you've begun -- salvation -- you will complete! Help us to see our own lives as provisional in that our lives are not ultimate. You are ultimate and your work of restoration is ultimate. Soon, all things as we know them will be transformed. And this transformation will be glorious. Help us, finally, to live out our days as gracious gifts from God as worship unto you. In Jesus' name, amen.


Photography: Dieter Titscher Fotografie,, Imaging: Johannes Payr - ITEG GmbH

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Hearing by Seeing

Often used interchangeably to describe text that appears on audiovisual materials, subtitling and captioning have some key distinctions from each other. And the difference becomes even more critical for businesses wanting to comply with recent regulations designed to improve access of audio and audiovisual materials to those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. So what is the difference between subtitling and captioning?

Subtitles were traditionally found in films to help improve the audio experience for the hearing consumer. Synced with the film’s audio in post-production mode to be seen when the film played, subtitles provided an alternative language option as well as another tool for understanding in the case of a speaker’s strong accent or a film’s poor audio quality.

Captioning broadens that initial focus of subtitling in its audience, purpose, and methods. For individuals with hearing impairments, captioning gives accessibility to audio and audiovisual materials no matter where they are. In a noisy location, busy venue, or room with lots of background noise, captioning becomes a tool for everyone trying to hear what is being said. And while subtitles frequently just relayed key dialogue information, captioning usually takes a more detailed approach. Open captions are always visible, while closed captions can be turned on or off. Like subtitles, captioning can be done offline or in post-production of previously recorded events. Captioning can also be done concurrently with audio and audiovisual presentations and programs, a method referred to as real-time or live captioning. Later this month we’ll talk about who’s using captioning and how.


Holiday: Memorial Day

May 29, 2017

Happy Memorial Day everybody. Think about someone you know who might have been in the military. Look grateful for the protection offered by the armed services.

Some quick holiday facts:

  1. It is not national BBQ day.
  2. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, because that is the day that graves were decorated. It started with the American Civil War.
  3. Decoration Day was originally set for May 30th by a certain General Logan, but it is not the anniversary of any particular battle.
  4. In 1968, the U.S. Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday act, which moved Memorial Day from May 30th to the last Monday in May. The UMH act went into effect in 1971. These were turbulent years for the U.S., being caught up in the Vietnam War police action, with deep disagreements from the civilian population.
  5. The current name “Memorial Day” dates all the way back to 1882, but “Decoration Day” was in use until after WWII. Federal law made “Memorial Day” the official term in 1967.
  6. It is customary to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon, and then at full-staff until dusk on Memorial Day. It is also customary to observe a moment of silence at 3 PM, local time on that day.

Next year’s Memorial Day will be on May 28th.


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Day 4 and woke to heavy rain. Moved to Friedrichfeld in Germany and managed just over an hour in the dry before the rain caught up. Moved south to Moers, pretty rubbish, so ended up at Duisburg Bissingheim and Entenfang. The PW depot did not dissapoint, it was almost like days of old!


Make your own free website on

So, you want
Different Fonts?

By Kushinator

       There are two common ways to setup the text of your home page. You can use the <Hn> command where n is any number ranging from 1 to 6 (1 creating the biggest text heading and 6 the smallest). Some examples are shown below.

This is heading size 1, the largest.

This is heading size 3.

This is heading size 6, the smallest.

Here's the code used.

       Looks good right? Using Heading command is fine for most simple pages, but there are some problems. You can only change the size of the text and not the font. Also, you may experience problems trying to align the text with graphic images. Notice, headings seem to demand their space. So, let us consider another option; the <FONT> command!

Changing Fonts:

       Changing the font of your text is really pretty simple. As you can notice from the title of this tutorial, fonts can help set the mood or theme of your page. The title of this tutorial was made using the "Kidprint" font. An example is shown below.

So, you want Different Fonts?

Here's the code that did it.

       Notice that in this example two attributes or options were used, the FACE attribute and the SIZE attribute. The FACE option allows you to set the font you would like to use. But, what fonts can I use, you ask? That's a good question. If your using Window 95, then all of your fonts will be in the C:\Windows\Fonts\ directory (assuming C:\ is your main drive). Make sure to copy the name of the font exactly or it may not work.

Changing Font Size:

       Ok, now onto the SIZE option. You can see from the example that you can also adjust the size of your text using the <FONT> command! You can set the font size to any number between 1 and 7, with 3 being the default. Unlike the heading <Hn> command, the font size 1 is the smallest and 7 is the largest.

Changing Font Color:

       There is one more option that I would like to mention, it's the COLOR attribute. You can easily change the color of your text by adding the COLOR attribute to your <FONT> command. An example is shown below.

This is a color example!

Here's the HTML code.

       Now, here is the part that stumps most people. In order to add the color option you need to know what the colors hexadecimal code is. Notice above, that the red I used had a hexadecimal code of FF2222. Also, make sure you don't forget to put the # sign in front. For more on hexadecimal codes, visit one of my other tutorials.

Six Digit Color Codes
Soft Colors

More examples:

       Here's some more examples demonstrating the flexibility of the <FONT> command. The HTML code for each is shown indented and in bold. I hope this helps.

This is a FACE example.

This is a FACE example.

This is a SIZE example.

This is a SIZE example.

This is a COLOR example.

This is a COLOR example.


Reviewed by
Gongren zhengzhi (Labor Politics), by Chen Zhouwang and Wang Shikai. Shanghai: Fudan daxue chubanshe, 2013. 240pp. RMB 20 (Paperback). ISBN 9787309093346.

As a product of industrial mass production, labor politics is closely related with the development of capitalism and state building. Since World War II, the labor movement has gradually fallen silent with the adjustment of the capitalist system. Consequently, some heavyweight Western scholars proclaim “Farewell to the working class!” However, we may yet wonder whether labor politics will disappear in the current age of globalization. What is the future of the working class?

Based on reviews of English-language literature and the interpretation of the Chinese experience, Labor Politics, coauthored by Chen Zhouwang and Wang Shikai, attempts to answer these questions. The book is divided into four main parts. The first chapter studies the history of labor politics, presenting a clear picture of the rise, decline, and rejuvenation of labor politics. The following two chapters summarize the main ideas of labor politics of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin and then introduce readers to the theoretical contributions to the field of labor politics by E. P. Thompson and other scholars. From Chapter 4 to Chapter 7, the authors comprehensively discuss the implications of labor politics by focusing on the interactions between labor and state, labor control in the production process, and the unionization of labor and mobilization mechanism. From Chapter 8 to Chapter 10, the authors take a close look at labor politics in the context of contemporary China.

Contrary to those who state that class structure has disappeared, the authors argue that labor politics is undergoing a revival in the global sphere. With the influx of transnational capital, class struggle has gradually shifted from developed countries to newly industrialized countries. As late developers, newly industrialized countries are faced with great challenges in industrial relations regardless of whether they are authoritarian or democratic. Industrial workers in these countries become the main force of the labor politics revival. Of course, the expansion of industrial conflict across geographic boundaries is only one part of the revival of labor politics. As pointed out by the authors, labor politics in newly industrialized countries is very different from that in developed countries (p. 29). First, the patterns of class struggle in newly industrialized countries are quite diverse. Second, the working class in developing [End Page 251] countries has to deal with the interest alignment between transnational capital and national state. Third, the global diffusion of industrial citizenship increases the range of strategies the working class can use.

In China, currently the largest manufacturing sector in the world, a series of ongoing market-oriented reforms and foreign direct investment liberalizations have created a new working class. The formation of an autonomous working class is central to understanding the revival of labor politics in China. It has two origins: an internal integration of the working class and a restructured relationship between workers and the state. Regarding the integration of the working class, the authors contend that current Chinese workers share common values and possess an autonomous consciousness (p. 210). As for the restructured relationship, the authors believe that China’s workers try to ensure their civil rights by using national laws or policies, so as to externally unite the class (p. 212). In contrast to the traditional working class, which was dependent on the Chinese state, the new working class exists as an independent group, with some autonomy in state-society relations.

From global and historical perspectives, Labor Politics presents a clear and focused picture of the development of labor politics. However, the authors’ focus on the revival of labor politics in newly industrialized countries results in their ignorance of the difficulties the working class in China encounters.

First, while the authors correctly point out that the new working class can exist only as a group of people who possess a similar socioeconomic status, the formation of their class identity should also be based on a shared experience of social conflicts. In China, the capital-labor relationship begins in foreign-invested enterprises. As a result, the capital-labor conflicts in these enterprises are at their most intense in today’s...


Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that is usually administered in the case of severe illness or to someone who is close to death.  The sacrament confers a special grace which unites the sick person more intimately to the Passion of Christ.  It can bring peace, comfort, courage and forgiveness of sins if the person is unable due to the nature of the illness to make a confession.  A priest is the only person who can confer this sacrament.

If you wish Fr James to anoint you or you need him to visit someone in hospital please contact him on 01458 832203


UPDATE: Bill Gertz

From the NY Sun:

A federal judge in California who has ordered a prominent reporter to divulge his confidential sources for an article about a spying investigation is now planning unusual and potentially open-ended questioning of the journalist’s reporting techniques, prompting concern from First Amendment advocates.

In May, Judge Cormac Carney, who sits in Orange County, ordered a national security reporter for the Washington Times, William Gertz, to appear in court and identify his sources for an article about planned charges in a case involving suspected espionage on behalf of China. The judge said the articles appeared to disclose secret grand jury information.

Lawyers for Mr. Gertz moved to quash the subpoena, arguing that no protected grand jury information was disclosed and that forcing the reporter to give up his sources could interfere with his ability to gather news. In response, Judge Carney said he plans to go forward with the hearing next week and wants to hear directly from the journalist about why confidential sources are essential to his reporting.


My Wife Should Explain Why Our Child Is SS When I Am AA - Man Charges Court

A 21-year-old marriage between one Idowu Iyanda and his wife Florence has been dissolved by Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan,over the wife’s infidelity and alcoholism.

Court president,Mr Ademola Odunade, ruled that the marriage was dissolved due to irreconcilable differences between the couple.

“When wives refuse to keep to dos and don’ts binding a union, the result is usually tragic and bring about break up such as what is currently taking place.

“In the interest of peaceful coexistence, the union between Idowu and Florence has ceased to be henceforth.

“Custody of the four children produced by the union is granted to Idowu.

“Idowu shall pay N3,000 to Florence to enable her move out her property from the house,” the Arbitrator said.

According to Idowu, who is a carpenter, his wife Florence, is an unrepentant prostitute and alcoholic.

“My lord, when I entered into the union with Florence in 1996, I never knew that I was making a very terrible mistake for choosing her as a life partner.

“She is never to be trusted for a single moment in terms of fidelity as Florence has made herself a public tap where all sorts of men of easy virtue fetch water.

“My lord, times without number, I have caught her with men and I have warned her against the adulterous act.

“For the sake of emphasis my lord, our fourth and last child is a sickle cell patient, my own Genotype is AA, Florence is AS, how did our last child become an SS.

“Worst still, Florence is an addicted alcohol consumer. In fact, she still consumed one last night, this is the bottle, my Lord.

“When she was complaining that she wanted to be riding a car, despite the fact that I don’t drive, I bought a car.

“We agreed that she will be driving the car, carrying me to and from my workshop.

“One day, Florence carried me to a particular point and abandoned me in the car and went her way.

“In addition, she no longer perform any of her conjugal rites and she quarrels with me all the time.

“Florence is a highly disobedient wife and she has even vowed to eliminate me from the surface of the earth.

“She poisoned the drinking water at home with the intention that I will drink it, but I got to know and refused to take the water,” Idowu said.

Florence, a hair dresser, who could not deny most of the allegations, however, pleaded with the court to save her marriage.

She said that she was not ready to part ways with Idowu because they both achieved greatness together.

“My lord, it is true that I consume alcohol, but it is only during cold weather.

“I wonder why Idowu is rejecting the paternity of our last child. I don’t know why he is an SS,” Florence said.


What is integrative nutrition health coaching?

What is the value of working with a health coach?

At the height of Sarah son’s physical, emotional, and behavioral issues, she was so desperate for answers and when she finally got direction she yearned for someone to hold her hand through his healing. She knew she had to make significant changes in order to repair his health, but the dietary changes needed to make were not easy—and very unfamiliar. Information alone was not enough to get her through it because she was overwhelmed, stressed, and confused. She was blessed to have someone who was able to answer her one million questions and to help her make practical and sustainable shifts in her family's lifestyle. She had someone there to listen to her, support her, and encourage her when she felt defeated and lacked confidence and knowledge.

We offer that support and handholding to others as a Heath Coach now. By providing information, guidance, reassurance, consistency, and encouragement, we assist individuals and families in rediscovering health and optimizing quality of life. We help people thrive and to feel their best after they have often struggled to do so for too long.

What are benefits of working with a health coach?

Health coaches:

1) Provide reassurance
2) Offer accountability
3) Are a source for knowledgable advice
4) Help identify needs
5) Assist in goal setting and empower to reach goals
6) Focus on whole health--because health is not just about food and exercise
7) Retrain the way you think about health and priorities in your life
8) Help form a new lifestyle--versus viewing nutrition as short-lived diets
9) Help you overcome the inevitable barriers you will encounter
10) Build self-reliance so you are your biggest ongoing resource

Can I work with Sarah or Tash if I don't live in Wyoming or Arizona?

What is Sarah's and Tash's approach?

Together we’ll work to reach your health goals in areas such as achieving optimal weight, improving behavioral and emotional disturbances, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, and maximizing energy. As we work together, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the food and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance, and health.

What is bio individually™?

What is a Primary Food™?

What is a Secondary Food™?


Scientists Conclude That Climate Change Has Impacted Every Living Species On Earth

The new studies conclude that climate change is worse than scientists feared

New research has found that the effects of climate change are occurring quicker than the rate that scientists described would be their worst fears. Together with this, studies have determined that it is not merely the polar bears and tropical marine life that are being impacted, but in fact, it is practically every living being on earth, including humans. Three recent studies have demonstrated how widespread the effects of climate change have already become. Bret Scheffers from the University of Florida, said, “It is reasonable to suggest that most species on Earth have been impacted by climate change in some way or another. Some species are negatively impacted and some species positively impacted.” Last year, Scheffers wrote a landmark Science study that concluded that the planet’s current temperature rise of just one degree Celsius has already impacted a total of “77 of 94 different ecological processes, including species’ genetics, seasonal responses, overall distribution, and even morphology – i.e. physical traits including body size and shape”, according to recent reports.

Just a few examples of these changes are “woodland salamanders shrinking in the Appalachian Mountains; the long-billed, Arctic-breeding red knot producing smaller young with less impressive bills leading to survival difficulties. Marmots and martens in the Americas are getting bigger off of longer growing seasons produce more foodstuffs, while the alpine chipmunks of Yellowstone National Park have actually seen the shape of their skulls change due to climate pressure.” In addition to this, climate change is also impacting the genetics of species, including the evolution of pink salmon genetics which means that they are now migrating earlier.

Scheffers explained the implications of these changes by stating, “In many instances, genetic diversity is being lost due to climate change, not just in nature but also in resources that humans depend on such as crops and timber. It is important to not confuse species responses and adaptation as an indicator that everything will be okay.”  A study in Nature Climate Change in February by Scheffers and his colleagues found that 47 percent of land mammals and 23 percent of birds have already suffered various negative impacts due to climate change. Co-author of the study, James Watson, from the University of Queensland said in a press release, “There has been a massive under-reporting of these impacts”. He explained that the IUCN Red List, which is the list of the world’s threatened species, is not an up to date listing of how many animals are in danger of extinction, and therefore species could be vanishing without anyone realizing until much later when it is already too late.

third study found that, as a result of climate change, more than 450 plants and animals have undergone local extinctions, meaning that an animal completely vanishes from a portion of their range where they are usually found. The study’s author, John Wiens from the University of Arizona, said, “If global warming continues, species that cannot change or move quickly enough may go globally extinct.” Such instances have already occurred in the past, and an example of this is when scientists discovered just last year that the Bramble Cay melomys – an Australian rat-like rodent – went extinct recently due to rising seas inundating its tiny coral island. It was the first mammal to be confirmed extinct due to climate change.

Scheffers worryingly pointed out that, “We now have evidence that entire ecosystems, some the size of entire states within the USA, are changing in response to climate change.” He used the example of kelp forests that he said “are dying” and being replaced by rocky, less-productive ecosystems. The original kelp forests were crucial in providing essential nurseries for fish, protecting the coastlines against worsening storm surges, storing vast amounts of carbon, and providing homes for species such as sea otters. However, the warming waters combined with ocean acidification is taking its toll. Scheffers is expecting a lot more “ecosystem shifts” in the future, and Wiens stated that,

“Given what we are seeing now, just imagine what will happen to all these species when temperatures increase by four of five times that amount.”

Heavily reducing and eventually getting rid of the world’s use of fossil fuels is crucial, as scientists have predicted that if this does not happen soon, the temperatures could rise by 4-5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, which would be apocalyptic considering how much change has recently occurred on the planet with just a 1 degree temperature rise. Scheffers concluded,

“One thing that is certain is that this global response to climate change points to an increasingly unpredictable future for humans.”

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Japan's Reports on Conditions at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

On 4 March, Japan provided the IAEA with a comprehensive report summarizing the events and highlights on the progress related to recovery operations at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The IAEA had provided its assessments, which is contained in full at the end of the report.

Based on the information in the report, the IAEA recognizes the positive impact of the various countermeasures against groundwater ingress into the reactor buildings including the operation of various groundwater pumping systems. These countermeasures, together with the deployment of the sea-side impermeable wall, have led to a decrease in radioactivity in the port area.

The IAEA considers the removal of contaminated water from the Unit 4 seawater pipe trench and the plugging of the trench as important achievements for further risk reduction on-site.

No significant changes were observed in the monitoring results for seawater, sediment and marine biota during the period from October 2015 to January 2016. The levels measured by Japan in the marine environment are low and relatively stable.  For the purpose of public reassurance, the IAEA encourages continuation of sea area monitoring, particularly considering the on-going authorised discharges of treated and monitored groundwater into the ocean.

The IAEA also considers that the extensive data quality assurance programme helps to ensure that all stakeholders can be confident of the accuracy and quality of the sea area monitoring data.

Finally, based on the information that has been made available in the report, the Joint IAEA/FAO Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture understands that the measures taken to monitor and respond to issues regarding radionuclide contamination of food are appropriate, and that the food supply chain is under effective control of the relevant authorities.

Last update: 26 July 2017


Key Lime Pie Fat Bombs

Key Lime Pie Fat Bombs

Growing up, my family would take an annual trip to Gulf Shores, Florida (Alabama? idk, we were right on the border of the two states and, to this day, I still don't know where we were) for vacation over Spring Break. Since we were driving from Wisconsin, you can imagine this was a long drive.* I think it usually took about 17 hours to get there and we always drove straight through, stopping only for bathroom breaks and gas. As a kid, I could never fall asleep in a car so I would stay up for basically two days straight and then, upon arriving to FL, I would just be a lovely little human to be around. Not crabby or overtired at all. Sarcasm.

You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this story.

Ok, stick with me. I'm getting there.

After spending some time on the beach and probably annoying the hell outta my family, we would return to our condo to eat dinner and then, after hours of begging, my Mom and Dad would take us to this dinky little restaurant with the most AMAZING key lime pie. Really. We still talk about it to this day and we haven't visited Gulf Shores for probably over fifteen years.

*I'd like to take this time to apologize to my parents for having to deal with me, in a car, for 17+ hours straight. I imagine that I was really well-behaved and kind and understanding throughout the entirety of the trip................ (incredibly highly unlikely). I was a... difficult (read: horrible) child.

Key Lime Pie, Meet Fat Bombs. Fat Bombs, Meet Key Lime Pie.

I was thinking about this heavenly key lime pie the other day when I was craving a dessert and decided that I needed to play around with the recipe to make the pie into fat bombs. Why fat bombs instead of a traditional pie? Because less carbs. Because bite size. Because I love fat bombs.

These fat bombs are tart like a key lime pie should be, creamy, delicious, other impressive adjectives, etc. You'll love them. Promise.

Nutrition Info

You can find a nutrition label including macros of this recipe near the ingredients and directions of the recipe below. As a note, I like to make my fat bombs rather large because, well, idk. I just do. In saying that, you can half the recipe and make them much smaller than I did, which will result in half the calories, net carbs, etc. If you have any questions on this, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below!

Diets This Recipe Is Compliant With

This recipe is keto, low-carb, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, and refined-sugar-free.

Prep time: 10 mins
Total time: 1 hour
Makes: Approximately 30 fat bombs, depending on size

2 cups raw cashews, boiled for 12 minutes or soaked for 2 hours
1 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup coconut butter
3/4 cup key lime juice
1/8 tsp - 1/4 tsp powdered stevia (depending on your sweetness preference)

  1. Combine all ingredients in food processor and blend until well-combined.
  2. Transfer mixture to medium-sized bowl and place in freezer for 20-30 minutes to cool (they may take slightly longer to cool if you chose to boil the cashews rather than soak).
  3. Remove mixture from freezer and form into balls.
  4. Place balls in freezer for 20 minutes to harden. I recommend putting them on a cookie sheet or plate lined with parchment paper to avoid the bottoms sticking.
  5. Remove from freezer once solid. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer (you'll need to let them thaw for a little prior to eating if you choose to freeze them).
  6. Enjoy!
Strawberries & Cream Fat Bombs

Strawberries & Cream Fat Bombs

Pressure Cooker Low-FODMAP Citrus Carnitas

Pressure Cooker Low-FODMAP Citrus Carnitas


“Exchanging Transitions”

On March 2-8 of 2013 the seminar called “Exchanging Transitions” brought together 30 young people from 11 countries (Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Estonia, Slovenia) to a small town Dilijan in Armenia. During these six days the participants shared with their peers from different regions, countries and backgrounds, their vision of what kind of transition they have, had or are having. Why in one region or country the transition was more successful and in another one it seems to have no end.

The main aim of this seminar was to give participants a common understanding of political economic, democratic transitions.

The objectives of this project was to strengthen the role and sustainable participation of civil society groups in their respected regions; to provide a space for dialogue and reflection for civil society organizations; a comparative learning from transition processes both within and outside the regions; to provide a space for exchange between various civil society groups, etc.

The main added value of this seminar was the composition of the countries and partner organizations of the seminar. Baltic countries, ex soviet member states, which nowadays are members of the EU and of course the Eastern Partnership countries which are in a long process of transition and on the way to European integration.

The seminar helped the participants to value what they had and to aim high and to work towards the improvement of their realities. The seminar also hosted interesting speakers-experts which presented the current processes of the transition of different regions and also the integration processes within Europe.

TDM 2000 International

JEF Europe


2. Get Your Body Ready

shoulder, thigh, muscle, abdomen, photography,

Your body plays a crucial role in how you manage to reach success in your active lifestyle.

You have to understand that your body needs to be maintained for you to perform according to the best of your ability.

In order to do this, you need to engage in proper exercise on a regular basis, eat a balanced diet and avoid cigarettes and drugs.

Get Prepared
Explore more ...


Places Near By Haridwar

Geographical Facts

Geographically Haridwar district is perched at an elevation of 249.7 meter or 819 feet above the sea level in the forested state of Uttarakhand. This is the most visited state located in the foothills of the Shivalik Himalayan ranges. Nanda Devi in Chamoli district is the highest point in the Uttarakhand state. The city also known as Gangadawar. It is main site where the river Ganga touches the plain first time. The Haridwar district occupies an area of 2360 sq kilometer. The geographical map of the Haridwar town depicts the city 29.96 degree North latitude and 78.16 degree east longitude. Like the Uttarakhand state, the most area of the Haridwar also occupied by the forests. Rajaji National Park also a great site to experience the wildlife here. There are many entrances to enter the Rajaji national park as Mohand Gate, Motichur Gate, Ranipur Gate, Ramgarh Gate and Chilla Gate. Chilla, Ranipur and Motichur Gate are located at a distance of 9 kilo meter from the most revered city of Haridwar.

The Uttarakhand state came into existence on November 9th in 2000 century. It is the 27th state of India. It shares its boundaries with China at the northern part and Nepal at the eastern part, Himachal Pradesh locates in the west and Uttar Pradesh in the south as well. As per the Hindu scriptures draws the land described as Uttarakhand, a term observed from Sanskrit which means northern region. Most of the area of the state comes under the rainforests and alpine forests. There is Jim Corbett National Park which is a home for Royal Bengal Tigers; there is also a Valley of Flowers National Park in Alpine region and so popular for its different kinds of flowers. Some another parks like Nanda Devi National Park, Gangotri National Park, Govind National Park and etc.

Due to the fluctuation in altitude the atmosphere of the Uttaranchal varies. There are two climate regions that differ to each other. The predominant hilly terrain and the other one is the small plain region. But the climate condition at these two places is as similar as in the Gangetic plain. The atmosphere in summer's days stay hot while the winter remains chilly if the temperature falls bellow 0 degree Celsius. The lowest temperature as recorded of Mukteshwar is -3.0 degree Celsius and the highest is 43.2 degree Celsius at Pantnagar respectively.

Uttarakhand state lies under the Himalayan region that is why snowfall occurs for a long time during the winter seasons and heavy rainfall in monsoon period. Over all the climate of Uttarakhand stays pleasant through out the year. At Haridwar the average rainfall is 162 cm annually. In the winter seasons the sightseers enjoy the fullest and they use to wear heavy woolen clothes to protect their selves particularly for the children. And the summer seasons makes the pilgrims and tourists to use the light cotton clothes because the summer offers pleasant atmosphere. In Haridwar, three languages are spoken mostly these are Hindi, English and Garwali.


Return to Medicines ListShow Learning Points most relevant to Phase 1:

Unexplained loss of consciousness

Clinical Discipline(s)/Organ System(s)
Cardiology, Cardiovascular System, Emergency Medicine, Nervous System, Neurology, Respiratory Medicine, Respiratory System
Progress Test Topic(s)
Cardiovascular, Neurological
An 87 year old NZ European woman is brought to the Emergency Department by ambulance. She is unconscious and was found on the floor by a cleaner. You have no other history.
Applied Science for Medicine
   - Anatomy of the skull and brain; structures responsible for maintaining consciousness
   - Physiology and regulation of the central nervous system (CNS) environment; function of the reticular activating system
   - Physiological response to raised intracranial pressure
   - Circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and control of CSF volume
   - Aetiology of cerebral hypoperfusion
   - Pharmacology of opioids, benzodiazepines, alcohol, flumazenil, fibrinolytics, inhalation anaesthetic agents, thiopental, muscle relaxants, carbamazepine, sodium valproate, phenytoin, gabapentin, lamotrigine, ethosuximide and phenobarbital
Clinical and Communication Skills
   - Elicit a collateral history from the emergency medical services, family/whānau, others
   - Perform an assessment of the level of consciousness using Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive (AVPU) Scale
   - Perform an assessment of airway, breathing and circulation; recognise signs of life; signs compatible with brainstem death
   - Examination of the unconscious patient; recognise neurological findings in raised intracranial pressure and signs of base of skull fracture
   - Perform a venepuncture, blood glucose level, venous cannulation, arterial blood gas, ECG, lumbar puncture
   - Differential diagnosis of reduced GCS
   - Interpret full blood count, blood glucose level, arterial blood gas, pathology report on CSF, ECG, chest X-ray
   - Indications for CT Head, MRI brain, CT angiogram, MR angiogram, electroencephalogram, brainstem testing, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure
   - Management and complications of reduced GCS
   - Management of a cerebrovascular accident including the use of thrombolysis, warfarin/dabigatran toxicity
   - Management of hypoglycaemia, status epilepticus, raised intracranial pressure
   - Risk factors and management of rhabdomyolysis
Personal and Professional Skills
   - Advance care planning
   - Death and dying
   - Breaking bad news and conveying prognostic information to family/whānau
   - Advance directives
Hauora Māori
   - Communication with whānau
Population Health
   - Present and future age structure of New Zealand population
   - Projections for life expectancy and years lived with disability
   - Residential care: present needs, future requirements
Conditions to be considered relating to this scenario
cerebrovascular accident, overdose, warfarin toxicity, side-effects of medication, gastrointestinal bleed, anaemia, encephalitis, meningitis, pulmonary embolism, hypoglycaemia, epilepsy, shock (hypovolaemic, distributive, cardiogenic), diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome
Less common but 'important not to miss'
massive haemorrhage, cardiac arrhythmias, subarachnoid haemorrhage, diffuse axonal injury, raised intracranial pressure, severe acidosis/alkalosis, CO2 narcosis, extradural haemorrhage, subdural haemorrhage, carotid artery dissection, uraemic encephalopathy, hepatic encephalopathy
hydrocephalus, myxoedema coma, hypo/hypernatraemia, Addison's disease, suicide attempt


Private Ephesus Tours

The ancient city of Ephesus, located near the Aegean Sea, was one of the biggest cities of the Greeks in Anatolia and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ruins of Ephesus are a major tourist attraction as well as being a sacred site in Christianity due to its association with several biblical figures, including St. Paul, St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin MaryEphesus is also one of the seven churches of RevelationIn the Roman period, Ephesus had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1st century BC, which served to make it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world.ephesussmall

After lunch, we will visit The Artemis Temple which is one the Seven Wonders of the World in Ancient World. We wil drive to The Virgin Mary House which is believed that she lived there for a while with St. John the Evangalist. The tour will end around 4:30pm and we will drive you back to your hotel.

The rate for the tour will be 130 Euro per person including pick-up / drop-off from your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk , professional English-speaking tour guideadmission fees, transportation with A/C vehicle, lunch and taxes.


New article: The Wider Uses of Traceability

Although traceability is often associated with food safety, increasingly the tools provided by a traceability system are being used for much more than food safety. The research carried out into traceability, initially spurred on by concerns over food safety, has expanded to include a wide range of different aspects of the modern food suply chain. Thes include internal logistics, supply.

Reference: Donnelly, K.A.-M. (2012) The wider uses of traceability. New Food, 15, 3, 17-20.


Fighting has erupted in a disputed border region between Sudan and South Sudan, with the Sudanese army claiming a strategic victory in its offensive against rebels in the state of South Kordofan.

The army said on Saturday it had captured camps on a key supply route after deadly clashes.

"Today the Sudanese army took control of SPLA-N (Sudan People's Liberation Movement - North) camps in the lake Jau area," said Sawarmi Khaled, an army spokesman.

"The fighting took place at around 4:30pm (13:30 GMT). There were a number of casualties and injured soldiers on both sides.

"This is a strategic area because it is a gateway to the south. The SPLA-N receive their weapons and ammunition and supplies through it."

South Kordofan and Blue Nile states served as the ninth and tenth divisions of the southern rebel forces during the decades-long civil war between south and north, but the peace pact that ended the conflict placed the areas they fought for in the north.

Many SPLA-N fighters' uniforms still show the flag of the former rebel group that now governs South Sudan, which voted in a referendum for secession.

Sudan accuses its southern neighbour of arming fighters in the two states and has taken the matter to the UN Security Council, but South Sudan rejects the charges.

Fighting in South Kordofan first erupted in early June, just weeks before the independence of South Sudan, between the Sudanese military and Nuba armed groups who fought alongside the former southern rebels.

Saturday's fighting came weeks after rebels in Sudan's Darfur region and in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile announced the formation of an alliance to overthrow the government of Omar al-Bashir, Sudan's president.

The rebels said the alliance, called the Sudanese Revolutionary Front, was bent on "toppling the regime of the [Sudan's ruling] National Congress Party with all possible means" and replacing it with a democratic system.

'Heavy bombardment'

The SPLA-N rebels were not immediately available to comment on the army's claimed victory on Saturday. But it follows days of heavy fighting just north of Jau, a lakeside town on a disputed stretch of the north-south border.

Yasser Arman, the SPLM-N leader, has said that Khartoum had launched a major military campaign in South Kordofan earlier this week.

"There is a heavy bombardment against civilian populations and massive displacement," Arman said in a statement.

"This offensive is going to result in a much bigger humanitarian crisis than the last offensive that started in June."

Sudanese troops attacked SPLA-N positions on Wednesday in Buram county with heavy artillery and tanks, according to other rebel sources.

A barrage of army air strikes reportedly killed two civilians and badly injured four others in the area.

The Sudanese government has prevented foreign aid workers and journalists from visiting the region, making it hard to verify information about the ongoing violence in Sudan's two embattled border states.

In addition to the fighting in South Kordofan, there has been evidence of cross-border attacks in recent weeks, the AFP news agency reported.

Witnesses said the army bombed a refugee camp last month in South Sudan's neighbouring Unity state, just south of lake Jau, badly fraying relations between the former civil war enemies.

The UN refugee agency said last week that the number of people fleeing the unrest in Blue Nile and South Kordofan was likely to reach 100,000 by the end of the year, up from about 80,000 now.

Source: Agencies


Fighting Corrosion – How Finishing Can Save Billions

In the United States, there are an estimated 610,000 bridges. Replacing all of them when their useful life cycle has expired would cost American taxpayers billions of dollars. Thankfully, with proper maintenance, bridges and overpasses can fight off corrosion.

All over the country, bridges and overpasses are susceptible to the destruction of corrosion. It’s the enemy of all things metal. Proper finishing is a huge part of making sure our massive metal structures stay safe and corrosion-free, so the big question is, what do we do? How do we make sure corrosion doesn’t set up shop on our bridges and overpasses?

Doug and Steve answer those questions in Episode 11 of the FSN podcast. Listen below, and follow us on Soundcloud to track down past episodes and know when the latest ones drop.

© Copyright 2017 Finishing Solutions Network. All Rights Reserved. Design by: Web Contempo.


October 13, 2005

China Tests Astronauts’ Endurance for Space Lab

BEIJING -- Two Chinese astronauts circling the Earth are doing experiments to help China find ways to put up people in a potential space laboratory for long stretches, Xinhua news agency said.

After blasting off on Wednesday morning, Nie Haisheng and Fei Junlong started tests by exaggerating their movements while opening and closing internal doors, changing out of their space suits and using equipment to check the effects on the craft's trajectory, Xinhua said.

"The two astronauts will bring back to Earth data from the tests, which is a must to build a permanent man-tended space laboratory, the ultimate goal of the country's current space program," the agency quoted Wang Yongzhi, chief designer of China's manned space program, as saying.

China has talked about using such a lab or a space station as "a platform for deep space probes" and about putting a man on the moon as it moves forward with its ambitious space program.

Nie and Fei will also test China's new space toilet technology, which uses a plastic hose and air pump to keep all waste, including potentially dangerous flatulence, in a sealed container, according to Xinhua.

"An astronaut can be blown away by his or her own intestinal gas, which can also pollute the air inside space capsules," it quoted Li Tanqiu, an aerospace expert, as saying.

China's first man in space, Yang Liwei, was strapped to his seat throughout his 14 orbits of the Earth in the Shenzhou V spacecraft in October 2003.

The larger Shenzhou VI is equipped with a secondary orbital module to give Nie and Fei room to conduct experiments as well as eat and sleep in relative comfort.

The orbital module contained chicken and silkworm eggs that would be checked back on Earth for possible genetic mutations, the Beijing Times reported.

Xinhua also said three pieces of cloth embroidered with the symbol of the Shenzhou VI's flight, China's astronaut training center and Mao Zedong would "be used for scientific research after the craft returns." It did not elaborate.

The state news agency previously reported sperm from two select pigs would be stored onboard and brought back for analysis, but no mention of the samples has been made since Wednesday's launch.

China has warned nomads and herdsmen to be on the lookout early on Monday morning, when the Shenzhou VI's re-entry capsule is expected to make landfall on remote grassland.


Soundtect Ltd
Office and Showroom
58, St. Johns Square,
London EC1V 4JG
0845 548 0518

Passion and experience

Using recycled materials for their panels, Soundtect™ has managed to camouflage acoustic function with imagination, and produce panels that are technically admirable due to their finely tuned balance of reverberation control and sound absorption.


HomeBuildingsReader Forum: But what about smart buildings?

Reader Forum: But what about smart buildings?

The Importance of IoT Enabled Structures in Smart Cities

People have always sought to make sense of the environment and utilize resources to enhance their safety, comfort, and wellbeing. It is no different in the growing world of IoT and the evolution of how brick-and-mortar buildings are moving from solely providing shelter to having increasingly complex “intelligent” systems, which allow them to evaluate their own surroundings for the ultimate comfort and safety of their inhabitants.

We are all familiar with current systems installed in many buildings- automated doors, thermostats, smoke detectors, security motion sensors, and the like. These conveniences make our surroundings more comfortable, but that is where their usefulness ends. Increasingly sophisticated systems will enable buildings to “think” for themselves by inferring outcomes and insights from the collected data of these technologies and not only predict, but diagnose issues.

The fact is that we live in physical spaces that have a great impact on our safety, productivity, effectiveness and security. Sensors of a variety of types serve to augment human perception and bring to light forces and phenomena that we would otherwise remain unaware of. The availability of inexpensive sensors means that many types of measurements can now be made over large areas, while maintaining precision from multiple readings. These sensors enable us to measure all sorts of “fields” in areas where we live, work and play. And knowing more about the environment in this way—gleaning information on fields and how they interact with each other, looking at phenomena or measurements that pertain to our safety, or to the efficient functioning of our environmental systems, for example, can provide us with useful insights to drive action.

The sensors are all sources to tap in order to generate deep and meaningful insights about what is going on inside a facility from maintenance, power management, security, and utilization perspectives. All of this data can be fused together to furnish significant insights. Depending on the purpose and security profile of the building, advanced big data analysis and Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence techniques can be used to create an invisible digital shield around zones in the building or the facility as a whole.

At Austin-based AI company SparkCognition, we have pioneered Automated Model Building algorithms and have applied these capabilities with great success to several large-scale plant and equipment use cases. For example, FlowServe Corporation, one of the largest manufacturers of pumps, valves and other types of oil & gas facilities equipment, uses these algorithms to extend the failure forewarning window on their products from 2-3 hours using conventional data science techniques, to up to 5 days. But most interestingly, as the equipment encounters real world loads and differences in maintenance and usage patterns, the algorithms self-adapt and optimize their predictions to the specific pump or valve they are monitoring. They don’t need to apply a single hand-built machine learning model to all instances of the same pump, even though the equipment has “drifted” significantly over time and is no longer as alike as it was when it first rolled off the factory floor.

Building design is poised at a fascinating juncture where, for the first time, structures will not only serve as passive dwellings, but will become proactive participants in enabling security, comfort and productivity for their inhabitants. The means to achieve this leap in capability will be the combination of 1) advanced sensors and IoT technology, which will allow the building to gauge its environment, learn about its users and monitor itself, 2) artificial intelligence based cognitive capabilities that will form the core of a smart building’s ‘mind’, enabling pattern identification, anomaly detection, state recognition, continuous learning, speech and language understanding, planning and more, and 3) actuation systems that will allow decisions informed by sensors and made by AI algorithms to actually be acted upon and implemented in a physical sense.

While it is possible to retrofit older structures with this type of capability, as with all significant refits, costs will be high and the entire spectrum of capability will not be available as ‘upgrades’. Therefore, it is the right time for architects, engineers, owners and planners to start thinking about how they can create smart spaces from the ground up. Future buildings will be as much about AI, IoT, and advanced automation as they will be about steel, concrete and glass. And perhaps their most distinguishing characteristics will emerge from their intellect, and not just their looks!

Guest Contributor: Amir Husain, Founder & CEO, SparkCognition

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Where the Truth Lies ★★★★

A forgotten gem. Firth and Bacon are fabulous, as is the well plotted mystery than weighs on the film. The only issue is that Lohman struggles at times and the wrap up reveal at the end is a tad TV, but other than that it's a fantastically told story.


Mumbai oil spill

Presented by Abhishek Anand Anil Ankit Arun Ashish Ashlesha Rahman Basundra Jijin

y Reason for collision MSC CHITRA lost signal from the port. though khalija was in contact .WHEN AND HOW? y Happened on Saturday (7th august). The collision happened because of a navigational error caused by the failure of radio communication. 10 km away from the Mumbai harbor. . y Between two Panamanian ships MSC CHITRA and MV KHALIJA.

y The cargo ship(chitra) was carrying 1200 containers of fuel which had 266 tonnes of fuel. y Some containers were carrying fertilizers and hazardous chemicals such as phosphatic pesticides and sodium hydroxide y Ship was carrying estimated 3000 tonnes of fuel at the time of the accident. among that 300 containers tumbled into the Arabian sea. .

A team from Holland has also been called in to help in containing the spill.y The oil leak from the sinking cargo vessel MSC Chitra has been plugged with the Indian Coast Guard saying Operation Chitra has been successful and the ship has been stabilised. . y There are eight main fuel tanks on board the ship and two of these tanks leaked tonnes of oil into the sea. Coast Guard helicopters have been spraying antidispersants to prevent the oil spill from spreading. But nearly 800 tonnes of oil is already believed to have leaked out into the Arabian Sea and has been seen floating close to the coastline threatening marine life.

. The oil spill has already spread over an area of 25 square kilometers and the hazardous chemicals and pesticides may affect about 200 species of marine life. Mangroves off Navi Mumbai are in danger of being destroyed and the debris caused by the collision of ships may pose navigational problems. In the last three days approximately 400 containers have slipped into the sea.MSC Chitra was also carrying 1219 containers out of which 31 had hazardous chemicals like pesticides.

Skeletal maritime activity resumes after ship-collision y Five days after two ships collided near Mumbai harbour. y Seven ships have so far been allowed in and out of Mumbai port. y The ships are being escorted by a helicopter and a minesweeper ship besides two survey boats with sonar scanners. skeletal maritime activity was resumed on Thursday. . y They were escorted by Indian naval ship INS Matanga through the approximately 200-metre-wide main shipping channel leading to the Mumbai Port Trust and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.

INS Yamnua.. Wednesday launched a survey of the entire shipping channel leading to and from the two main ports to trace out sunken containers.y The Indian Navy's survey vessel. . y By Wednesday evening. it had managed to identify the location of three such containers lying underwater and prominent markers have been set up to warn all vessels in the vicinity.

y Though skeletal operations have begun. around five km off Mumbai. y As a result. all normal maritime activities had come to a halt in Mumbai since Saturday when MSC Chitra and a St. the port authorities are hopeful that normal maritime activities could be resumed by Sunday. Kitts cargo carrier MV Khalijia-III collided. .y The danger of sunken or floating containers looms large over the country's biggest and busiest port since around 120 containers had fallen off the beleaguered MSC Chitra of Panama till Tuesday.

.Oil spill has created huge mess on beaches Environmentalists have expressed concern over the damage the oil spill has done to some of the beaches in Mumbai and neighbouring Raigad.

. and oil seeps into its outer layer. Human hair is porous.PREVENTIVE MEASURES The state government is considering using the 'hair boom' technique to mop up the oil spill off the Mumbai coast. To give international level course to coast guards focusing on oil spill assessment and shoreline clean-up exercise to train officials in tackling such disasters. It is also biodegradable. it is one of the safest cleaning solutions to an oil spill. therefore.

build double hulls into vessels. y All major cargo vessels and oil tanker should be equipped with proper navigation system. Existing single-hull vessels can also be rebuilt to have a double hull. Installation of Radiation Monitor Portals. which reduces the risk and severity of a spill in case of a collision or as to avoid the collision . y Double-hulling .methods to prevent releases of oil or hydrocarbons into environment.  Secondary containment .

Shipping between the ports of umbai and Jawaharlal ehru will be disrupted for at least a wee and aers Line has stopped accepted bookings for the area. . of The dispatches have come down to 1 -15 containers. A shipping channel on the west coast of India has been closed after a collision between two vessels on Saturday sent containers into the sea and also caused an oil spill.IMPACT TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Shi ing c panies are rep rte ly lamenting their l sses f ll wing s spension of ship movement to and from the ports mbai and due to the oil spill off the umbai coast.

. A common cause of economic loss to fishermen is interruption to their activities by the presence of oil or the performance of clean-up operations. Hotel and restaurant owners and others who gain their livelihood from the tourist trade can also suffer temporary losses. Four billion dollar of trade will be lost if the oil spill off the Mumbai coast is not dealt with by the weekend. It pegs losses to Indian importers and exporters at USD 20 million by the end of the week.Mumbai oil spill to incur loss USD 4 billion by weekend.

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Talking to your Tech: The Future of Voice Commands

The popular science fiction show Star Trek depicted early versions of Skype, cell phones, solid state storage, super computers, and more. However, the ability to give voice commands, one of the most widely used pieces of technology on the show, has been slower to make it into the real world and realize its enormous potential. Anyone who has unsuccessfully tried to use voice commands on their phone, or interact with a car’s speak-and-drive system, understands that the days of simply speaking naturally to a computer and receiving a coherent response every time are still a long way off.

Progress has been made from the early days of computer-voice interaction. On early cells phones equipped with a voice command system, only very limited commands such as “Call Mike” would have been recognized (with difficulty). Today, Google and Apple have both created extremely complicated systems that allow users to ask questions and send texts or emails using natural sounding speech in a number of languages. Despite these advances, voice command systems are still easily flummoxed by accents, minor background noise, speaking slightly too quickly, and a host of other factors that an average human can easily circumvent when speaking to another human. Voice command systems also fail to detect or understand emotion – a vital component in human speech.

Rather than give up on human computer voice interaction, companies around the world are investing in new software that allows computers to better understand the natural emotion and cadence of the human voice, and interpret that data to help the technology better understand and execute commands. The benefits of almost perfect voice/computer integration are obvious: the world’s fastest typer managed acceptable long term accuracy at a speed of 150 words per minute. An average person is able to easily hear, comprehend, and speak at that pace. Better voice command systems would also allow computers to interact with those who are illiterate or unable to type due to blindness or physical disability. The benefits extend to peripheral technology makers as well. For example, makers of smart light bulbs benefit when consumers are able to walk into a room and verbally tell the room how much light to turn on.

Despite the possibilities that human to computer voice interaction offers, these benefits risk jeopardizing yet more of the precious little privacy consumers retain. Computers capable of understanding emotion will be able to track emotional states over time and use that information to target advertising during periods of emotional weakness. While there are upsides to this loss of privacy in areas such as safety (stressed individuals who attempted to operate a motor vehicle could be warned about their emotional state by their cars before setting off), and practicality (computers that understand human emotion would be more intuitive to interact with) the thought of a computer knowing exactly how they’re feeling will rightfully worry many consumers.

Despite these setbacks, the field of human computer interaction (and the technology sector in general) is an exciting and rapidly growing place to work. Consumers are, for the moment, happy to exchange privacy for amazing (and typically free) tools, and the future shows no signs of technology’s march slowing down. However, companies will be wise to realize that as consumers increasingly begin to regard their devices as a trusted friend, they move ever closer to the day when they will stop accepting that their friend shares everything about them.


Cretaceous Dinosaurs from Anhui Province, China

To: dinosaur@usc.edu
From: Ben Creisler bh480@scn.org
Subject: Cretaceous Dinosaurs from Anhui Province, China

I came across the following reference recently. Based on
the awkwardly worded abstract, it appears that a number of
new taxa are discussed in the article (skeletons rather
than ichnotaxa or eggs?). Apart from a recent egg find and
a short paragraph in Dong's  Dinosaurian Faunas of China
(pg 144) mentioning an incomplete sauropod vertebra and
Wannanosaurus, I can't recall much mention of dinosaurs
from Anhui Province in the various articles and books
about Chinese dinosaurs that have appeared in the past few
years.  Has anyone seen this article? It's not available
locally. (The geological date indicated is clearly a typo.)

Yu Xinqi, 1998. Characteristics of dinosaur fossils from
southern Anhui and their significance for stratigraphic
Regional Geology of China [Zhongguo Quyu Dizhi or Chung
Kuo Ch'u Yu Ti Chih] 17; 3(66), Pages 278-284.
People's Republic of China, Ministry of Geology and
Mineral Resources. Beijing, China. 1998.
The "trinitarian" occurrence of dinosaurian skeleton, eggs
and footprints and tailprints in the Qiyunshan area,
southern Anhui, is rare in the world. This paper describes
the morphologies, sizes and structures of five genera and
seven species (or indeterminate species) of three major
classes of dinosaurs and analyzes the significance of
these fossils in stratigraphic division. According to the
horizon of the fossils, the age of activity of dinosaurs
in southern Anhui is considered to be about 40 [sic] Ma


Greenhouse gases

About greenhouse gases and climate change

The greenhouse gases reported under the Climate Convention are:

  • Carbon dioxide, CO2
  • Methane, CH4
  • Nitrous Oxide, N2O
  • Hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs
  • Perfluorocarbons, PFCs
  • Sulphur hexafluoride, SF6

The main greenhouse gas responsible for the anthropogenic influence on the heat balance is CO2. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased from a pre-industrial value of about 280 ppm to 379 ppm in 2005 (an increase of about 35 %), and exceeds now the natural range of 180-300 ppm over the last 650 000 years as determined by ice cores (IPCC, Fourth Assessment Report, 2007). The main cause for the increase in CO2 is the use of fossil fuels, but changing land use, including forest clearance, has also been a significant factor. The greenhouse gases CH4 and N2O are very much linked to agricultural production; CH4 has increased from a pre-industrial atmospheric concentration of about 715 ppb to 1774 ppb in 2005 (an increase of about 140 %) and N2O has increased from a pre-industrial atmospheric concentration of about 270 ppb to 319 ppb in 2005 (an increase of about 18 %) (IPCC, Fourth Assessment Report, 2007). Changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases are not related in simple terms to the effect on the heat balance, however. The various gases absorb radiation at different wavelengths and with different efficiency. This must be considered in assessing the effects of changes in the concentrations of various gases. Furthermore, the lifetime of the gases in the atmosphere needs to be taken into account – the longer they remain in the atmosphere, the greater the overall effect. The global warming potential (GWP) for various gases has been defined as the warming effect over a given time of a given weight of a specific substance relative to the same weight of CO2. The purpose of this measure is to be able to compare and integrate the effects of individual substances on the global climate. Typical lifetimes in the atmosphere of substances are very different, e.g. 12 and 120 years approximately for CH4 and N2O, respectively. So the time perspective clearly plays a decisive role. The time frame chosen is typically 100 years. The effect of the various greenhouse gases can, then, be converted into the equivalent quantity of CO2, i.e. the quantity of CO2 giving the same effect in absorbing solar radiation. According to the IPCC and their Fourth Assessment Report, which UNFCCC has decided to use as reference for reporting, the global warming potentials for a 100-year time horizon are:

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2):      1
  • Methane (CH4):                25
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O):         298
  • Sulphur hexafluride (SF6): 22800

Based on weight and a 100-year period, methane is thus 25 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2, N2O is 298 times more powerful and SF6 is 22800 times more powerful. For HFCs and PFCs, the GWP depends on the specific compound and varies from 12 to >17000 for substances included in the inventories.

The Climate Convention and the Kyoto Protocol

Under the Burden Sharing Agreement, Denmark (excluding Greenland and the Faroe Islands) must reduce emissions by an average of 21 % in the period 2008-2012 compared with the base year emission level.

The role of the European Union

The European Union (EU) is a party to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, the EU has to submit similar datasets and reports for the collective 15 EU Member States under the burden sharing. The EU imposes some additional guidelines and obligations to these EU Member States through Decision No. 280/2004/EC concerning a mechanism for monitoring community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol (EU monitoring mechanism).

Danish greenhouse gas emissions

The greenhouse gas emissions are estimated according to the IPCC guidelines and are aggregated into six main sectors. The greenhouse gases include CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, PFCs and SF6. The figures below show the allocation of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2015 in the different sectors and the estimated total greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalents from 1990 to 2015. The emissions are not corrected for electricity trade or temperature variations. CO2 is the most important greenhouse gas contributing in 2015 to the national total in CO2 equivalents excluding LULUCF (Land Use and Land Use Change and Forestry) with 73.2 % followed by CH4 with 14.3 %, N2O with 11.0 % and F-gases (HFCs, PFCs and SF6) with 1.5 %. Seen over the time-series from 1990 to 2015 these percentages have been increasing for CH4 and F-gases, and decreasing for N2O. The percentages for CO2 show larger fluctuations during the time series. Stationary combustion plants, Transport and Agriculture represent the largest contributing categories to emissions of greenhouse gases, followed by Industrial processes and product use, Waste and Fugitive emissions, see the figure below. The net CO2 uptake by LULUCF in 2015 is 7.3 % of the total emission in CO2 equivalents excl. LULUCF, the uptake lies in both forest land and harvested wood products. The national total greenhouse gas emission in CO2 equivalents excluding LULUCF has decreased by 30.6 % from 1990 to 2015 and decreased 29.3 % including LULUCF. From 2014 to 2015 the total greenhouse gas emission excluding LULUCF decreased by 4.8 %. The decrease is mainly caused by decreasing emissions from the energy sector due to increasing production of wind power and other renewable energy.

CO2-equivalent emission, 2015

Danish greenhouse gas emission, latest emission year

Danish greenhouse gas emission, time series

(Click the chart to view the background data)

Read more about the greenhouse gasses:


Poster 960 26e38705ed16d7e94257abadd568de17cace34b162cfb61ec6b4010e5087a3d4 Poster 768 6ef3a626dda2feef9740406eecb3e405e8a3ba2e880258989b9b11b86c8e32f3 Poster 640 b6fcc878f2c338a7b9f10fa881262a4aa1d4d65226cbc0d1938bb78460cf1a01

In reply to the energy self/ie space* Competition announcement I submit Application Letter. I declare that. I accept the Rules of the Competition and its attachments. I also declare that I transfer free of charge the whole copyrights for the contest project for the benefit of the Organiser: The Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, in the following areas of exploitation:

1. the area of registration and multiplication of the design – executing the copies of the design in the defined technique, including printing, reprographic, magnetic and digital techniques

2. the area of the turnover of the original or its copies where the original has been registered, introducing to the market, lending, renting or leasing the original or its copies

3. the area of publication of the design in a way different from specified in item above – exhibiting, projecting as well as making it publicly accessible in order to allow everybody to have access to it in place and time selected by themselves

4. and the right to express my consent to execute the subsidiary copyrights to the work.


Definitions - Interactions in the Environment

These are the current definitions that you should be studying.  Updated November 7th.

For a digital set of flashcards, to help you study, click here.

This list is now complete for this unit.

Biotic The living components of an ecosystem.
Abiotic The non-living components of an ecosystem. Example: Wind, Sun, Water, etc

A single living thing.
Population A group of organisms of the same species in an ecosystem.
Community A group of different populations interacting in an ecosystem.
Ecosystem All the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving, physical components of the environment with which they interact.
Biome A region of land with characteristic climate, soil and organisms.
Weather Describes the conditions of the atmosphere in a certain area for a short period of time. Weather changes constantly.
Climate Describes the average weather that an area has over a long period of time. Climate does not generally change (can change over years).
Biosphere The areas on and around Earth that can sustain life.
Atmosphere The air, in the biosphere, that surrounds Earth.
Lithosphere The solid mineral material, in the biosphere, on Earth.
Hydrosphere The water, in the biosphere, on Earth.
Niche The role of an organism in an ecosystem.
Producer Plants that use energy from the sun to make nutrients they need to survive.
Consumer Organisms that eat food made by producers. (Primary Consumer eats plants, Secondary Consumer eats meat)
Herbivore An animal that eats only plant material.
Carnivore An animal that eats only other animals.
Omnivore An animal that eats other animals and plant material.
Predator An organism that catches and eats other organisms of a different species.
Prey An organism that is caught and eaten by another organism of a different species.
Scavenger An organism that eats dead or decaying plant or animal matter.
Decomposer Organisms that break down the cells of dead or waste materials and absorb their nutrients.
Food Chain A sequence of feeding relationships among living organisms, as they pass on food energy.
Energy Flow The movement of energy, which originally comes from the sun, from one organism to another.
Food Web The network of feeding relationships among organisms.
Symbiosis An interaction between two organisms of different species living in close proximity that lasts over time.
Parasitism A symbiotic relationship in which one of the partners is harmed and the other benefits.
Mutualism A symbiotic relationship in which both partners benefit.
Commensalism A symbiotic relationship in which one partner benefits and the other is indifferent.
Energy Pyramid A pyramid showing the number of organisms at each level of a food chain.
Succession The process by which new species gradually replace old species in an ecosystem.
Secondary Succession When succession occurs with already existing soil.
Sustainability The ability to sustain something - to keep in healthy and continue in the same manner.


A Fast Converging, Low Complexity Adaptive Filtering Algorithm

Steven L. Grant, Missouri University of Science and Technology

This document has been relocated to http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/ele_comeng_facwork/780

There were 1 downloads as of 27 Jun 2016.

This paper introduces a new adaptive filtering algorithm called fast affine projections (FAP). Its main attributes include RLS (recursive least squares) like convergence and tracking with NLMS (normalized least mean squares) like complexity. This mix of complexity and performance is similar to the recently introduced fast Newton transversal filter (FNTF) algorithm. While FAP shares some similar properties with FNTF it is derived from a different perspective, namely the generalization of the affine projection interpretation of NLMS. FAP relies on a sliding windowed fast RLS (FRLS) algorithm to generate forward and backward prediction vectors and expected prediction error energies. Since sliding windowed FRLS algorithms easily incorporate regularization of the implicit inverse of the covariance matrix, FAP is regularized as well.


by Swami Rama of The Himalayas

When the posture is steady, the body is still and comfortable, and you are breathing diaphragmatically, the next step is breath awareness—observing the flow of your breath.

Let your mind be focused on the breath and allow the mind to flow with the breath. The breath should not be jerky or shallow, it should not be noisy, and you should not uselessly expand the natural pause between inhalation and exhalation.

Breath is a barometer to measure one’s inner state. When you observe that your breath is serene, deep, and without any unnecessary pause, you will experience a sense of great comfort and joy.

The more the mind is made steady and one-pointed, the more one experiences peace and happiness. There are several ways of making the mind steady and one-pointed. Among them, concentration on inhalation and exhalation is considered to be the best.

Concentration on the flow of breath is one of the best ways to attain control over the modifications of the mind. When all the modifications cease, and the mind is calm and tranquil, one finds great joy within. When the mind is free from all distractions, and starts traveling inward, an aspirant begins to unveil the mystery of multilevel reality. Through a one-pointed mind, one gains knowledge of the inner world. This knowledge is superior to that derived from perception, inference, or testimony.

You will find extraordinary joy when you have coordinated the mind with the breath. Gradually you move your mind from the breath to sound awareness. The sound “so-hum” is the best to concentrate upon. When you remember “so-hum,” “so” is the sound of inhalation and “hum” is the sound of exhalation.

With your eyes closed, focus your mind on the lowest center along the spinal column, called muladhara. Inhale as though you are inhaling from the root of the spinal column, while inhaling the sound “so;” then exhale with the sound “hum,” as though you are exhaling from the crown of your head to your toes.

In this way the ratio of exhalation to inhalation will be double—inhale four and exhale eight. Do it ten times after practicing diaphragmatic breathing. After a few days, you will find your breath has become very calm.

Whenever you are in great joy, you will find that the mind is calm and the breath is serene. You can never remain in joy and you can never be happy, unless there is perfect coordination between the breath and mind. </p> <p> Life is breath and breath is life.

Remember your mantra as silently as possible, and it will help you tremendously. Let your mind be led by your mantra and let it become a part of your life.

Remember your mantra—slowly, gently—and follow it. The sound will take you to the soundless state that is beyond body, breath, and mind. That is what meditation is.


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George Stillman

George Stillman Painting
George Stillman, 1948, Untitled, Oil on Canvas, 48" x 38"
Price upon request

George Stillman, Painter 1921 -1997

George Stillman was an American Abstract Expressionist artist and member of the San Francisco Bay Area group known as the "Sausalito Six". His work ranged from pure abstraction to figurative subjects treated expressionistically; one writer refers to it as hailing from the "quietest branch of Abstract Expressionism, which preferred to transport the imagination rather than jolt the senses". During this period, he collaborated with other members of the Sausalito Six to create a portfolio of 17 lithographs entitled Drawings (1948) that is considered a landmark in the history of Abstract Expressionist printmaking. In 1949, the San Francisco Museum of Art honored him with the Ann Bremer Award. However, in the 1950s, when he went to Mexico to study and later take up a teaching job at the University of Guadalajara, he hauled most of his work to the dump. As a consequence, only a few dozen works survive from this phase of his career. Stillman's work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Oakland Museum (California), the British Museum (London), and numerous other art institutions.