The following linear representation of a problem-solving thought process, developed by Puccio, Murdock, and Mance (2005), provides an excellent example of how characteristics and behaviors of Critical Thinking and Creative Thinking operate.
Steps
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Assessing Situation
Exploring a Vision
Formulating Challenges
Exploring Ideas
Formulating Solutions
Exploring Acceptance
Formulating a Plan
Cognitive Skills
Diagnostic
Visionary
Strategic
Ideational
Evaluative
Contextual
Tactical
Affective Skills
Curiosity
Dreaming
Sensing Gaps
Playfulness
Avoiding Premature
Closure
Sensitivity to Environment
Tolerance for Risks
As Puccio, Murdock, and Mance have constructed the paradigm, specific cognitive and affective domains are activated – or highlighted – as the process moves from start to finish. For instance, In step #1, the individual assessing the situation, relying upon curiosity and diagnostic skills such as Analyzing, Describing, and Selecting. Curiosity, however, does not again appear, although Puccio, Murdock, and Mance note that openness to novelty, tolerance for ambiguity, and tolerance for complexity underlie all stages of creative problem solving.
This Creative Problem Solving has real value in terms of understanding how
faculty and students approach a range of problems, both inside and outside
the classroom. However, Teagle Project faculty have found that multiple components
of creative and critical thinking are at work throughout, some emerging more
predominantly at certain points than at others, depending on context and
individual. The Ven diagram below, we offer one example of how and when certain
central characteristics and behaviors of CT and CR might manifest themselves.
The numbers beside each text block refer to the steps identified above: For
instance, “Openness to Novelty,” generally considered a quality
of a creative thinking, can be associated with all seven steps; “Imagination” may
dominate in steps 2 and 6; “Reasoning Through Logic” in 3 and
6. Please remember, though, that the diagram represents only one possibility
of which features might dominate; the diagram is not intended to generalize
across populations, contexts, or problem-solving events, except to illustrate
the dynamic and complex nature of how we think and the kind of thinking we
hope to nurture in our students.


Perhaps it's a matter of over thinking things. Running form, like a golf swing, is full of nuance and odd mechanics. Like my golf swing, the more I think about my running form, the worse it seems to get.
"Keep your head still" Great advice for both a golf swing and running form, but also a recipe for disaster when you consciously attempt to follow through. Anchoring my head in the running space time continuum makes controlling the rest of my body akin to wrestling greased boa constrictors while dancing the samba on ice skates. It's ugly, dangerous and fascinating all at the same time."Bend slightly at the knees" For a former heel striker, this feels both unnatural and slightly painful. Is a slight bend ok, or do I need to go into full Groucho Marx mode? What about downhill running? If my knees hurt, does that mean I'm doing it right, or wrong? Or maybe I only have arthritis? It's all very confusing. To quote Groucho - "A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.""Weight on the balls of your feet" As a former snowboarder with trashed ankles, running on the balls of my feet feels like what I imagine riding two pogo sticks simultaneously would feel like - Awesome! Until I pile drive the ground with my head that is. Really, my right ankle is about as stable as a whisky drunk clown on a teeter totter, and nearly as entertaining. So, screw this rule! My heel comes down and bears some of the load during my stride. Anything that keeps me from leaving face prints on the ground is a good thing in my opinion."Relax!" Yeah, right. How the Hell am I supposed to relax if I'm thinking about head position, knee extension and foot strike every second of the run? Not to mention all the other good form rules that I ignore, like tilting your pelvis, aligning your spine, holding your head upright and level, not bending at the waist, and keeping your arms at 90 degrees with a compact swing across the chest. You might as well ask me to relax while I juggle those boa constrictors, while dancing the samba on pogo sticks strapped to ice skates! Even Groucho would be amused.Running is indeed golf.


By Lauren Fink, ARB Intern, 2011-2012 Though sayings like, “you can sleep when you’re dead,” abound in American, and especially college, culture, sleep is a crucial activity for maintaining health, conserving energy, and learning. During sleep, the body decreases its temperature by about 1-2 degrees Celsius, rests its muscles, rebuilds proteins, and reorganizing synapses. Increased brain activity occurs in the same areas of the brain that were activated by the learning of a new task during the day and correlates with improved performance on the same task the following day.
Humans spend 1/3 of their lives asleep, with about 1/5 of that time in Rapid-Eye-Movement (REM) sleep. A typical nightly sleep cycle occurs in about 90 minutes with a pattern of stages 1-2-3-4-3-2-REM. Though the exact function of REM sleep remains a mystery, it is known that REM deprivation results in increased time spent in REM when no longer REM-deprived. Dreams, which also remain elusive in terms of function, if not meaning, occur mainly during REM sleep but can also occur during other stages.
While little is known for certain, the role of dreams in waking life is a common topic of exploration in not only science, but also literature, art, music, film, philosophy, and anthropology. Being a repository for archival and rare volumes in any discipline, the Archives & Rare Books Library has an intriguing collection of books relating to sleep and dreaming that spans multiple genres and disciplines.
A forthcoming web exhibit will explore sleep, dreams, and related topics as they correspond to the collections of the Archives and Rare Books Library. Special topics include how to stay awake while reading, the effects of caffeine on sleep cycles, and the role of dreams in literature and discourse, from ancient Egypt, to Christianity, to Native American visionary experience, to science and psychology. Excerpts from the web exhibit will soon be featured on this blog.


FIX prepares market for automated bond trading
FIX Protocol Limited, a provider of messaging standards, has published guidelines for the electronic trading of fixed income ahead of new regulations that will lead to greater automation of bond trading.
The guidance has been formed to help market participants establish cost effective connectivity to the growing number of bond trading platforms that are being launched across Europe and the US. They include recommendations on using FIX standards to support bond trading on request-for-quote, central limit order book or quote-driven markets developed by existing and emerging venues, broker-dealers and market makers.
The launch of new bond trading venues is a response to regulations like Basel III and MiFID II, which will make it more costly for banks to offer bond liquidity. The rules will shift an asset class that has traditionally been voice-traded into a venue-driven trading environment.
"This initiative is expected to play a significant role in the evolution of bond trading," commented Sassan Danesh, co-chair of the FIX global fixed income committee and managing partner of ETrading Software. "In recent years this market has witnessed massive change and as it becomes increasingly electronic encouraging the use of FIX will be vital to its success."
The latest FIX guidelines follow a similar best practice document that included recommendations for swap execution facilities (SEFs) offering trading in credit derivatives and interest rate swaps.
SEFs are a category of market emanating from the US' widespread reform of OTC derivatives markets under the Dodd-Frank Act. The rules will require trading of swaps on exchange-like platforms in addition to central clearing obligations, where possible. The Commodity and Futures Trading Commission is expected to unveil the final rules governing SEFs in the coming weeks.


We begin this show with some reflections from addiction specialist
Gabor Maté. His talk, "Who We Are When We Are Not Addicted: The Possible Human" is a personal reflection which draws from his book 'In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts'. Going beyond specific medical and psychological insights relating to addiction, he presents a bigger picture of human potential which echoing points made by
Charles Eisenstein in his
Ascent of Humanity (read in
episode 463). Maté notes that the skin encapsulated ego is a mere state of mind - albeit an almost all pervasive one in modern society. He outlines a deep hunger, a painful inner void which is deeply but generally not consciously experienced, and which fuels people's addictive consumption, whether of drugs or consumer goods. He suggests that instead this could be filled by connection to the world around us.We start our second hour with a light-hearted reference to people's gnawing sense of insecurity, disconnection and the feeling that the world is going to pot around them, Tony Hendra's 1972 satirical spoken poem,
Deteriorata . Then we hear a radio adaptation of the 2009 film,
Consumed - The Human Experience. This film applies evolutionary psychology to understand
consumerism.
Music: Deteriorata by National Lampoon The film, Consumed - The Human Experience, makes some claims about the uniqueness of homo sapiens which are directly contradicted by episode 606. Episode 588, also featuring Gabor Maté, tackles similar themes, but focuses specifically on children.. ★ Start a Discussion about this episode (
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WaterProfessionals® Service Option Operational – Maintenance Survey Application: In some cases, facility maintenance personnel take care of routine day-to-day service and maintenance needs of water and wastewater treatment systems but may not have the time or the skill set to thoroughly evaluate system operation vs. design specifications. Turnover or transfer of facility personnel can result in preventative maintenance programs receiving inadequate attention, resulting in expensive downtime and costly repairs. The operational – maintenance survey, typically conducted monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, assures the system is thoroughly evaluated by a qualified water treatment professional on a periodic basis. Description: An experienced WaterProfessionals® technician conducts a walkthrough of the system following a customized checklist while examining each component, recording all pertinent operational data and noting any operational or maintenance deficiencies. Ideally, during the walkthrough, he is accompanied by a facility equipment operator and / or maintenance person. Following the visit, a report is completed and forwarded electronically to management. Deficiencies and corrective action are spelled out. Advantages:
Minimal cost – since parts and labor for repairs are not included, the survey cost is predictable and affordable. Flexible – if deficiencies are noted, a decision can be made on a case-by-case basis to handle in-house or to engage the WaterProfessionals® to effect repairs. Continuity – if operators leave or are transferred, the continuity of system operation and maintenance is maintained. Training – if the operator or assigned maintenance person accompanies the WaterProfessionals® Service Tech, on-going training in system operation and maintenance is achieved. Minimal Downtime – by identifying factors that could lead to incipient failure, preventative action can be taken, thus minimizing unexpected downtime. Industrial Water > Operational Maintenance Survey << you are here


Mikkilineni and Weinstock1 gave an excellent review of the usefulness of mole self-counting by patients. It would seem that this is especially useful when done by individuals in their second to fourth decades of life. However, the risk for melanoma of any patient must be considered within the context of the patient's genetic heritage, which offers an entry point into the patient's kindred for preventive cancer care.
From this inheritance perspective, the total-body mole count can have multiple interpretations of cancer risks depending on different histories of cancer in kindreds. After establishing that the patient (proband) has an abnormally high total-body mole count, the next steps in the kindred investigation include obtaining medical histories of (1) the presence or absence of atypical nevi in the proband, including previously removed moles; (2) the occurrence of any melanoma in the proband, including intraocular melanoma; (3) the occurrences of the 3 cutaneous phenotypes (atypical nevi, abnormally high mole counts, and melanomas) in first- and second-degree relatives; and (4) the presence of other primary systemic cancer phenotypes in the kindred. Depending on the collected data, a small pedigree may need investigation beyond second-degree relatives. It is imperative that the presence or absence of pertinent phenotypes be documented (by medical records and pathology and/or autopsy reports). Any cancer occurrence should be recorded with a specific cancer diagnosis and the pedigree position, sex, and age of the patient at recognition of the cancer.


Family Farming in the 1970s In the 1970s, the typical landscape of small, family dairy farming in Northern California was shifting. Over the previous two decades, the region had experienced a significant loss of farming acreage and the number of small family farms was in sharp decline.
Larger dairies, some with up to 5,000 cows, began to appear. Small family farms traditionally grazed their cows on pasture, but larger operations, which relied on purchased feeds and a chemically and technologically driven agricultural system, pressured family farms to follow suit.
Farming practices that took advantage of large economies of scale changed the price structure for milk in ways that were detrimental, and sometimes adversarial, to family farming and did not reflect the real economic costs of dairy farming.
It was during that time, in the mid 1970s, that Albert Straus returned to his family’s dairy farm, after completing his Bachelor’s degree in Dairy Sciences at California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly) in San Luis Obispo.
He took over the management of the dairy with his father and quickly realized that innovative solutions were needed to secure the future of family farming in California and to maintain good stewardship of the land.


Healthcare preferences among lesbians: a focus group analysis Article comments At the time of publication, Jennifer Tjia was not yet affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Abstract OBJECTIVE: The healthcare needs of lesbians are not well understood. We sought to characterize lesbians' experiences with, and preferences for, women's healthcare.
METHODS: We conducted three age-stratified focus groups (18-29, 30-50, and >50 years) with a total of 22 participants using a semistructured interview guide to elicit lesbians' experiences and preferences. We analyzed transcripts of these audiotaped sessions using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. Community-dwelling women who self-identified as lesbian and responded to advertisements were selected on first-come basis.
RESULTS: Participants voiced experiences and preferences for healthcare that emerged into three themes: desired models of care, desired processes of care, and desired patient-provider relationship. Each theme was further developed into multiple subthemes. Within the subthemes we identified issues that were specific to lesbians and those that were general women's health issues. Participants preferred, but did not always receive, care that is comprehensive in scope, person centered, nondiscriminatory, and inclusive of them as lesbians.
CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare providers, institutions, and society should adopt an inviting, person-centered approach toward lesbians seeking healthcare, assure them access to healthcare information, and establish healthcare delivery systems that take all aspects of health into account.
Suggested Citation Margaret R. Seaver, Karen M. Freund, Leslie M. Wright, Jennifer Tjia, and Susan M. Frayne. "Healthcare preferences among lesbians: a focus group analysis" Journal of women's health (2002) 17.2 (2008). Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jennifer_tjia/25


Creating a Climate of Engagement in a Blended Learning Environment. Abstract This article describes the conversational interactions of one online learning group whose task was to identify themes of human development from life histories of the group members. The data were analyzed by a research team using the hermeneutic circle, which involves continually looking at parts of the text in light of the meaning of the larger text, returning to the parts and then back again to the larger whole. A climate of engagement emerged from the data analysis as the overarching theme capturing the essence of the participants' online interactions. Four aspects were found to constitute this climate of engagement: engaging in the online environment; engaging in dialogue; engaging as a group; and engaging in the content. A dialogue pattern connected the four aspects. The authors propose a model of engagement that captures the dynamic nature of these participants' interactions and suggest implications for research and practice.
Suggested Citation Trena M. Paulus, Mary Ziegler, and Marianne Woodside. "Creating a Climate of Engagement in a Blended Learning Environment." Journal of Interactive Learning Research 17.3 (2006): 295-318.


Writing Your Will What do I have to do to make my will legally valid? After you’ve drawn up your will, you must take the formal legal step of executing the will. This requires having at least two witnesses who have no potential conflict of interest. As a general rule, the witnesses watch you sign and each witness then signs in the presence of the other. If your will is executed in a lawyer’s office, two other attorneys or support staff might serve as witnesses.
A valid will also requires that:
you are of legal age, 18 in most states; you are mentally competent, i.e., that you know you are executing your will and know the general nature and extent of your property and your descendants or other relatives who would be expected to share in your estate; the will must have a substantive provision that disposes of your property and must indicate your intent to make the document your final word on what happens to your property; with rare exceptions, such as imminent death, the will must be written; you must sign the will unless illness, accident, or illiteracy prevents it, in which case you can designate someone to sign for you in your presence; your signature must be witnessed by at least two adults who understand that they are witnessing a will and are competent to testify in court. If your will doesn’t meet all of these conditions, it might be disallowed by a court and your estate might be distributed according to state law instead.
>>Why should I go to the trouble of writing a will?
>>What happens if I die without a will? >>What is a video will?>>What do I have to do to make my will legally valid? >>Can I leave my property to anyone I wish? >>Can I disinherit my spouse and children?


Clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPI) with stenting in the setting of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in reducing adverse cardiac outcomes. This study assessed the association between a strategy of routine GPI use and the prevention of adverse cardiac outcomes post-PCI at a large tertiary care institution. Patients who underwent a first PCI at the institution from April 1994 to March 2001 were divided into three cohorts: pre-GPI + selected stent use (P1), selected GPI + routine stent use (P2), and routine GPI + routine stent use (P3). A multiple logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate different strategy periods, with the rate of in-hospital myocardial infarction, death or abrupt closure as the primary composite endpoint.
The cohort consisted of 7,702 patients: 2,621 in P1, 3,501 in P2, and 1,580 in P3. GPI use increased from 0% in P1 to 17.5% in P2 and 91.0% in P3. There was a significant difference in the unadjusted composite endpoint between the three periods (4.9% vs. 3.4% vs. 2.6%, respectively for P1, P2, P3; p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, the composite endpoint was significantly greater in P1 and P2 as compared to P3 (OR [P1 vs. P3] = 2.61, p<0.0001; OR [P2 vs. P3] = 1.55, p=0.0204).
The study found a significant reduction in adverse in-hospital clinical cardiac events observed in association with the strategy of routine use of GPI therapy and stenting in a large consecutive PCI cohort after adjusting for potentially confounding patient characteristics.


Pyrethrins, natural extracts of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium and Chrysanthemum cocineum flowers, and pyrethroids, synthetic analogues and derivatives of pyrethrins, are powerful insecticides. They are widely used in households and insect control in pets or livestock, in textiles such as carpets, wallpapers, furniture and clothes, as well as in agriculture, forestry and public health services. This article brings a list of pyrethrin and pyrethroid insecticides registered for use in plant protection in Croatia. Pyrethrins and pyrethroids can enter the organism by ingestion (accidental or suicidal ingestion or in food), by inhalation and/or by skin contact. Although these pesticides pose a relatively low risk to mammals due to rapid metabolism with no significant accumulation, they can induce adverse health effects, more often in acute poisoning, but also due to chronic exposure. The primary target of pyrethrin and pyrethroid toxicity is the nervous system, since they act directly on the sodium channels of nerve cell axons, leading to hyperexcitation. Another important toxicological mechanism is allergenicity, which is more pronounced with pyrethrins than with synthetic pyrethroids. Because there is no antidote for pyrethrin and pyrethroid poisoning, treatment is symptomatic and supportive. The article discusses the measures for poisoning prevention and alleviation of exposure to pyrethrins and pyrethroids in occupational settings and in general population.


Nerve damage is a very common side effect of many current cancer treatments, limiting the amount of treatment that patients can receive and often resulting in irreversible damage, leaving patients with life-long neurological symptoms including pain, numbness, weakness and difficulty walking. The mechanisms underlying this nerve damage are not understood and there are currently no established treatments or preventative strategies. This project aims to investigate possible strategies for protecting nerves from the toxic effects of chemotherapy using nerve excitability testing to monitor the nerves. A potential neuroprotective treatment strategy being explored is riluzole.


Background A number of converging factors influenced and directed the development of the Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network (NSHEN). Increasing attention to ethics in accreditation, for example, was putting pressure on District Health Authorities and the IWK Health Centre to find appropriate ways to meet these standards. At the same time, the Department of Health (now the Department of Health and Wellness) expressed interest in developing ethics-informed decision-making frameworks for key projects. And, correspondingly, the Dalhousie University Department of Bioethics was receiving an increasing number of requests for ethics support which were beginning to exceed its capacity to respond.
In 2005, these converging factors lead to the establishment of a provincial working group with representatives from the District Health Authorities, IWK Health Centre and the Department of Health and Wellness. Dr. Christy Simpson and Dr. Jeff Kirby with the Department of Bioethics were invited by the working group to develop a model for provincial ethics support. It was clearly acknowledged by all that a workable model would establish common and consistent approaches to ethics, where appropriate, and be able to reflect the common and unique contexts within the province.
In June 2007, the Council of CEOs, the Deputy Minister for the Department of Health (now the Department of Health and Wellness), and the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for the Department of Bioethics signed a Memorandum of Understanding which created the Nova Scotia Health Ethics Network. As such, the network represents a unique collaboration in the province between academia, the health regions, and the Department of Health.
In November 2007, the NSHEN Advisory Council was formally established, with Lewis Bedford as the Chair. This signified the effective transition of NSHEN from concept, through implementation, and ultimately, to operations, effective January 3, 2008.


Divide and conquer Juggling multiple tasks may seem productive, but the quality of your work could suffer. "The prefrontal cortex, a region critical to processing info, is optimally designed to do one thing at a time," explains Adam Gazzaley, M.D., director of the neuroscience imaging center at the University of California at San Francisco. "Think of it as the bouncer at the nightclub of your brain: He's paid to let in one guest at a time. If they rush the door, things get chaotic." Dr. Gazzaley suggests that when something requires high performance and focus, shut out distractions. Log out of social-networking sites and email, and turn off your phone. Once you've aced the task, feel free to share your success with friends on your Facebook wall.


To each of us, work has a different meaning. It may provide an identity, self-esteem, financial security, health coverage, and fulfillment. The loss of an occupation can be a source of anxiety and depression (Peteet, 2000). Continuing or returning to the workplace allows many patients to maintain a sense of normalcy or control.
According to DeBoer (2009), cancer survivors are 1.4 times more likely to be unemployed than healthy people. A meta-analysis showed that the risk of unemployment is 37 percent higher for cancer survivors compared to healthy individuals. This higher rate of unemployment has negative social and economic impact on patients and on society at large.
Experiences of cancer survivors and supervisors regarding returning to work after cancer were assessed in focus groups and identified that support from colleagues and supervisors aids in returning to work (DeBoer). Interventions are needed to address the plan to return to work. These may include:
The topic should be addressed early on by the oncology nurse as part of the normal consultation. The aim of this meeting is to list potential problems concerning returning to work and to plan the interventions that best suit the individual patient.
Subsequent meetings may include guidance regarding the best way to inform colleagues and supervisors about the patient's illness and to keep them informed during treatment and aftercare. This step is most important as the employer needs to know about the plan to return. I found it helpful to communicate via email to my superior. It allowed me to ensure that she was aware of my physical status, plans to return, and tentative schedule.
The patient should be advised to contact the HR department to discuss legal aspects such as a medical leave, impact of FMLA (Family Medical Leave), and any relevant contractual issues affecting employment.
Discuss the process of returning to work. How is the patient feeling? Do schedules need to be changed to accommodate fatigue or ongoing treatments?
While returning to work is an individual decision, patients should be provided the opportunity to consider all options. Depending on the particular aspects of the job, are there restrictions? How will the patient manage exposure to infections, episodes of reduced white blood counts, fatigue, and schedule for chemotherapy and physician visits?
From a personal perspective, I have been able to return to work after the incapacitating fatigue subsided with the completion of the Bendamustine cycles. My colleagues and supervisors were updated on an ongoing basis and I was provided the much needed support and care during this most difficult transition. My work provides great satisfaction and allows me to appreciate life.
It is strongly recommended that clinicians address work-related concerns directly and appreciate the significance of this issue to their patients. Is this issue identified in your practice? Can you share strategies to support our patients?
References:
DeBoer A, Taskila, T. (2009) Cancer survivors and unemployment- A meta-Analysis and meta-regression. Journal American Medical Association.301:753-762. doi:10.1001/jama2009.187.
Peteet, JR. (2000) Cancer and the meaning of work. General Hospital Psychiatry.May-June:22(3):200-5.


Lind, Amy.
Lind (women and gender studies, Univ. of Virginia) begins by correctly noting that while studies of Ecuador's strong social movements have focused a good deal of attention on indigenous actors, scholars have slighted the roles of women. Nevertheless, much like indigenous peoples, women confronted the 1980s debt crisis and similarly became significant new political actors in the struggle against neoliberal economic policies. Over the past 25 years, these policies have hit women particularly hard and exacerbated gender inequalities. Lind argues that women's interests are best served by directly challenging existing development strategies and forwarding concrete alternatives. By introducing gender, the author provides an important corrective to understanding how social movements engage, negotiate, and challenge government policies. She excels at painting a big picture of understanding the role of gender in nongovernmental organizations, globalization, and development policies. While those interested in women's studies will want to read this book, its message is perhaps more urgent for those who do not typically study gender, in order to understand better how it interacts with race and class to foster systems of domination.


Building a foundation for advanced study is explored in the context of professionalism and scholarship. Strategies for promoting professional development while preparing for future roles as nurse scholars and nurse scientists are examined. Students are introduced to a model of scholarship that includes discovery, integration, application, and teaching. Issues associated with scientific integrity in academics, research and services are identified and examined. Prerequisite: Admission to the Doctoral Program. LEC View current sections...


The other morning, as I was reading articles in my computer room, I heard a woman scream. Immediately, my attention was wrested away from my writing, I sat up straight, and waited in silence, listening for any clues that someone was in danger. My heart began to race. (more…)
30. January 2011 I can still vividly remember walking through run-down Neapolitan suburbs (or, the closest they could get to them, anyway) as a seventeen-year old, firmly within the grasp of an LSD trip. As I walked through the tall, unkempt grass and weeds, they brushed against my knees as though greeting me with a handshake. The summer sun was looking down upon me, and the rays felt as though they were shining into my body, as though I was illuminated, and radiating life back into the universe. Though I usually noticed the garbage on the messy Italian streets, that day it seemed less prominent, if not unnoticeable, and nature’s technicolor vibrance jumped from objects which would have been previously considered not only ordinary, but drab. I was, at least I felt, as though totally connected with reality, as though something that I had lost along the way had suddenly been found, and I was home. (more…)
23. January 2011 Last year, I learned that the CIA had directly participated in a scheme against Osama Bin Laden, involving the use of fabricated video evidence. Their fake video, consisting of a campfire drinking session, was intended to destroy Bin Laden’s credibility with devout Muslims, by making it appear as though he had been breaking Sharia Law. And if the drinking wasn’t enough to turn Osama’s followers against him, “Osama” spent his time in the video bragging about homosexual conquests. (more…)
4. January 2011 Must an increase in empathy signal a decrease in law?
Let us consider, for a moment, that someone has wronged you by stealing your car. When the person is caught by police, you have the option to press charges, but then discover that your neighbor–whose wife is dying from cancer, after they both lost their jobs–stole your car out of desperation to rush to meet her in the hospital, since he thought she was about to die. Begging your forgiveness with tears in his eyes, the man sinks to his knees in court, clasps his hands together, and looks at you directly. At this moment, moved with compassion, in an act of mercy you allow the man to walk free.
Compassion, then, is our friend. A placing of ourselves in the shoes of others, imagining their hardship and deciding–in some particular instance, to side with them, to recognize that had you been in their position, you would have been desperate as well. And this empathy, in many cases, is noble. (more…)
1. January 2011 It’s not uncommon, these days, to see misinformed Christians parading around in favor of pacifism, as though Christianity demands that Christians can’t defend their families, as though we as a society must abandon moral stances, capital punishment, self-defense, and our right to bear arms. Going even further, some ignorant Christians even seek establishment of hate speech legislation, believing that dangerous ideologies shouldn’t be morally challenged or honestly discussed in public. As a Christian, few beliefs irk me more than these.
Fortunately, if we take a close look at Jesus’ teachings, quite the opposite can be proven about His commandments. For instance, one of the most widely-bungled teachings of Christ concerns the concept of forgiveness and non-retaliation, as most clearly stated in Matthew 5:38-42: (more…)


What many people lack in the kitchen is not the desire to cook, but the skills necessary to get cooking.
Knife skills, or more specifically the lack thereof, can be an enormous roadblock.
When watching a cooking show, do you often think, "Who has all that time to cut that stuff up?" Or "It's easy for them, they're professionals." Or "My knives are so dull, I hate using them."


I usually come home with a bouquet of herbs, a bag full of greens and a mind full of wondering why my own vegie patch is nothing more than a cluster of weeds. I think I've inherited the "green thumb" but I'm definitely hindered by time. At least that's my excuse. It seems that growing herbs, cherry toms and snow peas on my balcony is not a problem but wandering down the stairs and into my back garden is.
So, it was with serendipitous fortune that I read Greener at the Grassroots in a recent issue of the Sydney Morning Herald (a complimentary gift with my homeshop delivery).
"If it's important to you, you'll find the energy for it. It becomes less of a chore and more of a lifestyle...the rhythm of making things becomes a joy."
I stuck the article and it's accompanying photo on my fridge and every day I'm reminded of Annie's words of comforting wisdom.
My vegie patch isn't visible just yet, but my intention is blossoming, abundantly so.
The rhythm of dreaming, planning and foreseeing is a joy in itself.


The deadline has been extended for the Dow Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge Awards (SISCA). Graduate students from Penn State are encouraged to join an international field of universities that are involved in the program.
The five finalists will be chosen based on criteria that includes a proposal that has clearly articulated a new and innovative concept; demonstrates balance of social, economic, and environmental success; and has the potential for significant societal benefits and sustainability impact.
Student competitors can network with leaders and peers in global sustainability, join a reputable network of SISCA alumni, display their work with various external sustainability media and receive monetary prizes. Each finalist will receive a $1,000 stipend toward the development of a final entry. The overall winner of the competition will win $10,000 and the runner-up will win $2,500.
The extended deadline date is now Sept 28. To submit a team proposal for the competition, complete the online form at http://www.cfs.psu.edu/SISCA-entry.aspx online.


Lucintel's Analysis of Global Glass Fiber Textiles Industry: Market to Reach US $4 Billion by 2017
The global glass fiber textile industry experienced significant growth in 2011 and is expected to continue that trend, reaching approximately $4 billion in 2017 with a CAGR of 7 % over the next five years.
Corpus Christi, TX (1888PressRelease) December 12, 2012 - Economic recession and the downturn in the key market segments in 2009 caused the market to decline in 2009 compared to 2008; in 2010, however, the market witnessed double-digit growth over 2009 followed by 8.9% in 2011.
Lucintel, a leading global management consulting and market research firm, has analyzed the global carbon fiber market and presents its findings in "Global Glass Fiber Textile Market 2012-2017: Supply, Demand, and Opportunity Analysis."
Although volatility in fuel prices poses a challenge to the glass fiber textile industry, it is expected to meet this challenge. Demand for durable, lightweight, and non-corrosive components, coupled with lower prices of glass fiber textile (GFT) compared to competing materials is anticipated to drive growth through 2017.
Lucintel's research indicates that as a competitor to traditional materials such as iron, steel and aluminum, GFT has gained favor among equipment manufacturers for superior performance. The growth rate of the GFTs differed across the various market segments based on price versus performance criteria and its level of penetration in the particular application.
Lucintel expects higher market fragmentation in the future and increasingly competitive markets are likely to emerge. Companies with innovative capabilities are anticipated to thrive and gain market share. The aerospace, marine, and wind energy industries are expected to experience healthy growth during 2012-2017. Significant differences in growth potential among the application markets and regions exist, and yield better-than-average returns for suppliers that are best positioned accordingly. In the long term, the glass fiber textiles industry is a sustainable industry with good growth potential.
The report, which provides trend scenarios and forecast statistics for 2012-2017; details industry drivers and challenges; and highlights glass fiber market by product, applications and regions. The study also describes various glass fiber properties, manufacturing processes, and provides additional insight into this growing industry.
For a detailed table of contents and pricing information on this timely, insightful report, contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or via email at helpdesk ( @ ) lucintel dot com. Lucintel provides cutting-edge decision support services that facilitate critical decisions with greater speed, insight, and cost efficiency. To learn more, visit www.lucintel.com. ###
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A company's Director of Sales is responsible for conceiving and implementing sales strategies for its products and services to be sold on the market. The role requires developing strong relationships with customers and analyzing the market for growth opportunities. While some days are spent in the office, other days involve meeting with customers, attending trade shows or visiting other branches of the company.
Skill Sets: A Director of Sales is an accomplished negotiator with excellent people skills. Exemplary written and verbal communication skills are also necessary for this position. The Director of Sales must be effective under pressure and have a proven ability to analyze and exploit a market's potential.
Education: Employers generally prefer a bachelor's degree at a minimum, with a master's degree required for the most desired positions available. Business degrees will typically be an employer's first choice, but a related discipline might suffice, depending on the company's needs.
Career Path: Entry level experience in a sales department or marketing role helps prepare professionals for a Director of Sales position. Pursue a degree in a relevant discipline, but also consider membership in a marketing and sales association for experience networking and exposure to current sales trends.


However, when the parents appealed the judgment in the Alabama Supreme Court, the decision was reversed. This reversal occurred because, according to the court, the parents’ right to raise their children may not be undercut by a judge in a visitation rights case unless a judge has already determined that the parents were "unfit."
However, certain contingencies indicate that grandparents do, in fact, have visitation rights. Cordell & Cordell Atlanta Divorce Attorney Andrea Johnson stresses that even though grandparents don’t have immediate visitation rights, they do have the right to ask the court for visitation.
A visitation action can only be filed when the parents are unmarried or divorced. The grandparents must also show evidence that the health or welfare of the child is at risk unless this visitation is granted.
Grandparents are limited to filing no more than one visitation action in a two-year period. Parents can file to reverse this action once in a two-year period.
Read Related Article: Denying Fathers Rights To Visitation According to a DadsDivorce.com article on grandparents' rights, all states do not recognize these rights. For example, in Missouri, many factors determine if a court will grant visitation rights to grandparents:
The parents have divorced. One parent is deceased and the other denies their visitation rights. The child lives with the grandparent for at least six months within a 2-year time period of filing. The grandparent has been denied visitation for more than 90 days without reason. The child is adopted by a stepparent, another grandparent or other blood relative. Even then, the court will question the measures the grandparents have taken to exercise their rights, and the court may consult with the child to determine the best interest of the child.
If you would like to inquire about grandparents rights in your state, please contact a Cordell & Cordell lawyer near you.
By Tara Brewer Special to MensRights.com


Regeneration of the thymus is a critical function that allows for renewal of immune competence following stress, infection or immunodepletion caused by cytoreductive chemo- or radiation therapy. The mechanisms governing this regeneration remain poorly understood. However, thymic renewal in all (but particularly in adult) patients can be a prolonged process that significantly impairs the recovery of adaptive immunity following cytoreductive therapy and subsequently leads to an increase in opportunistic infections and higher treatment-associated morbidity and mortality. Hence one of the most significant clinical challenges is the need for rapid regeneration of thymopoiesis following induced immunodepletion and transplantation. Understanding the processes involved in endogenous thymic repair will allow for the clinical exploitation of strategies for therapeutic thymic regeneration.
We have recently identified an endogenous network of thymic regeneration whereby 1) injury to the thymus, and in particular the depletion of CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) thymocytes triggers 2) upregulation of Interleukin-23 (IL-23) by a subset of thymic dendritic cells (tDCs), which induces 3) the production of IL-22 by a type of innate lymphoid cells called lymphoid tissue-inducer cells (LTi). This cascade of events leads to IL-22-mediated regeneration of the supporting thymic epithelial cell (TEC) microenvironment and, ultimately, to rejuvenation of thymopoiesis.
Several interesting areas of future study have arisen from this initial discovery including 1) exploring the mechanisms of thymic damage that trigger this regenerative network, 2) the clinical translation of IL-22 as a potential regenerative therapy to boost immune function and 3) the role of IL-22 in age-related thymic involution.


Many of California's environmental initiatives outside of the cap-and-trade program have grabbed national headlines and even served as models for other states, regions and the federal government. This session will look at these initiatives, including energy efficiency and renewables, clean vehicles and transportation, and will include discussion of U.S. EPA actions to address climate change.
Sarah Rizk is an Environmental Scientist in the Clean Energy and Climate Change Office at the Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9. In this position, she works with a broad range of partners on reducing greenhouse gases through voluntary action. Sarah’s research focuses on the intersection between climate and health benefits. Her recent work quantifies the monetary health impacts of fossil fuel energy and analyzes policy pathways for reducing black carbon from diesel vehicles, drawing from existing regulatory policies. Sarah holds a M.S. and a B.S. in Earth Systems from Stanford University.


Bacterial entry is a multistep process triggering a complex network, yet the molecular complexity of this network remains largely unsolved. By employing a systems biology approach, we reveal a systemic bacterial-entry network initiated by Chlamydia pneumoniae, a widespread opportunistic pathogen. The network consists of nine functional modules (i.e., groups of proteins) associated with various cellular functions, including receptor systems, cell adhesion, transcription, and endocytosis. The peak levels of gene expression for these modules change rapidly during C. pneumoniae entry, with cell adhesion occurring at 5 min postinfection, receptor and actin activity at 25 min, and endocytosis at 2 h. A total of six membrane proteins (chemokine C-X-C motif receptor 7 [CXCR7], integrin beta 2 [ITGB2], platelet-derived growth factor beta polypeptide [PDGFB], vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM1], and GTP binding protein overexpressed in skeletal muscle [GEM]) play a key role during C. pneumoniae entry, but none alone is essential to prevent entry. The combination knockdown of three genes (coding for CXCR7, ITGB2, and PDGFB) significantly inhibits C. pneumoniae entry, but the entire network is resistant to the six-gene depletion, indicating a resilient network. Our results reveal a complex network for C. pneumoniae entry involving at least six key proteins.


Have you ever felt weak during workout, or you can move anymore during cardio? You might think you low carbs diet is perfect for fat burning. However, too little carbohydrate will hurt your workout.
Carbohydrate is your primary energy source. It should be around 50% of your calories intake. A low carbs diet can also make you feel carving all the time. You feel weak if you starve and you end up eating more. A balance meal is a must for your diet plan. Make sure your meal is in the right proportion (30-40% from protein, 50-60% from carbs and around 10 to 20% from fat. Also, eat every three hours to maintain your blood sugar level. Eating right will eliminate your low energy, craving and injury potential.


You might be a pro at maintaining your cuticles and keeping your nails clean, but do you know how to apply nail polish properly? If you're constantly finding your home manicure chipping after just two or three days, you might need to revamp your strategy. Here are a few key tips for making sure your nails look as beautiful as the day you painted them at the end of the work week.
1. Apply more than one coat If you don't have time to apply more than one coat of polish, wait until you do! Multiple coats are essential to ensuring that your nails stay colorful for an extended period of time.2. Use a top coat A clear top coat is crucial once you're finished using a colored polish. This can make your nails more durable and keep the polish on them for longer.3. Reapply protection daily It might take a little extra effort, but Become Gorgeous states that adding an extra layer of clear top coat every day can ensure that your manicure stays in place.By taking these three tips into account, you'll have beautiful nails to show off without chips or peeling for a longer period of time.


Abstract:In this paper we determine the optimal combination of taxes on money, consumption and income in transactions technology models. We show that the optimal policy does not tax money, regardless of whether the government can use the income tax, the consumption tax, or the two taxes jointly. These results are at odds with recent literature. We argue that the reason for this divergence is an inappropriate specification of the transactions technology adopted in the literature. JEL Classification: E31; E41; E58; E62.


Supports healthy thyroid function Iodine is absorbed by the thyroid gland and supports the formation of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones have the ability to cross cell membranes, thereby supporting all cells of the body. In the cell, they promote metabolic function by enhancing mitochondrial activity and enzyme synthesis, especially in tissues and organs such as muscle and the liver. Pure Encapsulations Iodine provides natural support for the thyroid gland, helping to maintain proper cellular metabolism.
60 Capsules.


Abstract: The aim of this dissertation is to examine gender differences in salutogenic functioning in military deployment.
Salutogenisis focuses on the origin of health and wellness, and the salutogenic constructs sense of coherence (SOC), hardiness (PVS) and self-efficacy (SES) which were conceptualised focus on how individuals handle stressors positively and still remain healthy. Gender differences in military deployment were discussed, focusing on different stressors that impact on individuals' functioning when deployed.
Empirically the salutogenic constructs: SOC, PVS and SES were measured. The population consisted of males and females working at 7 SAI Phalaborwa who were deployed in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Statistical techniques were applied to determine differences between males and females. The data was analysed statistically using the SPSS programme. Statistical significance was found in the SOC sub-scale "meaningfulness" and the PVS sub-scales "commitment" and "challenge".


Welcome to the April 2009 issue Inside view from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector Ofsted has a tradition of recognising and celebrating providers of outstanding care, education and skills. Each year, for example, along with our annual report, we publish a list of the providers found outstanding in the previous 12 months. A more recent tradition has been the celebratory lunches we give for outstanding providers. I have enjoyed these lunches as much as ever this year; it is always a pleasure to meet so many hard-working, dedicated professionals.
A report Ofsted published in February showcases 12 outstanding providers, secondary schools in challenging circumstances that have been judged ‘outstanding’ in at least two inspections. The schools featured come from across England and defy the association of disadvantage with low standards. They serve communities where students come from poor urban backgrounds and an above average proportion receives free school meals. They are straightforward maintained schools, included on merit without any evident advantages except the quality of their leadership, their staff, and the teaching and learning provided in them.


Federal taxes withheld from employees' pay, the employer's share of FICA, and the employer's FUTA payment must be timely deposited, by cash, check or electronically with an authorized federal depositary institution. Income and FICA taxes are deposited on a monthly or semiweekly schedule, depending on a look-back rule. Accumulated income and FICA taxes of $100,000 or more are deposited the next banking day.
Mandatory electronic deposits are required for employers whose accumulated federal taxes exceed certain monetary thresholds. FUTA taxes are deposited quarterly on a per-employee wage base of $7,000. Due to these timing considerations, taxes are deposited long before any tax returns are filed. Employers file quarterly tax returns, Form 941, to reconcile the income and FICA taxes withheld from employees' pay. FUTA taxes are reconciled annually on Form 940.
Two deposit schedules — monthly or semiweekly — ap...(register to read more)


The Indian Oil Corporation Limited awarded a contract to AUMA for its Naphtha Cracker and Polymer complex. The Naphtha Cracker project is widely viewed as representing the cornerstone of Indian Oil's entry into petrochemicals. Actuators from AUMA's established range of modular products were supplied to the scheme located in the Northern Indian state of Haryana.
With a capacity of 800000MT/year of ethylene production, the Naphtha installation required 75 actuators for valve control. The major scale installation confirms AUMA's ability to support blue-chip schemes. The project is also an excellent illustration of the actuator manufacturer's partnership approach - by working closely with the corporation, AUMA identified that both hard wired and bus technology were required, backed by master station support.
All actuators were supplied with control modules suitable for MODBUS RTU protocol. Additionally, SIMA master stations and hot standby master station with loop technology were provided. ESD functionality has also been achieved through hardwired operation.
The master stations in redundant configuration communicate through MODBUS RTU protocol with Yokogawa DCS CS 3000. AUMA also provided PCs to monitor the actuators' functions via the SIMA master stations.
AUMA South Africa has secured a contract for the company's new Generation.2 actuators with Petro SA, formerly MOSSGASS.
Products from the new actuator range will be installed in an air separation plant built by Linde Air.
The plant has exclusively used AUMA actuators since it was built in 1990. With 24-7 operation, the actuation technology provides essential support ensuring effective valve control. The upgrade took place as existing equipment came to the end of its life cycle.
Petro SA, which has been a long standing adopter of AUMA's actuation solutions, highlighted reliability and service as two key reasons for continuing to adopt the company's electric actuator solutions.
The evolution to AUMA's Generation.2 products will be done during planned maintenance outages. AUMA reports that its new Generation.2 multi-turn actuator range SA 07.2 - 16.2 and actuator controls AC 01.2 follow its modular design ethos which ensures an easy upgrade.
Designed to cater for existing market needs, and next generation requirements, capabilities of AUMA's new product series include the integration of field devices into Asset Management systems. A number of enhanced features have been introduced and functionality of the range has been expanded, while retaining proven design principles.
AUMA's new Generation.2 devices, both actuators and controls, are fully compatible with the company's previous products - this ensures low-risk investment and ensures that AUMA stays at the forefront of technology.
The new AUMA multi-turn actuator type range Generation.2 has been on the market since the beginning of last year. AUMA presented the version for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (II2G Ex de IIC T4) at the Valve World Conference for the first time in November 2010.
Enhanced functionality provided in the Generation.2 range that are advancements over the company's original product series include extended lifetime, larger temperature range and improved corrosion protection.
Benefits for demanding applications include a new coating offering superior corrosion protection at highest mechanical resistance and a version for modulating duty offers an extended speed range/improved modulating accuracy.
Development focus for Generation.2 centred on improved handling and operation. An enlarged plug-in electrical connection provides improved connection facilities, a single motor plug/socket connection is incorporated and AUMA's proven handwheel activation was optimised.
Integral controls for Generation.2 actuators are equipped with Bluetooth interfaces. With the integration of torque, temperature and vibration sensors, new intelligent diagnostic functions supply significant actuator status information such as torque characteristics which can be captured at any time.
Actuator feedback signals can be classified according to NAMUR recommendation NE 107 and integrated into Asset Management systems. Full compatibility with the company's previous products is offered.
Features include:
- Torques: 10-1000 Nm.
- Output speeds for open-close and modulating actuators 4-180rpm.
- High IP enclosure protection.
- Explosion proof version available.
- High corrosion protection.
- Parallel interface to the DCS: up to 10 binary inputs;up to 12 output contacts; up to 2 analogue inputs and outputs.
- Interfaces to fieldbus systems Profibus DP-V2 and Modbus RTU, amongst others.
- Electrical connection via AUMA plug/socket connector with enlarged terminal compartment/cable entries.
A next step enhancement to support new generation communication technology is the introduction of a wireless interface.
Expertise in the oil and gas industries is reinforced in a new AUMA video detailing the company's competency in actuation technology. Endorsements and application details from users around the globe are provided on www.auma.com.
Enter √ at www.engineerlive.com/iog
Michael Herbstritt, Technical Author, is with AUMA Riester GmbH & Co KG, Muellheim, Germany. www.auma.com


Bred to deliver larger flowers, shorter peduncles and beefier looking plants, New Day gazania is more compact and offers better holdability at retail. Landscapers and consumers will appreciate this drought-tolerant series for its excellent performance in containers and baskets, as well as a garden edging or groundcover.
Use a well-drained, disease-free soilless media with a pH of 5.8 to 6.2 and a medium initial nutrient charge. Maintain night temperature at 55 to 60° F and day temperature at 65 to 70° F. Keep light levels as high as possible while maintaining the optimal temperatures.
Starting a week after transplant, apply fertilizer at a rate of 175- to 225-ppm nitrogen using a predominantly nitrate-form fertilizer with low phosphorous. Maintain the media EC at 1.5 to 2.0.
If plant growth regulation is needed, use B-Nine/Alar (daminozide) at 3,500 ppm to tone the crop. One application at two to three weeks after transplant will be sufficient.


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The Swing Speed Radar is a small, inexpensive microwave Doppler radar velocity sensor that measures the swing speed of golfers and baseball/softball players. It assists players in optimizing their swing by providing a convenient measure of their swing velocity as they strive to improve their performance. For baseball and softball, it measures the barrel of the bat, not the tip, out front in the hitting zone. Rugged, compact design makes it convenient to carry and use in the batting cage, on the practice field, or in your backyard.
Baseball and softball players train with it to also improve their distance without sacrificing bat control and contact consistency. Coaches enjoy the immediate feedback provided by the radar to reinforce instructions to "hit the ball out front". The Swing Speed Radar measures the barrel of the bat, not the tip, "out front" in the hitting zone. Used by Mike Candrea, Coach of the Arizona U 2006 NCAA FastPitch Champions and the U.S.A. National FPSB Team, and by prominent baseball coaches such as Jim Lefebvre, ex-Major League player, manager and hitting instructor, at his baseball school in Scottsdale, AZ.
How to Use It
To measure bat speed “out front”, in the hitting zone where batters are taught to hit the ball, the Swing Speed Radar can be positioned in front of the batter, or behind the batter. The most important consideration in using the Swing Speed Radar is to position it in the plane of the swing as the bat enters the hitting zone, similarly to positioning a ball at the desired height and location on a tee.
If the batter is swinging “in air” without a ball, the Swing Speed Radar can be located forward about six feet in front of the hitting zone, at the height of the bat swing through the hitting zone. The radar can be mounted on a tripod or hung on a net or fence, using the two snaphooks provided. The batter is now swinging toward the radar as though it were the ball coming from the pitcher. This is an ideal location for bat swing training.
If the batter is swinging at a ball on a tee, the Swing Speed Radar must be located behind the batter to prevent the batted ball from striking the radar and/or erroneous reading caused by the unpredictable ball flight from the tee. The radar should be about six feet behind the tee, facing the ball on the tee and at the height of the ball. The radar must be sufficiently rearward, where a catcher would ordinarily be positioned, to prevent it from being struck with the bat .In this location, the batter is swinging away from the radar. To accomplish this positioning, the Swing Speed Radar can be mounted on a tripod, or hung on a net or fence by using the two snaphooks.
Whether the Swing Speed Radar™ is located rearward or forward, it will measure the speed of the bat barrel in the hitting zone. When determining the energy imparted to the ball, the maximum exit velocity results from the ball being struck at or near the “sweet spot” of the bat, which can be about 4” to 6” from the bat tip. Therefore bat barrel velocity is more relevant to ball exit velocity, and ball flight distance, than bat tip speed, which will be about 15%-20% faster than the “sweet-spot” velocity. Thus a 60 mph average barrel velocity will correspond to a bat tip speed of about 70 mph. However, a batter doesn’t intentionally hit the ball with the bat tip—so measure bat barrel velocity with the Swing Speed Radar.
TIPS FOR USING THE SPEED SWING RADAR FOR BAT SELECTION


Jewish ecological discourse has shown that Judaism harbors deep concern for the well-being of the natural world. However, the movement has not articulated a Jewish theology of nature, nor has it submitted the sources of Judaism to a systematic, philosophical examination. This volume intends to contribute to the nascent discourse on Judaism and ecology by clarifying diverse conceptions of nature in Jewish thought and by using the insights of Judaism to formulate a constructive Jewish theology of nature. The twenty-one contributors consider the Bible and rabbinic literature, examine the relationship between the doctrine of creation and the doctrine of revelation in the context of natural law, and wrestle with questions of nature and morality. They look at nature in the Jewish mystical tradition, and they face the challenges to Jewish environmental activism caused by the tension between the secular nature of the environmental discourse and Jewish religious commitments.


Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.


Recording is regarded by most social workers as a necessary evil. The research from which this book arises found that recording is a highly complex and demanding aspect of professional practice. Why has such a critical activity received so little attention, despite the concerns over social work records identified with successive inquiries into tragic deaths? This highly topical book explores the often conflicting demands on social workers as they record information on the case files, and will stimulate a long overdue debate as to how to achieve more effective recording in social work.


Apologizing with Class
"Please forgive me because when I," not quite right yet, thought the mother, "Please forgive me because I forgot to pick up your child's papers after school yesterday. I was in such a hurry, it slipped my mind. I promise not to forget again."
"We regret we had to make change to," oops, that's wrong, thought the clerk, "we regret we had to change your travel arrangements on such short notice. We did not know you had already made further plans."
"We are making up excuses," no, that wasn't correct. The businessman scratched his head and thought. "Please excuse us for making an error on your charge account. We value your business and will see that your account is corrected."
Mistakes can be embarrassing, but apologizing with grace is an art worth learning. A graceful apology softens the error, perhaps earning forgiveness for you. The trick is matching the words to the mistake, while paying attention to the level of formality, detail, and intimacy necessary.
Some apologies begin with an acknowledgment an error was made. Formal statements may begin "we regret our mistake." Less formal, but standard statements might start "We are sorry." Very informal, slangy statements are "We goofed," or "We messed up," or just "Oops!" or "Oh, oh!"
The next part of the apology may be descriptive about the error. Formal language to describe an error made in travel reservations might be, "Your booking included incomplete information..." The same error stated less formally would be "We neglected to mention..." The informal version might be "We didn't let you know about..."
Sometimes, when both the person who made the mistake and the victim of the error know what the mistake was, it is not mentioned in detail. When a company sends out the wrong product to fill an order, and the customer complains, the corrected shipment may include a card with the words "Sorry, it was our fault! Please accept our apology," or "We're not perfect! Please forgive us."
The next part of the apology may be an excuse, a way for the person who made the mistake to "save face," or keep their dignity even though they erred. Pointing the finger or placing blame on others is not necessary in making an excuse. To express personal responsibility the common words used are "it was my fault," or "I am to blame." If much effort was spent but the mistake still occurred anyway, you can say "I tried, but something went wrong anyway," or "no matter how hard I tried, it still didn't work out," or "in spite of my best efforts, it still failed."
If there is a way to correct the error, this can be described in detail, or in vague terms. A financial error might include specifics of how the account will be corrected, "The balance of your account will be corrected in the following way." Vague terms might be more appropriate for informal mistakes, as in "I'll make it up to your somehow," or "I'll make it right."
Finally, most apologies end with a promise. It may be formal, "We guarantee better performance in the future," standard, "We promise to do better next time," or informal "Cross my heart and hope to die, it'll never, ever happen again!"
So, the next time you need to apologize, whether because you, in slang terms, "boobooed," or "messed up royally," or "really pulled a boner," you can "‘fess up" with class and keep your family, friends, classmates, co-workers, and customers happy.
Speak Read Write Educational Resources Speak Read Write Home
Copyright 2006-2012 Sally Jennings www.speak-read-write.com


This module offers a critical evaluation of some of the tensions and contradictions found in the current political status of children and young people. Expectations of participation along with the acquisition of civic, social and political knowledge delivered through the curriculum are now a significant feature in the social policy agenda surrounding young people. For example, the communitarian responsibility associated with such participation can be contrasted with the denial of citizenship rights.
This module builds on the rights agenda as set out in the UNCRC and critically explores how protection and concerns in relation to safeguarding can equate to a denial of agency, where paternalism embedded in policy agendas functions as control and a denial of political agency. The traditionally dominant ascribed identities frequently placed on children and young people in a globalised context are critically explored here and future political status of this minority group contemplated.


A common malady we all face is anger. What is the best way to eliminate this undesirable behavior? Many follow the path of trying to avoid the situation that causes it or simply walk away when it arises. While this may be useful, Elder Marcarius calls it a weak way to combat this evil tendency. You will not eliminate anger by this course.
Consider the person who raises ager in you as someone being used by God to show you your greatest weakness, Elder Macarius tells us. He says,
Anger was given to us to combat against sin, not to use against our neighbor. It's improper usage is caused by pride. Only humility and prayer will lead to mastering this weakness and directing this force the conquering of evil.This rage slumbers in you at all times but is hidden until this person, the hand of God, reveals discloses it. Combat this temptation through practicing humility, charity, courage. It will take long to conquer; but pray for help and start now. Reference:
Russian Letters of Spiritual Direction, p78


Critical Thinking: The Straw Man About this video How to recognise an argument made from straw. Critical thought and an awareness of faulty logic are essential tools when it comes to holding your own in an argument. This is especially true in science, whether it be justifying work or spotting a poorly constructed argument in the media.
This animation – one of six short films exploring concepts in critical thought – explores the basis of a 'straw man' argument. These rhetorical devices are used to refute a statement under false pretences, often making use of over simplifications to misrepresent an opponent's original position. Knowing how to recognise them is useful in spotting poorly framed arguments within the media, particularly in health and science coverage.
The series of short animations explore other areas in critical thought, including rationality, probability and logic. Understanding and using these elements is essential to the scientific process, allowing us to construct and critically analyse theories about reality.


Relative Affordability of Health Insurance Premiums Under CHIP Expansion Programs & the ACA Affordability is integral to the success of health care reforms aimed at ensuring universal access to health insurance coverage, and affordability determinations have major policy and practical consequences. This article describes factors that influenced the determination of affordability benchmarks and premium-contribution requirements for Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) expansions in three states that sought to universalize access to coverage for youth.
The article also compares subsidy levels developed in these states to the premium subsidy schedule under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for health insurance plans purchased through an exchange. The study finds sizeable variability in premium-contribution requirements as a percentage of family income across the three states and in the progressivity and regressivity of the premium-contribution schedules developed. These findings underscore the ambiguity and subjectivity of affordability standards.
Further, the analyses suggest that the future of CHIP beyond 2015 is likely to have significant implications for health insurance coverage costs incurred by families who currently rely at least in part on CHIP for coverage.
Read more in the link below.


The central objective of ArcticNet is to contribute to the development and dissemination of the knowledge needed to formulate adaptation strategies and national policies to help Canadians face the impacts and opportunities of climate change and globalization in the Arctic.
A major goal of ArcticNet is to engage Inuit organizations, northern communities, universities, research institutes, industry as well as government and international agencies as partners in the scientific process and the steering of the Network.
ArcticNet is conducting Integrated Regional Impact Studies on societies and on marine and terrestrial coastal ecosystems in the Canadian High Arctic, in the Eastern Canadian Arctic, and in Hudson Bay. In addition to work conducted in northern communities, ArcticNet researchers from various fields use the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen to access the vast expanses of the coastal Arctic. This integrated research offers a unique multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial environment to train the next generation of specialists, from north and south, needed to manage the Canadian Arctic of tomorrow.


DESPITE ALL of these efforts to reform schools, a significant minority of parents have concluded that our schools are not fit for educating their children. This frustration has led to a surge in the movement known ashomeschooling. Homeschool families educate their children as they see fit, either basing their education on curriculum available for private purchase or developing their own curriculum. For many years homeschoolers were seen as conservative, religious families who did not accept the notion of secular public education. Even today, a significant number of homeschool families educate their children for religious reasons. But as more families have become exasperated by public schools, hundreds of thousands of children have left school and begun secular homeschool studies. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, 225,000 students were homeschooled in 1988; by 1998 that number had blossomed to over 1.5 million, a six-fold increase.One of the attractions to homeschooling has been research that suggests homeschooled students outperform their public school peers. In a survey of test scores conducted by the National Center for Home Education, homeschool students outperformed public school students by an average of 30 to 37 percentile points in math and reading. The survey also noted that the income and education level of homeschool parents did not effect the success of their children. While there was a direct correlation between public school children's' scores with parents education and income (students with well educated and wealthier parents achieved higher scores than children of poorly educated, low-income parents), homeschool students performed equally well no matter whether their parents were well educated or not, high income or low income. For example, homeschoolers from $100,000+ income families average a 92 percentile in national standardized tests, while homeschoolers from families making less than $15,000 a year scored at the 87th percentile, much higher than their public school counterparts.
Some homeschooling critics have argued that students educated at home do not receive the significant socialization opportunities afforded to students who attend schools. A guide to homeschooling published by the ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education cited several studies which concluded that homeschooling is not detrimental to a student's social skills:
Studies of social adjustment and self-esteem indicate that home-educated students are likely to be socially and psychologically healthy (Montgomery, 1989; Shyers, 1992; Taylor, 1986). Homeschooled students tend to have a broader age-range of friends than their schooled peers, which may encourage maturity and leadership skills (Montgomery, 1989). Homeschoolers are not necessarily isolated from others of their age; they meet and socialize with peers in their neighborhood and at community classes and activities.
With the recent growth of the Internet, even more families have become attracted to homeschooling. The Internet allows for communication between homeschool families as well as exchanges in online lesson plans without affecting the independence of parent teachers. Eighty five percent of homeschoolers currently use computers in their education.
I'd like to examine other reform styles.


The fundamental flaws in the Massachusetts (and ACA) model The Massachusetts Model of Health Reform in Practice Mass-Care & Massachusetts Physicians for a National Health Program October 2011 The reform has not addressed the health care crisis that most Massachusetts residents face, and that renders our entire health care system increasingly unaffordable. Health care costs – which are straining employer and household budgets, edging out all other spending priorities by the state and municipalities – have increased at even more rapid rates following reform. Administrative waste in the system has grown as a consequence of introducing new payers into an already bureaucratic health care system. Cost shifting under employer-sponsored insurance, particularly for small business employees, has accelerated. Reform has not achieved universal coverage, despite the mandate, largely because the state has been unable to ensure that truly affordable plans are available. Reform has not reduced the burden of medical bills or medical bankruptcy on Massachusetts' families. The demand for safety net services by the uninsured and underinsured has remained high, and has begun to grow, while reform and subsequent state policy has created a financial crisis for safety net providers serving low-income and minority communities in the state. Reform has not been able to significantly slow the rising use of emergency departments for care.
Most concerning, the modest gains achieved by the reform have come at a high cost – even after the state has successfully shifted many of these costs on to federal taxpayers. The costs of the reform are widely acknowledged to be unsustainable and the state has been forced to restrict benefits and shift costs to residents, employers, and federal taxpayers as a consequence. This may help explain the declining support for reform noted in recent years. Moreover, the costs of the reform have not been born equitably, with low and middle income individuals bearing a disproportionate share of the costs.
The Massachusetts reform has not addressed the fundamental deficiencies in the health care system. The reform contained no proven or robust cost-control measures and thus the state has had to struggle to afford expanded coverage in the face of unsustainable cost increases. The Massachusetts reform introduced new programs and rules to an already complex blend of public and private insurers, leaving the state with increasing administrative complexity – and increasing costs.
There is every reason to believe that the recently passed national reform law based on the Massachusetts reform (The Affordable Care Act) will result in similar mixed outcomes. Our hope is for an equitably financed health care system that serves all Americans in a cost-effective way, without requiring cost-sharing that prohibits needed care. A Massachusetts-style reform will not achieve these goals.
Comment: By Don McCanne, MD The Massachusetts plan has been successful only in nominally increasing the numbers of individuals insured, but at a trade-off of making almost everything else worse, including the insurance coverage itself. The federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) used the Massachusetts model, and experience with the implementation to date indicates that we can expect the same or similar fundamental deficiencies, making unaffordable under-insurance the new national standard.
In a PNHP press release, Dr. Rachel Nardin, assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and co-author of this study, stated, "The Massachusetts reform built on a complex blend of public and private insurers, adding to the administrative complexity and cost of the system. To achieve cost-effective, high-quality and truly universal care, we need a single-payer system."
To better understand why the Massachusetts/ACA model can't work, it would be worthwhile to read the full 46 page report, accessible at the link above.


Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside. Originally from Russia, she received her BA, summa cum laude, from Harvard University and her PhD in social/personality psychology from Stanford University. Lyubomirsky currently teaches courses in social psychology and positive psychology and serves as the Department of Psychology’s graduate advisor. Her teaching and mentoring of students have been recognized with the Faculty of the Year and Faculty Mentor of the Year Awards.
In 2002, Lyubomirsky was awarded a Templeton Positive Psychology Prize. Currently, she is an associate editor of The Journal of Positive Psychology and (with Ken Sheldon) holds a five-year million-dollar grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to conduct research on the possibility of permanently increasing happiness. Her research has been written up in dozens of magazines and newspapers and she has appeared on multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries in North America and Europe. She has lectured widely to a variety of audiences, including business executives, life coaches, retirees, students, and scholars. The How of Happiness encompasses her findings on the nature of happiness.
In her work, Lyubomirsky has focused on developing a science of human happiness. To this end, her research addresses three critical questions: 1) What makes people happy?; 2) Is happiness a good thing?; and 3) How can we make people happier still? She is currently exploring the potential of happiness-sustaining activities—for example, expressing gratitude, doing acts of kindness, visualizing one’s “best possible selves,” and reflecting on happy moments—to durably increase a person’s happiness level. She has been conducting research on happiness for eighteen years and has published widely in the area.
Sonja and I met and spoke about happiness, the value of challenges and risks, and dealing with life transitions.


Thursday, May 27th, 2010...10:37 am Students move beyond the historical facts and grasp raw emotions.
The freshmen class is currently wrapping up their Living Histories project by presenting their final projects to their classmates. During the presentation they reflect upon their learning experiences and the challenges they encountered. This project as helped them move beyond literal interpretation and helped them to recognize the human aspect of writing.
When asked the questions, “Describe your favorite part of the project” and “What was the most challenging aspect of your project,” the vast majority of the students answered the interview for both. They recognized their own faults and weaknesses during the interview: they were nervous, they missed opportunities to get more in-depth answers from their interviewee or they didn’t think they had enough questions. However, they also admitted that this was their favorite part because it made the event real to them. They described interviews where their interviewee broke down crying, showed them pictures and medals, and in general helped them understand what it was really like to live during any specific time in history.
The students then successfully portrayed those sentiments into their own fictional writing pieces. They meshed the factual with the emotional.
Project Examples


Claims for Injured Businesses
The legal environment in which business must function changes rapidly and without notice. The opening of international markets through the Internet, wide availability of personal computers, and the dropping of trade barriers has made capable, user-friendly legal counsel more a necessity than a luxury. At the same time, greater opportunity exists for unfair competition, including breach of noncompete covenants, trade secret theft, and tortious interference with contract or with business relations. Founded by Plano civil litigation and personal injury attorney Richard L. Armstrong, Armstrong the Law Firm, P.C. has built a reputation for excellence, cutting-edge innovation, and reliability among its business clients. Its attorneys have significant experience in both business litigation and transactional matters. Predatory business practices can be remedied by injunctive relief, or by other judicial remedies where necessary.
Claims for Injured Individuals
Armstrong The Law Firm, P.C. is dedicated to zealous advocacy for victims of personal injury, car accidents, trucking and bicycle accidents. Attorneys at the firm also handle wrongful death claims and survival claims.The Firm's personal injury attorneys have achieved significant settlements for clients ranging from young children to the elderly. Armstrong The Law Firm, P.C. is proud of its record in vindicating the rights of personal injury negligence victims: whether from suing a company for negligent conduct leading to wrongful death, or obtaining a successful settlement of a car accident case. The focus is on results for clients with Plano injury lawyers at Armstrong the Law Firm, P.C., the Plano personal injury firm.


Space requirements and dust control for feedlot cattle
Robert F. Miller
California Agriculture 16(12):14-15. DOI: 10.3733/ca.v016n12p14.
A feeding trial conducted in Tulare County indicates that dust from feedlots in summer can be controlled by reducing allotted space as low as 50 square feet per head, without adversely affecting performance of cattle.
Robert F. Miller is Farm Advisor, Tulare County.


Document Type Journal Article
Date of this Version May 2005
Abstract A magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) stirrer that exhibits chaotic advection is designed, modeled, and tested. The stirrer can operate as a stand-alone component or it can be incorporated into a MHD-controlled network. The stirrer consists of a conduit equipped with individually controlled electrodes positioned along its opposing walls. The conduit is filled with an electrolyte solution and positioned in a uniform magnetic field. When a potential difference is applied across pairs or groups of electrodes, the resulting current interacts with the magnetic field to induce Lorentz forces and fluid motion. When the potential difference is applied across opposing electrodes that face each other, the fluid is propelled along the conduit’s length. When the potential difference is applied across diagonally positioned electrodes, a circulatory motion results. When the potential difference alternates periodically across two or more such configurations, chaotic motion evolves and efficient mixing is obtained. This device can serve as both a stirrer and a pump. The advantage of this device over previous designs of MHD stirrers is that it does not require electrodes positioned away from the conduit’s walls. Since this device has no moving parts, the concept is especially suitable for microfluidic applications.
Keywords Microfluidics, magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD), chaotic stirrer, microreactors, lab on a chip
Date Posted: 28 March 2006 This document has been peer reviewed.


Since 2001, ICF International has supported the Institutional Development and Undergraduate Education Service (IDUES) Annual Performance Report (APR) initiative established by the U.S. Department of Education to administer Title III and Title V programs of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. The IDUES APR is a centralized, web-based data collection tool, a performance measurement and data repository for over 700 colleges and universities receiving federal grants through Title III and V programs to strengthen institutional capacity and student outcomes. A significant number of these grantees are minority-serving institutions facing similar, yet distinct student and institutional needs.
At the beginning of the initiative, ICF worked closely with the Director of IDUES and others to design, develop, and implement this fully web-based performance measurement system. During the second phase, ICF finalized and rolled out the APR system, including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) reporting. The contract was extended to continue with enhancement, maintenance, and provision of technical assistance (TA) support for the APR, and in 2007, the scope of work was expanded to include enhancement of the system to produce system-generated final performance reports based on each grantee’s annual performance reports. Under the new contract ICF continues to support Title III and V programs by enhancing the APR system to accommodate four additional Title III programs and continuing previous tasks.


Signs You Might Be A Shopaholic The Holidays are over, do you feel like like you’re having withdrawals from shopping and NEED to get to the mall NOW? Well, you just might be a shopaholic. I know people often make light of people’s need for shopping but this is a REAL condition with some life-altering consequences. The similarities to other addictions like alcohol and drugs are scary. Here’s some signs you might be a shopaholic.
You lie about your purchases – People with a shopping addiction often find themselves hiding their purchases from family members or sneaking them into the house and pretending they already owned the items.
Your shopping habits are hurting your relationships. – When people with shopping addictions rack up debt or lie about their activities, it can inflict serious damage on close relationships.
YOU SHOP ALONE – Bringing trusted friends on shopping trips can help shopaholics keep their impulses in check.
You shop to feel better about yourself. – Shopaholics often report that buying a new dress or outfit provides a temporary confidence boost
You think of shopping as a hobby – Therapists recommend replacing shopping with other activities that don’t involve making purchases, such as recreational sports or cooking.
Are you shopping TOO much? Read the full article HERE


Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae induces respiratory disease in swine by colonizing cilia causing ciliostasis, cilial loss and epithelial cell death. Heparin binds to M. hyopneumoniae cells in a dose-dependent manner and blocks its ability to adhere to porcine cilia. We show here that Mhp493 (P216), a paralogue of the cilium adhesin P97 (Mhp183), is cleaved between amino acids 1040 and 1089 generating surface-accessible, heparin-binding proteins P120 and P85. Antiphosphoserine antibodies recognized P85 in 2-D immunoblotting studies and TiO2 chromatography of trypsin digests of P85 isolated a single peptide with an m/z of 917.3. A phosphoserine residue in the tryptic peptide (90)VSELpSFR(96) (position 94 in P85) was identified by MALDI-MS/MS. Polyhistidine fusion proteins (F1(P216), F2(P216), F3(P216)) spanning Mhp493 bound heparin with biologically significant Kd values, and heparin, fucoidan and mucin inhibited this interaction. Latex beads coated with F1(P216), F2(P216) and F3(P216) adhered to and entered porcine kidney epithelial-like (PK15) cell monolayers. Microtitre plate-based assays showed that sequences within P120 and P85 bind to porcine cilia and are recognized by serum antibodies elicited during infection by M. hyopneumoniae. Mhp493 contributes significantly to the surface architecture of M. hyopneumoniae and is the first cilium adhesin to be described that lacks an R1 cilium-binding domain.