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Pakistan expects same nuclear deal with US as with India: Gilani
Wed, 30 Jul 2008:
Washington, July 30 (ANI): Visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan expects from United States a similar kind of nuclear deal that Washington has made with India.
"There should be no discrimination. If they want to give such nuclear status to India, we expect the same foPakistan," Gilani said in a conversation with Richard N.
Haass, the President of Council on Foreign Relations at a meeting jointly organized with the Middle East Institute here.
Gilani also spoke at length on a variety of issues, including terrorism and extremism, Pak-US relations, economy and the scope of democracy in the country.
He said his government wanted to have cordial relations with all neighbours, including India and Afghanistan, as this would ensure peace in Asia.
"With India, we want to resolve all issues, including the core issue of Kashmir," he said when asked about that relationship.
According to The News and the Dawn newspapers, Gilani also said that his government was striving for the autonomy of the Constitution and the independence of judiciary and added that only political reconciliation could help meet the several challenges before the administration.
Addressing the Pakistan community here, he said the government remained firm on its promise relating to the independence of judiciary.
He described Islam as a religion of peace and stressed on improving the image of Pakistan in the eyes of the world.
He urged the Pakistani community living in US to play their role in this regard.
Gilani also declared that he was opposed to any unilateral U.S. military attacks in Pakistan.
"We can do it ourselves," Gilani said Tuesday night after a speech.
He added, however, that Pakistan wanted better cooperation with the United States to share intelligence about foreign militants.
"We are not able to control them, and you are not able to control them," he said.
"We are fighting to save the soul of our homeland," he said.
Obama said at a fundraising luncheon Tuesday that he told Gilani in their meeting that "the only way we're going to be successful in the long term in defeating extremists ... is if we are giving people opportunities. If people have a chance for a better life, then they are not as likely to turn to the ideologies of violence and despair." (ANI)
Pak Army imposes curfew in Swat valley following clashes
Wed, 30 Jul 2008:
Peshawar, July 30 (ANI): The Pakistan Army has imposed curfew across the Swat region for an indefinite period after its troops exchanged fire with militants in some areas of the valley.
So far, at least 30 Taliban have been reported killed in the Matta region of the Swat Valley. The Taliban, however, sa that only five of their comrades had died.
The clashes followed renewed violence in the area in which three Pakistani officials were killed and up to 30 security forces kidnapped by militants.
The violence has delivered a serious blow to a peace deal signed with the militants in Swat two months ago.
The Army has taken over the control of the Matta police station area. The attack on the Taliban was carried out in retaliation for the attack on the Venai check post.
The Taliban have also accepted the responsibility for bombing an armoured vehicle, the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation hotel at Malamjabba and the Army rest house, while a girls' school at Golibagh and three bridges at Gora, Roniyal and Seej Banter were destroyed by detonating explosives. (ANI)
Dad's army versus terror
New Delhi, July 30: The National Technical Research Organisation, an ambitious initiative to use technology to watch terror groups and pre-empt strikes, has turned into a pensioners' club.
Nearly a dozen retired officials hold key positions in the organisation set up in 2004 to monitor phone calls and emails, track the flow of funds on the Internet, and be the repository of the country's technical intelligence assets, including spy planes and satellites.
The idea was it would keep an eye on terror groups and Left-wing extremists and prevent Kargil-like intrusions.
The NTRO, which counts national security adviser M.K. Narayanan among its enthusiastic backers, should have been just the organisation to help prevent the serial blasts and the Line of Control violation in Kashmir.
Instead, it is facing calls for closure. "The NTRO experiment has been a failure, the government should wind it up," an official who was part of the organisation said.
At least three officials, heading crucial units, have recently opted for repatriation to their parent organisations complaining of "suffocating and unprofessional working conditions".
"Last year, too, six officials holding key positions had withdrawn from the organisation. With so many superannuated people coming in, the NTRO is becoming more like a pensioners' club than the professional intelligence outfit it is meant to be. A critical post of cyber applications and research is yet to be filled," a top government source said.
Former IPS officers and former Intelligence Bureau and RAW sleuths now people the NTRO. "There are some scientists too. In fact, the biggest grouse outgoing officials have is that it is headed by a scientist, K.V.S.S. Prasad Rao," an official said.
Rao took over in 2005 after retiring from the Defence Research and Development Organisation, where he was responsible for missiles and strategic systems.
The NTRO "should have been able to monitor phone calls and trace emails. The organisation was envisaged as an expert in cyber security and tracking global satellite mobile (GSM) systems as also high-frequency (HF) communications", said the official who has worked there.
"We have money, resources and technology but we don't have the vision and the will to create an effective intelligence sharing mechanism."
The NTRO, set up on the recommendation of the Kargil Review Committee as a nodal agency for technical intelligence along the lines of the US National Security Agency, reports to the national security adviser. Part of the cabinet secretariat, like external spy agency RAW, it has an annual budget of Rs 700 crore.
Its problem, sources said, is lack of initiative. "As a member of the Kargil Review Committee's technical task force on intelligence, M.K. Narayanan was one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the idea of a technical intelligence organisation. Today, he seems either unwilling to or unable to get the agency off the ground," the official said.
Some of the responsibilities handed to the NTRO were earlier being performed by RAW, including air surveillance by its Aviation Research Centre. "RAW has been stonewalling attempts to let go of the ARC, which also snoops on nuclear tests and missile launches in the neighbourhood… So, the government now receives airborne intelligence from RAW and satellite imagery from the NTRO, going against the very logic of having a single agency for technical intelligence," said the senior government officer.
Pak guns boom again, tension heightens
New Delhi, July 30: Pakistani soldiers opened fire on an Indian post across the Line of Control this afternoon, a day after defence minister A.K. Antony said "India was showing maximum restraint" despite repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement, Indian Army sources said today.
Pakistan's first response has been to deny that there was any ceasefire violation today. But reports reaching Indian Army headquarters in New Delhi said Pakistani soldiers opened fire in two bursts — at 11.40am and at 12.30pm with a light machine gun and light mortars — on the Nariya post that is manned by the Border Security Force.
The Nariya post is within kilometers of the Eagle post at Naugam in the Kupwara sector where the two armies traded fire for nearly 16 hours on Monday and Tuesday.
Today's firing marks an escalation of the tension, from small arms to light artillery.
A senior defence ministry official, asked for his opinion on why shooting across the LoC was increasing in frequency, said: "We cannot speak for the Pakistanis but we can understand that the Pakistan Army needs to prove it is relevant despite a civil administration being elected.
"We also see that there is pressure on Pakistan from the US to show evidence that it is chasing the Taliban on its western border (with Afghanistan)."
In India, the increase in the frequency of ceasefire violations coincides with terror attacks in Bangalore and Ahmedabad and the bomb scare in Surat. Army officials say the Pakistan Army abets infiltration of militants into Kashmir by opening fire on Indian positions.
If defence minister Antony's contention yesterday that Pakistan had violated the ceasefire 19 times since January this year is true, today's incident is the 20th time that the Indian Army has borne the brunt of Pakistani firing without retaliating.
But pressure is mounting on the government and in army headquarters to respond to the violations. In the months before the November 2003 ceasefire agreement, the Indian Army used to respond with multiple volleys of artillery fire to shooting from the Pakistan Army in what it said was "punitive action".
"The defence minister has already warned (Pakistan)," said Lt General Raj Kadyan, retired deputy chief of army staff. "But if such violations carry on and then we start retaliatory action, the ceasefire is over. The defence minister's warning can be said to be in preparation for that."
Reports reaching army headquarters in Delhi said the Pakistani soldiers of a unit identified as "21 PoK" opened fire shortly before noon.
"Our field commander talked to his counterpart over hotline and told him to stop firing lest the situation escalates. We told him that we are observing restraint and we may have no choice but to retaliate in case they again resorted to firing," defence spokesperson Lt Colonel A.K. Mathur said in Srinagar. He added that there were no casualties.
The same Pakistani unit was involved in the firing on Monday-Tuesday after objecting to Indian soldiers reconstructing a forward observation post that Islamabad claimed was on its territory. An Indian soldier was killed.
Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are worried that the situation is going back to the pre-2003 ceasefire era when exchange of fire was a routine affair.
An officer feared that this might again lead to migration of people living near the LoC. "Both ceasefire violations took place in Naugam where there is no habitation close by. But if it spreads to other sectors, many people will have no option but to flee," a police officer said.
With inputs from Muzaffar Raina in Srinagar
Judicious offset obligation policy can add arsenal to India's defence
31 Jul, 2008, 0224 hrs IST,
By Dhiraj Mathur
The government is scheduled to announce a new (and delayed) defence procurement policy (DPP 2008) in the next couple of days. From Indian industry's perspective, the defence offset policy is a key element of the DPP. The existing version (DPP 2006) stipulates that 30% (or more) of the value of a defence purchase from a foreign vendor for a contract exceeding Rs 300 crore has to be ploughed back into the country via a defence offset obligation.
Broadly, this obligation can be fulfilled by one of several methods — purchase from or exports on behalf of Indian defence industries of good or services produced or supplied by them, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Indian defence industries, investments in defence R&D etc.
The Indian government has launched a $100 billion capital investment plan over the 2007-12 period, with the objective of modernising and upgrading ancient defence equipment of the Indian armed forces. In fact, military expenditure in India has grown steadily over the last few years with the annual budget for the year 2008-09 set at $26.4 billion. DPP thus presents a great opportunity to kick start the transfer of sophisticated technology and manufacturing in the defence sector in India.
For various historical reasons, India has been denied access to these technologies, particularly, the dual use technologies (those that have both civil and military application). As a result, we have not been able to develop domestic capability in this sector, and have been relying largely on Russian supplies to meet our defence needs.
India's signing the 123 agreement should open doors to technology hitherto denied to India. Moreover, a $100 billion purchase programme represents an offset obligation of $30 billion that would flow through investments and purchases from the Indian defence industry (both public and private).
This could translate into the creation of a large number of high-skilled jobs in manufacturing and R&D with spill over benefits to the economy. However, in the absence of a coherent policy regime, India is likely to miss out on fully exploiting the potential of the offset programme. It is hoped that DPP 2008 would address these issues.
Manufacture of defence equipment is permitted only upon obtaining an industrial licence from the government. However, there is no clear definition of what constitutes defence equipment because of which investors are left to the whims of bureaucratic interpretation to know whether or not a product would be subject to compulsory licensing. For instance, would air conditioners supplied to the army come under the category of defence equipment and be subject to industrial licensing even though their manufacture is otherwise freely permitted with 100% FDI on the automatic route?
The existing FDI policy restricts foreign equity in the manufacture of defence equipment to 26%. If one were to assume that approximately $10 billion of the offset obligation would be discharged through investment in manufacturing, the existing policy would require a domestic equity contribution of almost about $30 billion (Rs 1,20,000 crore).
Since the offset policy requires that the obligation be discharged during the tenure of the defence equipment supply agreement, this quantum of domestic equity would need to be raised over a 2-5 year period in the defence sector alone, a target that seems quite impossible to achieve. Second and equally important, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) aggressively guard their intellectual property and would be loathe providing cutting edge technology to a joint venture in which they own only 26% equity.
There is no economic or strategic rationale for this cap on foreign equity. For those who say that defence is a strategic sector in which we cannot have 100% foreign equity, I have only this to say — for the last 50 years, we have been buying equipment from companies that have no assets or even operations in India and over which we have no control. What great security threat would a company pose that would be incorporated in India, be subject to Indian laws and regulations with physical assets in India? The cap of 26% on the FDI thus works against fully exploiting the potential benefits of the offset policy.
DPP 2006 provides only for 'direct' offsets i.e. through investments/ purchases exclusively in the defence sector. Given the nascent state of the Indian defence industry, it is doubtful whether domestic defence industry has the capacity to absorb such large offset obligations. It would be more prudent to permit 'indirect' offsets through investment in priority sectors like infrastructure and manufacturing. Another possibility is to allow foreign vendors to invest in an infrastructure/manufacturing fund that can be used to finance investments in priority sectors.
The award of defence contracts is a long drawn and complex process that can take several years. We have enough examples in the recent past of defence contracts that have been cancelled after years of negotiation (for example, the Eurocopter deal). If we want to encourage OEM's, tier 1 and 2 suppliers to set up manufacturing operations in India, we must allow them the facility of 'banking' offset credits that can be utilised in case they win a contract. Such a facility is allowed in most countries the world over and would provide both incentives and insurance to defence manufacturers.
It is important that DPP 2008 provide clarity and resolution to these issues. In the absence of a coherent and synergistic policy framework, India may not be able to fully absorb the potential benefits of offset obligations and may end up with only a portion of the low hanging fruit of the defence technology value chain.
The author is executive director, PricewaterhouseCoopers


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In an environment of persistently low interest rates, investors have increasingly looked beyond traditional fixed income investments toward other income-producing alternatives. This helps explain the surge in popularity of energy master limited partnerships (MLPs), which offer attractive yields and the potential for dividend growth in the future. There is also a compelling fundamental case to be made for many MLPs, which are benefitting from the renaissance in oil and natural gas production in North America, as demand to transport these fossil fuels continues to grow. Unfortunately, in the process of providing a convenient vehicle for retail investors to gain exposure to MLPs, "pure-play" ETFs and mutual funds may also saddle investors with a hefty, although often unnoticed, tax burden.
Ironically, tax efficiency is one of the attributes to which investors in individual MLPs are often drawn. As long as certain guidelines are followed, individual MLPs' earnings are not subject to federal corporate income tax. Additionally, a large portion of MLP distributions are classified as returns of capital, which lower an investor's cost basis and defer taxes until the investor sells the MLP. On the other hand, because of their structure as partnerships, MLPs have additional tax and administrative considerations, of which investors are often wary, such as the requirement to issue a schedule K-1 to investors for each state in which income is received (rather than a single form 1099), as well as the potential for a portion of MLP distributions to be classified as unrelated business taxable income (UBTI), for which there are limits in retirement accounts.
One of the most important questions investors should consider when evaluating the many ways to invest in MLPs is how well each investment matches up with his or her investment goals. For pure-play MLP ETFs and mutual funds, the benefits of investing in MLPs come with a steep cost.
In order for an ETF or mutual fund to qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC), there are certain requirements it must meet. One such rule limits ETFs and mutual funds from investing more than 25% of the fund's portfolio in MLPs. If an ETF or mutual fund exceeds that threshold, it does not qualify as an RIC, and is therefore classified as a C corporation. As such, the fund is subject to federal corporate income tax, currently at a maximum rate of 35%, in addition to potential alternative minimum tax and state income tax liabilities.
In other words, because of its classification as a C corporation, for every dollar that a non-RIC MLP fund earns, there is a 35-cent "tax drag" that is included in the calculation of the fund's daily net asset value (NAV). This results in a mere 65-cent gain for investors in the fund (ignoring additional fund fees and expenses, which further reduce the NAV). Since these calculations are reflected in the fund's NAV, many investors are simply unaware that their earnings have been effectively reduced by this tax liability.
Of course, corporate tax liability is a known element that is embedded in the price of most stocks, as taxes provide the same sort of drag on the earnings of individual companies. The difference when it comes to MLP ETFs and mutual funds, however, is that the market value of the underlying MLPs does not generally reflect the embedded tax drag investors are saddled with as owners of the fund. Instead, fund investors effectively pay a premium for the tax-advantaged income generated by MLPs, without realizing the benefits, which are offset by the fund's tax liability as a corporation.
As is often the case, the devil is in the details when it comes to investing in MLPs via exchange-traded funds. As evidenced by more than $3 billion of inflows over the past few years, many investors have found these funds to be convenient vehicles by which to gain diversified exposure to a compelling asset class. Few, however, have fully understood the cost incurred for that convenience. While MLPs may add value to an ETF if the fund's allocations are limited to less than 25% (allowing the fund to maintain its RIC-eligibility), the built-in tax burden for exceeding that threshold is too detrimental to fund returns to be overlooked.

subset: commoncrawl


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Web Content ViewerActions
Understand Your Usage
Electric usage varies from day to day and month to month, depending upon a variety of factors including your daily habits, the weather, and the time of year. An increase in your electric usage could be caused by a variety of factors:
Warm Weather
Electricity bills may be higher during the summer months, due to the increased energy needed to cool your home on hot, muggy days. It's simple math:
For example: How much energy does my air conditioner use?
|A medium-sized Air Conditioner
|= 900 watts
|Divide that wattage by 1,000 to get the # of kilowatts
|= 0.9 kilowatts
|Multiply the kilowatts (0.9) by the number of hours used (8)
|=7.2 kWh (number of kilowatt hours used for one night of cooling)
|Multiply the kWh (7.2) by the cost (22.5 cents per kWh*)
|= $1.62 (cost per night to run your air conditioner)
*The total cost per kWh for customers taking Standard Service generation supply is 22.5 cents
(UI delivery is 14.2 cents and Standard Service supply is 8.3 cents) Your supply rate may vary – check you bill.
- To estimate the hours used, think about how your appliances operate – does the appliance cycle on and off all day? Is it on steady for 8 to 10 hours?
- Think about how you use your appliance. For example: using an air conditioner while sleeping = 8 hours, times 3 nights a month = 24 hours of use in a month.
- Look at your bill to understand your billing cycle – it may run mid-June to mid-July, for example, so what you call your July bill may be half June!
- Look at your bill to find the cost of your delivery charges (page 2) and your electricity supply (page 3).
Now you have an idea of the impact of hot weather and cool comfort on your bill!
Access our FREE tools to help you better understand your electricity use.
- Our Energy Analyzer tool gives you targeted energy efficiency information, advice and support to help you achieve savings
- Review our free and low-cost Energy Savings Tips
- Visit our Smart Energy section to view our menu of energy efficiency programs
Malfunctioning Appliances
A sudden increase in energy usage may indicate a problem with an appliance, heating or cooling system, or water heater. A spike can also be caused by a period of very hot, muggy weather in the summer. Don't forget that since billing cycles are about a month long, sometimes it can be a few weeks before the effect of a heat wave will be seen on your bill.


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100 Pull-ups
100 Push-ups
100 Sit-ups
100 Squats
About seven or eight years ago I was challenged by a co-worker to do this workout. I had never heard of CrossFit, and thought "who does 100 pull-ups in a workout? This is nuts!" But I was up for the challenge.
You are suppose to complete all 100 pull-ups, then all 100 push-ups and so on. I did not know this at the time, so I partitioned the repetitions. Partitioning the repetitions makes the workout much easier and faster. Even with this advantage the workout still took me well over an hour to complete! I don't remember exactly how long, but I would guess it took me an hour and twenty to thirty minutes. I couldn't move my arms for about two weeks after the workout.
Yesterday I did "Angie". It took me just over thirty minutes. Not a world class time by any means, but not bad for me. I did the workout as prescribed (with GHD sit-ups). This time around I am not nearly as sore as the first time around. I am able to train the next day with only mild discomfort.
Sometimes we feel like we aren't making progress as quickly as we would like. Sometimes we feel like we aren't doing as well as we should in the gym. When these feelings hit, you need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Think about all the hard work you've put in over the past few weeks, months and years. Think about how far you've come over that time.
I would love to hear the story of your first CrossFit Workout. If you see me in the gym, please tell me the story. Or leave a comment here, or on Facebook.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
MOTIVATION: My First CrossFit WOD - Sometimes We Need To Look At The Big Picture


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The Quest for a Furthest South
Just as I arrived at Paul's, he had the news on and a general election had been called. I took this as an omen that there could be no better time to lose myself for 3-4 days in the middle of nowhere. Continue reading "The Quest for a Furthest South"


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I gather from the wealth of C# APIs out there that it is possible to connect to MT4 over TCP and perform various functions.
The C# APIs I've found online are massively overkill for what I need - but presumably the people who made these API had some sort of reference document of how to communicate with MT4 over TCP? Does anyone know where I can find this information?
I only want to be able to access time series data for the current session - getting it from .hst won't work, since the files aren't flushed until the client terminal shuts down - unless anyone knows of a way to force a data flush?
My only other option is to write some code in MT4 to manually flush the "session" rates to the .hst file, but potentially I could end up with invalid data in the files in this way.
Thanks for any info


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The GCR sites selected for this GCR Block represent the British geological record of Earth history from about 440 to 428 million years ago (Ma). This interval is the first epoch of the the Silurian Period (440 to 410 Ma).
Rocks that formed during the Llandovery Epoch form the Llandovery Series (part of the Silurian System). The Silurian System is divided into four series (Llandovery, Wenlock (see WEN), Ludlow (see LUD) and Prídolí (see PRIDOL)) and all but one series (the Pridoli) into a number of stages. The Llandovery Epoch is divided into three ages.
Of the eight stratotypes that define the bases to the Silurian stratigraphical divisions, seven are in Britain. The one exception is the base to the Prídolí Series. The chosen level for the base of the Devonian System in the Czech Republic is considerably higher than the base of the 'Old Red Sandstone' which had traditionally been regarded as the Silurian–Devonian boundary in the Welsh Borderland. The new Prídolí Series therefore correlates with the lowest part of the 'Old Red Sandstone' (see NMAR-DEV). Graptolites and conodonts have yielded the most refined Silurian zonations, but analogous schemes exist for other groups, notably brachiopods, acritarchs and chitinozoans.
The Iapetus Suture, trending NE–SW close to the England–Scotland Border, marks the former site of the Iapetus Ocean between Laurentia to the north-west and Avalonia to the south-east. It is helpful to further subdivide these two regions into palaeogeographical areas, each with a distinctive Silurian record of subsidence or uplift, sedimentation or erosion. This subdivision of Britain provides the template against which the network of important stratigraphical sites can be compared.
The Scottish Highlands have their south-eastern limit at the Highland Boundary Fault. Non-marine sedimentary rocks of probable Ludlow and Prídolí age are locally preserved, and late Silurian granitic intrusions imply an original volcanic superstructure. The area probably lacked marine basins, and comprised actively deforming, uplifting and eroding continental crust throughout Silurian time.
The Scottish Midland Valley is the area between the Highland Boundary Fault and the Southern Uplands Fault. During Silurian time it accumulated shallow marine to non-marine sediments, implying an underlying normal-thickness continental crust.
The Southern Uplands of Scotland now lie between the Southern Uplands fault and the Iapetus Suture. Their formation is interpreted as a thrust stack of deep-water sediments.
The Midland Platform is the stable core of the Eastern Avalonia continent lying south-east of the Welsh Borderland fault system. During Silurian time it was flooded more persistently by shallow seas but accommodated only modest thicknesses of sediment. In latest Silurian (Prídolí) and Early Devonian time the platform accumulated a thick prism of sediment shed southwards from the newly uplifting areas to the north. The platform was only weakly deformed during the Acadian Orogeny
The Welsh Basin borders the north-west edge of the Midland Platform, as far as the Menai Strait fault system. Ithosted deep marine environments, and accumulated some kilometres of sediment. In late Ludlow and Prídolí time, the basin shallowed as subsidence gave way to uplift, and by Early Devonian time the former basin was an eroding source area.
The Anglian Basin had a similar tectonic setting on the north-east side of the Midland Platform. Its rocks are known only from boreholes, but its sedimentary history has the same shallowing upwards character as that of Silurian Wales.
The Irish Sea Platform is a small elongate area of Precambrian and Early Palaeozoic crust forming the north-west margin of the Welsh Basin. A thin Silurian sequence is preserved on it, but it may have been emergent for much of Silurian time.
The Lake District Basin is the most northerly component of Avalonian palaeogeography and was probably continuous with the Leinster Basin of Ireland. The uppermost Ordovician and Silurian sequences were built on the eroded remnants of a volcanic arc formed above the south-dipping Ordovician subduction zone beneath Avalonia. This old arc terrane subsided rapidly enough to give deep-marine environments by earliest Silurian (Llandovery) time. Sedimentary environments became shallower during Prídolí time as sediment input exceeded subsidence, and in Early Devonian time the area was uplifted in the culminating events of the Acadian Orogeny.
Until late Ordovician time, northern and southern Britain had been separated by the wide Iapetus Ocean. Scotland, together with the north and west of Ireland, were part of the south-eastern margin of the major continent of Laurentia, which straddled the equator through much of Early Palaeozoic time. England and Wales, together with south and east Ireland, lay on the smaller continent of Avalonia, which also included parts of mainland Europe to the east and fragments of the maritime states of North America to the west. Avalonia had originated on the northern margin of Gondwana, the major continent straddling the Early Palaeozoic south pole. Avalonia had rifted from Gondwana early in Ordovician time and moved northwards towards Laurentia, the Iapetus Ocean closing ahead of it and the Rheic Ocean opening in its wake. The continent of Baltica had a broadly similar drift history to Avalonia, so that the two continents amalgamated and moved northwards together from Late Ordovician time onwards.
During early Silurian (Llandovery) time both Baltica and Avalonia began to impinge on the Laurentian continent. Continental crust started to choke the northward-dipping subduction zone beneath Laurentia, which had formerly subducted only Iapetus oceanic lithosphere. By late-Silurian (Ludlow) time, the last remnant of the Iapetus Ocean had been destroyed and the Laurentian margin was being overthrust onto the British segment of Avalonia. This thrusting and associated crustal compression rapidly obliterated the marine Silurian basins and began to uplift parts of them above sea level. Consequently, marginal marine and non-marine facies dominate the stratigraphical record from latest Silurian (Prídolí) time into the Devonian. The continental collision culminated in strong deformation, uplift and erosion of the basinal sediments during Early and Mid-Devonian time, an event termed the 'Acadian Orogeny'.
Early to Mid-Llandovery: Subduction of Iapetus oceanic lithosphere beneath Laurentia continued from Ordovician time. Deep-marine mudstones (Moffat Shale Group) deposited on the oceanic crust were overlain by turbidite sandstones (Gala Group) as the crust neared the trench. Segments of this sedimentary sequence were periodically scraped off the downgoing slab and accreted to the base of the thrust stack on the Laurentian margin. The trench turbidites were supplied in part from the missing southern segment of the Midland Valley, probably including volcanic arc rocks. Farther north, the preserved part of the Midland Valley received clastic debris from both the south and the north, probably in a relatively shallow marine basin. North of the Highland Boundary Fault were the uplands of the Scottish Highlands, possibly cut by active major faults.
The shallowest parts of Avalonia were still emergent in earliest Silurian time, following the lowering of sea level during the late Ordovician glaciation. On the Midland Platform, the unconformity produced during this regression is overlain by sequences of shallow marine mudstones and limestones, often with transgressive sandstones at the base (e.g. Kenley Grit–Pentamerus Beds–Hughley Shales). The pulsed nature of the transgression is reflected in the diachroneity of the sediments overlying the unconformity, varying up to upper Llandovery (Telychian). In the basinal areas, the same transgression is recorded by a blanket of carbonaceous mudstones, the signature of anoxic bottom waters in a stratified basin during a secundo (greenhouse) climate. In the Welsh Basin this mudstone deposition was punctuated by sandstones and conglomerates transported by turbidity currents from the edge of the Midland Platform.
The Iapetus oceanic remnant separating the two halves of Britain seems to have closed diachronously from south-west to north-east during late Llandovery and Wenlock time. This convergence progressively linked the geological histories of Laurentia and Avalonia, and began to restrict the connections between their marine basins and the open ocean system.
Offscraping of deep-marine turbidites at the Laurentian margin continued from late Llandovery (Hawick Group) at least into late Wenlock time (Riccarton Group). Shallow marine environments in the upper Llandovery of the Midland Valley gave way to subaerial alluvial fans in the Wenlock, supplied from the missing terrane to the south. The Scottish Highlands remained an upland area, its north-western part now undergoing strong deformation and granite intrusion.
On Avalonia, the Midland Platform accumulated a continuous upper Llandovery to Ludlow sequence, dominated by mudstones (e.g. Coalbrookdale Formation). Shorter periods of limestone deposition (Woolhope, Buildwas and Much Wenlock Limestone formations) coincide with postulated lowstands on the eustatic sea-level curve. The Welsh Basin received large volumes of south-west-derived turbidite sand from late Llandovery time onwards, possibly sourced from newly uplifted areas in the Laurentia–Avalonia collision zone. This source area has been termed Prettania. The sediment was accommodated by an episode of crustal stretching and subsidence in the basin.
The Lake District Basin accumulated mostly mudstones until early Wenlock time (e.g. Brathay Formation), receiving the first substantial turbidite sands into its south-eastern part in the mid-Wenlock. The main influx of sand was not until early Ludlow time (Coniston Group). The signature of flexural subsidence suggests that the Laurentian thrust stack was substantially loading the northern edge of Avalonia by then, and that the Ludlow turbidite fans of the Lake District represent the encroachment of the Southern Uplands fans onto Avalonian crust.
Substantial intercalations of volcanic rock within lower Silurian sedimentary sequences point to isolated volcanic centres across the southern part of the Midland Platform. These centres neither overlie extinct Ordovician volcanoes, nor have rocks of the same subduction-related composition. The Silurian volcanism seems to represent a weak episode of crustal rifting, of uncertain origin, within Avalonia.
As Avalonia and Laurentia were driven ever more tightly together, the subsidence of most of their marine basins was curtailed, as any crustal extension gave way to shortening. This shortening began to create new uplands, which shed increasing amounts of sediment into the remaining basins. Deep marine environments were replaced by shallow marine and continental conditions. Even the Lake District Basin, whose flexural subsidence was maintained by the load of the advancing Laurentia, was filled to sea level by sediment before the end of Silurian time.
The former Laurentian margin was cut by many active faults with sinistral strike-slip or thrust displacements. Remnants of non-marine clastic sediments suggest a scatter of small, locally sourced alluvial basins controlled by these faults. These basins occurred in the Scottish Highlands as well as the Midland Valley and on the uplifted remnants of the Southern Uplands thrust stack. Some basins contain substantial thicknesses of lavas, and contemporaneous granitoid intrusions imply further superjacent volcanic piles. Mismatches between clast compositions in alluvial conglomerates and the source areas implied by palaeocurrent data suggest substantial post-Silurian displacement on some Laurentian faults. In particular, the Southern Uplands may have been thrust back over the persistent source area to the south of the Midland Valley at this time.
The Lake District and Welsh Basins were rapidly filling with sediment and the marine shoreline was moving quickly south-eastward. By the end of the Prídolí, the basins were emerging above sea level and were starting to be eroded themselves. River systems took the sediment southwards to be deposited first in a marginal marine embayment and then on alluvial plains on the site of the old Midland Platform.
The 30 Ma of Silurian time had seen the total demise of the marine Silurian basins over most of Britain. An extensive sequence of non-marine sediments, the 'Old Red Sandstone', was laid down on the newly consolidated continent during Devonian time (see MAR-DEV).
Three criteria have been particularly important in choosing the GCR sites:
• The chronostratigraphical position of rocks at each site.
• The palaeogeographical setting of each site.
• The international importance of each site. The key sites here are the boundary stratotypes of the global chronostratigraphical scheme
For site selection, the subdivision into palaeogeographical areas, each with a distinctive Silurian record of subsidence or uplift, sedimentation or erosion, was an important consideration. The areas, described above, provide the framework within which stratigraphical sites can be compared.
Although the relatively common invertebrate fossils do not have a separate selection category in the GCR in their own right, the scientific importance of many stratigraphy sites lies in their fossil content. Therefore, some of the GCR sites are selected specifically for their fossil fauna, which facilitates stratal correlation and enables the interpretation of the environments in which the animals lived. Moreover, some sites have international significance because they have yielded fossils that are the 'type' material for a taxonomic group.
Silurian times are now known to have been occupied, from the beginning, by representatives of most of the major groups (phyla) of extant marine animals. From free-swimming fish and cephalopods to sedentary bottom dwelling corals, clams and actively burrowing worms, the Silurian biota has some taxonomic familiarity to us today. However, there are also many important differences: almost all of the organisms belong to different genera and most belong to extinct family groupings; a significant number of the important marine groups, such as the trilobites, graptolites and conodonts are members of the distinctive and extinct Palaeozoic fauna. The dominant shelly macro-invertebrates of Silurian times were brachiopods, a relatively uncommon group today, whose habitats have been taken over by the bivalved molluscs. The main biological 'innovations' of the Silurian are associated with the radiation of the fish and the invasion of the land by animals and plants.
The late Ordovician glaciation, with its lowered sea levels and major changes in ocean circulation, produced a significant marine extinction at that time. Many invertebrate groups were severely affected but most made fairly rapid recoveries in early Silurian time. However some, notably the trilobites, never fully recovered.
The typical Lower Palaeozoic biota includes brachiopods, trilobites, graptolites, cephalopods (important in stratigraphic correlation) conodonts, bivalved molluscs and gastropods, but important microfossils in Silurian strata include acritarchs, chitinozoans, plant spores, scolecodonts, radiolarians and foraminiferans.
Also important were the sessile, bottom-dwelling invertebrates, of which many secrete preservable siliceous or calcareous skeletons such as the sponges, stromatoporoids, corals and bryozoans.
The fossil record of arthropods in Silurian times was almost entirely marine, but for the very rare remains of some of the earliest known land-living animals. The marine forms are dominated by two groups, the extinct trilobites and the crustacean ostracods. Of lesser biostratigraphic important are numerous other arthropod groups, such as the phyllocarids, xiphosurans, eurypterids, scorpions and myriapods.
The Silurian fossil record of the echinoderms contains sporadic remains of the main living and extinct groups from the blastoids, cystoids, crinoids, asteroids, holothurians and echinoids to the ophiuroids.
Somewhat like jellyfish in life habits, the graptoloid graptolites (with millimetre wide branches and an overall colony diameter of up to a metre) were, for the most part, free-living animals that probably fed on the plankton and followed its diurnal migration within the surface waters of the oceans. They are an important group stratigraphically.
The land-plant fossils are, at first glance, unspectacular in that they are generally small (1–4 cm high), carbonized thin stems with simple dichotomous branches, terminated by globular reproductive organs. This plant fossil evidence from the British sites has been of international importance in developing our understanding of early vascular plant evolution. The most commonly preserved plant fossils are their microscopic reproductive spores, which are produced in great numbers. The abundance, wide dispersal and evolution in morphology of these plant spores has made them very useful biostratigraphical markers and has led to the development of spore-based biozonal schemes.


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Pacific Coast Harvest Organic Produce Delivery
Pacific Coast Harvest delivers 100% organic produce from local farmers to the Seattle, Bellevue and Shoreline areas. They refuse to use plastic bags, instead leaning on eco-friendly packaging and there is no long-term commitment.
They pride themselves on their strong relationships with Washington farmers, and even offer a Washington box with the produce that the Evergreen state is known for. You can also order grocery items like eggs, coffee, dried fruit, pasta, granola and more.
Organic Produce Delivery Boxes Start at $25
Pacific Harvest offers three box types:
- Standard: 100% local and organic vegetables
- Half-and-Half: A mix of fruits and vegetables
- Washington: Features staples that the state of Washington is best known for
Each box is available in three sizes
- Individual – $25
- Standard – $34
- Family – $42
Choose what style of box you want then what size suits you and you are well on your way!
Produce is delivered weekly or every other week after 7pm so your veggies don't wilt (although that might not be a problem in Seattle during the winter). They pick up your empty box on your next delivery day.


text: We all enjoy watching a movie with good story and chemistry between the main characters, especially when it is a love story. But , a good costumes play a big role in making some film so famous. The connection between movies and fashion is exactly the costumes that the main characters wear. There are few costumes...Read more →


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After a long time, Indian Railways through its Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) have announced a massive recruitment to fill 18000 vacancies that come under NTPC category.Although many of us have seen Assistant Station Master, Reservation Clerk, Goods guard & Typists earlier not much is known about their job profile.But its necessary to know their roles, duties & future prospects before applying for these jobs.
Just like bank jobs, SSC jobs or other govt jobs the eligibility condition for jobs in Indian railways are also similar.Candidates applying for these openings should be a graduate.
As part of railways recruitment 2016 – 7591 Goods Guard vacancies are available across 21 RRBs in india.With so many openings, it is necessary for you to know who they are & what they do before applying for it.
Goods Guard Job Profile
Goods guard is the person who is responsible for safe delivery of the entire cargo loaded on that train.He can be seen in the brake van, a compartment attached to the last of the train which is also his work area.
Some of his duties are:
- Be readily available at the headquarters to report for duty.
- Ensure the proper working of emergency brakes at full capacity.
- Make sure the wagons are properly coupled to each other.
- Provide regular updates about track lines, crossovers, clearings to the loco pilot.
- Carry out all the necessary safety measures for the train
- Notify the pilot or authorities incase of finding any abnormalities
- Proper maintenance of the guard`s journal with necessary information of the travel.
In short, these goods guard must take full in-charge of the train while in motion ensuring safety of the cargo & coaches.
Guards usually work for 8-10 hours after which they are allowed to take rest for 15-16 hours in the 'running room' located at specific stations.They resume duty again on a different train.
But the conditions in which they work make it one of the toughest job in railways.With no proper lightning or toilet facilities available inside the brake van, ladies are not suited for this post.
Salary: Having said all this, the goods guard salary is among the highest.He gets more than 35,000/ month.In many cases, newly recruited GG`s draw Rs.60,000/ month primarily due to the travel & running allowances.
Once the 7th pay commission is included, the goods guard salary could rise even further.
Since the working conditions are being improved nowadays with the introduction of 8 wheel guard friendly brake vans,joining a guard is definitely a lucrative option for young male graduates.
If you are interested to apply as Goods Guard, see Railway Recruitment 2016 Notification for eligibility conditions & also read on How to fill post preferences in online application
Growth: Goods guard can get promoted to Passenger Guard (passenger trains) > Mail Guard (superfast/ express trains).
Guards in passenger trains have an additional responsibility of ensuring safety of passengers while boarding & unboarding the train.But they can expect improvement in working conditions with adequate facilities available in his cabin.


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The International Helicopter Safety Team (www.IHST.org) has compiled data from its third annual survey of civil helicopter operators located in key regions around the world in order to gain a broader understanding of where safety initiatives are being implemented. Participation in the survey more than doubled compared to previous years.
The IHST's worldwide regional teams have analyzed more than 1,000 helicopter accidents and have concluded that the following seven areas offer the best opportunities to prevent helicopter accidents:
The 2017-18 IHST survey looked at where these best practices were followed within specific segments of the helicopter industry and within regions around the world. Overall, the key recommended safety practices have been implemented most comprehensively by operators in the sectors of Helicopter Air Ambulance, Law Enforcement and Offshore/Oil operations. The lowest implementation occurs in the Personal/Private segment of the industry and in TV/Radio News gathering. From the survey, here is the complete list of segments most following to least following the best practices:


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A warm, quintessential pullover, with a kangaroo-style handwarmer pocket, made with Polartec® Thermal Pro® polyester fleece.
- Deep-pile 100% polyester fleece (51% recycled) with extra-long fibers that retain warmth
- Two-layer fleece stand-up collar with nylon-reinforced 4-snap placket
- Nylon chest-pocket flap with stay-put envelope construction
- Kangaroo-style handwarmer pocket
- Flat-seam construction reduces bulk and helps eliminate seam chafe
- Hip length
- Fair Trade Certified™ sewn
- 550 g (1 lb 3.4 oz)
With extra-long, heat-trapping pile fibers, the Re-Tool adds warmth to any scheme you can imagine. Soft, slightly fuzzy and irresistibly livable, it's made of Polartec® Thermal Pro® polyester fleece with 51% recycled content. It has a two-layer fleece stand-up collar for wind protection, a nylon-reinforced front placket with snaps for quick venting, a roomy kangaroo-style handwarmer pocket, one chest pocket and flat-seam construction throughout to reduce bulk and eliminate seam chafing. Hip length. It's also Fair Trade Certified™ sewn, which means the people who made it earned a premium for their labor.
Body: 9.3-oz Polartec® Thermal Pro® 100% polyester fleece (51% recycled).
Placket and pocket: 3.4-oz 100% nylon plain weaveView The Footprint Chronicles


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I've been a fan of Countlan for a while now; it's a gorgeous quarterly digital publication that explores the way people eat and entertain around the world. After reading a few issues online, I contacted the lovely Sarah, who captains the Countlan boat, to find out if there might be any opportunities to work with them. Needless to say, I was over the moon when I heard back from Sarah; she wanted to start with an interview about the cookbook I put together few years ago.
Given that I'm no professional chef or author, and this book was quite simply a passion project I put together in my spare time, it was really humbling (and exciting) to have it noticed and appreciated by someone like Sarah. That's the reason I'm such a big fan of Countlan; they're not about the hottest new celebrity chef openings in the biggest cities in the world, they're about the small and unknown, about promoting the real and authentic, the humble and down to earth, to give a genuine cross-cultural perspective of what real people are like around the world.
Thanks so much for the kudos Countlan, very much appreciated 🙂


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2007 Subaru Outback information
In 2007 Subaru Outback was released in 15 different versions, 1 of which are in a body "Wagon" and 1 in the body "Sedan".
At the time, according to the manufacturer's recommendations, the cheapest modification 2007 Subaru Outback 2.5i Basic 4dr Wagon AWD (2.5L 4cyl 5M) with a Manual gearbox should do its future owner of $21995.On the other side - the most expensive modification - 2007 Subaru Outback 2.5 XT Limited 4dr Wagon AWD w/Navi (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5A) with an Automatic transmission and MSRP $34195 manufacturer.
Did you know that: the earliest Subaru Outback, which you can find information on our website has been released in 2000.
The largest displacement, designed for models Subaru Outback in 2007 - 3.0 liters.
Did you know that: The most expensive modification of the Subaru Outback, according to the manufacturer's recommendations - 2.5 XT Limited 4dr Wagon AWD w/Navi (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 5A) - $34195.
For models of the Subaru Outback in 2007 were used the following colors in the color of body: Brilliant Silver Metallic, Brilliant Silver Metallic/Granite Gray Opal, Champagne Gold Opal, Diamond Gray Metallic, Newport Blue Pearl, Newport Blue Pearl/Granite Gray Opal, Obsidian Black Pearl, Satin White Pearl, Willow Green Opal/Moss Green Metallic.
Most of all modifications Subaru Outback 2007 weighs 3.0 R L.L.Bean Edition 4dr Wagon AWD w/Navi (3.0L 6cyl 5A) - 3610 Lbs.


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Year 9 and 10 trip to Normandy – Key information
We will be departing on Friday 15th July at 00:30 and returning on Sunday 17th July 2016 at approx. 22:00.
You will be informed by text or via your child if the return time changes.
We require that your child's passport and EHIC card are handed in on the 8th July.
Teachers accompanying the trip: Ms C Braham, Mr R Pitcher, Mr A Holbrook, Ms C Nattrass.
Trip leader: Ms C Braham
Date: 15th July 2016
Pick-up Time: 01.00 St. Augustine's Catholic College, Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9EN
Arrive Eurotunnel Tolls: 05.00 Folkestone
Eurotunnel departs: 05.50 Folkestone -Calais
Arrive: 11.30 Honfleur
Depart: 17.30 Arromanches & transfer to UNCMT Lion-Sur-mer (accommodation)
15th July 2016
11.30 – 12.30 Arrive Honfleur, free time to explore and buy/eat lunch
12.30 Meet coach and drive to Arromanches
14.00 – 15.30 Visit Arromanches Landing Museum
16.00 – 17.30 Visit Arromanches 360° Cinema
17.30 Depart Arromanches and drive to UNCMT Lion-Sur-mer
18.15 Arrive accommodation and check in for evening meal
19.00 Evening meal in accommodation and games
16th July 2016
08.00 Breakfast in accommodation
08.45 After breakfast, collect packed lunches and drive to Mont-Saint-Michel
10.45 Arrive at Mont Saint Michel
Group to walk up to the Abbey – prayer/reflection
11.30 – 13.30 Visit Abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel
14.30 Meet coach at the parking, depart Mont-Saint-Michel and drive to Nonant
16.30 – 17.30 Visit Chocolaterie Drakkar
17.30 Depart Nonant and drive to accommodation
18.15 Arrive accommodation
19.00 Evening meal in accommodation and bowling (optional)
17th July 2016
08.00 Breakfast in accommodation
09.00 After breakfast, collect packed lunches and drive to Wierre-Effroy
15.45 – 16.45 Visit Boulangerie Le Fournil
17.00 Depart Wierre-Effroy and drive to Calais
Date: 17th July 2016
Depart: 17.00 Wierre-Effroy and drive to Calais
Arrive Eurotunnel Tolls: 17.45 Calais
Eurotunnel departs: 18.36 Calais- Folkestone
Arrive Home: 22.00 St. Augustine's Catholic College, Wingfield Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 9EN
Suitable clothing and recommended kit
- The weather in the North of France for the season is not cold and mainly dry with sunny periods, but it might rain so we recommend suitable footwear and clothing
- Please make sure students bring the following:
-sun cream lotion
-sun glasses
-a hat
-a towel
-a packed lunch, snacks and drinks for the journey.
Staff will be taking the medical form we currently have for your child. Please ensure that you update the college if there have been any recent changes. If your child requires medication, it should be handed in on the day of departure with precise instructions.
Mobile phones
- We recommend that students do not bring valuable items with them on trips. If they do so it is at their own risk. We appreciate that many students wish to bring their mobile phones in order to contact their parents on the return journey.
- During the duration of the trip, mobile phones should be turned off and out of sight. Students will need to ask permission to use their phones, and mobile phones may be confiscated if necessary.
- Students will be allowed to use their mobile phones to take photos during the trip should they wish to.
- The trip leader will be taking the school mobile phone. If you need to contact you child during the trip, you will be able to use this number: 07831 423904. Students will also be able to contact you via this phone.
Pocket money
Students may wish to bring a small amount of money to spend on drinks, snacks and souvenirs. We would recommend that they do not bring more than 40 euros.
On the Saturday night students will have to opportunity to go bowling. They will need 7.50 euros if they wish to play but are welcome to come along and have a drink instead.
Useful Links


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Putting the B in GLBT
As one of the purposes of this blog is to add depth and variety to the discussions of female dominance out there, I'd like to address one of the discursive lacks that I find most personally baffling. I'm a 60/40 bisexual, preference for female partners. This is my own internal summarization of what turns my head, but it's pretty accurately represented in my body count as well, in both kinky and vanilla interactions. It's easier for a woman to capture my attention, to provoke a speculative eyebrow, or to successfully approach me with her interest in kink. I'm disappointed that most popular conceptions of female dominance assume that only women topping men is important. I am more likely to top women than I am men, and those encounters are equally intense and meaningful. Many of the other female dominants that I know have female partners, exclusively or in addition to their male partners, so I am hardly a community rarity.
There are definite trends in how I interact with women in a BDSM context versus how I interact with men, and this alternately fascinates and worries me. My female partners have been predominantly bottoms or submissives, with the occasional switch. I've only had one top-top relationship with another woman. My male partners are usually tops or toppish switches willing to flex for me. I've had several top-top relationships with men. I am unsure of how much of this is a result of the pressures on men to identify as toppy or dominant and how much of it is just my taste. My female partners are usually delighted to let me drive, and our play tends to center around explorations of their limits and boundaries. My male partners usually want to fight me for control, and our play tends to center around that struggle and its inevitable fruit. The relationships where kink follows me out of the bedroom are usually but not always my relationships with women, though there's an element of service in most of my relationships regardless of the gender of my partner. I dish out stronger deliberately painful sensations to my female partners, as they appreciate it more, ask for it, and can take it. I hit my male partners as if we were sparring, and I almost never am so combative with women. Yet, when the chips are down, almost all of my kink relationships coalesce the same way — my partners want to be my right-hand woman (or man) as we work together towards our common goal. That element of service shows up and flavors our pursuit as a team of whatever it is we're after. (In fairness, I'll also do this if my partner is more knowledgeable/competent/suited to lead our effort than I am in a given sphere. I'll Girl Friday if that's going to be more successful, and I make a pretty good service top. However, most of the time I'm directing as well as executing.)
I find it interesting that it's so much easier for women to successfully approach me for play, or to indicate their interest such that I care to follow up on it. I can't recall a single occasion where a fellow who made the first move was terribly successful with me — most guys do better if they wait for me to approach them. Women don't tend to approach me very often, but they will say something that lets me know whether I can approach them without offense or not. With women, I'll find out if they're even potentially interested in my gender before broaching the subject of interactive kink with them. Men tend to make their orientation clear more quickly, at least with regards to interest or lack thereof in me. And while I usually prefer to take plenty of time to get to know my prospective bottom's psyche, likes, dislikes, limits, and interests, it's still useful for me to know whether that information is coming up in a friendly but academic discussion or whether it's something that I might find personally useful and important to remember.
I am a firm believer in women being willing to do some of the courtship risk-taking — that is to say, I am usually the first one to stick my neck out and declare interest or attraction, to ask someone out rather than waiting to be asked, the first to make commitment noises or acknowledge deepening feelings or to say "I love you". This has been important with all my partners due to the common assumption that the dominant partner will be the one driving these things, but it's been particularly important with my female partners. (Amusing, since my female partners get a better reception on average than my male partners if they do want to drive these behaviours first.) Lesbian sheep syndrome certainly happens, and while I'm happy to cut through it as needed, if I weren't willing to do so I'd have far fewer dates. I have, humorously, commanded someone to be my girlfriend in the past… but only after making damn sure that we were well suited and that it was what she wanted.
I have had lesbians who were unwilling to date me due to my male partners. I don't think I've ever had a woman decline my invitation to kink because I have male partners as well; if that has happened, she never told me so. I have not had a man ever turn me down for relationship or kink due to my having female partners. (Being poly at all, yes, but not because they couldn't handle me being involved with women.) I don't tend to play casually — I'm happy to educate or demonstrate technique more casually, but if I'm seriously sitting down with someone for pre-scene negotiations, odds are very good that they have emotional heft in my life. This often makes me wonder how most women think of kink versus relationships with women, and what would incline them towards one but not the other. They're different but related kinds of intimacy to me, though obviously I'm delighted to engage in both with my female partners.
I know there are plenty of other bi and lesbian toppy women out there — I look forward to hearing your stories too.
2 Responses
Very interesting viewpoint! A lot to think about. It shows there is a lot more to the world of kink than many know about, including many kinky people I've met.
My own experience has been fascinating and frustrating in many ways. When I've told people, for example, that I'm a top woman, I tend to get more guys interested in me than girls. And because I'm the frilly type of femme (goth and lolita fashion) instead of the leather corset type, some people tend to think I must be "really" a sub. (Er, no. Not unless you're Cthulhu, I'm not! 😉 )
And I've noticed in some quarters a preference for masculine dominant women… I can see the attraction and have even tried the male persona thing, but sadly it didn't work out for me.
The phenomenons you describe in this post are prevalent, and personally upset me in so gigantic a way that it quickly becomes difficult to remain coherent when trying to address why they disturb me so much.
I think there is a huge cultural repression of submissive masculinity that results in such extreme marginalization that only the extreme end of socially inept men are able to identify with the term "submissive." This has, of course, been discussed ad nauseum. Any social aptitude in a man whatsoever is instantly channeled into what the dominant paradigm considers, well, dominant.


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Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Biting Off More Than We Can Chew
The artists whose work I return to time and again are those who seem above or beyond the fleeting temporality of bleeding-edge discourse, but that doesn't make it easier to feel that sometimes the train has left the station. A case in point is a collaborative review-discussion on Bill Dixon's Envoi (Victo, 2011). This will soon be published at the Destination: Out website, where my review and a short interview with trumpeter-improvising composer Stephen Haynes about the work and performance will be in dialogue. Through various exigencies, it's taken a few months longer to get this piece completed and posted and it will be well after the initial onslaught of reviews have gone to press. The music itself is so far beyond "contemporary" that such timeliness shouldn't matter - it was released only a matter of months ago, anyway - yet in the initial sales-hype machine to which the reviewer is inexorably linked, that slice of time could be decades past.
While lately it has been hard to find time to pop the headphones on at work and strike a few keys in the direction of criticism, one easy place to remain attached to the conversation is Facebook. It only takes a few seconds to "like" someone's post or contribute a pithy comment. The same goes for retweeting things on Twitter. It's already been established that this is a poor facsimile of dialogue, but nevertheless it does give the creative music community some degree of visibility and virtual activity. For a few days on either side of the event, people can honor the birthdays of John Coltrane, Bud Powell and Sam Rivers or rail against an abusive club owner until we once again slip into our normal day-to-day. It's something we're all part of here - myself included, most definitely - and that fleeting immediacy seems to be the state of critical discourse as well. Writing about music right now requires keeping pace with the ADHD-inflected state of information dispersal, whether one likes it or not.
Obviously I have no answer for this dilemma, or even whether I'll take a break or not - after all, things have to get finished including several end-of-month reviews for this and other sites, tidying up the transcription of an interview with the late composer Graham Collier, and a couple of exciting liner-note projects. Next week I'll be in New York to catch Anthony Braxton at Roulette; maybe that will be just the shot in the proverbial arm that is needed to keep the work at the "right" level. We shall see.
3 comments:
I understand this more than you know.ReplyDelete
I am really picky about the subject matter for my articles. And feel less pressure since I write only for two publications now.
My articles are more thought-y and, as a result, more complete. The focus needs to exist. Otherwise, fulfillment for the writer is lacking.
The cover you choose for illustrating your musings is very apt.ReplyDelete
"Knirsch" is a short form (no "good" german) for crunching or creaking.
In the situation you describe one could easily start to creak/crunch with ones teeth (Zähne knirschen). And the "etcetera" doesn't make it better.
I have a similar problem in my daily job of recommending and selling 'This' music to my costumers.
How can I be up to date - no chance!!
What's more frustrating is my inability to persuade them that it is simply not possible to be up to date - much less so listening to all those (re-)releases...
In the end the ability/necessity to limit my scope is a task which leads to other yet analogues problems and contradictions.
Helpless but still curious - thank you for your articles/essays/interviews, which at least in my mind become conversations.
Thanks you all!ReplyDelete
I was reading a 1955 essay by Ira Gitler saying pretty much the same thing - no keeping up with the flood, and it's best to do what you can to promote what you really like.


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To plan a safari can be a daunting task. Even when you use the advice of a good tour agent it is difficult to make certain decisions. We've been on over 30 safaris in Africa and we are often asked for advice on safaris in Africa.
There are a number of key points to consider in order to plan your safari. You should determine where to go, how long, what to pack, and the budget for your safari. Today, we are going to tell you where to start and how to plan the perfect African safari.
How To Plan a Safari in Africa
Decide Where To Go On Safari
First, it's important to decide where in Africa you want to go on your safari. There are two main regions that hold the best wildlife – East Africa or Southern Africa. Each region is distinct, but they generally have the same key animals you are probably hoping to see on safari.
East Africa
East Africa encompasses Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Tanzania, and more notably the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, has the largest draw for tourists and is world renowned for its game-filled plains of grass in the Serengeti. Nairobi, Dar Es Salaam, and Arusha are key entry points into East Africa. If you're looking for more on safaris in East Africa check out our posts on Tanzania or Kenya.
Southern Africa
South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia are the key countries in Southern Africa for safari. The principal airport in Southern Africa is Johannesburg. Many people will start at Kruger National Park, which is only a four-hour drive from Johannesburg. From there tourist can also take regional flights to Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, or Zimbabwe; however, all of the countries have international airports, but may be more expensive than flying into South Africa. If you're looking to get more in-depth take a look at our best places to go on safari in Southern Africa. Alternatively, you can always rent a car and drive around Southern Africa.
Plan For Your Visas
After you decide where to go for your safari in Africa you should consider visa requirements for the destination. As Americans, we are able to enter South Africa, Namibia, and Botswana visa free.
Zambia and Zimbabwe both require a visa for entry, but this can be done on arrival at the airport or land border. For those traveling to both Zambia and Zimbabwe, visitors can now obtain a KAZA Uni Visa which is good for 30 days in both countries and can be acquired at the border for $50 USD.
Any visitor going to Malawi should expect to pay $75 for their tourist visa, which can be bought at the border and can only be paid for in USD produced after 2013.
American visitors traveling to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda can acquire the East African Tourist Visa which is good for 90 days between all three countries. However, once you leave those countries the visa expires and is voided. You can apply for this visa online at least three days in advance of your arrival. If you are just traveling to one of those countries you can obtain your visa on arrival at the airport or by land.
Tanzania travelers must also have a visa, which can be obtained on arrival for most nationalities. A single entry Tanzanian visa costs $50 cash except for US nationals. US passport holders must get a multiple-entry visa for $100 cash only for their Tanzanian visa, this visa is good for one year.
We always to check visas requirements beforehand as they vary according to nationality. We've also noticed that African visas are subject to change at a moments notice so make sure to check periodically. We get most of our info from each countries Wikitravel page or the local embassy website, which we have always found to be up to date and reliable.
Decide What Season To Go On Safari
Time of year is key for travel in Africa. There are two main seasons that will affect your safari planning – dry and rainy. During the dry season rainfall is rare. The air is dry and temperatures vary widely between hot and cold. Vegetation is sparse and animals have to fight for survival.
While the heat during the day may make your safari uncomfortable it's important to remember that this is the best time of the year to spot game. With limited water animals concentrate around riverbeds, lakes, and man-made watering holes giving you more of a chance to spot game. During this season it is easier to spot wildlife with less foliage on the trees and bushes. However, it does get HOT (and I mean like above 40°C) in Africa during the dry season. October is even dubbed "suicide month" amongst the locals.
The rainy season, on the other hand, will be cooler and the landscape is green and lush. The rainy season is usually the off-season or shoulder season for safaris. It is much harder to spot game as the animals now have a surplus of water and don't have to travel to riverbeds and waterholes to drink. The rainy season is also when the state of the roads degrade. Many lodges in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, and Kenya shut down because their locations are virtually inaccessible. However, if you time it right with the shoulder season you can find fewer crowds and lower prices.
We have been on safaris during all times of year and always have an extraordinary time. We've seen wild dogs (four times) during the shoulder season and sometimes have gone on safari in the dry season to see absolutely nothing. You can never count on anything concrete while on safari – this is the wild after all!
Check Your Health
It is critical to ensure you're up to date on all your shots before your safari. We went and got up to date on ours before we started our life of travel. We recommend you have current tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A & B vaccinations.
Many countries in East/West Africa also require you to have a Yellow Fever Vaccine. However, we have never once been asked for proof of Yellow Fever. We recommend checking the CDC website for the best information.
In regards to malaria, verify if you will be traveling in a malaria zone first. If you are traveling in a region with risk of malaria make sure to take proper precautions to ensure you do not get infected. I've talked about malaria before, but long story short Doxycycline and Malarone are the two main preventive drugs available.
We personally do not take malaria prevention. Instead, we adhere to preventive steps and sleep under mosquito nets, use insect repellant, and cover skin at night.
If you have the time and want to save some money on vaccines and medicines consider going to a clinic when you land in Africa. This is what we did and the prices are a fraction of the cost than in Western countries. We also have found that the local doctors have a greater knowledge of the diseases and regions than doctors back home.
Cash on Safari
On safari, US Dollar is king and accepted at most lodges. When it comes to tips any guide will happily accept USD. I would suggest bringing extra cash for staff and guide tips, souvenirs, and for backup in case of emergencies. Outside of major cities, you will have trouble using a credit card.
This isn't to say that local currencies aren't welcome! If you arrive in Africa with less cash than desired then any ATM will be able to dispense the local currency. However, most countries do not accept neighboring currencies. Make sure to know exchange rates before you land – we like to use the XE app for this.
A general rule of thumb for tipping on safari is $5-$10 per day per person in the general staff pool and $5-$10 per person per day to your guide. Tips should be sorted at the end of your safari.
Notes: The South African Rand is widely accepted all over Southern Africa. This includes Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Swaziland. The Rand is 1:1 with the Namibian Dollar, the Lesotho Loti, and the Swazi Lilangeni.
Zimbabwe has been in an economic crisis mode since 2000 and you should enter the country with enough USD to get you through your trip. Read more about travel in Zimbabwe here.
What To Pack On Safari
We recommend you wear lightweight and neutral colors for safari. The average day on safari will start before sunrise and end after sunset so layers are key to stay comfortable. Yes, it gets cold in Africa. Don't go on safari without at least some sort of jacket or fleece. Daytime is likely to yield high temperatures and this is where the lightweight clothing comes in!
Most of your safari will be spent in the back of a game viewer, so in reality, you can wear whatever you want. I spend most of my time on safari in flip flops.
There is one exception, and that is if you plan to do walking safaris. Walking safaris or bush walks are one of our favorite safari activities in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania. It is crucial to have the right shoes and clothing for this activity. Good safari boots will keep your feet comfortable on any terrain and you will be advised to wear neutral clothes to blend in.
A good safari hat is always recommended. The African sun is no joke and you don't want to get sunburned!
If you want to take photos of all the amazing wildlife, we would suggest picking up a decent safari camera as well. If you're wondering where to put all this stuff in check out some of our favorite safari bags.
Here are all our detailed safari clothing guides here:
- The 13 Best Safari Pants for Men and Women
- Ultimate Safari Clothes Guide: What To Wear On Safari In Africa
- The Best Safari Hat to Wear on Safari
- The Best Safari Shirts for Men and Women in 2019
- The 11 Best Binoculars for a Safari in Africa
- The 15 Best Safari Shorts for Men and Women
- The Best Safari Vests to Take to Africa
- 10 Safari Bags to Consider for Your Trip to Africa
How To Book Your Safari
You may be used to planning and booking your own vacations; however, Africa is a different ballgame. Proper information is lacking on travel in Africa and in many places the tourism infrastructure is not adequate.
We took a leap and drove ourselves from South Africa to Uganda. I will be the first to admit it was no walk in the park. If you are short on time and don't want the headache of planning and organizing your African adventure I would suggest organizing your safari through a tour operator.
We have priced out the cost of booking on our own versus through a provider and find it sometimes can be cheaper to go through an operator. African lodges are very loyal to their safari operators and agents and often provide them with discounts that they don't provide to individuals organizing themselves.
There are also a number of companies that do not allow individuals to book their stays with them. This is largely done out of safety and to ensure their guests have a hassle-free trip.
That being said, it is possible to organize a safari on your own. We recommend doing so in Southern Africa where prices are more affordable, infrastructure is more advanced, and roads/internet/information is more prevalent. We did a self-drive in Kruger National Park our third day on the African continent and had a wonderful time.
Other places that are easy to do yourself are Etosha National Park, the Western Cape, and Victoria Falls. A general rule of thumb that we have found is the further north you get in Africa the harder (and more expensive) travel becomes.
As always, it pays to do your research and find out what is right for your African safari. Check out our Hashtag Africa page for first-hand information on travel in Africa.
Plan Your Trip to Africa
We rely on a few trusted websites that help save us money and time when booking hotels, flights, and car rentals. Check out some of our preferred partners below:
- Accommodation in Africa: Find the best hotel deal at Hotels.com.
- Flights to Africa: Compare airlines, dates, and prices all in one place with Skyscanner.
- Tours around Africa: If you're not much of a driver check out some of these African tours.
- Travel Insurance: We never travel without travel insurance with World Nomads. We ALWAYS travel with travel insurance. World Nomads offers incredible flexible and great plans!
- Guide Book: Sometimes it's nice just to have a real book in your hands when traveling. We recommend picking up a Lonely Planet to get you through the wireless nights.
- Adaptor: You'll need this adaptor in Southern Africa, and this one in Eastern Africa.
Read Next:
- The Best Safari Shirts for Men and Women
- Africa's Best Places to Have a Safari Vacation
- The Best Safari Boots For Bush Walks REVIEWED
- The Big Five: Animals You'll Want To See On Safari
- The Best Women's Clothes for Travel • Tested by a Full Time Traveler
- Sustainable Travel is More Than Being Green • How To Travel Sustainably
- 10 Unethical Animal Encounters to Avoid • The Dark Side of Animal Tourism
Check Out These Posts
Travel Quote Inspiration
Africa Travel Tips
- Read These Tips On Travel in Africa
- What to Know Before You Go To Morocco
- Namibia Travel Tips You Should Know
- Why Traveling In Africa is Expensive
- Things To Know Before You Travel To Botswana
- Read These Tips On Travel in Zimbabwe
- 12 Tips On Travel To Zanzibar You Should Read
- 20 South Africa Travel Tips
Safari Destinations
- The Best Safari Destinations To Sport Wildlife
- Your Guide To Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
- The Magic of Kafue National Park
- A Masai Mara Guide For Safari Goers
- Africa's Safari Animals And Where To Find Them
- Gorilla Trekking in Uganda – All You Need To Know
- Inside Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve
- A Week in South Luangwa National Park
Find Your Next Trip
- What It's Like To Travel In Mozambique
- How To Do A Canoe Safari Down the Zambezi
- 30 Amazing Things To Do in Namibia
- 15 Things We've Learned From Overlanding Africa
- 25 Great Things To Do In Cape Town
- The Best Beaches on Zanzibar
- Why You Need To Visit Malawi
- Get $100 With This Airbnb Coupon
- Namibia's Famous Wolwedans Dune Lodge
- The Best Hotels in Zanzibar
- A Romantic Weekend At The Tintswalo Atlantic
- A Safari In Nairobi National Park
- The Best Safari Lodges in Africa
- Check Out These Eco Lodges in Africa
- The Best Resorts At Diani Beach
Pack Your Bags
- The Best Africa Packing List
- The Best Travel Backpacks For Backpacking
- The Best Travel Backpacks For Women
- Find Your Perfect Safari Clothes – What To Wear on Safari
- The Best Safari Dresses
- What To Wear In Morocco
- Find a Great Safari Jacket
- Safari Cameras Sure To Get The Shot
- Grab a Pair of Safari Boots For Bush Walks
- The Best Safari Binoculars For Game Drives
- Safari Shirts To Wear on Your Next Trip
- Protect Your Face With A Great Safari Hat
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Arnold Schwarzenegger's Former Man Cave
This might be old news for some, but I just came across a 360-degree three-dimensional rendering of the tent that Arnold Schwarzenegger smoked cigars in during his tenure as governor of California, and it is probably the coolest thing I've ever seen. I'd like to point out a few of the notably awesome things in this enviable cigar lounge:
- Portrait of Arnold smoking a stogie
- (Apparently) Cuban Cohiba next to what looks like a high-end Padron
- Billy club-sized cigar (looks like it might be a MAXX, judging from the label)
- Stinky Cigar ashtray
- Red Bull refrigerator
- Water cooler (which may very well be a single-malt whisky dispenser)
- Three bowls of raw almonds
- Colossal H. Upmann ashtray
- Is that a copper fan with a shark on it?!
- Giant poinsettia plant
- Badass chess board
- Nicely decorated desktop humidor
- Air scrubber
- Some sort of music playing device
I feel like I'm playing I Spy, but this has got to be the coolest assortment of stuff anybody could keep in their smoking space. A lot of people question how good of a job he did in office, but regardless of his political achievements, I admire the guy's man cave. All he needs are a couple of musical instruments, a life-sized bronze statue of a grizzly bear, and a five-foot claymore (to be used as a cigar cutter, of course).


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Get in touch to learn more about our industry discount
Our medium glass cube vase is 12cm and is very popular for wedding table centre pieces. It is practical for candles, terrariums and floral arrangements. It is a good quality piece which is handmade and is mouth blown thick glass.
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The most suitable pillar candle sizes for this vase are 7cm x 7cm and 7cm x 10cm. I holds 1 candle.
All candles for use in our candles holders and vase are to be purchased through The Hire Co. If you wish to use your own candles additional cleaning fees may apply. Please download the candle order form here, fill it in and email it to email@example.com


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ZQRacing Hero Series Gaming Office Chair-Blue/Black
ZQRacing Hero Series Gaming Office Chair-Blue/Black
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Hi Everyone!
The email system is fixed. Good news! I sent a test message out to all my subscribers and it went through perfectly. I titled the email "A Test of the Rubber Mallet Comics email System … and your subscription list."
When my email got to my mailbox it was bounced to spam, which is probably going to happen to you. Check your spam and your trash and hopefully you'll be able to mark our email address (email@example.com) as "not spam".
Thanks everyone!
- Chuck


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Union Headquarters monuments > 1st Corps > 2nd Division
The monument to the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division of the 1st Corps is west of Gettysburg on Doubleday Avenue. (39.842671° N, 77.242376° W; map; Tour map: Doubleday – Robinson Avenues)
The brigade was commanded by Brigadier General Henry Baxter, a miller and militia captain from Michigan originally born in New York.
See Brigadier General Henry Baxter's Official Report of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 1st Corps in the Battle of Gettysburg
Attached to the 2nd Division, 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac
From the monument:
Army of the Potomac
First Corps Second Division
Second Brigade
Brig. Gen. Henry Baxter
12th Mass 83d 97th New York
11th 88th 90th Pennsylvania Infantry
July 1. Arrived about noon took position on right of Corps on Mummasburg Road with Second Brigade First Division on left. Repulsed an attack of Col. O'Neal's Brigade then changed front and with the assistance of Second Brigade First Division captured 1000 prisoners and three stand of colors of Brig. Gen. Iverson's Brigade. Afterwards relieved by First Brigade and retired to the Railroad Cut to support Battery B 4th U. S. At 4 p.m. retired to Cemetery Hill and constructed breastworks. The 11th Penna. was transferred to the First Brigade.
July 2. About 10 A. M. relieved by Second Brigade Second Division Second Corps and placed in reserve. At 4 P. M. supported a battery of Eleventh Corps. At sunset moved to the support of Third Corps then returned to support of Eleventh Corps.
July 3. Moved to the rear of the cemetery early in the morning in support of Twelfth Corps. At 2 P. M. formed on right and rear of Third Division Second Corps and there remained until the close of the battle. The Brigade went into action with less than 1200 men.
Casualties Killed 7 Officers 3 Men Wounded 31 Officers 227 Men Captured or Missing 12 Officers 338 Men Total 648


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The science and engineering practices describe behaviors that scientists and engineers engage in as they investigate and build models and theories about the natural world and the key set of engineering practices that engineers use as they design and build models and systems. The term practices are used instead of a term like "skills" to emphasize that engaging in scientific investigation requires not only skill but also knowledge that is specific to each practice. The intent is to better explain and extend what is meant by "inquiry" in science and the range of cognitive, social, and physical practices that it requires.
Although engineering design is similar to scientific inquiry, there are significant differences. For example, scientific inquiry involves the formulation of a question that can be answered through investigation, while engineering design involves the formulation of a problem that can be solved through design. As you read over the practices, you'll notice that these are the things great teachers already do to teach students science concepts.
1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
A practice of science is to ask and refine questions that lead to descriptions and explanations of how the natural and designed world works and which can be empirically tested. Engineering questions clarify problems to determine criteria for successful solutions and identify constraints to solve problems about the designed world. Both scientists and engineers also ask questions to clarify the ideas of others.
2. Developing and using models
A practice of both science and engineering is to use and construct models as helpful tools for representing ideas and explanations. These tools include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations. Modeling tools are used to develop questions, predictions, and explanations; analyze and identify flaws in systems; and communicate ideas. Models are used to build and revise scientific explanations and proposed engineered systems. Measurements and observations are used to revise models and designs.
3. Planning and carrying out investigations
Scientists and engineers plan and carry out investigations in the field or laboratory, working collaboratively as well as individually. Their investigations are systematic and require clarifying what counts as data and identifying variables or parameters. Engineering investigations identify the effectiveness, efficiency, and durability of designs under different conditions.
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
Scientific investigations produce data that must be analyzed in order to derive meaning. Because data patterns and trends are not always obvious, scientists use a range of tools—including tabulation, graphical interpretation, visualization, and statistical analysis—to identify the significant features and patterns in the data. Scientists identify sources of error in the investigations and calculate the degree of certainty in the results. Modern technology makes the collection of large data sets much easier, providing secondary sources for analysis. Engineering investigations include analysis of data collected in the tests of designs. This allows comparison of different solutions and determines how well each meets specific design criteria—that is, which design best solves the problem within given constraints. Like scientists, engineers require a range of tools to identify patterns within data and interpret the results. Advances in science make the analysis of proposed solutions more efficient and effective.
5. Using mathematics and computational thinking
In both science and engineering, mathematics and computation are fundamental tools for representing physical variables and their relationships. They are used for a range of tasks such as constructing simulations; statistically analyzing data; and recognizing, expressing, and applying quantitative relationships. Mathematical and computational approaches enable scientists and engineers to predict the behavior of systems and test the validity of such predictions. Statistical methods are frequently used to identify significant patterns and establish correlational relationships.
6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)
The products of science are explanations and the products of engineering are solutions. The goal of science is the construction of theories that provide explanatory accounts of the world. A theory becomes accepted when it has multiple lines of empirical evidence and greater explanatory power of phenomena than previous theories. The goal of engineering design is to find a systematic solution to problems that is based on scientific knowledge and models of the material world. Each proposed solution results from a process of balancing competing criteria of desired functions, technical feasibility, cost, safety, aesthetics, and compliance with legal requirements. The optimal choice depends on how well the proposed solutions meet criteria and constraints.
7. Engaging in argument from evidence
Argumentation is the process by which explanations and solutions are reached. In science and engineering, reasoning and argument based on evidence are essential to identifying the best explanation for a natural phenomenon or the best solution to a design problem. Scientists and engineers use argumentation to listen to, compare, and evaluate competing ideas and methods based on merits. Scientists and engineers engage in argumentation when investigating a phenomenon, testing a design solution, resolving questions about measurements, building data models, and using evidence to identify strengths and weaknesses of claims.
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Scientists and engineers must be able to communicate clearly and persuasively the ideas and methods they generate. Critiquing and communicating ideas individually and in groups is a critical professional activity. Communicating information and ideas can be done in multiple ways: using tables, diagrams, graphs, models, and equations as well as orally, in writing, and through extended discussions. Scientists and engineers employ multiple sources to acquire information that is used to evaluate the merit and validity of claims, methods, and designs.
If we teach today's students as we taught yesterday's, we rob them of tomorrow.
– John Dewey
Source: A Framework for K-12 Science Education