text: As teenagers, the women of the Ethiopian Mursi tribe pierce their lower lips and put a clay plate in it. They are one of the last tribes in the world who still practice this tradition and the new generation, influenced by the outside world, might decide to abandon it. That's why British photographer Jimmy Nelson decided to travel the world for three years, visiting 35 tribes in all five continents, to document their lives and customs before they disappear. He drank vodka with the Mongolian Tsaatan tribe in freezing conditions and admired the beautiful Himba tribesmen in the Namib Desert. The result of his journey can be found in his new book of photographs, "Before They Pass Away." "The whole idea is to make (the tribes) iconic. To give them the attention that we give ourselves in the developed world," the 45-year-old photographer says. From a very early age, Nelson was confronted by cultural diversity. He grew up in different African countries before moving to England at the age of seven to attend a catholic Jesuit boarding school. Going back to Africa to meet with nine tribes in four different countries was a special experience for him. Read this: modernizing the Maasai to avoid extinction "Africa is evolving the quickest in my opinion. It has lost the majority of its ethnicity and authenticity," he says. "I grew up in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gabon and in Cameroon. I've been living for 45 years, and what I saw in my childhood is not there anymore." Being humble Nelson and his crew, consisting of an assistant and a cameraman, covered Africa in five trips. They visited five tribes in Ethiopia, and one each in Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia. Nelson says the most challenging part of his African journeys was approaching the tribes in southern Ethiopia. "There are many small tribes in a small area and everybody is protecting their own turf. So they can be quite intimidating," he says. When first approaching the tribes, Nelson left the camera equipment behind. He says even though all the tribes had been documented before, he was conscious to explain to them what he wanted to do. Only the Kenyan tribe, Samburu, knew he was coming. Maasai Cricket Warriors: 'Bowling is just like throwing a spear' Although he was always traveling with a local guide, Nelson had to rely on body language and gestures to communicate with the different tribesmen and gain their trust. But he says it was all about appealing to their vanity. "Initially it's idolization. You put them on a pedestal and then you touch their muscles and show that through lots of gestures, lots of hero-worship," Nelson explains of his initial meetings with the Ethiopian tribes, who would often greet him carrying Kalashnikov rifles. "You arrive and they are all wild and intimidating, it's all about being macho." One thing that stood out to Nelson when meeting the different African tribes was their awareness of their appearances. He says he noticed a lot of male vanity in the African tribes. For example, many people think the men in the Namibian Himba tribe are actually women. "This is a classic example of the whole idea behind the book that appearances can be deceptive," he says. "Very few of us will ever look as beautiful as these people." The Himba: Namibia's iconic red women Signs of modernization When Nelson and his crew traveled across the Omo Valley four years ago, to find the southern Ethiopian tribes, it took them three weeks to reach them. Today, he says, the roads have been improved and it only takes a few days. He thinks this is one of the reasons some of the tribes are slowly abandoning their traditional lifestyle. "At the moment (the African tribes) are evolving quickly because of the digital age. Many of them have a mobile telephone, so they are aware of an outside world," he says. The book "Before They Pass Away" is just the first third of his project. The next step is to go back to all 35 tribes and show them their photos, explaining to them why he made them. The idea is to then visit another 35 tribes in more politically unstable areas, where he would need the authorities' help to get access. But most of all Nelson hopes the portraits will encourage a deeper dialogue between the tribes and the developed world. "By illustrating these people in a grand aesthetic, romantic, idealistic and iconic way, I'm trying to attract the public's attention to a subject matter that they wouldn't normally be interested in," the photographer explains. Before Nelson embarked on his three-year-long journey, he was just expecting to make a visual document to celebrate the tribes for what they looked like. But now he thinks there are greater lessons to be learned. "In my eyes the tribespeople are emotionally and socially very rich but materially very poor, and we (in the West) are the opposite," he says. "How aware of how special they are is debatable, hence why I want to start this discussion. Before they pass away."


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Given the catastrophic mantra rising in media reports and from certain pundits, one contrarian point needs to be made clear: democracy can't and won't kill the debt-stricken euro. As Europeans at the ballot box are demonstrating, economic policies—even amid the continent's currency crisis—simply aren't the zero-sum considerations that some commentators suggest. A range of credible choices always exists. European voters are now selecting from those, in some cases by embracing change that can help save the euro. Far from being terrified, markets seem to understand and even share the concerns driving such moves—particularly those attentive to growth.
The reason? Government-swapping European elections are far less a threat to the single currency than domination of the same conventional thinking, ideological myopia, and facile reflexes that led to Europe's financial emergency in the first place. Should the euro eventually perish, it could be seen as the result of years of excessive spending—most recently by many of the same leaders now lurching to the opposite extreme with growth-stunting, austerity-focused measures that are arguably complicating the debt crisis.
Contrary to commentators claiming otherwise, changes resulting from crisis-framed elections in Europe also don't correspond to stereotypes of welfare state-addicted societies smiting leaders brave enough to succumb to the one and only reality the euro zone faces. The social and political variables have been too varied for that. Elections since 2011 have ousted leftist governments (Spain and Greece) and toppled ruling conservatives (Ireland, Denmark, and now, as seems likely, France). Italy replaced one discredited right-wing premier with a more stable, sober conservative alternative. Even countries that aren't facing elections have seen pressure mount for revised thinking about managing the euro crisis. That tension was largely responsible for the fall of the Dutch cabinet Monday. It's also forcing German Chancellor Angela Merkel to join E.U. peers questioning her all-austerity prescription for Europe's currency crisis.
(LIST: Merkel in the TIME 100)
So if there's no one-size-fits-all political force at work, what's common to the calls for change across Europe? A desire for a better balance and viability in responding to the situation, for starters. There's also a demand for more common sense in finding cures that aren't more debilitating than the illness they're treating. European publics are ready to make sacrifices to save the euro, but they aren't convinced the current leaders are making all the moves necessary to do that, either. What's more, markets increasingly seem to share that view.
European voters and politicians calling for growth stimulus to compliment existing austerity measures generally echo something many economists and business leaders have been noting for months. To wit: that too much of anything is bad—including 100% spending cuts to battle debt. Without efforts to ensure the minimal economic expansion that keeps revenues flowing into state coffers, they say, governments can't even finance debt they've already built up, much less reduce their arrears. Policies based on growth-choking austerity alone inevitably produce the exact opposite of their goal of lowering public debt levels, since sluggish economic activity or shrinkage not only dries up government income, but also raises outlays as more people become unemployed and require state assistance to get by.
That hasn't been lost on financial experts and business leaders, including many who early in the crisis cried the loudest for clear and immediate steps by euro leaders to take the debt bull by its horns. They've begun heeding alerts from certain economists (notably Paul Krugman and Nouriel Roubini ) that European leaders must re-think their inflexible austerity faith in a manner they didn't dare to before. Yes, debt-spooked investors demanded euro-zone governments make it clear they'd understood the gravity of the situation and were ready to take all the financial and policy steps necessary to save the currency. But no, markets don't want so much austerity that the recessionary economic consequences undermine their own medium- and long-term investing planning and activity.
(MORE: Paul Krugman: An Alien Invasion Could Fix the Economy)
"Markets' self-interest depend on a positive economic outlook, which in turn means insisting governments stimulate growth when expansion doesn't look likely to happen on its own," says Gilles Moec, a senior European economist at Deutsche Bank in London. "Bringing down debt is clearly essential to long-term economic stability. But with austerity measures and deficit rules now in place, many investors now expect efforts to be made to nurture growth. Those are completely contradicting demands in the current situation, but they exist."
It's becoming evident that voters in Europe now also expect their leaders to attempt that difficult, perhaps even impossible, dual act—or be shown the door. That thinking was behind the Socialist front-runner in France's presidential elections, François Hollande, pledging to renegotiate the E.U.'s deficit- and debt-fighting treaty until growth mechanisms were added. Italian premier Mario Monti has since called for similar moves, as have officials in fiscally frugal Holland. Justification for those demands continue to accumulate.
(VIDEO: Interview with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti)
On Monday, news broke of Spain re-entering recession amid draconian spending cuts there. As in austerity-emaciated Ireland before it, the causal role of spending cuts in Spain's economic shrinkage has increased doubts about the wisdom of the all-stick/no-carrot line that has dominated euro-zone response to the crisis. Similar skepticism surged outside the euro zone Wednesday, when new figures showed Britain had also slumped back into recession under the Conservative government's rigorous austerity regime.
Given the evident limits of spending cuts alone, European voters—and markets—are simply demanding governments invest in growth measures that will prove just as useful to debt reduction as belt-tightening. Leaders who refuse are being replaced. Time will tell whether those changes will help to save the euro—but it's already clear they can't possibly be the cause of the currency's demise if it does end up dying.
PHOTOS: The Global Financial Crisis

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Home Furniture
Here you can find all our furniture from Home and Garden Gifts.
We have a selection of storage units, suitable for various rooms in the house.
A good range of tables and chairs are also available from Home and Garden Gifts. There are dining sets for your breakfast room as well as your dining room and even an inflatable air seat which is designed to be used in your lounge.


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NIV Devotions for Couples - Week of August 2
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- Published Jul 12, 2023
When Is My Burden Yours?
Verse: Galatians 6:1-10
Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. — Galatians 6:2
People who work with ocean-going ships will tell you that it's critical to check the way the cargo load is distributed in the vessel. If the cargo is too heavy, the ship will ride too low in the water and won't be able to travel at a good speed. If the load is too light, the ship will ride too high in the water and bob like a cork, especially when storms hit. The ship needs the proper amount of cargo for it to make the best progress across the ocean.
Life works like that for Christians too. When our burdens are too heavy, we can become so depressed and weary that we can hardly do our work, much less be a testimony of God's grace to others. When our burdens are too light, we find it difficult to empathize with others who are carrying a heavy load, or we find ourselves aimless and restless. We need the proper balance between load carrying and load sharing to progress in our Christian walk.
Paul knew this. By commanding us to share each other's burdens, he was echoing Jesus' words: "A new command I give you: Love one another" ( John 13:34 ). The apostle warns us not to question the loads of others, thinking we're better than they are because we don't have their particular problems. "If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves," he said (Galatians 6:3). Instead, Paul tells us to examine ourselves, pick up our own loads and help others when we are called to do so.
When we look at problems in marriage, we see the same principle in place: If one spouse is sinking under a load of guilt, troubles or sin, while the other is bobbing around with seemingly no concern, anger and resentment will build. An unbalanced load will only stress and slow down the marital relationship. So to keep moving together in the right direction, we must remain firmly yoked together as we lovingly share each other's problems and do what we can to help each other deal with them.
But what do we do when our problems become too heavy for the two of us to carry? There may come a time when we need to look for help from others outside the marriage. When we feel overwhelmed by severe problems such as sexual addiction, alcohol abuse or clinical depression, it's time to get help. Going to a Christian doctor, counselor or pastor is not taking the easy way out—for some, admitting a problem in the marriage is an agonizing first step. But it is a necessary step for many couples that need help adjusting to life's problems, to a family crisis or simply to each other.
One caution: It is tempting to turn to friends, family and coworkers to vent our marital problems. This is rarely a good idea. Problems inside a marriage can almost never be solved by taking them outside the marriage, unless it's to a qualified professional. Letting too many people know about our marital struggles just burdens us with the responsibility of keeping others updated. It may force friends or family members to side with one spouse while distancing themselves from the other. And it will drain emotional energy from a marital relationship. Offering our spouses privacy within the marital relationship will keep trust in each other intact and will demonstrate our continued love and respect for each other as we learn better ways of sharing our load.
—Valerie Van Kooten
Let's Talk
• What burdens have each of us had to shoulder in our marriage? What burdens have we weathered together?
• What are some practical ways we can help each other manage the burdens we are carrying right now?
• How can we help others who are struggling with marital problems? What are some cautions to exercise in doing that?
This devotion is from the Couples' Devotional Bible by Zondervan. Used with permission.


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Yesterday, I featured my woefully inadequate dining room space, which is a work in (slow) progress. For inspiration, I turned to my magazine file of my favorite dining spaces, and scanned them for your eyes only. Now if my dining room could look like any of these, no one would ever remember what food I actually served.
You will notice that I lean traditional. However, my personal style is less Architectural Digest, and more Better Homes and Gardens. Yet I constantly peruse and collect copies of Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Southern Accents, Decor, and Remodel magazines to dream my little dreams of someday adding extra glam to my little dining room corner.
Here are just a sampling of the many images I've collected. (All efforts were made to acknowledge the photographer, if known.) These pictures are so lovely, you'll be glad I'm featuring Part Two next week.
House Beautiful, April 2008: Such a calm color scheme, and a great mix of chairs. It could just be the light, but it appears that the chandelier and picture frames are a champagne color, which is noticeably softer than gold or bronze. Photo by Francis Janisch
Decor, Fall/Winter 2007: Fantastic use of purple velvet tufted chairs with traditional ornate chandelier. Refraining from the use of an area rug shows off the beautiful wood flooring.
Southern Accents, May/June 2008: This chandelier is to die for, and I adore that beautiful white hutch with the fresh circular pattern in the glass. A nice blend of wood tones and fabrics. Photo by Tria Giovan
House Beautiful, February 2008: This space is so interesting! Orange velvet, a dark wood table on a key patterned rug, and is that a white coral chandelier? Beautiful use of spa blue as a backdrop to its orange compliment. Photo by Erik Piasecki
Southern Accents, July/August 2008: How dreamy is that chandelier up against those chocolate walls? Simple and whimsical centerpieces from nature. Photo by William Waldron
Southern Accents, May/June 2008: Three different styles of chairs covered in the same fabric with nailhead trim. This dining room multitasks as a library as well. What a brilliant technique to hang such a formal mirror in front of the books to highlight the lighting. Photo by Erica George Dinas
Decor, Fall/Winter 2007: Another dining space that multitasks as a library space. A medley of chairs, a bench, and no area rug reduce the formality, and the chandelier adds just a bit of sparkle. I could read for hours right here, with a cup of coffee and no interruptions. (Hey, a mother can dream, can't she?)
Renovation Style, Summer 2008: Simple and traditional, yet also clean, fresh, and not too stodgy. Photo by Michael Porteno
Southern Accents, May/June 2008: It appears that right in the heart of an elegant galley kitchen, you can add a lot of style with a table and a unique chandelier. Photo by Tria Giovan
Southern Accents, May/June 2008: While ornate, that mirror is still breathtaking. Those simple chairs add a bit of French country and balance out the gilded features in this room. I love the mix of antique white chairs with a dark wood table. Photo by Tria Giovan
Source Unknown: Again, those antique white chairs and a gorgeous chandelier. This time, the dark wood appears to the left with the buffet. Those billowy curtains are so lovely, and I'm catching a glimpse of an extraordinary mirror as a backdrop.
Source Unknown: Balanced and beautiful. You could create quite a mood with those leafy candelabras in the backdrop.
Here are some favorite dining rooms from my Domino photo gallery. (And more reasons to miss our favorite mag.)
Tiffany blue walls, sisal rug, velvet chair, mismatched benches, poofy silk curtains, white asymmetrically placed armoire = ooh la la.
A desk reinvented as a dining room table, how clever. Fantastic cubby cabinets mixed with glass front storage. Again, more mismatched chairs and no area rug. Love it.
Ultra glam, big drama here. Gorgeous floors, love those chairs. I like the use of two smaller twin chandeliers, and the balance of dark and white.
A very brave use of kelly green worthy of respect. Nice symmetry in this room. I absolutely love the black-and-white chairs and white chandelier mixed with the walnut table. This room is traditional in furniture style, yet young, hip and chic at the same time.
And a couple more of my favorite magazine images:
Country French Decorating, Spring/Summer 2008: A bold choice of burnt orange in the curtain fabric pays off here. Such beautiful butternut colored walls make me want to linger longer, and drink a lot of Italian wine. Photo by Andreas Von Einsiedel
British Homes and Gardens, December 2006: This is an absolutely breathtaking centerpiece created out of jeweled branches. It looks like something you'd see at a celebrity wedding, or Hollywood awards show after party. (And it gives me an idea for a DIY project…)
Would you love to be inspired by some more stylish tablescapes? Visit House Beautiful's archives here.
Do you like what you see so far? Tell me about your favorite features.


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Workshop: How to prep your time trial / triathlon bike
Tweak your aero ride to satisfy your need for speed
Unlike in years past, well designed time trial and triathlon bikes with lots of integrated aero features are now readily available at a variety of price points. Here's a selection of tips on how to deal with some of the unusual features typical to these machines, along with some standard maintenance pointers.
Remember, if you're unsure about any of these steps, head over to your local bike shop and consult a professional mechanic.
Tools needed
- Small adjustable spanner
- Multi-tool/screwdriver
- Slotted spoke tool
- Small torque wrench
- Superglue
- Chain cleaner/chain lube
- Carbon assembly paste
1 Sitting pretty
When setting your seat angle or position, you'll have to contend with different types of clamp designs, which often allow a forward or rearward option by reversing the clamp orientation. Use an indelible marker to mark your initial and final position. Ensure clamp bolt threads are greased and tightened to their correct torques – don't overdo it. Most torque values tend to be between 5 and 10Nm, which is quite low. Prevent shiny carbon seatposts from slipping with an application of assembly paste; this will also stop you having to use excessive torque on seatpost clamps. It's quite easy to split carbon or strip fragile titanium bolts if you're ham-fisted, so get a small torque wrench. If your seatpost is round, make sure it isn't askew.
2 Bar end shifting
Over time, your bar end shifters will almost certainly need tightening. Drop the rear derailleur into high gear, then mark the shifter assembly's position to aid reassembly. Release the cable from the anchor bolt and withdraw slightly to disconnect the shift lever from the bar end body; this will give you access to the wedge bolt. With Shimano, tightening is done anti-clockwise. On SRAM, remove the shifter barrel with a 4mm Allen key after disconnecting the cable. With a 5mm Allen key, tighten the wedge by turning the bolt in a normal thread direction: lefty-loosey, righty-tighty. The same thread direction applies to Campagnolo bar end shifters; remove the wing nut to disengage the shifter and gain access to the wedge bolt.
3 Bar end braking
Like the shifters, bar end brake levers can work their way loose over time. To set up your brake levers correctly, remove the rubber plug to gain access to the fixing bolt. The model pictured uses a conventional wedge with a standard threaded bolt (Dia-Compe/Cane Creek). Other brands use a simple external clamp with a small bolt needing very little torque. Position as required, and tighten sufficiently so the lever can only be dislodged by a substantial blow. Take great care when tightening wedge type designs into carbon bars – they can split open. Make sure the cable outer has been cut with enough of it protruding so as to bottom out and seat correctly into the lever cable guide and prevent squashiness.
4 Correct compounds
Thin aero brake levers can be uncomfortable, and braking power, when coupled with internal routing, can be pretty poor in wet weather. Brake pads need to be the correct compound for the rim surfaces and conditions. If you're installing a set of carbon tubular wheels, be sure to swap the old pads for a carbon compound. If you're expecting foul weather, on alloy rims consider using a special wet weather compound such as Kool Stop Salmon block inserts, which will allow you to brake later and harder. Centre-pull brake designs feature small grub screw spring adjusters on both sides which will allow you to centre the brakes, and increase spring tension for snappier lever return. Turn clockwise to increase, anti-clockwise to decrease spring tension.
5 Rubber checking
Make sure tubular tyres are glued on correctly. Grab the tub and try to pry it off as pictured, with steady even thumb pressure at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. It should stay put and not lift away under sustained pressure. Notice the tub tape lifting away in the photo; while tape can sometimes make for a quicker tyre change, glue is less likely to result in a tub rolling off in a tight corner or at the turnaround. On both clinchers and tubs, small cuts in the tread can allow debris and stone chips to get picked up and wedged back in, eventually working their way through and causing punctures or slow leaks. Locate and mark the cuts, release the air, and superglue them back together. Re-inflate once they're dry.
6 Wheel right
You don't want any wheel rub under hard effort, especially at the rear. Fine tune wheel and tyre clearances in the frame using the threaded dropout adjusters as pictured. Fitting a different tyre can lead to rubbing, as can out-of-true wheels. Pressure should be measured with a gauge, as relying on just a thumb squeeze could leave you with under-inflated tyres. Consider a fresh set if yours are showing signs of wear: look for a flattened, squared-off tread section with numerous cuts and/ or exposed casing threads. If you often find yourself on 'heavy' or rough road surfaces, consider moving up a size if you originally had 18mm or 20mm tyres; 23mm tyres inflated to about 120psi will roll better on the rough, offering a smoother and more controlled ride.
7 Better braking
While dual-pivot and side-pull callipers usually incorporate a quick release, a new generation of centre-pull designs lacking this feature are finding their way onto many bikes. One way to avoid any wheel rub, while speeding up wheel removal, is to carefully adjust brake cable length to allow for the extensive use of the barrel adjuster as a substitute for the lack of a quick-release. Set the brake cable length with the adjuster positioned about halfway through its travel; this will allow it to be turned clockwise (inwards), releasing the cable and opening the brake arms, thus allowing the tyre to clear the blocks. Slacken the cable if wheel and frame flex cause brake rub under hard acceleration, or tighten it up (anti-clockwise) to reduce lever travel and quicken braking response.
8 Headset overhaul
Improperly adjusted headsets can be distracting while riding. Rattling noises when going over small sharp bumps are a sign that they're loose, while diffi culty holding a straight line within about a 2in strip can mean the headset is over-tightened or binding. If you've been experiencing problems with headset adjustment, try the following: for loose aheadsets with carbon steerers, ensure the expander wedge is set about 5mm below the edge of the steerer tube to prevent interference with the top cap, and tighten fi rmly to prevent slippage. Star-fangled wedges can be tapped down a touch further to obtain the same result. If your headset is overtight or binding, and you're having trouble fine tuning it, try a thin shim or two between the upper bearing wedge and top cover, as pictured.
9 Perfect pitch
Inspecting your wheels before an event could mean the difference between a good time, or having to wait by the roadside for the broom wagon. Check for loose spokes or signs of the wheel being out of true. All spokes should be adequately tensioned, producing a medium pitched 'ping' with a bit of sustain when plucked. A really loose spoke won't produce a sound, and will feel unmistakably loose. Only attempt to true a wheel if you're experienced, especially aero wheels with high tensioned bladed spokes. What you can do, though, is ensure the leading edge of the blades are pointing in the right direction for maximum aero advantage. Use a straightening tool or a small adjustable spanner to orientate them correctly. This step shouldn't affect trueness in any significant way.
10 Clean + quiet = fast
A clean and silent drivetrain brings speed and efficiency, while the lack of noise distraction will help your concentration during intense effort. Begin cleaning the exterior of the chain by applying a shot of WD-40 or GT85 to a rag and then wiping a short section at a time. Run the rag along the rollers until they are completely clean. Now work on the chainrings and the cogs, and remove gritty and greasy deposits with the same cloth and spray method. Clean between the cogs by running the rag, stretched between two hands, through the cassette. Apply a generous amount of thick wet or wax lube such as Finish Line Cross Country or Weldtite Dry Wax and work it into the chain while turning. Wipe away any excess, or allow to dry. Nirvana!


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(I asked this on math-stackexchange, but it seems more appropriate to this forum, so I took it off from there and am posting it here)
After the great answer I got for my previous question about the Tate conjectures What is the intuition behind the concept of Tate twists?, I'm ready for my next one:
Let $X$ be an abelian variety defined over a number field $k$. I am given to believe that there is some relationship between the Tate conjectures and the finiteness of the Tate-Shafarevich group. I imagine that this is because the Tate-Shafarevich group is equal to the Manin obstruction $X(\mathbb{A}_k)^{Br(X)}$ (where $\mathbb{A}_k$ denotes the adeles), and that the Brauer-Grothendieck group of $X$ has something to do with the Tate conjectures.
The relationship between the Tate conjectures and the Brauer-Grothendieck group is not one I understand well. If I understand "Conjectures on Algebraic Cycles in $l$-adic Cohomology" (written by Tate) correctly, the conjecture he calls $T^1(Y)$ (the first Tate conjecture on the variety $Y$) is equivalent to $Br(Y)$ being finite IF $Y$ is a variety over a finite field.
I don't know how to understand this relationship in any way that would be coherent. Is it true that the finiteness of the Tate-Shafarevich group of an abelian variety over a number field is implied by the Tate conjecutres on that abelian variety. Is the reverse true? Why is there even a relationship between these seemingly very different statements?


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Cilan Takes Flight!
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Cilan Takes Flight! (Japanese: フキヨセジムのエアバトル!挑戦者デント!? Fukiyose Gym Air Battle! Challenger Dent!?) is the 67th episode of Pokémon the Series: Black & White, and the 724th episode of the Pokémon anime. It first aired in Japan on February 23, 2012 and in the United States on June 23, 2012.
Ash is surprised to see a long line of Trainers waiting to challenge Skyla, the Mistralton City Gym Leader, and is even more surprised when he's told he has to make an appointment for their battle! He learns that Skyla has a passion for flying, and to make sure she has enough time to pursue her hobby, she keeps a very tight schedule at her Gym.
And that's not the only unusual thing about Skyla's style! As our heroes watch the morning challenges, they learn how Skyla can fit so many battles into a single day: they're not physical battles, but something she calls "Air Battles," which take place only in her mind! Skyla envisions the outcome of each battle, and within moments, the winners and losers are decided without actually battling.
This infuriates Cilan, who challenges Skyla, Gym Leader to Gym Leader, in an effort to show her what Gym battles should be. She accepts...and wins, much to Cilan's dismay!
Skyla decides that's enough for one day, and cancels all her afternoon battles. She's about to leave when Ash runs up and challenges her, saying that her Air Battles are boring and that Trainers and their Pokémon have to battle for real. Skyla looks over Ash's Pokémon and declares that she'd beat him easily, so there's no point in battling, but Ash insists that she has to give him a chance! Can he convince her to battle him for real?
Ash, Iris, and Cilan arrive at Mistralton City, where they are amazed by a plane doing tricks in midair. Ash runs to what appears to be the Gym, but instead, the sign says Mistralton Cargo Service. Regardless, Ash rushes to the doors, only to be stopped by a Trainer who tells Ash that there is a line to battle the Gym Leader. Ash finds out that he has to reserve a time to battle the Gym Leader. Since all morning battles have been taken, Ash will have to battle in the afternoon. As Ash receives his call slip, the same plane that flew overhead lands on the landing strip. The pilot jumps out of the plane and removes her headgear, revealing herself to be Skyla. She greets the crowd and reveals that she is the Gym Leader for the Mistralton Gym.
Skyla approaches the crowd of Trainers to see that there are 15 of them waiting. Ash is surprised and wonders if she can really take on all 15 in the morning alone. Skyla sends out her Pokémon, first a Swoobat, followed by a male Unfezant, and finally a Swanna. The first challenger approaches and sends out his three Pokémon for the battle; a Zebstrika, a Boldore, and an Emolga. Skyla declares an "Air Battle", which confuses Ash and Cilan. Skyla assesses the situation in her mind, predicting how she thinks the battle will play out. In her head, she figures that with the type advantage of all three of her opponent's Pokémon has over hers, they are most likely to win, so she promptly gives up without starting a real battle and awards the boy the Jet Badge. As the boy runs off, Ash stops him to ask about the Air Battle.
Meanwhile, the next challenger steps up and sends out her three Pokémon, a Sewaddle, a Pansear, and a Leavanny. At the same time, she assesses her opponent's Pokémon and declares that with the Bug- and Fire-type team she has, there is no way her challenger can win, and thus, the girl does not get a Badge. Ash is utterly dumbfounded by her Gym Battle format since there is no actual battling involved. One after another, all of Skyla's remaining challengers approach. Some are declared victorious while others leave empty handed. The boy tells Ash that Skyla can simulate the battle solely inside of her head, and will give a Badge to those who she thinks she can't win against. Iris can see the merit behind this system, but Cilan does not look pleased. As the final battle for the morning begins, Skyla does her final Air Battle. As Cilan watches, he grows increasingly aggravated by her style of Gym Battles. Finally after finishing her last battle, Cilan and Ash had enough and both of them walk up to Skyla to question her methods. However she ignores them and promptly flies off in her plane until the afternoon comes.
Cilan snaps, refusing to accept Skyla's way. While Cilan vents his frustration, a man walks up from behind. He too questions Skyla's method and introduces himself as Miles who is also Skyla's grandfather. In the past, Miles was the Gym Leader, but he eventually retired and started the cargo company. Skyla took over and when she first started she would battle the traditional way and she has incredible battling skills. However, due to the mass amounts of challengers she received daily, she could no longer fly in her plane as she pleased. Instead she devised her battling system, which all of her challengers seem to accept, whether they win or lose. Cilan objects, but Miles said he has tried in the past to convince her that her method is wrong, but Skyla shrugs it off saying that everyone is happy with this method and it is much easier this way so she doesn't have to work so hard, labeling the traditional Gym Battling system as old school. Ash is told to go and find another Gym instead, but Ash is more convinced to battle Skyla now and, even more so, Cilan wants to battle her as well.
Finally in the afternoon, Skyla returns from her flight. Cilan cools himself down and apologizes to Skyla for his earlier actions. He formally introduces himself to her as one of the Gym Leaders for the Striaton City Gym. Skyla is eager to meet a fellow Gym Leader. Cilan proposes a battle, which Skyla promptly accepts. Cilan sends out his Pansage, Crustle, and Stunfisk. Skyla does her mental Air Battle once more and deduces that she will win. Cilan, of course, does not think so, stating that they don't know if they don't really battle, but Skyla is confident in her predictions. Cilan convinces her to battle him for real to truly test out her predictions. Inside the gym, Miles, as referee, declares that it will be a 3-on-3 battle. Cilan sends out his Pansage first as Skyla sends out her Swoobat. Pansage starts off with Bullet Seed, however Swoobat dodges and then attacks with Air Cutter. Pansage shakes off the attack and jumps up to Bite Swoobat, but Swoobat dodges with ease. Swoobat finishes Pansage off with a Gust.
Cilan thanks Pansage as he returns him to his Poké Ball, then Cilan sends out his Crustle. Crustle unleashes a Rock Wrecker attack which hits Swoobat and instantly knocks it out. Skyla is not fazed since she knew with the advantage of Rock-type moves over Flying-type Pokémon, there was no way for her Swoobat to win. Skyla sends out her Unfezant, confident that the battle is playing out exactly as she thought. Crustle uses Rock Wrecker on Unfezant and scores a clean hit. Unfezant retaliates by using Air Slash but Crustle retreats into its shell, neutralizing the attack. Cilan proceeds to start his Evaluation Time. He criticizes Skyla for not truly bringing out the full potential of her Pokémon since, although they have strong moves, she does not do her Gym Leader job properly by testing the bonds of her Pokémon against her challenger's. Skyla asks if Cilan ever gets tired of those kind of battles, but Cilan says that he can't get enough, since there is no feeling like giving the Badge to a Trainer who deserves it. Skyla simply says it's only a Badge, but Cilan replies there is more to the Badge than just its physical worth. Crustle leaps out of its shell and uses Shell Smash followed by X-Scissor which knocks Unfezant out.
Skyla returns Unfezant to his Poké Ball and sends out Swanna. Once again, Crustle starts off with a Rock Wrecker attack but Swanna dodges. Swanna retaliates with a Bubble Beam, but Crustle retreats to its shell. Swanna attacks with Brave Bird but Crustle jumps up and leaps out of its shell to prepare another Shell Smash. Skyla predicted that they would use that strategy again, so Swanna attacks with Brave Bird as Crustle attacks with X-Scissor. Both attacks collide and after the dust settles, Swanna emerges unharmed while Crustle is knocked out. Skyla admits that Crustle is good, but in the end it still lost. She continues that it's true that you don't always know what will happen unless you do it, but she also says that there are ways that you can. Cilan snaps, declaring that those words are not something a Gym Leader should ever say.
Cilan sends out his Stunfisk and promptly orders it to attack with Thunder Shock which should have done massive damage due to the glaring type advantage the move had over Swanna's Water/Flying-typing, but Swanna comes out okay. Skyla is disappointed that it wasn't a Thunderbolt which would have been much more effective. Swanna attacks with Hurricane. Skyla brags about the power of Hurricane but Cilan reminds her not to be so cocky. Using the Hurricane move to his advantage, Cilan orders Stunfisk to use Scald. With the inertia of Hurricane, Stunfisk's Scald creates a large water dome which douses Swanna and Burns it as well. Swanna begins to cry in pain from the burn but it gives Skyla a reassuring look and starts to use Aqua Ring which cures Swanna of its burn. Stunfisk fires off a few Mud Bomb attacks but Swanna easily dodges all of the shots while Skyla states that she won't let Swanna's wings get dirty. Swanna finishes the battle with Brave Bird, knocking Stunfisk out.
Miles unhappily declares that Skyla is the winner as she continues to boast that she was right in the end. Cilan is crushed that not only did he fail to teach Skyla a lesson, he actually helped to prove her point about Air Battles. Iris and Ash both feel sorry for Cilan as he stands in shock. Skyla, feeling that she has done enough for the day, tells all of the Trainers that that afternoon's Air Battles are cancelled and starts to leave. Ash is finally fed up with her cocky attitude and confronts her personally. He declares that he finds her Air Battles to be boring and wishes to fight her in an official Gym Battle the same way she did with Cilan. However Skyla refuses, only to be stopped by Miles who sides with Ash. Ash declares that there are many Battles as there are Trainers and Pokémon, and doing Air Battles is certainly boring. Miles states that earlier, Skyla said she won't let Swanna's wings get dirty, but, in his eyes, they already are. Skyla accepts to battle Ash. Ash sends out his selections for the battle, but they are not displayed for the viewers at this point. Skyla commends Ash on his team balance, but she is confident that she will win. Ash replies that she will never know for sure unless they battle for real.
Major events
- Ash and his friends arrive in Mistralton City and meet Skyla, the local Gym Leader.
- Outraged by Skyla's unconventional battling method, Cilan battles Skyla but loses.
- For a list of all major events in the anime, please see the history page.
Pokémon debuts
TV episode debuts
Who's That Pokémon?: Unfezant♂ (US and international) Stunfisk (Japan)
- Pikachu (Ash's)
- Axew (Iris's)
- Pansage (Cilan's)
- Crustle (Cilan's)
- Stunfisk (Cilan's)
- Unfezant (Skyla's; male)
- Swoobat (Skyla's)
- Swanna (Skyla's)
- Zebstrika (Trainer's)
- Boldore (Trainer's)
- Emolga (Trainer's)
- Sewaddle (Trainer's)
- Pansear (Trainer's)
- Leavanny (Trainer's)
- Sandile (Trainer's)
- Gothitelle (Trainer's)
- Watchog (Trainers'; ×2)
- Woobat (Trainer's)
- Blitzle (Trainer's)
- Herdier (Trainer's)
- Minccino (Trainer's)
- Munna (Trainer's)
- Foongus (Trainer's)
- Cottonee (Trainer's)
- Darumaka (Trainer's; flashback)
- Professor Oak's Pokémon Live Caster: Tynamo
- A QR code appears on Ash's Pokédex which allowed him to make a reservation to see Skyla.
- The encoded message reads \\afs\d3d\share\proj\PMBW\comp, a possible reference to the production studio's internal network share containing Pokémon the Series: Black & White projects.
- When Skyla made her simulation, she imagined that her Swoobat would use an attack to confuse Stunfisk. However, in neither this episode nor in the next did Swoobat show a move that can cause confusion.
- Ash's Pokédex displays both a male and female Unfezant in this and the next episode at one time. However, it does not display both genders for Frillish or Jellicent in previous and future episodes.
- This episode aired in the United States the same day that Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 were released in Japan.
- There is a girl who bears a striking resemblance to Erica, as in Triple Leaders, Team Threats! and Dreams by the Yard Full!.
- There are several errors with Skyla spotted throughout the episode:
- When Skyla is introducing herself, the right part of her belt and her belly button are missing.
- When Skyla is challenging with the last Pokémon trainer in air-battle, part of her clothes and the right belt's colors are swapped for a few frames.
- During two scenes in a flashback, Skyla's pigtails hair disappears: when Miles tells Skyla not to give up on Pokémon battle while she decides to do an air battle, and later when Skyla is bidding farewell to her grandpa.
- In one scene, Skyla's hair accessory is colored reddish-brown instead of dark-blue.
- When Skyla recalls her Swoobat after it fainted, part of her hair is colored the same as her hair accessory. This error was corrected on the Japanese DVD version.
- When Skyla is releasing her Unfezant to battle, part of her clothes and the right belt's colors are swapped, the part of her hair near her left ear is colored the same ways as her skin for a few frames. (The error of her part of her clothes and right belt was corrected on the Japanese DVD version, while the hair near left ear error is the same.)
- In the scene when Cilan recalls his Crustle after it fainted, part of Skyla's right sleeve is colored the same as her skin after appearing.
- When Miles arrives to tell Skyla that he wants to see her in a real Gym battle, part of her clothes and her left belt's swap colors.
- In the English dub, when Skyla introduces her Swanna, her Japanese voice can be heard.
Dub edits
- In the Greek dub, Skyla's name was changed to σκαηλα. This is mainly due to the word σκύλα being an offensive word.
In other languages
Language | Title | |
Mandarin Chinese | 吹寄道館的空想對戰!挑戰者天桐!? | |
Danish | Cilan går i luften! | |
Dutch | Cilan Vliegt eruit! | |
Finnish | Cilan ottaa pultit! | |
European French | Rachid prend son envol ! | |
German | Benny ergreift die Flucht nach vorn! | |
Greek | Ο Σάιλαν Απογειώνεται! | |
Italian | Spighetto spicca il volo! | |
Korean | 궐수체육관의 에어배틀! 도전자 덴트!? | |
Norwegian | Utfordreren Cilan! | |
Polish | Cilan wkracza do akcji! | |
Brazilian Portuguese | Cilan nas Alturas! | |
Russian | Сайлан отправляется в полёт! | |
Spanish | Latin America | ¡Cilan Toma un Vuelo! |
Spain | ¡Millo Alza el Vuelo! | |
Swedish | Cilan tar till flykten! | |
Thai | แอร์แบทเทิลแห่งฟุคิโยเสะยิม! คู่ต่อสู้ของเดนโตะ!? | |
Vietnamese | Dento người thách đấu đầu tiên ở nhà thi đấu Fukiyose | |
This episode article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of the Pokémon anime. |


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About Your Freshwater Fish
3-10+ years depending on species
1" to 12" + depending on species
Tropical fish - 76-78 ℉
Goldfish/koi - 65-72 ℉
With the exception of goldfish and koi, the majority of freshwater aquarium fish come from tropical to sub-tropical regions of the world. Depending on where they come from, freshwater aquarium fish will require different water parameters. Size and temperament can vary considerably between fish as well, even between fish found in the same part of the world. See the listing at the end of this care sheet to guide your choice and combination of fish for your aquarium. Many commonly kept species are now bred in captivity while others are still wild caught. To help reduce the number of fish collected from the wild, try to buy captive bred fish whenever possible.
Freshwater aquarium fish come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They all share basic physical characteristics such as gills used for breathing, a lateral line organ on their side to sense vibrations (look closely!), and fins for moving around their environment.
Most fish are diurnal, or most active during the day, though some species are nocturnal, or most active at night. The majority of catfish are nocturnal though many learn to come out during the day when fed!
NOTE: Many fish can be housed together in "community" aquarium setups. However, there are many that do not get along well with each other or grow large enough to eat their tank mates! The section at the end of this care sheet will provide some basic information on keeping different species together.
Aquarium fish vary in their dietary requirements. The majority of fish are either carnivores or omnivores with a few species being herbivores. Research the type of fish you want before buying it to determine its dietary requirements. Many commercial diets are available that tailor to specific groups of fish, as well as diets that are acceptable for a wide variety of fish (e.g. tropical fish flake food, cichlid pellets, spirulina flake food, algae discs). The following groups of fish benefit from receiving a high amount of vegetable matter in their diet: Live bearing fish (mollies, guppies, platties, etc.) Goldfish and koi Most sucker mouth catfish (plecostomas, otocinclus catfish, algae eaters, etc.) Besides commercially available spirulina flakes and algae discs, the following fresh vegetables are good supplements for herbivorous fish: raw peas, lettuce (avoid iceberg lettuce), zucchini, and green beans Small carnivorous/omnivorous fish can be fed frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, beef heart, or mysis shrimp. Larger carnivorous fish should be fed high protein commercial diets supplemented with high protein foods such as market shrimp, earthworms, clams/mussels, or frozen smelt/silversides. Feeding live "feeder fish" is NOT recommended as these feeder fish carry parasites and diseases that can be harmful to your pets.
Most freshwater fish should be fed at least twice daily. The majority of their diet, about 75%, should be commercial pellet or flake food. The remainder of their diet should be frozen foods or vegetable matter for herbivorous species (see above). Larger carnivorous fish should be fed once daily while young and every other day to two to three times per week once fully grown. It is important not to overfeed your fish. Overfeeding leaves uneaten food to decompose in your aquarium. Decomposing food adds extra waste compounds to the water which in turn cause increased algae growth. All the food given should be completely consumed within 5 minutes. If a lot of food is left over after 5 minutes, cut back the amount fed.
Aquarium - these range in size from 5 gallons to over 100 gallons! | Light and hood - most aquarium lights are fluorescent strip lights. Aquarium hoods should fit snugly to prevent fish from jumping out. |
Aquarium heater - either a hang-on-the-side or submersible variety is acceptable. | Thermometer - to monitor the aquarium's temperature. |
Filter - The filter should be large enough to handle the size tank and number of fish in the tank. | Gravel and tank decorations - A 1-2 inch layer of gravel is recommended for most tanks. |
Water test kit - necessary to ensure proper water quality. | Air pump, airline hosing, and airstone - required to make sure water is well oxygenated. |
ENCLOSURE SIZE: The enclosure should be a solid glass or acrylic aquarium. Aquariums vary from 5 gallons to over 100 gallons. The size aquarium depends on the fish being kept. An old rule of thumb used to be "one gallon per inch of a fish's mature size". This rule only works for medium sized fish. Small schooling fish such as tetras and barbs can be kept in more crowded conditions while larger fish need to have more space per fish. A good example would be a 10 gallon community aquarium housing 10-12 small schooling fish, 3-4 small catfish, and an algae eater. A tank holding larger fish, such as an oscar cichlid (pictured on front page), a large catfish, and an algae eater would have to be a minimum of 55 gallons for just these three fish. For larger fish, the front to back depth of the tank should be 1.5 times the mature/full grown length of the fish. Remember to check the mature or full grown size of a fish before you buy it. Baby fish, like oscar cichlids, are very cute but grow to become 12 inch long tank busters! Remember: IT IS NOT TRUE THAT A FISH WILL ONLY GROW AS LARGE AS ITS AQUARIUM!!
AQUARIUM SETUP: Once you have set up your aquarium, the system needs to cycle. Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle within the aquarium. Fish produce waste as ammonia. Beneficial bacteria convert toxic ammonia into slightly less toxic nitrites and finally nitrates. Nitrates are non-toxic except in very high concentrations. When you first set up an aquarium, these beneficial bacteria are not present and the ammonia level will rapidly increase. As the first type of good bacteria becomes established, ammonia levels drop and nitrites rise rapidly. As the second type of good bacteria becomes established, nitrite levels drop and nitrates rise gradually. Water changes remove these accumulated nitrates. This entire cycle, from ammonia spike to gradually increasing nitrates, takes roughly 1-2 months and may produce some transient cloudiness in the water. For this reason, it is important to buy only a few fish at first: 5 or less. After the first month, once the nitrogen cycle is nearly established, it is OK to add a few fish at a time until your aquarium is fully stocked. NEVER BUY ALL YOUR FISH AT ONCE FOR AN AQUARIUM. YOU RISK CAUSING A TOXIC AMMONIA OR NITRITE SPIKE WHICH CAN KILL ALL THE FISH!
FILTRATION: The filter is one of the most important pieces of equipment in an aquarium setup. Filters remove solid fish waste, remove dissolved chemicals from the water, and provide surface area for beneficial bacteria that detoxify harmful waste compounds in the water. There are many types of filters, from hang-on-the-side to canister filters to sponge filters. The most important aspect of picking the right filter is making sure the filter is rated to the size aquarium you have. This information will be on the filter packaging. It is always better to over-filter an aquarium than under-filter. Additionally, larger fish require larger filters for the same size aquarium - they produce a proportionately larger amount of waste.
AERATION: An air pump, airline hosing, and airstone are required to provide oxygenation to the water. Air pumps are sold based on the size aquarium they are used for.
LIGHTING: Fish require a clear day/night cycle to do well. Since most freshwater aquarium fish come from tropical locations, the day night cycle should be as close to 12 hours on/12 hours off as possible. This is easily accomplished by buying a light timer. Keeping the lights on for more than 12 hours contributes to excess algae growth. Lighting comes in either fluorescent or incandescent fixtures. Fluorescent fixtures are better for aquariums containing live plants.
GRAVEL AND DECORATIONS: Which gravel and tank decorations are used largely depends on personal preference. Gravel comes in many different sizes and colors. Keep in mind that smaller smooth gravel is best if you have fish that like to "root around" in the gravel in search of food. Examples of such fish include Corydoras catfish and loaches. If using gravel, rocks, or driftwood from outdoors, i.e. which were found outside somewhere, they need to be sterilized before using them in your aquarium. This is accomplished by boiling the items in a large pot of water for 20 minutes to 1 hour. If driftwood found outside is too large to boil, baking it in a low temperature oven (200F) for a few hours will also sterilize it. The wood must be monitored very closely/frequently as the baking process risks drying the wood out to the point where it can catch fire.
COVER: Make sure the aquarium has an escape-proof solid glass or plastic cover. It should fit snugly onto the tank and have an area in the back to cut out sections for the filter, heater, and airline tubing to enter.
TEMPERATURES: Aquarium temperatures should be monitored closely and kept at the temperatures listed at the top of this care sheet. An appropriately sized aquarium heater should be used to maintain proper temperature for your fish. Sudden drops in temperature should be avoided as they stress fish and weaken their immune systems.
WATER QUALITY: Water quality parameters are important to monitor. Changes in water quality can stress your fish and increase their susceptibility to diseases and parasites. Different groups of fish require different parameters to be happy. In general, Central American and Eastern African fish will require hard alkaline water, fish from Southeast Asia usually require neutral water with average hardness, and South American and West African fish require soft and acidic water. There will be exceptions to these generalities; research the type of fish you want to keep so you can provide the optimum water quality for them! The following water parameters are the most important to monitor. Pet stores or your exotics veterinarian who works with fish can test water for you.
pH: measures the acidity or alkalinity of water.
Ammonia: toxic to fish; it is excreted by fish and produced by decaying material (such as uneaten food).
Nitrite: toxic to fish; it is the first product of the nitrogen cycle.
Nitrate: only toxic in high concentrations; it is the end product of the nitrogen cycle, removed via water changes.
Alkalinity/Carbonate Hardness: measures the buffering capacity of your water/its resistance to pH changes.
General Hardness: measures the total hardness of your water.
Acclimating and quarantining new fish are important topics to cover. Simply dumping fish into an aquarium with different water quality parameters from their current water can shock the fish's system and sometimes even cause death. Additionally, new fish can carry parasites and diseases that your fish may not have. Introducing new fish can therefore cause a disease or parasite outbreak with your previously healthy fish. New fish should be quarantined in a separate aquarium for 4 to 6 weeks. If any disease or parasite problems arise during the quarantine process, your regular tank full of your other fish are not exposed. If such a problem arises, we recommend contacting your exotics veterinarian for help diagnosing and treating the problem.
There are two ways to acclimate fish. The first method is to float the bag containing the new fish in your aquarium for 15 to 20 minutes to equalize temperatures. At that point you can add a ½ cup to 1 cup of tank water to the bag (depending on the bag size). Wait another 15 to 20 minutes and then add another ½ to 1 cup of tank water to the bag. Repeat this cycle until you've added 4-5 times the original volume of water to the bag containing your new fish. At this point, catch your new fish out of the bag and release it into your quarantine aquarium. Discard the bag and water that the new fish arrived in. With the second method, dump the new fish and its water into a 5 gallon container (a clean bucket works well). Using airline tubing, start a siphon and trickle water into the bucket containing the new fish. After about an hour, or when the water volume in the bucket has more than tripled, you can net your new fish out of the bucket and introduce it to your quarantine tank.
Water changes are the most important aspect of keeping happy healthy fish! A partial water change, up to 1/3 of the total water volume, needs to be done every two weeks to remove built up wastes and harmful dissolved compounds. The easiest way to do water changes is with a gravel vacuum. A gravel vacuum is a large diameter tube connected to thinner, longer tubing. A siphon is started with the waste water collected in a bucket or poured down the drain. The gravel vacuum sucks waste out of the gravel without removing the gravel itself. Replace removed water with dechlorinated water of the same temperature as the aquarium water. If using tap water, a commercial tap water conditioner must be used to remove chlorine and chloramines. Alternately, well water or spring water may be used to replace the removed water.
The media in an aquarium's filter should be changed once a month to once every other month. Never change all filter media at once unless your filter uses single replaceable cartridges.
Spot clean your aquarium as needed to remove uneaten food and scrape algae from the walls of the tank.
Healthy fish have vibrant colors, smooth skin, and swim normally, with fins held away from the body. You may even notice courtship or display behavior between fish. Healthy fish will also have a voracious appetite, often learning to come to the front of the aquarium as you approach to feed them. We recommend routine water testing daily to weekly for a brand new aquarium setup and monthly for an established aquarium. Many pet stores or your exotics veterinarian who works with fish can test water for you. We also recommend a physical exam with an exotic pet veterinarian for pet fish if you notice a change in appetite, swimming, breathing rate, or if you notice sores/growths on the fins and/or body of your pet. Physical exams are done using reversible sedation at your exotic veterinarian's office.
For most conditions, see your exotic pet veterinarian, who can properly address the condition and treat your pet. Most diseases in fish cause identical symptoms - basing treatment on how a fish looks often leads to mis-diagnosis and inappropriate treatment for diseases and/or parasites.
External Parasites | Rubbing on objects in the aquarium (flashing), small sores on the skin and fins, heavy breathing, clamped fins, white spots on the body | See an exotic pet veterinarian |
Internal Parasites | White stringy feces, decreased appetite, thin stomach or swollen stomach, clamped fins | See an exotic pet veterinarian |
Bacterial Infections | Decreased appetite, small sores on the skin and fins, rubbing on objects in the aquarium (flashing), swollen stomach, swollen eyes, clamped fins | See an exotic pet veterinarian |
Fungal Infections | Decreased appetite, small sores on the skin and fins, white cottony growth on the skin, clamped fins | See an exotic pet veterinarian |
*Fish marked "(schooling)" should be kept in groups of at least 5 to 6 individuals. Keeping these fish by themselves causes stress and an increased susceptibility to diseases.
Peaceful/Community Fish: This group of fish can easily be mixed together without any aggression or predation problems. This group of fish includes some of the hardiest and most easily kept fish, allowing you to keep groups of them in a smaller space than larger growing fish. Examples of these fish include: livebearers (mollies, platys, and guppies), small growing barbs, most tetras (schooling), rasboras (schooling), danios (schooling), white cloud mountain minnows (schooling), killifish, small growing catfish species such as corydoras (schooling) or hoplosternum catfish, algae eaters such as bristle nosed plecostomus or otocinclus catfish (avoid the common plecostomus as they grow very large and do not eat much algae once mature), certain dwarf cichlids such dwarf gouramis, and bettas.
Goldfish and koi are in this group of fish. You can mix and match most goldfish and koi varieties as long as a sufficient size tank or pond is provided. However, due to their cool water temperature requirements, it is not recommended to keep them with tropical freshwater fish. Larger cool water catfish such as bullhead or young channel catfish can be kept with koi and large goldfish.
** A note about bettas - bettas require warmth, light, and filtration just like any other tropical fish. While they may survive in a bowl with no supplemental heat or filtration, this is not humane unless water changes are done AT LEAST once weekly and the bowl is kept in a room that never goes below 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Bettas make wonderful additions to community tank setups so long as only one male betta is added to the aquarium. Male bettas will fight and injure each other if kept together. Bettas get along very well with other non-betta fish.
Semi-Aggressive Fish: This group of fish can be tricky to house together as they may get along well at times yet can be aggressive or territorial at other times. Often aggression and territoriality coincides with breeding or spawning behavior. Examples of these fish include many types of cichlids from Western Africa, Central America, and South America; larger barb species; and medium size catfish such as Synodontis or Pimelodella catfish.
Aggressive Fish: This group of fish can be hard to maintain without the fish picking on and injuring each other. Some species of aggressive fish are best kept by themselves. Others can be over-stocked in an aquarium to distribute the aggression evenly between all fish. Examples of these fish include many types of cichlids (especially East African cichlids from the Rift Valley lakes), certain larger catfish, and most freshwater/brackish water puffer fish.
Monster or Oddball Fish: This group of fish includes individuals that fit into each of the above three categories based on temperament. Most of them grow very large. They can be gentle giants or large aggressive predatory fish. Examples of these fish include freshwater stingrays, Polypterus/bichirs, arowanas, large catfish, giant gouramis, spiny eels, and gar. The most important thing to remember when keeping these fish is to provide a large enough and well-filtered aquarium.


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Lubrication System Designed for Mobility
July 1, 2011Comments
A new mobile lubrication system from IFH Group, Rock Falls, IL, provides for storage and dispensing of lubricants, cutting oils, bearing oils, hydraulic fluids, transmission fluids and engine oils for plants requiring lubrication maintenance at multiple locations over a large area. The equipment mounts on a pallet for forklift handling and go-anywhere mobility. Included are two 50-gal. and two 25-gal. steel containers with PVC sight gauges. Air-operated piston pumps on top of each container provide a 5:1 pumping ratio, while filters on the side of each container remove any dirt or small particulates. A ball-valve manifold attached to the compressor allows users to turn on one, two or all four pumps at any given time. An on-board gas-operated air compressor enables quick and easy startup.
At the dispensing end, the unit provides retractable hose reels with metered dispensing control handles to indicate how much fluid has been dispensed. A large steel tool box underneath the reels allows for convenient storage of tools, grease, rags, etc.
IFH Group: 815/626-1018; www.ifhgroup.com
See also: IFH Group
Technologies: Lubrication


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Williamina Fleming
Williamina Paton Stevens Fleming was a Scottish-American astronomer who lived from 1857-1911. She discovered 10 of the 24 novae then known. Novae are stars whose brightness suddenly increases then slowly fades, over a period of months or years. She also discovered over 200 variable stars. Variable stars are those that change in light intensity over time. Fleming worked at the Harvard Observatory for many years.


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Vox has enhanced its popular Valvetronix amplifier line with the new Valvetronix VT+ Series. Enhancements include more amp models, more effects, more presets and more power.
Unique to the Valvetronix VT+ Series is a new Power Level control. Lowering the Power Level provides full gain tone at modest listening volumes. Turning the Power Level control up into the shaded area of the knob will summon up reserve power (up to an extra 40 Watts), useful for cutting through the mix.
As with all Valvetronix models, the VT+ Series incorporates the VOX Valve Reactor circuit, which places a 12AX7 vacuum tube in the power stage for true tube-amp tone. The preamp/modeling stage includes 33 musically accurate amplifier models, from coveted VOX classics to popular mainstays and exotic boutique amps. Each of the 33 models features three variations – Basic, with Effects and Song – for a total of 99 ready-to-use presets.
The 25 onboard effects are divided into Pedal, Modulation/Delay and Reverb categories, plus Noise Reduction. Multiple categories can be used at once to create richer complex sounds. The effects can be quickly edited and adjusted directly from the amplifier panel.
The Headphone/Lineout jack features Vox emulated speaker response, allowing for full amp/speaker sound when listening through headphones or recording directly. A stereo line input is also provided for jamming to MP3s, CDs, etc. The optional VFS5 footswitch allows hands-free control of effect and reverb on/off, plus control of tap-tempo timing, etc. Learn more at voxamps.com.


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Mud, Sweat, and Tears: The Autobiography by Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls On His Many Near-Death Experiences
Excerpted from Mud, Sweat And Tears: The Autobiography, by Bear Grylls.The air temperature is minus twenty degrees. I wiggle my fingers but they're still freezing cold. Old frostnip injuries never let you forget. I blame Everest for that.
"You set, buddy?" cameraman Simon asks me, smiling. His rig is all prepped and ready.
I smile back. I am unusually nervous. Something doesn't quite feel right. But I don't listen to the inner voice. It is time to go to work.
The crew tell me that the crisp northern Canadian Rockies look spectacular this morning. I don't really notice.
It is time to get into my secret space. A rare part of me that is focused, clear, brave, precise. It is the part of me I know the best but visit the least.
I only like to use it sparingly. Like now.
Beneath me is three hundred feet of steep snow and ice. Steep but manageable.
I have done this sort of fast descent many, many times. Never be complacent, the voice says. The voice is always right.
A last deep breath. A look to Simon. A silent acknowledgment back.
Yet we have cut a vital corner. I know it. But I do nothing.
I leap.
I am instantly taken by the speed. Normally I love it. This time I am worried.
I never feel worried in the moment. I know something is wrong.
I am soon traveling at over 40 mph. Feet first down the mountain. The ice races past only inches from my head. This is my world.
I gain even more speed. The edge of the peak gets closer. Time to arrest the fall.
I flip nimbly onto my front and drive the ice axe into the snow. A cloud of white spray and ice soars into the air. I can feel the rapid deceleration as I grind the axe deep into the mountain with all my power. It works like it always does. Like clockwork. Total confidence. One of those rare moments of lucidity. It is fleeting. Then it is gone. I am now static.
The world hangs still. Then—bang.
Simon, his heavy wooden sled, plus solid metal camera housing, piles straight into my left thigh. He is doing in excess of 45 mph.
There is an instant explosion of pain and noise and white.
It is like a freight train. And I am thrown down the mountain like a doll. Life stands still. I feel and see it all in slow motion.
Yet in that split second I have only one realization: a one-degree different course and the sled's impact would have been with my head. Without doubt, it would have been my last living thought.
Instead, I am in agony, writhing. I am crying. They are tears of relief. I am injured, but I am alive.
I see a helicopter but hear no sound. Then the hospital. I have been in a few since Man vs. Wild began. I hate them.
I can see them all through closed eyes. The dirty, bloodstained emergency room in Vietnam, after I severed half my finger in the jungle. No bedside graces there. Then the rockfall in the Yukon. Not to mention the way worse boulder fall in Costa Rica. The mineshaft collapse in Montana or that saltwater croc in Oz. Or the sixteen-foot tiger that I landed on in the Pacific versus the snakebite in Borneo.
Countless close shaves. They all blur. All bad.
Yet all good. I am alive.
There are too many to hold grudges. Life is all about the living. I am smiling.
The next day, I forget the crash. To me, it is past. Accidents happen, it was no one's fault. Lessons learned. Listen to the voice. I move on.
"Hey, Si, I'm cool. Just buy me a piña colada when we get out of here. Oh, and I'll be sending you the evac, doc, and physio bills."
He reaches for my hand. I love this man.
We've lived some life out there.
I look down to the floor: at my ripped mountain bib pants, bloodstained jacket, smashed Minicam, and broken goggles.
I quietly wonder: when did all this craziness become my world?
Excerpted from MUD, SWEAT AND TEARS: The Autobiography by Bear Grylls. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced without written permission from HarperCollins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022.
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The British teenage singer/rapper who finished 4th on Simon Cowell's talent show "X Factor," has taken her first major step into stardom by signing with Jay-Z.
According to the Sun, Jay-Z was among those who believe Cher has a big future as a recording artist and has now won the race to sign her beating out Black Eyed peas frontman Will.I.AM.
Although it was a tough decision for Cher, after weighing the pros and cons, it was thought that the team at Roc Nation would be best placed to turn her dreams into a reality.
Cher is the latest addition to Roc Nation's roster of rising female stars, which already included Willow Smith, Rita Ora and Bridget Kelly.
Cher's decision to link up with Jay-Z is sure to disappoint Will.I.Am, who had hoped to sign the youngster after doing a duet with her during The X Factor final.
The Black Eyed Peas singer, who is a close friend of Cher's X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole, recently revealed on Twitter that he had already recorded a track with Cher.
"The day after the last x factor…cher lloyd and I went in the studio and made a mega smasher…"
Unfortunately for Will, Jay-Z's name was just too much for the star to turn down.
Click the next page to see Cher in action and how she charmed Jay-Z


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Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse claims that "Bitcoin is really controlled by China" through "four miners that control over 50%" of the leading cryptocurrency.
Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse said that "Bitcoin is really controlled by China," speaking at the 2018 Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference in Boston, financial news outlet TheStreet.com reported June 12.
In a recent interview with Stifel Tech Analyst Lee Simpson, Garlinghouse delved into a number of topics related to blockchain technology and the crypto world, and claimed that BTC is under the control of China, saying:
"I'll tell you another story that is underreported, but worth paying attention to. Bitcoin is really controlled by China. There are four miners in China that control over 50 percent of Bitcoin. How do we know that China won't intervene? How many countries want to use a Chinese-controlled currency? It's just not going to happen."
Garlinghouse also shared his opinion about BTC's and XRP's underlying technology, blockchain, arguing that it "will not disrupt banks," though "it will play an important role in the way our system works," however "it's a short-sighted view."
Speaking about Ripple's XRP, he described it as "the best digital asset for settlement." Garlinghouse said that "Bitcoin today takes 45 minutes to settle a transaction," whereas XRP takes four seconds to settle, he claimed.
In February, trading platform BitMex released a report on Ripple and the XRP token, discovering that the structure of Ripple's consensus protocol suggests a more centralized structure to their currency.
According to the report, BitMex's research team conducted an internal test with Ripple's technology. The team installed and ran a copy of Rippled, the node operated by downloading five public keys from the Ripple's server, all of which were assigned to Ripple.com. Four of the five keys were reportedly required to support a proposal in order for it to be accepted. "Since the keys were all downloaded from the Ripple.com server," the report says, "Ripple is essentially in complete control of moving the ledger forward, so one could say that the system is centralized."
A new study by University of Texas' staff released today, suggests that half of the BTC price surge in December last year was explicitly due to Tether and issuer Bitfinex. The paper describes transaction patterns, which show that Tether was "used to provide price support and manipulate cryptocurrency prices." It is stated that purchases with Tether were "timed following market downturns and result in sizable increases in Bitcoin prices."


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The Holkham Hebrew Bible, in a show of Jewish books and documents from the Bodleian Library in Oxford, now on view at the Jewish Museum in New York. The book was printed in Naples in 1491/2, by one Joshua Solomon Soncino. Not only is it gorgeous, but it's poignant as well. The hand-colored decoration shows how fully its maker was immersed in, and appreciative of, the Christian culture of the Italian Renaissance. (Identical decoration was used on a chivalric romance.) Yet at this same time, Jews were being expelled in vast numbers from Spain and were confined to ghettos in Italy. The persecution and segregation made no cultural sense, but that didn't stop it from happening.
For a full visual survey of past Daily Pics visit blakegopnik.com/archive.


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Cocoon GRID-IT Organizer (CPG10BL)
The ultimate organizer! The GRID-IT! system provides endless configurations for your digital devices and personal effects with a rubberized woven elastic object retention system for gadget organization. Ideal for iPod, iPhone, Blackberry and other digital devices.
Product Features
- Most versatile organization system designed to hold items firmly in place
- Endless configurations
- Convenient pocket for additional storage
- Perfect companion for your laptop bag or travel case
- Configure GRID-IT your own way