text:
By Yonatan Gher, Executive Director, Amnesty International Israel
My brother and I are experiencing the current Israel-Gaza conflict quite differently. He is 20, serving out his military service and has been fighting in Gaza. I, on the other hand, am the Executive Director of Amnesty International Israel, an organization that is now heavily involved in documenting and campaigning on apparent crimes perpetrated by both sides of this conflict. I am also a conscientious objector.
My position does not diminish from the fact that I spend my days worried sick about him and other family members in similar situations. When you have such complexity in a family situation, humor is often the best approach, and so we joke sometimes that if the rest of the world heeds Amnesty International's call for an arms embargo, I'll be coming for his gun first.
In this part of the world, humor is one of our ways of dealing with situations that are so terribly sad. From the start of this conflict, more than 1,800 Palestinians and 64 Israeli soldiers as well as three civilians in Israel have been killed. Each and every one of these lives lost – children, babies, elderly people, women, men, in Gaza and Israel alike – is tragic.
When you have such complexity in a family situation, humor is often the best approach, and so we joke sometimes that if the rest of the world heeds Amnesty International's call for an arms embargo, I'll be coming for his gun first.
As I refuse to take part in this, and instead see every life as sacred, without relativity, without context and without justification, I find human rights discourse to be a good refuge. While human rights are a legal framework, they are built on the basis of a higher moral code of the nations of the world at their best. We in Israel ought to have a special affinity towards human rights, as they were created in the aftermath of World War II, as the world's way of saying 'never again.'
Nations came together then and decided that there must be limits to the absolute power a nation has over its own citizens, as well as those in countries with whom it is at war. It is a code that has existed in Judaism for centuries: Arvut Hadadit, mutual responsibility between all people, or as Amnesty International often refers to it: Solidarity. The idea is that countries will involve themselves in each other's business to assure that a set of collectively adopted rights will be granted to each and every person in the world.
Israel has been consistent in its support for the creation of human rights instruments. This includes the active role Israel took in establishing the Refugee Convention in the 1950s, or some good first steps on the Arms Trade Treaty, which was adopted just last year.
Yet, as we have witnessed countless times, Israel has one standard for the rest of the world, and another for itself. Actions which amount to clear violations of human rights when another country commits them, are coined 'political' when they happen here, and if you criticize those actions you'll be accused of 'ignoring the context,' or Israel's favorite: 'criticizing us is anti-Semitic.'
It's 2:30 a.m., and I have just pulled my five year old son out of bed. I am holding him in the stairwell – our designated 'safe zone' – as the missile siren wails. In a minute, we'll hear a few loud bangs, which we hope will be the Iron Dome intercepting rockets; rockets that were sent to kill us.
My son spends his mornings in kindergarten, hearing about the soldiers protecting us. He boasts about his own uncle the brave soldier. The children draw pictures which are sent to the combating army units and hung up on tanks and artillery. In the evening, during another siren, he asks me whether there are sirens in Gaza too. I explain that kids in Gaza have none, nor do they have an Iron Dome. "What protects kids there?" he asks.
It seems that the last line of protection for kids in Gaza, for my kid, and for all civilians on both sides of this conflict, is the upholding of human rights. I truly hope that more people around the world take action, to call on all fighting parties to stop targeting civilians, and on their own countries to utilize the International Criminal Court and to impose arms embargoes, to keep us all safe.


text:
Welcome to another investigative report on… devices to control cameras.
My readers will already know about intervalometers. No? Ok, you can read about them in this moldy old article. Reduced to its simplest form, an intervalometer is a device that electronically presses your shutter button and releases it. Fancy intervalometers have many other important and useful features including those described in that aforementioned article.
In this article I will compare four devices I have with one I don't own. The devices I am comparing are all for use with a Canon 5D Mark II but most have variations that make them suitable for wider use with other cameras and brands. Here are the devices in question:
- $60: Satechi Wireless Intervalometer
- $50: Trigger Happy dongle and free application for iPhone (Android available, too)
- $30: Trigger Trap dongle and free application for iPhone and Android.
- $320: Promote Control and camera attachment cable
- $14: Shoot Intervalometer (cheap knock-off aka Neweer)
There is one obvious difference: price. In my opinion the somewhat unreliable cheap Shoot Intervalometer is worth the price as a sacrificial device for use in a harsh environment but not something I would recommend for a critical shoot.
It is also a little unfair to compare the two smart phone based products on price alone since they require a smart phone to operate them. Both the Trigger Happy and the Trigger Trap are picky about what phones they support. Neither supports an iPhone 3G – each requires at least an iPhone 3Gs, 4G, 4Gs or 5. That's unfortunate since I have an old iPhone 3G which I would gladly convert for use only as a camera control device. What I am hinting at is that you may want to consider the cost of an iPhone or Android phone to drive these devices.
If you'd rather that I just "cut to the chase" and tell you which of these devices I recommend… Here is my ranking from best to so so:
- Trigger Trap
- Satechi Wireless Intervalometer
- Promote Control
- Trigger Happy
- Shoot
Promote Control
The Promote Control is the unit I don't own and its ranking is based on three things: the cost (high), the features (many) and the usability. As a dedicated device the Promote Control is almost the most versatile. Indeed it is the only device I investigated that can control the camera – using a USB connection – not just the shutter. But they bill themselves mostly as an HDR device. Watching their videos and following the many modes and button presses made my head hurt. The smart phone based products clearly have a leg up. They can present the data more intelligently and allow more features through upgrade than the few buttons available on the Promote Control. The Promote Control screen is reminiscent of those multi line text pagers of yesteryear.
Because it has direct camera control the Promote Control can perform several features that the others on this list can not touch. The Promote can: shoot real extended HDR shots, not only long-exposure HDR. It can also control the focus to do focus stacking. In various modes it can do timelapse, star trail and "bulb ramping". And it *might* have a method to be dormant for a while and start running the configured program in the future… however it can never be as clever as the Trigger Trap which is able to take advantage of all the other goodies on a smart phone like GPS location, tilt/shift, on board cameras, and WiFi. Being this is a dedicated device, you may not have to worry about choosing between a timelapse and and important phone call.
I learned that there is another device like the Promote Control that uses WiFi to allow extended control of the camera through the USB link: the CamRanger ($299). What is enticing about the CamRanger is that it says you don't need to keep your i-device connected after you set up the shooting program – that would be very nice!
If you are a Nikon shooter, there is the curiously named Zesty or ZGR-1 ($70). I downloaded the ZGR-1 app – it looks like a bad hack job – especially the translation of the manaual (as they called it) from Chinese to English. The ZGR-1 app seems pretty limited, too, but it's hard to tell since it only connects to cameras I don't have.
This device is the newest in my arsenal and is perhaps the most promising. The funny thing is that I was able to test it without having the dongle… because the TriggerTrap and the Trigger Happy dongles both work on the same principle: they attach to the headphone port of your smart phone and control the shutter button by playing sound through that port. If you have an alert, or incoming call, it may make the camera do strange things – I've noticed that behavior with the Trigger Happy product, and unfortunately an incoming call during my star trail test with TriggerTrap terminated the current exposure even though I didn't do anything to the call. Indeed, selecting the home screen on the iPad or iPhone seems to terminate TriggerTrap's signal – it doesn't continue to run in the background like the built-in Music Application or White Noise do.
The TriggerTrap application exploits features of your smart phone or iPad in very clever ways not only can you configure it to do normal timelapses, star trails, bulb ramping and long exposure HDR shots. TriggerTrap can fire your camera when it:
- determines you've moved x meters from your previous location
- notices movement in the smart phone camera
- notices faces in the smart phone's camera
- detects that the device is moved
- hears a sound of a configurable volume (clap, bang, whistle)
- detects magnetism / metal (presumably using the built-in compass)
- gets a wi-fi signal from a master – that is it can become a remote control device.
The TriggerTrap application is well done, has copious help, lots of little features, and clear definition of functions. If it lacks anything, it is the ability to save a particular camera or shooting setup. I really appreciate the ability to set times and duration using a slider with a pop-up spin control to fine tune the values that are hard to hit via the sliders alone. And it supports sub-second intervals, timeouts, etc. It also calculates and displays the results of your changes on the fly so if you increase the number of photos that will be taken in timelapse mode, it shows you how many seconds the timelapse movie will last, and automatically calculates the photo interval.
It really only lacks ONE very useful feature that I would use… the ability to set an initial delay or an ending time. I'd like to app to "sleep" until 20 minutes before moonset and THEN start my star trail sequence, or set it to end 40 minutes before sunrise, etc. It has the built-in intelligence to know when the sun will rise or set for your current location so it's just a small matter of code to add the delay function or the cut-off function.
Some functions are a little too cute. The Cable Release mode, for example, has an odd little spin-wheel to select functions. A pull down would be easier to use than the mostly useless single letters on the wheel. The area you press to start the exposure is both small and it does not light to show when it is exposing. In the diagram at the left the exposure has been started but nothing is counting down and nothing has changed since pressing the small gray "start" button.
One problem with this app, and the Trigger Happy application, is that it must be dedicated to use for the purpose it is intended to serve. I made the mistake of leaving my Bluetooth on and with my car parked nearby my phone paired with the over-visor Bluetooth speaker in my car and could not drive the camera (but I got strange buzzing noises in the car). Turning off Bluetooth solved the problem. BUT a phone call or pressing the home button to return to the main screen effectively ends your exposure. Oh, and the cable is short – about 1.5 feet total – so you'll need something to hold your iPhone or iPad close to your camera. And the app spills light which may affect your shot. Oh, and an inadvertent touch may stop whatever you're trying to do. But it does do sub-second delays between exposures. I got mine down to 250 milliseconds between shots without missing any exposures on my Canon 5D Mark II – that's 1/4 of the time you can do with the run-of-the-mill intervalometer. Indeed, I set my exposures to 26.63 seconds and delays to 250 milliseconds. 45 shots took 20 minutes, 10 seconds which works out to 26.88 seconds per shot.
Trigger un-Happy
Trigger Happy ranks near the bottom of my list not because it is unreliable, and not because it is more expensive than its TriggerTrap cousin, which it is, and not because many people are reporting months long delays in receiving a working product. No it's near the bottom because the iOS application (version 1.03) that was released to control it is… maddening. It seems to have features I want (timelapse, Bulb Ramping, HDR Bracketing) but its sophomoric interface feels like it hates me. For one thing, the many screens are all "single purpose" but you MUST select things in the order the app expects or it will both complain AND ignore you. For example, you must start by setting the Interval. If you then try to set a shutter time that is longer than the interval it refuses to let you go ahead – you must go back and change the interval. Moreover when you try to set the Shutter time, it doesn't TELL you what the current Interval is. A better application would add a "Star Trails" mode where all you do is set the exposure length and it ASSUMES a 1 second or less pause between shots. And a MUCH better application would either adjust or offer to adjust the other parameters for you. A good example of a better application is the TriggerTrap. TriggerTrap shows the settings together on the same screen and doesn't divide them across screens.
If you switch e.g. from "Timelapse Normal" to "Timelapse Bramp" it pops up an annoying dialog box "Bulb Mode Required". Switch the Shutter mode from "Auto" to "Manual" and guess what dialog box pops back up! Blecch. A little on-screen reminder would have been fine, but why pop up a box I can only say "OK" to? Thankfully it has sub-second exposure and interval lengths, but it could be made MUCH better if it asked you what camera you are using and initialized the settings for you… or if you could create a profile for a specific camera. There are many other problems with the interface… for example in "Single Shot" mode the banner across the top on my iPad still reads "Time Lapse" what? A One shot timelapse? The good news is that a release of a better app could dramatically improve the usability and usefulness of this device. I have tried to persuade the makers to do a better job with their application, but the very young adults who started this project long ago on Kickstarter and apparently have had a falling out after collecting $221,000 in starter money.
Satechi Wireless
Rather than expend a lot of energy writing about it, you can read my (rather glowing) review of the device on Amazon (its the topped ranked favorable review). One thing to note: the device I received was labeled "Young Nuo" not "Satechi".
Shoot Intervalometer
This devices is a cheap knock off of the manufacturers device. Like the Satechi, there are different connectors available to fit different cameras. I bought three of them for loaners with my workshop participants and one of them developed the problem I described in the review.
Device Comparison
F E A T U R E | Trigger Trap |
PromotControl | Trigger Happy |
Satechi Wireles |
Shoot Timer |
Price $ USD (3) | 30 | 320 | 50 | 60 | 15 |
Control Type | Audio | USB+S | Audio | Shutter | Shutter |
Computer-less operation | Yes | (4) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Timelapse | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
StarTrail Mode | Yes | ? | No | No | No |
Delay Before Start | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Sub-second intervals | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Bulb Ramping | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Ease of Use (6) | Great | Fair | Poor | Good | Good |
Bulb based HDR Bracketing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Full HDR Bracketing | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Focus Control | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Android Compatible | (5) | No | Yes | No | No |
iOS Compatible | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
Battery Life | (7) | ? | (7) | Months | Months |
Flash Control | Yes | ? | No | No | No |
Wireless use (2) | (1) | No | No | Yes | No |
(1) Can use WiFi with Master/Slave for remote control.
(2) Theoretically all audio jack based controls COULD be operated via a BLUEtooth audio device.
(3) Includes the cost of an application and a cable or cables to connect to the camera.
(4) Computer and USB cable required to upgrade the firmware, but not for programming/use.
(5) The android application has fewer fancy controls, but the timelapse, bramping, and star trails work fine.
(6) My subjective evaluation of ease of use.
(7) I ran both the Trigger Trap and the Trigger Happy applications on my older iPhone 4. Each ran for over 4 hours and consumed less than half of my battery – and that was with all phone functions left on (WiFi, Bluetooth, and cellular). Of course your battery life may vary. I did not test the battery life of the Satechi in Wireless mode.
Yet More Control Ideas
- DSLR Remote (Homebrew Hardware)
- CamRanger ($299). Wireless (WiFi) control with USB support. Allows you to view photos like you can with the EyeFi card but you can also control focus, and much more.
- Zesty or ZGR-1 ($70, Nikon models only)
- Timelapse+ ($210) In development – also a Kickstarter Project. Currently only shutter control, but it looks like it may be a serious competitor to the Promote Control with USB support *and* an iPhone application to control it.
- Rubberband. Yep, rubber band. Set the camera in continuous exposure mode and hold the shutter button down with a rubberband. Works in a pinch – trust me!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Canada's Lotto 6/49 is the most popular lottery game played in the country currently. This lottery game was officially launched in June 1982. It became the first nationwide Canadian lottery game that allowed players to choose their own results. Before Lotto 6/49, players of lottery games had to purchase tickets with printed numbers in order to play. Lotto 6/49 ticket costs 2 dollars if bought in a lottery shop.
If you have the right reasons, cashing in you Lottery winnings can like a great hint. It could help you deal on your deep debts, finance with a home purchase perhaps child's education, business start-up or any investment plan too. Is actually quite quite likely that your current lottery payments might not meet you might have. However, you alter your Lottery payments into cash lump sums ahead of you can imagine.
Concentrate on small earnings. It is enough that include small Satta Matka winnings rather than nothing. After all, these plays are only concerned with free so it's not bad that shipped to you small tokens for spending nothing. Finally, talk a new customer support before actually playing in order to ensure that everything is legal and placed. Don't hurry too much on playing free scratch off. Always remember that benefit from the to do first is search for information offline and Online Lottery. This can get you away from scams who only want profits for their use.
First most you for you to play the lottery and move a price tag. No one gets to win the lottery without a person particular. You have to take an number of money and play. Everyone who won risked their funds as very. If you want maximize the associated with winning you must have the opportunity to let go of some money every week to have fun with the lottery. Undertake it ! choose the lotto game that you like best and select on simply how much you to be able to spend on that game each fine.
Remember how the Lottery online pool is nothing more than a bunch of people who have gotten together along with their funds in together. One purpose of pooling cash is to ensure they might bring more entry. Another purpose of joining a swimming pool is the simple truth is that prone to are looking learning easy methods to win at the lottery, you have found yourself a pace closer compared to that goal. The end result is usually everyone will be the pool recently increased their chances getting a winner in the lottery.
It may be very difficult to win the big jackpots in lottery. For this reason it is crucial that a lot of people will for you to aim at winning in smaller limits. The lottery wheel is in a help you decide to this. Although you will win in smaller amounts, it is guaranteed which you've got better associated with winning typically. When you accumulate necessary to winnings in small amounts, you end up being surprised have got actually gained more profits in lottery already.
We have brought you some details of this lottery pool that will a person to to make a well informed choice when the ready to make a decision as as to if you wish to combine this pool or even otherwise.


text:
Gartner BI And Data Warehouse Quadrants: More Science, Less 'Magic'
Gartner's 2012 business intelligence and data warehousing vendor analyses reveal more customer survey work, fewer dark arts.
Back in seafaring days of yore, ship captains with unsavory crews made a habit of adding all sorts of phony steps to the process of using the sextant, compass, watch, and chart, lest potentially mutinous hands catch wise to the otherwise straightforward science of navigation.
They'd take multiple sextant readings of no consequence, swing their pocket watch like a pendulum, counting meaningless beats, then scratch down nonsensical calculations. The show made the task of choosing a safe course seem like a mysterious art that only the learned captain could handle.
Flash forward a few centuries and consider the Gartner Magic Quadrant, the analyst firm's popular charting of IT vendor leadership. How does Gartner go about triangulating the vendor dots on the horizontal "completeness of vision" and vertical "ability to execute" axes? Detractors have taken their shots at the process over the years, comparing the Magic Quadrant to a Magic 8 Ball or dartboard, even accusing Gartner of favoring "whoever pays the most."
Gartner last week published its business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing (DW) quadrants, and I have to break with the pundit tendency to bash these reports. In fact, I'm not the only observer who has noticed a bit less dark art and a bit more transparency in Gartner's process--at least where the BI and DW reports are concerned.
[ Want more on business intelligence and the data platform? Read our 2012 BI & Information Management Report. ]
Gartner uses a well established methodology (explained in this FAQ) across all quadrants. It entails a process of (typically annual) vendor briefings and surveys followed by customer surveys and interviews. The teams of analysts who write up each report stick to the general methodology, but they also develop market- and product-specific criteria, and they're free to put a greater emphasis on, say, the customer or vendor surveys, depending on the maturity of the market in question.
Gartner's BI Quadrant, which is available through this Tableau Software link, has relied much more heavily on customer surveys in recent years. Gartner surveyed 1,364 customers this year, and its findings were applied to three out of seven criteria behind the vertical "ability to execute" axis (namely, assessments of the product/service, sales execution/pricing, and customer experience).
Over the last three years, Gartner has also published the results of the customer survey, giving practitioners and vendors alike a chance to read verbatim quotes and scoring results. "We think the [Quadrant] process is definitely becoming more transparent over time, which is good for all the vendors and the customers who rely on this information," says Dan Jewett, VP of product management at Tableau Software, one of two "challengers" in this year's BI report (along with Tibco Spotfire).
The survey write-ups are particularly useful, says Jewett, because tech buyers can see how different vendors stack up on the attributes they're most concerned about.
Some vendors aren't so keen on Gartner's customer survey approach. SAP, for one, was somewhat dismissive of this year's BI quadrant as "a subjective ranking system with a heavy weighting on a small sample of customer survey responses," as described in a statement by Jason Rose, SAP's VP of business intelligence marketing.
What's surprising is that SAP is one of eight companies Gartner placed in the BI leaders' quadrant. But the company had the lowest "ability to execute" among those eight, ranking below Oracle, MicroStrategy, Microsoft, Information Builders, QlikTech, IBM, and SAS, in that order.
I, for one, don't consider 1,364 to be a small sample, especially considering that Gartner's sample two years ago included fewer than 900 respondents, including 91 SAP BusinessObjects customers. SAP's dot was in a similar spot back then.
Data Warehouse Vendor Rankings
Gartner's DW quadrant is far less customer-survey-intensive than the BI quadrant, acknowledges co-author/analyst Donald Feinberg, but he says he and his peers are using more survey data than ever before. "We've not only encouraged vendors to send us more references, but we're sending more surveys to Gartner clients," he explains.
There weren't any real shocks in this year's DW leaders quadrant. Teradata, Oracle, and IBM, respectively, still lead the rankings. EMC and Sybase swapped positions (roughly), while Microsoft somehow slipped into leader's quadrant, despite the fact that Gartner says it has yet to see a production deployment of Microsoft's SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse. (This last case is one of those instances where you sense a little "magic" at work.)
What some report readers find most puzzling about Gartner's quadrants is the fact that vendors never reach the upper-right-hand corner. In fact, Teradata, Oracle, and IBM are further from that corner this year than they were last year. This evolution, says Feinberg, simply reflects the fact that markets are dynamic and that expectations keep rising. One year ago, big data was of growing importance, but customers now expect a comprehensive vendor vision and ability to execute on that score.
"A lot of people make the mistake of thinking of the edges of the quadrant as fixed, when actually it's the center that's fixed," observes Tim Negris, VP of marketing at cloud-based data warehousing vendor 1010data, the lone "challenger" in this year's Gartner DW Magic Quadrant, which is available through this 1010data link.
In other words, the average vendor vision on the horizontal axis and average customer expectations for ability to execute are dead center, but that's a moving target, explains Negris, who has also briefed Gartner analysts when he worked for Oracle and IBM.
None of this scrutiny would matter if nobody paid much attention to Gartner's quadrants, but it's not just vendors looking in the mirror, Negris says. "Judging by the standing-room-only crowds at Gartner conferences when they go through these reports in detail, customers are very interested because it helps them see what's happening," he says.
My point is that there's a lot of rigor behind the quadrants, and the BI and DW reports that I cover have only improved with the inclusion of deeper customer research. I know from first-hand experience that our own InformationWeek assessments, like our 2012 BI & Information Management Report, hugely benefit from in-depth end-user surveys.
As one critic of the recent Forrester Wave Report on Enterprise Hadoop Solutions advised, even if you take exception to the ranking of this or that vendor, you can get a lot of value just by looking past the chart and reading the content of the report.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like


text:
DZMM recently held the first DZMM Kapamilya Day in celebration of DZMM TeleRadyo's 10th year on television.
Hope and joy filled a covered court in Brgy. Sta. Ana, Pateros whereIn the first leg, Julius Babao and Bernadette Sembrano brought their "Lingkod Kapamilya sa DZMM" program on location, enabling residents to ask for help and assistance through the show. Before going live on air, they were able to bond with the people, who enjoyed the livelihood seminar and birthday blowout prepared by DZMM.
Around 200 people lined up for the medical mission that was done in partnership with volunteer doctors from Sagip Bayan St. Luke's Medical Center.
Others, meanwhile, received free wheelchairs and nebulizers. People also learned a new source of income after attending the seminar on tocino making.
To complete the family day experience, those celebrating their birthdays were given gifts.
Pateros mayor Miguel Ponce III and barangay captain Benny Santinidad expressed their gratitude to DZMM for choosing Sta. Ana as the first stop of the DZMM Kapamilya Day.
"This is very important because many Kapamilyas got assistance and we were able to give solutions immediately," Santinidad said.
Radyo Patrol reporter Raya Capulong and "Mismo" anchor Ahwel Paz were also present to give news and entertainment to the people of Pateros.
DZMM, which celebrated 30 years on air last year, will continue its delivery of news and public service to the barangays on the next legs of DZMM Kapamilya Day.


text:
There are some people who believe you can tell a lot about a person from what they read. By that measure, judging from the year's most popular posts on Shots, you might think our readers include plenty of depressed parents obsessed with diet and excrement.
Luckily for you, dear readers, we here at Shots know that Web traffic isn't a scientific measure of personality or of quality — just of virality. Plenty of powerful, public service stories failed to make our Top 10 list for the year. That caveat delivered, here's a look at the stories that kept you clicking in 2012.
Depression: Scientists' understanding of depression has evolved dramatically in recent years, and now there are a lot of pretty nifty stories to tell about it. The most popular post of the year, by a landslide, was Jon Hamilton's fascinating tale on how the drug ketamine — also known as the club drug "Special K" — is working for people with depression who haven't responded to other antidepressants like Prozac. A related story by reporter Alix Spiegel explored serotonin's role in the illness.
Parenting: Spiegel's stories on the psychology of learning also proved to be blockbusters. In one, she looked at the different ways in which Eastern and Western cultures approach intellectual struggle in children — an enlightening follow-up to the brouhaha surrounding Amy Cha's best-selling book on being a "tiger mother." Another popular Spiegel post explored how teachers' expectations can influence how students perform in school.
The year's third most popular post was also of interest to parents: a news story on the American Academy of Pediatrics' conclusion that the benefits of circumcision clearly outweigh any risks to newborn boys — a major policy shift for the organization. And many of you were intrigued by Patti Neighmond's report on research suggesting that arguing with their parents can have long-term benefits for teens.
Odds And Ends: On Shots, we like to blend the serious with the droll, and looking at our list of the top 10 most-read posts this year, it looks like our readers do, too. In 2012, we investigated how pronouns can shape dating success, and lifted the lid on the colors and shapes in the toilet.
Finally, evolutionary explanations remain a tantalizing lens for the present, not to mention the past, as demonstrated by posts on the advantages of the runner's high and on doctors' interest in the paleo diet. If you're hungry for more posts on the paleo diet and meat, stay tuned for the year in review on our sister blog, The Salt, coming Tuesday.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
My first website was put together by my youngest son while he was living in Nepal over seven years ago. The new design was done by my oldest son. It has been a work in progress over four years. You'll find that it's a lot more user friendly and loaded with helpful information. Congratulations and A Big Thank You to Chris. Check it out! www.drschwan.com
Home / Archives for universal


text:
The creator of the Book-Cleavage Ambiguous Figure is unknown. The figure has been available on a number of websites on the internet for some time.
The Book-Cleavage Ambiguous Figure belongs in a large class of illusions where a two-dimensional figure, or three-dimensional object can be seen in two or more sharply distinct ways. There are many example of ambiguous figures which you can search for in this illusions index.
There is some controversy over how the Book-Cleavage Ambiguous Figure works. It is generally agreed that the retinal image is constant when experiencing the illusion, but what is not agreed is whether the visual experience of the figure changes when the perspectival switch takes place between seeing the book versus the cleavage, or whether the experience itself does not change, and it is some post-experiential belief, judgment, or other mental process which changes. Similar ambiguous figures have been cited in debates over this issue (Silins 2015: §2.4).
This issue is intertwined with more general questions about the modularity of mind and cognitive penetration. To explain: on the hypothesis that the mind is modular, a mental module is a kind of semi-independent department of the mind which deals with particular types of inputs, and gives particular types of outputs, and whose inner workings are not accessible to the conscious awareness of the person—all one can get access to are the relevant outputs. So, in the case of visual illusions, for example, a standard way of explaining why the illusion persists even though one knows that one is experiencing an illusion is that the module, or modules, which constitute the visual system are 'cognitively impenetrable' to some degree—i.e. their inner workings and outputs cannot be influenced by conscious awareness. It is still an open question regarding the extent to which perceptual modules are cognitively impenetrable, and the Book-Cleavage belongs in a large class of illusions which are employed in debates to try and close that question. One way in which ambiguous figures like the Book-Cleavage might support the claim that visual processing is impenetrable to a significant degree is that the Gestalt switch is hard to control – often one will see the Book-Cleavage one way or another even if one is trying to see it the other way. Macpherson discusses this phenomenon and its implications in her 2012 paper. Further, there is some evidence from neuroscience that, for at least some ambiguous figures, there are significant changes in early-stage visual processing in the brain when the Gestalt switch is taking place, which might support the hypothesis that Gestalt switches in general are changes in the experience itself rather than in downstream mental processes like beliefs about that experience (see Kornmeier & Bach 2006, 2012).
Finally, ambiguous figures like the Book-Cleavage have been cited in debates about whether the nature of experience can be fully accounted for by appealing only to its representational content. Philosophers and cognitive scientists distinguish between the phenomenal character of an experience—i.e. what it is like for a conscious subject to undergo that experience – and its representational content—i.e. what the experience is about. Some philosophers, known as 'representationalists' argue that the phenomenal character of experience can be accounted for fully in terms of the representational content of experience. One motivation for this argument is that representational content seems easier to 'naturalise'—i.e. for its nature to be explained in purely materialist terms by appealing solely to physical entities like brain states. Phenomenal character, on the other hand, seems much more resistant to attempts to naturalise it. But if phenomenal character can be fully accounted for in representationalist terms, then this would make the naturalising of phenomenal character seem much more tractable. And, ambiguous figures are among the key examples discussed in debates about whether phenomenal character can be fully accounted for in representationalist terms. For example, Macpherson (2006) has argued that some changes in phenomenal character that occur when experiencing some ambiguous figures cannot be explained in naturalistic, representationalist terms. Macpherson's 2006 paper provides an overview of the general debate and its many moving parts.


text:
75th Anniversary
Our main mission for more than 70 years is to build the best accordions.
Our dedication has always been the achievement of the total perfection in the aesthetics, in the reed clearness, in the careful selection of wood, in the accurate manufacturing of mechanics, in the perfect balance between lightness and acoustic richness, aiming not only, to produce an excellent instrument, but also to be able to give a shining personality.
What we create, is basically a ready soul, both to be expertly shaped from the artist, and be enjoyed with facility from an amateur accordionist. Our craft workshop is also a meeting place since we strongly believe in the union and in the harmony among the composer, executor and luthier. We think that the artistic creation, the music interpretation and the instrument production go hand by hand with a clear and dynamic interdependence among them.
We have always been motivated by exchanges of views and advices; the inspiration of the best influential accordionists lead constantly us to improve more and more. On the other hand, through the years, our intuition and most of our instruments became "state of art", undisputed landmarks in the great accordion world.
Mythos, Nova, Super compact, Peter Pan, to name but a few examples, have revolutionized this world, towards a new future.
Our aim?
To realize the dreams inspired by several musics all over the world, to produce extraordinary accordions that allow our musicians to live amazing experiences, to increase the customer desire to express freely his musical talent. Discover the accordion good for you, visit our web-site and go to the nearest distributor.


text:
A federal judge's ruling in Texas has thrown into question whether millions of insured Americans will continue to receive some preventive medical services, such as cancer screenings and drugs that protect people from HIV infection, without making a copayment.
It's the latest legal battle over the Affordable Care Act, and Wednesday's ruling is almost certain to be appealed.
A key part of the ruling by Judge Reed O'Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas says one way that preventive services are selected for the no-cost coverage is unconstitutional. Another portion of his ruling says a requirement that an HIV prevention drug therapy be covered without any cost to patients violates the religious freedom of an employer who is a plaintiff in the case.
It is not yet clear what all this means for insured patients. A lot depends on what happens next.
O'Connor is likely familiar to people who have followed the legal battles over the ACA, which became law in 2010. In 2018, he ruled that the entire ACA was unconstitutional. For this latest case, he has asked both sides to outline their positions on what should come next in filings due Sept. 16.
After that, the judge may make clear how broadly he will apply the ruling. O'Connor, whose 2018 ruling was later reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court, has some choices. He could say the decision affects only the conservative plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit, expand it to all Texans, or expand it to every insured person in the U.S. He also might temporarily block the decision while any appeals, which are expected, are considered.
"It's quite significant if his ruling stands," said Katie Keith, director of the Health Policy and the Law Initiative at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at the Georgetown University Law Center.
We asked experts to weigh in on some questions about what the ruling might mean.
What does the ACA require on preventive care?
Under a provision of the ACA that went into effect in late 2010, many services considered preventive are covered without a copayment or deductible from the patient.
A recent estimate from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that more than 150 million people with insurance had access to such free care in 2020.
The federal government currently lists 22 broad categories of coverage for adults, an additional 27 for women, and 29 for children.
To get on those lists, vaccines, screening tests, drugs, and services must have been recommended by one of three groups of medical experts. But the ruling in the Texas case centers on recommendations from only one group: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a nongovernmental advisory panel whose volunteer experts weigh the pros and cons of screening tests and preventive treatments.
Procedures that get an "A" or "B" recommendation from the task force must be covered without cost to the insured patient and include a variety of cancer screenings, such as colonoscopies and mammograms; cholesterol drugs for some patients; and screenings for diabetes, depression, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Why didn't the ACA simply spell out what should be covered for free?
"As a policymaker, you do not want to set forth lists in statutes," said Christopher Condeluci, a health policy attorney who served as tax and benefits counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee during the drafting of the ACA. One reason, he said, is that if Congress wrote its own lists, lawmakers would be "getting lobbied in every single forthcoming year by groups wanting to get on that list."
Putting it in an independent body theoretically insulated such decisions from political influence and lobbying, he and other experts said.
What did the judge say?
It's complicated, but the judge basically said that using the task force recommendations to compel insurers or employers to offer the free services violates the Constitution.
O'Connor wrote that members of the task force, which is convened by a federal health agency, are actually "officers of the United States" and should therefore be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
The decision does not affect recommendations made by the other two groups of medical experts: the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccinations, and the Health Resources and Services Administration, a part of the Department of Health and Human Services that has set free coverage rules for services aimed mainly at infants, children, and women, including birth control directives.
Many of the task force's recommendations are noncontroversial, but a few have elicited an outcry from some employers, including the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They argue they should not be forced to pay for services or treatment they disagree with, such as HIV prevention drugs.
Part of O'Connor's ruling addressed that issue separately, agreeing with the position taken by plaintiff Braidwood Management, a Christian, for-profit corporation owned by Steven Hotze, a conservative activist who has brought other challenges to the ACA and to coronavirus mask mandates. Hotze challenged the requirement to provide free coverage of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drugs that prevent HIV. He said it runs afoul of his religious beliefs, including making him "complicit in facilitating homosexual behavior, drug use, and sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and one woman," according to the ruling.
O'Connor said forcing Braidwood to provide such free care in its insurance plan, which it funds itself, violates the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
What about no-copay contraceptives, vaccines, and other items that are covered under recommendations from other groups not targeted by the judge's ruling?
The judge said recommendations or requirements from the other two groups do not violate the Constitution, but he asked both parties to discuss the ACA's contraceptive mandate in their upcoming filings. Currently, the law requires most forms of birth control to be offered to enrollees without a copayment or deductible, although courts have carved out exceptions for religious-based employers and "closely held businesses" whose owners have strong religious objections.
The case is likely to be appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
"We will have a conservative court looking at that," said Sabrina Corlette, co-director of Georgetown University's Center on Health Insurance Reforms. "So I would not say that the vaccines and the women's health items are totally safe."
Does this mean my mammogram or HIV treatment won't be covered without a copayment anymore?
Experts say the decision probably won't have an immediate effect, partly because appeals are likely and they could continue for months or even years.
Still, if the ruling is upheld by an appellate court or not put on hold while being appealed, "the question for insurers and employers will come up on whether they should make changes for 2023," said Keith.
Widespread changes next year are unlikely, however, because many insurers and employers have already drawn up their coverage rules and set their rates. And many employers, who backed the idea of allowing the task force to make the recommendations when the ACA was being drafted, might not make substantial changes even if the ruling is upheld on appeal.
"I just don't see employers for most part really imposing copays for stuff they believe is actually preventive in nature," said James Gelfand, president of the ERISA Industry Committee, which represents large, self-insured employers.
For the most part, Gelfand said, employers are in broad agreement on the preventive services, although he noted that covering every type or brand of contraceptive without a patient copayment is controversial and that some employers have cited religious objections to covering some services, including the HIV preventive medications.
Religious objections aside, future decisions may have financial consequences. As insurers or employers look for ways to hold down costs, they might reinstitute copayments or deductibles for some of the more expensive preventive services, such as colonoscopies or HIV drugs.
"With some of the higher-ticket items, we could see some plans start cost sharing," said Corlette.
This article was reprinted from khn.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente. |


text:
Well, it was October 4, 2011 that my first novel, The Worker Prince, became a real book. It was published that Tuesday with a listing on www.suvudu.com and some fun announcements, and sent out into the world. In December, the book even made reviewer Paul Goat Allen's Barnes & Noble Book Club's Year's Best Science Fiction Releases of 2011, an Honorable Mention alongside a Scalzi book and Ben Bova's latest.
Since then, life hasn't changed as much as you might expect. Despite the purchase of my new mansion, which my friend Hugh still insists is his, even though I bought it fair and square, and the bevy of beautiful half-naked young women who hang around me now, I'm pretty much the same guy I've always been. Oh sure, I'm single again, and moved to cushier surroundings from El Paso to Ottawa, Kansas, when I'm away from the mansion, that is. But I'm still a guy who is working hard to make his way in the world.
I have four books out now, with two more on the way. Two more in ebook only and stories in two anthologies, a magazine and some online sites. And I have a growing in popularity blog and freelance editing career. But mostly, the biggest benefit of being published for a year has been the confidence I feel. I can call myself an author, even when standing or sitting beside panelists like Mike Resnick, Jay Lake or Nancy Kress and not feel embarrassed. I have a sense of accomplishment and professionalism that I didn't have before. And I take pride in the accomplishment. After all, not many people dream up an idea as kids then 27 years later see it published as a critically praised novel. The book's sold pretty well for micropress, too. 700 copies, I believe at last count. That's not anywhere near the numbers most New York published authors see, of course, but for a micropress book, it's pretty good numbers. And that last count was seven months in (another one is due any time). So I'm told those are pretty good numbers for a micropress in six months' time.
I do get treated a bit differently because people know I have a book out. Not just by readers and fans either, I mean. Fellow authors and pros regard me with more of a peerlike attitude, I've noticed. And it's easier to approach people because my name is not totally unknown. Between the book, B&N mention and SFFWRTCHT, word has gotten around.
Whatever the case, it's amazing how fast time flew. As imperfect as it may be, and as irritating as having Hugh constantly in my business may be, I'm still proud of my book baby. And I'm pleased that the sequel has come out. Book 3 is over half written as of today. I'm pleased with the anthologies I've edited and participated in since and the future opportunities that I see lying ahead.
Thanks to all of you for sharing the moments with me, good and bad. It'll be amazing to see where we all are a year from now, won't it? I hope your sense of achievement and success is at least equal to my own.
Coming soon:
Abraham Lincoln: Dinosaur Hunter – Land Of Legends (Fall 2012)
The Exodus (Saga of Davi Rhii 3) (2013)
Bryan Thomas Schmidt is an author and editor of adult and children's speculative fiction. His debut novel, The Worker Prince (2011) received Honorable Mention on Barnes & Noble Book Club's Year's Best Science Fiction Releases for 2011. A sequel The Returning followed in 2012 and The Exodus will appear in 2013, completing the space opera Saga Of Davi Rhii. His first children's books, 102 More Hilarious Dinosaur Books For Kids (ebook only) and Abraham Lincoln: Dinosaur Hunter- Lost In A Land Of Legends (forthcoming) appeared from Delabarre Publishing in 2012. His short stories have appeared in magazines, anthologies and online. He edited the anthology Space Battles: Full Throttle Space Tales #6 (2012). He hosts #sffwrtcht (Science Fiction & Fantasy Writer's Chat) Wednesdays at 9 pm ET on Twitter and is an affiliate member of the SFWA.


text:
Tesla says cars can automatically stop for traffic lights
By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer
DETROIT (AP) — After testing on public roads, Tesla is rolling out a new feature of its partially automated driving system designed to spot stop signs and traffic signals.
The update of the electric car company's cruise control and auto-steer systems is a step toward CEO Elon Musk's pledge to convert cars to fully self-driving vehicles later this year.
But it also runs contrary to recommendations from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board that include limiting where Tesla's Autopilot driving system can operate because it has failed to spot and react to hazards in at least three fatal crashes.
In a note sent to a group of Tesla owners who were picked to test the stop light and sign recognition feature, the company said it can be used with the Traffic Aware Cruise Control or Autosteer systems. The feature will slow the car whenever it detects a traffic light, including those that are green or blinking yellow. It will notify the driver of its intent to slow down and stop, and drivers must push down the gear selector and press the accelerator pedal to confirm that it's safe to proceed.
The company warns in the note obtained by The Associated Press that drivers must pay attention and be ready to take immediate action "including braking because this feature may not stop for all traffic controls."
The note says that over time, as the system learns from the fleet on the roads, it "will control more naturally."
Tesla didn't respond to multiple requests for additional details, but the website Electrek.co reported last week that the new feature is being sent to the wider Tesla fleet as part of an over-the-Internet software update for thousands of vehicles. The feature won't come until later in other parts of the world, the website said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the U.S. government's road safety agency, said in a prepared statement Monday that the agency "will closely monitor the performance of this technology," adding that drivers must be ready to act and law enforcement agencies will hold them responsible.
Jason Levine, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, a nonprofit watchdog group, said Tesla is using the feature to sell cars and get media attention, even though it might not work. "Unfortunately, we'll find out the hard way," he said.
Whenever one of its vehicles using Autopilot is involved in a crash, Tesla points to "legalese" warning drivers that they have to pay attention, Levine said. But he said Tesla drivers have a history over-relying on the company's electronics.
Missy Cummings, a robotics and human factors professor at Duke University, fears that a Tesla will fail to stop for a traffic light and a driver won't be paying attention. She also said Tesla is using its customers for "free testing" of new software.
She also fears that the cars will stop for green lights and their drivers won't react in time to keep moving, causing more rear-end collisions.
The NTSB has ruled in three fatal crashes that Tesla's Autopilot system was partly to blame, and it has expressed frustration with NHTSA for failing to act on the board's recommendations. Last month the board, which has no regulatory powers, took the unusual step of accusing NHTSA of contributing to the cause of a March 2019 Tesla crash in Florida.
The March 1, 2019, crash in Delray Beach, Florida, killed the 50-year-old driver of a Tesla Model 3. The car was traveling 69 miles per hour (111 kilometers per hour) when neither the driver nor the Autopilot system braked or tried to avoid a tractor-trailer that was crossing in its path. The car struck the trailer, which sheared off the Tesla's roof. The report also blamed the truck and the Tesla driver in the crash.
NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said in March that the crash was the third "where a driver's overreliance on Tesla's Autopilot and the operational design of Tesla's Autopilot have led to tragic consequences."
NHTSA said it will review the NTSB's report.
The Delray Beach crash was remarkably similar to one in 2016 in Williston, Florida, which also killed a Tesla driver. In that crash neither Autopilot nor the driver stopped for a crossing tractor-trailer.
Tesla maintains that its vehicles operating on Autopilot are about twice as safe as those in which the system isn't engaged. The company says in the fourth quarter, drivers using Autopilot had one crash for every 3.07 million miles driven.
Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the Tech industry. Keep an eye on our News section to stay informed and updated with our daily articles.


text:
The importance of enjoying the heat of summer safely cannot be overstated, especially when we are witnessing a trend in worldwide record-breaking temperatures. The risks associated with these rising temperatures can be severe without critical safety measures. With National Heat Awareness Day approaching at the end of May, people can have access to important safety and health information that will allow them to enjoy the summer with little danger.
The Importance of Heat Awareness
Heat-related illnesses pose a significant threat to public health, particularly during the summer months when temperatures soar. Specifically, it is critical to take measures by being vigilant and preventing the following heat-related illnesses:
- Heat Exhaustion: Characterized by heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and rapid heartbeat, heat exhaustion occurs when the body loses too much water and salt due to excessive sweating.
- Heat Stroke: A more severe condition than heat exhaustion, heat stroke happens when the body's temperature control system fails, leading to a dangerously high body temperature. Symptoms include confusion, fainting, seizures, and hot, dry skin.
- Heat Cramps: Painful muscle cramps occur during or after intense physical activity in hot conditions, and heat cramps result from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- Heat Rash: Also known as prickly heat, heat rash occurs when sweat ducts become blocked, leading to red, itchy bumps or blisters on the skin.
Statistics on Heat-Related Illnesses
While statistics on heat-related illnesses vary depending on geographic location and weather patterns, they underscore the severity of the problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2018 and 2020, there were 3,066 deaths caused by heat-related issues. The highest percentage of these deaths (19%) happened among people aged 55 to 64 years old, while the lowest percentage (1%) occurred in children aged 5 to 14 years.
Among all age groups from 5 to 14 years old to 55 to 64 years old, the percentage of heat-related deaths increased with age, and then it decreased among people aged 85 years and older (7%). About 2% of heat-related deaths were among infants younger than one year old, and 4% were among children aged 1 to 4 years old.
Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses
To stay safe and healthy during the summer months, follow these tips for preventing heat-related illnesses:
- Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they can contribute to dehydration.
- Limit Outdoor Activities: Whenever possible, limit outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you must be outdoors, take frequent breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces.
- Dress Appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in light colors to help reflect sunlight and keep your body cool. Use hats and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun's harmful rays.
- Use Sunscreen: Apply sunscreen with a high SPF rating to protect your skin from sunburn. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, especially if you're sweating or swimming.
- Seek Shade: When outdoors, seek shade whenever possible to avoid direct exposure to the sun. Use umbrellas, trees, or other structures to create shade if necessary.
- Stay Cool Indoors: Spend time in air-conditioned spaces such as malls, libraries, or community centers during periods of extreme heat. If you don't have air conditioning at home, consider visiting a cooling center or public pool to stay cool.
- Check on Vulnerable Individuals: Keep an eye on elderly relatives, neighbors, and individuals with chronic medical conditions, as they may be more susceptible to heat-related illnesses. Offer assistance if needed and encourage them to stay hydrated and cool.
As the summer months approach, it's essential to prioritize your safety and well-being. Heat-related illnesses can result in conditions requiring expensive medical treatment. Fortunately, our agents can assist you with questions about your health insurance coverage. Reach out today, and let's ensure you have a summer filled with fun and good health.
Article originally posted on www.insuranceneighbor.com(opens in new tab)


text:
Riverfold Software is a Mac, iOS, and web software company based in Austin, Texas. Founded in 2006 with the introduction of its first Mac product, Riverfold is dedicated to building great apps that help you keep and remember the things that matter.
New! Riverfold Software now offers consulting services.
Sunlit — create stories with your best photos
Tweet Library — archiving, collections, and filters
Clipstart — organize, find, and upload your videos
Searchpath — great search for your site
Watermark — web timeline and search archive for Twitter and App.net
Tweet Marker — mark your place in your Twitter timeline
For news, follow @riverfold on Twitter or read the developer's weblog.


text: Academics and research are intimately linked at NCBS and inStem. Graduate students and post-doctoral researchers are the heart of our campus, they are the ones who actually do the cutting edge research which sustains us. Visiting undergraduates and high-school students represent the future, and are exposed to the problems and tools of modern biology through internships and outreach programmes. As the breadth of research on our campus and the size of our community has grown, our graduate programs have expanded in their diversity and scale.


text:
How's this for irony? Ronald Reagan -- who is worshiped as the supreme deity by small-government, anti-spending zealots -- not only has a government office building in Washington named for him, but it's the biggest and costliest one ever built.
The only face-saving factor in this sardonic incongruity is that managers of the Reagan Building have embraced a right-wing, laissez-faire concept that the Gipper enthusiastically championed: Privatization of government jobs. However, that hasn't worked out to be a positive for his legacy, since Reagan's edifice now stands as a model of private profiteering on the backs of workers. In effect, corporate contractors are using privatization and our tax dollars to transform America into a low-wage nation of gross inequality.
The building is public property, but its food concessions have been turned over to such multibillion-dollar fast-food chains as Subway. Not only do they pay low wages with no benefits, but they're also being charged with "serious, willful, and chronic" wage theft. In particular, workers in the food court have filed formal complaints with the Labor Department, documenting that while workweeks of 60, 70, and even 80 hours are common, they're "never paid overtime." Not only is this a rank violation of our Fair Labor laws, but the practice also means they are being paid less than minimum wage.
Come on -- even Reagan favored at least a minimal level of decency, fairness, and respect for workers. Where's the morality in CEOs grabbing tax dollars to help subsidize their lavish executive pay packages, then turning around and stiffing their own workers in our name? To help counter this despicable corporate conversion of government into a force for poverty jobs, contact Good Jobs Nation at www.GoodJobsNation.org.
Listen to this commentary:
Photo: Flickr user Rian Castillo, creative commons licensed.


text:
How to Integrate Wishlist Member and bbPress the Right Way!
bbPress is one of the most popular forum platforms, and we noticed that many of our clients tried to integrate bbPress with their Wishlist Member membership site, but noticed that the integration does not work 100% .
The Problems with Integrating Wishlist Member & bbPress
If you have already tried to integrate your membership site with bbPress forum you may have discovered that:
1. It is not possible to protect topics and replies created by your forum members automatically.
This means that you must enter each and every topic and reply and change their protection settings manually… Quite impossible to maintain and manage.
It also means that whenever a non-member will try to access the direct link of a topic / reply he will be able to see its content.
2. It's not possible to protect the main forum's index page, I.E: http://yourdomain.com/forums
If you want to prevent non members from even having the ability to access the main forums' page, then just by integrating Wishlist Member and bbPress you cannot do it.
That is exactly why we developed Wishlist bbPress Protection plugin, as it solves these exact issues and more.


text:
"Today the judge is more strict" says the tweet, "One undercover police for each row! All monitoring the ones who are tweeting!"
In Istanbul-Turkey, today is the 2nd day of the hearings of 10 arrested journalists. Turkey is the leader country even before China and Iran with the figures of 107 arrested journalists.
Since the national mainstream media is not covering the news properly, colleagues of the detained journalists have no other choice but to tweet from the courtroom. According to Turkish law, the hearings are open unless a court order forbids it. But since yesterday, the judge has been constantly warning, then threatening those who try to give news from the courtroom. Today he said that those tweeting will be subjected to legal procedure. Neither the journalists nor the lawyers tweeting from the courtroom didn't really understand what the "procedure" will be. Alas, they tweet anyway.
The political arrests have become the legal (and lethal) weapon of the Turkish government to silence dissents and journalists. According to AFP figures 1/3 of the terrorists in the world are in Turkey. It is necessary to remind that the 500 detained students, 107 journalist and thousands of Kurdish politicians are considered to be "terrorists" in these political cases. Ironically, yesterday Interior Minister of Turkey said "Terrorism is not only on the mountains but in poetry, in paintings, in the universities, in NGO's. We will monitor those as well".
To Keep updated, please follow @oemoral, @petite1ze, @etemelkuran for live tweeting from the court.
3 comments
I feel myself lucky for having journalists like you and your friends in my country.
I wish freedom to all arrested journalists.
Thanks and kind regards
I think the matter is not ban on tweet from the court. Turkey has many problems without tweeting. But for especially these courts, mass media and "alternative"(?) journalists don't matter anything except some famous journalists.
Please read my comments on arrested journalists.
What no mention of the Gulen Movement in the same story as "jailed journalists"


text:
Wrap Jersey Dress Black & White
2.678,00 kr
This Monochrome Wrap Jersey Dress is a faux-wrap midi cut from a silky, wrinkle-resistant Italian stretch jersey that drapes curves beautifully. It comes with two side pockets, a functional tie at the waist and an adjustable neckline. A midi length is perfect for year-round wearability.
- Fits true to size, take your normal size
- Faux-wrap
- Long sleeves
- Adjustable V-neck
- Side pockets
- Black & white print
- Sustainable fabric printed in Italy
- 100% Viscose stretch-jersey
- Centre back length 116cm in a size UK16
- Model is 5ft8in/174cm/UK 16 and is wearing a size UK16
- Dry clean recommended or 30C Hand wash
- Do not tumble dry
- Cool Iron on reverse
- Made in the EU
We ship worldwide. All Duties & Taxes are calculated at the checkout. No hidden fees.
Free UK delivery on orders over £250. You can find further details on delivery and returns here.


text:
Adaptive Scheduler On Demand Demo
Explore some of our favorite features right now with an on-demand video demo. Get instant access!
Do even more to enhance the PowerSchool SIS experience
Quickly build a Schedule for Flex Periods
Understand & take action on behavior incidents
Greater transparency & documentation for transactions & balances
Explore all MBA Plugins for PowerSchool SIS
Effortlessly manage after school care
Access cafeteria information on-demand
Streamline report cards & much more
Easily create & manage alerts
Visualize incident management & student data
Empower students to create their own schedules
Take action on attendance patterns immediately
Track & manage student and staff devices
Sign-up and manage enrollements
Do even more for free to enhance the PowerSchool SIS experience
Identify attendance configuration problems
Reference and resource guide
Count attendance records for a date range
View average daily attendance & more
Compare enrollment data
Review and edit Admin and Teacher recommendations
Manage district needs during a pandemic
Resolve EOY process issues
Email students and designated contacts
Customization reference on your server
Manage stored grade records
Explore all Free MBA Plugins for PowerSchool SIS
Customizations, Training and Support to help you do more with PowerSchool
Fit the unique needs of your district
Webinars for skills, knowledge & confidence
Support plans, personalized training & much more
Explore how we can help you do more with PowerSchool
Webinars for implementation, best practices and more
For customer implementations, user training and more
All are welcome for essential processes & more
Guidance on Wisconsin WISEdata reporting
Explore the many ways to engage with MBA PowerSchool SIS training
This is the end user training for the MBA Student Fees plugin. This training is ONLY for customers that have purchased the MBA Student Fees plugin. End user training is intended to teach the day-to-day operations of the plugin. This training does not include configuration or security.
Explore some of our favorite features right now with an on-demand video demo. Get instant access!


text:
We've got camouflage. We've got utility. We've got plenty of "olive drab" to go around. If you are looking for products that appeal to military personnel and their families, you might consider these pieces that are designed with the military in mind.
This camouflage keychain is a great match for the camouflage that is such an iconic symbol of our armed services. This handy LED keychain will help shine a light on your brand.
G.I. style caps offer a military-friendly variation of the common baseball cap. This fashionable style has been seen on everyone from soldiers to Bono. So whether you are a veteran or like to march to the beat of your own drum, this is a great match.
This tool is built to assist with two characteristics the military instills in many of its soldiers, sailors: discipline and resourcefulness. There are several variations of this tool and most will include a combo of knives, screwdrivers, files, and bottle openers. We suggest incorporating a light and a compass as well for next-level survival.
Want to win hearts and brand recognition? Who doesn't love a teddy bear? These little sailors are set for the high seas and have been trained in hand-to-hand combat cuddles.
Promoting your brand through a leather Dopp kit is an acute, and thoughtful homage to military history. In World War II, young soldiers were often gifted Dopp kits once they began shaving. Today, they have become a staple of the traveling man's repertoire.
Looking for more military-themed promotional products? We have plenty of ideas. Reach out to us and we can review these products and more.


text:
Printable advent calendar
This Sunday is the first Sunday of advent, the four weeks leading up to Christmas. If you'd like to count down the days in December, download this sweet free advent calendar from Mibo. Just 10 minutes assembly is required, plus a craft knife, ruler, and glue.
And in the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I'm taking tomorrow off from blogging to stuff myself with turkey and enjoy the company of some wonderful people.


text:
Sea Kayaking Instruction & Paddle Canada kayak courses
Kayaking Skills Instruction:
Lessons & Courses for BC Kayaking Adventures
Improve Your Sea Kayak Skills for safety, self-confidence and more fun!
Whether you're taking your first paddle strokes, or looking to challenge yourself in tidal rapids and surf, we want to help you become a better paddler. Our sea kayaking instructors are experienced, certified, and eager to help you build your kayaking skills.
We offer the following courses and instruction:
• Introduction to Kayaking (Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Skills certification)
• Intermediate Kayaking Skills (Paddle Canada Level 1)
• Advanced Kayaking Skills (Paddle Canada Level 2)
• Tidal Rapids Kayaking
• Kayak Skills Refresher
• Kayak Rolling
• Okisollo Wave Kayak Surfing
Please contact us with any questions. Custom dates may be arranged. Small groups and individual registrations are welcome. Four people are usually required to run formal courses at published rates.
Introduction to Kayaking (Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Skills)
Skills and Safety for New Paddlers: A full day of new skills with time for practice in a supportive and beautiful environment.
• From the start: getting in and out of the kayak at beach and dock
• Kayak equipment: what you need to be comfortable and safe
• The paddle: hands-body-paddle position and efficient motion
• Basic paddling strokes and maneuvering
• Rescue and re-entry: assisted and self-rescues
• Safe kayaking: do's and don'ts
One day: 9 am – 5 pm, Discovery Lodge, Quadra Island
Prerequisite: None – Everybody is Welcome!
Course Cost: Instruction $125 Cdn, plus tax. Minimum group size 4. Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Skills certification available ($15). Kayak rentals available.
Custom dates available. Please contact us if you are interested!
Intermediate Kayaking Skills (Paddle Canada Level 1)
A Discovery Weekend: Two days to learn & practice, with evenings to relax & enjoy friends.
Intermediate course content includes:
• Paddling ergonomics: hands-body-paddle position & efficient paddling.
• Basic and advanced paddle strokes
• Increasing stability: edge control and low brace
• Capsize and recovery: basic and advanced rescue techniques
• Reading tide and current tables, navigation, and weather considerations
• Safety fundamentals: skills, emergency equipment and common sense
2 days: kayak skills & on-water training
Prerequisite: Some previous paddling experience is recommended, but not necessary if you are fit and keen.
Course Cost: Instruction $300 Cdn (min. group size 4), plus tax. Includes Paddle Canada Level 1 certificate on completion of requirements. Kayak rentals available. Accommodation available at Discovery Islands Lodge.
2017 Course Dates:
May 13-14 (Sat-Sun)
June 24-25 (Sat-Sun)
July 15-16 (Sat-Sun)
Aug 23-24 (Wed-Thurs)
Sept 20-21 (Wed-Thurs)
Additional custom dates may be available. Please contact us if you are interested!
Advanced Kayaking Skills (Paddle Canada Level 2)
This 5-day course reviews and advances kayaking hard-skills, including paddling in moving water, advanced safety and rescue skills. In preparation for self guided kayaking, participants will learn and practice:
• Advanced paddle strokes
• Rolling
• Introduction to tidal rapids paddling
• Towing techniques
• Trip planning and leadership
• Kayak camping skills, equipment & tricks of the trade
• Coastal weather and predicting ocean conditions
• Navigation skills
• Avoiding and managing emergencies
5 Days: instruction and practice, includes 2-days kayak camping trip.
Prerequisite: Paddle Canada Level 1 or equivalent; kayaking experience.
Course Cost: $700 Cdn (min. group size 4), plus tax. Paddle Canada Level 2 certificate on completion of requirements. Kayak rentals available. Accommodation available at Discovery Islands Lodge B&B/hostel.
2017 Course Dates:
May 12-16 (Fri-Tues)
July 5-9 (Wed-Sun)
Additional custom dates may be available. Please contact us if you are interested!
Tidal Rapids Kayaking
Have an adventure! Surge Narrows and Okisollo tidal rapids are perfect playgrounds for learning about moving water and developing skills for thrills and safety. We'll share knowledge about:
• Kayak designs
• Moving water: theory and reality
• Kayak handling: theory and practice
• Strokes, eddying, edging, bracing, maneuvers.
On-water Coaching: Gain confidence and perfect skills with friendly helpful advice and how-to demonstrations by Coast Mountain's expert certified instructors.
(Spectators welcome: There are beautiful places to sit and enjoy the on-water entertainment.)
Every Day: Most days there's a big enough tide – and it's always a lot of fun.
Prerequisites: Previous experience required; basic-good rolling skills highly desirable. Appropriate personal equipment is necessary. You should be a little daring and have a good sense of adventure.
Cost: per person $125-250 depending on group size, includes dry land theory and 3+ hours on-water instruction in flood-tide current. Start times vary depending on tide-time. High performance kayak rentals available. Accommodation available at Discovery Islands Lodge.
Kayak Skills Refresher
For Renters (or anyone) with Slightly Rusty Skills: Three hours dryland and on-water instruction, plus half-day "free-time kayaking" — or continue on your overnight kayak camping journey! We'll review and practice:
• Getting in and out of the kayak
• Basic strokes and maneuvers
• Efficient & effective paddling
• Kayak rescues and re-entry
• Tides & currents: understand tables
• Low impact coastal camping information
Available most days – reservations advised.
Course Cost: Includes kayak $110-190Cdn per person, plus tax (depending on group size.)
Note: Coast Mountain Expeditions requires paddling experience and capsize recovery skills for non-guided kayak rentals.
Kayak Rolling
Just do it! Come learn this technique that will increase your safety and confidence in rough water conditions – and check out where else you can play when you have a solid roll!
• 3 hours of coaching and guided practice
Prerequisite: Fitness and basic paddling skills.
Cost: $75 – 150 Cdn, plus tax per person, depending on group size.
Gear List for Performance and Whitewater Paddling
We can supply some of these items, others you will need to bring, some are optional.
• Spraydeck
• Paddle (appropriate for your kayak)
• Paddling jacket
• Helmet
• Wetsuit or shorty (or drysuit – but may be too warm in summer)
• Synthetic (warm) underwear
• Earplug
• Noseplugs (for rolling practice)
• Boots
• Neoprene socks
• Neoprene coldwater cap
• Neoprene gloves


text:
While the Internet of Things has widely been used for internal business processes, there are so many more ways you can use it within your business. One way it is rarely used is for external products and services, although it can be very beneficial in this area. If you are not already using the Internet of Things within your business, it is time to embrace it. Use these tips to start implementing it into your business both internally and externally.
What Can Use Some Technology in Your Business?
Before you can even begin using the Internet of Things within your business, you need to determine where you can utilize the added technology. Where will it provide the most impact? How can you get the most out of it from both the business perspective and the customer prospective? Once you figure out where you can implement it, you must figure out how. Will you create barcode readers, self service kiosks, or something else?
What Do You Want to Gain?
You cannot simply add technology for the sake of adding technology. These technology sensors will produce a lot of data for your company. Depending on how you utilize it, you can determine your customer's habits, employee habits, and really learn more about behavior towards your products and/or services as a whole. You could start with gaining all of the information possible but you really should have a goal in mind. Whether it be to create another product or service that will better serve your customers or find out how you can optimize your spending, you should know what you are looking to gain from this added technology.
Be Prepared to Make More Decisions
Since you will be gathering more and more data, you will be faced with more decision than you ever though of before. You will have so much more information available to you that you will discover issues you may not have even considered before. This is not a bad thing and can help you better your business when you make the right decisions. Be prepared for all of this data and what comes with it. Also, do not be afraid to try something new because of the data. Just because you didn't think of it before does not mean that it is not a brilliant idea.
The Internet of Things can greatly help your business in a variety of ways. If you would like more information on how to implement it into your business in Albany, be sure to contact PNJ Technology Partners via (518) 459-6712 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Summer is practically here, which means it's time for vacation! Packing for a trip can often mean tossing whatever you happen to think of into a suitcase at the last minute, which can lead to overpacking all the wrong things. From beach bags to packing cubes, check out these vacation packing tips to help you travel like a pro this summer!
1. List it Out
Make a list of all you'll need on your vacation like bathing suits, cover-ups, shirts, shoes, etc., allowing you to figure out what to bring and also keep track of all your things during your trip. Next, pick out your outfit for each day depending on the weather and your planned activities, helping ensure you bring enough without overpacking.
2. Choose Your Shoes
When it comes to packing like a pro, start from the ground up. Since shoes are the bulkiest part of luggage, it's important to choose them wisely. Start by picking out your favorite and most versatile pairs then choose outfits that match them. Nude-colored sandals or heels, sneakers, and flip-flops tend to be the most flexible shoes.
3. Pack in Cubes
It's good to be square in this instance! Almost like Tupperware for clothes, packing cubes are made of lightweight washable nylon and not only conveniently organize your clothing items, but also keep them neatly folded or rolled, making packing and unpacking a breeze. We guarantee once you start using them, there's no going back.
4. Switch Up Cover-Ups
Bathing suits and cover-ups can easily work double duty for both men and women. For guys, easily repurpose a good pair of board shorts to go on a hike or out to dinner. For ladies, toss shorts, a sarong, or sundress over your bathing suit to double as an outfit while saving you valuable space in your suitcase.
5. Make Bags Multi-Purpose
Whether you're packing a picnic or toting your beach read and sunscreen, a versatile bag keeps things easy. Fold an extra tote into your suitcase to use as a beach bag or to stash souvenirs in later on. Also bring along a few small reusable bags to store wet bathing suits and keep liquids separate from the rest of your items.
Whether your heart is set on seeking out new adventures or simply relaxing poolside this summer, we hope these packing tips help you get ready for all your fun under the sun!


text:
Overuse, fractures and an underlying medical condition can all cause elbow, wrist or hand pain. You may not realize how important the elbow, wrist, and hand are until the pain impedes you from doing simple tasks like moving your wrist or picking up a fork. The pain can even prevent you from preventing in sports or going to work. Be sure to see a physical therapist to help reduce your elbow, wrist or hand pain. Research has shown that physical therapy can help reduce or eliminate pain. Why suffer in pain or use over-the-counter meds to treat your pain, when a physical therapist can help you heal naturally?
Common Issues Affecting the Elbow, Wrist and Hand
Carpal tunnel syndrome affects approximately 6 percent of adults. This symptom causes pain, weakness, and numbness in the hand. This syndrome is a result of a pinched nerve in your wrist. It can be caused by the positioning of your wrists while using the keyboard, prolonged exposure to the vibration of power tools, typing or playing the piano.
Tennis elbow results from overuse of the elbow from playing sports like tennis or racquetball. With overuse, there is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the elbow bones. Golfer's elbow is an overuse injury like tennis elbow, but the pain is located at the inside of the elbow instead of the outer side.
There are different types of arthritis that can affect the joints in the elbow, wrist, and hand. Typically, there is pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Osteoarthritis is the most common kind of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage at the ends of bones wears away and bone rubs against bone. Pain can become chronic. This type of arthritis is typically progressive and can limit your daily activities.
Fractures to the elbow, wrist or hand can cause pain. Likely, you'll have to rest your fracture and may even be in a splint for a while. This period of immobilization can lead to weakness and loss of range of motion. With the help of a physical therapist, you can learn stretching and strengthening exercises to get you back in the game.
Physical Therapy for Elbow, Wrist and Hand Pain
Physical therapy is effective in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome, which can cause pain in the elbow, wrist, hand, and fingers. A physical therapist will help you do stretching exercises to help improve the flexibility of the elbow, wrist, hand, and finger. Heat and cold therapy may be implemented to help reduce inflammation and pain. Plus, a physical therapist will help educate on things like how to change wrist positions and how to use utensils.
When it comes to treating arthritis, the goal of a physical therapy program is to reduce pain, increase the range of motion, strengthen the muscles that support an arthritic joint and keep you mobile. Passive modalities like electric stimulation and ultrasound may be used to relieve pain.
With tennis and golfer's elbow, the first thing a physical therapist will do is to reduce pain. This may be done with specific exercises, muscle stimulation, tape for support or ice massage.
Experiencing elbow, wrist or hand pain? Turn for help from one of our certified and experienced physical therapists. They will do a comprehensive evaluation and custom tailor a treatment plan targeted to your injury and needs. Contact Us Today at Harmony, Allison Park & Wexford, PA Centers to learn more. We are committed to getting you onto the road towards recovery. We've helped many others and would love to help you, too.


text:
5 Letter Baby Girl NamesBaby Girl Names > 5 Letter Names
See the Social Security card applications information for qualifiers about the data shown on this page. Girl Names of a Specified Lengtth
Copyright © 2005-2024 Baby-Girl-Names.org.
All rights reserved.
Baby-Girl-Names.org is a Chosen Sites™ baby reference source.
All information on this site is provided "as is." The publisher assumes no liability for errors or omissions. To facilitate browsing, certain links will open in new windows. 5 Letter Girls Names |


text:
Two lamps are brighter than one. This simple truism does not necessarily apply to lasers, as a team of scientists, led by the Vienna University of Technology found out. When one laser is shining and next to it another laser is turned on gradually, complex interactions between the two lasers can lead to a total shutdown and no light is emitted anymore. For technologies connecting the fields of electronics and photonics, this result may be very important. The new findings have now been published in the journal "Physical Review Letters".
When switching on means switching off
"Imagine two light bulbs right next to each other, one of which is switched on. As you gradually turn on the second bulb by adjusting a dimmer switch, you expect the room to get brighter", says Matthias Liertzer. He studied the behavior of coupled micro-lasers using computer simulations, together with Professor Stefan Rotter at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (TU Vienna). They were assisted by scientists from Princeton University, Yale University and the ETH Zurich.
To make a laser shine, it has to be "pumped" – it has to be supplied with energy, using light or electric current. If only one of two micro-lasers is pumped, only the pumped laser emits light. Surprisingly, pumping the second laser too does not necessarily increase the brightness of the coupled system. Supplying more energy can even reduce the brightness, until both lasers become dark. "When we saw that the two lasers can switch each other off completely, due to the coupling between them, we knew: either we made a mistake or this is a spectacular result", says Stefan Rotter. In the meantime, the effect was confirmed in independent calculations by the co-authors from Yale.
Connecting Physics, Math and Electrical Engineering
Light consists of waves, and it is well known that waves can interfere and cancel each other out. The interplay between the two lasers, however, is more complicated than that: "This effect is not just about wave interference. It is a combination of interference and light amplification, which can lead to seemingly paradoxical effects", says Matthias Liertzer. New methods, some of which were developed by mathematicians at TU Vienna, were necessary to solve the complicated equations which describe this problem. "The phenomenon is based on what mathematicians call exceptional points", says Stefan Rotter. Exceptional points are special intersections of surfaces in complex spaces. "The appearance of such exceptional points in our laser equations can lead to a laser blackout. In this way we could connect a rather abstract mathematical structure to a measurable phenomenon", says Rotter.
Light and Microelectronics
Electrical engineers at the Vienna University of Technology are now working on experiments with micro lasers, in which the theoretical predictions should be verified. Laser effects like this one are especially interesting, as they show new ways to connect microelectronics and laser technology. In today's computers, information is transmitted by electric signals. Adding laser light could open up exciting new possibilities.
Original Publication: <link http: prl.aps.org abstract prl v108 i17 e173901>
prl.aps.org/abstract/PRL/v108/i17/e173901, opens an external URL in a new window
free arxiv version: <link http: arxiv.org abs>
arxiv.org/abs/1109.0454 , opens an external URL in a new window;
Picture Download: <link dle pr aktuelles downloads paradox>
www.tuwien.ac.at/dle/pr/aktuelles/downloads/2012/paradox/, opens an external URL in a new window
Further Information:
Matthias Liertzer
Institute for Theoretical Physics
Vienna University of Technology
Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, 1040 Vienna
Prof. Stefan Rotter
Institute for Theoretical Physics
Vienna University of Technology
Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, 1040 Vienna


text:
Carbon dioxide emissions from dry and oxygen-rich environments are likely to play a much greater role in controlling future rates of climate change caused by permafrost thaw than rates of methane release from oxygen-poor wetlands in the Arctic, according to research by a scientist at the University of Exeter.
Dr Iain Hartley, an associate professor in the department of Geography, and his co-authors found that both temperature and soil conditions affected the quantity of carbon released from thawing permafrost. A 10 °C increase in soil temperature released twice as much carbon into the atmosphere, but even more importantly, drier, oxygen-rich soil conditions resulted in more than three times more carbon release than wetter, low oxygen soil conditions.
The study published in Nature Climate Change and led by Northern Arizona University assistant research professor, Christina Schädel, analysed 25 Arctic soil incubation studies and discovered that the majority of that carbon emitted was in the form of carbon dioxide even in the low oxygen conditions, with only five per cent of the total anaerobic products being methane.
This means that even though methane packs 34 times the climate warming punch of carbon dioxide, methane fluxes were not high enough to compensate for the smaller total quantity of carbon released under low oxygen conditions in wet soils.
Dr Hartley said: "In different boreal and arctic ecosystems, permafrost thaw can expose previously-frozen organic matter to very different soil conditions. The results of our study indicate that where the soils remain dry there is much greater potential for large amounts of carbon to be released to the atmosphere and for there to a positive feedback to climate change."
Scientists in the international Permafrost Carbon Network that Schädel co-leads with Northern Arizona University professor of ecosystem ecology, Ted Schuur, provided much of the data.
Dr Schädel said: "Our results show that increasing temperatures have a large effect on carbon release from permafrost but that changes in soil moisture conditions have an even greater effect," says Schädel. "We conclude that the permafrost carbon feedback will be stronger when a larger percentage of the permafrost zone undergoes thaw in a dry and oxygen-rich environment."
As the permafrost thaws, microbes wake up and begin digesting the newly available remains of ancient plants and animals stored as carbon in the soil. This digestion produces either carbon dioxide or methane, depending on soil conditions. Scientists want to understand the ratio of carbon dioxide to methane gas released by this process because it affects the strength of the permafrost carbon feedback loop: greenhouse gases released due to thawing permafrost cause temperatures to rise, leading to even more thawing and carbon release. Furthermore, the Arctic permafrost is like a vast underground storage tank of carbon, holding almost twice as much as the atmosphere. At that scale, small changes in how the carbon is released will have big effects.
The current study zeroed in on two factors: soil temperature and the availability of oxygen. Soils in the lab were incubated at a range of warmer temperatures projected for the future. The availability of oxygen is important because it determines how microbes digest carbon. Oxygen-rich, or aerobic, conditions are found in dry soils and produce carbon dioxide. Oxygen-poor, or anaerobic, conditions are found in wet soils and produce both carbon dioxide and methane. Lab incubations mimicked these two conditions.
The question of whether wet or dry soils will dominate the future Arctic permafrost zone remains. This study highlights the need to monitor changes in wetness associated with permafrost thaw, changes that will ultimately determine how much carbon will be released from across the Arctic landscape.