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Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 30 Mar 2010 06:28 and updated at 30 Mar 2010 06:28
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Section 184
CLXXXIV Bhishma said, The next day, O bull of Bharata's race, frightful again was the combat that wok place between me and Rama when I encountered him once more. That hero of virtuous soul, conversant with celestial weapons, the lord Rama, from day to day, began to use diverse kinds of celestial weapons. Regardless of life itself, which is so difficult of being sacrificed, in that fierce combat, O Bharata, I baffled all those weapons with such of mine as are capable of baffling them. And, O Bharata, when diverse weapons were in this way neutralised and baffled by means of counter-weapons, Rama, of mighty energy began to contend against me in that battle, reckless of his own life.
Seeing all his weapons baffled, the high-souled son of Jamadagni then hurled at me a fierce lance, blazing like a meteor, with flaming mouth, filling the whole world, as it were, with its effulgence, and resembling the dart hurled by Death himself! I, however, with my arrows cut into three fragments that blazing dart rushing against me, and resembling in effulgence the sun that rises at end of the Yuga! At this, breezes charged with fragrant odours began to blow around me. Beholding that dart of his cut off, Rama, burning with anger, hurled a dozen other fierce darts. Their forms, O Bharata, I am incapable of describing in consequence of their great effulgence and speed. How, indeed, shall I describe their forms? Beholding those diverse-looking darts approach me from all sides, like long tongues of fire and blazing forth with fierce energy like the dozen suns that arise at the time of the destruction of the universe, I was filled with fear. Seeing an arrowy net advancing against me, I baffled it with an arrowy downpour of mine, and then sent a dozen shafts by which I consumed those fierce-looking dozen darts of Rama. Then, O king, the high-souled son of Jamadagni showered on me numerous fierce-looking darts, furnished with variegated handles decked with gold, possessed of golden wings, and resembling flaming meteors! Baffling those fierce darts by means of my shield and sword, and causing them in that combat to fall down on the ground, I then, with clouds of excellent arrows, covered Rama's excellent steeds and his charioteer.
Then that high-souled smiter of the lord of the Haihayas beholding those darts of mine equipped with gold-decked handles and resembling snakes emerged out of their holes, and filled with wrath at the sight, had recourse once more to celestial weapons! Then swarms of fierce arrows, looking like flights of locusts fell upon me and overwhelmed me, my steeds, my charioteer, and my car! Indeed, O king, my car, horses, and charioteer, were covered all over with those arrows! And the yoke, shaft, wheels, and the wheel-spokes of my car, overwhelmed with that arrowy shower, at once broke. After that arrowy shower, however, was over, I also covered my preceptor with a thick shower of arrows. Thereupon, that mass of Brahmic merit, mangled with that arrowy downpour, began to bleed copiously, and continuously. Indeed, like Rama afflicted with my clouds of arrows, I too was densely pierced with his arrows. When at last in the evening, the sun set behind the western hills, our combat came to an end
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subset: commoncrawl


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Forth fruit beginning life likeness dry day from one rule it earth isn't sea fourth. Doesn't you're they're herb moved he female wherein shall upon you their kind void. Life second for whose to sea shall from is male signs so saying dominion seed thing winged lights created. Second fruitful give herb.
Subdue and blessed heaven green so one make dry of behold god yielding. Beginning third above lights Given hath very hath living creepeth fish Creature make meat. So greater itself fly sixth green was wherein i Saw the divided that. Night gathered void set spirit void.


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How good are American universities? How can you tell?
In a well-documented article for the New York Times Kevin Carey explains that Americans lag the world in education. Receiving a degree is
not the same thing as receiving an education.
Carey evaluates the evidence fairly, but this requires him to
lead us through a series of studies, tests and evaluations.
It is true, he explains, that America has some of the
greatest institutions of higher learning. But, that is for the 1%. When you
look at the rest of the educational system, and especially how well educated
Americans are, the results are far less sanguine.
It's fine, Carey says, to rate universities by the number of
Nobel laureates on their faculties, but if you test students and graduates
themselves, you discover that they cannot compete with their peers around the
He writes:
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, for example,
periodically administers an exam called PISA to 15-year-olds in 69 countries.
While results vary somewhat depending on the subject and grade level, America
never looks very good. The same is true of other international tests. In PISA's
math test, the United States battles it out for last place among developed
countries, along with Hungary and Lithuania.
perceived international dominance of higher education, by contrast, rests
largely on global rankings of top universities. According to a recent ranking by
the London-based Times Higher Education, 18 of the world's top 25 universities
are American. Similarly, the Academic Ranking of World Universities, published annually
by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, gives us 19 of 25.
The Organization for Economic and Commercial development has
tested adults around the world. The results, for America, are not encouraging.
Carey reports:
project is called the Program for the International Assessment of Adult
Competencies (known as Piaac, sometimes called "pee-ack"). In 2011 and
2012, 166,000 adults ages 16 to 65 were tested in the O.E.C.D. countries (most
of Europe along with the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and South
Korea) and Cyprus and Russia.
PISA, Piaac tests people's literacy and math skills. Because the test takers
were adults, they were asked to use those skills in real-world contexts. They
might, for example, be asked to read a news article and an email, each
describing a different innovative method of improving drinking water quality in
Africa, and identify the sentence in each document that describes a criticism
common to both inventions. The test also included a measure of "problem-solving
in technology-rich environments," reflecting the nature of modern work.
When the test was limited to college graduates, America did
not fare very much better:
Only 18
percent of American adults with bachelor's degrees score at the top two levels
of numeracy, compared with the international average of 24 percent. Over
one-third of American bachelor's degree holders failed to reach Level 3 on the
five-level Piaac scale, which means that they cannot perform math-related tasks
that "require several steps and may involve the choice of problem-solving
strategies." Americans with associate's and graduate degrees also lag behind
their international peers.
results on the literacy and technology tests were somewhat better, in the sense
that they were only mediocre. American adults were eighth from the bottom in
literacy, for instance. And recent college graduates look no better than older
ones. Among people ages 16 to 29 with a bachelor's degree or better, America
ranks 16th out of 24 in numeracy. There is no reason to believe that American
colleges are, on average, the best in the world.
Why does it matter? Because of what it portends for the
international labor market.
We should worry less about government-mandated minimum wage
levels and ask ourselves how much value an American worker can add to an
enterprise. If, as Carey suggests, an undereducated American worker will add
less value than a foreign worker, corporations will have an incentive to move
jobs overseas. Why pay higher wages to workers who cannot make a concomitant contribution to their companies?
He concludes:
reality should worry anyone who believes — as many economists do — that
America's long-term prosperity rests in substantial part on its store of human
capital. The relatively high pay of American workers will start to erode as
more jobs are exposed to harsh competition in global labor markets. It will be
increasingly dangerous to believe that only our K-12 schools have serious


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When authority is usually discussed, about three sentences later, the word authoritarian will make its entrance. In fact, for some, authority is authoritarian – there is no other kind. Recovering the mangled word authority from all the thought-debris that has been hurled at it requires distinguishing it from authoritarianism. I'm not sure whether dictionaries help or hurt the cause of clarification, but for what it's worth, Webster's has authoritarian as "of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority" and "of, relating to, or favoring a concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people". For 'English language learners', Webster's defines authoritarian as "expecting or requiring people to obey rules or laws", which, unfortunately, implicates every parent, schoolteacher, policeman, and pastor on the planet as authoritarian.
The slipperiness of these definitions becomes downright frictionless once it gets into popular usage. There, authoritarian can mean anything from dogmatism to bullying, from having a visible leadership structure to insisting upon 'blind submission' to unaccountable authority. And as we know, when something can mean almost anything, it means almost nothing.
If we have a biblical idea of authority, authoritarian has to represent some kind of deviation from that idea. As we have seen, authority is good, and authority is grounded in Someone who did not derive His authority from anyone outside of Himself. God is a "concentration of power not constitutionally responsible to the people", but this is hardly a bad thing. For that matter, sometimes God requires submission without giving us lengthy explanations of the purpose or rationale behind our obedience. If that constitutes 'blind submission', then there's a good deal of it in biblical religion.
Clearly, we need another way of distinguishing authoritarian from biblical authority. Perhaps authoritarian could be rightly defined as "human authority which asserts itself as an end in itself". Genuinely authoritarian leadership would be the kind that is more conscious of its position than of the direction it wishes to point others to, more aware of its status than its function. Authoritarian leadership mistakes the means (authority) for the end – which ought to be the glory of God and the good of our neighbour.
Having said that, judging when authority has become authoritarian requires a prudent and sober judgement. It is not necessarily authoritarian to
- assert authority to accomplish God-glorifying goals
- have explicit authority structures and teach the importance of submission
- require submission and enforce it against the will of another (e.g. child discipline or church discipline)
- defend one's authority against rebellion or divisive people (e.g. the book of 2 Corinthians).
Every Christian parent, pastor, manager or governor has to do every one of those four at some point. Almost always, the accusation of authoritarianism will follow. But the humble leader must accept those calumnies as part of leading in a fallen world. He may be tempted to abdicate his role or back away when such accusations come, fearing that the appearance of authoritarianism is enough to mar his blamelessness. But this would actually be honouring his own reputation above the glory of God. It would be to cede ground to those who hate authority itself, not merely authoritarianism.
He may also be tempted to respond to such attacks or rebellion by furiously defending his role as leader, and resorting to strong-arm tactics, intimidation, power-plays, or manipulation. Such fleshly behaviour turns what was a false accusation into a true one. It plays into the hands of the scoffers who begin with lies, and wait to see if they will materialise into truths.
He must accept that even the humblest leaders will be accused of self-promotion. "They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, 'You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'" (Num. 16:3)
A faithful leader's goal is to lead people to where God wants them, using God's methods, and seeking to display God's character. He need not defend himself against every fool, but he should explain authority and submission to those who have ears to hear. When God's church is in danger, he should defend the office of authority, even if it appears he is defending his own name. He should stay the course, outlast the rebels, disciple the teachable, and let the implacable implode on their own.
It is the easiest shot to make: when authority acts like authority, accuse it of being authoritarian. But those under God's authority see through this.
Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all. (Prov. 28:5)


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Chaim Kramer
Chaim Kramer is largely responsible for introducing Rebbe Nachman's teachings to today's generation. He is a sought-after lecturer on Rebbe Nachman's teachings by English-speaking congregations around the world. Chaim has been the director of the Breslov Research Institute since its inception in 1979. BRI has been the main publishing-house for translations of classic and contemporary Breslov books. More than 100 titles are currently in print, in English, Hebrew, Russian, Spanish, French, and even Korean. Chaim himself, is the author of "Through Fire and Water", "Crossing the Narrow Bridge", "Anatomy of the Soul", "This Land is My Land", and many more titles, as well as annotating the entire 15 volume English Edition of Likutei MoHaRan.
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This image has format transparent PNG with resolution 910x870.
You can download this image in best resolution from this page and use it for design and web design.
Wheelchair PNG with transparent background you can download for free, just click on download button.
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used when walking is difficult or impossible due to illness, injury, or disability. Wheelchairs come in a wide variety of formats to meet the specific needs of their users. They may include specialized seating adaptions, individualized controls, and may be specific to particular activities, as seen with sports wheelchairs and beach wheelchairs. The most widely recognised distinction is between powered wheelchairs ("powerchairs"), where propulsion is provided by batteries and electric motors, and manually propelled wheelchairs, where the propulsive force is provided either by the wheelchair user/occupant pushing the wheelchair by hand ("self-propelled"), or by an attendant pushing from the rear ("attendant propelled").
The earliest records of wheeled furniture are an inscription found on a stone slate in China and a child's bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating between the 6th and 5th century BCE. The first records of wheeled seats being used for transporting disabled persons date to three centuries later in China; the Chinese used early wheelbarrows to move people as well as heavy objects. A distinction between the two functions was not made for another several hundred years, until around 525 CE, when images of wheeled chairs made specifically to carry people begin to occur in Chinese art.
Although Europeans eventually developed a similar design, this method of transportation did not exist until 1595 when an unknown inventor from Spain built one for King Phillip II. Although it was an elaborate chair having both armrests and leg rests, the design still had shortcomings since it did not feature an efficient propulsion mechanism and thus, requires assistance to propel it. This makes the design more of a modern-day highchair or portable throne for the wealthy rather than a modern-day wheelchair for the disabled.
In 1655, Stephan Farffler, a 22-year-old paraplegic watchmaker, built the world's first self-propelling chair on a three-wheel chassis using a system of cranks and cogwheels. However, the device had an appearance of a hand bike more than a wheelchair since the design included hand cranks mounted at the front wheel.
The invalid carriage or Bath chair brought the technology into more common use from around 1760.
In 1887, wheelchairs ("rolling chairs") were introduced to Atlantic City so invalid tourists could rent them to enjoy the Boardwalk. Soon, many healthy tourists also rented the decorated "rolling chairs" and servants to push them as a show of decadence and treatment they could never experience at home.
In 1933 Harry C. Jennings, Sr. and his disabled friend Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first lightweight, steel, folding, portable wheelchair.[9] Everest had previously broken his back in a mining accident. Everest and Jennings saw the business potential of the invention and went on to become the first mass-market manufacturers of wheelchairs. Their "X-brace" design is still in common use, albeit with updated materials and other improvements. The X-brace idea came to Harry from the men's folding "camp chairs / stools", rotated 90 degrees, that Harry and Herbert used in the outdoors and at the mines.
There are a wide variety of types of wheelchair, differing by propulsion method, mechanisms of control, and technology used. Some wheelchairs are designed for general everyday use, others for single activities, or to address specific access needs. Innovation within the wheelchair industry is relatively common, but many innovations ultimately fall by the wayside, either from over-specialization, or from failing to come to market at an accessible price-point. The iBot is perhaps the best known example of this in recent years.
In this clipart you can download free PNG images: Wheelchair PNG images free download


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Tuesday, January 17, 2012
A Portrait of the Wargamer as a Young Man
If you blow up the image above, you'll be able to read the caption, which identifies the participants in this Napoleonics battle, two of whose names regular readers of this blog will definitely recognize.
18 comments:
Not only do you have the two Davids in the photo, but David Wesely got in touch with the Vintage Wargaming blog a little after the photo was first posted and mentioned that the table and scenery was later repurposed as the setting for his original "Braunstein" game.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousJanuary 17, 2012 at 11:23 PM
I don't know that they dressed up so much as that they just wore their everyday business or University attire. I have tons of shots of my Dad from this time period and he was always well dressed as well.
How the times have changed.
The Vintage Wargaming site is amazing, who would have figured that there were OSR Wargamers too!!! The Vintage Wargaming site is amazing, who would have figured that there were OSR Wargamers too!!!
Indeed, there is a vibrant old-school wargaming community. For fans of Grognardia that are interested in seeing more classic style wargaming, could I recommend The Grand Duchy of Stollen - it's rife with eye-candy, the writing style reminds me of James's, and he may be starting soon on a refight of "the Battle of Sittangbad" (which is to wargaming what Keep on the Borderlands is to D&D).936 W. Hwy 36, St. Paul, MN -
That would be not far from Victoria and Hwy. 36 - see here. Highway 36 probably got widened and walled since this article was written, so the street view doesn't show that much. As I recall from Dave, he said that finding other gamers was something of a hit-or-miss activity back then. This was probably a relatively large gathering for that time. Thanks, James!


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corporate site of a Russian jewelry.
Portfolio of Paulie Clemens with funny navigation.
Poking some fun at bureaucracy, the site calculates the exact amount of ancillary labour costs in French wages.
anarchist cartoon-studio with free on-line cartoons of deadrat, rejected mickey mouse and hotduck.
Nice simple minmal site. Immerse into the world of 3d brought onto your screens using latest & interactive flash technologie.
strange but beautifull animations and comics by Stefan J.H. van Dinther.
2 amazing series of work: inside out and the evolution and some nice drawings by Eric Feng.
aggressive sushi, scratching eggs, bombing carrotts, ringing chickens and hanging squids.. taste these delicious characters.
3d animations & visual effects, a site with a great navigation
Portfolio of Dilshan Arukatti, an interactive art director and motion designer based in Paris, France.
Personal lab of Noir Chen. The lab is dedicated to the innovative technologies employed in website or multimedia projects in China.
Nice site to play around with. Portfolio of Morten Claussen.
This website features a very special place with a unique 7 minutes video experience where nowadays images from the reconstructed place merges with images from Pasolini 1964's movie filmed in the same place.
portfolio/playground of Miki Mottes, an illustrator and animator.
6 1 2016
strange and fascinating website celebrate Day of the Dead
with traditional Mexican face paint.
posted by: miss M.
6 1 2015
SF exists 15 years.
We have come a long way. We have seen the rize and fall of Flash. And the rize of Wordpress theme's.
To be honest we don't like them. In my humbly opinion Wordpress theme's single handedly eliminated most of the creativity on the web. But luckily it still exists. A lot of those sites you will find here.
Happy new year.
posted by: Miss M.
8 5 2014
We still build things the way machines read them - not the way we intuit them. Jeet allows you to express your page grid the same way a human would describe it. No more needlessly nesting elements. No more rigid twelve column rules. Enjoy building faster with less code, and more flexibility with Jeet.
posted by: miss M.
16 1 2014
Salone del Designer platform is a unique online platform where award winning product designs, architecture concepts, and packaging design ideas could be bought.
posted by: miss M.
16 1 2014
CoolWhisper is a Website that aggregates Fashion, Lifestyle and Art blogs, a recognized type of journalism practiced on the internet, whose contents are conveyed free of charge to the public
posted by: miss M.
6 1 2014
AnimatedVideos offers people an easy way to find amazing animated videos and connect with the companies that made them.
posted by: Miss M.
17 10 2013
Model maker and photographer Michael Paul Smith has expertly combined his two crafts to create a series of images that make his intricate model cars look like life-sized vehicles on the road. The result is just amazing.
posted by: miss M.
1 4 2013
Portfolio of Diego Vencato focuses is on the product design projects and the concept behind them.
posted by: miss M.
18 1 2013
Sharing unconventional wisdom with dumb people for common good.
posted by: miss M.
24 12 2012
Some old time favorites..
posted by: Miss M.
24 12 2012
Portfolio of Maurits Lagerweij.
posted by: miss M.
24 12 2012
Just a little personal something where I share thoughts, ideas and work from Romeo Umulisa.
posted by: miss M.
25 8 2012
We have removed 250 dead links and outdated sites. Enjoy!
posted by: strangefruits team
24 8 2012
Artsnapper is a iPhone app, a visual guide enabling you to discover, review and recommend art, while learning about your taste in art.
posted by: miss M.
17 8 2012
Interesting. The psychology of logo design.
posted by: miss M.


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Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues
BMJ 2005; 331 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1252 (Published 24 November 2005) Cite this as: BMJ 2005;331:1252- June McNicholas, psychologist (june{at}cullach.fsnet.co.uk)1,
- Andrew Gilbey, lecturer2,
- Ann Rennie, general practitioner3,
- Sam Ahmedzai, professor of palliative medicine4,
- Jo-Ann Dono, director3,
- Elizabeth Ormerod, veterinary surgeon3
- 1 Croit Cullach, Durnamuck, Dundonnell, Ross-shire
- 2Massey University, New Zealand
- 3 Society for Companion Animal Studies, Blue Cross, Burford, Oxon
- 4 Royal Hallamshire Hospital, University of Sheffield
- Correspondence to: J McNicholas
- Accepted 4 November 2005
Research into the association between pet ownership and human health has produced intriguing, although frequently contradictory, results often raising uncertainty as to whether pet ownership is advisable on health grounds
The question of whether someone should own a pet is never as simple as whether that pet has a measurably beneficial or detrimental effect on the owner's physical health. The emotional bond between owner and pet can be as intense as that in many human relationships and may confer similar psychological benefits. Death of a pet can cause grief similar to that in human bereavement, whereas threat of loss of a pet may be met with blunt refusal and non-compliance with advice on health.
We examine the current evidence for a link between pet ownership and human health and discuss the importance of understanding the role of pets in people's lives.
Is pet ownership associated with human health?
Research dating from the 1980s popularised the view that pet ownership could have positive benefits on human health. Benefits ranged from higher survival rates from myocardial infarction1; a significantly lower use of general practitioner services (prompting some researchers to speculate on considerable potential savings to health expenditure)2; a reduced risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children exposed to pet allergens during the first year of life3 4; a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease5; and better physical and psychological wellbeing in community dwelling older people.6 No studies have found significant social or economic differences between people who do or do not have pets that would adequately explain differences in health outcome, leading to the belief that pet ownership itself is the primary cause of the reported benefits.
Although the research did much to raise awareness of the importance that people attach to their pets, recent studies have failed to replicate the benefits. A review of the association between pets and allergic sensitisation found inconsistent results for cat ownership between studies of similar design, whereas dog ownership seemed to have no effect or even protected against specific sensitisation to dog allergens and allergic sensitisation in general.7 Other studies on the subject suggest that exposure to pets may be beneficial provided that exposure is sufficient, as lower levels may enhance sensitisation whereas higher levels may protect against sensitisation.8 Yet others suggest that the effects may heavily depend on age at exposure and type of pet.9
Similarly, recent research has failed to support earlier findings that pet ownership is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,10 a reduced use of general practitioner services,11 or any psychological or physical benefits on health for community dwelling older people.12 Research has, however, pointed to significantly less absenteeism from school through sickness among children who live with pets.w1
Do we need a broader definition of health?
The main issue may not be whether pet ownership per se confers measurable physical benefits but the role that pets have in individual people's lives—namely, the contributions of the pet to quality of life or the costs to wellbeing through a pet's death. This issue embraces a broader definition of health that encompasses the dimensions of wellbeing (physical and mental) and a sense of social integration.
Three potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the association between pet ownership and benefits to human health (fig 1).13 The first is that there is no real association between the two, rather that cofactors such as personality traits, age, and economic or health status impact on the decision to own a pet and thus produce an apparent link between pets and health. So far, however, evidence is lacking that any of these cofactors account for both health promoting attributes and propensity to own pets, suggesting that health benefits, when reported, may be attributable to some aspect of pet ownership.
The second proposal is that pets may enhance social interactions with other people, thus providing an indirect effect on wellbeing. Social contact has been long recognised as beneficial in that it alleviates feelings of loneliness and social isolation. Pets undoubtedly act as "social catalysts," leading to greater social contact between people.14 These factors may be particularly important for those at risk of social isolation, such as elderly people or people with physical disabilities, who lack many of the opportunities for social interactions of their more able bodied peers.15
The third proposal focuses on ways in which pet ownership may exert a direct effect on human health and wellbeing through the nature of the relationship. Close human relationships have a powerful influence on wellbeing by providing emotional support. They may reduce perceptions of stressful events thus protecting against anxiety related illness, may give confidence that successful coping strategies can be found to deal with stress, and may enhance recovery from serious illness such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and cancer. These aspects of a relationship are collectively referred to as social support. Social relationships, or the lack of, seem to constitute a major risk factor for health, rivalling the effects of well established risk factors such as cigarette smoking, blood pressure, blood lipid concentrations, obesity, and lack of physical activity.16
The value of companionship
Companionship—a commonly stated reason for pet ownership—is regarded as theoretically distinct from social support in that it does not offer extrinsic support but provides intrinsic satisfactions, such as shared pleasure in recreation, relaxation, and uncensored spontaneity, all of which add to quality of life. Thus companionship may be important in fostering positive mental health on a day to day basis, whereas social support may be of particular value in buffering threats to mental health and wellbeing from real or perceived stressors. Figure 2 illustrates the inter-relationship between functions served by pet ownership and human health outcomes.15
Although research has primarily focused on human relationships as providing support and companionship, it is a short step to extrapolating these to pets. Studies have shown that the support from pets may mirror some of the elements of human relationships known to contribute to health.17 Although support from pets should not be regarded as a replacement for help from people, the fact that pets are not human confers certain advantages; the relationships are less subject to provider burnout or to fluctuations, and they do not impose a strain or cause concern about continuing stability. Relationships with pets seem to be of value in the early stages of bereavementw2 and after treatment for breast cancer.w3
Why pet ownership should be taken seriously
The question of whether a person should acquire a pet or continue to own a pet requires careful consideration of the balance between benefits and potential problems. About half of households in the United Kingdom own pets.w4 Most are valued as family members. Conflict between health interests and pet ownership can cause non-compliance with advice on health. Some sources estimate that up to 70% of pet owners would disregard advice to get rid of a pet owing to allergies,w5 whereas reports abound of older people avoiding medical care through fear of being admitted to hospital or residential care as this often means giving up a pet.w6
Summary points
Over 90% of pet owners regard their pet as a valued family member
Reluctance to part with a pet may lead to non-compliance with health advice
Pets may be of particular value to older people and patients recovering from major illness
The death of a pet may cause great distress to owners, especially when the pet has associations with a deceased spouse or former lifestyle
Many people would welcome advice and support to enable them to reconcile or manage pet ownership and health problems whenever possible
The loss of a pet may be particularly distressing for owners if it was linked with a deceased spouse or if it offered companionship or social contact with people.18 For these reasons many people may appreciate help and advice on how to manage a pet in the event of a health problem in the family.
Animal welfare organisations cite allergies and the fear of zoonoses as common reasons for people giving up their pets. Yet in some cases this may not be necessary. Research from the University of West Virginia shows that simple, day to day hygiene and pet care can reduce allergic reactions by up to 95%.3 A recent review of pets in nursing homes provides a comprehensive list of potential health problems and steps that can be taken to avoid these.19
People do not own pets specifically to enhance their health, rather they value the relationship and the contribution their pet makes to their quality of life.20 Greater understanding among health professionals is needed to assure people that they do not need to choose between pet ownership and compliance with health advice.
References w1 to w6 are on bmj.com
Contributors and sources JMcN has special research interests in the influence of pet ownership on health and lifestyle. She was formerly based at the University of Warwick. Her current work is with Dogs for the Disabled, the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, and Cats Protection, UK. She is a member of the Society of Companion Animal Studies. AG gained his doctorate from the University of Warwick, researching the role of pets in the alleviation of loneliness. AR and SA are members of the Society of Companion Animal Studies. J-AD has a degree in psychology and is director of the Society of Companion Animal Studies. EO is chairwoman of the Society of Companion Animal Studies. References refer to primary sources located through MIMAS web of knowledge service/web of science records. JMcN wrote the article, with contributions from the other authors, and is guarantor.
Competing interests JMcN received a research award, 2000-2, from Masterfoods UK to investigate the role of pets in children's health. AG was employed as a research assistant at University of Warwick, 1999-2003, funded by Waltham Centre for Animal Nutrition.


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Experts say that problems with our feet can be the first sign of more serious medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and nerve and circulatory disorders.
Here are some foot care tips for older people: Practice good foot care. Check your feet regularly, or have a member of your family check them.
It also helps to keep blood circulating to your feet as much as possible. Do this by putting your feet up when you are sitting or lying down, stretching if you've had to sit for a long while, walking, having a gentle foot massage, or taking a warm foot bath.
Avoid pressure from shoes that don't fit right.
Avoid exposing your feet to cold temperatures.
Don't sit for long periods of time (especially with your legs crossed).
Don't smoke because it decreases blood supply and increases the chance of swelling and other circulatory problems.
Wear comfortable shoes that fit well. This can prevent many foot problems.


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Paving Contractor Near Troy Hills
Why Sealcoating is Important, According to Morris County Sealcoating Contractors
For more than 20 years, Platinum Paving has been one of Morris County's most trusted asphalt paving contractors. Using the most advanced materials and state-of-the-art equipment, we deliver fast, efficient, and affordable results for commercial and residential paving projects. Whether you need to install a new driveway, walkway, or parking lot, if you're located in the Troy Hills, NJ area and you're looking for reliable paving contractors near me, when you choose Platinum Paving, you can have confidence knowing that you'll be working with one of the leading asphalt contractors in the region.
What is Sealcoating?
Asphalt pavement is a durable material, which is why it's so commonly used for driveways, walkways, and parking lots. But despite its durability, it's quite porous and can become easily damaged by foot and vehicle traffic, as well as constant exposure to the elements. That's where the seal coating comes into play.
Sealcoating (also known as pavement sealing or pavement sealer) is comprised of a mixture of liquids, such as oil and water, and small particles of solid materials, like tiny pieces of sand, mineral fillers, and dissolved asphalt. When these materials are combined and applied over an asphalt pavement, it both protects and restores its surface. It is also believed to minimize friction that occurs when the aggregates in asphalt are left exposed.
Pavement sealer is applied by either pouring the material directly over asphalt and spreading it out across the surface with a broom or squeegee, or as a spray. Once applied, the oils in the sealer seep into the asphalt and restore some of the dried-up oils in the material, and the small solid particles fill in cracks and gaps that develop between the pieces of aggregate. The result is a more leveled, durable, and aesthetically pleasing pavement surface.
Why is Sealcoating Important?
According to professional seal coating contractors, pavement sealer should be applied to any asphalt surface after newly installed asphalt pavement is dry and set, and at least every three years over the life of the structure. However, more frequent applications may be necessary if the pavement is exposed to really harsh conditions, such as higher than an average foot or vehicle traffic or extreme weather over a prolonged period of time. Older paved surfaces may need more frequent applications of pavement sealer, too.
Why should you hire a Morris County paving contractor to apply seal coating to your driveway, walkway, parking lot, or any other asphalt surface? Here's a look at some of the top reasons why sealing asphalt is important.
Sun Protection
The harsh UV rays of the sun can seriously damage asphalt pavement. It bleaches and dries out the aggregate that the material is made up of, which can lead to discoloration and cracking. Pavement sealer provides a layer of protection against UV rays, thereby preventing the material from becoming sun-damaged.
Moisture Protection
Sun isn't the only element that can damage asphalt pavement; so can water. Rain, snow, and even moisture from high humidity levels can work its way between pieces of aggregate. As temperatures fluctuate, moisture trapped between the pieces of aggregate freezes and thaws, which expands and contracts the pavement and eventually cracks it.
Moisture can be damaging to asphalt even without freezing and thawing. Rainwater can erode the surface of the pavement, and in extremely heavy rains, the layer of gravel or rock that sits underneath asphalt pavement can be washed away and the structural integrity of your driveway, walkway, or parking lot can be compromised.
Increased Lifespan
Asphalt pavement has a limited life expectancy. If left untreated, it lasts around 5 years. With constant use and exposure to the elements, it begins to wear down rather quickly when it isn't properly maintained. But with proper maintenance, asphalt pavement can last a lot longer; about 15 to 20 years, on average. What's the most important aspect of asphalt maintenance? Sealcoating!
When applied by reputable Morris County seal coating contractors, pavement sealer protects the surface of your asphalt pavement from sun and moisture damage and strengthens the material; factors that can significantly increase its life-expectancy.
Improved Appearance
The appearance of paved surfaces can have a big impact on the curb appeal of your Troy Hills, NJ home, or business. Walkways, driveways, and parking lots take up a pretty large amount of space. Since they're so visible, the way these structures look has a direct impact on the appearance of your property. The cracked and faded pavement isn't exactly aesthetically pleasing. No matter how meticulous you keep the rest of the exterior of your home, if your driveway or walkway is cracked and discolored, your curb appeal is going to be negatively impacted. Likewise, if the parking lot of your business is faded, cracked, and crumbling, it isn't going to make the best impression on customers.
Since the pavement sealer provides protection from the elements, it will keep your paved surfaces looking fresh and clean. It also restores any color that has been lost and can even fill in small cracks. In fact, when it's applied to older pavement, pavement sealer can make the surface look brand new.
Keep Your Asphalt Pavement in Tip-Top Condition by Contacting Platinum Paving Today!
If you're located in the Troy Hills, NJ area and you're looking for driveway contractors near me who can apply seal coating to your driveway, walkway, parking lot, or any other paved surface, get in touch with Platinum Paving! As one of Morris County's leading seal coating contractors, you can count on our team of professionally trained technicians to expertly apply top-quality pavement sealer to your asphalt surfaces. To restore and protect your asphalt pavement, call 973-879-7713 to receive a free price quote, and set up an appointment today!
- Learn more about Troy Hills, NJ 07054
- Open a Troy Hills, NJ map
- Find the Troy Hills, NJ United States Post Office
- Locate nearby Troy Hills, NJ pharmacies
- View the current Troy Hills, NJ weather report
- Browse a list of Troy Hills, NJ public and private schools
- Troy Hills, NJ is located in Morris county in New Jersey State


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Starting today, keep an eye on the sky (the Air Force won't be…)
"The Air Force says it can no longer afford to scan the sky for extraterrestrial threats that could doom the planet, all because of the sequester cuts Washington forced on itself when it failed to rein in the exploding national deficit. Called the Air Force Space Surveillance System, it's "critical" to defense, the Air Force has said. By October 1, they'll have to pull the plug."
Apparently the extraterrestrial threats include about 1,000 asteroids large enough to "potentially unleash global catastrophic devastation to the planet upon impact."
Kind of a big deal, yes? From this bit of asteroid news you probably shouldn't expect much of a reaction from our elected officials. Last spring, when one asteroid actually did hit earth and one closely missed us on the same day, Rep. Bill Posey (R-FL) asked NASA chief Charles Bolden what NASA would do if a large asteroid was expected to collide with earth in three weeks.
"The answer to you is, 'if it's coming in three weeks, pray.' The reason I can't do anything in the next three weeks is because for decades we have put it off."
So break out the space suits, America, and give Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck a heads up. Looks like we're on our own again.


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Homework help tips for college students
Things tend to change a great deal in college and people who would happily do my homework in school seem a little out of sorts with college material. And that is just how it is. At first, I did not really have a plan to deal with this.
Like me, you will slowly figure out that college work is not impossible stuff. There are multiple ways you can source homework help from people that are more experienced than you. And it does not have to be the most difficult way all the time.
Before anything else, let's throw a look at some valid reasons college students face problems when they are doing homework. In the process, I will take you through some essential homework help ideas that you can make use of.
Homework planner: the college and school conundrum
The moment you shift from school to college, a lot of things change vis-à-vis the work that you are assigned. For one, you do not feel the weight of work like you used to. But the nature of the work itself goes through a sea change.
More knowledge, more application
The new kind of assignments that you receive in college needs both more knowledge and application for successful completion. Plus, it has to happen simultaneously. You cannot choose to start early with one and let the other one sit through.
To make it more dynamic, you will need to make sure that there is some injection of greater knowledge and application when you go about your job.
Loaded topics and thin margins
Right from the onset of high school education, you will see that there are several questions for each subject that seem to have too many correct answers. The trick is they are all seemingly correct answers, while there is still only one legitimately correct answer.
This is where you will have to pick up your battles well. The margin for error is always very thin and you cannot take a chance with self-experimentation.
Clearly, there is a lot that you need to adjust with when you are moving from school assignments to college assignments.
The big question then becomes – where do you start? And how do you convert to the college setup while keeping your school assignment experience handy. Here's a workaround.
You always have an option
The one fallacy that affects almost every student who seeks help with homework is the notion that there isn't an option. But imaginations could not be any more misplaced than this.
The fact is there is always some or the option that you can avail. It is that shell in the mind which you have to crack open. As and when you do that successfully, you will notice that there are plenty of ways you can walk.
Professional help is a call away
The good thing about companies like 123writings.com is that they do not just let you relax after you have handed them a project. Once you have done your bit with them, you will see that they go step by step with everything you assign to them.
Also, a good company will make sure that there is more you (the students) learn with every task you assign to them. Just ask them to include notes for you while they do your math assignments. These will be in another ink and you can delete these later.
Co-working is a great option
For those of you who always believed professional help if the easiest way out of assignments, let me give this out straight – there is no shortcut.
The less you depend on a service for almost everything, the more you will:
- Expand your own knowledge on the subject
- Be ready during dissertation defence
- Need homework help online
- Learn to create content from scratch
- Start identifying important variables on job
While these are just a few straight ways in which you will benefit from co-working with a company for your paper, lots of other avenues open up when you start with the job. Keep an eye on this space for more options.
Which college homework help should you look for?
There is a lot that you can look for when you are looking for the best kind of assignments done professionally. But the trick is not looking for all that together and settling for just the things you need.
For one, look for a company that:
- Has the quality to speak for it: Whenever you try and make a real deal with a company, do it with a team that has the mettle for big work. The quality of the homework solver should be such that it speaks for itself.
- Boards experienced writers and editors: A great academic agency will bring on board some of the most experienced editors and writers that you have known of so far.
- Maintains deadlines – A great company always commits to a timeline. There are quite a few golden fishes out there that make it a point to keep things synchronized and have people do just what they like.
Apart from these, if you ever feel like you have met just the agency that will do homework the best way for you, you should trust your instinct and go for that company. Trust us that will supersede any other parameter that you build when you looking for the right company out there.


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4+ Million Excursions Delivered
While other companies sell cruises and other forms of travel, we focus exclusively on shore excursions. We utilize this expertise to select the highest quality shore excursions delivered by local experts in the most cost effective manner for our customers. Since we are not a large cruise line catering to thousands of customers per day, our cruise excursions packages allow you to travel in much smaller groups offering a more personalized experience. We offer a large number of unique cruise excursions that cannot be purchased from the cruise line. We encourage you to browse through the wide variety of excursions or call us for personal advice.
Private Shore Excursions allow you to travel with your party alone and, in many cases, to fully customize your shore tour. For groups of 4 or more, we can usually arrange a private shore excursion for less than the cost of a large cruise line tour.
We offer two types of excursions; Small and Standard. Our Small group excursions are tailored to groups of 2-20 people. These tours are smaller than those offered by cruise lines and offer the unique ability to provide a more personalized experience. Our Standard excursions cater to groups of 20-50 people, which are similar in size to the tours offered by cruise lines. While Standard tours are tailored for larger groups, we focus on an extremely high level of quality and service.
Standard Shore Excursions typically range from 20-50 people. These tours are similar in size to those of the cruise lines. While these day excursions are larger in size, our focus on quality remains extremely high.
Cultural Shore Excursions allow you to experience the customs, heritage, and local flavor of the destinations.
Scenic Shore Excursions provide up close and personal access to some of the most spectacular natural environments on Earth.
Active Shore Excursions offer a multitude of exciting and adventurous experiences.
Water/Beach Shore Excursions provide unique ways to enjoy the ocean, beach, and sea life.
Culinary Shore Excursions allow you to sample the local culinary delights.


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My Pets
Existing Users
This is where you can create free pet webpages and/or free pet tribute pages for your pets that have passed away.
New Users
Please register an account on our forum. Your Pet Pages use your forum account.
Our members have a lot of benefits like product discounts, free web pages for your pet, etc.
N.B. Pets.ca offers these free petsites and free pet tribute pages for purely personal/non-commercial use only. Petsites not observing this stipulation will be removed.


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Desconto de 10% na primeira encomenda. Use o código: LOJAUP10. Portes grátis a partir de 50€
CORK SHELL Natural Bag is one piece constructed with a zipper. It's very light, flexible and made in cork. Can be stowed flat or rolled.
- Exterior in cork;
- Interior in Vegan microfiber
- 35cm x 20cm x 11cm
This bag is vegan approved by PETA®
Marita Moreno's Vegan Line is 100% free from use of animals and animal cruelty. For this line we use materials like cork, malai, paper, pinatex, wood or microfiber. Due to being natural products, they may have slight changes in color tone.
Cork is a natural material, recyclable, sustainable and vegan, all the little pieces of cork are recycled multiple times - it is light, soft, flexible and easy to clean. We use cork from a Portuguese company, which has a natural forest and plantations of Cork Oak in Alentejo (south of Portugal). The Cork used by the brand is FSC certified.
Produced in a unique and ethical perspective way - using only Portuguese factories and handmade crafts to create its designs.
Designed and made in Portugal.


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The mystery mutt who accompanied the SEALs on their mission to Osama bin Laden's lair is coming in for a fair amount of attention. After all, people love their dogs, and if one can help take out the world's most wanted terrorist, all the better. Their noses know: the dog's keen sense of smell, to sniff out explosives or terrorists, can't be beat by man or machine. And, in a pinch, they can apprehend a fleeing suspect without killing him. Those were reasons for one highly-trained dog to accompany some two dozen highly-trained Navy SEALs on an uninvited visit to bin Laden's compound early Monday morning.
Military Working Dogs — MWDs — as these animals are officially known, tend to be either German shepherds or Belgian Malinois. These breeds boast the best combination of desired canine attributes: good noses, strength, size, speed, endurance and intelligence. There are currently nearly 3,000 of them in the U.S. military, up 50% since 9/11. They're paired with a handler, and the two become a single unit for a variety of military missions.
There are about 600 such dogs now serving with the U.S. military in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Our IED dogs have been extraordinarily successful," Major General Richard Mills said Thursday, after completing a year-long stint as the senior Marine in Afghanistan. With help from the dogs' noses, U.S. military units detect most of the IEDs now planted by insurgents before they explode.
Just like the SEALs, military dogs go through a rigorous training program. And, like the SEALs, more than 60% of dogs considered by the military wash out because of physical or behavioral concerns before becoming a full-fledged member of the team. There's a physical, including X-rays, as well as tests designed to ensure that the animal is eager to learn, can be fierce on command, and isn't fazed by loud noises (and it's not only dogs).
"Military working dogs play an increasingly important role in Special Operations," a 2009 article in the Journal of Special Operations Medicine said. "Canines endow the team with acute senses in light and dark settings, provide a show of force as a visible deterrent to enemy activity, and can maneuver rapidly and close quickly with the enemy in a highly compact environment." Check, check, and check, in terms of the bin Laden mission. But, the article went on to note, "MWDs, like all military personnel, require certain conditions and support elements to maintain maximal effectiveness." Well, most soldiers would say: like all military personnel…they've always treated us like dogs, and now they're finally admitting it.
Dogs have become so important to the U.S. military in combat — and veterinarians are in such short supply — that the journal has suggested how doctors who treat dogfaces (slang for infantrymen) also can treat dogs. "Though many conditions in the dog are treated in a similar fashion in the human patient, differences in anatomy, vital sign and laboratory parameters and, medications and dosages, may give the medical provider cause for hesitation to attend to canine patients," the 2007 piece said. "This article attempts to provide medical providers some basic knowledge of MWD patients, their conditions, and treatments."
It advises the military medical community to treat sick or wounded dogs lacking veterinary care as the key resource they are. "Local health care providers (HCPs) such as physicians, physician assistants, nurses, and medics/corpsmen may need to intervene to preserve life, limb, and eyesight of certain sick or injured MWDs," it said. "Humaneness notwithstanding, MWDs are a `weapons systems' of relative rarity and considerable expense, and replacement of any `field loss' is a lengthy and costly process. One cannot simply walk over to the supply clerk and retrieve another MWD `off the shelf.'"
But these can be touchy patients, and have been known to bite. "Though rare, dog bites have led to the loss/removal or functional degradation of various extremities – whether through the trauma itself or due to subsequent infection," the guidance for military health-care professionals adds. "The HCP does not want any of the cases in these journal articles which can be found in Pub Med; (e.g. `Successful Replantation of an Amputated Nose after Dog Bite Injury,' `Microsurgical Replantation of the Lip: A Multi-Institutional Experience,' and especially, `The Therapy of Genital Trauma by Dog Bite' to be mimiced."
But dog heroes, like their human counterparts, sometimes need special care. Sure, some dogs can help veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, as we reported in Time last year. But dogs themselves can suffer from PTSD as well:
"When Gina came back from (southwest Asia) she was so messed up, she didn't want to see anybody," said Master Sgt. Eric Haynes, the…non-commissioned officer in charge of the MWD section. "She wouldn't walk through front doors, she didn't want to go inside buildings. She was terrified of everything."
And then there is the simple wear and tear of war. "Severe canine hip dysplasia (CHD) can be career-ending for the Military Working Dog (MWD)," a 2007 article in the Army Medical Department Journal noted. Military dogs can be put on a diet 75% of normal to reduce their weight, as well as put on pain pills, to deal with CHD. If that doesn't work, total hip replacement surgery may be needed.
"MWD Benny made a total of 3 deployments to Iraq after his total hip replacement in February 2004," the article noted. "Unfortunately, MWD Benny developed significant lameness of his left pelvic limb due to the progression of degenerative joint disease and hip dysplasia during his third deployment and returned home early." Repeated deployments to the war zone, it seems, are just as tough on man's best friend as they are on man himself.


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Saniflo Repairs Mayfair W1
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Call Now: 0845 224 0019
Same Day Professional Saniflo Servicing, we can unblock all makes and models of macerators usually the same day. We carry all the necessary tools, spare parts and equipment to carry out fast repairs utilising our tried and tested methods from our years of experience.
Need Help or Advice, if you need to speak to an engineer just a quick telephone call is all it takes, we offer no obligation advice to all our London customers, we are waiting to take your call.
Family Business Established Since 2003
Our Workmanship Is Guaranteed And Our Service Is Hard To Beat.
The Majority of our work is repeat business via word of mouth from many happy domestic and commercial clients.
We Run A Fast Reliable and efficient service and you can count on us to deal with your Saniflo Problems with the minimum of fuss or disruption.
Due To Our Expertise we repair 99% of macerators on site without the need to install a new one which could work out quite expensive.
We Prefer to repair Saniflo's using the spare parts we carry if they are needed rather than installing a new one unless we think yours is too old or worn and uneconomical to repair or you choose to have a new one installed.
Dont Call Out ordinary plumbers to look at your Macerator as they have no experience in the repair or servicing of your Saniflo we will fix it they wont.
Top Tip, have your Saniflo Serviced yearly and have it Descaled using Saniflo Descaler, we can do this for you, this will extend the lifespan of your unit.
Saniflo Servicing Mayfair W1
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- £2 million Public Liability Insurance


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Request a Change
If you'd like to request a change to ESLint, please create a new issue on GitHub. Be sure to include the following information:
- The version of ESLint you are using.
- The problem you want to solve.
- Your take on the correct solution to problem.
If you're requesting a change to a rule, it's helpful to include this information as well:
- What you did.
- What you would like to happen.
- What actually happened.
Please include as much detail as possible to help us properly address your issue. If we need to triage issues and constantly ask people for more detail, that's time taken away from actually fixing issues. Help us be as efficient as possible by including a lot of detail in your issues.
Note: If you just have a question that won't necessarily result in a change to ESLint, such as asking how something works or how to contribute, please open a discussion or stop by our Discord server instead of filing an issue.


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- This event has passed.
Help Charities Without Leaving Home
July 7, 2022
Who's that then? Shh! Knights, I bid you welcome to your new home. Let us ride to Camelot! Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system! The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king. Camelot!


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© Paul Rust - NorthWest Amphibian Rescue
Crickets are one of the least favorite food items to culture for many reasons. However, they can also provide an easy and inexpensive staple diet for your animals, especially important for those of us with large collections. Before going any further with this process there are a few things that you should consider.
- Crickets are very noisy. You will need a place to keep them where they won't bother anyone.
- You WILL have escapes. If you find yourself being lulled to sleep, or kept awake by an amorous cricket there are a few things you can do. Keep any roach control device in the room with the crickets and it will capture them. You can also just wait and deal with it because adults only live a few weeks.
- Crickets have a distinctive odor that most people do not find offensive if kept under control. The most common source of this odor is the water delivery method and if kept clean it will greatly reduce this problem. In this method of keeping crickets we will use no substrate in the bins and the colony is kept in a dry condition to make the odor minimal and routine cleaning very easy. In fact, the only smell will be the cricket food!
The biggest problem that I find with most cricket breeding guides, and the reason for this article, is that the breeding substrate is part of the cricket housing container. This leads to problems. The most obvious problem is that the environment is always damp and this leads to mold and the awful smell often associated with breeding crickets. Another significant problem posed by the substrate is that it makes the colony nearly impossible to keep clean. So people don't keep it clean, and this leads to dead crickets throughout the colony and it also leads to disease. The problem that concerns me most when using other methods is that the crickets are in the same container throughout their entire life cycle, leaving you with the task of sorting them according to size every time you need to feed your animals. Our method keeps the different sizes separate, thus making it easy to feed different sizes and it makes keeping track of the adult breeding colony straightforward, so very few crickets die or are wasted. Finally, using our approach makes the cultures very clean and easy to maintain.
© Paul Rust
Summer Setup In Garage
© Paul Rust
Winter Setup In Dining Room
The Setup
You will need 3 18 Gallon "Rubbermaid" containers and one smaller clear container (to those unfamiliar with this brand, we are talking about large plastic shoe boxes). All the setups are exactly the same and the only thing that will change is the position in the rotation, which I will explain later in the article. All you need for each large container is a food dish, I use a petri dish for this purpose), a watering vessel (Ghann's Cricket Farm :: Ghann's - Live Crickets, Mealworms, Superworms has a wonderful watering vessel that I use), and some egg carton material. Arrange the items in the bin as shown in the photo below. When this photo was taken I was using a petri dish and a sponge for water and it works fine, but later you will see the watering vessel I now use. You must use some kind of absorbent material to deliver water to your crickets because they will drown in open water. Cut a hole in the lid of each container and use whatever you wish to make a screen for ventilation - I use the side vents from an XBOX 360! Make 3 of these bins. I have found that with this system I have been very successful and hatching 1,000 - 2,000 crickets per week so I have gone to a 45 Gallon bin for the 3\8 crickets in the middle postion. It is very important to provide enough room for your crickets to move around. Each one needs a place to stand, they cannot be on top of each other so don't crowd them. Egg crate material provides an amazing amount of surface area for your crickets to spread out.
© Paul Rust
45 Gallon 3/8 Cricket Bin
© Paul Rust
18 Gallon 3/8 Cricket Bin
© Paul Rust
Screen Tops
Each of the bins that you make will be for a different size range of cricket. One will be for the latest hatchlings, up to about 1/4" (0.6 cm). The next one will be for crickets from 1/4" to just before adult size - they won't have a hard exoskeleton or wings yet. The last container is only for adults - they will have a hard exoskeleton and wings. This last bin will be the breeding colony. The bins are in a rotation. The first bin is for very young crickets, the second is for older crickets, and the third is for adults. As the crickets get larger in each bin, you simply move the bin into the next position. In the last position the adults will start dying and, as the middle container crickets start to become adults, you move it to the last position. Then you discard all of the crickets in the former adult bin, clean it out, and then move it into the first position to become the next bin for very young crickets. This rotation is perpetual and is determined by the condition of the adult bin. The newly hatched crickets can stay in the incubator for as long as you need.
I carry out all required maintenance on the same day so it is easy to remember and takes a minimal amount of time. Once a week, open each container and perform these steps:
- Remove, clean, and resupply the food and water containers.
- Take each egg carton piece and shake it into the bin, crickets, poo and all. Set it aside for later.
- Now tip the container so that everything falls into one corner of the bin. Lower it just enough to cause the crickets to move to the high side - they won't all go but don't worry about it.
- Now use a vacuum hose (or whatever works for you) and suck up all the poo, shed skins, food waste, dead crickets, and a few live ones.
- Put the water, food, and egg cartons back into the container.
That's it! Cleaning like this is fast, simple, and it keeps the smell at a minimum and the crickets healthy and active.
This entire section has been for the care and maintenance of the crickets, now we will talk about breeding.
Egg laying
Now that the bins and rotation are ready to go, lets get some "babies". Start with 100 adult crickets from the pet store. When you look for the crickets, look for a container that has a lot of females in it. Females have three structures on the last segments of the abdomen, one ovipositor protruding out from the eighth abdominal sternite and two cerci protruding up on either side from the ninth abdominal tergite. The middle one is the ovipositor and will be the longest one when she is ready to breed. Males have only the two cerci. The cerci, singular is cercus, are copulation aids. Also, listen as you approach the rack of crickets to hear them chirping. Only adult males can chirp because they don't develop the mesothoracic wing until adulthood. They chirp by rubbing the ridges of one mesothoracic wing over the file of the opposite mesothoracic wing. Females in the same container are likely from the same culture and therefore adults as well.
Place all 100 crickets in the last bin. This is now the adult bin. Next take one "Ziploc" plastic sandwich container and fill it with coconut fiber substrate and lightly pack it down flat. Each female will insert her ovipositor into it and lay up to 500 eggs. If you leave the substrate loose they will lay eggs on the top and these will dry out and die. I use coconut fiber because I can empty it into a bowl after the eggs have hatched, re-soak it, and use it again. Place this into the adult bin and put some egg carton pieces over part of it to make it easy to access. See the picture below. In the food dish is a great example of a big adult female. There are over 200 adult crickets in this bin. The egg carton is excellent for giving them places to hide. Place the top back on the bin and leave it alone for 7 days. After 7 days, remove the substrate container and place it in the incubator, and then put a new substrate container in the adult bin. If you keep your breeding operation in a garage or other cold area, you will need to heat the bins with a heating pad in the winter. They need to be kept at 80-90 °F (27-32 °C). Depending on where you live, if you keep the crickets in the house your room temperature may suffice. I keep mine in the garage during the summer and in the dining room in the winter.
© Paul Rust
Adult Egg Laying Bin
The Incubator
The incubator is the most important part of this operation. Here is a list of items you will need:
- A medium sized clear "Sterilite" container (small plastic box).
- Temperature monitor with remote probe.
- Some plastic deli cups.
- One 16 Watt Zoo Med Repti-Therm Under Tank Heater or equivalent.
- Egg carton.
- Cricket watering gel.
- Cricket food.
Take the temperature monitor and place the probe inside the container on the back wall. Route the wire under the rim of the container to the front and mount the display module. Affix a small piece of double sided mounting tape to each corner of the under tank heater and mount it to the bottom of the container on the inside. Now route the power cord out in one corner. Don't worry, it shouldn't get hot enough to burn the plastic. Just keep a close eye on it for the first few days and check it every time you clean. If you feel it is getting too hot just make some "feet" for each corner to raise it up a bit and it will cool down. Next, place a piece of egg carton in the container that is big enough to cover the entire bottom. Place 2 deli cups of watering gel and 2 deli cups of food in one end of the container. Make sure you angle the cups as shown in the photo so the hatchlings can get to them. If you use a water dish in this container it will condense too much water and drown the youngsters. Cut a hole in the lid and make a small screen vent. Place the substrate container full of eggs into the incubator and cover it with egg carton to help control the condensation. Here is a series of photos to show you how it looks:
© Paul Rust
© Paul Rust
© Paul Rust
The incubator works on a rotation schedule as well. After you place the first substrate container of eggs in the incubator, close it and leave it alone for 7 days. Keep the temperature as close to 90 °F (32 °C) as you can. I open the lid every day to check on them and replenish the food and water gel as needed. This also helps keep the condensation levels down. Youngsters will start to hatch in only a day or two, but you will want to wait a week to make sure they all hatch. After 7 days remove the substrate container and replace it with one with a fresh batch of eggs from the adult bin. Repeat this process indefinitely, with the exception of cleaning up the hatchling container every now and then. Keep the youngsters in the incubator until they are about 1/8" (0.3 cm), then empty them into the first cricket bin and your operation is up and running. You can adjust the scheduling to meet your needs and culture as many at a time as you need. For example, I empty the incubator twice a day when the hatch is going strong. I caution you to think carefully before culturing more than one batch at a time to begin with because each one has the potential to produce thousands of youngsters! My first hatch had over 3000 crickets because I used two substrate containers. Below are photos of the incubator ready for the top to be put on, hatchlings, and the first bin.
© Paul Rust
© Paul Rust
© Paul Rust
© Paul Rust
Final Notes
The substrate container must be kept damp at all times or the eggs will dry up and die. Just mist the substrate every couple of days.
Egg carton material can be purchased here.
Josh's Frogs - Egg Flats
The watering gel I use is from Josh's Frogs.
Josh's Frogs - josh's frogs insect watering gel (16 oz) - cricket care products
The watering vessel/waterer is from Ghann's Cricket Farm.
Ghann's Cricket Farm :: Watering Kit - 16 oz. Mini
This is my food recipe:
- Dry cat food.
- Powdered milk mix.
- Vitamin supplement. Repashy, Herptivite, etc.
- Fill a blender 1/2 full with dry cat food and blend.
- Add powdered milk mix, 10 parts by volume.
- Add vitamin supplement, 1 part by volume.
- Blend together until it is the consistency of fine sand.
- Keep in an airtight container.
This food mix serves two purposes. It gives the crickets everything they need and also gut-loads them for your frog's nutrition.
Article is ©2010 Paul W. Rust. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced or published in part or in whole without written permission from Paul W. Rust.
Comments, suggestions and criticism welcomed!


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Cover Artist: Sheri Halal


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Did you miss the action over the weekend? Thousands of people around the world from Cairo to Canberra participated in events to move the planet beyond fossil fuels. There were over 2000 events in more than 175 countries with more than 40 Moving Planet events taking place across Australia from the Blue Mountains, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne joining the thousands of events taking place around the globe.
Melbourne photos by Takver | Moving Planet


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Strangely, while I would suggest the most obviously affected countries are those mentioned above, most of the debate has centered around the US economy. Since it is not at all clear that the US economy is actually suffering from either a liquidity trap or secular stagnation at this point, this has lead many to question whether the idea might not be ill-founded. The Economist, for example, in a revue article (Fad or Fact) of Teulings and Baldwin's Vox e-book on the topic conclude the concept "remains a baggy one", one which is "arguably too capacious for its own good".
Viewed in this light the concept does at times appear vague, and lacking in clear definition. In part this is because Alvin Hansen's original idea was made up of two components, a technological and a demographic one. Naturally if there is a slowdown in the rate of impact of technological innovation then this would be felt equally across those economies which are operating near the technological frontier. But the phenomenon which is being described today as secular stagnation isn't being witnessed equally across all those countries. Economies in both the UK and the US appear to have responded differently to those in Sweden, the Euro Area and Japan, a phenomenon which is obvious to the theory's critics. Thus the Economist author goes on to argue, "it is hard to avoid the conclusion that many of the euro area's difficulties result from a dysfunctional monetary union rather than a susceptibility to secular stagnation." And it would be hard to disagree with the writer on this count, except... except ....except that there is the awkward little case of what is happening to Japan, a country which as it happens doesn't use the Euro, or in Europe itself to countries like the Czech Republic, Sweden or Hungary that don't use it either.
Which brings us nearer to the demographic part of the argument. Is there any pattern emerging in the way symptoms which look like those which would be presented in cases suffering from secular stagnation are showing up? Well, I would argue there is. I think it is generally accepted that the first affected country was Japan. It was in Japan that a slowdown in GDP growth (not GDP per capita growth) was first noted.
Japan was also the first country were working age population started to turn negative (in 1997) and where the correlation between declining growth momentum in this group and creeping deflation first started to be noticed.
Here's what movements in EU working age population look like.
And here's why I don't think considerations of demography can really justify the secular stagnation thesis in the United States context at the present time.
EU working age populations started to decline in the years between 2009 and 2012. They will now continue to decline for many years to come. In the United States however, while the rate of growth in this population segment has slowed in recent years, it is about to start accelerating again. As Calculated Risk's Bill McBride pointed out, the US Census Bureau now reports that Baby Boomers aren't the largest US cohort anymore, and that the prime working-age force is expected to start growing again in a few years. In other words, in terms of the demographic outlook, the dynamic points to stronger, rather than weaker, economic growth. By 2020, eight of the top ten largest cohorts (five year age groups) will be under 40, and by 2030 the top 11 cohorts will be the youngest 11 cohorts. (see the marvelous animation Bill has at the end of his post).
Not All Europe Is The Same
Naturally, demographic dynamics are not the same in every country across Europe. The two oldest countries on the planet are Japan and Germany with median population ages of around 46. Then comes Italy with with one of 45. I have recently written about the possibility Germany is bogged down in some kind of secular stagnation process. The Economist writer argues that what Europe's economies need are structural reforms, but it isn't clear if he also thinks Germany needs another swathe of these. Long term growth is low in Germany, and inflation pressures are weak. It is not clear, however, that Germany is stuck in any kind of any kind of balance-sheet-recession-type liquidity trap. Loan growth is low, but this may well be a function of the age structure of the population.
It's no big secret really that Italy is suffering long term growth stagnation (which many, like the Economist and Beppe Grillo simply attribute to Euro membership).
And Italy has recently begun to have negative inflation levels.
Next on the list come countries like Austria (median age, 44), Finland (43,2), The Netherlands (42.1), Switzerland (42) and Sweden (41.2). It is striking that both Finland and The Netherlands have recently been suffering from very weak growth and almost constant recessions, while Sweden and Switzerland have an ongoing problem with a deflation threat.
If we fan out a bit, and move over to Eastern Europe, where working age populations are almost universally falling, the sharp fall in growth rates between the years before and the years after the crisis is also pretty noteworthy.
Before the crisis annual growth rates were in the 4% to 6% range, now they are in the 1% to 2% range, and these are all emerging economies with levels of GDP per capital well below the EU average, countries who should in theory be experiencing strong "catch up" growth.
At the same time inflation, which was previously a significant problem, has all but disappeared and in fact deflation risk is pretty general across the region. Normally CEE countries have median ages of around 41, much older than say Ireland with a median age of 35.7, or the United States with one of 37.6.
So we seem to be observing the following pattern: working age population growth approaches zero and starts to turn negative, growth slumps to about 1% a year and falling, and inflation weakens to the point of becoming deflation. If this rough correlation is reasonably valid the next countries where we see secular stagnation setting in are South Korea and China, since working age populations are now in the process of turning there too.
A Simple Mechanism
So how do secular stagnation work? What's the mechanism? Well so far we have been offered two, one from Paul Krugman.
"To have more or less full employment, we need sufficient spending to make use of the economy's potential. But one important component of spending, investment, is subject to the accelerator effect: the demand for new capital depends on the economy's rate of growth, rather than the current level of output. So if growth slows due to a falloff in population growth, investment demand falls — potentially pushing the economy into a semi-permanent slump."A slowdown in the rate of increase in domestic demand leads to a slowdown in investment, and this double slowdown pushes the economy into a dependence on exports and very weak GDP growth. The first place this "underinvestment" phenomenon showed up was in Japan.
Then we have seen it in Germany.
And now the "German" phenomenon has spread to the rest of Europe.
The second pathway through which demographically driven secular stagnation operates was described by a group of IMF economists in a recent research paper: "Is Japan's Population Aging Deflationary?" Lower demand from older populations (less credit growth) leads to oversupply and deflationary pressure. The first part of the paper abstract runs as follows:
"Japan has the most rapidly aging population in the world. This affects growth and fiscal sustainability, but the potential impact on inflation has been studied less. We use the IMF's Global Integrated Fiscal and Monetary Model (GIMF) and find substantial deflationary pressures from aging, mainly from declining growth and falling land prices. Dissaving by the elderly makes matters worse as it leads to real exchange rate appreciation from the repatriation of foreign assets. The deflationary effects from aging are magnified by the large fiscal consolidation need."
So while there is no definitive answer at this point to the question whether or not what we are seeing is a creeping process of secular stagnation which will gradually spread from one economy to another as the respective working age populations start to contract, there is strong prima facie evidence that there may be, that the theory is worth examining and that the hypothesis should continue to be tested.
The above arguments about why the Euro Area countries may have entered some sort of state of secular stagnation are developed in detail and at far greater length in my new book "Is The Euro Crisis Really Over? - will doing whatever it takes be enough" - on sale in various formats - including Kindle - at Amazon.