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You are not who you think you are. Your personality and identity is significantly more malleable than you realize. With a few simple tricks, you can exploit your brain's innate functionality to change just about anything about yourself. Here's how.
You Are Not Necessarily the Person You Think You Are
You are not who you are, but rather the product of many influences. The saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" exists for a reason: the longer you've been the person you think you are, the harder it becomes to change. The thing is, you can dramatically change who you are. It's actually not so much that it's difficult to change, but that you've developed patterns and habits that make it easier to do things the way you do them. Trying something in a new way can feel very awkward, it will be generally less efficient by virtue of being something new to you, and it often lacks excitement for you when it involves giving up the comfort associated with your way.
That's not to say you aren't born with some inherent abilities, but most of what you consider part of your identity is a product of influence. While we don't know the exact ratio of nature to nurture, there is undoubtedly a combination of both that makes us who we are. We have a tendency to think that change is difficult, but it's really just a matter of changing your influence. You're probably familiar with Stockholm syndrome-the term used to describe how hostage victims tend to develop positive feelings towards their captors. Stockholm syndrome isn't a kind of brainwashing by the captor; instead, the victim adapts to the poor situation he or she is in. If most people can adapt to something as awful as being kidnapped, most people can adapt to smaller positive changes in their own lives. You can even make enormous changes if you're willing to put in the work and you provide yourself with the proper influences. We're going to look at how to do that on high and low levels, from priming your brain to manipulating your own emotions, and also look at how your environment and the people you know shape your life.
Most of these methods won't make you feel comfortable, and, at times, they may sound a bit crazy, but it is possible to "hack" your own brain. Here are just a few ways to do it.
Priming Your Brain
Priming is a ridiculously simple technique because all it involves is talking to yourself. On the dull end of the spectrum, it's similar to self-affirmation. On the crazier end of the spectrum, it bears some similarities with neuro-linguistic programming. Priming your brain involves reciting a given set of words that are designed to alter your mindset. It is not brainwashing and it cannot make you do anything you don't want to do. What it can accomplish, however, is putting you into a state of mind that will be more useful to you with a given situation or task.
Before we get into the specifics of how to prime your brain, let's talk about how and why it works. If you were to say the word mustard out loud, and then you were to see a portion of the word later, you'd be reminded of mustard. For example, if you were to say "I must have this" you might be reminded of mustard because of the word must. If you were hungry and liked mustard, you may even want some. It's the same phenomenon that compels you to buy a particular brand of shampoo that you saw on television even if you 1) don't remember seeing the commercial, and 2) couldn't care less what kind of shampoo you use. This is essentially how priming works, and it's all thanks to your memory.
While you're not going to remember everything you say, that doesn't mean what you say is gone forever. While everything stored in your recent memory may not be immediately accessible, all you really need to bring something up is a trigger word. This is conceptually similar to using acronyms as a memory tool (e.g. Roy G. Biv) but isn't designed to help you actually remember anything. Instead, the goal is to place common words that, when apart, have no real specific value, but when together, have an associative value that make you think of happy things, sad things, specific people, or ambition. If any of those common words come up again later in the day, you'll immediately associate that word with the associative value of the group. Here's an example:
This is a list of words synonymous with or related to ambition. It's designed to be read aloud to put you in a more ambitious mindset, focusing your thoughts and priming your brain to react ambitiously when these words, or portions of these words, come up later in your day.
Another exercise involves taking a shorter list of priming words and making a sentence with it. Here's an example:
These words can form the sentence "the girl looked and smiled," which should bring to mind pleasant associations for most people. Constructing sentences out of word lists (which you can create yourself) can help put you in the right mindset.
These two methods can be used to prime your brain. They are not magic tricks that will instantly make you feel happy, ambitious, or whatever, but they can help to provide you with the mindset you need to better accomplish your daily tasks.
For more reading on priming, and a look at some really interesting studies, don't forget to check out the references for this article.
Using Your Emotions
If you've ever found yourself making out-of-character decisions based on your emotional state—such as binging on ice cream after a breakup—you know how easily your feelings can overtake your actions. Rather than letting your emotions lead you towards poor judgment and irrational behavior, however, you can learn to compensate for different emotional states and to fabricate emotions to alter your mood. In order to do that you need to, simply put, get in touch with your feelings. The idea isn't so much to cry into a pillow about your wasted childhood, but understand what you're feeling when you're feeling it, what the root cause is, and what you can do about it. We're going to take a look at how you can dissect your emotional state to use it to your advantage, and also look at how you can fabricate emotion to change how you're feeling.
Take an Acting Class
You can't really control your emotions if you don't understand them, and one of the best ways to understand them is to take an acting class. To some this may sound fun, and to others this may sound like hell. Love it or hate it, acting lessons are one of the best ways to explore how and why you feel certain things. Your goal should be to find a class that will make you uncomfortable every time you go. In my experience, any class teaching the Meisner technique is very effective if you put a lot of effort into the exercises. It can be slow, tedious, and uncomfortable, but it's capable of bringing out emotion you might not realize you had.
Make Yourself Uncomfortable
Your emotions aren't in full force if you're not really doing anything, so you need to put yourself in uncomfortable situations in order to bring them out. This doesn't mean you should make yourself feel horrible, but that you should go out and do things that you might resist because you're worried about the downsides. Meeting new people is something that makes most people uncomfortable, and it's a great place to start, especially if it's a first date. Try new things that scare you. If you notice you're glued to the couch and don't want to get up, do the opposite. Spend time with people you don't like. Go to a movie you're sure you'll hate. Your experiences won't always be pleasant, but they should incite emotion that you can later analyze and better understand.
Keep Track of How You Feel
Like an abbreviated diary, every time you have an emotional reaction to something, write it down. You don't need much detail, but just a sentence or two noting the emotion you're experiencing and the (possible) cause. For example, I get extremely irritable when I'm hungry. I will lose my temper far more easily when I'm hungry, so whenever I notice myself thinking irrational (and sometimes hateful) things, I always remind myself that I'm just hungry, I'll eat in a minute, and the "asshole" who accidentally missed the garbage can and didn't notice is mostly a result of my frustrated stomach. Until I started to pay attention, I never really noticed that I was a jerk whenever I was hungry. Instead, I just thought I was a jerk. This is a simple example, but the point is this: pay attention to how you feel and the other issues currently present, and you'll find it much easier to manage your negative emotions.
Emote in Front of the Mirror
Fabricating emotion is difficult. Once you understand your emotions you'll find it a bit easier, but it helps to be able to recall how it feels, physically, to emote. We all know how to smile, for example, but you can probably count more fake smiles in family photographs than you can real ones. If you don't know how to create an authentic smile (also known as the Duchenne smile), it will be very obvious to everyone around you.
The easiest way to learn to fake expressions is to practice them in the mirror. You can try them out to see what you look like and you'll immediately know if they're passable or not. You'll also note that it feels physically different to create an authentic-looking emotion than it does to create a fake-looking emotion. For example, an authentic smile shows more in the eyes than it does in your mouth. When someone smiles a true smile, their eyes wrinkle (creating "crows feet") because a new musicle—the orbicularis oculi muscle—is used. You'll come to remember this feeling and be able to replicate it away from the mirror after a little practice.
It's not necessarily easy to emote in front of the mirror, but that's not as hard as you think. If your goal is simply to learn to smile better, you'll get there if you just stare at yourself for awhile. Eventually it will get so ridiculous that you'll have to laugh. If you're less patient, you can try to make yourself laugh by making strange faces or just being ridiculous. If you're comfortable, have a friend over to help. For other emotions, you simply need to find a source of that emotion and bring it into play in front of the mirror. If you've employed any of the previously discussed techniques, you may already have a reserve. Alternatively, watch a movie that makes you laugh or cry and do it by the mirror. (Yes, this is absolutely a strange thing to do, but it'll work.) If you're interested in anger, you should have no problem getting there by just complaining to yourself or to a friend on the phone.
Emoting in front of the mirror is going to be strange and awkward at first, but after a few tries you'll get the hang of it and be able to create authentic expressions on demand. These expressions do surface from genuine emotion, so repeating them can actually make you feel happier/sadder/angrier/etc. through repetition. If you need to change your mood and your mindset, the ability to fake it 'til you make it is very, very useful.
Consider Your Health
Anything you do is much easier if you're healthy—and that goes for mental as well as physical health. These methods won't be terribly helpful if you're seriously depressed. If you're not sleeping, eating well, and/or getting a reasonable amount of physical activity in each day, you're going to find them difficult as well. You can do pretty much everything better if you take care of your mind and your body, so don't look at anything you've read here as a panacea for the problems in your life. Everything here assumes that you take reasonably good care of yourself and generally start your day in a good place. If you're not feeling good on most days, you need to take care of those problems before you decide to start playing mind tricks with yourself. Always be healthy first.
Bypassing the Will: Toward Demystifying the Nonconscious Control of Social Behavior
The Automated Will: Nonconscious Activation and Pursuit of Behavioral Goal
You can contact Adam Dachis, the author of this post, at [email protected]. You can also follow him on Twitter and Facebook.


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Some of the most graphic images to come out of the brutal guerrilla war in the Peninsular War were penned by Francisco de Goya. Click to enlarge these pictures. Be warned, however, they may disturb some people as they contain disturbing scenes of horror, brutality, torture and the savagery of war.
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text: This course explores the history of fashion and the state of the fashion retail industry and introduces students to the functions of merchandising and marketing. Students learn methods used to design, develop, and market fashion products. As a foundational course, students learn industry terminology and standard industry practices as they explore career opportunities that exist in the fashion retail industry.


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Front Porch Blog
In the wake of EPA's veto last week of the largest mountaintop removal mine permit ever proposed in West Virginia, the grandstanding of West Virginia politicians and "sky is falling" rhetoric from the coal industry was not surprising. Every effort to protect streams and communities from the devastating impacts of mountaintop removal has been met with a similar chorus of complaint by coal companies and local politicians.
However, the immediate response of coal industry groups and West Virginia politicians to the news of EPA's action was a little different this time around. Notably absent was any reference to the so-called "War on Coal," which had previously been a mainstay of the coal industry's talking points. Instead, every West Virginia politician and coal industry trade group that issued a response to EPA's action appeared to be reading from the same script – a new one focused on broad national implications of EPA's action for all US industries, not just coal. Apparently we are now to believe that the opposition of West Virginia politicians to any and all regulations protecting streams from obliteration by coal companies is not about any provincial concerns or pressure from the most powerful industry in their district, but about "regulatory certainty," national energy supply, national security and the unemployment rate.
The new narrative about overbearing federal regulators stifling the economy and threatening national security fits nicely with the ideological persuasions of many new members of Congress. They would seem to be the primary target of the coal industry's new PR strategy, the goal of which is clearly to convince Congress to rein in the EPA and prevent the agency from promulgating new rules or enforcing existing ones. And the centerpiece of this new narrative is EPA's veto of the Spruce permit, which, it is increasingly apparent, was part of the coal industry's game plan all along.
That's not to downplay the importance of EPA's action or the courage shown by Lisa Jackson in following through on the veto in the face of intense industry opposition and the growing potential for Congressional backlash. Moreover, environmental and community advocates were rightly enthusiastic about EPA's veto, as the alternative would have signaled a major retreat in EPA's crack-down on mountaintop removal permitting. But EPA's documents and public statements make clear that the agency was bending over backwards in an attempt to negotiate a settlement with the company and they stated specifically that it was the company's unwillingness to contemplate any alternative mine plans that left the agency with no choice but to veto the permit. Amazingly, the agency even went so far as to hire its own mine engineering firm to develop an alternative mine plan that would have cut the stream impacts in half while producing the same amount of coal at about the same cost.
But Arch Coal didn't want to negotiate with the EPA to reduce the impacts of the Spruce permit, despite the fact that Arch successfully negotiated a settlement with the EPA and won approval for their Pine Creek mountaintop removal mine permit just last summer. Spruce was different because it was the most controversial permitting action the agency has taken in regard to mountaintop removal, representing just the 13th time EPA has ever issued such a veto and one of the few times it has overturned a Clean Water Act permit that had been previously approved by the Army Corps of Engineers. It's the type of action that makes the anti-regulatory teahadists in Congress apoplectic and, given the industry's campaign to incite Congress to roll back the administration's new guidances and rules on mountaintop removal mining, an EPA veto of the Spruce permit provided the perfect opportunity to broaden their coalition.
So Appalachian coal companies have successfully chosen their battlefield. Now they have to convince enough legislators – and their constituents – that EPA's crackdown on mountaintop removal permits is of national importance and demands action from Congress. Given the lack of evidence for any of the arguments they are using to "nationalize" their fight with EPA, convincing members of Congress outside of Appalachia should still be a tall order. In order to do my part in making that order as tall as possible, I've prepared a quick summary of the arguments mountaintop removal supporters are using to nationalize their issue and a synopsis of why each of their talking points is deceptive.
The top priority of coal companies and their supporters in Congress is to portray EPA's denial of some permits as a threat to the entire US coal industry and to all industries that rely on "Dredge and Fill" permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
When it released its draft guidance on Appalachian surface mining in April, 2010, EPA specifically made clear that its provisions on 404 permitting are "applicable only to those discharges associated with Appalachian surface mining operations." That, however, didn't stop the National Mining Association from issuing this statement immediately after EPA's announcement of the Spruce veto:
"The implications could be staggering, reaching all areas of the U.S. economy including but not limited to the agriculture, home building, mining, transportation and energy sectors.
"If EPA is allowed to revoke this permit, every similarly valid … permit held by any entity — businesses, public works agencies and individual citizens — will be in increased regulatory limbo and potentially subject to the same unilateral, after-the-fact revocation."
Sounds pretty scary until you learn that EPA also addressed the "regulatory limbo" issue directly in its response to public comments on the Spruce permit. Specifically, EPA stated:
"… the Spruce No. 1 Mine represents a unique set of circumstances. As is clear from the summary in the Final Determination, the project has a long history of controversy, including multiple lawsuits. During the course of that controversy, EPA frequently voiced concerns… EPA recognizes that instances where the need to act occurs after a permit has issued are legal, but should be rare."
Ken Ward at the Charleston Gazette paraphrased a final piece of the industry's "regulatory over-reach" argument as going something like:
"The Spruce Mine got every approval needed every step of the way, cleared every regulatory hurdle required, and was ready to go — but for the meddling of those anti-coal lefties from the Obama administration."
Then, in the remainder of his must-read piece on the Coal Tattoo blog, Ken goes on to eviscerate the argument. Ken concludes that, "When politicians say the Spruce Mine has crossed every hurdle, they're just wrong."
Other than these new additions to the "regulatory over-reach" argument, the rest of the talking points supporting the coal industry's new narrative will sound familiar to anyone who knows the coal industry or West Virginia politics. In a nutshell, the argument is that forcing coal companies to stop destroying streams will cost jobs, threaten national security, and may very well cause us all to freeze in the dark without electricity. These arguments all share one fatal flaw, however: they are belied by the fact that the amount of coal production in the US is not limited by the ability of mining companies to obtain permits, but by the low (and decreasing) demand for coal.
According to the Energy Information Administration, the US coal mining industry was operating at an anemic 75% of its production capacity in 2009, down from 85% in 2008. That low capacity utilization is the result of a huge drop in demand for coal as well as competition from a burgeoning supply of natural gas. To put the current controversy in perspective, the 2.7 million tons of coal that the Spruce mine would have produced annually represents less than 1% of the unused production capacity at already-permitted US mines. Moreover, the EIA's recently released 2011 Annual Energy Outlook projects that coal demand will not return to 2008 levels for the next 15 years. In the mean time, there are plenty of other mining companies that would be happy to take up any available market share, which helps explain why the Spruce backlash is only coming from West Virginia politicians and not from western or midwestern coal state legislators.
Below is a summary of EIA's data on coal mine capacity utilization, and here is a link to the actual data:
Even if a government agency or Congress went so far as to shut down every single surface coal mine in Central Appalachia, the average capacity utilization of existing US mines would only need to increase from 75% to 82% to replace that lost production. Thus, the argument that EPA restrictions on mountaintop removal permits threaten our energy supply and national security has no basis in fact whatsoever. As in, like, none.
Similarly, EPA's stricter enforcement of laws impacting mountaintop removal mining would have no impact on the national unemployment rate even if the agency really was out to destroy jobs and the economy, as those in the coal industry frequently contend. Because there is insufficient demand for all of the coal that US companies could produce, jobs created to mine coal in one location come at the expense of jobs that would have been created or retained at other mines. It's not like permitting a mine suddenly creates new demand for the coal it will produce.
Despite what must be heroic efforts of West Virginia politicians to deliver these new arguments with a straight face, it's local politics, not national security, that is driving their actions. Unfortunately for West Virginians, this focus on false controversies comes at the expense of addressing the very real need to diversify the economy of Central Appalachia. That need has little if anything to do with the EPA, but is primarily the result of an irreversible decline in Central Appalachian coal reserves. As Arch Coal's CEO Steve Leer explained to a group of utility executives at a conference last September:
"We see [Powder River Basin coal] flowing in to replace the decline in Central Appachia. That decline is inevitable – we can debate the speed of it, the shape of the curve, but the last decade would tell you that decline is inevitable… The permitting issues and the regulatory issues simply accelerate that, but its driven by the reserves."
It's also important to point out that mountaintop removal employs fewer miners than traditional mining techniques and is favored by mining companies specifically because it saves money by replacing miners with machines. As a result, if coal production at a new mountaintop removal mine displaces production at a nearby underground mine, as it almost certainly would given the low demand for coal (undergound mines in Central Appalachia are operating at just 68% of their capacity), the number of jobs in the local area will actually decrease. In fact, that is exactly what has been happening in Appalachia in recent decades as coal mining has shifted from traditional underground mining techniques to the ruthlessly efficient process of mountaintop removal.
Despite a mountain of evidence that mountaintop removal is destroying the economy, environment and communities of Appalachia, the agenda of West Virginia's politicians continues to be driven by local politics, which is dominated by the coal industry. Right now, preventing EPA from enforcing regulations on mountaintop removal is at the top of their agenda, but they'll need to convince a whole lot of members of Congress to join their cause in order to be successful.
A roll-back to Bush-era regulations (or lack thereof) on mountaintop removal is a very real risk and preventing it can only happen if people across the country contact their representatives and make their voices heard. West Virginia has a powerful Congressional delegation, but it's not as influential as constituents, when it comes to the majority of legislators that are not beholden to the coal industry. That's where you come in. If you haven't joined the movement to stop mountaintop removal, now is the time you're needed most. Please sign up on iLoveMountains.org and make your voice heard.
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The deregulation crowd and tea mob scream about improper exercise of EPA veto power. Mostly it seems like a delayed use of a power they rarely utilize. But refresh my memory… didn't S. Griles, former no. 2 at Interior, coal lobbyist and now convicted criminal, have some involvement in getting the Corps permit approved? If so, it would add to the suspicion that the original permit was wrongly granted.


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After a conversation with New York University medical toxicologist Robert Hoffman, MD, you may well come to see your daily routine—coffee in the morning, a glass of wine in the evening—in a different light.
Dr. Hoffman spoke recently with us about how toxicologists define the word "drug"; basic neurochemistry behind prescription and recreational drugs; and the top tool in medical toxicology today (not necessarily the one you'll see on TV).
How do you define the word "drug"?
This is a beautiful toxicology question. The father of toxicology, Paracelsus, said that everything is a poison—and the dose makes the poison. We need oxygen, but too much oxygen can kill you. We need water to live, but too much water can kill you.
And a drug can be pharmaceutical, that is, made and packaged for use, or it can be illicit, illegal, with no accepted legitimate medical use—or something in-between.
What are some examples?
Acetaminophen (found in over-the-counter pain-relievers) isn't really considered a drug of "abuse," but overdose can be toxic.
The gray zone, where there are things that have legitimate medical benefits, like a lot of things we use to fight pain—oxycodone, hydrocodone—can be drugs of abuse, as well.
What neurochemistry do you need to know to understand how drugs work in the body?
Basically, there are major molecules that affect mood and behavior, some of which are normally present in the body, and sometimes the drugs we take mimic or manipulate levels of those molecules to affect behavior.
What are some molecules affected, or manipulated, by drugs?
Let's start with some easy ones. The happy neurotransmitter is serotonin, what makes you feel good. Antidepressants like paroxetine get there by modulating serotonin.
LSD and psilocybin, two of the best hallucinogens known to man, also work through modulating serotonin. And Ecstasy (or Molly) works by modulating serotonin, too.
Epinephrine, adrenaline, it's there for fight-or-flight. When you get scared, you feel your heart beat, get sweaty—you can run away from the wild creature that wants to eat you. Cocaine works so well by increasing your epinephrine. People who take too much cocaine get really sweaty and have a really high blood pressure.
Getting really excited is great—that's why people go on roller coasters. But getting too excited can kill you.
I may ask the class: How many of you use a mind-altering substance on a daily basis? The vast majority may not raise their hands, but caffeine is without a doubt a drug. It has definite psychoactive effects, no doubt you can get addicted to it.
If you include nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol as mind-altering drugs, the vast majority of adults in American society use one or more of these daily.
As a medical toxicologist, what do you do all day?
Medical toxicology is a relatively new specialty in medicine—we're one of the youngest disciplines in medicine. And we are a group of interesting individuals—only a few hundred in the country—whose expertise is in taking care of people who are acutely and chronically poisoned…We are the medical detectives of the modern age.
What tools do you use as a sleuth?
We may use tests like gas chromatography or mass spectrometry to figure out how much of something is in something else. But our best tool is still to take a patient's full history and to do a good physical exam. We also look at symptoms and context, of course. In the right context, if a person is unconscious, barely breathing; has low blood pressure and pulse, has tiny pupils—that's someone who likely took too much opioid. I don't need tests to observe that.
The Museum greatly acknowledges The Mortimer D. Sackler Foundation, Inc. for its support to establish The Sackler Brain Bench, part of the Museum's Sackler Educational Laboratory for Comparative Genomics and Human Origins, in The Spitzer Hall of Human Origins.
Learn more about drugs and poisons of all types in a new exhibition, The Power of Poison, opening Saturday, November 16.


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The Fire and Water Podcast Presents… WHO'S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE PODCAST OF THE DC UNIVERSE, Volume XI!
The eleventh episode of our WHO'S WHO podcast is now available — the show that dares to tackle one of DC Comics' greatest publications! Each episode Rob and I cover a single issue of the legendary 1980s series, Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe. This time around we chat about WHO'S WHO: Volume XI, discussing characters such as the Joker, Jericho, Infinity Inc., Jonah Hex, Johnny Thunderbolt, Injustice Society, and many more! We wrap up the show with Who's Who Listener Feedback! This episode sponsored in part by InStockTrades.com!
Be sure to check out our Tumblr site for several pages from this Who's Who issue: FireandWaterPodcast.Tumblr.com!
Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail at: firstname.lastname@example.com
You can find the eleventh episode of WHO'S WHO: THE DEFINITIVE PODCAST OF THE DC UNIVERSE on iTunes. Each episode is released as part of THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST feed. While you're on iTunes, please drop us a review. Alternatively, you may download the podcast by right-clicking here, choosing "Save Target/Link As", and selecting a location on your computer to save the file (82 MB).
Thanks to my co-host Rob Kelly, Sea King of THE AQUAMAN SHRINE, for doing all the post-production on this episode! Special thanks to Daniel Adams and Ashton Burge with their band The Bad Mamma Jammas for our fantastic Who's Who theme song!
One of the coolest aspects of each Who's Who issue was the amazing wrap-around cover! Check out this impressive Paris Cullins and Dick Giordano cover for Volume XI! Click the image to enlarge.
Here is your Firestorm-related Who's Who entry from this issue…
Johnny Quick of the All-Star Squadron drawn by Kerry Gammill and Bruce Patterson! Firestorm met Johnny Quick in Justice League of America #207 (Oct. 1982) during the JLA/All-Star Squadron crossover "Crisis on Earth Prime!" Click the image to enlarge.
Support Firestorm (and the WHO'S WHO podcast)! Fan the flame!


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Gaps in flood knowledge: experts
Flood predictions As floods continue to cover parts of Australia, scientists are calling for an urgent change in thinking on how we predict and cope with flood events.
They say poor records, changing background environmental conditions and human impact on a local scale all make accurate flood modelling something of a moving target.
Dr Jerry Maroulis, a fluvial geomorphologist with Landloch Pty Ltd, witnessed the Toowoomba flash flooding on January 10 first hand, and says it was caused by a freak convergence of several factors.
"We had a saturated catchment, a catchment area which is covered with impervious surfaces and then we have the 'perfect storm' - a storm which dumped this deluge at just the right time," Maroulis says.
"'Inland tsunami' was the perfect description for what happened."
Maroulis believes the urban environment was the main contributing factor in the flash flood that tore through Toowoomba.
He says records going back to the 19th century indicate that the amount of rainfall that fell in the Toowoomba catchment before the flash flood was not unusual and had been exceeded on several past occasions, but without the dramatic results.
As the city has grown, the catchment's natural vegetation has been increasingly replaced by impervious surfaces, which send runoff straight into the concreted watercourses, says Maroulis.
"Before the Toowoomba area was settled it was largely a chain of ponds, so there were a lot of reed beds and all the rest of it," he says.
"The nature of development is that we like to control things and use channels to control the creeks, and that's understandable. But the consequence is you change the flow hydrology and the flow dynamics. And when you've got smooth flowing channels, water flows very quickly."
Wake-up call to town planners
Maroulis says the events in Toowoomba should be a wake-up call to other towns in similar geographical situations. He says they should undertake flood modelling to predict what would happen under similar conditions.
Stephen Gale, a hydrologist at the University of Sydney, agrees that badly planned urban development is a good recipe for flood damage.
"The most significant effect is the fact that, particularly around cities like Brisbane, we gobble up agricultural land and we develop it," he says.
"We change a fairly permeable surface that lets water go into the soil moisture system or the groundwater system and move slowly from there into the river system. We've replaced that with concreted surfaces, [which is] very efficient at getting water into the river channel.
"Hydraulically it's superb, but of course it's a disaster if there's a big rainfall event."
Flood modelling inadequate
According to Gale, another problem is the inadequacy of flood modelling systems.
"There are two major things that the conventional approach to dealing with this doesn't take into account, and the first is that our instrumental records are short," he says.
"If you have 50 years of records, then you're doing well. The trouble is, the rule of thumb that's used in most places in the world is that it's the 'hundred year flood' which we need to deal with.
"Forty or fifty years of records don't allow us to predict that with any kind of reliability", he says.
Indeed some scientists say the flood that caused so much damage in Brisbane was only a one-in-25 year flood, and only the sixth highest on record.
Flood could arrive at any time
"The hundred year flood is one that has a probability of occurring once in a hundred years," Gale says.
"Now that's not to say that it can't occur tomorrow, or that you can't have hundred year floods in successive years, or even in successive months. The big difficulty from our point of view is that because our records are so short, we haven't actually experienced many of those big floods. So it's very hard to model their probability."
Gale says modelling is complicated by the fact that climate goes through natural oscillations - phenomena like El Niño and La Niña.
"There are lots of periodicities and quasi-periodicities that occur," he says.
"Now what that means is that if your record is derived under a set of low-flow and low rainfall conditions, if you then shift to a period of high rainfall conditions, then the game has changed.
"Your predictive capacity just doesn't work anymore. There's a lot of evidence to suggest that in southeast Australia there's an alternation in rivers between drought dominated regimes where you get decades where flows are pretty low, and then flood dominated regimes, where you get decades of big floods."
Natural archive contains clues
He says if we want a better understanding of what may be going on in long term cycles, we need to look at the natural archives. Sediment cores are one valuable source of information about flood events. Coral reefs provide an even better record, Gale says.
"Corals are a great indicator. They grow quickly, they have annual growth rings, so you can date them like trees," he says.
"You've got rivers discharging lots of silt into that area between the mainland and the Great Barrier Reef. That silt gets incorporated in the corals and you can actually look at the frequency with which big floods occur and date them very well.
"Indeed there are records that go back in the order of three hundred years that have been determined in that way."
"When people do that, what they find is that big floods occur much more frequently than the instrumental records suggest."


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C#m – Do# Minor
In music theory, C# minor chord is built on C#-E-G# formation: root-minor third-major third. Basic minor chord has a formation C#-G#-C#-E-G# from basses to trebles in the guitar.
This chord is derived from a minor triad. In music theory triads are built by three different notes: root-minor third-major third. But in the guitar, generally basic minor chords are expanded by same kind notes that repeat themselves in different octaves. Minor triads may have a function as a supertonic(subdominant parallel), mediant(dominant parallel) or submediant(tonic parallel) besides tonic degree.


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Chris Hartjes (aka the "Grumpy Programmer") has written a second book that aims to teach you even more about writing testable applications. Where his first book taught the basics of making apps testable, this new book - The Grumpy Programmer's PHPUnit Cookbook provides code examples showing how to solve some of the common problems you'll come across when testing your applications.
You know you need something better, but time just doesn't seem to be on your side. Making things "right" is costly and you need to deliver working code NOW. Tests would be great but there are real deadlines to meet. You can't stop development and churn away for hours just to add tests around what you know already works. [...] No longer would you dread the bug reports. You'd happily make changes knowing that your safety net is there. You'd try out new features guiding yourself with tests.
The book covers some more advanced topics than you might have seen in the previous book including data providers, test doubles, faking test data (or using external sources) and writing tests for APIs, databases and exceptions. If this sounds interesting to you, you can pick up your own copy of the book on his site (or try out the sample first).


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An ACL2 library for the simple programming language Imp.
Imp is a simple programming language, used mainly for didactic purposes. It is found (with small variations) in textbooks and course materials, such as:
This library contains a formalization of Imp in ACL2,
and is expected to be extended with additional material
related to formal verification and synthesis of Imp programs.
The package name of this library,
Imp is informally defined by the following elements:
Imp does not have user-defined functions or procedures. An Imp program is a command, which operates on a variable store. Variables always contain integers (of any size); they do not contain booleans.


text:
The FTD® Thinking of You™ Bouquet
TOYThe FTD® Thinking of You™ Bouquet blooms with roses, lilies and carnations to send your special recipient a flower bouquet exuding a soft sophistication. Gorgeous white roses and white Oriental Lilies are perfectly offset by lavender carnations, purple mini carnations and lavender statice to create an incredible flower arrangement. Presented in a designer lavender glass vase featuring hand cut accents, this mixed flower bouquet is a wonderful gift to send in honor of a birthday, anniversary, to offer your congratulations or to extend your thanks and gratitude. Approx. 13H x 12W
- For U.S. and Canada deliveries only
- Delivery Information
All items featured on this site represent the types of arrangements we offer and may vary depending upon availability in certain regions. Substitution Policy


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High Water Everywhere: Court Ruling Won't Stem the Terror War Flood
The recent Supreme Court decision restoring habeas corpus rights for Terror War captives in Guantanamo Bay is a welcome development, of course. It is a stern rebuke to a key provision of the odious Military Commissions Act (MCA), which officially surrendered American liberty to presidential tyranny. But this sinister and shameful law still remains in force; what's more, the Supreme Court ruling does not address the Act's core principle: the president's arbitrary power to declare anyone an "enemy combatant" and dispose of them as he pleases – even killing them. Thus the


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Join the new WWE community. Fan-made and operated, see upcoming and past PPV cards, Superstar bios, shows, championship history, and give your opinions also.
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During each visit, the CPT heard numerous allegations of physical ill-treatment of detainees by members of the criminal police ("opierativniki"); mainly kicks, punches and truncheon blows, but also asphyxiation with a gas mask, suspension by the legs and/or arms and beatings on the soles of the feet. In their most recent response, the Ukrainian authorities set out a range of measures aimed at preventing ill-treatment, including the reform of recruitment procedures and reinforcement of police training.
The 1998 and 1999 reports severely criticise conditions of detention in police central holding facilities (ITTs), where people can be detained for prolonged periods. In its report on the 2000 visit, the CPT notes certain efforts made by the authorities, such as the provision of bedding, the removal of shutters from cell windows with a view to improving access to natural light and the creation of exercise yards.
A series of recommendations have been made concerning the systemic overcrowding in prison establishments, poor material conditions and the treatment of prisoners suffering from tuberculosis. The authorities describe various reforms adopted in 2001 intended to reduce considerably the prison population and improve conditions of detention; for instance, the shutters have also been removed from cell windows in prison establishments in order to improve access to natural light and fresh air. Since July 2001, specific measures have been taken to fight tuberculosis.
In its report on the 2000 visit, the CPT welcomes the formal abolition of the death penalty in Ukraine; however, it stresses that the treatment of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment remains a major source of concern. Measures taken by the authorities in response include more out-of-cell time per day and an increase in the number of parcels and visits.
The CPT will return to Ukraine later this year.
The CPT reports and the responses of the Ukrainian Government are available on the CPT's website: www.cpt.coe.int


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Don't Retract Pack
- Home
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- Intact Care
- Judaism & Brit Milah
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Babies are Not Just Skin
I was recently introduced to this most excellent site. Thought I'd share and encourage peaceful parenting clients to check it out:
Not Just Skin.org
Circumcision Is Anti...
Baby Dies From Herpes After Circumcision: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/baby-dies-circumcision-ritual-herpes_n_1322420.html
Baby's Death Renews Debate Over Circumcision: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/nyregion/infants-death-renews-debate-over-a-circumcision-ritual.html
Controversial Circumcision Ritual Led to Infant's Death: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57392437-10391704/controversial-circumcision-ritual-led-to-infants-death-from-herpes-says-death-certificate/
City Confirms Baby's Death From Circumcision: http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/breaking_news/city_confirms_babys_death_circumcision_related_rite
Homebirth, Breastfeeding, Orgasmic Birth on 20/20 + Discovery Health Seeks BIRTH FAMILY
Unfortunately, this turned out to be a pretty pathetic show. Entirely lacking of any accurate information, save what Robin, Laura and some of the other interviewees were able to say. The worst part was that producers included a clip on "fake babies" -- i.e. dolls -- with the rest of the mothering topics. Scary. I also couldn't believe they would pose the question of whether homebirth is actually just "mothers being selfish" (to avoid the very real 34% chance of c-section by just walking into the hospital to birth) without ever mentioning the remote possibility that there are HUGE and innumerable benefits for BABIES being birthed naturally, quietly, gently at home... DH warned me not to watch - that I would be irritated, and I guess he was right. He left the room a couple times shaking his head, stating that it is "just the opposite" of what they are suggesting. I guess we cannot expect the made-for-$$-pop-media to get things right. That'd be asking too much.
Looks like this show is finally airing...we will see how topics are presented tomorrow (Fri, Jan 2nd).
I will forward these messages in case anyone is interested:
Dear Friends,
It appears that this Fri., Jan. 2nd, "20/20" (ABC TV) will at last be airing their "Extreme Motherhood" show. Segments include homebirth (both unassisted and midwife assisted), serial surrogates (women that have numerous babies for other women), "fake babies" (life like dolls), long-term breastfeeding, and orgasmic birth. Providing the show is good (or at least allows a few grains of truth to get through), I think it's a great way to start off the new year.
In other news, the Discovery Health Channel is seeking a homebirth family that is willing to have their birth filmed. The birth can be either unassisted or midwife assisted. I'll enclose a letter from the producer below. Happy New Year, everyone!!
Bornfree! The Unassisted Childbirth Page
Dear midwives, doulas, and expecting mothers,
My name is Zach Marion and I am producing a natural childbirth show
for Discovery Health Network. The hour long special will feature
three mothers having home births and airs during baby week in June.
We just wrapped on our first story in Kona, Hawaii where Kollette and
her husband, Jason, gave birth on their organic coffee bean farm.
Midwife, April Weaver, attended their birth. In February, my crew and
I will be traveling to Salt Lake City Utah to follow another family
who is erecting a birth teepee. However, our production schedule is
open during the month of January.
We are looking for one more family to feature on the program. The
focus here is home births with a unique angle. For example, home
birth in the city might be a nice contrast to our other two stories.
The baby must be due between the beginning of January and the middle
of February. Mothers who appear on the show receive an appearance fee.
The crew arrives a week or two before the due date to shoot a back-
story. We spend 3 or 4 days with the family doing interviews and
capturing their day-to-day life. Then, we are on standby to document
the birth.
We understand the effect we may have on a birth just by being there.
Through our experience gained in capturing 34 births for the
Discovery Health series, House of Babies, we know how to fade in to
the background and become a fly on the wall.
Exposure has always been an issue for our moms and their partners.
Network television does not allow nudity. Blurring is employed to
keep content tasteful. I would be more than happy to send an episode
of House of Babies on DVD to any mom so she understands.
This is a positive experience for all that are involved. As a
producer, I have the unique opportunity to promote midwifery and home
birth on a big stage. Help me take advantage of this position. Let's
put empowered mothers and inspiring birth plans on the show.
If you are a mother or know a mother that fits the above criteria,
please contact me immediately. I am in the office 8am to 5pm CST on
weekdays. I can be reached in the evenings and on weekends by cell
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you!
Zach Marion
email@example.com (zach @ videoartsstudios.com)
Cell: (218) 556-8966
Work: (701) 232-3393


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- Each set includes 2 dishtowels measures 18 x 28" to tackle all of your drying and cleaning kitchen tasks.
- Cotton Fabric, Machine Washable. Wash with Cold Water in Gentle Cycle & Tumble Dry Low. Do not bleach them or run them through a hot dryer
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- This easy care dishtowels come with multiple coolers, perfect Mother's Day, holidays, housewarming and hostess gifts.


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Working to realize a top quality, affordable, accessible well being care system for all Massachusetts Residents. In fact, selecting a plan with decrease premiums will possible imply that you will pay more out-of-pocket if you'll want to see a health care provider. Regrettably, many coverage providers have a limited collection of medical doctors and remedy services, forcing individuals to work with in-network clinicians and areas in order for their medical care to be lined. Signing up for a Pivot Health quick time period plan is fast and simple.
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text: Welcome to the "Dogwallpapers" website! This resource is dedicated to various dogs breeds starting with Borzoi endign with miniature Yorkshire Terrier. There's a detailed breed description beside dog pictures. You may pick whichever you like and download dog photos for free. All dog images stored here are in high resolution and may be used as a desktop pictures. Dogs are friends of human. Let these charming creatures get your mood joyful - download dog wallpapers!


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Learning and Development
At Scotiabank, we consistently offer our employees a wide range of opportunities for growth, creativity and personal career development. We encourage and support employee learning through an innovative blend of classroom and e-learning, coaching, job shadowing and mini-training sessions, and are always looking for ways to incorporate the latest technologies into our programs.
Each year, we invest millions of dollars in delivering training opportunities to our employees, and are proud to have developed numerous programs that have won international awards and recognition.


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And don't forget to subscribe to THE AMALIAD, to stay up to date on Authors!me. Or become a Patron of my work over on Patreon!
Friday, June 11, 2010
A Friday Post, With Lots of History!
1) My writerly friends on Twitter are AWESOMESAUCE.
2) Yesterday, I wrote the greatest query of my LIFE. If was for the wrong book, though.
GENERATIONS previously held the distinction of being the MS with my BEST QUERY LETTER EVER. The title has now been passed onto COST OF LIVING. (I'm not in love with the title for that MS at all. For the record. Mostly I just refer to it as Thairon's book, and pretend it has no title until pressed and even then I only give it up grudgingly. In fact, the filename of this awesome new Query is "Thairon BEST QUERY EVER.")
EDIT: I got a partial request this morning! Clearly my joy and pride was not misplaced!
3) Oh My God, Chris Hemsworth is HUGE. Thank Goodness, because I wouldn't be able to sit through a movie with a wimpy, twig thing Thor. I think he's given Hugh Jackman a real run for his money in the bulking up department.
Now that those two things are out of the way, I can get to the real matters at hand. Namely, some awesome archaeological and historical finds! For starters, "they" have found the OLDEST LEATHER SHOE EVER in Armenia! (There is a LOT of capslock going on in this post, for which I apologize! It will stop now!)
Apparently the shoe is 5,500 years old, and so remarkably preserved you can see how it was formed to its owners foot. It's the equivalent of a women's size 7, for those of you wondering, but if you haven't clicked the link it is worth it just to see the picture of this shoe and how well it's preserved.
Now, it's not really the shoe itself that compelled me to report on this. I mean, sure it's cool to see how ye olden shoes were constructed. The thing that really gets my goat is the fact that it is 5,500 years old.
Allow me to do the math:
2,010-5,500= -3490
In 3,490 BCE somebody lost their shoe. Or purposely left it behind. Why? And why did they stuff it with straw first? To prevent odors? My friends, this was before Hieroglyphs were even developed in Egypt. JUST about the time when the wheel was invented! The idea of the wheel may not even have had time to MAKE it as far as Armenia! THAT is when this shoe is from. Just think about that for a minute.
Tell me that doesn't blow your mind a little bit.
Happy Friday!
12 comments:
I knew yours would be, Stephanie :) And thanks for the encouragement on the query front!
Thanks, David! I think it's stuffed too full of straw to be sock. I mean, unless they pounded in fresh every day?
J.L.: Thanks! I got a partial request! I was floored!
VR: Ahahaha! Thanks! Straw by Scholls- haha! I wonder if they did use it for cushioning?
L.T.: YES! Exactly! I told one of my friends last night on the phone (non-writer) that I had written the best Query Ever and he said to me "You say that EVERY time!" and I said "BUT THIS TIME IT'S TRUE!"Cool new digs Amalia. I have to agree though, the side bar is a little hard to read. Oh well, its a work in progress, right?
Congratulations on the partial request. Your query must have really been something awesome. Nice to see hard work and creativity pay off.
Why is it people only lose one shoe? One sock? One mitten? Are there really gremlims in the world?
.........dholeThanks Donna!
Yeah-- I need to figure out if I can slip a line of code in or something to fix it, but I'm not fluent in the language myself. In the meantime, all that info is in the About the Writer tab too for redundancy.
I'm not sure about the singular shoe! It seems really odd to me, especially in this instance!
Comments are Love!
(Nota Bene: During #NAMEthatBUTT season, all comments are moderated and your guesses are hidden until after the butt is revealed!)


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"END OF THE RAINBOW" Citrine Geode Cathedral 19.00 High Quality Feng Shui CG-68
This Crystal is featured in the "YOUR DESTINY" Video. Check it Out!
19.00" Citrine Geode Cathedral
Weight of Citrine Geode: 82 lb 1 oz
Size of Citrine Geode: 19.00" x 11.50" x 9.75"
Origin: Brazil
Citrine is the stone to use when you want to improve your motivation and manifest your desires. It brings the energy of the sun into our lives, and promotes vitality, joy, and warmth. Its inspiring energy provides us with fresh beginnings and a love for life itself.
This one-of-a-kind Citrine Geode is 100% natural and originated from Brazil. It is an impressive Citrine Geode Cathedral that can be proudly displayed, felt by your hand, or placed on your solar plexus chakra during meditation.
The image shown is the EXACT Specimen you will receive!
Citrine Stone Properties
Heated citrine stone is heated at a high temperature to bring out a deeper orange color, while natural citrine is clear with hints of light yellow. Its name comes from the French word "citron," which means lemon. In many historic cultures, the citrine crystal was known as the merchant's stone, and it is considered to be a wealth-attracting crystal.Birthstone Month – November
Citrine & The Solar Plexus Chakra
Balancing your chakras can improve consciousness, health, and one's relationship with the world. The heated citrine stone resonates with the energy of the solar plexus chakra. The citrine stone resonates with the energy of the solar plexus because of its solar qualities. As a result, citrine stone boosts self-confidence and personal power, and it strengthens the digestive system.
The Feng Shui of Citrine
Feng Shui is the Chinese system of philosophical laws that govern spatial arrangement and the harmony and flow of energy within a room or building. Crystals work in powerful, yet subtle, ways to attract desired energy and strengthen your personal energy field. Citrine will bring happiness, energy, and vitality to any space.Citrine Stone Benefits
- Transmutes negative energy, thoughts, and feelings into positive
- It is one of two crystals on earth that doesn't need to be cleared, Kyanite being the other one
- Promotes the work of the solar plexus to boost confidence
- Aims to increase physical energy and stamina
- Brings warmth and joy into our lives
- Helps us attract the people and situations we desire
- Helps make our dreams come true
- Brings positive energy into all situations and it helps us see the good in any situation
- Cleanses and rejuvenates the aura and spiritual self
- Promotes feelings of inspiration, motivation, creativity, and high energy
- Carries the power of the sun, bringing us radiance, care-free feelings, and the ability to go with the flow
- Assists us in finding solutions to our problems and acting on them with courage
- Attracts love and happiness into our lives
- Promotes a healthy urinary tract, kidneys, digestive system, thyroid, gall bladder, and endocrine system
Ideas For How To Use Your Citrine Cathedral
- Place your citrine stone on your desk or in your "money area" to promote wealth.
- Meditate with your citrine stone to improve your confidence, cleanse your spiritual experience and bring about feelings of joy and radiance.
- Hold your citrine stone when you feel ill to absorb its cleansing and radiant citrine properties.
- Bring it into your dining area to promote healthy digestion.
- Exercise with your citrine stone in your pocket to enjoy its energizing qualities.
- Keep it with you when you want to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
- Place your citrine stone in your place of work to enhance your feelings of inspiration and motivation.
- Place your citrine stone in pots of marigolds, sunflowers, or daisies. Citrine will promote healthy flowers and the flowers will brighten the citrine crystal.
* Crystals and stones should not be used as a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Please read our full disclosure notice here.
Our Shipping & Return Policy
Everything on our site ships free within the U.S. All items 70 lbs. and under ship within 24 hours. All other items will ship within 3 business days via pallet. We have years of experience with handling these items, and we ensure that your crystal arrives in mint condition. In cases of large items, please include a phone number so the freight company can schedule delivery.
All items are 100% insured and expertly packed in top quality shipping materials. Returns are accepted for practical reasons. Buyers are responsible for filing insurance claims.
International Shipping
Please include a phone number for the duty entry process. All international shipping prices are calculated automatically when you place your order online, but you are welcome to contact us directly for more precise shipping quotes.


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In 1733 the philosopher credited with ushering in the French Enlightenment, François Marie Arouet de Voltaire, published Letters Concerning the English Nation. It was a pivotal work. Although written in French, the 24 letters were first issued from London in an English translation; the material was considered too politically dangerous for the author or any French printer to have the work to appear in France.[1]
Voltaire was no stranger to such controversy. Some years before, after being beaten up by the hirelings of an aristocrat whom he had offended, Voltaire had been thrown into the Bastille (for the second time). He was released after pledging to stay at least 50 leagues away from Paris. Voltaire chose to go as far as England, where he stayed for roughly two-and-a-half years. The result of the sojourn was the Letters on English religion and politics, written as though to explain English society to a friend back in France. They finally appeared in France in 1734 as Lettres philosophiques, or Philosophical Letters.
Letter five, "On the Church of England," began with the observation, "This is the country of sects. An Englishman, as a freeman, goes to Heaven by whatever road he pleases." The statement had profound implications for any citizen of France—a nation that had almost destroyed itself in order to establish Catholicism as the only practiced religion.
In the next paragraph, Voltaire pursued a theme that contributed heavily to the danger of publishing his work in France: he examined the intellectual and institutional foundation of England's religious tolerance. First, he rejected a political explanation. Referring to the established Church of England, he acknowledged that politics strongly favored prejudice rather than tolerance. He wrote, "No one can hold office in England or in Ireland unless he is a faithful Anglican."[2] Such political exclusion hardly promoted religious good will.
Nor did the religious preaching of the dominant church lead the nation toward toleration. According to Voltaire, the Anglican clergy worked "up in their flocks as much holy zeal against nonconformists as possible." Yet in recent decades, the "fury of the sects . . . went no further than sometimes breaking the windows of heretical chapels."
What, then, accounted for the extreme religious toleration in the streets of London as compared to those of Paris?
The Peace of Commerce
In letter six, "On the Presbyterians," Voltaire ascribed the "peace" in which "they [Englishmen] lived happily together" to a mechanism that was a pure expression of the free market—the London Stock Exchange. In the most famous passage from Philosophical Letters, Voltaire observed, "Go into the Exchange in London, that place more venerable than many a court, and you will see representatives of all the nations assembled there for the profit of mankind. There the Jew, the Mahometan, and the Christian deal with one another as if they were of the same religion, and reserve the name of infidel for those who go bankrupt."
Legally and historically, England was no bastion of religious toleration: laws against nonconformists and atheists were still in force. Yet in England, and not in France, there was an air of toleration on the street that existed quite apart from the law. Even though both countries had aristocracies, England was not burdened with the unyielding class structure that crippled social and economic mobility in France. As Voltaire wrote in letter nine, "On the Government": "You hear no talk in this country [England] of high, middle, and low justice, nor of the right of hunting over the property of a citizen who himself has not the liberty of firing a shot in his own field."
A key to the difference between England and France lay in the English system of commerce and in the comparatively high regard in which the English held their merchants. (This is not meant to slight the substantial differences between the English and French governments—especially the constitutional ones—upon which Voltaire dwelled.) In France, aristocrats and the other elites of society regarded those in commerce with unalloyed contempt. In letter 10, "On Commerce," Voltaire pointedly commented on the French attitude: "The merchant himself so often hears his profession spoken of disdainfully that he is fool enough to blush." Yet in England, the "merchant justly proud" compares himself "not without some reason, to a Roman citizen." Indeed, the younger sons of nobility often entered commerce or took up a profession. This difference in attitude was a large factor in explaining the extraordinary rise of the English middle class, their wealth deriving from trade. Indeed, the French often derided England as a nation of shopkeepers. Voltaire thought this was a compliment, observing that if the English were able to sell themselves, it proved that they were worth something.
Commerce, or shopkeeping, established an arena within which people dealt with each other solely for economic benefit and, so, ignored extraneous factors such as the other party's religious practices. On the floor of the London Stock Exchange, religious differences disappeared into background noise as people scrambled to make a profit from one another. The economic self-interest of the Christian and the Jew outweighed the prejudice that might otherwise sour personal relations between them. They intersected and cooperated on a point of common interest: "the Presbyterian trusts the Anabaptist, and the Church of England man accepts the promise of the Quaker," Voltaire wrote in "On the Presbyterians."
Voltaire Versus Marx
Ironically, Voltaire singled out for praise precisely the same aspect of commerce—the London Stock Exchange—that Karl Marx later condemned. Both viewed the marketplace as impersonal or, in more negative Marxist terms, dehumanizing. For Marx, people in the marketplace ceased to be individuals expressing their humanity and became interchangeable units who bought and sold. To Voltaire, the impersonal nature of trade was a good thing. It allowed people to disregard the divisive human factors that had historically disrupted society, such as differences of religion and class. The very fact that a Christian who wished to profit from a Jew, and vice versa, had to disregard the personal characteristics of the other party and deal with him civilly was what recommended the London Stock Exchange to Voltaire.
In this, Voltaire's voice is reminiscent of Adam Smith in his most popular work, The Wealth of Nations. Smith outlined how everyone in a civilized market society is dependent on the cooperation of multitudes even though his friends may number no more than a dozen or so. A marketplace requires the participation of throngs of people, most of whom one never directly encounters. It would be folly for any man to expect multitudes of strangers to benefit him out of sheer benevolence or because they like him. The cooperation of the butcher or the brewer, said Smith, was ensured by their simple self-interest. Thus, those who entered the marketplace did not need the approval or favor of those with whom they dealt. They needed only to pay their bills.
The toleration created by the London Stock Exchange extended far beyond its doors. After conducting business with each other, the Christian and the Jew went their separate ways. As Voltaire phrased it, "On leaving these peaceable and free assemblies, some go to the synagogue, others in search of a drink. . . ." In the end, "all are satisfied."
The Philosophical Letters—Voltaire's tribute to the English middle class, their commerce, and their society—created an enormous impact on the European intellectual scene. Calling the work "a declaration of war and a map of campaign," Will and Ariel Durant commented: "Rousseau said of these letters that they played a large part in the awakening of his mind; there must have been thousands of young Frenchmen who owed the book a similar debt. Lafayette said it made him a republican at the age of nine. [Heinrich] Heine thought 'it was not necessary for the censor to condemn this book; it would have been read without that.'"[3]
The French Reaction
Nevertheless, French censors seemed eager to condemn it. The printer was imprisoned in the Bastille. A lettre de cachet for the elusive Voltaire's immediate arrest was issued. By a legislative order, all known copies of the work were confiscated and burned in front of the Palais de Justice. Through the intercession of powerful friends, the lettre de cachet was withdrawn, again on the promise that he remain safely outside the limits of Paris. In this manner did the French church and state respond to Voltaire's salute to toleration.
But the themes of the Philosophical Letters resounded deeply within the consciousness of Europe for many decades to come. One of its themes was that freedom—especially freedom of commerce—was the true wellspring of religious toleration and of a peaceful civil society. The insight was nothing short of revolutionary because it reversed the accepted argument and policies on how to create a harmonious society. Traditionally, France (along with most other European nations) attempted to enforce a homogeneous system of values on its people in the belief that common values were necessary to ensure peace and harmony, the social glue that held together the social fabric. This was thought to be particularly true of religious values.
This was not a moral argument, but a practical one: society would collapse into open violence without the cohesion provided by common values. Thus, those in authority needed to centrally plan and rigorously enforce the values that should be taught to and should be practiced by the masses. After all, if people were allowed to choose their own religious values, if values became a commodity open to competition, then civil chaos and conflict would inevitably ensue.
Voltaire argued that precisely the opposite was true. The process of imposing homogeneous values led only to conflict and religious wars. The result was a society intellectually stagnant and morally corrupt, because doubt or dissent was suppressed. It was diversity and freedom that created a thriving and peaceful society. Voltaire ended his most-quoted letter, "On the Presbyterians," by observing: "If there were only one religion in England, there would be danger of tyranny; if there were two, they would cut each other's throats; but there are thirty, and they live happily together in peace."
Perhaps one reason that Voltaire's Philosophical Letters created such a backlash from the French leviathan was that the book's logic, if carried beyond religion, would strike at any government attempt to impose common values or practices on the people. Indeed, Voltaire's argument against homogeneity continues to have deep implications for the centralized policies of all governments. Those citizens who reject imposed homogeneity in religion might well be prompted to question the wisdom of many other government institutions, including public schools, which are often justified by the declared need for common values. The freedom of individuals to decide matters of value for themselves could easily prompt them to demand the right to live according to those values and to teach them to their children. Thus could the system of centralized control unravel.
- The number of letters included varies slightly from edition to edition. The one used as a source for this article, Philosophical Letters, trans. Ernest Dilworth (New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1961), contains 25.
- Among the political barriers for non-Anglicans was the Test Act of 1673, which required the holders of public office to receive the sacrament in the Church of England.
- Will and Ariel Durant in The Story of Civilization: Part IX, The Age of Voltaire (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1965), p. 370.


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Miana Eau de Parfum
Sandalia is a unique fragrance collection inspired by the island of Sardinia, rich in legends that have been passed down through the mists of time, and still today retain their fascination.
An intrigue is aroused by the elegant silk-covered casket containing a dramatic, sensual bottle in shiny black glass reminiscent of obsidian, the volcanic rock found abundantly in Sardinia. The cap, inspired by a pebble rounded smooth by the undertow, adds an organic element to this sculptural vessel.
The mystical folktales portray Sardinia's formation, explaining that God, after creating the world and having some rocks and a little clay left over, threw everything into the sea and trampled it with his foot. The land took on a resemblance to the sole of his shoe, a sandal, and the name Sandalia, from the Latin Sandaliotis – meaning sandal-shaped – became the ancient name of Sardinia.


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"Passion" and Prayer
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
In Eastertide, the liturgy offers us many stimuli to resolidify our faith in the risen Christ. On this Third Sunday of Easter, as an example, St Luke tells of how the two disciples of Emmaus, after having met him "in the breaking of the bread," went on full of joy to Jerusalem to inform the others of that which they had experienced. And exactly while they were speaking, the same Lord made himself present, showing his hands and feet with the signs of his passion. Standing before the incredulous stupor of the Apostles, Jesus was given some baked fish and ate it before their eyes (Lk 24:35-43). In this and other selected recountings there's a repeated invitation to conquer the disbelief and to believe in the resurrection of Christ, as his disciples were called to be witnesses of this extraordinary event. The resurrection of Christ is the central date of Christianity, the fundamental truth to reaffirm with vigor in each age, since to deny it in some way, to be tempted to continue to make or transform it into a purely spiritual event, is to nullify this, our faith. "If Christ is not risen," St Paul affirms, "then our preaching is in vain, and so, too, is our faith" (1 Cor 15:14).
In the days which followed the Lord's resurrection, the Apostles remained amongst themselves, comforted by the presence of Mary, and after the Ascension they persevered together with her in prayer awaiting Pentecost. The Madonna was for them mother and teacher, a role she continues to develop for the Christians of every age. Each year in Eastertide, we relive most intensely this experience and maybe for this reason the popular tradition has consecrated to Mary the month of May, which normally falls between Easter and Pentecost. This month, which we begin tomorrow, is useful for us to rediscover the maternal function which she develops in our lives, that we may always be docile disciples and courageous witnesses of the risen Lord.
To Mary we entrust the necessities of the Church and of the whole world, especially in this moment marked by not a few shadows. Calling also upon the intercession of St Joseph, who we recall in a special way tomorrow, thinking of the working world, to her we send the prayer of the Regina Caeli, the prayer of she who relished in the comforting joy of the presence of Christ risen.
As a side note: no, the SCV hasn't traded in its fleet.... Today was a continuation of one of those quaint Vatican traditions as Rome's "Red Passion" club of Ferrari enthusiasts gathered in the Square for their annual greeting from the Pope.
As you can see, they get the rare privilege of the drive-through Papal Blessing.
PHOTO 1: AP/Pier Paolo Cito
PHOTO 2: Reuters/Chris Helgren


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If you ask anyone who works in the SEO industry what optimisation means and what its purpose is, they'll probably be able to give you a quick, if not necessarily straightforward answer. The aim is clearly to improve the status of your business website /brand on the results pages of search engines: the higher the ranking, the more likely users will be attracted to your services. Now ask those very same people how to best achieve this and the waters start to get a little muddier.
Some SEO experts favour on-page, or on-line optimisation techniques, others prefer off-page. The majority, you would hope, would recommend a combination of the two strategies. If it could just be left at that, the world would be a simpler place. However, SEO professionals don't seem to do 'simple'. They'll start telling you about the importance of 'organic' marketing, 'Meta tag' settings and other weird and wonderful sounding concepts that you really 'must' use. Is it any wonder we mere mortals get confused? What do any of these terms actually mean? Well, hopefully after you've read this article the waters may become a little clearer.
On-page SEO refers to the optimisation of the pages that make up your actual business website. This is the more technical aspect of the optimisation process and refers to those factors that have an effect on website or webpage listings in natural search results: these factors are controlled by you or by the coding on your web pages. Any optimisation will focus on the keywords that make up the content or the copy on your web site. It will also look at areas like HTML coding, Meta tags, unique content, website design and layout. Essentially on-page optimisation is all about tweaking all the technical bits and bobs that lurk beneath the surface, so that both search engines and ordinary users are given the precise information they're looking for: the better and more accurate the results, then the greater the traffic.
Offline SEO refers to the optimisation of the pages away from your website. They are referred to as 'off-page' because they are not controlled by you or by the coding on your website. Off-page optimisation techniques focus predominantly on areas like link building, directory and article submission, blog posting and forum posting. The purpose of offline optimisation is to maximise all the links that come off your website pages to encourage a higher placing in the search engine results.
So which is best?
It won't surprise you to learn that there isn't a simple answer to this. Well, there wouldn't be, would there? Each has its own merits and limitations. It's all a matter of horses for courses: it depends on what your ultimate goal is and how quickly you expect to see the results.
Traditionally on-page optimisation will produce better long-term results, but these can take time. If your business aim is to get yourself established on the likes of Google and Bing or other high-ranking search engines, then you'll have to be prepared to be patient. Building a reputation and creating top-notch, relevant content takes time and effort. Those SEO companies and business who aren't prepared to bide their time will have to explore other avenues to get the quick fixes they desire.
Off-page optimisation can and often does produce quicker and more-measurable results, but that can come at a price. It's all predominantly about link building. If your website is able to link to high-profile, respected websites, then your ranking can receive an immediate boost just through the power of positive association. Off-page SEO can give your business website this boost, a sort of kick start if you'd prefer, but it can't necessarily sustain it for the longer term. If your aim is sustainability, then it's probably much wiser to use a combination of both optimisation strategies.
Everybody seems to want the quick fix nowadays: I suppose it's a direct consequence of living in a world where we all appear to demand instant gratification. However, some things are still worth waiting for: when they eventually come, you appreciate them all the more. Internet marketing strategists will tell you that the only way for a website to achieve sustainable organic growth is by adopting a holistic marketing strategy, and do you know what? I think they're probably right.


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حول MathWallet
MathWallet is the Multichain Wallet for Web3 that enables token storage of 100+ chains including BTC, ETH, Polkadot, Filecoin, Solana, BSC, Cosmos etc, supports cross-chain token bridges and multi-chain dApp store. Our investors includes Fenbushi Capital, Alameda Research, Binance Labs, FundamentalLabs, Multicoin Capital, NGC Ventures, Amber Group, 6Eagle Capital.
What is Ethereum Classic?How can i get an ETC Wallet?
Ethereum Classic is an open-source, public, blockchain-based distributed computing platform featuring smart contract functionality. It provides a decentralized Turing-complete virtual machine, the Ethereum Virtual Machine, which can execute scripts using an international network of public nodes. After the DAO hack a majority of the Ethereum community decided that they would "hard fork" Ethereum to restore the investor's financial loss and reputation. A hard fork is a kind of split or divergence where the community decides they will no longer follow the same protocols on the same blockchain. So a hard fork was implemented on the Ethereum blockchain at Block 192000 to refund the loss of the DAO investors. The hard fork made the hacked transaction invalid, and a new version of the blockchain was formed. A minority of users were against the hard fork, so they continued on the old blockchain and called themselves "Ethereum Classic".
ETC wallets are available online but you can use Math Wallet to store your ETC coins and many other cryptocurrencies with our multi coin crypto wallet!
How does it work?
Ethereum Classic is also a decentralized programmable blockchain like Ethereum. And like ETH, ETC is traded on exchanges and offers the same functionality of decentralized apps and smart contracts as Ethereum (ETH). It also has the same smart contracts language called Solidity.
What Ethereum Classic aims to solve?
Ethereum Classic aims to solve the same issues as Ethereum, which are Transaction Finality, Decentralized Governance and applications that run Applications exactly as programmed without any possibility of downtime, censorship, fraud or third party interference.


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Job Information
ATI Physical Therapy Physical Therapist in Normal, Illinois
New Graduates and Experienced Clinicians are welcome to apply!
Stronger Together:
ATI is the largest outpatient orthopedic physical therapy company under one brand, growing to over 900 locations in 24 states. We strive to preserve our friendly atmosphere with our innovative, vibrant, and team-based culture. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and it's guided byour National Outcomes Registry which has over 3 millionpatient cases to support our best practices for excellence in treatment as well as continually contributing to the body of research that supports the value of physical therapy in musculoskeletal healthcare. Whether you are new or returning or just familiar with our brand, we are excited to share the resources that support your personal and professional growth.
Clinician Support:
90% of our therapists average less than 12 patients per day
Clinical structure allows professionals to operate at the top of their license
Proprietary EMR and Patient Management Tool - built by therapists for therapists
Become a part of the next generation of PT leaders through clinical training, CEUs, professional development, and leadership training
In addition to a competitive compensation package with an incentive plan and all the benefits you'd expect from an industry leader (401K matching program, insurance, paid time off, be-well days, employee assistance, and sign-on bonuses available for full-time roles, etc.) you will also enjoy:
Structured mentorship
No cost live and online CEUs
ATI Academy- access to learning and leadership training programs
Residencies in Sports Medicine and Orthopedic
Upper Extremities Fellowships
Musculoskeletal Certificate (MSK)
Top-of-the-line equipment, research, & technology
This position is responsible for the evaluation and treatment of patients, establishing outcomes-centered plans, and delivering effective care management across a patient's episode to ensure timely, progressive, and high-valued care for those we serve. Successful physical therapist operates at the top of their license, appropriately leveraging and delegating care amongst the clinic care team, driving toward consistent and predictably positive outcomes for our patients.
Applicants must be licensed or license eligible in the state to which they are applying.
ATI provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Virtual Employee?
ReqID 2024-20761
Job Locations US-IL-Peoria | US-IL-Morton | US-IL-Normal
Job Category Outpatient Rehab - Clinical Licensed Staff
Pay Class Full Time
ATI Physical Therapy
- ATI Physical Therapy Jobs


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Website Contractor to Lead HealthCare.gov Repair
Quality Software Services Inc. (QSSI), a Columbia, Md.-based unit of UnitedHealth Group, will work through a "punch list" of problems identified in an assessment led by President Barack Obama's soon-to-be economic adviser Jeffrey Zients, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Zients, who is assisting in the effort to fix the troubled marketplace, said his team of private sector and government experts has identified a range of "performance problems" affecting the speed, response and reliability of HealthCare.gov, as well as "functional problems" resulting from bugs in the software.
Despite its troubled track record, "HealthCare.gov is fixable," Zients insisted during a Friday afternoon news conference.
The marketplaces -- or "exchanges" -- are the centerpiece of the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration's controversial health care-reform package. The federal exchange is where uninsured Americans in 36 states may sign up for coverage.
In its new oversight role, QSSI will "prioritize the needed fixes and make sure they get done," Zients said.
"There will be a relentless focus on speed and execution to work through the punch list," he said. "Each week, the site will get better as we make the necessary fixes, and by the end of November HealthCare.gov will work smoothly for the vast majority of users."
QSSI is one of a number of vendors hired by the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicaid Services to work on HealthCare.gov. Much of its work involved developing the so-called pipeline that transfers data between the marketplace and various data sources. The company also played a role in testing HealthCare.gov.
Terms of QSSI's new contract were not disclosed. Julie Bataille, director of the office of communications at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said an existing contract with the company is currently being modified.
Nearly half of the 700,000 applications to state and federal marketplaces that have been filed to date have come through the federal marketplace, she said.
Separately, online data tracking service comScore reported on Thursday that traffic to HealthCare.gov "has steadily and dramatically declined" since a spike of 2.5 million unique visitors on Oct. 1.
Since Oct. 10, there have been no more than 500,000 unique visitors to the site each day, and the numbers continue to trend downward. However, the percentage of visitors to the site who successfully logged in jumped from 2 percent in the first week of open enrollment to 22 percent in the third week.
The company also noted an increase in the number of visitors successfully creating accounts and initiating applications.
"HealthCare.gov is allowing people now to complete the application and enrollment process," Bataille said. And as improvements are made each week, "People will be able to apply by December 15th in order to get coverage by January 1st."
More information
To learn how to apply for health-plan coverage, visit HealthCare.gov.
Trump picks his VP . . . Documents case tossed . . . Play places for kids . . . Prime Day is coming
Trump picks his VP . . . Documents case tossed . . . Play places for kids . . . Prime Day is coming


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10. Module: Online Resources
When considering data sources for a map, there is no need to be restricted to data which you have saved on the computer you're working on. There are online data sources which you can load data from as long as you are connected to the Internet.
In this module, we'll cover two kinds of web-based GIS services: Web Mapping Services (WMS) and Web Feature Services (WFS).