text:
- Rachel Armstrong
- London
- United Kingdom
The University of Greenwich
This conversation is closed.
This Live Conversation with TED Fellow Rachel Armstrong will open on February 8th, 2012 at 1pm EST, 6pm UK time.
Join the conversation as Rachel discusses her view on ecological humans and city 2.0.
We are not machines but Ecological Humans. We depend on our networks for survival, like an oak tree in the forest, being made up of highly interacting and interdependent systems. For example, eating is not simply consuming 'fuel' to feed our body-machine but is a mutual relationship shared between our gut bacteria, our food and our bodies (which, in turn, are highly interconnected assemblages of specialised tissues). The way that we see ourselves influences the way that we operate through the world in all aspects of our lives - from health, to business and even space exploration!
Ecological Humans, imagine the City 2.0 as being grown from the bottom-up by its communities. It is underpinned by highly interacting and interdependent networks, which use dynamic fabrics that behave in life-like ways. These buildings can be described as Living Architecture that are capable of responding to the changes in our dynamic cities as only real ecologies can.
Will The City 2.0 be qualitatively different to modern cities? Or pragmatically, can the transition only be made as a series of incremental changes? What can we do to facilitate this transition?
What does being an Ecological Human mean to me? Can it help me find new or more effective ways of working?
Can we rely on biology to provide all the answers when it comes to sustainable building solutions? Is life a technology - and should we exploit it in the pursuit of more sustainable ways of building?
Closing Statement from Rachel Armstrong
Thank you so much everyone for joining me today and taking time to comment and share your thoughts. What an amazing set of discussion threads have begun! I am excited about how the TED Prize winner City 2.0, will turn out - which is the event that inspired the context for this discussion. Perhaps, beyond the immediate context of near-future cities - the idea of being an Ecological Human may help us imagine ourselves and the world around us differently. Maybe we can use this way of imagining the world so that we can find truly sustainable solutions for the places we live in. We could possibly also use this approach to help others understand what being 'ecological' might mean. Perhaps this way of looking at the world may have applications in other areas of our lives such as, in the workplace. So, again - a really warm 'thank you' everyone for taking time out to share your thoughts with me and offer your perspectives. If you would like to find out more about Living Architecture you may like to buy my TED Book http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks, which is available from Amazon.com, Apple's iBookstore, and is also on the Nook platform.
Feb 8 2012: What is the role of biology in our twenty first century cities? Will we have space for native biology if we're not only going to see one third again more people in urban environments, living more densely and with more people moving from rural to city lifestyles. Can biology be viewed as a technology that can help us generate more sustainable solutions for city living spaces? These kind of questions may be addressed best by the practice of a new kind of science called synthetic biology. Most of us will equate synthetic biology with genetic modification - which is something that I do not do myself. But is it more broad than this - certainly the way that I personally view synthetic biology. I consider this science as being the way that we design and engineer with nature and living systems. In other words using a set of tools and materials that are Ecological in their very nature. Machine based tools need to be checked and adapted for their ecological compatibility because they constitute a barrier between human design and the natural world - but biological systems share a common language with nature through the laws of physics and chemistry. In my TED Book Living Architecture http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks I describe the range of these kinds of interventions that range from agrarian techniques to biotechnology. They constitute a powerful portfolio of possible ways of shaping our living quarters. Because they are powerful they need to be considered carefully but they do offer us something new and different to machines. Modern architecture finds the biological system too slow for its liking. But if we really do find some of the properties such as, robustness flexibility, the ability to deal with the unexpected and the capacity for surprise valuable then there are a new range of opportunities (and challenges - which include ethical ones) available to us.
Feb 8 2012: Let's be sure to incorporate Algae technologies for Carbon Capture and Wastewater treatment into our cities to make them truly sustainable.Feb 8 2012: Hi Rachel,
Here's a thought - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fractal-Planning-Solutions-Ltd/109017094107?ref=share
It's basically a fractal spatial framework for urban development which is generated through principles of cellular growth... it's also capable of synthesising a "web" of natural habitat into the fabric of any proposed settlement.
Also, just worth noting that it can be adapted to site specific configurations (as illustrated in presentation doc's available at the link above), and is intended to provide a background "matrix" for urban design rather than a prescriptive development plan.
PadhraicFeb 8 2012: Future cities will need to have some qualitatively differences to modern cities but change does not mean tearing down what already exists. This is simply silly. In my book I refer to 'extreme recycling' of cities where structural elements such as concrete and steel that mature with age are kept in situ and new kinds of 'skins' that have more biological-like and dynamic materials in them can start to perform some of the kinds of functions that we'd normally attribute to plants. Most of us will not be able to live in Masdar and sustainable enclaves so one of the biggest challenges that I hope that living technologies can address is in our existing building stock. I think that we will firstly experience a series of incremental changes as some of these new technologies can increase the quality of the local environment in physical but also in terms of its psychological impact. We need to make room for nature in our cities. We can be inventive about what this actually means now that we are able to design and engineer with biological systems to the degree that we are currently able. But we also need to respect our environment and also the wishes of communities. Facilitating a transition towards a City 2.0 (as the TED Prize states) has really got to start with a change in mindset as to what is possible, education, addressing infrastructures, meeting the needs of populations and lastly changing the way that our architectures are made. In that order. Also this is just my opinion and I am very keen to hear your views as to how change may be possible - it is so vital for a humane future in cities - and so pressing upon us!
Ivan Aguirre
Feb 8 2012: "Future by Design" - check it out on Netflix, a great doc about Jacque Fresco and his take on this!
- +2
Feb 8 2012: Saw that, that's a good counterpoint to Open Ecology. Centralized vs. De-Centralized.Feb 8 2012: I have trouble differentiating between the Natural world and the Artificial one. Where do we draw the line between organic and synthetic? Is there a line at all?
I think that projects like Open Source Ecology Project (http://opensourceecology.org/) will end up providing the blueprint for "ground up" sustainable living. That is, unless legislation make these sorts of things impossible.
Feb 8 2012: DeCentralized vs. Centralized is perhaps a more important difference in building the future.
Feb 8 2012: Great observation! I agree that the top down form of order is the one that we have become accustomed to when thinking about dealing with our cities - and we have yet to articulate exactly what we mean by or how we deal with ideas of 'bottom up' forms of order in cities - or anywhere else for that matter. One of the biggest challenges this century will be finding the principles through which we 'design with emergence'
Josh Stack
Feb 8 2012: I'd suggest that we could easily "design with emergence" by mimicking key structural functions over different scales of time, place and pace (i.e., ecosystem/ecotope/planetary). Many ancient cultures did (and still do) exactly that.
- +1
Feb 8 2012: But, who is the "WE" who designs with emergence???
- +2
I mean, isn't it true that many of those in the know buy land dirt cheap when they have inside information on city development....and then sell the land to the city. In turn the city to developers.....and these want to make the most profit possible.
Isn't profit the most important for them? How do we get these folks to grow a conscience?
I'm I missing something?Feb 8 2012: And how do we ensure that the systems of coordination, communication and feedback are sufficient and strong?
Feb 8 2012: That would seem to depend on who "we" is. The De-Centralized Model relies on local control so the "we" would be fewer people.
The "we" in a larger or global sense would require extensive and robust coordination, communication and feedback systems.Feb 8 2012: Can a city be solved? A distinguishing feature of the life of a city is that it is not made but evolved in collaboration with its inhabitants. In other words – cities are long-term projects that engage with both top down and bottom up ideas and processes.
Feb 8 2012: Hi Rachel,
I am by no means an expert in anyway-shape-or-form, but from an initial perspective yes, a city can be solved - although I might imagine it a little easier to start from scratch. Trying to apply organic ideas to a machine like system could be frictional - if I fertilise my laptop, I should not expect many improvements. Not that you want to hear that. But I would imagine an intermediate stage - or transition period - possible for existing cities, whereby you get cyborg cities (I use the term loosely)
Something that seems sensible to me would be to define some fundamentals. I think a city should be adaptable and flexible like an organic species rather than a machine designed for a specific purpose. Changing to it's own environment for survival.
This is vage I know, but it might spark some ideas...
Feb 8 2012: Jonnie you might like to look at a lovely article I came across today on the Metabolic Cities of Venice & Japan :) Metabolic Venice blog: http://dprbcn.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/metabolic-venice/ and http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/03/out-there-metabolic-pathways/?scp=4&sq=urban%20planning&st=cseFeb 8 2012: We need more imagination & ecological responsibility from our engineers, but we'll only get that through more involvement and oversight from the public. We have relied on engineers to "fix" the problems with straight-line solutions, many of which created new ecological & social problems, which we tried to engineer solutions for, again, with similar results. Tools can help us or harm us, it depends who is using them and how much thought is given to the outcome. How do we encourage people to be more thoughtful about the world increasingly pressuring us toward being insular in life, but global in our private digital realms?
Feb 8 2012: i agree. I think this only comes about through holisitc education and better interconnected working across environment disciplines.Feb 8 2012: When I was writing my TED book on Living Architecture http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks - which I am eternally grateful to Tom Reilly for suggesting and Jim Daly for seeing the idea through to fruition – I began to realise that 'living architecture' was not a product but a process that could be used for problem solving.
As the implications for ecological thinking became apparent, I was keen to find a context in which it might be possible to test how ecological principles could be applied to a variety of different challenges.
The TED Prize City 2.0 challenge [http://blog.ted.com/2011/12/06/ted-prize-2012-goes-to-the-city-2-0/ ] started me thinking about the seemingly insurmountable issues that our cities will pose over the coming decades. It invites us to collectively craft 'one wish', which will collectively ignite the actions of the TED community and set them on the path towards sustainable change in our cities worldwide.
This conversation is entirely separate to the TED Prize but has been inspired by it. The idea of a future city offers a framework in which I'd like to start to explore the possibilities that a new kind of thinking. I'd like to explore what this approach may have to offer us in dealing with the unknown and also with the more mundane aspects of our daily lives.
Feb 8 2012: One wish? More accessibility and less mobility (or as the EU put it, decouple economic growth from transportation)Feb 8 2012: The definition of a living technology is one that possess some but not all of the properties of living systems - in other words, it appears life-like but is not truly alive. These qualities can be found in living things like bacteria and algae which you've probably heard a lot about in sustainability forums but you may be less aware of the kinds of materials and chemistries that can be programmed to perform life-like jobs - like harvest sunlight and turn it into a biofuel, or paints that can 'eat' pollution, or artificial reefs that could be grown by cities on the inter coastal zone as a way of sustainably reclaiming them. Again, I go into more detail about some of these technologies and possible uses in my book http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks but I think it would be remiss not to raise the question of the ethics of designing with life-like systems. We are used to gardening and animal husbandry which we have found ways of dealing with culturally and I think that living technology provides an opportunity to think of ourselves as Ecological Humans and ask further questions about what this means for us and our role within our society and newfound partnership with nature and its systems - that is, of course, if you'd like to explore what this idea of being an Ecological Human might mean. I'd really recommend Jane Bennett's book on 'Vibrant Matter: A Political Ecology of Things' and Steve Fuller's provocative 'Humanity 2.0" - I've found these texts useful and stimulating.
Apple Lynch
Feb 8 2012: Ecosystem existed long before human. Dinosaur interacted and gone, human did/still do, someday they will be gone as well or not? So 2.0 is possible under what conditions? Population is the key for a city. Go back to Eden - almost zero population? Unlikely, but what then? "Good" people interact with ecosystem without "bad" people interference is another choice. :) Go explore the Mars or Moon and start the 2.0 over there, perhaps. :)
- +1
Feb 8 2012: The 2.0 could be started in areas ravaged by disasters and wars. Why not put all the international aid, support, and effort into developing model cities? Help Haiti finally reach self-sufficiency, move people back from eroding coastlines, build sustainable communities near seasonal floodplains -- let's move toward a society that works in concert with nature, instead of constantly fighting it. ESPECIALLY when the world community is footing the bill.Feb 8 2012: I'm always fascinated by the progression of cities from the dark, sooty realms that arose during the Industrial Revolution, the more recent movement toward "livable cities", and sci-fi's take on population hubs as the natural world reclaims the cities lost to urban decay (even Talking Heads' "Nothing But Flowers"). However, I'm troubled by the lack of discussion of sustainable development in disaster zones. The Indonesian tsunami is a perfect example where the public isn't involved in the discussion of how to rebuild an area likely to suffer repeated destruction from sea level rise. If mother nature so violently uproots these people (in a way no government could), why isn't the global outcry to rebuild for the future?
Nitin Pandit
Feb 8 2012: While cities increase population density and lead to centralization. Then there is the move toward a more decentralized society. Both have pros and cons. How does ecological design of cities find balance?Feb 8 2012: I'm thinking of the issues migration and pollution interplay. What role would migration play in the context of a ecological humans made city?Feb 8 2012: It occurred to me when I was writing of my TED Book [http://www.ted.com/pages/567] that all the Grand Challenges that we currently face are not ones control and command issues related to simple situations but complex ones - that require participation, engagement, collaboration and interdependency.
- +1
Two decades after the internet breached the domestic and commercial realms we have become familiar with the idea of complexity - on a daily basis. Whereas once the world may have appeared to be ordered in a hierarchical manner – now it appears to be impossibly entwined and forged from networks and interactions that are ephemeral, transient and fundamentally uncontrollable.
Is it possible to reconcile this subversive view of existence with a working view of our presumed cosmic order?
We might imagine this new complex framework in which we are inextricably immersed as being an 'ecological' one.
We are Ecological Humans.
Feb 8 2012: Rachel, how do we transform that command and control model to more open, self-organizing and organic ways of doing things? What strategies exist to work with on the ground city officials and administrators who may resist such openness, engagement, and participation?Feb 8 2012: Interesting idea. Cities are controversial, some say all problems come from them, some say they are the basis of civilization - according to wiki "The word civilization comes from the Latin civilis, meaning civil, related to the Latin civis, meaning citizen, and civitas, meaning city or city-state"
Not sure why our current cities aren't "ecological" given humans are part of nature and made these decisions.
Josh Stack
Feb 8 2012: Daniel, I completely agree. We are part of Nature, irrevocably immersed in living systems (until death anyway). All we build or create are artifacts of Life.
- +2
Civilization existed before cities.Feb 8 2012: The first part of your talk is based on the assumption that civilisation is something good! but why do we think so?
A lot of changes has happened from the time we (human species) went to cities about 8thousand years ago. We can not easily judge and say that was a good change or bad change. but we have a tendency to think that civilised life is better than tribe life. Which reminds me of missioners.
I think our cities are not ecological because they are not in harmony with nature and our environment and they are not sustainable. For example our garbage is not recycled our ecosystem is not connected in all parts which for a forest is different.
Feb 8 2012: One of the hurdles in getting people to engage within cities is that most problems are solved by removing them from the city -- trash is collected & taken away, electricity is produced elsewhere & imported in (also applies to water, fuel, etc). If people don't understand what happens when they flip on a light switch or turn on a faucet, or, alternatively, what goes down the drain, or who deals with their trash, they are unlikely to make sustainable changes. How do we make this understanding part of the collective knowledge again? Traveling to a 3rd world country, many people have a more basic understanding of cars and urban agriculture than we do here in the US
Feb 8 2012: Agree - it's not unlike our food supply, and the difference between buying packaged chicken from a grocery store and experiencing the process of raising, slaughtering and eating a chicken. We're often disconnected from these realites in the first world. How do we reconnect and make a compelling case - a "need" - to think differently?Feb 8 2012: Daniel, whether humans are 'ecological' in their nature or not is again a matter of whose perspective you are viewing the world through. This is a very personal set of decisions and there certainly is no right or wrong. But let me attempt to address something of your insight as to the 'ecological' nature of humans. When we think of ourselves in mechanical terms - we are separate.The issue is a complex one with theological roots and also scientific ones. Theologically speaking if humans have a 'special' role in the world they are apart from 'nature', especially animals because they are favoured by God. That is a gross oversimplification but Steve Fuller covers the complex origins of Christian thought and its impact on modern culture in his book Humanity 2.0 http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2011/sep/25/steve-fuller-time-for-humanity . The other aspect is that science requires humans to be distinct from nature to create technology and make interventions otherwise the investment in technology, is meaningless ... here is a an article in Nature that starts to look at this issue. 1. Fern Wickson, "What is nature, if it's more than just a place without people?", Nature 456, 29 ... Ultimately, this is a form of belief and way of looking at the world. We choose to think of ourselves as being separate or connected - and connected by degrees.
Feb 8 2012: i think a significant issue is that urban culture can be detached from nature by design. We are meant to relentlessly defy the effects of ageing on our bodies and faces, extend our lives to beyond the point of meaning and put off reproduction for careers (relying on technology to extend reproductive years). Fashion is a crazed market driven culture that eats up the world resources, requiring 4 seasons of new clothing every year - if the system is to be obeyed. Cultural systems are out of synch with natural systems.
Similarly we are detached from industrial processes of food production and desensitized from the ecosystems that support our lives. Cities are designed as distinct from nature and are often oblivious to the waste that they produce, which is out of sight out of mind.
Cities are still designed by market forces, which ignore the natural and cultural landscape that is so important for organic communities and meaningful urban places. Cities need to be resensitized to nature.Feb 8 2012: I'm going to try to quickly cover the couple of outstanding questions that I promised to address as I am running out of time! I have been reading all the comments and totally welcome them all. I think that the TED Prize City 2.0 is really raising an important question about a 'wish' - in other words trying to locate the point of action, the kind of organisation that we're lacking that may help us address some of these essential yet complex issues in addressing the future for our cities. There is a lot at stake ... I'd call it our humanity ... if we don't change where we're heading - we'll end up where we deserve.Feb 8 2012: Those contexts are just some very simple rules that it was possible to examine using the living technology that I have been working with since 2009. It has been an amazing experience being able to work with a technology that really does look as if it is alive but since it has no DNA, it is not called 'alive'. However, that this technology breaks a lot of rules that machines obey helped me look again afresh at the way that world appeared to be organised around me and how it might be possible to use the powerful visualisation that the technology offered as a way of re-imagining what may be possible. Take a look for yourself - this is a series of films that were taken of the technology - they are not animation but real footage of simple droplets behaving in a remarkably lifelike way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFagK5Lshlg [credit Michael Simon Toon]Feb 8 2012: 3) A system (or group of people) that work according to ecological and emergent principles also need an 'architecture' - in other words a strategy through which the participants can use to connect with and interact with each other. Without social codes, ethics and etiquette then the bonding or 'architecture' of the system breaks down. These forms of architecture do not have to be permanently fixed but they need to be present as they are vital for the participants to help them understand their role and limits within a group.Feb 8 2012: 2) A system that is ecological and emergent is dependent on its 'metabolism' - the energy that it possess to keep it away 'from equilibrium' - that's a term used by Shroedinger 1944 to describe a signature of life. In an everyday setting we can think of the 'metabolism' as motivation, stimulation, cultural motivation and belief systems (I am sure that you'll be able to think of many more ways of keeping energy flowing in a community or a workplace). Without an internal energy to stop everyone reaching a point of inertia - or unproductively - spontaneity and emergent behaviour will not occur.Feb 8 2012: 1) A system that is ecological and emergent is dependent firstly on its context - or its environment. This establishes just how much growth and self-organization any particular generative system can achieve. Think of a small office making great business, enough to take on new staff - the size of the office space will limit the emergent interactions in that group of people.Feb 8 2012: This raises a very important challenge when dealing with ecological ways of working - that is the need for both top down and bottom up forms of coordination. The whole issue of emergence is one that is inherent to systems thinking and ecological thinking yet it provides a design and engineering challenge that has not been 'formalised'. How do we design with emergent systems? The short answer is that emergence alone is not enough to generate sustainable change other factors are extremely important.Feb 8 2012: Let's think about what this might mean in the work place. If we think of ourselves as machines, we have a single job to do, wall ourselves away and invest all our energy in getting that job done. We work to the same pattern, the same programme and the same habits. In a machine, variety is not a good thing as if dilutes our efficiency. In an ecology, networks are all important. The first thing we would do in an office would be to make sure that our networks are healthy. If we have a particular task to perform we find out who can help us and use the network to find out a way around any issues that may result from the unseen challenges that beset us daily. An ecological approach to the work place would also see continual changes in practice that respond and evolve according to ongoing daily challenges and may evolve new systems of ways of working that do not need a centralised command chain to operate them. Ecological ways of working evolve rather than follow a rigid program which is then very disruptive when this is altered at central HQ.Feb 8 2012: The political theorist Jane Bennett takes a very interesting view of the material world which gives it political agency. In other words, as we depend on more than ourselves for our well being then she believes that the world around us has meaning and therefore value. She describes the act of eating, for example as being a collaboration between the bacteria in our gut and our own bodies - neither one of these exclusively benefits or always 'wins' in this transactions - she imagines then that our bacteria, during the process of eating are part of us. So if we need to embrace and respect our body bacteria as a way of looking after ourselves this changes their meaning - for example, we may not take an antibiotic when we feel unwell as we would see it as being more harmful than good and would take a bionutrient instead to strike a better biological balance. This is a subtle but important change in the way we think about our environment. Machines seek to be sterile - and bacterial free. Ecologies are the consequences of healthy networks and balances .Feb 8 2012: I'll address some of the questions that resulted from writing the TED Book on Living Architecture http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks. The first being what the idea of an Ecological Human actually mean? Could it help us find new or more effective ways of working?Feb 8 2012: In my book http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks I have attempted to use an ecological framework to address a complex issue - such as the future city - as invited by the TED Prize City 2.0. Living Architecture, is the consequence of using a new set of tools and technologies in our acts of making. These are not machines, they do not work like machines at all but behave biologically. The portfolio of new tools, which are mostly based in synthetic biology and complexity chemistry, sets the scene for a new group of materials and architectural interventions that lie somewhere between the performance of machines and biology. These strange, new technologies blur the distinction between building and landscape and suggest that the 21 century marks the advent of synthetic urban ecologies. The book itself takes a multi-systems view of the potential applications of systems that are not truly 'alive' but possess living qualities. As 'living technologies' these properties can be exploited as new ways of 'making' things at many scales of operation ranging from the micro scale, to the city. The text explores the context and need for these kinds of new solutions that are compatible with a systems view of the world embodied in the ecologically engaged practices of Panarchy, Permaculture and Biomimicry. Living Architecture results from the strategic applications of living technologies and - importantly - is based on real world experiments.Feb 8 2012: Is it possible that by thinking differently - using a new kind of ordering system - whether this might give us a set of tools that can help understand ourselves in a more connected, ecological context and may have an impact on for example : the way we live our lives, the way we make things and the way that we dream and build our cities??Feb 8 2012: This method of approaching uncertainty has become so successful that we have even embraced this concept into the soul of our existence. Machines are really great for being machines. They command control through the consumption of natural resources and are belligerent to a fickle natural world. They keep us safe and in command.
We are Machine Humans.Feb 8 2012: Since ancient times we have sought to gain control of the unknown, believing that the laws of the cosmos, nature and the human realm are knowable and ordered. The most powerful instrument we have used to unravel the complexity of existence and simplify it is the 'machine' - the idea of an object-based, hierarchical system that possess a mathematical order. The metaphor of the machine has been extremely successful, so much so that we imagine ourselves as machines. We think of our bodies of being made up of parts consisting of organs and tissues. At the very centre of these machine organs is a biological program, a complex chemical called DNA that literally runs the processes of our soft machine. When various parts of the body machine break down, we can replace them with other parts that do the same job and ultimately, since we are machines the logical conclusion is that we could indefinitely replace our body parts and achieve immortality. If we do not submit to complete mechanisation Ray Kurtzweil warns us that we will be replaced by superior life forms in an event horizon so profound that we cannot see the consequences for our species beyond it. He calls this The Singularity.Feb 8 2012: Is it possible – given that cities are complex, therefore unpredictable – to generate any kind of impact (whether initiated by a 'wish' or any other kind of action) - on what is a conundrum and constantly moving target? Moreover, cities possess durations longer than a life span and inevitably outlive the jurisdiction of politicians and company heads who may be in any kind of meaningful position to oversee sustainable change.
Josh Stack
Feb 8 2012: Fantastic questions! I definitely believe humanity can coevolve into a beneficial structural and functional force in living systems and the Panarchy. With us evolving into an urban species, cities are the key!
- +1
Feb 8 2012: Josh - thank you for raising the subject of Panarchy - I'd like to hear more about how you think that this approach - which fundamentally engages with the ideas of complexity and ecology that are so important to us right now - can actually work for people living in cities.Feb 8 2012: Dear Rachel, thank you very much for providing us with a platform to share our ideas for the city 2.0! I think to generate an impact, the most important thing would be to make everyone feel like being part of something bigger than the sum of its parts. I live in Paris, but I don't *live* here, which means that I don't interact with my neighbors and that Paris doesn't care whether I am here or not. Yes, a city is constantly moving and evolving, but friendships made in a neighborhood -- or simple things like having a BBQ together -- or great things, like creating a park or painting the walls of a building -- can last forever and beyond the borders of the city itself. Everyone should be able to get involved with the city's changing shape -- but in fact, I wouldn't even know how, because the link between the inhabitants and the city / major / administration is missing.
Feb 8 2012: Simone, your post makes me think of the challenges faced when we see only the material aspects of a city. The type of social relations and bonds you detail are the life force. How do we create ways to ensure that these relationships and bonds are supported by the material system of cities?
Feb 8 2012: Felicia - this is a beautiful question. Machine thinking banishes our own souls and the life force of our cities from any notions of value. A wonderful city to live in does not have a material worth, unless it can be materialised in some way - through real estate. My deepest concerns are not even for our immediate spiritual well being but for our long term visions, goals and values. How can we in a secular, global society find ways of transcending the 'trap' of the material realm. Surely I understand that finance generates a certain infrastructure in a city experience but what really makes a great city are its people and how they live their dreams.Feb 8 2012: I think art is a great facilitator for materializing visions... Look at JR or Banksy, they are transcending material borders... well, by using them for something else! It sounds stupid to say it, but painting the walls of a whole city and adding plants would -- at least for me -- transform it into a living space to which everyone would contribute. Grey walls, massive skyscrapers, and abandoned places always make me wonder why and how it could have come to this and what we can do against it.Feb 8 2012: Simone, I think this is a great and wonderful observation. How do we maintain our sense of belonging, cultural diversity and participate in truly international cities? There are profound questions here about identity, politics and our living spaces. Indeed, as you note our cities are more than materials - they are its people and their communities - whether local or globally located. What concerns me is how this great spirit of humanity that is embodied in our cities can thrive when the forces that regulate our cities are so materially based ... working through the machines of industry and operating according to solving 'known' issues. Cities are subversive - how can we harness this spontaneity to grow truly fertile cities in the near future?
Feb 8 2012: "....painting the walls of a whole city and adding plants would -- at least for me -- transform it into a living space to which everyone would contribute...."
- +2
If those responsible for planning cities would realize the value of green spaces in and around a city, painting walls would not be necessary.....Here in South Florida, you can tell where greed took over a city....buildings and cement everywhere....and where the planning commission took their time...bike paths, open spaces with lots of trees and green areas around the industrial zones. I think it comes down to who is in charge of city government.
Some, sad to say have to call the police around here because neighbors try to knock down the trees that provide much needed shade, in order to put in a stamped concrete driveway worth thousands of dollars....they call this "progress"....I call it stupid.. Trees vs cement....trees win hands down.....but not everyone sees it this way.
Feb 8 2012: Mary, That is indeed totally heartbreaking to hear - there are some very deep issues about value that are so necessary to have when it comes to the nature of our cities. I agree with you in how topsy turvy our environments have become when inert surfaces are considered more desirable than living ones - mainly by property developers rather than civic communities I will also add. After all - we do not live 'in nature' but in architecture - this is our local environment and as Darwin observed, these intimate niches have a real effect on our well being. Again this raises issues about who is planning the long term for our cities. What is the long term vision for the places that we live in and how are we engaging our children and our grandchildren in helping us achieve these long term visions. I simply do not trust the 'market' to make any decisions that have any real impact more than a 3-5 year product cycle away. Leaving everything to the marketplace has simply productised the future - and it's not a real future - it's just a drawn out version of our present.Feb 8 2012: This is also true when looking at the economic impact of the housing crisis -- everything has relied on building more & more, buying bigger & bigger, further & further out. So many lost jobs that didn't exist just a decade or 2 before. Media reports have you believing the only way back to economic security is for the construction industry to rebound! But for whom will they build? & sell? & profit? We need an economy that relies on more than "selling people new things" to survive. In any case, even solar energy projects are being proposed hundreds of miles away, instead of on the buildings that have room for, & the need for, these more sustainable solutions.Feb 8 2012: Rachel - great initiative. Cities are indeed at the very heart of a better tomorrow. However, I am slight;y confused when you talk of 'conundrum and constantly moving targets'.. regarding the UK for example, these are not moving as they have been passed through both Houses and today the Carbon Budgets are UK law.
Furthermore, all cities in the C40 have a Climate Action Plan: http://live.c40cities.org/cities/
There is still a lot of work to be done (obviously!); a lot of which involves getting transitional/developing countries such as 'ChIndia' on board who, for all our sakes, must not make the same industrial centralising; closed systems thinking mistakes that we have made over the past generation.
Feb 8 2012: Antoine - I agree that measures are being taken to address carbon counts but the big picture is that this kind of legislation is simply buying us time whilst we look for a real paradigm shift in ways of making - that invert the current situation from being damaging or neutral for the environment to being actually beneficial to it. I cover a few of these ideas in my book http://www.ted.com/pages/tedbooks
... which I am referring to for want of time :) However, the conundrum and constantly moving targets are twofold - the obsolescence of buildings - that once they are built are no longer ideally fit for purpose or have already outdated technology/solutions AND the ever changing nature of the public in terms of employment, the use of public space - dynamic things that aren't measurable in carbon credits that have an impact on the experience and design of cites. However, I do concede that making positive efforts to use energy more carefully efficiently and resourcefully is something to be actively celebrated and pursued. It's not not the whole picture of a thriving community or a successful city.


text:
As rescue and recovery efforts ramped up Tuesday in Oklahoma, flags were lowered to half staff in the nation's capital.
There was a moment of silence in the Senate, and at the White House President Obama made a promise to victims in the storm zone.
"As a nation, our full focus right now is on the urgent work of rescue, and the hard work of recovery and rebuilding that lies ahead," he said.
The president sent the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to Oklahoma to personally oversee search, rescue and recovery efforts.
House Speaker John Boehner promised to work with the White House and became emotional when talking about fellow Congressman Tom Cole.
"Moore, Oklahoma is his hometown. so obviously he is there," Boehner said.
But after the emotions of the day have passed a government struggling to cut costs will have to pay for yet another mega-disaster.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
What kind of product would work to provide a feature on a school website to allow teachers to post homework assignments and allow students / parents to quickly find the assignments by class and subject? I'm thinking wiki or cms but they don't seem to hit the mark completely. FYI I have VPS hosting so I can install whatever I want.
Take the 2-minute tour ×
Webmasters Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for pro webmasters. It's 100% free, no registration required.
I have used moodle for a while, it is an open-source CMS that should provide all that you need.
You may be able to use Wordpress with Buddypress and a plugin like this courseware one.


text:
The following audited financial statements are provided as a matter of convenience. The audited financial statements speak as of June 30th for the fiscal year to which it relates. There may have been changes in the financial condition or affairs of the State of Tennessee since the date of the last audit that was done as of June 30, 2006. However, the State of Tennessee currently does not publish financial statements other than the audited financial statements as of June 30th for each fiscal year. These audited annual financial statements are usually completed by the following December and are available in published form by the following January.
The electronic versions of the financial statements were created in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) using Adobe Acrobat Version 7.0, and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to read them. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader, or if you are using a version earlier than that used in Adobe Acrobat Version 7.0, you may obtain an updated version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader free of charge from the Adobe web site at www.adobe.com Using software other than the Adobe Reader included in the Adobe Acrobat Version 7.0 may cause the financial statements that you view or print to differ from the financial statements as they were posted on this web site or appear in the printed version; you assume the risk of any such discrepancies as well as any discrepancies related to communication transmission or other printing problems. If you need help downloading the financial statements, please contact:
Ms. Jan Sylvis,
Chief of Accounts,
Department of Finance and Administration,
State of Tennessee,
21st Floor, WR Snodgrass Tower,
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 741-2382.
By clicking on the hyperlink at the bottom of this page and accessing the following financial statements, you acknowledge that you understand and agree to the provisions of this page.


text:
It can sometimes be hard to find Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet accommodations that will accept pets but not anymore. With the help of Owner Direct Vacation Rentals software, our system helps you search for all available Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet vacation rentals that will accept pets during your specified dates. We have many pet friendly lodging options to choose from. As each owner sets their own pet policy, there are many owners that do allow dogs, cats and even other critters to stay at their vacation rental home in Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet.
For your next holiday or vacation, consider bringing your pet and staying at a vacation rental. From condos to villas to homes, there is an accommodation option for every type of group. Owner Direct's friendly and responsive customer service and detailed website can make finding that perfect pet friendly rental a breeze.Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet last minute deals on vacation homes will be highlighted in red if available. Start your accommodation search in Seagate Country Club at The Hamlet now. Just enter your travel dates, number of travelers, and click 'search' for a list of properties for rent.


text:
My newest book is very short and to the point. It's called Humble Orthodoxy and it's about why Christians should both care about truth but also be gracious in the way we communicate what we believe. I see too many people wishy-washy about the essentials of the faith. I also see too many people who are orthodox but really kind of mean and arrogant. Neither of these options glorify Jesus. Here's a review of the book.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. There are a number of articles and resources here, but I don't do new posts on it as frequently as I used to. You know how it goes. Blogs are so 2008. But come see me on either Twitter or my Facebook Page where I post more often. (Or just stay off social media altogether and enjoy a richer life.)
Jesus taught his disciples that they should always pray and never give up (Luke 18:1). In these three sermons I look at some of the hardest moments in the lives of Paul, Elijah and David and how God met them and sustained them through trouble. Listen here.
"When you listen and read one thinker, you become a clone... Two thinkers, you become confused... Ten thinkers, you'll begin developing your own voice... Two or three hundred thinkers, you become wise." - Tim Keller, via Keller Quotes
I'm on a journey, (re)discovering my identity, security and joy in knowing and being loved by God. I like to write, speak and engage with people about faith, culture and following Jesus. I live with my family in Vancouver, BC, where I'm currently attending a graduate school of theology (and eating as much Asian food as possible).


text:
And i think i came up with a cool one.
I call it Deluxe AHK Script Manager (AXEM).
Here is what it should do:
- When you start the script it discovers a list of .ahk scripts in its Scripts\ subdirectory.
- Double clicking on tray will present a simple form with each script listed on its own line with a checkbox on the left.
- Checks will be shown for scripts that are currently running.
- The user can then enable and disable scripts from that dialog by checking boxes.
- Scripts that are enabled will be launched if not currently running; scripts unchecked will be closed.
- Right clicking on the menu will show menu list of scripts that user can select to open the .ahk in a text editor.
So this utility would be an excellent way to manage a set of scripts and test them.
Anyone feel like coding this? (dont forget to then post it in the Lifehacker AHK group!)


text:
Use the data explorer to browse through additional industry data.
Compare results for: Asset management, Banking & capital markets
of insurance CEOs are changing their strategies for customer growth, loyalty and retention.
Confident outlook
Insurance CEOs are upbeat about their companies' prospects – nearly 90% are confident about revenue growth.
But the survey raises some questions about whether their organisations are moving quickly enough to keep pace with the accelerating and potentially disruptive changes in the marketplace, many of which are being originated and shaped outside the sector. Only 16% are planning the fundamental strategic shifts that are likely to be required.
Industry in transformation
As our Insurance 2020 analysis highlights, insurance is undergoing a transformation in customer expectations. This is reflected in our CEO survey, with 58% of industry leaders expressing concerns about the shift in consumer spending and behaviour.
As the changes in customer expectations reshape the key competitive battlegrounds and business opportunities within the industry, nearly 90% of insurance CEOs are planning to change their strategies for managing customer growth, loyalty and retention (nearly 40% are anticipating major changes). Building the customer base and improving customer service are the top two priorities for investment.
Developments in technology are also changing how products are designed, underwritten and distributed and could open the door to new entrants. More than 80% of insurance CEOs are planning to increase investment in technology and more than 60% plan to develop their capacity for innovation. Perhaps surprising, most industry leaders say they are not concerned about the speed of technological change or the threat from new entrants.
Seeking out overseas opportunities
The focus on expansion in a range of largely under-penetrated emerging markets is reflected in the fact that Latin America (88%) tops the list of the regions earmarked for growth over the next 12 months, with most parts of Asia also scoring more than 80%. However, noticeably fewer insurers are targeting growth opportunities in Africa (67%) than their counterparts in banking (88%).
Competition for talent heats up
Insurance CEOs see the limited availability of key skills as the biggest threat to growth. Nearly 80% are planning to change their strategies for managing talent as a result, with nearly 30% seeing filling talent gaps as a top three investment priority. The changing strategies for managing talent and succession in an evolving sector are further reflected in the emphasis on diversity, rotation and global mobility.
Competitive culture
Cutting across these competitive developments is the need for a cultural shift as insurers strive to rebuild public trust – 55% of insurance CEOs are concerned about lack of trust in the industry.
More than 60% of insurance CEOs are developing a framework to support a culture of ethical behaviour. Nearly 60% are stepping up investment in managing their corporate reputation.
Government influence
Ninety-five per cent of insurance CEOs say that governments and regulators influence their strategy, almost as many as customers (99%), though far fewer are looking to engage more closely with government (76%).
Concerns over the protectionist tendencies of national governments are rising again (47% of insurance CEOs citing such concerns in 2012). This is mirrored in concerns over tax (57% of insurance CEOs citing such concerns) and government response to debt and fiscal issues (73% of insurance CEOs seeing this as a concern).
Ahead of the game
The insurers that come out on top will be sharpening customer-centricity and have a superior capacity for innovation and constant reinvention. They'll be able to anticipate change, and how it affects them. They'll be nimble enough to quickly capitalise on emerging opportunities.
It is important to look beyond immediate peers at the competitive threats coming up under the radar. But there are also significant opportunities for forward-looking insurers.
We're seeing huge and often destabilising shifts in the climate, the economy, government spending and welfare. Smart and innovative insurers are going to be at the forefront of helping businesses and society to deal with these changes.


text:
Terms & Conditions.
Some product exclusions may apply. See product page details for more information. Clearance items are final sale. Price matching does not apply to this or any promotion. Offer is valid until September 13 at 11:59 PM PST. May not be combined with any other offer/discount (unless specified), including invitation credits, promotional gift cards and/or special discount links. Discount applied upon checkout. Log in to your account to see your savings.
Designed in the bustling heart of Berlin, the Paul Bag is a cool, casual carryall with an air of urban sophistication. It features a robust cotton canvas construction, a wide bottom, and the ability to expand in size via a simple fold-up top. A true crossover piece, this tote can go from lazy Sunday shopping to hectic Monday commute with nothing more than a change in attitude.
This product has no reviews yet. Be the first to review this product. Write a review
Enjoy 10% off your first order*


text:
Interpretive Handbook
8859 :
T4 (Thyroxine), Free by Dialysis, Serum
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) are the 2 biologically active thyroid hormones. T4 makes up more than 80% of circulating thyroid hormones.
Following secretion by the thyroid gland, approximately 70% of circulating T4 and T3 are bound to thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), while 10% to 20% each are bound to transthyretin (TTR) and albumin, respectively. Less than 0.1% circulates as free T4 (FT4) or free T3 (FT3). FT4 and FT3 enter and leave cells freely by diffusion. Only the free hormones are biologically active, but bound and free fractions are in equilibrium. Equilibrium with TTR and albumin is rapid. By contrast, TBG binds thyroid hormones very tightly and equilibrium dissociation is slow. Biologically, TBG-bound thyroid hormone serves as a hormone reservoir and T4 serves as a prohormone for T3. Within cells, T4 is either converted to T3, which is about 5 times as potent as T4, or reverse T3, which is biologically inactive. Ultimately, T3, and to a much lesser degree T4, bind to the nuclear thyroid hormone receptor, altering gene expression patterns in a tissue-specific fashion.
Under normal physiologic conditions, FT4 and FT3 exert direct and indirect negative feedback on pituitary thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone: TSH) levels, the major hormone regulating thyroid gland activity. This results in tight regulation of thyroid hormone production and constant levels of FT4 and FT3 independent of the binding protein concentration. Measurement of FT4 and FT3, in conjunction with TSH measurement, therefore represents the best method to determine thyroid function status. It also allows determination of whether hyperthyroidism (increased FT4) or hypothyroidism (low FT4) are primary (the majority of cases, TSH altered in the opposite direction as FT4) or secondary/tertiary (hypothalamic/pituitary origin, TSH altered in the same direction as FT4). By contrast, total T4 and T3 levels can vary widely as a response to changes in binding protein levels, without any change in free thyroid hormone levels and, hence, actual thyroid function status.
FT4 is usually measured by automated analog immunoassays. In most instances, this will result in accurate results. However, abnormal types or quantities of binding proteins found in some patients and most often related to other illnesses or drug treatments, may interfere in the accurate measurement of FT4 by analog immunoassays. These problems can be overcome by measuring FT4 by equilibrium dialysis, free from interfering proteins.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Determining thyroid status of sick, hospitalized patients
Used where abnormal binding proteins are known to exist
Possibly useful in pediatric patients
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
All free hormone assays should be combined with thyroid-stimulating hormone measurements.
Free thyroxine (FT4) <0.8 ng/dL indicates possible hypothyroidism. FT4 >2.0 ng/dL indicates possible hyperthyroidism.
Neonates can have significantly higher FT4 levels. The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis can take several days or, sometimes, weeks to mature.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
The routine FT4 test (FRT4 / T4 [Thyroxine], Free, Serum) is faster and provides useful information in most patients.
Certain drugs may cause short-term free thyroxine (FT4) fluctuations.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
- Salicylic acid (salsalate)
-Mefenamic acid
-Flufenamic acid
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
0.8-2.0 ng/dL
Reference values apply to all ages.
Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. De Brabandere VI, Hou P, Stockl D, et al: Isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of serum thyroxine as a potential reference method. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 1998;12:1099-1103
2. Jain R, Uy HL: Increase in serum free thyroxine levels related to intravenous heparin treatment. Ann Intern Med 1996 Jan 1;124:74-75
3. Stockigt JR: Free thyroid hormone measurement. A critical appraisal. Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001 Jun;30:265-289


text:
Skip to content
Skip to navigation menu
Cardiff University is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all of its practices and activities, including those relating to student recruitment, selection and admission. The University aims to establish an inclusive culture which welcomes and ensures equality of opportunity for applicants of all ages, ethnicities, disabilities, family structures, genders, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, religious or other beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds. This commitment forms part of the Equality and Diversity Policy.
The Cardiff School of Social Sciences demonstrates this commitment by:
Applications from candidates with specific needs or disabilities are welcomed. All such applicants are encouraged to contact the Cardiff School of Social Sciences Disability and Specific Needs Tutor (Abyd Quinn Aziz: email@example.com ) at an early stage in the application process so that disability related needs can be discussed and adjustments to the process made wherever these are reasonable. Documents, including the School's prospectus, can be supplied in large print, on audio-tape or on disk, and can be printed on different coloured paper. The Disability and Specific Needs Tutor, working with the University's Disability Advisers, is able to give information about course delivery and access to the physical environment relevant to potential applicants with specific needs. Informal visits can be arranged during which applicants are able to view accommodation and meet academic and student support staff.
Applicants to whom offers are made may be invited to an Open Afternoon. All such applicants are invited to notify the School of any disability-related or special needs that they, or an accompanying visitor, may have so that reasonable adjustments may be put in place. In addition, where a student has disclosed a disability on his or her UCAS form and has been made an offer, the University's Disability and Dyslexia Service will contact the student to identify support needs and any adjustments which might reasonably be made to minimise any disadvantage arising from the student's disability. All students have an opportunity to visit the University to meet with a disability adviser and specific needs tutor to discuss the requirements of the course and what arrangements might reasonably be made to minimise any academic disadvantage arising from the student's disability.
These measures ensure that the Cardiff School of Social Sciences and the University are able to provide an admissions process that is accessible to all students, and, thereafter, an accessible curriculum for applicants with disabilities or specific needs to whom offers are made.
Further information about the University's provision for disabled students is available from its Disability and Dyslexia Service.
Back to Social Sciences Admissions Criteria
This is an externally hosted beta service offered by Google.
Want to know what Cardiff is really like? Find out from the people who know best...our students.
Meet our students
Download or request a paper copy.
View prospectus
Cardiff University is a member of the Russell Group of Universities
Cardiff University is a registered charity No. 1136855
Copyright © Cardiff University


text:
Day 1 Dubrovnik
Please try to arrive at the meeting point before 14:00 for an important group meeting where you can meet the Chief Experience Officer (CEO) skipper and the other group members. Your boat will be departing at 15:00. Explore the Mediterranean port town of Dubrovnik, known as the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. The UNESCO World Heritage site boasts plenty of churches, monasteries, fountains, and plazas to discover. The mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles will keep your camera interested as you wonder through the streets.
Day 2-7 Adriatic Sea
Our 50ft nimble yacht is the perfect platform to explore these gorgeous islands. Flexibility is key to adapt to local weather conditions and the skipper will modify the itinerary to our advantage as we sail. Possible stops include: Bra?, Mljet, Plo?e, Kor?ula, Hvar. BRA?: Let the wind fill the sails and push you towards your next amazing piece of heaven. Explore coasts & beaches and crystal clear waters. Have a barbeque lunch on a deserted beach, take in some vineyards, or stop in the middle of the Mediterranean sea for a dip. This island is well-known for Zlanti Rat Beach, where the tides, currents and wind are constantly shifing the shape of the beach. MIJET: Known well for its hiking, biking, swimming, stunning scenery and peaceful atmosphere. The lushly forested island is so seductive, it's said that Odysseus came and stayed for seven years. Take a guided tour of the National Park, or bask in the green waters by the rocks. PLO?E: Step ashore at this bustling town and do some shopping, or laze at one of the many beautiful beaches. Take a walk along the splendid coast and meet your fellow travellers in the evening time for catch up and dinner. KOR?ULA: Sail to the legendary Marco Polo's place of birth, Kor?ula, a typical medieval walled Dalmatian city and one of the Adriatic's most lush green islands. Indulge yourself in this historic island and forget about the world around you. Caves and secluded beaches make this an attractive destination for exploration. HVAR: A UNESCO World Heritage site, Hvar is a must see. Enjoy some amazing beaches, nightlife, pop & classical concerts, and festivals in the city that has inspired many Croatian writers and artists. This place has it all! Spend the night aboard at anchor (weather permitting) or in a local port with many facilities.
Day 8 Split
Weigh anchor early morning for the last passage to Split, one of Croatia's oldest cities and home to the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian. Before crossing the Brac channel we will find a picturesque inlet to enjoy our lunch before entering Split harbour. Enjoy the last night aboard, or join the rest of the group for dinner and drinks while reminiscing the epic journey through the Adriatic Sea.


text:
Cairn's unique education centre for The Great Barrier Reef.
The Reef Teach presentation is a very entertaining evening, full of amazing facts, beautiful images, and the opportunity to handle a wide range of corals and other marine specimens – including some of the dangerous creatures you wouldn't want to touch if they were alive! It will amaze, inspire, and captivate you, and have you laughing about the funny facts and weird and wonderful ways in which the reef works!
"With learning comes appreciation"
At Reef Teach we offer:
- Fun evening presentations to help enhance your Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea experience.
- Classroom Hire
- School, university, dive club and study group bookings, and
- Underwater naturalist courses


text:
Join our Mailing List
Stay informed about medical and quality-of-life issues by becoming a part of the LBBC family.
Submit Your Tips
Everyone learns from experience. Share your tips for coping with diagnosis, treatment and survivorship.
Alexa Jade
20 percent of all proceeds from online sales of Alexa Jade Jewelry for the Journey Collection will be donated to Living Beyond Breast Cancer, just choose LBBC as your charity of choice at checkout!
Upcoming EventsEvent List || Calendar Display
In this section, learn how to participate in Living Beyond Breast Cancer's educational conferences, webinars, Twitter chats and community meetings encompassing a wide variety of topics, as well as our special fundraising events and events for healthcare professionals.
View upcoming events and events by type; access a list of recurring LBBC events and an event archive; and access featured event listings and a library of transcripts and podcasts from past events.
View events by type:
February 2002No Events Scheduled, Showing Next Upcoming Events
March 2002
How the Trauma of Breast Cancer Affects Anxiety and DepressionMarch 20, 2002
Young Survivors Networking Group discussion on how to cope with the complex emotions many people feel after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and after completing treatment for breast cancer.
Advances in Radiation TherapyMarch 10, 2008
In this transcript from our March 10, 2008 networking meeting, LBBC founder Marisa C. Weiss, MD, discusses radiation therapy basics and advances.
Getting Relief: Pain Management Strategies for Women Affected by Breast CancerMarch 26, 2008
Learn how to effectively communicate your concerns to your doctor in order to develop an effective pain management plan.
May 2008
Moving Beyond Breast Cancer: From Treatment to SurvivorshipMay 15, 2008
Did you recently finish initial treatment? Like many women, you may be asking, "Now what?"
Your New Normal: Reclaiming Body ImageMay 19, 2008
Learn about common body image issues and find out strategies to begin to improve your feelings about yourself.
June 2008
Medical and Quality-of-Life Updates from the 44th Annual ASCO MeetingJune 13, 2008
Learn about the latest findings from the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Neuropathy: Causes and Strategies for Getting ReliefJune 18, 2008
Learn about the symptoms and causes of neuropathy and how it may affect the quality of your life.
August 2008
Advanced Breast Cancer: Coping with Your EmotionsAugust 6, 2008
Learn how a diagnosis of advanced (metastatic) breast cancer can affect your quality of life both physically and psychologically.
Managing Menopausal SymptomsAugust 13, 2008
In this program, Dr. Ganz explains how chemotherapy and hormonal therapy can impact the severity of common menopausal symptoms.
September 2008
Get Moving with the Latest Research on Diet and NutritionSeptember 17, 2008
In this program, Dr. Chlebowski explains how results of the latest clinical trials on diet and exercise may impact your risk of developing breast cancer or a recurrence.


text:
Materials Used:
1/4" Plexi Glass sheet (had on hand from another project)
Dymo Label Maker
Super Glue
Nuts and bolts in the following sizes (bolts as short as you can get for the size it comes in)
Step 1: The Layout
Once I had it cut down to size my next issue was how to mark my layout without marking the plexi itself. The benefit of using the plexi came in nicely here. I just took a piece of paper and laid out a 1" x1" grid pattern on the paper and set it under the plexi on my workbench.
Nice instructable. I'll put this to use as I'm getting my work bench organized.
Label the loose one well to save issues.
Note also that certain combinations of metric/imperial threads will screw onto each other (they may be a little tight or a little lose depending on the combination) so while the gauge shown here is a good quick and dirty check it's no substitute for proper measurement. BTW interestingly while Australian Propane regulator will screw onto UK propane cylinders, UK regulators won't screw onto Australian cylinders, this is because although the pitch and diameter are near enough the same the profile of the thread is different.
If using clear plexiglass an alternative to using a label printer might be to just print all of the labeling on a single sheet of paper, and place it behind the plexi. (How to attach this to the plexi is left as an exercise for the reader -- there are numerous possibilities.) It should be pretty easy to make a nice label sheet in anything that supports text and a grid (vector drawing programs, word processors with table support and even spreadsheets are all possibilites here.)
If going this route it'd probably be best to mount the label sheet before mounting the hardware, and use the label sheet as your layout guide.
One disadvantage to this approach is that having the labels behing the plexi means there'll be parallax, but that shouldn't be a big issue as long as you don't place things too close together.
I don't remember exactly which ones are generally standard, I know some thread pitches are more common on Asian cars and others are more common on US cars now that they use metric, etc, but I couldn't give you a list offhand. But for most usefulness in the application it's something to definitely look into!!
I'm going to do the same except add course and fine thread samples. I often have trouble figuring out whether a particular bolt or nut is "inch" but with different threads or metric. And vise-versa.
Must find it again!
Plater washers have a big diameter and a little hole, squeeze washers (arandelas de presión) have big hole and small outer diameter, etc.
I don't know if there are another types.


text: Front View larger Niles® Audio FM-1 Audio/video system cooling module Item #: 190FM1 7 Reviews This item is no longer available. Original Price: $199.99 Shop all Miscellaneous Audio Accessories Need help? 1.888.955.6000 Email Chat Ask an expert advisor No pressure, no commission — just lots of good advice from our highly trained staff. Overview Reviews Details by Ralph Graves The Niles FM-1 system helps keep your audio/video components running cool, so they can operate at their best. This slender module uses two fans to pull performance-robbing heat away from your gear. It's especially handy if you store your equipment inside a closed cabinet with limited ventilation. A simple minijack cable connection lets you turn the FM-1 on and off automatically, via a remote trigger output on your A/V system. And the module itself also has a trigger output, so you can connect it in-line with other remote-activated components. A built-in temperature sensor regulates the speed of the fans, running them slower when your system isn't producing as much heat, and speeding them up when your amplifiers begin working harder. A delayed shut-off circuit keeps the FM-1 running for two minutes after you power down your system, ensuring that your components cool down safely. Product Highlights:two variable-speed fansbuilt-in temperature sensorcirculates up to 150 cubic feet of air per minutebrushless motor design for quieter operationauto on/off via remote trigger input (12V DC or 3 to 24V AC)remote trigger output (11V DC)two-minute delayed shut-offfront-panel LED "power on" and "fan on" indicators17"W x 1-3/4"H x 8"Dwarranty: 2 yearsOur 60-day money-back guarantee Niles® Audio FM-1 Reviews Average Customer Review: 7 reviews Review this product Submit a review and then enter to win a $350 rewards card Filter by rating: 5 Star: (0) 4 Star: (0) 3 Star: (0) 2 Star: (0) 1 Star: (0) Review this product: Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences about this product. Please be sure to focus your comments on the product itself. Read our Review Guidelines for more information. Review title * Email Your email won't be visible. Please use the email address that is associated with your order. Display name (e.g., JohnD) Your review will be signed using the display name and location * Your location (e.g., Charlottesville, VA) * Your rating Click on a star to rate the overall product on a scale of 1-5 1500 characters left * Your review Attach a YouTube Review Crutchfield Video Review Guidelines Only submit videos that you made or are authorized to use. Do not submit videos that contain music, video or visuals that are copyrighted and belong to someone else. Please see our Review Guidelines for more information. Enter the URL of your YouTube™ video review or product demonstration. e.g., "http://www.youtube.com/v/o79TWHh598U" 500 characters left Pros 500 characters left Cons * Agree to Terms By checking this box you agree your review becomes the property of Crutchfield, that you are over 18 years of age, that you own or have owned this product, and that you are located within the United States or its territories. Please see our Review Guidelines for more information. We reserve the right (but are not obligated to) review all submissions and edit or remove any review in any manner which we deem necessary. Your review should be posted within seven days. Awesome cooling unit! Written By Featherhead, Houston, TX on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) In a fairly enclosed media cabinet, the Niles Audio FM-1 is the perfect solution for cooling my Denon-AVR-2313CI amplifier. Pros: Easy to set up and operate, works perfectly right out of the box. Cons: None. 1 out of 1 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Really Works Written By Anonymous, Cortland Ohio on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 This unit cooled down my Onkyo 3009 from 43c down to 27c after it runs a while.I tried the Antec & although a lot less expensive it would cool it down to 36c. I highly reccomend the FM-1 2 out of 2 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Functional, but not "whisper quiet" Written By Mark, Kansas on Friday, April 15, 2011 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) This cooling unit does perform an excellent job cooling my cabinet. However, it is not "whisper quiet" as advertised. After using it for several days, and I continued to notice the sound in the background of the cooling unit, I decided to check the decibel level of playback as a reference. When listening to a sound level of 70 decibels I can still hear the fan running in the "background" noise. This is with the glass door closed in front of the amplifier! This is not real impressive to me. Now I did say that it does an excellent job of cooling, which is my main goal. I just expected it to be MUCH quieter. When paying $300 for an item, I would also expect that when it is advertised to provide a remote trigger, it sure would have been nice to have a cable included to perform that function instead of having to spend another $7 to $10 for a cable. In all honesty, I never planned to spend $300 to cool my $1,000 amplifier, but I will keep it for the cooling function alone. 8 out of 8 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No John Written By Anonymous, Fairport, NY on Monday, January 18, 2010 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) We purchased this fan to prevent the heat-related failure of another video processor on our AV Receiver as our entertainment center gets quite warm inside. Since our receiver does not have a 12 volt trigger except for a zone 3 amp, I used a 5 volt wall wart plugged into the accessory receptacle on the receiver. The limited information in the Niles manual indicated that any 5 to 24 volt AC or DC input would trigger the fan but even though rated at 5 volts and 3/4 of an amp output the fans would not run. After calling Niles tech support, they recommended a higher voltage, so I switched to a 9 volt DC 1 amp output power supply. The fans now work great and as advertised, however I was quite disappointed in Niles accompanying and/or online literature related to this product. 5 out of 5 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Not Exactly Silent Written By Gregory, Washington, DC on Thursday, October 01, 2009 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) First and foremost, this thing works. What was a dangerously hot cabinet now barely even feels warm. The two brushless motors are quiet but not exactly unheard. I equate the sound to that of a computer fan. The sound is not noticeable when the cabinet is closed or when there is sound from the A/V system. It is when there is a lull and I have the cabinet door open that I can notice the Niles running. A minor point for me which is why I give it 4 out of 5 stars. I would buy it again. 8 out of 8 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Cool Solution for Rack or Cabinet Systems Written By Brian, Schaumburg, IL on Monday, July 27, 2009 After researching several options to cool my Sony ES receiver located in my system cabinet, I settled on this Niles unit. I liked the fact that this unit sits directly atop my receiver and draws air up through the chassis from the bottom. Also, it can be hooked up to a trigger outlet on a compatible component via a 1/8" male to male cable. This allows the unit to be automatically turned on and off from the component it is hooked up to. Overall I am extremely happy with the performance of this product. It cools my receiver beautifully and was very easy to set up. My only possible reservation is regarding the sound of the fans when the unit is first started up. I actually ended up sending the first one back to Crutchfield because it produced a loud humming sound when I turned it on. I called Crutchfield Technical Support to see if I was doing anything wrong. We could not come up with any problem on the set up, so I sent the unit back. The second unit I received started making the same sound, but I decided to leave it on and after about 8-10 minutes the humming sound went away and it was completely silent except for the sound of air moving. So, it would seem that the humming sound is normal until the unit gets "warmed up". That is why I rate this at 4 stars instead of 5. This is a relatively small quibble, I know, but if I'm going to shell out this much for a fan, I feel it should be silent ALL the time. Otherwise, this is a great unit and a solid solution for cooling components. 9 out of 9 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Excellent Product for Enclosed AV Cabinet Written By Nick, Richmond, VA on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?) I looked long and hard to find an entertainment center that had enough room for my AV components, and the one I settled on required my components to be behind solid wood doors. I put my Denon AVR-3805 on a shelf by itself with all my other gear in a separate compartment beside it. Well, it turns out that there was not enough ventilation, and the receiver began to overheat and cut in and out. If l left the doors open it was fine, so I decided to look for a cooling fan. I went to Crutchfield first where I found the Niles Audio FM-1 and decided to give it a try. I have to say that it works wonderfully, and I have not had a problem with my receiver since. The doors remain closed and with the system on for hours watching football on the weekends, the sound is clean and uninterrupted. I would recommend this product to anyone with AV equipment in an enclosed entertainment center or closet. It turns on when the receiver turns on and shuts itself off a couple minutes after I turn the receiver off to get rid of all residual heat. It was simple solution that prevented serious buyer's remorse on a very nice entertainment center. It is also whisper quiet so you never hear it running while watching quiet movie scenes. As always, Crutchfield came through with the right product at the right price! 34 out of 36 people found this helpful Was this review helpful? Yes No Hands-on research What's in the box? | In-depth notes What's in the box? Download owner's manual System cooling module with attached 6' AC power cord Installation Guide Product Research Features Overview: The Niles FM-1 System Cooling Module is designed to keep your cabinet and rack equipment cool without taking up a lot of space and without making a lot of noise. The single-rack fan design will draw up to 150 cubic feet of air per minute. Its dual 12VDC brushless motors maintain whisper quiet operation without noise feeding back into your 120V circuits. Temperature-Sensitive Speed Control: The FM-1uses two temperature-sensing variable-speed fans that detect the amount of heat being generated by your components in its proximity and adjust speeds accordingly. Placement: The FM-1 should be placed on top of the device you are trying to help keep cool. The FM-1 pulls air from the bottom of the unit through its chassis and out the top. Delayed Shut-Off: The FM-1 has a built-in two minute delayed shut-off. This feature helps to dissipate heat build-up in the rack or cabinet even after the system has been powered down. The shut-off delay will always be active. LEDs: There are two LEDs on the front panel of the FM-1. The red LED signals "power" while the green LED signals when the fans are operational and blowing air. Remote On/Off: The FM-1 utilizes a 1/8" mini-jack Trigger input and a 1/8" mini-jack Control output for its Remote On/Off feature. These two jacks connect to your compatible audio equipment that also use Trigger and Control 1/8" mini-jacks via an optional mini-jack cable. The Remote ON/Off feature enables the two fans to begin air movement only when your system's audio equipment "tells" it to do so. The fans will begin blowing and the green LED will light up when the FM-1 receives a 12V trigger from another source. The FM-1 Trigger input jack accepts 3 to 24V (DC or AC) from either another audio component that transmits this type of trigger voltage or a standard 12V (DC or AC) power transformer plugged into the switched outlet of an audio source. The Control output passes 11VDC, 20mA (max) power along to the next component. Our Product Research Team At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what's in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices. Sorry, the Niles® Audio FM-1 is no longer available. Looking for a similar item? Shop all Miscellaneous Audio Accessories Or, you can still... Write a review Purchase accessories for this product Download the product manual Search the website Go


text:
Ante Up
A notorious teller of tall-tales discovers a light switch in his new house that he believes controls the sex-drive of his virgin girlfriend. He must now prove he's telling the truth without losing his long-term girlfriend in the process.
Cast: Murphy Lynch, Angela DeMalignon, Erin Stutland, Kace Campbell, Scott Harris
Produced by:
Directed by: Jonathan Salemi
Written by:
Running time: 1hr 20min
Opens: Apr 17, 2009 NY
|Theaters for Today
Pick a day
on this day.


text:
|Miller Place, NY
|High School:
|Miller Place
Before Quinnipiac:
Attended Miller Place High School. Earned varsity letters in lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, and cross country. All-County 2012, All-Division 2013, Academic All American 2012-2013, Varsity Lacrosse MVP 2012, Varsity Lacrosse Captain 2013, scored 55 goals and 14 assists as a Junior and 35 goals and 18 assists as a Senior; Suffolk Zone Award 2013; Dellacave Award Nominee 2013; Kathleen Roskot Memorial Scholarship Recipient 2013; News 12 Scholar Athlete Award 2013; Miller Place Booster Club "Scholar-Athlete Award" 2013; Miller Place Booster Club "Ideal Athlete Award" 2013; Senior Class President 2013; Excellence in Accounting Award 2012; Excellence in Sociology Award 2012; Award for Expository Writing 2012; AP Scholar 2012-2013; Member of Varsity Club, Athletes Helping Athletes, National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society; Graduated in Top 5% of class.
Native of Miller Place, NY. Daughter of John and Elaine Kelly. Has a younger brother Gavin and a younger sister Logan. Mother Elaine played field hockey at High Point University. Father John was a hockey player and continues to play today. Accounting major


text:
Description:IBM Intel Xeon E5603(1.60GHz/4-core/4MB/80W)Full Processor Option KitPart Number(s)IBM Part# 81Y6703
HP Processor Kits:
Manufacturer Part# 81Y6703
This is the full processor option kit. It includes the
Processor(s), Heat-Sink(s), Fan(s), Thermal paste
and VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) where required.
Overview:Intel Xeon processor 5600 series automatically regulates power consumption and intelligently adjusts server performance according to application demand, maximizing both energy cost savings and performance.
CategoryIBM Processor
Part Number81Y6703
Products ID459419
Product TypeProcessor Upgrade
Processor TypeIntel Xeon
Processor CoreQuad-Core
Processor Qty1
Clock Speed1.60GHz
QuickPath Interconnect4.80GT/s
L1 Cache256KB
L2 Cache1MB
L3 Cache4MB
64-bit ProcessingYes
Process Technology32nm
Processor SocketSocket B LGA-1366
Thermal Design Power80W


text:
I just bought my first welder, a new Dynasty 200DX. Reading through the owner's manual, as well as a couple of TIG books published by Miller, I see the diagrams of HF interference and best practices of grounding the body of pretty much every metallic object within a radius of 50 feet of the HF source - the welder. But none of the literature explains what types of actual problems could result from not doing this.
I am putting the welder in a free-standing, fully finished workshop about the size of a 2-car garage, with its own 200 Amp electrical service from a mast, garage door, AC heat pump out back with air handler in the attic, fridge, TV, etc. All of these items are grounded through their electrical wiring and the building's electrical system which I wired myself. I used two 8 ft grounding rods, installed per code.
My questions are:
1) What are the possible problems if I don't take any additional measures to
ground these objects, and I use the welder in DC mode with HF start only?
Will my TV, fridge, A/C equipment be damaged?
2) Will this equipment, if it is running, interfere with the welder's ability?
3) Will this only be a concern in AC welding?
Thank you.
Results 1 to 5 of 5
Thread: HF Problems with Dynasty 200DX ?
05-02-2013, 05:36 PM #1Junior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Posts
- 10
HF Problems with Dynasty 200DX ?
I think you are good to go. Today's inverters don't use points anymore so HF interference is minimal. I do get a blip every once in a while on my DVD player out in the gargage, but that is it.Nothing welded, Nothing gained
Miller Dynasty700DX
3 ea. Miller Dynasty350DX
Miller Dynasty200DX
ThermalArc 400 GTSW
MillerMatic200 with spoolgun
Lincoln SP-170T
Linde UCC305 (sold 2011)
Hypertherm 1250
Hypertherm 800
PlasmaCam CNC cutter
Fadal Toolroom CNC Mill
SiberHegner CNC Mill
2 ea. Bridgeport
LeBlond 15" Lathe
Haberle 18" Cold Saw
Doringer 14" Cold Saw
6 foot x 12 foot Mojave granite
05-02-2013, 09:38 PM #3Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2007
- Location
- Los Angeles
- Posts
- 141
shovelon is right, you shouldn't have any problems. Ive had my laptop with me in the garage many times without any issues. I also have a dynasty.
05-03-2013, 05:45 AM #4Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2011
- Posts
- 444
I think it depends on your environment. How close are your neighbors? Most electronics can withstand a certain amount of RFI (Radio Frequenct Interference). Actual damage to a device is possible but not very common outside the immediate proximity of the radiator. Malfunction of susceptible devices can be more common. Your heat pump could cycle unexpectedly for instance. What is probably a more important concern is if a neighbor complains to the FCC that they can't watch their afternoon game shows. That's interference with a licenced entity and you will be warned to cease operation of your equipment until you rectify the problem.The follwing is an exerpt from a report on FCC enforcement that demonstrates how seriously the FCC takes its mandate.
"Lopez was found by the FCC to be in violation Section 15.5(b) and (c) of the FCCs rules by operating an incidental radiator and causing harmful interference. He was instructed by the FCC to take immediate steps to ensure that he does not continue to cause harmful interference, including repairing or replacing his well pump and associated control circuitry. The FCC advised Lopez that if he continues to violate the Communications Act or the FCCs rules, it may impose monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such violation, or in the case of a continuing violation, up to a maximum forfeiture of $112,500 for any single act or failure to act. In addition, violation of the Communications Act or the [FCCs] rules also can result in seizure of the equipment through in rem forfeiture actions, as well as criminal sanctions, including imprisonment.
I suspect that from a legal standpoint welding equipment manufacturers must cover the bases to limit their liability which as you can see can be substantial. I'd say try it out and see if there are any screaming neighbors brandishing pitchforks. If not you should be good to go. By the way sensitive electronics in close proximity to any strong electro-magnetic field, if they are not designed to be there, is probably not a real good idea. So don't wind your welding cables up on your Ipad while welding.--Meltedmetal
05-03-2013, 07:06 PM #5Junior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2013
- Posts
- 10
Thanks for the feedback guys. Glad to hear the investment in the high technology may pay off in this area as well. Can't wait to start using this welder; has been over 15 years since I have welded anything. Just need a bottle of gas now. Steve


text:
- Flat Rate Shipping. Any Size Order! -
- A Portion of Proceeds Benefit Miami Athletics -
HOME Miami Hurricanes Gear Miami Hurricanes Mens Miami Hurricanes Mens Polos (80 items) Product ID: 802027
Main Content
Order as many items as you like with our $7.99 flat rate shipping.
This item ships within two business days.
Order as many items as you like with our $7.99 flat rate shipping.
Need it faster?
No one forced you to follow the 'Canes; it's a choice you made on your own. Out of all the schools and their teams, only one appealed to you the most — the Miami Hurricanes. Take pride in your team by throwing on this Choice polo on sunny days and remind yourself of great Miami moments. Featuring a team logo embroidered at the left chest and the school name embroidered at the left sleeve, this polo will make it obvious which school you're repping whether you're in the stands or playing golf on the links!
- 100% Cotton fabric
- Drop tail
- Imported
- Officially licensed Hurricanes heathered polo
- Placket with two buttons
- Quality embroidery
- Side slits at hem
Hurricanes Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
The Elephant Rocker designed by Donald Chaffin exclusively for Asprey is the lastest in the Asprey series of fantasy animal rockers. This year's elephant took 5 months to carve from American white oak and has a red leather handmade saddle. The gold details are achieved by applying individual leaves of 24ct gold which is then buffed to a high shine.
All materials comply with children's safety regulations. The rocker is suitable for children from ages 3 to 10.
Length - 203cm / 79.9"
Width - 141cm / 55.5"
Height - 61cm / 24"
Expect delivery within 5 working days of order confirmation.
For orders in GBP: UK delivery £10; EU delivery £15; USA delivery £20; Rest of World delivery £35. Complimentary delivery for all orders over £1000.
For orders in USD: UK delivery $15; EU delivery $20; USA delivery $20; Rest of World delivery $35. Complimentary delivery for all orders over $1500.