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The Artists
May 24, 2015 § 2 Comments
After a semester-long learning about art (What is art? What constitutes as art? Why art?), studying famous artists and their styles -not as means to reproduce the artist's work, but to recognize and experiment with techniques-, using correct terminologies as a way to expand art lexicon, and of course, expressing ideas through making own art, it finally culminated in the children's art exhibition that was held yesterday.
I was absolutely thrilled about the event, not only because we got to showcase the children's endeavor in art throughout the year, but was pleasantly surprised to see parents' enthusiasm in participating in the event.
Children helping to set up the classroom to be the exhibition venue the day prior to the event. My girl was seen trying hard to pull the heavy shelf while the boys were "helping" to move the chairs aside.. by playing "bus".
Shelves were turned around against the wall. Artworks displayed. Classroom turned to gallery!
Still life painting of fruits. Media: acrylic on canvas.
The objective, of course, is not to paint fruits with perfect resemblance, but to observe and discover shades of colors, contours, light and shadow that falls. Art is not about the end product, but a process.
Painting 1] by a 5 year old, 2] by a 6 year old, 3] by a 4 year old. Click to see the beautiful detail of their work :)
Self portrait of a 4 year old. Media: pencil and watercolor on paper. The process in making the artwork was done while observing self with a hand mirror. Children were invited to analyze their facial features shape, move their eyes/lips/chin to see how the lines could change, change facial expressions, etc..
Self portrait of a 6 (top) and a 4 year old (bottom). Media: pencil and watercolor on paper.
Matisse inspired cut-out art.
Families coming to view and we also provided parents' art station (sketching, watercolor painting, and clay moulding). So the event would not turn out only to be a social gathering of parents chit chatting, but also to "experience" the art.
[Pic 1] Child explaining work to the parents [Pic 2] At the parents' busy art station. We initially expected hesitation from parents if invited to make own art, but they actually spent almost an hour trying to perfect their drawings! Some made more than one.
Drawing by a 4 year old who is obsessed with skeletons and mummies. Media: white crayon on black paper.
Mondrian inspired art by a 5 year old. Media: Square shaped metal inset, marker and crayon on paper.
Mix media art by a 5 year old.
We refrain from asking the children "what is it?" about their sculpting or drawing. Art does not always have to be a representation of an object, they could just be experimenting with forms or expressing a feeling/emotion. When we ask them "What shape is this or what drawing is this?" they would start to think of the most similar object, and it could also do damage when they think art has to look like something. I have met a discouraged three year old boy, due to a friend called his work a"coret2" or mere scribbling. So ask description rather than interpretation. Ask them to describe the process, so it becomes more deliberate.
Wire art
Display of parents' work. After spending hours trying to perfect his clay masterpiece, let's not forget to take picture.
[Pic 1] by a Dad, who wished he had five hours to make his car more elaborate – [Pic 2] by an Uncle – [Pic 3] "Satay" by a 2 year old sister
The Flood
January 26, 2013 § 5 Comments
When I landed in Jakarta after working and living conveniently in Melbourne for the whole one year, I thought I was going to be slightly gloomy for the first few days. Little did I know, how much I missed Jakarta and all the craziness.
The flood was visible from above when the airplane was descending. Only the top half of the houses and roofs could be seen. Surreal, it was literally a drowning city seen from the sky. Dad and sister had to cancel picking me up from the airport because of the traffic congestion caused by the flood. Taking a taxi, however, reminded me of how much I loved the conversations I have with Jakartans. Knowing that I just came back from working in Australia, the taxi driver told me how he used to work in 'travel agents' (euphemism for) forging documents for people migrating to US illegally. He told me, "Nah, they don't bother to check if the bank statement was real because they receive so many applications. A lot of people overstayed their visit and rarely get caught, you know. What's the worst could happen? Get deported maybe, and not being able to come back to that country forever…
"well, unless…
"we change name and identity" he said as he giggled
Haha. See, that's what I love about Indonesian spirit. There's never a dead end. We are rule benders with sense of humour ; )
Then he told me about his experience as taxi driver in the flood. An out of town passenger thought that he was tricking him when he said they should take another route because of the flood. The passenger insisted that they take the 'usual' road. That road has three elevations and demotes. So what happens is cars wait at the peak and watched other cars go. And if similar cars could get through, then they would go too. When it is stuck, they probably would laugh at the driver's guts but help to push the car. And you can imagine how it caused massive traffic jam. After smoke coming out from the car machine, the taxi driver pulled over and with the passenger (who finally believed that it really flooded!), standing there and watching cars go for 1 hour.
There's always a story in every inch of this city, isn't it?
So what else happens during flood? Yes, it is a devastating situation. But like my grandmother said, when you have rheumatic in your arms, what do you do, you're not going to cut your arm, are you? You're going to do something about that arm, and learn to live your life happily with the rheumatic in your arm.
economy rolls during flood (this is a 'taxi' cart)
locals help to push car during flood
people help each other during flood
sweet moments happen during flood
and the not so sweet ones..
children help each other during flood
people help animals during flood
people share during flood
men fish during flood
president's palace was strike too during flood.
What, it's good news, isn't it?
children put up sign: "VISIT SWIMMING POOL – FREE – AS LONG AS YOU LIKE"
children help each other going to school with invented transportation system during flood! (The carriers are either helpful locals, or the students as well, keeping the dry cloths inside their bags)
children play…
and invent games during flood
these expat guys intentionally skipped work to play in the flood! you don't have flood in your country eh?
mermaid appears during flood!
Seriously, how can you not love this city?
Image source: various (google: keyword: banjir jakarta 2013)
August 9, 2012 § 2 Comments
Living in Melbourne in the past six months, and working with Australian children since the last four months, I could not help but compare a lot of things with the lives of Indonesian children. When I say 'Australian' children, or 'Indonesian' children, I am, of course, making generalization that may not ring true for every one of them. In my post, Australian children refer to the ones that I work with (I would say middle class economy). Indonesian refers to the children in the preschool that I worked with (middle-upper class economy, and the slum children (lower class economy), or poor children. This observation is only based on my personal experience.
What fascinates me is the varying degree of how 'free' are children 'allowed' to play in this different groups (excuse the oxymoron), and how it contributes to personalities and character development. Children of middle-upper class economy in Indonesia, I perceive, to be more inhibited in their play and exploration, compared to the other two groups; middle class Australians and lower class Indonesians.
From my own experience as a child (a middle class economy, female, to be precise), I get some "don't"s. Don't go too far. Don't go to the mall without adult, you'll be kidnapped. Many of my friends get more "don't"s; Don't buy ice cream kampung. Don't buy that meatball, that's made from rat's meat! Don't buy any snacks from the street. Don't take public transport. And not just buses, but don't take taxi as well! Don't ride motorcycle. Don't look some people in the eye, don't stare! Don't touch it, it's filthy! It's drizzling, come on inside!! Don't be too friendly to some people, etc. And how much do we realize that they all have internalized to our habit or belief system? The likely explanation of highly untrusting atmosphere might spring from the great economy disparities in the society. The rich, that separates themselves from the poor, sometimes live in the very same area with the poor. They have to make sure they stay clean and 'dignified', always (un)consciously confirming, 'we are the civilized ones'. In big cities like Jakarta, the sight of poor people are unavoidable wherever you go. Is it justifiable, however, to instill this suspicion in children, in order to protect?
The city of Jakarta houses ten million people. With such density, houses crammed with one another, poor transportation system, and mad traffic, the government has long ignored people's need for public space. There are barely public parks and playground for children. Nada. You might wonder how could we live this way, but this has become the norm for us.
If you live in a decent housing complex, you might have a playground, however deficient and unsatisfactory. If you don't, however, whether you are from middle or upper class economy, you might find yourself staying at home, playing with your toys or your siblings. Naturally, these types of play, pretend play, role play, construction, are also of great value for development. But as I worked with the poor Indonesians and the Australian children, I realize the significant loss that the middle class Indonesians are suffering, they are missing out some kind of "adventures" like what the other two groups experience, finding secret pathways, catching insect, playing in the rain, which I'm going to talk more about later.
It is also in the big cities like Jakarta, where playgrounds are very scarce, children of the middle/upper class economy physical exploration are restricted, unless they go to the playground in the malls, by paying ridiculous ticket fee, with extravagant rides that are not always imaginative; that serve to entertain, not to stimulate. When I ask my students to share about their weekends, many would answer going to the mall. I find it regrettable, but where else could they bring their children to a playground? Some upper class families now live in apartment buildings in Jakarta, and they do have playgrounds, but they are only tiny fractions of society. Existing playgrounds in housing complex are in great deficit (if not almost totally LOST), small, with inadequate provisions, with poor maintenance, often abandoned. Put a swing, seesaw, and slide, in a small space, bam, you have a playground. Even though I'd like that statement to serve as sarcasm, but if we have at least that three things, it is still much better than having none. The condition, or the absence of playgrounds in Indonesia is a portrayal of how play is overlooked as an important part of development, but seen merely as leisure that serves nothing for thinking or learning dispositions. In schools, recess in the playground often only happens for approximately 15-30 minutes, out of 4-5 hours formal and traditional learning in the classroom, where children are forced to be quiet and listen passively to the teacher.
In the preschool that I worked at in Jakarta, the playground is not challenging enough for the children. It seems like it is built without much thought put into it, like most preschools. With such small outdoor area that had to be compromised in an expensive land in the heart of the city, the playground is overcrowded. They had playtime after school (at 12), and some (not all) parents and nannies would watch carefully and say, "Be careful! Hold on to the bar." out of need for protection from fall, sometimes due to overcrowding. Some are assisted and held constantly. The children that fell are often treated with such care and sympathy, they would be helped to get up, cuddled, and some carers would even take it further by 'hitting' the object that cause the fall (for example, a swing), to cheer up the child, saying that the swing is 'naughty'. To be fair, not all carers would behave this way, however the former consist of considerable amount, to the point that I gather it to be somewhat cultural. All my students are kept clean and smell good all day even in the hot and humid weather.
Naturally, bigger boys still play and run around wildly, but again, are they missing out some things that the other two groups experience? Or do children compensate with existing conditions and find their own ways to make things more exciting?
(Western) theories in the past century have been elucidating how important play is, how it contributes to 'thinking', your imagination, problem solving, creativity, flexibility and so on. Therefore in developed Western countries, experiences for young children have been (attempted to be) provided in a way to accommodate those developments.
In Australia early childhood framework, instead of 'teaching' (traditional teaching), the educators are there to 'provide experience', and so the learning comes from the children themselves, not being a passive subject of 'teaching'. Educators facilitate, challenge, and the children are always the active participants of their own learning. Just how Indonesians are more inhibited in their play correlates to the crippling education system, where they are also expected to sit quietly and passively listen to the teacher, in Australia, their learning, as well as their play, are also more unrestrained. They are supported, in their play and their education, to be (at least more) active.
There are plenty of examples that I encounter everyday in my workplace that shows how many of the parents here that I deal with are more understanding and lenient of dirtiness, wildness, and whole lot of craziness that are often regarded as an important element of being a child. Once two children under my care were fighting over a toy. A tiny little toddler girl (who is a vicious little biter), bit a boy on the face, which left a very bad bite mark on his cheek. Based on my experience with Jakarta preschool, where parents often seem upset when an incident happen to their child, I became nervous when this bite-victim parent came to pick him up, only to find him laughing and saying, "Yeah, it's bound to happen sooner or later". Then he teased his little boy, "So somebody gave you a big kiss huh". And it didn't only happen to one parent in case you're wondering if it's coincidental. We got the similar reactions from parents when children fell and got swollen on their forehead, grazed on their chin, who bled on their hand, bit on the thigh. In my centre, when children fall, they are not treated with as much concern, but rather with a kind but assertive remark that he/she is fine and needs to get up and try again. They are rarely helped and assisted to stand up again, unless, of course, it is a bad accident, one with injury, or very vulnerable child. This manner also stems from Australian culture of 'independence' and 'self reliant', which are deliberately instilled in children, in contrast (but not superior to) to Indonesian culture that values 'helping each other' more.
In the childcare I work in, the children are excited to hold a big insect in their hands to investigate it, run around bare feet, and when it's ice-chilly, drizzling (yes, 1 and 2 year olds are allowed to play when it's drizzling! in contrast to Indonesians who are always told to go in when it drizzles), and when I feel the wind is about to blow me away, the children still play excitedly outside. In the city, on the hilly greenery area in front of a library, I see children rolling themselves down the little hills and parents just let them be without anxiously supervising, neither for the child's safety from fall, or for the protection of strangers. There seem to be more sense of security and 'trust' in public space.
In our yard, we become fascinated by lights and shadows, sound of machine that cut the grass, rain, we found a little hole in our fence which become our peephole to a garden with beautiful flowers. We have picnic in our yard frequently with birds chirping on our roof. I personally feel indulged with pleasant sensory experience. There are many resources (natural and manufactured goods) for children to play with in the yard; plastic toys, big sandpit, twigs, leaves, steel, chalk, and we incessantly record their exploration. We even plan for dirt play. "Getting dirty is good for immune system" they say. We constantly observe, analyze, supply and change supply, we plan their exploration. Discoveries, despite come from within, are also planned, everything is based on careful measure and documentation. And their play is also always supervised.
Australians put much more effort for outdoor play as much as indoor play. Slides or climb equipment are not simply put but additional materials are there to improvise the play. Wooden board used for balancing beam, for sliding, combined with tyres, climbing frames, blocks, or net. The wooden board for slide is sometimes put higher, without the 'safety' curve on the side.
I then took sometime to learn about playgrounds in Melbourne (by visit and research on the internet), which I find much more challenging on every level. They are also designed based on calculated risk and in accordance to the safety policy.
I am very intrigued, however, by how slum or poor children play. In the world that don't bother providing them with playgrounds, the world is their playground. They appropriate existing objects, furnitures, roads, and stairs, for their play. Raw, spontaneous, without safety measure, but also without anticipated exploration. They are allowed to 'get dirty', to 'take risk' instinctively and without intellectualization. In a very narrow alley in the slum where it is barely enough for one adult to walk, boys gather to play marble. They may not have climbing frames or balancing beam but they do climb walls and trees and walk on the very high pole to cross the river. They may not have a football field but they play in the parking lots of a bank office after work-hours, or play on the road where cars rarely pass by. They may never play gokarts but they get up on the top of the trains. They get on a huge leave in rain, to be pulled around and swung around by their friend and thrown to the mud. They may not be able to buy remote controlled cars or buy video games but they make their own games using tyres, bottles, stick and stones. They develop "toughness" naturally. I once saw a toddler examining a motorbike parked in front of his house. He scrutinized it and at one point he tried to get ON it. He obviously fell down and cried. Was he comforted? I waited but all I could hear was the mother yelleing from inside, "Makanya jangan manjat2. Nangis kan sekarang!" ("Told you not to climb. Now you're crying") The boy still got up and tried it again, with no one watching.
My point is, if play is indeed crucial to cognitive development, to trigger you to explore, investigate, invent, discover, if it develops your flexible thinking and problem solving skill, if it helps you to socialize, to negotiate, to humour, to spark curiosity and sense of fascination, if all the playgrounds in the developed countries are designed for the children to have leisure, for them to take risk, to practice, fail, and try again, to develop courage, resilience, to develop creativity..
then the poor children, have met many of the aims that all the 'play designers' make for the rich and protected
then they are, supposed to be, more creative, than those two groups of children
Unfortunately, the Indonesian education system does not value these qualities, the qualities glorified by the western theories, that they gain through chaos. It only cares if the children can memorize facts. It cares for the children to shut up, listen, and magically understand. It conflicts the 'child' within them. The poors' academic performance are reflective of the economic condition, and without outstanding academic performance they would likely to end up in menial jobs where they don't have a say in most of the things. With minimum access and opportunity to shine. I wonder what happens to the 'creative child' in them.. does it fade? is it asleep? is it buried? will it die?
I'm not trying to make poor people look numb or desperate (in fact, play-wise, the middle/upper class play are more numbing in my opinion). I know for a fact that they are very resilient and creative in coping up with adversities in life; such as finding ideas to deal with flood, to deal with disability (in a busy road I saw a man in a 'wheelchair' made out of strip board on wheels. And he did not only sit there on the board but he put old cushion-y car seat on top, for comfort). I find that very creative. I'm just dumbfounded to see how much potential and intelligence wasted in a vast ocean, drifting ceaselessly
half dead
Wouldn't you be unhappy in life if you are made to become less than you're capable of?
The Last Day
January 22, 2012 § Leave a comment
This is my last day teaching in the slum. I woke up at 4am in Bandung and leave for Jakarta at 5.30 am. I reached the slum at 8am. It is a sunny day, the lights are coming down through narrow spots from in between the house roofs. In the front area, some doors are still closed, few are outside, sitting, cooking, sweeping, or just getting out from the public shower. The wet market however, is already crowded. While walking and halted every few seconds, I realized that within 50cm radius, there are many activities happening. On my left, the vegetable seller is negotiating with potential buyer in front of me, so I had to wait, because, on my right, there's an old man with his bicycle, who is stopped because of the narrow space where there's a musician with a guitar, who is singing for three ladies, who are drinking jamu*, from the seller at the right side. Underwears are sold next to vegetables and dirts are swept next to a frying pan. Is it weird that I find this place so fascinating?
I can feel my sweat flowing from my forehead down my cheek.
I walk to the back to the centre. The door is still locked. The old lady who lives at the side was sweeping the floor, I asked if I could sit on their bench while waiting. She welcomes me.
"Kak Arian!", Naya greets me cheerfully, with Zahra they both sit with me on the bench. Their legs are hanging and swaying. Zahra looks pretty and fresh, apparently she showered this morning, unlike the usual, where she always shows up with tangled hair and swollen sleepy eyes. Naya bragged about the perfect score she got for her group work at school. I asked her why hasn't Ali been coming. She told me because his mom is "gone". What do you mean gone? I asked her. "Gone, never return", she answers me. This information is later confirmed by the tutor. Ironically these things commonly happen here for various reason. Somebody said that this slum is a "children depot", I can understand why it's called that, since wherever you go, you will see children in every corner. People have sexual intercourse without contraception, sometimes for the sole pleasure. Sometimes that's how people are called "husband and wife", because they already make a family, without marriage or a legal paper. Sometimes one of the spouse just simply go away. Sometimes it's the teenagers that start the family. For Ali's case, it was money that cause the problem and the separation. "Gone, never return". I was appalled by how familiar that concept is to these children. "And why hasn't he been coming? Is he supposed to help his father work or taking care of younger sister or something?" I asked Naya again. "I think he misses his mom", she told me. Ali comes today, he's acting playful but rude towards his friends. He made Naya cried. Kak Eja thinks that he's been acting out since mom left. I shudder thinking how hard it is for a child like him to be able to understand and express his feelings.
The kids are happy with the materials I made. "Cakep ye kak?", they commented. They immediately play with it, but… uh-oh….!! When you attach the tags to the pictures, and when you try to detach it again, the velcro is off!! So I am not only giving them materials, but also I'm giving kak Eja an obligation to fix all the tags to re-glue it with better glue. I used 'Fox' glue instead of UHU because it was cheaper. Kak Eja told the kids that they may look at them and find the answers but don't use the tags for now.
And so they did…
Naya likes the transportation board while Ali likes the occupation board, he takes it again and again and again.
For this picture, which supposedly to be "journalist", Kak Eja thinks the children in La'i will say this is a busker x) As this is how some buskers in Indonesia are, they carry their own speaker and microphone, they usually sing dangdut.
Our final lesson
Niar and Amel, discussing the rainforest. They say, the monkey is Ipeh's brother. And Ipeh's perfectily happy with it.
Syarif asks me, "When will you come back?"
"A year from now"
He nods.
Kak Eja asks, "Do you understand? So how long is one year?"
He shrugs, "Until we become old", he said. Kak Eja laughs and said, "One year is 12 months. This is January 2012, Kak Arian will be back in January 2013". But Syarif still looks confused.
I told him, "Okay, how bout this. You're in second grade. I'll be back when you're in third".
"So you mean once I got my report card and then you'll be there right after?"
We laugh again and told him, "Well, not exactly. In January. During..hmm..second semester of third grade" I told him, as our Indonesian education system starts in July.
"Check the calendar", kak Eja told him. Syarif and Kiki walk towards our 2012 calendar and they point and "discussed" it. Kak Eja found another comparison and asks him, "Okay how about this, when will you be circumcised?"
He told kak Eja, "When I'm in 5th grade".
"Well Kak Arian will surely be back by then. Nevermind" Kak Eja said.
Then, as if Kiki has found a brilliant idea, he told Syarif, "Oh, I know! Why don't you get circumcised tomorrow so Kak Arian will be back tomorrow?"
I feel so humbled that the kids have accepted me, even Kiki, who was quite resistant and cold at first. How much I have learned from the children, from this little room where there is never enough space.
bye bye place..
The Overdue
January 20, 2012 § 1 Comment
Okay, since I resigned my job last week, I finally have the time to make the materials that I've been meaning to do since months. These are for the kids to 'play' while waiting for their friends to arrive, things that they can work on and on repeatedly now that I'll be gone for a year. Basically the work is to match the tags (attached with Velcro) to the pictures. Nothing spectacular but hopefully they'll like to work with it, since it's very easy to forget a bunch of new taught vocabulary. I dragged my two little sisters (and my sisters' boyfriend) to help with some cutting and gluing. And since I'm very obsessed with perfect cutting (machine quality!) I nagged them at first. But the third day at midnight I got so tired, I messed few cuttings myself.
So here they are.. We did…
December 18, 2011 § Leave a comment
Just some old rainforest preschool thematic materials that I made for college assignment.
December 10, 2011 § Leave a comment
When I reach the slum at 8.30 today, I was surprised to see many children are already at the centre in the morning. And not just that, they look very nice! Their hair are still wet, most of them showered this morning! How unusual :D They're in nice clothes, with T-shirt tucked in their pants, and uneven powder on their faces. I asked Kak Eja what's going on, and apparently a magazine company is celebrating 2nd birthday and inviting the slum children because they're going to be given free food and free milk. They're asked to come at 11, but probably their excitement has brought them since 8 in the morning! We chat, play games, wait for each other, and leave the centre at 11.00 to go the the other centre nearby where the event is held (around 1.5km walk from our centre). There are 14 of us walking under the cloudy sky, wind brushes our faces, thunders softly heard. Passing through the narrow alleys, the boys are pushing each other and laughing, the girls fighting over holding my hand. We do not pass the market because we will surely cause a traffic jam in the narrow and super crowded place! The tutor walk at the front and I walk at the very back to make sure noone's left behind. Suddenly all the children scream, run and disperse to many directions! There are three monkeys on the way (the ones that usually made perform with clothes and tambourine near the traffic lights). They laugh hard and laugh harder at the ones who are scared. We pass through houses, dirty rivers, we reach main road and crossover bridge. We pass through a very wide field that I've never realized was there before! It is more or less the size of football field, with a very brown slightly moist soil. In the middle, some children, including toddlers, are playing football, with few goats grazing right in the middle of the play. On our left side is slum housings bounded by a tall wall. Faded color roofs and the dome of a mosque are seen behind it. On the far right end is an area with contrasting green grass on the pretty brown soil, and few trees. From afar, two boys are chilling on a tall sloping tree. They rest against sturdy slanted branches, looking untroubled from anything. Their clothes are fluttered by the wind. I wonder how they see all of us from up there. The children discuss the weather. Nanda brings umbrella, they debate on what to do if the rain comes. Some want to find a shelter and some want to play under the rain. Tasya and Sevia, who are walking in front on of me, are jumping and stomping hard on the ground, to 'splash' the soil and sprinkles into the air. Not long after, we reach the other centre. Tarpaulin sheet is unfurled for the children to sit outside under the tree. From the other centres, only the children that have birthday between 1-10 December are invited to come. The boys, again, are playfully pushing each other roughly on the tarp sheet. We sit at the back. The girls hold my hands, comparing their fingers and nails with mine. They touch my hair, observe my pants and ask if it's Lepis (Levi's). And since always, they are always fascinated with my braces! Some even want to have braces now. I told them that they don't need it because they have nice teeth. (The tutor told me that there are 'toy braces' sold for kids and one of our kids have that! Haha). Azis asked me, "Do I need one Kak?" I told him to show off his teeth, he grins to me. Few teeth are not in place, very slightly. But I told him, "No, you don't need it". Yes, Indonesians are not as obsessed of perfect teeth as white people. Nala said, "Ihh Azis gimana sih, kata emak behel itu untuk cewe doang!" (Please Azis, my mom said braces are for girls only!) Arif asks me out of the blue, "Kak, are you from England?" I laugh and said no. He asks again, "Then how come you can speak English?" I told him, I learn English since I was his age and he can surely speak English too if he continues learning! Event is starting. The ladies that come from the company look very kinclong. "Cakep-cakep yee Kak", said Nala. The lady from the company asks children questions, and they give out 10 books to those who answer correctly. A bag of T-shirt, book, wafer and milk are given to those who celebrate birthday between 1-10 December. Finally, all children are each given a box of meal; yellow rice, water, a piece of chicken, perkedel, and banana. Nala doesn't finish her rice and said she will bring it home. I told her, "Why don't you eat your banana?" She said it's for her mom, who likes banana. When we're eating from the boxes, a chicken runs long across our 10m tarp sheet and jump in and out few children's food!! Everybody scream excitedly! Noticing the chicken jump in Rahma's food, I, not being aware that instead of being clean, I might sound like a spoiled girl, told the tutor, "Kak, give Rahma a new food box. The chicken jumped in her food!" The tutor only laughs and says, "Let it be Kak. Belum 5 menit!" Really? When I turned my face around, Rahma already continues eating. At 1pm, the event's done. The sky is still cloudy and we walk with the children. The tutor tells me that we don't have to send them all the way until the centre, just walk with them until the crossover bridge at the main road. The tutor walks with me in the back while children are walking and jumping around drinking their milk in front of us. Right after we go down the crossover bridge, the tutor says, "Okay, let the children go and we take the bus here." We didn't say goodbye to the children because they all have walked far in front of us. We watch them walk. The girls at the front, who suddenly realize that we are not there, look back. We wave to them as as sign that we're not coming back with them. They wave back to us. One by one they realize, they stop, we wave to them, they wave back to us, and they continue walking. Kiki, at the back, who realizes last that we're not coming, suddenly stops and from afar I can see him shouting to the other kids but I can't hear what he said, probably telling them that we're 'left behind'. He just runs towards us while the others keep walking. I wave him to the left and to the right (as in 'bye-bye-bye') and Kak Eja waves him from the back to the front (as in 'shoo-shoo-shoo'). Kiki stops and reads our sign language. After that, the thin and handsome Kiki with his oversized backpack turns back and runs to catch up with the others. As he runs, his backpack is flying up and down his skinny back. I can see him getting smaller and smaller from where I stand, until he disappears at a right turn..
Tak terasa sudah penghujung tahun… Langkah yang melompat-lompat riang dan tawa-tawa nakal, bukan hanya kenangan.. tapi sudah menjadi bagian dari diriku. Aku pasti akan kembali lagi.


text:
Google can now bid for a $59 million U.S. Interior Department cloud e-mail and productivity contract, according to a department decision filed Wednesday.
Google had sued the Interior Department last October over its decision to consider only Microsoft's Business Productivity Online Suite for a contract to provide email and collaboration technology to the department's 88,000 employees.
In January, Judge Susan Braden ordered the department to hold off awarding the contract while she reviewed the case. She later saidthat there was "justifiable basis" for her to find violations of procurement laws.
Now the department has reopened the bidding process, kicking Google's legal challenge to the curb and opening up the contract to both Microsoft's Office 365 cloud productivity services and Google Apps for Government.
Microsoft and Google are battling it out for key government and business contracts, particularly as Microsoft expands its cloud-based email and collaboration services in the public sector.
The government's previous request for information required support for Microsoft's BPOS, but, according to Wednesday's filing, the research used by the Interior Department "is now stale in light of new developments in technology and entrants into the market."
The Department of the Interior said it's now updating its market research and prepping to reopen the bidding process for its cloud email and collaboration services.
"We're pleased with the outcome of our discussions with the Department of Interior, and look forward to the opportunity to compete for its business and save taxpayers money," said Google in a statement.
Microsoft also issued a statement about the matter: "We are pleased the case has been dismissed, and that the Department of Interior can proceed to obtain the secure email system it needs. We are fully prepared to continue competing for the Department's business and are confident that we offer the best cloud solutions and value."
Google's enterprise Gmail service was recently deemed a viable alternative to Microsoft Exchange Online and other cloud-based email services, according to research firm Gartner.
Microsoft and Google have taken public jabs as they fight for cloud e-mail clients, with Google saying Microsoft services are unreliableand Microsoft touting its privacy policy over Google's.

subset: commoncrawl


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GUITAR STYLES: Ragtime Guitar Progressions
Ragtime Guitar Progressions
Example two adapts a syncopated Ragtime rhythmic variation that involves several dominant 7th chords along with picked embellishments that tie together the harmony of the progression. This technique is extremely popular to the Ragtime style and helps the guitarist to better comprehend the syncopated 16th swing groove found in progressions of this style.
PART TWO: In the second half of the lesson, we begin in example three with a study of the "II-V-V" chord changes. This movement is very common in Ragtime with dominant 7th chord harmonies used across these progressions. Example three explores two similar endings that apply traditional Ragtime guitar phrases from the key of, "G."
In example four, our focus shifts to the sound of the Ragtime style Boogie progression. This set of chord changes creates a Ragtime progression in the key of "G." Even though this riff may not occur as often as the alternate bass fingerpicked riffs, it is still an important groove to learn. Practice this progression, then after you've developed it, transpose it to other chords and other keys.
Develop the phrases included in this lesson plan and expand from here by learning how to play some of the classic Ragtime numbers. One of the easier songs to start with is the piece, Freight Train, by Elizabeth Cotten.
Paid members can download the handout along with the MP3 jamtrack in the members area at: CreativeGuitarStudio.com


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About our logo
Tantissimi eventi in programma per allietare le vacanze e scoprire come è #BellaMilano!
Scoprite con noi cosa succede a #MilanoaPlacetoBE
La ricetta è quella rigorosa del disciplinare della Camera di Commercio di Milano: materie prima selezionate, tempi di lievitazione lentissimi, tanta passione e pazienza. Un insolito punto di vista sul panettone milanese espresso da un panificatore artigianale, che definisce il dolce tipico del Natale come "pane ricco".
Approda a Milano Noir in Festival, l'appuntamento con il cinema noir che da venticinque anni tingeva di giallo le bianche valli di Courmayeur.
Diretto da Giorgio Gosetti e Marina Fabbri, il Festival sarà nelle sale milanesi dall'11 al 14 dicembre, dopo una prima tappa a Como.
A Parigi, nel 1911 i più importanti esponenti del mondo della cultura artistica e musicale milanese si unirono, sostenuti dal Governo e dal re Vittorio Emanuele III, con lo scopo di aggiudicarsi all'asta un lotto di cimeli musicali e teatrali di straordinario valore messi all'asta dall'antiquario Sambon. Tra loro vi erano figure illustri: il duca Uberto Visconti di Modrone Presidente del Teatro alla Scala, Giacomo Puccini, Umberto Giordano, Arrigo Boito, Ettore Modigliani, il tenore Enrico Caruso, gli editori Ricordi e Sonzogno. Grazie al loro impegno e a questa prima acquisizione venne istituito il Museo Teatrale alla Scala, inaugurato nel 1913.
Dal 1 gennaio 2016 Donatella è la Direttrice del Museo Teatrale, le radici della sua vita professionale sono profondamente legate a due ambiti dell'eccellenza culturale milanese, apparentemente distinti ma in realtà molto vicini tra loro: la moda e il teatro.
Scopri con noi le numerose iniziative in programma
Dietro le quinte della Scala, uno dei teatri d'opera più importanti al mondo, decine di tecnici, maschere e operai sono al lavoro per il cambio scena fra un atto e l'altro. Alla vigilia della tradizionale "Prima" di Sant'Ambrogio, un modo diverso di raccontare (e omaggiare) il teatro attraverso il lavoro di chi non va in scena, ma è altrettanto importante alla riuscita dello spettacolo.
Cosa ci riserva il primo week end del mese oltre all'aria frizzantina?
La Prima della Scala è il tradizionale appuntamento che porta Milano alla ribalta internazionale e segna per i milanesi l'avvicinarsi a Natale.
Da sei anni una nuova tradizione porta questo grande evento per le strade e nei quartieri di Milano: la Prima Diffusa!
Il re delle strade di Milano corre sui binari. Il suo nome tecnico è serie 1500 ma tutti lo conoscono come "1928", dall'anno della sua nascita. Dentro l'officina ATM di via Teodosio, ultimo avamposto industriale nella città del terziario, si rimettono a nuovo le vetture dopo anni di servizio, con la stessa tecnologia meccanica degli anni '20.
Scopri gli eventi di questo week end a #MilanoaPlaceToBE
ExpoinCittà Communications Team contribute to A place to BLOG with Italian and English-language articles. Together with our bloggers, we will guide you through the six months of Expo, providing you with advice and information about Milan and its thriving atmosphere!
Elce è uno studio di Milano fondato da Valentina Di Francesco e Stefano Frattini che lavora sulla visual identity realizzando progetti di comunicazione e storytelling.
Città Nascosta Milano è una associazione culturale, fondata nel 2010 con l'obiettivo di far scoprire Milano e la Lombardia e i suoi tesori nascosti.
Ana is a Spanish librarian and she will write about Miguel de Cervantes and the 400th anniversary of the publication of the second part of Don Quijote. She will also inform us about various literary activities taking place in Milan, the "city of books", in 2015.
Nando is a writer, a Spanish language teacher and an hispanist specialised in history of literature. The Instituto Cervantes in Milan published his book Tras las huellas de la Milàn española ("Revisiting Spanish Milan 1706 - 2006") and continues its collaboration with him on various research projects related to the history of literature.
Belgian IT specialist and Spanish culture enthusiast. He will propose a selection of Hispanic activities from ExpoinCittà calendar.
A Polish hispanist, she will be our reporter in Milan.
Algerian citizen. She will delight us with Hispanic and Quixotic recipes.
Sudanese, 22 years old, Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering at University of Khartoum between 2008 and 2013. Currently studying for his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Geomatics at the Polytechnic University of Milan. Speaks Arabic, French, English, some Italian, some Spanish. Hobbies: music, art, sport, learning languages.
Agathe, 22, art and design enthusiast. Wishing to make a living out of it someday soon, I study Industrial Design at Politecnico di Milano. Here are a few of my favourite things: fresh orange juice, cookies in the oven, book smells, blockbuster movies, French cheese dipped in ketchup, love problems, sunrises, bracelets for men, drives in the countryside, wedding dresses and never-ending lists.
Me, it's Claire, 24 year-old, from the historic corsair city of Saint-Malo in Britanny. However, my curiosity brought me to live in quite a few countries. I believe to be particularly sensible to places, objects, persons imprinted with history and revealing a "savoir-faire". Thus, the authenticity of Italy could only charm me. I will guide with a great pleasure my readers through Milan and its streets full of secrets.
Social innovation guru and Curiosity finder, Chimène Bocquet is studying the Management of Public Administrations in Milan.
Take a good liter of frenchness, add some unconditional love for food, a light touch of bad jokes and mix everything in Milan's university for one year… And here you go, that would be me! And throughout this blog, I promise I will always be committed to what truly matters. As dear Orson Welles said, "Ask not what you can do for your country. Ask what's for lunch".
My name is Irina, I'm 21 years old, come from a small town near Moscow, live and study in Milan. To describe myself, I could be a female character of a typical Soviet movie – good student, sports player, socially active. But the constant drive for new experiences and challenges makes me jump from the rocks, learn new languages or pack my comfort zone into four suitcases and head off to Italy.
A Mexican girl starting to have a quarter-life crisis. I've never moved from my house in Mexico before; that is until six months ago when I decided to come to Milan because I knew there had to be a different path for me. If anybody asks, I officially believe in love…for beer.
Student from Republic of Karelia. Fallen in love with Italy. Enjoying my life in Milan and sharing happiness with everyone :)
My name is Maksym. I am an architect; however the field of my interest extends far beyond the construction and design. The main credo is "information never could be useless", thus I am always in the process of studying and learning something new and interesting. The more I know, the more I want to share this with people around me. Therefore, welcome to my blog – I am sure everyone will find something for themselves.
My name is Ivan Ashkinadze. I was born and raised in Minsk, capital of Belarus, currently I am studying in the first year of Architecture course at Politecnico di Milano. Earlier, before moving to Milan, I had completed IB Diploma Programme at an international school in Germany. Today I speak 4 different languages on different levels: Russian as my mother-tongue, English, German and Italian. I have decided to write a blog for Expo in Città because I will get a chance to experience various events, meet interesting people and involve myself in the cultural life of Milan.
Pacilia Tan Saw Kun , Malaysian.
Loves to express myself through writing because it is the closest way to express what lies within the heart. Being an architectural enthusiast, I soon found myself fallen in love with photography and travel. I enjoy the excitement of meeting new people and discovering new things as I travel, and I will compose all of them in my writings alongside with photographs.
I am Sun Lu and come from Baoding, an ancient city with a history of 3000 years in China. I turned 26 and have been living and studying in Italy for 2 years. My major is Musicology at University of Milan and I am passionate about literature, art, music and theatre. While being honest, positive and responsible, I always enjoy exploring new things and strive to achieve the highest standard possible at any given task. Now I am in pursuit of being an ambassador of cultural exchange and dissemination.
Trilingual/Business student Made in China/Based in Milan Foodie/Traveller/Book Junkie Been discovering the world since 1991
Born in the country where the waterfalls reach the sky: Venezuela. An Engineer that one day decided to take a plane to go back to the books and the student life with the promise of a best future. Hobbyist writer and lover of the animals and the nature.
Colombian, he was born in 1986. Graduated as Mechanical Engineer in Bogota in 2011, is always showing the passion for science, technology and particularly the love to machines and cars. Nowadays, he lives in Italy and is taking his post-graduate studies at "Politecnico di Milano". He declares himself as a new cultures explorer and specifically an Italian lifestyle fan.
An American in Milan. Journalist. Yoga Teacher. Organic Foods Fanatic. Searching for the Essence of the Moment. Problem Anticipator. Photographer. Loving the skies above me.
Rohan is from Bangalore, India. He is a mechanical engineer pursuing his master's in engineering management at the Politecnico di Milano . A huge technology enthusiast, he loves travelling, motorcycles and food. Between food, motorcycles and women, he can't decide what is the best thing that happened to him. A geek at heart who seeks refuge in movies and books.
Originally from Colorado, USA, Nisa has grown up with a mixed background of Persian and European heritage, giving way to her wanderlust and love for new people, cultures, languages and food. She has spent a significant amount of time traveling the world, and tries to see at least one new place every few months. In her free time, you can find Nisa doing her favorite things: traveling, dancing, photography, laughing like crazy, and of course, eating.
Markos Hughes is an exchange university student from Brisbane, Australia. He studies architecture at the Politecnico di Milano. Alongside Expo in città he is also a Student Ambassador for the EU for Expo 2015. Markos has an interest in art, photography and storytelling.
I'm Yulia Sukhneva, a native Russian living and studying in Milan. Do you know what the worst thing was for me when I was a child? To write essays at school. But since September 2014 I've started my personal style blog 'Fashion Consolle' and suddenly have become an occasional writer, or blogger. Never thought I'd love writing so much. So, I don't set limits anymore. If you like fashion, style and design follow my updates.
One of a many Taiwanese in Milan (NABA). Lucky enough to go to NY (Pratt) for an exchange semester. Take responsibility seriously and become the president of Taiwanese student in Italy community. Love challenge enough to make an internship and go to Madagascar. Enjoy my life enough to stay in Italy and I'm prepared to be something more.
Well decided to taste the dolce vita, I moved away from Parisian habits to Milan one year ago. Architect and PhD candidate in urban planning, I am interested in art, cultural events and Italian gastronomy (I have to admit it). How can we imagine a better destination than the city, mysterious and creative, where Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous Cenacolo, where the Salone del Mobile attracts the crowds from the entire world and where it is possible to eat gelato in any season?
I am Leyla Menchola, industrial designer and art & design lover. I am very proud of my Peruvian nationality and very happy of being in Milan doing my master degree. I see in art & design a great way to generate change and social development.
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It's September and for one of us at anna bé {that would be Breanna} it's officially the month of her wedding! The pressure is on for a wedding dress when you own a shop. And while we're not going to give away what the dress is {yet}, we can tell you that it is a lace dress. We know that lace is not for everyone, but lately there seems to be more of it in the bridal world. This trend got us wondering what makes lace so special.
It's timeless – lace has literally been a presence in the fashion world since the 15th century.
It's fluid - lace manages to go from formal to casual in the blink of an eye.
It's unique – there is no one type of lace, any openwork fabric with a pattern can be classified as lace and there is an endless variety of patterns, types, and styles.
It's romantic and lovely – lace evokes a feeling of grace, femininity, and classical beauty that is epitomized by Grace Kelly. If lace is your look, here's four of our favorites {all lace yet all so different!).
xoxo - anna & breanna
(#1: Treasure by Monique Lhuillier, #2: Amoret by Temperly London, #3: Abingdon Square by Lela Rose,
#4: Nila by Modern Trousseau)


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Redhead babe with small boobies Stacey LeAnn gets her twat nailed hard
Duration: 3min 02sec Views: 5 502 Submitted: 1 year ago Submitted by:
Description: A seductive woman who knows what a man wants. A quiet and submissive freak who lives to please. These descriptions embody what StacyLeann is. This All-American hottie took it back to the day when a man needed to be pleased and served. Stacy Leann displayed her sexy nature today and let Mick run the show. From licking her juicy ass to sticking his cock in her tight and wet hole, Stacy was there to please. Well, she did just that, a real woman's woman, Stacy was a pure rarity.
Channel: Reality Kings
Pornstars: Stacey LeAnn


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*** Win $2,000 PayPal Cash -- Ends 2/14, 9pm AEDT! ***
Prize: $2,000 PayPal Cash
Approximate Retail Value (ARV): AUD 2,000.00
Prize Categories: Cash
Ages: Minimum: 18, Maximum: Unlimited
Start Date: Information not provided
Closing Date: 14 February 2018
Entry frequency: Single Entry
Requirements: Instagram
What you must do to enter: Instagram loop
Statistics: This contest was opened by 127 and entered by 3 ContestChest.com members. 2% of those who opened the contest, entered it.
To see this contest, register if you are not yet a member and log in:
Open to people in the following countries:
United States


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Build a React.js + Mongodb Contest Marketplace Website
Bütçe $10000-20000 USD
IMPOTANT, Before sending a proposal:
*you must send example sites that you have worked on, no single squeeze page websites or basic sites allowed,
*you must have experience in developing marketplace / ecommerce websites
*i am looking for skilled developers that hold the skills to create sites LIKE Airbnb, Fiverr, Reddit, WEB 2.0 E-commerce sites with social features.
*Live admin backend statistics with full admin editing functionalities.
The project will be written mainly in ReactJS + MongoDB.
I am looking for FULL FOCUS team / or individual who can spend his full-time on this with daily updates.
Knowldge in making everything load as FAST as possible using caching technologies is required.
You must have be skilled in UI / Layout designing.
To break it up I need the following features done:
Log-in / register using Facebook, Google+, Twitter.
Contest & contest entries. (main selling point of the site)
Contest Search capabilities.
Contest deadline.
Contest approval by admin.
Upload videos on our Youtube channel using Youtube API for video uploading field.
Live messaging notification system
voting mechanism for contest entries. (upvote downvote).
Entry comment section.
Entry comment upvote / downvote.
Have a karma system (Count total upvotes / downvotes the user has gained from all entries).
Image Upload.
Image Gallery.
Image Watermark upon upload (Keep non-water marked image as well).
Have Paypal as payment option, you need to be familiar with Paypal API and mass Paypal Payouts.
Social sharing buttons.
Backend Admin capabilities.
Support ticketing system.
Email contact form.
Contest managing / Contest creating / Contest reporting features.
split payment amongst users algorithm, each entry under the Contest will receive a % of the total budget, the more votes the entry receives the higher % the user will get.
Vote filtration, log ip's, allow only 1 vote from same ip on the same entry. Prevent users from vote fraud by not allowing them to vote from new accounts from same IP on their own entry.
Block proxy use of voting but allow them to register anyways, have proxy block list in the backend which I can update.
User balance (all money from submitted entries will be added to the balance), have weekly payments option.
Dashboard with statistics such as how many total orders were made by date, daily, monthly, yearly.
Logging for debugging, keeping track of everything and bug fixing.
Check attached file for full specifications.
Bu iş için 7 freelancer ortalamada $18823 teklif veriyor
Hello Sir, We have a Team of 20+ Certified Developer who will do your Contest Marketplaced Development work. We do use Git / Bitbucket for code version controsl and Slack for colloboration. Relevant Skills and Exper Daha Fazla
Hello sir, I see your project requirements and attached text file. You have given nice explanations how you want your project to be done. We always seek of serious clients like you. Relevant Skills and Experience Plea Daha Fazla
"Web development Experts" we are a leading website app development company, We have Reviewed your project and we think we can surely do it. Relevant Skills and Experience we specialize in WordPress, PHP, Laravel, Daha Fazla
We are highly experienced React and MongoDB experts. We have worked on many eCommerce web solutions. Relevant Skills and Experience Following are some websites and apps we have worked on: [login to view URL] http Daha Fazla
before I had developed Brewins Contest Platform using React + Node.js + Redux + MongoDB. [login to view URL] I am available. Looking forward to speaking with you. Thanks Stay tuned, I'm still working on this proposa Daha Fazla
We have 5 years of experience in developing web applications based on Javascript Technologies Including React, Node, Mongo, Angular and other we have proven experience with live working examples Relevant Skills and Ex Daha Fazla
A proposal has not yet been provided


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April 28, 2016
Achieving consistent and reliable street and open air lighting in areas of the world without a grid system is a considerable challenge and especially so in extreme climatic conditions. Yet the benefits in terms of safety and security for citizens, are immense.
Sunna Design, a French designer and manufacturer of solar lighting, is tackling this problem with a range of lighting solutions adapted for rural, arid or desert regions where installation and on-going maintenance are difficult. Sunna has developed lamp posts topped with solar panels which are equipped with a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, coupled with a smart energy management system. The lamps provide public lighting in remote areas which is essentially maintenance free, designed to limit vandalism and quick and simple to install.
For stand-alone solar lighting systems, a light weight battery can be an important advantage when set at height. Small NiMH batteries are integrated inside the head of the lamp and placed at the top of a mast. This significantly simplifies installation and avoids both having to bury the battery in the ground, as well as the need for cabinets or external electrical connections.
Durable battery chemistry
To ensure that the battery has a long life, charge and discharge management is the key element. End-of-charge and end-of-discharge detection methods are used to prevent over-charge and over-discharge, and are programmed into the battery management system.
The choice of a nickel-based battery was the result of a two year study with French research laboratory, CEA-INES, part of the National Institute for Solar Energy. The researchers compared battery technologies which can be used in extreme conditions. "Rainfall, solar radiation and intense heat as well as sand storms and desert winds of up to 100km/h all had to be taken into account," explains Raphael Baillot, Head of R&D for Sunna. Air temperature is the most sensitive environmental factor for a battery and the objective was to find the most resistant battery chemistry for desert environments, and improve its performance and lifespan in tough conditions.
Unrivalled lifespan
Accelerated aging tests confirmed NiMH technology for its efficiency and predicted a lifespan of ten years as well as suitability for Africa or Middle East desert operating conditions. Here temperatures can range from around 58°C during the day to 10°C at night, and in some regions at certain times of the year can even fall to around freezing. The battery therefore needs to function reliably over a wide temperature range. "The nickel-based batteries allow us to reach an unrivalled lifespan for our products," says Baillot.
The high temperature resistance of this metal allows us to get an optimum performance even under the harshest environments on earth," says Sunna engineer, Nicolas Mercadal. "This is the best battery technology for solar lighting applications."
"Because the battery stores solar energy during the day for use at night, efficiency of the system's energy storage is critical. In African countries, lead acid batteries in similar systems have a life of up to two years and can expire in less than a year. "Reliability provided by NiMH batteries prevents additional maintenance costs," says Laura Pargade, Sunna's Head of Marketing. "A smart electronic energy management system optimizes the lighting program whatever the weather and enhances the battery lifespan." NiMH offers reasonable specific energy (55 to 70 Wh/kg) and covers one of the largest temperature ranges available for rechargeable battery technologies, from -20 to + 70°C.
Communities in over 20 countries are now benefiting from the systems. Many are in Africa, including Senegal, Nigeria and Cameroon, as well as a refugee camp in Jordan.
Blackouts in remote areas could be a thing of the past thanks to solar lighting systems based on NiMH battery technology with the potential to bring light to everyone, everywhere, reliably and sustainably.
Ziguinchor is the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal and has a population of over 230,000. It lies at the mouth of the Casamance River and has a bustling harbour, with areas dedicated to the fishing industry where locally caught fish are smoked and sold. Before the municipality installed the Sunna Design solar street-light "Maxi" system, the fishermen attached flashlights to their heads with tape to enable them to work in the dark. Selling fish when the fishing boats arrived at the dockside was restricted because of the darkness but now, with the aid of the solar street lights, commercial activities which start there at 4 a.m. are being developed.
Feature Story:Shell's Quest projectQuest, Shell, climate change, air quality, C02, CCS, Type304L, carbon dioxide, Alberta, Canada, emission reduction, new technology,


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2LC Assembly
This term we have been learning about materials and their uses in Science. In January the boys of 2LC gave an exciting presentation on the subject which included a short sketch on the changing state of water.
The three characters 'water', 'water vapour' and 'ice' ably demonstrated that they were all interchangeable as a result of fluctuations in temperature.
The assembly began with a wonderful dance display by five boys using ribbons to represent the gentle trickle and flow of water. The whole class also recited a poem about water and its uses, which they delivered with great expression and enthusiastic miming.
Thank you to the parents for helping the boys to learn their lines and supporting them on the day. The boys thoroughly enjoyed their performance and were all very proud of their brilliant acting, narrating, miming and dancing.
Mrs Crabtree


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October 19, 2007
Contact: Ben Sherman, NOAA Public Affairs
NOAA Initiates Three-Year $781,000 Project to Unravel Gulf Deadzone Mysteries
NOAA has awarded first-year funding of $284,000 to researchers at the University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute (UTMSI) as part of a three-year $781,000 project to develop a better understanding of how nutrient pollution from the Mississippi River affects the large area of low oxygen water called the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico. The project will also look at how the dead zone affects commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish.
Funds were awarded through NOAA's Northern Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia and Ecosystems Research Program.
"A better understanding of the underlying causes of the dead zone is essential for predicting its effect on the Gulf fisheries and the region," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "The goal of this research is to help develop a range of options that coastal and upriver resource managers can use to prevent and reduce nutrient pollution that contributes to the dead zone."
This project will provide data to verify water quality models and help resource managers determine the quantitative relationships between nutrient pollution and development, magnitude, longevity, and distribution of the dead zone. Findings will also support the development of more accurate predictive models of hypoxia development on the Louisiana continental shelf.
The dead zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico where seasonal oxygen levels drop too low to support most life in bottom and near-bottom waters. It is caused by a seasonal change where algal growth, stimulated by input of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers, settles and decays in the bottom waters. The decaying algae consume oxygen faster than it can be replenished from the surface, leading to decreased levels of dissolved oxygen.
This past summer off the coast of Louisiana and Texas, an area of deep water covering 7,900 square miles was declared hypoxic. It is the third largest Gulf of Mexico dead zone on record since measurements began in 1985, and represents an area approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. Also, it is more than one and a half times the average annual dead zone area measured since 1990, 4,800 square miles. The largest dead zone ever recorded covered 8,494 square miles in 2002.
The research program, managed by NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, seeks to provide resource managers with new tools, techniques, and information to make informed decisions, and assess alternative management strategies regarding hypoxia. Supported projects are leading to the development of a fundamental understanding of the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem, with a focus on the causes and effects of the hypoxic zone, and the prediction of its future extent and impacts on ecologically and commercially important living resources.
In fiscal year 2007, the NOAA National Ocean Service, through the center, provided approximately $10 million in competitive grants to institutions of higher education, state, local and tribal governments, and other non-profit research institutions to assist NOAA in fulfilling its mission to study our coastal oceans.
In 2007 NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries in the 1870's, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 70 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects.
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On the Web:
NOAA: http://www.noaa.gov
NOAA National Ocean Service: http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov
NOAA's Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research: http://www.cop.noaa.gov/
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How Maps Are Transforming Local Search
With just an address and a phone number, you can take control of your business, and you can stand out by providing accurate information and relevant content.
With just an address and a phone number, you can take control of your business, and you can stand out by providing accurate information and relevant content.
Recently, I was in the airport where I watched a 10-year-old boy show his dad how to access Google Maps for directions to their hotel. I had to laugh. But then I started pondering how local search and navigation have changed in just a few short years. When had I last used my atlas? It's pretty outdated – the 1997 edition, and that's probably around the last time I used it. The point is maps, as simplistic as they may seem at times, are not just for the atlas anymore.
Maps are fairly uncomplicated. You are here, and you want to go there. However, when you throw a word like "Google" or "Bing" in front of maps, you have a much richer experience. Back in 1998 when Google Maps was just starting up, the main purpose of the Web site was to map roads, highways, towns, and cities. Fast forward 12 years, and local search sites of this caliber are now a symbol of all things local search. These sites are a venue for businesses to promote their local relevance to users. They're a place where consumers can not only find out how to get somewhere, but what will be there when they get there. And all of this started with a map.
What About IYPs?
It's no news to anyone that the progression of local search started with print yellow pages and has since moved online in the form of Internet yellow pages (IYPs). However, search engines have gotten wise to the fact that consumers are closer to the point of purchase when using IYPs than they are with search engines. That's why search engines are upping the local search ante, and, as a result, are starting to steal share from the IYPs on both the big search engines and their respective local search sites.
Source: comScore, MyMetrix Media Trend Report, total monthly unique Visitors for select media
In terms of unique visitors, Google Maps leads the race and taking share from some IYPs. In the past, many of the IYPs relied heavily on favorable organic SERP (define) placement as a traffic driver to their local sites. Now that Google (and Google Maps) has increased its local search results, users don't have to click through to the IYP sites.
Some IYPs that have realized this decrease from a lack of SERP placement have regained traffic through increased distribution and promotion of their sites. YellowPages.com is a good example of a site that has made a comeback in the traffic wars, and consequently, is now taking share from some of the smaller players.
There Is No Silver Bullet
Local search, however, isn't just about Google Maps or YellowPages.com. It still surprises me how advertisers, both local and national, look for one site or tactic to be the magical solution to their lead generation challenges. As I stated in a recent Webcast for ClickZ and Search Engine Watch, silver bullets don't exist in the local search space. To be successful, advertisers must research local market options and develop a diversified portfolio of sites and ads to capture maximum results.
If all of this sounds complicated, take a breath and relax. With just an address and a phone number, businesses can take control of their local business listings. Businesses that will become trusted and more relevant to a consumer's search are the ones that will proactively provide accurate information, as well as relevant content that will make them stand out from the competition.
A Look Ahead
There's a lot going in local search, and it's almost as hot of a topic as the uprising of Facebook and Twitter. Whether it's a general search on Google, a question asked on Facebook, or a restaurant you find on your smartphone, local search is all-encompassing. Here's the evidence:
Small Is the New Big
Local search may have taken awhile to get its foot-hold in the online world, but with all of the current activity and potential for the future, local search will make this world a whole lot smaller. To be successful in local search, marketers should implement programs that target where local usage is today. As for the future of local search? It's going to take on a whole new meaning in the social realm. Stay tuned for more on that in next month's column.


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Connecting with the Latina Mother - Brain Candy Blog
Cynthia Murga, Senior Account Executive Marketers are now well aware of the Hispanic buying power, but they have also discovered the power of the Latina Mother. A study in 2013 showed that in the Hispanic culture the Latinas are the primary decision makers in the household. As a Latina woman and mother this study resonates with me personally. Growing up and even now in my own household, my decisions are valued and whether it's my child's education, …
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Vin Diesel Got Choked Up Talking About Paul Walker at a Furious 7 Screening
He's a giant teddy bear.
Vin Diesel is the kind of action hero who is not afraid of getting vulnerable. At an advanced screening of Furious 7 in Los Angeles, Diesel got choked up talking about his friend the late actor Paul Waker. "This was a labor of love. It was in some ways the hardest movie I ever had to do, because the relationships that you see on film are so real," said Diesel. "When the tragedy happened, I lost my best friend. I lost my brother. Tonight … " This is when he got choked up, and the crowd cheered him on. "What can I say, guys? Thanks for being my family. Thanks for always taking care of us. Thanks for believing in us." Vin Diesel: still the best guy to get drunk with and sing a forlorn Sam Smith song at 3 a.m.


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London's black cab drivers are launching an innovative app for the iPhone that allows struggling commuters to hail a cab more easily.
LDNTaxiApp enables users to view taxis available within a two-mile radius of their location by utilising the iPhone's GPS and those installed on the taxis, making it easier to determine the best spot to catch a ride.
The app also alerts cabbies in the vicinity to the customer's location, saving punters the hassle of calling the cab company to dispatch a cab.
When the driver accepts the fare, the app automatically receives the driver's picture along with details such as the registration number and colour of the cab. The customer can then confirm the fare on their phone if they wish to accept.
Better yet, the app notifies the customer when the cab has arrived for the pick-up, reminding that the meter is now running.
Pretty cool, eh? We think so too.
LDNTaxi will be available soon on the App Store.


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Ojo de Agua Trail is a 2.3 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near María Antonia, Puerto Rico and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding and is accessible year-round.
kid friendly
nature trips
hikingSunday, April 02, 2017
Guanica State Forest is an awesome place. It's a totally different environment from the rainforest on the east side of the island. Definitely a place to check out and hike. Just bring your own bathroom supplies if you must use the facilities.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Great easy trail


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California Sued Over Law For HIV Patients
AIDS Healthcare Foundation sued California's Department of Health Services in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, criticizing the state for failing to provide Medicaid to HIV-positive individuals nearly five years after former California Gov. Gray Davis approved the bill.
Davis signed bill AB 2197 into law in September 2002.
"We are asking the court for a declaration that California's DHS has...
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Zymoglyphic Museum.
From the website:
The world's only repository for the study and display of Zymoglyphic art, artifacts, and natural history. The creative output of the region relies mainly on the assemblage of natural objects. The museum also presents special exhibits on related topics in natural object assemblage, and maintains a curiosity cabinet of items that reflect the spirit of Zymoglyphic culture.
Link (What the heck is zymoglyphic? Is that even a real word?) - via Presurfer
Newest 4 Comments
be sure to check out the zymoglyphic blog:
I couldn't find it in any handy standard dictionary site.
I saw that too, ted - but I don't think there's a real English word "zymoglyphic." It's a made up word.
It says at the site that zymoglpyhic is fermented or dried-up stuff used to make art.
Not too smelly, I hope.
Not too smelly, I hope.


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Please DON'T GIVE THE ANSWERS IN THE COMMENTS BOX!!! General comments only here please!
Send your answers to me at: email@example.com with 'Photo Quiz' in the subject please. And please just send one e-mail summarising your guesses for all six pics, or my in-box will get indigestion ;-)
OK, I couldn't resist... just one more photo to really separate the wheat from the chaff! Let's call it a tie-breaker and you have the added pleasure of seeing your moody Paris chronicler in this shot!!! Orange shirt - enjoy!
Final Photo! OK, just tell me where this not insignificant 'Paris' actually is. That's all!
© Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free 2005


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I feel if I want to do this in the future and be an entrepreneur, I need to learn a bit more about how a business runs.
Brentwood, Essex (PRWEB UK) 28 October 2013
Sixteen-year-old Jordon Cox hit the national headlines and appeared on breakfast time TV after his extreme couponing skills saved his mother hundreds of pounds on her shopping.
Jordon is excited to have completed his first week as a student at the Brentwood Innovation Centre in Brentwood High Street – the local hub for the new Peter Jones Enterprise Academy approved facility launched by Havering College of Further and Higher Education (http://www.havering-college.ac.uk).
The Shenfield teenager has joined 11 young entrepreneurs plus an apprentice to study for a BTEC level 3 in Enterprise and Entrepreneurship. The Peter Jones course is designed to develop and further the aspirations of young entrepreneurs by combining academic study with real-life business challenges.
Students get to run their own micro-businesses and benefit from masterclasses with entrepreneurs. Jordon is planning to cash in on his extreme couponing success with a coupon website created to help others save money just like him.
Jordon, who is looking to make life simpler for savvy shoppers, said: "I was doing A-levels but did not really like it because having started my own business I just felt that with the subjects I chose, it wasn't really going to help me with my future. So I talked to my parents who had seen the Peter Jones course advertised and I am really pleased I signed up.
"It is a good course and I like it. In the business I am in at the moment, I have two business partners. They are already in businesses and have whizzed past some aspects and I feel if I want to do this in the future and be an entrepreneur, I need to learn a bit more about how a business runs."
At 6ft 4in, Jordon is almost as tall as the Dragon's Den star he looks up to. He is looking forward to meeting the man himself as all successful students are invited by Peter Jones CBE to his national graduation ceremony.
Jordon said, "I don't know where my entrepreneurial skills have come from. My parents are not in business. I just think I am very creative and have a lot of ideas. I have been like that since a child. I have ideas in my head and just wanted to go ahead with them. I am looking forward to meeting Peter Jones."
Jordon's "light bulb" moment came while watching the American programme Extreme Couponing where contestants vie to make the biggest savings on their shopping.
He soon discovered he was a bit of a money saving whizz kid himself by managing to get his mum more than £100 in groceries with almost £100 off.
Jordon said: "I was in the local paper at Christmas for getting my ten pence Christmas dinner and someone from the Daily Mail contacted me on Twitter. Two months later I was on page three of the Mail and then on Breakfast Time.
"That led to me being invited to address American couponers at a conference in Orlando. Since then I have been the guest speaker at the Festival of Thrift in Darlington."
If you want to get ahead as an entrepreneur and would like to find out more about the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy courses offered by Havering College of Further and Higher Education, call our admissions team on 01708 462801, email information(at)havering-college(dot)ac.uk or visit the website at http://www.havering-college.ac.uk.
To find out how your business can get involved and support the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy and other enterprise initiatives at Havering College of Further and Higher Education, call our Enterprise Hub co-ordinator Laura Trapp on 01708 455011 ext 2030 or email ltrapp(at)havering-college(dot)ac.uk.
If you are interested in finding out more about Jordon Cox, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/couponshopuk or sign-up to his newsletter via http://couponshop.co.uk.


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Amazon vs. Best Buy: A Tale of Two Retailers
It's bad enough that Best Buy has to switch CEOs - because of potential personal misconduct - while it's also trying to make a comeback.
But it's also about to lose a familiar foe in the rear-view mirror. This year, Amazon will almost certainly overcome Best Buy in full-year revenue for the first time.
When Amazon launched in 1995, Best Buy was already a multibillion-dollar business. Around the height of the DVD era, Best Buy was still $25 billion in yearly sales ahead of Amazon.
But during the past few years, Best Buy has stalled. Meanwhile, Amazon - fueled by new digital businesses like Amazon Web Services and the Kindle, Prime membership and international expansion - has surged.
A look at the companies' growth rates tells the story well: While Amazon has grown sales by 41%, 40% and 28% the past three years, Best Buy's fiscal year sales growth rates have been 2%, 0%, and 10%.
Now, Best Buy expects another flat year, despite a longer (by a week) fiscal year ending in February 2013. And it plans to close 50 'big-box' U.S. stores, reflecting the shift in electronics retail as it opens 100 new 'small-format' Best Buy Mobile stores.
Meanwhile, Best Buy hopes to grow online revenue 15% this year, while Wall Street expects Amazon to grow 30%.
Amazon - famously a money-loser for most of its early life - even beat Best Buy in profitability last year, as Best Buy reported a big loss on special charges. (Although Amazon still isn't fabulously profitable the way Apple or Google are, and is now in the business of selling tablet computers at a loss.)
Now the question is whether Best Buy can transform itself and recover. It at least anticipates a return to profitability this year. But long-term?


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Susan Manko
Senior DirectorTelephone: 412-586-9771
WHAT: Informational press conference and fireworks danger demonstration
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 27
WHERE: UPMC Mercy, 1400 Locust St., Uptown; press conference—Clark Auditorium, 2nd Floor; demonstration will be held in a lot outside of the hospital immediately following conference
WHY: Each year, an average of five people are admitted to the UPMC Mercy Burn Center with serious injuries resulting in the loss of vision or limbs, specifically fingers and hands, related to fireworks usage. As part of an ongoing effort to discourage the use of fireworks and sparklers, the burn center team will once again provide glow sticks to local area EMS facilities for distribution. Community members are encouraged to contact their local EMS department for availability.
Note to Media: Please meet media relations personnel in the main lobby of UPMC Mercy to be escorted to the conference room. Picnic lunch will be served for press conference attendees following the demonstration.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


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In our demo center, located in our Minneapolis headquarters, you can choose onsite or remote demos of the latest technologies, with facilitation and perspective from our solution experts. The Demo Center supports early technology exploration as part of the IT solution process, following initial discovery that would yield proposed technologies for consideration.
The Lab, adjacent to the Demo Center, provides a behind-the-scenes innovation environment for technical specialists to train, test, run break/fix, do system configurations and validations, and "performance tune" on integrated OS and infrastructure stacks to optimize workloads. And our Integration Center offers staging, integration and shipping, to facilitate field deployment for flawless execution and speed to market.
Please contact us or call 800.367.7472 to explore how we can optimize IT solutions to address needs and opportunities in your market.


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Voice Over IP Phone Systems
Today's business phone systems are transforming the way people work through user friendly devices, elimination of separate tools, and streamlining communication management.
They reduce costs throughout a company by:
- Streamlining business processes
- Having critical information always at reach
- Eliminating missed calls
- Removing the need for expensive third-party conference services
Whether you are happy with your current phone system and just want to change the connectivity to save money or you want an entire new system, Enstep has the right solution for your company.
We offer two types of phone systems:
1. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) trunk integration – for companies that just want to change the connectivity to their existing phone system (outside lines coming in). You can make and receive calls anywhere Internet access is available.
2. Business phone – for businesses that want a whole new system, which includes lines, phones, switches, headsets.
Reseller for 3CX
We are also a reseller for 3CX – Windows based voice over phone system. Enstep is one of the only IT companies in the Houston area that provides this particular service. We also offer support and maintenance for this product.
Are you ready to take your phone system into the 21st century?
Contact Us Today!


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It was never our intention to inflict emotional pain on our only child. Unfortunately, children can be ignored and forgotten in the sea of their parent's emotional disabilities. Children can be transported all over creation. Children can be hurt by their parent's ability to love. The loudest voice in our house was always his, although he may disagree....Continue to read
I've had a lot of survivors of psychological abuse come to me for advice especially after listening to my radio show and reading the article I wrote with Andrea Schneider titled Is Narcissism Psychological Viagra? Our sexual feelings when it comes to psychological abusers are not widely discussed. Nor are the ways in which we need...Continue to read
Are They Just a Selfish Jerk or Are They a Disordered Obnoxious, Selfish Jerk? I've met both. All genders, races and sexual preferences. I've definitely had my own selfish moments. And I've acted like a jerk. Anyone who has experienced narcissistic abuse knows there is a significant difference between the selfish jerk and the disordered-obnoxious-selfish...Continue to read
Luke Skywalker was cute as Hell and I almost put a picture of him on my bedroom wall amidst all the other pictures I had cut from magazines in my youth. In my middle-age reflections I realize I had assembled a collage of disturbed men, including Steven Collins during his stint on the 1982 adventure show,...Continue to read


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The history of bees
This weekend, Maggie and I went to a beekeeping workshop at the NC Museum of Natural History as part of BugFest 2008. The theme this year was bees, wasps, and hornets–with an emphasis on bees, since they're the most sympathetic. It was fun to see a guy with a bee "hoodie" (like a bee beard, but placed differently) and the kids pushing around a giant ball (as dung beetles), but the crowds were overwhelming. Luckily, the workshop was in a private classroom so the only distraction was the small hive in the corner buzzing away.
Even though the class was less than two hours long, we really learned a lot. The instructor took a very organic approach to beekeeping, recommending that we avoid chemicals and pre-made foundations. His favorite solution to get rid of mites, apart from prevention, was powdered sugar! You dust the bees with it and it not only makes it harder for the mites to hang on but it also activates the bees' grooming behavior (and who can blame them)!
Historically, he talked a bit about the three stages of bee cultivation or, as he put them, bee killing, bee having, and bee keeping. The first stage required finding a wild bee hive, killing all the bees, and taking their wax and honey. During the bee having stage, people would build upside-down baskets for the bees to inhabit. When a basket was full, they'd kill the bees in that basket and take the wax. They didn't get much honey this way, so honey was rare, but the bees from other baskets would move into the empty one and soon fill it again so it was an improvement.
Then, in the late 1800s, L L Langstroth discovered that bees would create hives in rows if the space between layers was exactly 3/8″. If it were less, they'd seal it up and if it were more, they'd build a bridge between the layers. With this knowledge, he created the Langstroth hive, where bees build their layers in wooden frames that can be easily removed without harming the rest of the hive.
The class instructor favored a modified version of a Langstroth hive called a top-bar hive. It's basically the same except that instead of a full frame, you just put in wooden slats on the top of the hive. The bees then build down from those however they like, leaving you with triangular comb (with a point facing down).
I also learned that Langstroth hives, and the introduction of beekeeping rather than bee having) revolutionized the agriculture industry. Most of the vegetables and fruits we eat today wouldn't grow properly in the US without the active pollination of honey bees. Cultivating bees allowed farmers to grow more crops in the same space.
Our next step is to talk to some beekeepers in Indiana and see what's different. I figure that it'd cost about $500 to get started if we purchase everything, but we might be able to knock that figure down by doing more of the prep work ourselves. Either way, we'll have to decide if it's something we want to spend money on, because now is the time of year to start setting things up. We were told that if we order now, we might get a queen and her colony in time for spring.


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In both plant and animal life calcium is an essential element; it is found among other paces in bones, eggshells and seashells. Muscles and nerves do not function without calcium.
The name calcium comes from the Latin calx, calcis = stone. In its pure form it is a silver-looking metal, a bit harder than lead and easy to work. The metal ignites on heating and reacts violently with water and acids. Calcium is found all over the world; 3.64% of the Earth's crust consists of calcium. The hardness of mains water is mostly caused by (the amount of) dissolved calcium salts.
Calcium is found throughout the plant and is needed for many processes in it, but the most important is for the growth process. It has a regulation effect in the cells and contributes to the stability of the plant.
Plants have two transport systems: the xylem and the phloem. Most nutrients can be moved around by either system, but not calcium. Since calcium is pretty much only transported via the xylem, in the plant it is a not very mobile element. This is why it is important that there is always sufficient calcium present is in the root environment, so that it is continuously available for uptake by the plant.
Calcium is moved around in the plant by the upward sap stream. In cases of calcium deficiency it is the older leaves that show the first symptoms. It is usually not the very lowest leaves but those just above them (as in a magnesium deficiency, see cAnna's info on Magnesium Deficiency). A calcium shortage is recognisable by the presence of yellow/ brown flecks on the leaves, often surrounded by a sharply defined brown edge. Also symptomatic are a stunted growth rate, and in the serious cases smaller, loose-growing buds. One can guess the result: a strikingly reduced yield.
The progression of calcium deficiency in chronological order.
A shortage of calcium can come about due to:
What to do about calcium deficiency
Lime in a free state is quickly taken up by the plant. Because lime is not very mobile in the plant the symptoms in the older leaves will not disappear. But normal development will be reassumed without any signs that there was a deficiency.
In addition to problems caused by a calcium shortage in the plant, there can also be trouble as a result of a shortage of calcium in the soil. Calcium shortages in the soil often accompany acidification of the soil. In an acidic root environment, among other things phosphate becomes less freely available to the plant and a number of heavy metals become more available for it, which can lead to poisoning of the plant (by for instance aluminium, manganese, nickel).
Too much calcium is damaging to the plant and usually has a retarding effect on the growth and leads to a darker coloured plant as a result. An excess of calcium can also lead to boron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, and sometimes copper deficiencies.


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In The News: Drum & Bugle Regiment
A national champion drum and bugle corps took a pit stop in North Platte Sunday, practicing at North Platte High School.
"We are on an eight-week national tour," said Dan Farrell, program director for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Crops based in Rockford, Ill. "We're between performances in Denver and Omaha."
Read the rest of the article here.
Posted by News Editor on Tuesday, July 10th, 2012. Filed under Current News, DCI World.


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Weird - Businesses being able to know information about people before family members
A couple of years back, there was a story about how a researcher had a challenge; how to identify a person based on their search patterns. After all, what a person searches for reveals to some extent clues to a person, and putting together all the details for a person in terms of their search helped the researcher get details of the person, to the extent that the actual person was identified by the researcher.
There is a lot of hoopla about privacy details, with the amount of details being recorded by search engines, social networks such as Facebook, and online stores that are integrated with these search engines; but the normal citizen is not so worried about such details. Read the details of this story, which worried the giant store Target so much that they tried to stop the details of this story from emerging (link to article):
Every time you go shopping, you share intimate details about your consumption patterns with retailers. And many of those retailers are studying those details to figure out what you like, what you need, and which coupons are most likely to make you happy. Target, for example, has figured out how to data-mine its way into your womb, to figure out whether you have a baby on the way long before you need to start buying diapers.One can be sure that it sounds creepy.
What Target discovered fairly quickly is that it creeped people out that the company knew about their pregnancies in advance.
|Online Privacy (Issues in the Digital Age)
|Online Privacy: A Reference Handbook
|Privacy Lost: How Technology Is Endangering Your Privacy


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in reply to Re: How do you do multi-version modules?
in thread How do you do multi-version modules?
If this is an OO-based module, you could pass a protocol version to the constructor. (Kinda like many file formats include a version.) If it's not, you could write your own import sub and use use module "1.0.0"; instead of use module 1.0.0;. This would be a bit error prone.
And if you go this route, the first version that handles protocol/API/etc. versions should assume that "no API version given" is a valid input that means "the oldest version that did not know how to handle API versions", for the sake of backwards compatibility.
In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom