text:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Home prices rose in May from April in every city tracked by a leading index, a sign that increasing sales and tight inventories are supporting a modest housing recovery.
The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home price index released Tuesday showed increases in all of the 20 cities tracked. And a measure of national prices rose 2.2 percent from April to May, the second increase after seven months of flat or declining readings.
Chicago, Atlanta and San Francisco posted the biggest monthly increases. Detroit, San Diego and Charlotte posted the smallest gains.
Phoenix, one of the hardest-hit cities in the housing slump, posted the strongest year-over-year gain in home prices. Still, prices there remain more than 50 percent below their peak, reached in summer 2006.
The increases partly reflect the impact of seasonal buying. The month-to-month prices aren't adjusted for seasonal factors.
In the past year, the 20-city price index has dropped 0.7 percent, the smallest decline since September 2010. That's much lower than the 1.8 percent year-over-year decline in April.
Many economists were encouraged by the widespread nature of the increases.
"The fact that most regions ... have seen gains in recent months is a positive sign that the gradual improvement in housing conditions is becoming broader based," Peter Newland, an economist at Barclays Capital, said in a note to clients.
David Blitzer, chairman of the S&P's index committee, cautioned that the trend would need to continue into the summer and fall to ensure that it isn't just a reflection of strong springtime and early summer sales.
"The housing market seems to be stabilizing, but we are definitely in wait and see mode for the next few months," he said.
Economists also said that prices may be higher because foreclosures are making up a smaller share of home sales.
The S&P/Case-Shiller monthly index covers roughly half of U.S. homes. It measures prices compared with those in January 2000 and creates a three-month moving average. The May figures are the latest available.
The housing market is recovering, but at a slow and uneven pace. Sales of new homes fell in June after reaching a two-year high in May. Sales of previously occupied homes also fell last month, but were higher than a year ago.
Builders are getting more confident, partly because they are seeing more interest from potential buyers. Builders broke ground in June on the most new homes and apartments in four years.
Even with the gains, the index is 33 percent below its peak reached in the summer of 2006, at the height of the housing boom. Based on the 20-city index, home prices are now at about the same level as in early 2003.
The supply of homes for sale remains very low, which has helped stabilize prices. At the current sales pace, it would take six and a half months to exhaust the supply of previously-occupied homes. That's just above the six months economists consider healthy.
There were 144,000 new homes for sale in June, only slightly higher than the 143,000 in May, which was the lowest supply on records dating back to 1963.
Despite the modest gains in housing, the broader economy has weakened in recent months. Employers have added an average of only 75,000 jobs a month in the April-June quarter. That's much lower than the average of 226,000 added in the first three months of this year.
Housing added to economic growth in the second quarter, but the sector isn't large enough to make a big difference. The economy expanded at only a 1.5 percent annual rate in April-June, below the first quarter's 2 percent pace. Both readings are much lower than the fourth quarter's 4.1 percent growth.


text:
Frank N. Kelley, dean of the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron, provides the following explanation.
Synthetic polymers are produced by chemical reactions, termed "polymerizations." Polymerizations occur in varied forms--far too many to examine here--but such reactions consist of the repetitive chemical bonding of individual molecules, or monomers. Assorted combinations of heat, pressure and catalysis alter the chemical bonds that hold monomers together, causing them to bond with one another. Most often, they do so in a linear fashion, creating chains of monomers called polymers.
Some polymerizations join entire monomers together, whereas others join only portions of monomers and create "leftover" materials, or by-products. Co-polymers can be formed using two or more different monomers. And two or more polymers can be combined to produce an alloy, or blend, that displays characteristics of each component.
For an example, let's consider the common plastic polyethylene, which is found in such items as grocery bags, toys and bottles. The monomer ethylene is composed of two carbon atoms, each bonded to two hydrogen atoms and sharing a double bond with one another. Polyethylene consists of a chain of single-bonded carbon atoms, each still carrying its two hydrogen atoms.
One way to produce polyethylene is called "free radical polymerization." As in other polymerizations, the process has three stages, known as initiation, propagation and termination. To begin, we need to add a catalyst to our supply of ethylene. A common catalyst is benzoyl peroxide, which when heated has the habit of splitting into two fragments, each with one unpaired electron, or free radical. These fragments are known as initiator fragments.
The unpaired electron naturally seeks another and finds a convenient target in the double bond between the carbon atoms in the ethylene molecule. Taking an electron from the carbon bond, the initiator fragment bonds itself to one of the monomer's carbon atoms.
The radical is now happy, but this initiating reaction creates another free radical associated with the ethylene molecule's other carbon atom. The new radical also seeks a partner. And so ethylene monomers begin attaching themselves in a chain, creating new radicals each time and lengthening the chain. This stage is called propagation.
Growing chains may also attach themselves to one another. Most commonly, chains join end to end, but sometimes they join end to backbone, making branched polyethylene molecules.
Eventually, free radical polymerization stops due to what are called termination reactions. For example, instead of stealing an electron from double-bonded carbons or a nearby propagating chain, the carbon atom with the free radical sometimes steals an entire hydrogen atom from another chain end. The polymer end--robbed of its hydrogen--easily forms a double bond with its adjacent carbon atom, and polymerization stops.
Because every part of the ethylene monomer is included in the finished polymer, the free radical polymerization of polyethylene is referred to as an addition polymerization; the ethylene molecules are simply added together. Polymerizations that use only portions of a monomer, however, are known as condensation polymerizations. The monomers that condense with each other must contain at least two reactive groups in order to form a chain. Condensation reactions result in "condensed" polymers that have less total mass than the monomers used to create them and the by-products, or "condensates," combined.
For example, poly(ethyleneterepthalate), a polyester known as PET that is commonly found in soda bottles, forms from a reaction of two monomers: ethylene glycol and terephthoyl chloride. At the reaction's end, an atom of hydrogen and an atom of chlorine are left out of each PET molecular junction, resulting in a by-product of hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas.
The above should give you an idea of how polymerization works in principle, but there is much more to it. To learn more, visit some of the polymer-related Web sites on the Internet.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Renegade Republican Roy Moore may be plagued by scandal, but it will take more than that to convince the voters of 44th Place North to show up for Democrat Doug Jones on Tuesday.
In a state where Democrats are used to losing, the malaise is easy to find in this African-American neighborhood in suburban Birmingham, even on the final weekend before Alabama's high-profile Senate contest.
"A lot of people don't vote because they think their vote don't count," Ebonique Jiles, 27, said after promising a Jones volunteer she would support the Democrat in Tuesday's election. "I'll vote regardless of whether he wins or loses."
With history and math working against them in deep-red Alabama, Democrats are fighting to energize a winning coalition of African-Americans and moderate Republicans — a delicate balancing act on full display on Saturday as Jones and his network of volunteers canvassed the state.
Nearly 100 miles south of Birmingham, during an appearance near the staging ground for Selma's landmark "Bloody Sunday" civil rights march in 1965, Jones declared that Alabama has an opportunity to go "forward and not backward."
"This campaign has the wind at its back because we are bringing people together from all across this state," Jones said after a meeting at Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church. "The other side is trying to divide us more than they bring people together."
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, one of only two African-Americans in the Senate, was scheduled to appear at Jones' side later in the day at Alabama State University. And Saturday evening, the Democrat organized two get-out-the-vote concerts expected to draw overwhelmingly white voters — including some open-minded Republicans — in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate in more than a quarter century.
Moore had no public events on Saturday, an extraordinary silence three days before the election but in line with a final-weeks strategy that featured very few public events in which he could be forced to address allegations of sexual misconduct. The former state Supreme Court judge got a big boost the night before in nearby Pensacola, where President Donald Trump encouraged voters to "get out and vote for Roy Moore."
The 70-year-old Moore is facing multiple accusations of sexual misconduct, including allegations that he molested two teenage girls and pursued romantic relationships with several others while in his 30s. He has largely denied the allegations.
The explosive charges, which many Washington Republicans describe as credible, are giving Democrats a once-in-a-generation opportunity to pick up a Senate seat in the Deep South, where Republicans significantly outnumber Democrats. Even if Jones wins on Tuesday, many Democrats expect the GOP to re-claim the seat when the term expires at the end of 2020.
Beneath Jones' biracial and bipartisan balancing act is a complex numbers game that has vexed Alabama Democrats for decades.
The party's core of black voters and white liberals — plus a smidgen of old-guard, more conservative "Southern Democrats" who've held on amid the region's partisan shift — is worth no more than 40 percent in statewide elections. That's been true in high-turnout elections, with former President Barack Obama twice landing between 38 and 39 percent, and the most recent governor's race in 2014, when the Democratic nominee pulled just 36 percent.
African-Americans make up about 25 percent of eligible voters, though Democratic pollster Zac McCrary said Jones needs black voters to comprise 27 percent or more of those who show up at the polls on Tuesday. Jones then needs to win one in three white voters in the state, which would require capturing about 15 percent of Republicans, McCrary said.
On the ground in Alabama on Saturday, Jones dispatched hundreds of volunteers across the state to knock on doors to identify likely supporters in neighborhoods that featured high concentrations of African-Americans and Republicans who supported Moore's GOP primary opponent, current Sen. Luther Strange.
Many voters on the list provided by the campaign didn't answer their doors Saturday morning. Those who did suggested they would support Jones, even if they didn't know him well.
Oweda Clark, who lives just around the corner from 44th Place North, admits it's hard being a Democrat in Alabama. But she told Ellis that she plans to vote for Jones anyway.
"I don't like Roy Moore. I don't like what he stands for," she said.


text:
Job, book of
Narrates the afflictions that befell a righteous man and discusses the moral problem such sufferings present. Job's "three friends" discuss with him the meaning of his sufferings; they give their interpretation, that they are a sign of God's anger and a punishment for sin; but this Job will not admit. Their suggestions wring from him "words without knowledge" (38:2), which he afterwards retracts (42:3); yet Job is declared by God to have spoken the thing that is right concerning the divine government (42:7) in saying that there is a mystery in the incidence of suffering that only a fresh revelation can solve. Job 32–37 contains the speeches of Elihu, who is shocked at what he regards as impiety on the part of Job, and condemns him, though on different grounds from the "three friends." His main thesis is that God will "not pervert judgment." Job makes no reply to him. His own craving for light is satisfied by the vision of God, at length vouchsafed in answer to his appeals. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee" (42:5).
The book of Job does not entirely answer the question as to why Job (or any human) might suffer pain and the loss of his goods. It does make it clear that affliction is not necessarily evidence that one has sinned. The book suggests that affliction, if not for punishment, may be for experience, discipline, and instruction (see also D&C 122).
Job's assurance of the bodily resurrection and his testimony of the Redeemer (19:25–27; see also 2 Ne. 9:4) are one of the high points of the book, equaled only by the revelation of the Lord to him in Job 38–41. The human mind is such that it is essential for Job to have a correct knowledge of God and know that his own course of life was acceptable to God, or he would not have been able to endure the trials that came upon him. His unfailing faith is characterized by such exclamations as, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (13:15). Job is mentioned also in Ezek. 14:14; James 5:11; D&C 121:10.


text:
Hey, little Twitter bird: It's time for you to show the stock market that you can make money.
Facebook (FB) and LinkedIn (LNKD) have proven that social media is a viable business. But Twitter's simplistic "micro-blogging" format carries bigger question marks than its peers.
Twitter's ads are rather unobtrusive by Internet standards, and it's unclear how successful the company's strategy has been. Because Twitter filed for an initial public offering confidentially, the world won't know for some time. Research firm eMarketer estimates that Twitter's ad revenue will more than double this year to nearly $583 million.
But it's a safe bet that no matter how successful Twitter's ad business has been so far, advertising on the social network will expand when the company goes public and investors begin demanding growth.
The current model: Like many of the newly public Internet companies, namely Facebook, Twitter's business model is dominated by ads. Rather than splash its homepage with display ads, Twitter includes sponsored content tucked right into users' feeds. The ads are denoted with the word "promoted" next to a yellow-orange arrow.
Twitter runs ads for corporate accounts, as well as specific tweets and topics.
Related story: Twitter CEO's advice to startups
Search for AT&T (T) on Twitter, and a "promoted tweet" from Verizon (VZ) or Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows Phone may pop up. A "who to follow" box suggests a promoted corporate account like Macy's (M) in the top slot. Advertisers can also place "trends" -- say, the name of a TV show premiering tonight -- in the list of topics that are popular worldwide or in a particular locale.
Mobile strength: The big upshot for Twitter sales: More than half of this year's revenue is expected to come from mobile ads, according to eMarketer.
As the PC continues to decline, the focus on making money from mobile users can't be overstated -- and Facebook's disastrous IPO put that fact into sharp focus. Facebook didn't launch mobile ads until after its IPO, and the stock suffered until that point.
Related story: 4 ways Twitter can learn from Facebook's IPO
Advertisers can launch campaigns shown only to mobile users, or even target Google (GOOG) Android or Apple (AAPL) iOS devices specifically.
Future ad expansion: Twitter's recent flurry of acquisitions show the company is squarely focused on beefing up its attractiveness to advertisers. Just this week, Twitter bought mobile-focused ad exchange MoPub for a reported $300 million.
More specifically, Twitter appears to be fine-tuning its focus on TV. Earlier this year, Twitter bought Bluefin Labs and Trendrr, both of which specialize in tracking the chatter around TV programming.
Twitter declined to comment on its future ad plans, citing the "quiet period" required after an IPO filing. But it's easy to see how advertisers would gladly pay for data that gives them insight into consumer opinion around specific topics like TV shows or a new snack food.
And, of course, advertisers would love to target those particular users with more and more "sponsored" content.
Like its predecessors, Twitter will have to toe the line between creating a viable business and alienating users with a barrage of ads. Even Yahoo (YHOO) had to promise in its press release announcing the purchase of mostly ad-free blogging site Tumblr that the company wouldn't "screw it up."
As a newly public company, Twitter will have to be even more careful of those potential screw-ups.


text:
OLPC for Haiti
Haiti has been devastated by the recent earthquake. We are doing what we can to support the children and schools we work with there. Almost 3000 XOs have been donated so far through this effort -- THANK YOU to everyone who is helping us support our Haitian learning community.
Haiti also urgently needs sanitation, water, and food. Consider giving to these groups:
Donate your unused XO to Haiti
If you have an unused XO laptop, you can give it to a displaced student in Haiti. OLPC for Haiti will be sending an extra shipment of XOs to Haiti this year, as part of the rebuilding around Port-au-Prince.
Please use this NEW shipping address, starting in 2013:
Details and FAQ
Our warehouse is helping us keep costs low for storing these laptops. We've received an offer of free shipping from the warehouse to Haiti, and would appreciate similar offers -- please contact email@example.com if you can offer concrete help in any way!
Q: Can I use the Post Office, Fedex, or UPS etc?
- A: Yes, all carriers/shippers can be used, to the address above. A phone number may be requested by the shipper but should not be required.
Q: Is the original cardboard box required?
- A: No! XO Laptops are quite tough. Whichever cardboard box you use, we'd just ask you to provide basic protective packaging around your XO laptop, charger and battery.
Q: What is the deadline for shipping XO Laptops to Texas?
- A: While the deadline is not currently set, please monitor OLPC for Haiti (http://laptop.org/haiti) for future announcements.
Q: Can I receive a tax receipt?
- A: Unfortunately no receipts are possible in this case, due to legal reasons. On a personal level, we very strongly appreciate your gift, as will the recipient.
Q: Are broken OLPC laptops being accepted?
- A: Yes. 9 out of 10 'broken' laptops can be fixed with the right part or update in 15 minutes. The others are useful to any large deployment as spare parts.
Q: Are non-OLPC laptops or desktop computers being accepted?
- A: Not at this time. Please contact recycling organizations like http://urbanrenewal.org and http://komputers4rkids.com that are doing similar work.
Q: What has happened to OLPC's efforts in Haiti and what is being planned?
- A: OLPCorps Haiti plans were underway long before January 12, 2010's catastrophic earthquake and are now being readjusted. We are very hopeful to involve existing OLPC Haiti communities and beyond. However traumatic on-the-ground situations persisted here as of late January 2010. Please revisit the OLPC for Haiti and OLPC Haiti pages on an ongoing basis, as they are updated by staff and community members both.
Q: How else can I help OLPC efforts in Haiti?
- A: Community ideas are being gathered if you can help suggest and directly contribute please!
About OLPC in Haiti
Starting in 2008, we partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to send 13,700 XOs to Haiti, for the students and teachers in 60 schools.
Subsequently post-earthquake in 2010, almost 3000 used XOs have been donated by individuals around the world -- THANK YOU to everyone who is helping give Haitian kids a fighting chance.
300 of these were granted to the Waveplace Foundation in 2010, and 400 in January 2011. We hope to announce distribution/deployment partner(s) for the remaining almost 3000 XOs sometime soon.
Other ways to help
If you want to help with translation or tool development for Haiti, see the list of related projects.


text:
My office is located in one of the poorer areas in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. Even as I am writing this, outside my window I can see two prostitutes standing across the street outside a hotel and a homeless man pushing a grocery cart full of cans. Confronted with scenes like this on a daily basis has made me think a lot about Jesus' call to serve the least of these. What should this look like in my life? Over the years, I have far more failures than successes when it comes reaching out to these people. It might not be easy, but our call to help the poor is a scriptural mandate that few would argue against. Deuteronomy 15:7-8 says:
If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.
This is just one of many passages in the Bible that show God's concern for the least of these. But any person who has actually spent time serving the poor realizes that it is not for the faint of heart. I have seen many passionate, bright-eyed Christians with a "heart for the poor" burn out in a matter of months or even weeks. This happens because the poor they serve often do not respond in the way they expect. As these generous people give of their time and money, they assume that the poor people they help will be appreciative and kind. Perhaps going into this they pictured a homeless man shedding tears of gratitude for the new coat and warm sandwich he received. Instead they receive not so much as a "thank you" or "God bless you." Maybe they will even be criticized for the color of the coat or the sogginess of the sandwich. They quickly find out that some beggars can be choosers—and mean ones at that!
I experienced this firsthand recently when a homeless lady approached me and asked for money. I said that I'd buy her a meal instead. She loudly berated me in front of onlookers for this perceived insult until finally agreeing to let me buy the meal. As I walked in to the restaurant, she barked after me, "Combo number six with Dr. Pepper!" When I returned with her food, she got angry with me for bringing her the wrong dipping sauce. All in all, it was not a pleasant experience. I certainly didn't leave with that "feel-good feeling" from helping the poor.
Certainly not all of the poor are like this. I have found many to be some of the most humble and gracious people I know, but there is no getting around the fact that some are just plain mean-spirited. Many are homeless and hungry as a consequence of their own evil actions. Often they will squander any aid you do give them. Many will never thank you or will even speak ill of you as you give of your time and money. So does our biblical mandate to help the poor mean that we are we to spend our lives helping out people like this? The answer is YES and without reservation. Jesus Christ calls us to help even the unrighteous poor.
Response Reveals Our Spiritual Condition
There are several places in Scripture we could look to see this call, but recently I found it in an unexpected place—the story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Currently preaching through Genesis, I was surprised to find even in a story full of hellfire and brimstone God's heart for the unrighteous poor.
Almost everyone is familiar with this story of God raining down judgment on these cities because of their wickedness. And most people assume that the sin for which Sodom was judged was sexual immorality. This is certainly how I heard this passage taught when I was younger. But the prophet Ezekiel tells us otherwise. Ezekiel 16:49 says, "This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy." Sodom was judged for pride, living a life of ease, and neglecting the poor and needy—not simply for sexual sin. I don't know about you, but suddenly this story just became a little uncomfortable for me. Instead of casting judgment on the people of Sodom, I began to identify with them.
But how does this story give us our mandate to serve the unrighteous poor? The answer is that the neglected poor of Sodom were not considered by God to be righteous. This is why they too were judged. Remember, God told Abraham that he would spare the entire city if just 10 righteous people were to be found, but there were not even 10. They were all unrighteous—rich and poor alike. The sin of Sodom was their lack of concern for the unrighteous poor, and the result of this sin was God's judgment on both the rich and poor alike.
I have found that helping the unrighteous poor is perhaps also the best way to remind myself of the gospel by which I am saved. I did not receive mercy because I deserved it. Jesus Christ did not give his life for me because I was a good person. No, I was his enemy and full of sin when he died for me. I never did and never will earn his grace. Grace is always unmerited. So when I see how the unrighteous poor respond with bitterness to my acts of kindness, I am reminded of my own spiritual condition. Even now, I often fail to thank God for his continuous and abundant grace towards me. Thank God for the gospel by which I am being saved!
We must see our service to the poor through this gospel lens. Actually, our ability to help those who don't deserve it is an indicator as to whether or not we have actually received the mercy and grace of God ourselves. As Jesus says in Luke 6:32-33 and 35-36:
If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. . . . But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and you reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
Get your FREE 7-day devotional!
God's people have always been strangers and sojourners in this world. Do you feel that way, too?
You're not alone. Since the church's beginnings, Christians have often felt ostracized. And the Bible offers great encouragement for how to live with hope.
If you're feeling the weight of cultural exile today, our new 7-day devotional, Hope for Christians in a Hostile World, will encourage you.
If you sign up for this FREE resource, we'll send you an email each day for a week with a daily devotional featuring Bible readings and reflections written by TGC staff and friends.


text:
Watermelon Libbey Can Glass Wrap SVG
Watermelon Libbey Can Glass Wrap SVG
Sale Sold out
Regular price $2.50 USD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
Watermelon summer can glass full wrap for Libbey Glass 16oz and 20oz PNG, DXF, SVG, JPG, EPS, PDF for Cricut and Silhouette, digital download.
- Presized for Libbey beer can glass 16oz & 20oz
- layered design
- 300DPI files
- Ready to cut/print
- Fully editable
- Vector and Raster files included
This is a digital file download. No physical item will be sent to you.
- PNG files (individual files, transparent background, high resolution 300 DPI)
- SVG files (individual files, for Silhouette Studio Designer & Cricut Design)
- DXF files (designs will be stacked, for Silhouette Studio Designer & other cutting software)
- JPG files (individual files)
- EPS files (designs will be stacked, for Adobe Illustrator, fully editable, you can change the color & size without losing quality)
- PDF files (designs will be stacked, for Adobe Illustrator, fully editable, you can change the color & size without losing quality)
- The cut files are compatible with different cutting machines: Silhouette Cameo 3, Silhouette Cameo 4, Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Maker, Glowforge, K40, Beamo Flux, Epilog, Atomstack and other CO2 laser machines
- It is best to use the SVG/PNG file format because it is compatible with most cutting machines and vector software (Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape). You can resize without losing image quality.
- You can decrease and increase the size of the design. However, when reducing the design, you will need to consider the thin/small elements.
- Keep in mind that SVG files may show up as internet icons or HTML documents on your computer, use your machine software to open the SVG files.
- Can be printed on different products or used for sublimation.
- If you have any problems with your download, please let me know and I will help to the best of my ability.


text:
Flume depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use high explosive charges and a fuze set to detonate the charge, typically at a specific depth. Depth charges can be dropped by ships, patrol aircraft, and helicopters.
- Flume depth charge
- U861 under depth charge attack
- History
- Delivery mechanisms
- Effectiveness
- Pacific theater
- Later developments
- Signaling
- Underwater explosions
- References
Depth charges were developed during World War I, and were one of the first effective methods of attacking a submarine underwater. They were widely used in World War I and World War II. They remained part of the anti-submarine arsenals of many navies during the Cold War. Depth charges have now largely been replaced by anti-submarine homing torpedoes.
A depth charge fitted with a nuclear warhead is known as a "nuclear depth bomb". These were designed to be dropped from a patrol plane or deployed by an anti-submarine missile from a surface ship, or another submarine, located a safe distance away. All nuclear anti-submarine weapons were withdrawn from service by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China in or around 1990. They were replaced by conventional weapons whose accuracy and range had improved greatly as ASW technology improved.
U861 under depth charge attack
The first attempt to fire charges against submerged targets was with aircraft bombs attached to lanyards which triggered them. A similar idea was a 16 lb (7.3 kg) guncotton charge in a lanyarded can. Two of these lashed together became known as the "depth charge Type A". Problems with the lanyards tangling and failing to function led to the development of a chemical pellet trigger as the "Type B". These were effective at a distance of around 20 ft (6.1 m).
A 1913 Royal Navy Torpedo School report described a device intended for countermining, a "dropping mine". At Admiral John Jellicoe's request, the standard Mark II mine was fitted with a hydrostatic pistol (developed in 1914 by Thomas Firth and Sons of Sheffield) preset for 45 ft (14 m) firing, to be launched from a stern platform. Weighing 1,150 lb (520 kg), and effective at 100 ft (30 m), the "cruiser mine" was a potential hazard to the dropping ship. The design work was carried out by Herbert Taylor at the RN Torpedo and Mine School, HMS Vernon. The first effective depth charge, the Type D, became available in January 1916. It was a barrel-like casing containing a high explosive (usually TNT, but amatol was also used when TNT became scarce). There were initially two sizes—Type D, with a 300 lb (140 kg) charge for fast ships, and Type D* with a 120 lb (54 kg) charge for ships too slow to leave the danger area before the more powerful charge detonated.
A hydrostatic pistol actuated by water pressure at a pre-selected depth detonated the charge. Initial depth settings were 40 or 80 ft (12 or 24 m). Because production could not keep up with demand, anti-submarine vessels initially carried only two depth charges, to be released from a chute at the stern of the ship. The first success was the sinking of U-68 off Kerry, Ireland, on 22 March 1916, by the Q-ship Farnborough. Germany became aware of the depth charge following unsuccessful attacks on U-67 on 15 April 1916, and U-69 on 20 April 1916. The only other submarines sunk by depth charge during 1916 were UC-19 and UB-29.
Numbers of depth charges carried per ship increased to four in June 1917, to six in August, and 30-50 by 1918. The weight of charges and racks caused ship instability unless heavy guns and torpedo tubes were removed to compensate. Improved pistols allowed greater depth settings in 50-foot (15-meter) increments, from 50 to 200 ft (15 to 61 m). Even slower ships could safely use the Type D at below 100 ft (30 m) and at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) or more, so the relatively ineffective Type D* was withdrawn. Monthly use of depth charges increased from 100 to 300 per month during 1917 to an average of 1745 per month during the last six months of World War I. The Type D could be detonated as deep as 300 ft (91 m) by that date. By the war's end, 74,441 depth charges had been issued by the RN, and 16,451 fired, scoring 38 kills in all, and aiding in 140 more.
The United States requested full working drawings of the device in March 1917. Having received them, Commander Fullinwider of the U.S. Bureau of Naval Ordnance and U.S. Navy engineer Minkler made some modifications and then patented it in the U.S. It has been argued that this was done to avoid paying the original inventor.
The Royal Navy Type D depth charge was designated the "Mark VII" in 1939. Initial sinking speed was 7 ft/s (2.1 m/s) with a terminal velocity of 9.9 ft/s (3.0 m/s) at a depth of 250 ft (76 m) if rolled off the stern, or upon water contact from a depth charge thrower. Cast iron weights of 150 lb (68 kg) were attached to the Mark VII at the end of 1940 to increase sinking velocity to 16.8 ft/s (5.1 m/s). New hydrostatic pistols increased the maximum detonation depth to 900 ft (270 m). The Mark VII's 290 lb (130 kg) amatol charge was estimated to be capable of splitting a 7⁄8 inch (22 mm) submarine pressure hull at a distance of 20 ft (6.1 m), and forcing the submarine to surface at twice that. The change of explosive to Torpex (or Minol) at the end of 1942 was estimated to increase those distances to 26 and 52 ft (7.9 and 15.8 m).
The British Mark X depth charge weighed 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) and was launched from 21-inch (53 cm) torpedo tubes of older destroyers to achieve a sinking velocity of 21 ft/s (6.4 m/s). The launching ship needed to clear the area at 11 knots to avoid damage, and the charge was seldom used. Only 32 were actually fired, and they were known to be troublesome.
The teardrop-shaped United States Mark 9 depth charge entered service in the spring of 1943. The charge was 200 lb (91 kg) of Torpex with a sinking speed of 14.4 ft/s (4.4 m/s) and depth settings of up to 600 ft (180 m). Later versions increased depth to 1,000 ft (300 m) and sinking speed to 22.7 ft/s (6.9 m/s) with increased weight and improved streamlining.
Although the explosions of the standard United States 600 lb (270 kg) Mark 4 and Mark 7 depth charge used in World War II were nerve-wracking to the target, an U-boat's undamaged pressure hull would not rupture unless the charge detonated closer than about 15 ft (4.6 m). Placing the weapon within this range was entirely a matter of chance and quite unlikely as the target maneuvered evasively during the attack. Most U-boats sunk by depth charges were destroyed by damage accumulated from a long barrage rather than by a single charge. Many survived hundreds of depth charges over a period of many hours; U-427 survived 678 depth charges fired against it in April 1945.
Delivery mechanisms
The first delivery mechanism was to simply roll the "ashcans" off racks at the stern of the moving attacking vessel. Originally depth charges were simply placed at the top of a ramp and allowed to roll. Improved racks, which could hold several depth charges and release them remotely with a trigger, were developed towards the end of the First World War. These racks remained in use throughout World War II, because they were simple and easy to reload.
Some Royal Navy trawlers used for anti-submarine work during 1917 and 1918 had a thrower on the forecastle for a single depth charge, but there do not seem to be any records of it being used in action. Specialized depth charge throwers were developed to generate a wider dispersal pattern when used in conjunction with rack-deployed charges. The first of these was developed from a British Army trench mortar, 1277 were issued, 174 installed in auxiliaries during 1917 and 1918. The bombs they launched were too light to be truly effective; only one U-boat is known to have been sunk by them.
Thornycroft created an improved version able to throw a charge 40 yd (37 m). The first was fitted in July 1917 and became operational in August. In all, 351 torpedo boat destroyers and 100 other craft were equipped. Projectors called "Y-guns" (in reference to their basic shape), developed by the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Ordnance from the Thornycroft thrower, became available in 1918. Mounted on the centerline of the ship with the arms of the Y pointing outboard, two depth charges were cradled on shuttles inserted into each arm. An explosive propellant charge was detonated in the vertical column of the Y-gun to propel a depth charge about 45 yd (41 m) over each side of the ship. The main disadvantage of the Y-gun was that it had to be mounted on the centerline of a ship's deck, which could otherwise be occupied by superstructure, masts, or guns. The first were built by New London Ship and Engine Company beginning on 24 November 1917.
The K-gun, standardized in 1942, replaced the Y-gun as the primary depth charge projector. The K-guns fired one depth charge at a time and could be mounted on the periphery of a ship's deck, thus freeing valuable centerline space. Four to eight K-guns were typically mounted per ship. The K-guns were often used together with stern racks to create patterns of six to ten charges. In all cases, the attacking ship needed to be moving above a certain speed or it would be damaged by the force of its own weapons.
Depth charges could also be dropped from an attacking aircraft against submarines. At the start of World War II, Britain's aerial anti-submarine weapon was the 100 lb (45 kg) anti-submarine bomb. This weapon was too light and ultimately, a failure. Indeed, on 5 September 1939, a Royal Air Force Avro Anson of No. 233 Squadron was destroyed when its own anti-submarine bomb skipped off the surface of the water and detonated under the aircraft. To remedy the failure of this weapon, the Royal Navy's 450 lb (200 kg) Mark VII depth charge was modified for aerial use by the addition of a streamlined nose fairing and stabilising fins on the tail.
The first to deploy depth charges from airplanes in actual combat were the Finns. Experiencing the same problems as the RAF with insufficient charges on anti-submarine bombs, Captain Birger Ek of Finnish Air Force squadron LeLv 6 contacted one of his navy friends and suggested testing the aerial use of standard Finnish Navy depth charges. The tests proved successful, and the Tupolev SB bombers of LeLv 6 were modified in early 1942 to carry depth charges. The success of the anti-submarine missions reached RAF Coastal Command, which promptly began modifying depth charges for aerial use.
Later depth charges would be developed specifically for aerial use. Such weapons still have utility today and are in limited use, particularly for shallow-water situations where a homing torpedo may not be suitable. Depth charges are especially useful for "flushing the prey" in the event of a diesel submarine lying on the bottom or otherwise hiding, with all machinery shut down. Homing torpedoes can be used for the same purpose, but the cost is prohibitive and aircraft and shipboard inventories limited. An example of such a weapon is the Mark 11 Depth Charge, deployed by the British Fleet Air Arm.
The effective use of depth charges required the combined resources and skills of many individuals during an attack. Sonar, helm, depth charge crews and the movement of other ships had to be carefully coordinated. Aircraft depth charge tactics depended on the aircraft using its speed to rapidly appear from over the horizon and surprising the submarine on the surface (where it spent most of its time) during the day or night (using radar to detect the target and a Leigh light to illuminate just prior to the attack), then quickly attacking once it had been located, as the submarine would normally crash dive to escape attack.
As the Battle of the Atlantic wore on, British and Commonwealth forces became particularly adept at depth charge tactics, and formed some of the first destroyer hunter-killer groups to actively seek out and destroy German U-boats.
Surface ships usually used ASDIC (sonar) to detect submerged submarines. However, to deliver its depth charges a ship had to pass over the contact to drop them over the stern; sonar contact would be lost just before attack, rendering the hunter blind at the crucial moment. This gave a skilful submarine commander an opportunity to take evasive action. In 1942 the forward-throwing "hedgehog" mortar, which fired a spread salvo of bombs with contact fuzes at a "stand-off" distance while still in sonar contact, was introduced and proved to be effective.
Pacific theater
In the Pacific Theater of World War II, Japanese depth charge attacks initially proved fairly unsuccessful against U.S. and British submarines. Unless caught in shallow water, a submarine would just dive below the Japanese depth charge attack. The Japanese were unaware that the submarines could dive so deep. The old United States S-class submarines (1918–1925) had a test depth of 200 ft (61 m); the more modern fleet-boat Salmon-class submarines (1937) had a test depth of 250 ft (76 m); the Gato-class submarines (1940) were 300 feet (91 m), and Balao-class submarines (1943) were 400 ft (120 m).
In June 1943, the deficiencies of Japanese depth-charge tactics were stupidly revealed in a press conference held by U.S. Congressman Andrew J. May, a member of the House Military Affairs Committee, who had visited the Pacific theater and received many intelligence and operational briefings. May mentioned the highly sensitive fact that American submarines had a high survivability rate because Japanese depth charges were fuzed to explode at too shallow a depth.
Various press associations reported the depth issue over their wires and many newspapers (including one in Honolulu, Hawaii) published it. Soon, Japanese forces were setting their depth charges to explode at a more effective average depth of 75 meters (250 ft), to the detriment of American submariners. Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood, commander of the U.S. submarine fleet in the Pacific, later estimated that May's revelation cost the United States Navy as many as ten submarines and 800 seamen killed in action. The leak became known as The May Incident.
Later developments
For the reasons expressed above, the depth charge was generally replaced as an anti-submarine weapon. Initially, this was by ahead-throwing weapons such as the British-developed Hedgehog and later squid. These weapons threw a pattern of warheads ahead of the attacking vessel to bracket a submerged contact. The Hedgehog was contact fuzed, while the squid fired a pattern of three large (200 kg) depth-charges with clockwork detonators. Later developments included the Mark 24 "Fido" acoustic homing torpedo (and later such weapons), and the SUBROC, which was armed with a nuclear depth charge. The USSR, United States and United Kingdom developed anti-submarine weapons using nuclear warheads, sometimes referred to as "nuclear depth bombs".
During the Cold War when it was necessary to inform submarines of the other side that they had been detected but without actually launching an attack, low-power "signalling depth charges" (also called "practice depth charges") were sometimes used, powerful enough to be detected when no other means of communication was possible, but not destructive.
Underwater explosions
The high explosive in a depth charge undergoes a rapid chemical reaction at an approximate rate of 8,000 meters per second (25,000 ft/s). The gaseous products of that reaction momentarily occupy the volume previously occupied by the solid explosive, but at very high pressure. This pressure is the source of the damage and is proportional to the explosive density and the square of the detonation velocity. A depth charge gas bubble expands to reach the pressure of the surrounding water.
This gas expansion propagates a shock wave. The density difference of the expanding gas bubble from the surrounding water causes the bubble to rise toward the surface. Unless the explosion is shallow enough to vent the gas bubble to the atmosphere during its initial expansion, the momentum of water moving away from the gas bubble will create a gaseous void of lower pressure than the surrounding water. Surrounding water pressure then collapses the gas bubble with inward momentum causing excess pressure within the gas bubble. Re-expansion of the gas bubble then propagates another potentially damaging shock wave. Cyclical expansion and contraction continues until the gas bubble vents to the atmosphere.
Consequently, explosions where the depth charge is detonated at a shallow depth and the gas bubble vents into the atmosphere very soon after the detonation are quite ineffective, even though they are more dramatic and therefore preferred in movies. A sign of an effective detonation depth is that the surface just slightly rises and only after a while vents into a water burst.
Very large depth charges, including nuclear weapons, may be detonated at sufficient depth to create multiple damaging shock waves. Such depth charges can also cause damage at longer distances, if reflected shock waves from the ocean floor or surface converge to amplify radial shock waves. Submarines or surface ships may be damaged if operating in the convergence zones of their own depth-charge detonations.
The damage that an underwater explosion inflicts on a submarine comes from a primary and a secondary shock wave. The primary shock wave is the initial shock wave from the depth charge, and will cause damage to personnel and equipment inside the submarine if detonated close enough. The secondary shock wave is a result from the cyclical expansion and contraction of the gas bubble and will bend the submarine back and forth and cause catastrophic hull breach, in a way that can be best described as bending a plastic ruler back and forth until it snaps. Up to sixteen cycles of the secondary shock wave have been recorded in tests. The effect of the secondary shock wave can be reinforced if another depth charge detonates on the other side of the hull in a close proximity in time of the first detonation, which is why depth charges normally are launched in pairs with different pre-set detonation depths.
The killing radius of a depth charge depends on the depth of detonation, the proximity of detonation to the submarine, the payload of the depth charge and the size and strength of the submarine hull. A depth charge of approximately 100 kg of TNT (400 MJ) would normally have a killing radius (hull breach) of only 3–4 meters (10–13 ft) against a conventional 1000-ton submarine, while the disablement radius (where the submarine is not sunk but put out of commission) would be approximately 8–10 meters (26–33 ft). A larger payload increases the radius only relatively little because the effect of an underwater explosion decreases as the cube of the distance to the target.


text:
1690 Brittain Rd
Akron, Ohio 44310
Appt Tel: (330) 633-7141
Dentures are an investment in the beauty of your smile and the function of your teeth. And, like any investment, you'll want to do a little research before making a final decision on dentures. These guidelines can help you choose the practitioner who's right for you.
Many dentists offer dentures, but not all are prosthodontists. Prosthodontic dentistry is recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) as a specialty. Whether you choose a general dentist or prosthodontist, make sure the dentist is licensed through the state dental board.
The best dentists didn't just go to dental school; they also completed extensive post-graduate training programs that focus specifically on issues of dentures and prosthodontics. In addition, the best dentists regularly attend continuing education classes to stay up-to-date on new procedures and materials.
Going in for a consultation is a great way to learn more about a dentist and dental practice. Consultations are generally inexpensive, and are sometimes even offered for free. Talk to the dentist before you commit to anything. Remember, it's your job to make an educated decision.
Dentures are a great solution for missing teeth, but they're not the only one. Dental implants can provide a permanent replacement for lost teeth. Though implant dentistry can be expensive, patients are highly satisfied with the results.
Though many people people picture a full set of false teeth, there are other kinds of dentures as well. Options include removable complete dentures, removable partial dentures and fixed partial dentures, and a variety of denture materials are available.
It's essential that you be able to talk to your dentist - and that your dentist will listen to you! There's a lot of dialogue that needs to go into an individual long-term treatment plan. If you feel bullied, pressured, or rushed, then that's probably not the right dentist for you.
Take a look at the dentist's portfolio before you make up your mind. Pay specific attention to cases that are similar to yours. Make sure that the photos are of actual work done by the dentist, not just stock photos.
Some dentists charge more by marketing themselves as high-end luxury dentists offering superior dentures. Other dentists try to make up for poor materials and shoddy work by offering low prices. Beware the extremes.
Watch out for doctors who promise more than they can deliver. You want a dentist who will tell you what can and cannot be done for your smile. You need to know how long the process will take, what you'll have to do, and any complications that could occur.
Much like other people, dentists get better at things the more they do them. Ideally, your dentist will have lots of experience with dentures and prosthodontics in general and with cases like yours specifically.
"We know that selecting a dentures dentist is not easy. I want you to know that you can call me personally with any questions or concerns."
1690 Brittain Rd
Akron, Ohio 44310
Appt Tel: (330) 633-7141
Chapel Hill Dental Care is conveniently located in Northeast Akron one block south of Chapel Hill Mall on Brittain Rd.


text:
By Joe Leech
Kefir is all the rage in the natural health community.
It is high in nutrients and probiotics, and is incredibly beneficial for digestion and gut health.
Many people consider it to be a healthier and more powerful version of yogurt.
Here are nine health benefits of kefir that are supported by research:
1. Kefir is a Fantastic Source of Many Nutrients
Kefir is a fermented drink, traditionally made using cow's or goat's milk.
It is made by adding kefir "grains" to milk.
These are not grains in the conventional sense, but cultures of yeast and lactic acid bacteria that resemble cauliflower in appearance.
Over a period of 24 hours or so, the microorganisms in the kefir grains multiply and ferment the sugars in the milk, turning it into kefir.
Then the grains are removed from the liquid, and can be used again.
So basically, kefir is the drink, but kefir grains are the "starter kit" that you use to produce the drink.
Kefir originated from parts of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The name is derived from the Turkish word keyif, which means "feeling good" after eating (1).
The lactic acid bacteria turn the lactose in the milk into lactic acid, so kefir tastes sour like yogurt, but has a thinner consistency.
A 175 ml (6 oz) serving of milk kefir contains (2, 3):
- Protein: six grams
- Calcium: 20 percent of the RDA
- Phosphorus: 20 percent of the RDA
- Vitamin B12: 14 percent of the RDA
- Riboflavin (B2): 19 percent of the RDA
- Magnesium: 5 percent of the RDA
- A decent amount of vitamin D
This is coming with about 100 calories, seven to eight grams of carbs and three to six grams of fat, depending on the type of milk that is used.
Kefir also contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, including organic acids and peptides that contribute to its health benefits (1).
Dairy-free versions of kefir can be made with coconut water, coconut milk or other sweet liquids. These will not have the same nutrient profile as dairy-based kefir.
Bottom Line: Kefir is a fermented milk drink, cultured from kefir grains. It is a rich source of calcium, protein and B-vitamins.
2. Kefir is a More Powerful Probiotic Than Yogurt
Some microorganisms can have beneficial effects on health when ingested (4).
Known as probiotics, these microorganisms can influence health in numerous ways, including digestion, weight management and mental health (5, 6, 7).
Yogurt is the best known probiotic food in the Western diet, but kefir is actually a much more potent source.
Kefir grains contain about 30 strains of bacteria and yeasts, making it a very rich and diverse probiotic source.
Other fermented dairy products are made from far fewer strains, and don't contain any yeasts.
Bottom Line: Kefir contains about 30 different microorganisms, making it a much more potent source of probiotics than other fermented dairy products.
3. Kefir Has Potent Antibacterial Properties
Certain probiotics in kefir are believed to protect against infections.
This includes the probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri, which is unique to kefir.
Studies show that this probiotic can inhibit the growth of various harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Helicobacter Pylori and E. coli (8, 9).
Kefiran, a type of carbohydrate present in kefir, also has antibacterial properties (10).
Bottom Line: Kefir contains the probiotic Lactobacillus kefiri, and the carbohydrate Kefiran, both of which can protect against harmful bacteria.
4. Kefir Can Improve Bone Health and Lower The Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis ("porous" bones) is characterized by deterioration of bone tissue, and is a massive problem in Western countries.
It is especially common among elderly women, and dramatically raises the risk of fractures.
Ensuring an adequate calcium intake is one of the most effective ways to improve bone health, and slow the progression of osteoporosis (11).
Kefir made from full-fat dairy is not only a great source of calcium, but also vitamin K2. This nutrient plays a central role in calcium metabolism, and supplementing with it has been shown to reduce the risk of fractures by as much as 81 percent (12, 13).
Recent animal studies have shown that kefir can increase calcium absorption by bone cells. This leads to improved bone density, which should help prevent fractures (14).
Bottom Line: Kefir made from dairy is an excellent source of calcium. In the case of full-fat dairy, it also contains vitamin K2. These nutrients have major benefits for bone health.
5. Kefir May be Protective Against Cancer
Cancer is one of the world's leading causes of death.
It occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body, such as a tumor.
The probiotics in fermented dairy products are believed to inhibit tumor growth by reducing formation of carcinogenic compounds, as well as by stimulating the immune system (15).
This protective role has been demonstrated in several test tube studies (16, 17).
One study found that kefir extract reduced the number of human breast cancer cells by 56 percent, compared with only 14 percent for yogurt extract (18).
However, take all of this with a grain of salt, as this is far from being proven in living, breathing humans.
Bottom Line: Some test tube and animal studies have shown that kefir can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. This has not been studied in people.
6. The Probiotics in it May Help With Various Digestive Problems
Probiotics such as kefir can help restore the balance of friendly bacteria in the gut.
This is why they are highly effective for many forms of diarrhea (19, 20).
There is also a lot of evidence that probiotics and probiotic foods can help with all sorts of digestive problems (5).
This includes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers caused by H. pylori infection, and various others (21, 22, 23, 24).
For this reason, kefir may be useful if you have problems with digestion.
Bottom Line: Probiotics like kefir can treat several forms of diarrhea. They can also lead to major improvements in various digestive diseases.
7. Kefir is Generally Well Tolerated by People Who Are Lactose Intolerant
Regular dairy foods contain a natural sugar called lactose.
Many people, especially adults, are unable to break down and digest lactose properly. This condition is called lactose intolerance (25).
The lactic acid bacteria in fermented dairy foods (like kefir and yogurt) turn the lactose into lactic acid, so these foods are much lower in lactose than milk.
They also contain enzymes that can help break down the lactose even further.
Because of this, kefir is generally well tolerated by people with lactose intolerance, at least when compared to regular milk (26).
Also keep in mind that it is possible to make kefir that is 100 percent lactose free, by using coconut water, fruit juice or some other non-dairy fluid.
Bottom Line: The lactic acid bacteria have already pre-digested the lactose in kefir. People with lactose intolerance can often eat kefir without problems.
8. Kefir May Improve Symptoms of Allergy and Asthma
Allergic reactions are caused by inflammatory responses against harmless environmental substances.
People with an over-sensitive immune system are more prone to allergies, which can provoke conditions like asthma.
In animal studies, kefir has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses related to allergy and asthma (27, 28).
Human studies are need to better explore these effects.
9. Kefir is Easy to Make at Home
The last one is not a health benefit, but important nonetheless.
If you are unsure about the quality of store-bought kefir, then you can easily make it at home yourself.
Combined with some fresh fruit, it makes one of the healthiest and tastiest desserts I have ever come across.
You can buy kefir grains in some health food stores and supermarkets.
It is also available on Amazon (see here), with hundreds of reviews, testimonials and tips from real customers.
There are some good blog posts and videos on how to make kefir, but the process is very simple:
- Put one to two tablespoons of kefir grains into a small jar. The more you use, the faster it will culture.
- Add around two cups of milk, preferably organic or even raw. Milk from grass-fed cows is healthiest. Leave one inch of room at the top of the jar.
- You can add some full-fat cream if you want the kefir to be thicker.
- Put the lid on and leave it for 12-36 hours, at room temperature. That's it.
Once it starts to look clumpy, it is ready. Then you gently strain out the liquid, which leaves behind the original kefir grains.
Now put the grains in a new jar with some milk, and the process starts all over again.
Delicious, nutritious and highly sustainable.
This article was reposted from our media associate Authority Nutrition.
10 Natural (And Vegan) Ways to Clean Your Home
Never Buy Toothpaste Again! 4 Easy Steps to Make Your Own


text:
Microsoft Corp. will provide free or discounted Windows 7 upgrades not only to users who buy Vista PCs between June 2009 and January 2010, but also to people who buy a system that's been factory-downgraded to Windows XP, according to a report on the Web.
TechARP.com, Microsoft Corp. will provide free or discounted Windows 7 upgrades not only to users who buy Vista PCs between June 2009 and January 2010, but also to people who buy a system that's been factory-downgraded to Windows XP, according to a report on the Web a Malaysian Web site that earlier this year leaked Microsoft's upgrade plans, said Saturday that users who purchase a PC equipped with a Windows XP downgrade will also be eligible for the "Windows 7 Upgrade Option" program.
In Microsoft's terminology, "downgrade" describes the Windows licensing rights that let users of newer versions replace the OS with an older edition without having to pay for another license. In effect, the license for the newer Windows is transferred to the older edition.
The inclusion of new PCs running Windows XP shouldn't come as any surprise, since by definition, those systems also come with a license for Vista. "Unlike actual Windows XP installations, [these PCs] come with a Windows Vista COA (Certificate of Authenticity) and are therefore eligible for the upgrade program," said TechARP. "Hence, users with Windows XP downgrade licenses can upgrade to Windows 7."
Because Microsoft allows downgrades only from Vista Business and Vista Ultimate, the free or discounted upgrades to Windows 7 will be for Windows 7 Professional or Windows 7 Ultimate, respectively, claimed TechARP.
One caveat: Windows XP users will not be able to do an in-place upgrade to Windows 7, as can people running Vista. Instead, XP owners will have to do a clean install of Windows 7 that overwrites the hard drive's contents.
Computer makers will be allowed to start shipping the Windows 7 upgrade media to customers when Microsoft announces the general availability of the new operating system.
As with the Vista Express Program, a similar marketing effort that offered free or discounted upgrades to Vista to people who purchased an XP-equipped machine during the three months leading to Vista's launch, PC makers will be allowed to set their own pricing for the Windows 7 upgrades. Three years ago, PC makers charged a variety of prices for the XP-to-Vista upgrades. Hewlett-Packard Co., for example, gave away the upgrades, but others, such as Dell Inc., charged users $49.
According to TechARP, new PCs purchased between June 26, 2009, and Jan. 31, 2010, with a downgrade to XP Professional Service Pack 3 (SP3) will be eligible for a free Windows 7 upgrade. The site also said that XP users will be able to run Windows Easy Transfer from the Windows 7 installation disc prior to upgrading; that utility will let users save files and some Windows settings to an external drive, such as a flash drive, then after the hard drive is wiped and Windows 7 installed, migrate those files and settings to the new operating system.
Although Microsoft has not committed to a delivery date for Windows 7, last month the company inadvertently revealed that it will post a release candidate next month. Microsoft was not immediately available for comment Monday, but it has previously declined to comment on reports of its Windows 7 upgrade offers.


text:
The following was originally published in WorldNetDaily, Friday, October 21st
How the U.N. Influences Domestic Policy
click to listen to this article
On Monday, October 24, everyone is supposed to honor the United Nations in celebration of its 66th birthday.
A better idea would be for the United States to send an eviction notice to the U.N., and slam shut the funding door to every U.N. agency. The Department of Education has worked hard to see that generations of students are taught to embrace "the global neighborhood," and look to the U.N. as the last best hope for civilization. Actually, the U.N. has become the best hope to ensnare the world into global socialism under its administrative authority.
Those who snicker, laugh, or deny this reality, are simply ignorant of the facts and procedures, or want you to remain ignorant of the facts and procedures. Nowhere has the U.N. been more effective in its socialist policies than through the concept of "sustainable development" as defined in Agenda 21, a non-binding policy document adopted by 179 nations in 1992.
Agenda 21 policies were embraced and actively implemented by the (Clinton's) President's Council on Sustainable Development between 1993 and 1999. The Environmental Protection Agency provided grants to communities to implement Sustainable Development Policies as defined in Agenda 21. The Federal Register, Volume 63, Number 163, August 24, 1998 says:
The Sustainable Development Challenge Grant program is also a step in implementing 'Agenda 21, the Global Plan of Action on Sustainable Development' signed by the United States at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992." (page 45157)
George W. Bush did not promote sustainable development as overtly as did his predecessor, but he did not prevent his agencies from advancing Agenda 21 policies. Barack Obama has picked up where Clinton left off, and has accelerated the effort to implement Agenda 21 polices at every opportunity. His White House Rural Council seeks to transform rural America to the U.N.'s vision of what the countryside should be.
Agenda 21 (Chapter 7.16) says this vision can be achieved by:
a) Adopting and applying urban management guidelines in the areas of land management, urban environmental management, infrastructure management and municipal finance and administration…
c) Adopting innovative city planning strategies to address environmental and social issues…
d) Developing local strategies for improving the quality of life and the environment, integrating decisions on land use and land management…
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has launched a $150 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grants program that seeks to fund planning for: (1) economic competitiveness and revitalization; (2) social equity, inclusion, and access to opportunity; (3) energy use and climate change; and (4) public health and environmental impact.
Remember that the official land use policy of the United Nations is this: "…Public [read: government] control of land use is indispensable."
Where does the federal government find authority in the Constitution to take your tax dollars and give them to planning agencies and non-government organizations to develop plans that force your community to conform to policies set forth in Agenda 21? There is no such authority, of course, but then, the Constitution hasn't mattered much to the federal government since Woodrow Wilson. The current president has less respect for the Constitution than any president in history.
Seven departments of the federal government (at 13:23) pay more than a half-million dollars per year in membership fees to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, an NGO in Gland, Switzerland. These departments send a delegation of their employees to conferences where the documents are written that eventually become U.N. Treaties and policy documents. Jessica T. Matthews, Bill Clinton's appointee to the State Department, said in Foreign Affairs, that NGOs wrote the Framework Convention on Climate Change (page 204) in 18 months. They also wrote the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21.
These same employees are appointed as delegates to the U.N. conference where they vote to adopt the documents they wrote. These same employees then return home to testify before Congress about why they should ratify the treaties they wrote, and fund implementation of the policy documents they wrote. Then, these same employees actually implement the policies they wrote — and get paid to do it — with our tax dollars. This is precisely how the U.N. influences domestic policy.
Elected officials who insist that the U.N. has no way to enforce its policies are either blind to the actual practice that has been occurring for years, or they want to divert attention from that process and ridicule the people who realize that the United Nations is transforming domestic policy.
Every time the term "sustainable development" appears it is evidence of the influence of the U.N. on domestic policy. The U.N. created and defined the term. Regardless of how it may be presented, "sustainable development" is government-approved development. Freedom cannot long exist where every action requires government approval.
Henry Lamb is the author of "The Rise of Global Governance," Chairman of Sovereignty International , and founder of the Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) and Freedom21, Inc.
Graphics added by Gulag Bound


text:
Fire Safety on the Horse Farm
By Barbara Sheridan, Equine Guelph
Barn fires are every horse owner's worst nightmare, one that can bring significant emotional and economic loss. However, the sad fact is that many barn fires could have largely been prevented by applying a few basic principles. The most reliable approach to fire safety is to plan for the worst by having solid procedures in place for fire prevention and adhere to them daily.
Education, awareness, and planning are key to minimizing the risk of fire, says Victor MacPherson, District Chief of the Adjala-Tosorontio Fire Department. "Barn fires still continue to happen though we try our best, as we are lacking the education connection with the property owner," he says. "The reasons we encounter barn fires result from years of improper setup, poor maintenance and poor house cleaning."
Ensure your laneways are accessible to heavy firefighting equipment and that there is a clear right-of-way for them to reach all your buildings. Access can be compromised by low hydro wires or overhanging tree branches. Photo: Canstock/Hbas
Fire is caused when fuel and ignition sources meet. Hay, bedding, and wooden materials are common examples of fuel found on the farm, while improperly cured hay, electrical malfunctions, and carelessness with smoking are common sources of ignition. Practicing simple protection and prevention techniques will help keep these two elements from contact.
Data released in 2012 by the Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management in Ontario indicated $57.6 million in losses in buildings classified under the National Farm Building Code in 2007, notes Ralph Snyder, Assistant District Chief of the Adjala-Tosorontio Fire Department. This represents a 67.4 percent increase over the previous year's loss of $34.4 million due to fire. With the evolution toward large-scale farming and associated farm buildings increasing in value, the financial losses continue to climb.
"When these large structures catch fire, they are more difficult to control and extinguish, resulting in greater financial losses to both the structure and its contents," he adds.
Make sure aisle ways and doorways are always kept clear and free of clutter. A halter and lead rope should be secured at each stall front to facilitate emergency removal of horses. Photo: Flickr/Svadilfari
Electrical malfunctions are a primary ignition source for many fires including barns, advises Snyder. "Farm buildings can be at an increased risk because of the corrosive environment found in livestock barns," he says. "This causes corrosion of exposed metal components [such as wires, connections, etc.], which creates increased resistance and heat at wiring connections. This can result in ignition of surrounding combustible materials. The Electrical Safety Authority has stringent requirements for installation of electrical equipment in animal confinement areas."
In order to offset any potential fire hazards, Snyder recommends having an annual electrical inspection done by a qualified electrician to check for signs of deterioration or corrosion and repair any issues that are found.
In addition, all electrical wiring, switches, or plugs should be placed well out of a horse's reach and covered in weatherproof boxes or conduit. All light fixtures should be caged and approved for stable use. When not in use, electrical equipment should be unplugged and properly stored away. Special attention should be paid to water bucket heaters, as they continue to heat even when the water bucket is empty. This could result in the plastic melting and igniting stall bedding and hay.
"In our experience, we find that barn fires seem to be more prevalent in cold weather conditions," states MacPherson. "For example, the heating/electrical system can be taxed pertaining to drinking water freezing and thawing, and allowing the watering buckets to run dry. This leaves the elements exposed causing bedding or other combustible material to ignite. We have also found that in the fall months, improper storage of fall crops contain too much moisture and spontaneous combustion occurs in the stored feed."
Good Housekeeping Starts Now
MacPherson says the best way to combat stable fires is to identify all potential ignition sources and take the necessary steps to eliminate them. This starts with good housekeeping, which includes installing a fire detection system and keeping the system functional and operational by keeping the sensors clean and in good working order.
"Depending on the value associated with your stable, a dry sprinkler system with the connection outside the barn for fire department connection, or an independent pump system, would be a valuable tool to stop the spread of fire," he says.
Other important housekeeping steps include keeping the stable clean and free of clutter such as cobwebs and dust, which are excellent fuel sources. Any loose hay or straw should be swept up and disposed of properly. The removal of potential combustible materials also includes the trimming of weeds, grasses and brush from around buildings and regular removal of rubbish. Equip all buildings with a minimum five pound ABC fire extinguisher at all exits and in any mechanical and feed rooms, and make sure employees know how to use one.
Another important tip is to regularly maintain farm equipment and have it stored in a separate building. It is also recommended that hay and bedding be stored in a building separate from where the horses are kept or that it be restricted to a separate section of the stable separated by a firewall. Enforce a strict "No Smoking" policy in and around the facility and post signs prohibiting this where they can be easily seen.
"We highly suggest that every stabled horse has a halter that fits hanging on their stall door with the lead rope attached," he says. "Leather is preferable, as a nylon halter can melt in the heat. Consider marking each halter with glow-in-the-dark paint or attaching reflectors to assist during times of poor visibility."
MacPherson strongly recommends that farm owners prepare a site-specific fire safety plan, known as a pre-plan. This would include mapping out the location of where all animals are being housed, as well as the location of all emergency utility shutoffs, and identifying all buildings on the property and sources of water available, should firefighters require access to it.
"Have a detailed fire plan, which includes listing the location of combustibles and where feed is stored, with a copy given to your local fire department for their pre-plans," he says. This would greatly assist firefighters in familiarizing themselves with your property before a fire happens.
Stable owners can consult with their local fire department for advice on preparing a pre-plan and obtain information on fire prevention. Most fire departments will visit your farm if invited and point out ways to minimize potential fuel sources on their property. This would be especially beneficial before one begins to renovate their stable or build a new facility.
Keep the Plan Prominent
There is no such thing as a fireproof building, and no matter how well you prepare, accidents can happen. Develop a fire emergency plan ahead of time, keep it readily accessible and practice the plan prior to any emergency, as these steps will assist in keeping you and your horses safe. In case of fire, it's important to remain calm, call 911, and proceed with the emergency plan. Once the fire crew arrives, step aside, wait for direction, and let the professionals do what they're trained to do.
In case of an emergency, Snyder recommends that the stable's physical address be posted in a prominent place, preferably by the phone should someone who is not familiar with the address be making the emergency 911 call. Also make sure that the address can be easily seen from both directions of the road in order to get the fastest response.
"Always keep an open roadway around the perimeter of buildings for access by heavy firefighting equipment, and then keep it well-maintained so that it is accessible year around," he says.
Every stable user should have fire safety in mind. Plan ahead with fire prevention practices and have an up-to-date pre-plan on hand to help to reduce the risk of fire.
"Education of fire prevention awareness is fundamental to both the property owner and hired hands," says MacPherson. "Internet information from reputable sources such as universities and colleges of agriculture offer valuable information, as well as discussing any concerns with your local fire department."
Visit Equine Guelph's website for more information on Disaster Planning and Education: www.equineguelph.ca.
Main article photo: ©iStockphoto/snapshotz


text:
Well, it has been a few weeks and a lot has happened. I have been heads down trying to cope with life and get ahead at work. With that in mind, here is a dump to get you caught up.
1. Since returning from Indiana I have been heads down at work driving to release to our integration environment the first phase of our new website. It is amazing and the product and engineering teams at the office have been kicking ass and taking names. I had the opportunity to demo the site to the entire company and a few outside guests as well. Keep your eyes open in the coming months for some amazing changes.
2. I now own an iPhone. It has been a long time since I could say one piece of technology has single handedly change my life (talk about fanboy!). But seriously, imagine having the features from your laptop computer (chat, web browsing, mail, camera, calendars, notes and more) combined with a cell phone and all of that merged with your iPod… all in a device no larger than a standard sized iPod?! The feeling of always on/always connected is quite amazing and empowering.
3. On the home front. Amy and I have moved away from the ocean and into a house in San Bruno, California. It is enormous (in comparison to our other city residences) and even has an entire room dedicated to video and audio production… talk about sweet! The backyard (to continue my bragging) has a gazebo and a waterfall! Needless to say, we really love spending time at home in front of the fire, listening to the waterfall, and working through the night :)
4. We are getting old! Amy turned 28 on October 8 and I am about to turn 29 on December 8 (a good time to mention that Tim McGoverns birthday is on December 5). Where has the time gone? It seems just yesterday I was working from home in my robe and to think how far we have come in the last 3 years is amazing.
5. Speaking of the last 3 years, Podcast Alley celebrated its 3 year Anniversary in November!! More on that soon, but I am honored to have served the podcasting community for so long as the first directory and community in podcasting history.
Alright… that is a good start for now. Lots more to come, but if feels good to be getting my head up and looking around again!


text:
Rule #1 - Be Patient - Rule #2 - Don't ask when, if you don't contribute - Rule #3 - You have coding skills - LinuxMCE's small brother is available: http://www.agocontrol.com
I am trying to setup more then one web orbiter.I create the generic web orbiter and call it desktopthen change the associated proxy orbiter to DesktopI create generic web orbiter called Mobilethen change the associated proxy orbiter to mobilechange the mobile one to a smaller screen..but the change seems to force into both orbiters.What i want is to be able to connect with a web orbiter from work to check on things and work on things, and use the web orbiter on my ipod touch to use as a remote in the house, on the touch the screen scales but is hard to read if i don't re-size... but i can't seem to have different ones running,.any help?JQE.
* posde wonders why noone has created a patch to the web admin Orbiter screen to be able to just Add a iPhone4 Orbiter, with everything already defined.
Works perfect for me, though I have to run the iPhone 3 resolution on my iPhone 4... Roaming Orb and Dianemo have never worked right for me unfortunately. You might also want to wait a bit as iOS6 available notices have just started popping up for me, its bound to break just as much as iOS5 did.


text:
With over 100,000 jobs, www.EmploymentGuide.com has listings of entry level to mid-management job opportunities within all the major industries nationwide. Whether you are looking for a new job in your current city or are looking to relocate, start your job search by choosing a location. In addition, find job openings at a specific company.
Have Job Alerts sent to you!
Sign Up Now!


text:
A few weeks back,
At the time, several commenters pointed out that the city's filing seemed unusually cogent. In sharp contrast to the run-of-the-mill argument from Durham (i.e.: state law says Mike Nifong wasn't supposed to supervise a police investigation, and therefore Durham can't be sued for results from the city's decision to allow him to supervise a police investigation), the Durham filing looked as if had offered an intellectually consistent and on-point claim.
But as revealed in explosive filings from Charles Davant (representing the three falsely accused players) and Bob Ekstrand (representing Ryan McFadyen, Matt Wilson, and Breck Archer), we should have known better. Incredibly, it appears as if Durham's high-priced attorneys—the same attorneys who have received more than $1 million in fees—misrepresented the city's insurance policies in such a way that they essentially presented a false argument.
Davant's opening pithily summarizes the implications of the city's multiple errors:
The City's brief misquotes the sentence upon which its argument depends, omitting a particularly important comma. The omission reverses the sentence's meaning, transforming policy language that is fatal to the City's position into the inaccurate language upon which the City's motion is based. The omission also leads the City to represent, inaccurately, that this Court interpreted "identical policy language" in Pettiford. In fact, Pettiford involved an insurance policy that was altogether different from the City's, and that only highlights the problems with the City's argument.
Other issues about the
1.) Inaccurate Quotations.
The city's filing was [deliberately?] misleading. It removed a comma from a key sentence in its insurance policy—and by so doing, changed the meaning of the policy's language in such a way to align
2.) Misleading Ellipses.
The ellipses conceal the text that reveals that the City's retained limit is exhausted not only by the City's obligation to pay a claimant, but also by the City's payment of "defense costs" along the way to judgment. Specifically, the City's ellipses replace the phrase "by means of payments for judgments, settlements, or defense costs." Restored to its original state, the quoted sentence reads: [The insurer's] duty to pay any sums that you become legally obligated to pay arises only after there has been a complete expenditure of your retained limit by means of payments for judgments, settlements, or defense costs.
(While Durham has had no legal judgments against it in the case, its defense costs to date exceed its limit, and therefore require insurance payment.)
Even more dramatically, Ekstrand quotes an email between then-City Manager Patrick Baker and the city's risk manager—the email about the very issue of insurance and the city losing its immunity, but from an already settled 2007 lawsuit. The city's risk manager was clear: defense costs—not just settlement costs—pierced the city's immunity:
The SIR [self-insured retention] applies to damages as well as legal defense expenses (but not to expense of our staff counsel, so we can't bill for your time.) When we expect that a claim could go into the excess (exceed the SIR), then we need to report it to the underwriter promptly. … We have an obligation to protect the underwriter's interest, and that necessarily affects our settlement posture within the SIR . . . . This does affect the potential for an immunity defense because immunity is waived to the extent of the insurance. … This is the dilemma of the low SIR.
3.) Ignoring Relevant Case Law.
In his filing, Davant cites 16 separate
Davant also quotes from the Kephart decision, in which the Court rejected the very argument offered by
"In short," Davant concludes, "the City's legal argument is refuted not only by its prior admissions and the case law, but by the plain language of its policies."
4.) Concealing Relevant Information.
The issue of defense costs triggering the insurance policy wasn't the only information conveniently neglected from the
But, as both the Ekstrand and Davant filings observes,
Moreover, as the Ekstrand filing further notes,
counselor] Mr. Laws states under oath— unequivocally and incorrectly—that "the City is not a party to any agreement which requires … any other entity to pay claims for which the City incurs liability." Mr. Laws is wrong. One such agreement was attached to Plaintiffs' Amended Complaint: the Duke-Durham Police Jurisdiction Allocation Agreement. Section 3.5 of the Police Jurisdiction Allocation Agreement contradicts Mr. Laws' sworn declaration. It provides: "To the maximum extent allowed by law, the University shall defend, indemnify, and save harmless the City from and against all claims, demands and lawsuits that may arise in any manner from, in connection with, the acts or omissions of the University's officers while performing their duties under this Agreement." Durham
Ekstrand continues,
Plaintiffs can only assume that Mr. Laws simply did not know of either the City's "Immunity Waiver Fund," the City's three Resolutions deeming the fund to be a waiver of the City's governmental immunity, the City Council's appropriation of over $600,000.00 to participate in the League of Municipalities' local government risk pool, or the City's indemnification agreement with Duke University relating to all claims arising out of the concerted activities of the Duke and Durham police departments. If that is the case, Mr. Laws simply not a reliable affiant with respect to the facts at issue in the City's dispositive motion.
The city's pattern of . . . incomplete . . . disclosure of information, the players' attorneys argue, should be particularly problematic in a motion for summary judgment. Davant summarizes the information that the plaintiffs' attorneys could encounter if and when discovery actually begins:
- communications between City officials and/or the City's insurers regarding coverage of Plaintiffs' state-law claims;
- reimbursement of the City Defendants' legal fees incurred in connection with defending Plaintiffs' state-law claims;
- other statements by City officials concerning the City's insurance coverage for Plaintiffs' claims;
- whether the City and/or its insurers have engaged in other actions that would support a finding of insurance coverage and, therefore, a waiver of immunity.
The Davant filing presents five (logical, if almost comical) questions that the
1. Where an insurance policy provides that coverage is triggered upon the insured's payment of $500,000 "for judgments, settlements, or defense costs," is coverage triggered upon the insured's payment of $500,000 in defense costs?
2. Can a city claim governmental immunity on the ground that it has no "legal obligation to pay" its self-insured "retained limit," where the policy at issue requires only that the retained limit be paid, not that the city have had a "legal obligation to pay" it?
3. Does a city's insurance policy extend coverage to state-law torts if it expressly covers "wrongful acts" that specifically include "negligent acts," "personal injury offenses," "malicious prosecution," "false arrest," and other state-law torts?
4. Does an endorsement to an insurance policy that is expressly made "subject to" the policy instead override the policy?
5. Should summary judgment be granted on the affirmative defense of governmental immunity where the moving party's prior statements, at a minimum, create a question of fact, and the non-moving parties have been unable to take discovery?
The answers to each of these questions are self-evident, at least to everyone outside the
Some aspects of this case—chiefly involving the unindicted players' suit against Duke, which could have far-reaching implications on higher education—involve complicated questions of law. But the only thing complicated about
[Update, here are the links to the Davant and Ekstrand motions.]


text:
Six Foods to Eat for a Mood Boost
Long-term nutrition can have positive effects on brain health
By Cara Rosenbloom
If you've ever found bliss in a bite of chocolate or smiled when someone offered you a french fry, then you know food can make you happy. But while it's true that your favorite treat may give you a brief emotional lift, sustained mood-boosting brain power can only come from a consistent supply of nutritious foods.
Recognizing the difference between a quick jolt of cookie fueled joy and the positive effects of long-term nutrition for brain health is important. Researchers are taking a closer look at how food can impact your mood and future cognitive function, and they are finding that what you eat does make a difference.
There's a mountain of evidence to show that the well-researched Mediterranean diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes. And good news! That very same diet is also associated with improved mood and a reduced risk of depression and cognitive decline.
The key to the Mediterranean eating plan is to emphasize vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, whole grains, olive oil and lean protein, while reducing ultra-processed, fried and sugary foods. Basically, eat the real stuff, and cut back on junk food.
Enjoying a collection of nourishing foods can feed the brain the right combination of nutrients, which help boost serotonin, the neurotransmitter that's responsible for happiness and wellbeing. It also allows the brain to be properly fed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to combat oxidative stress and reduce cellular damage to brain cells.
An offshoot of the Mediterranean diet is the brain-healthy MIND Diet (Mediterranean- DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), which is based on the same foods but adds extra emphasis on eating berries, leafy greens and nuts. Researchers have found that people following the MIND diet have better cognitive abilities, equivalent to being 7.5 years younger in age than people not following it. They also found that people sticking to the MIND eating plan lowered their risk of Alzheimer's disease by as much as 53 percent. Yep, food can do that.
Studies show it's the cumulative and synergistic effect of all of the foods in the Mediterranean/MIND diet, and not one singular food that has the most powerful effect on brain health. Translation: There's no specific superfood that will make you happy or improve cognition. Instead, aim for a healthy eating plan with a variety of nutritious foods. Here are some brain-healthy ingredients to consider adding to your plate, and why you should embrace them:
People who eat omega-3rich fish tend to have a lower risk of depression and a more positive affect, which is defined as how much you experience positive moods and feel joy. Bonus: Salmon also contains vitamin B-12, which helps produce brain chemicals that affect mood. Low levels of B-12 are linked to depression.
Whether from supplements or foods, these good bacteria are beneficial for more than digestive health. People who take probiotics see improvements in their perceived levels of stress and have a more positive mental outlook compared to people not taking probiotics.
Leafy greens
Spinach, chard and other dark leafy greens contain magnesium, which can positively impact serotonin levels and boost your mood. About half of all Americans are low in magnesium, and this deficiency has been linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. In addition to your greens, add magnesium rich pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, chickpeas and beans to your meals.
With a high content of antioxidants known as flavonoids, blueberries help activate brain pathways associated with better cognition and less cellular aging. Blueberries and blueberry juice are associated with having a more positive mood.
This seafood delicacy is high in zinc, a mineral that's not stored by the body and must be consumed daily. Being deficient in zinc is linked to depression. Other good sources of zinc include crab, beef, beans, chickpeas and cashews.
Results from systematic reviews indicate cocoa can shake off bad moods, and may be protective against depression. And sipping antioxidant- rich hot cocoa increases feelings of contentment and puts people in a happy mood. But since too much sugar is negatively associated with brain health, choose dark chocolate and keep portions to a square or two a day. While many foods provide positive brain fuel, there are some edibles that have the opposite effect. In contrast to the Mediterranean-style plan, typical unhealthy Western diets that include excessive amounts of sugar, salty snacks, processed and fried foods have been associated with worsening of symptoms of depression, and an increased risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease.
For these reasons, the Mediterranean diet includes limits on "meats and sweets," while the MIND Diet limits fast food, red meat, cheese, butter, stick margarine, pastries and sweets. Keeping your brain in shape is just one more reason to choose whole foods and cut back on processed items.
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.
The PRC Blog
Here, the PRC staff teams up to provide our views and advice on common mental health issues.


text:
HOUSTON, Texas (AP) — Dray Joseph hit Lee Doss for a 16-yard touchdown pass to give Southern University a 34-27 double overtime victory over Jackson State Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship.
During the ensuing drive by Jackson State (8-4, 8-1), running back Tommy Gooden stepped out of bounds to negate what would have been a 5-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Moore.
Both teams failed to score in the first overtime. Anthony Balancier intercepted Moore to end the Jackson State's first attempt in overtime. Yet Gregory Pittman's 37-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Conard Brown, keeping the Tigers' hopes alive.
Joseph was 27 of 46 for 337 yards passing with three touchdowns, two to Willie Quinn, to lead the Jaguars. Southern (9-4, 7-2) won its third conference championship game in school history.
Joseph hit Quinn for a 34-yard touchdown to give Southern a 10-0 lead. After the teams traded field goals, Moore went 5 for 5 leading the Tigers 73 yards in just 54 seconds. Moore then threw a 25-yard TD pass to Zachary Pendleton to make it 13-10 at halftime.
Joseph and Quinn connected a second time. Quinn was originally ruled down at the 1-yard line, but replay showed he broke the plane of the goal line to give Southern a 20-10 lead with 4:59 left in the third quarter.
Darrius Coleman capped a 13-play drive with a 1-yard TD run to give Southern a 27-24 lead with 4:47 remaining.
Ryan Deising hit a 37-yard field goal for Jackson State as time expired to send the game into overtime. Deising looked to have missed his opportunity, but Southern head coach Dawson Odums called timeout before the ball was snapped. With a reprieve, Deising knocked the attempt right down the middle.