text:
Remember me
Forgot password?
Log in with Facebook
Log in with Twitter
Log In
tech & science
social media
World's helium supply running low
Abigail Prendergast
Mar 19, 2012 in
Helium, an element commonly used in party balloons, has become so scarce that scientists are worried it will be gone within the next 30 years. Researchers are blaming party patrons for squandering the element which cannot be made artificially.
Helium, a substance that most party-goers seem to be familiar with, is dwindling in supply at an alarming rate according to scientists and medical professionals.
The world's second-lightest element, which is crucial to the usage of equipment such as MRI scanners and neutron beams, is disappearing so fast that experts are warning it could be gone as soon as 2025. Due to a law passed in 1996, helium has become "too cheap to recycle" and the sharply declining stock of the gas could ultimately spell doom for the medical industry says
The Independent
According to
The Guardian
, one of the main culprits is none other than the seemingly harmless party balloon. Whether it is for the traditional aesthetic of seeing them float in the air, or to serve the purpose of the infamous helium whippet, the element is being squandered quickly and shamelessly the experts claim.
Earth by no means has an infinite supply of helium, in fact it is highly limited on this planet despite it being the second-most abundant element in the universe. It was first discovered in 1868 by French astronomer, Pierre-Jules-César Janssen, when he noticed a
yellow-colored line within the spectrum of the sun
during a solar eclipse.
This line, the wavelength of which measured 587.49 nanometers, was named helium by English astronomer, Sir Norman Lockyer. The name was taken from the Greek god of the sun, Helios.
The earth's atmosphere is 0.0005 percent helium and the element is often times taken upwards into space as gravity cannot pull it down.
The second element on the periodic table is formed on this planet by a lethargic yet steadfast process of radioactive terrestrial rock decay. It is extruded from gas deposits most often in places such as Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. In addition to party balloons, helium also allows blimps and scientific balloons; it is also utilized to protect welders, pressurize the fuel tanks of liquid-fueled rockets as well as supersonic windtunnels.
At the United Kingdom's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, researcher Oleg Kirichek had the unpleasant surprise of discovering he could not conduct his experiments as planned due to running out of the element.
"It costs £30,000 a day to operate our neutron beams, but for three days we had no helium to run our experiments on those beams," said Kirichek
in regards to an experiment
to study the structure of matter. "In other words we wasted £90,000 because we couldn't get any helium. Yet we put the stuff into party balloons and let them float off into the upper atmosphere, or we use it to make our voices go squeaky for a laugh. It is very, very stupid. It makes me really angry."
Since helium is an inert gas that does not react with other chemical substances, it is safe to work with as well as vital to scientific research due to the fact it doesn't freeze even at extremely low temperatures. It can even be converted into liquid in order to accomplish such tasks as cooling nuclear reactors and NASA uses it to purge fuel from rockets, among other purposes.
"Helium is particularly important for running super-conducting magnets. These have to be cooled to -270C to operate, and liquid helium does that perfectly. These magnets are now widespread and found in machines that range from the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva to MRI scanners in hospitals," said
Professor Jim Wild
of Sheffield University. "Without helium, none of these machines would work. Unfortunately that threatens to be a real prospect in the near future."
Helium is not a renewable source of energy nor can it be created synthetically; after prices went down drastically in the past decade, it has been used for frivolous, as opposed to scientifically productive purposes according to Kirichek.
"Helium was cheap and we learned to be wasteful with it,"
he said
. "Now the stockpile is used up, prices are rising and we are realizing how stupid we have been."
Cornell University Professor and Nobel physics prize winner, Robert Richardson, made the overtly blunt statement that party balloons should sell for £75 (about $119) a piece.
"We are squandering an irreplaceable resource,"
he said
More about
Latest News
Top News
Australian police drop probe of reporter, whistleblower
Officers sacked in US after black man dies as policeman kneels on neck
Eva LaRue talks about 2020 Emmy nod, 'The Young and The Restless'
Montenegro woos tourists to Europe's 'corona-free' corner
Twitter calls Trump tweets 'unsubstantiated' for the first time
After rare silence, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar prepares to reopen
Afghan government releases first hundred Taliban prisoners
SpaceX's moment of triumph arrives as astronauts ready for US launch
S.African migrants face hunger, xenophobia during virus lockdown
EU proposes huge aid plan as virus hammers Latin America
Contact Us
About Us
Investors & Partners
Help & Support
Editorial Guidelines
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
News Links
Latest News
Live Events
News Alerts
GlobeNewswire News
Global Press Releases
DX Journal
DX Institute
copyright © 2020
| powered by
dell servers


text:
In "The Fatal Conceit," Freidrich Hayek provides an interesting account of cultural evolution with its array of customs, mores, and traditions that, in Hayek's view, are inextricable from and essential to our civilization. Hayek goes further to state that centrally managed economies, particularly those that tinker with the capitalist system of private property (or as Hayek likes to call it, several property), corrupt our evolutionarily developed way of life, restrict freedom, and ruin the people who live in the society. (Hayek is very dramatic about this in his own elitist Austro-Germanic I'm-the-one-who's-really-got-it-figured-out kind of way.) He also points out how everyone from Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas to Descartes to Rousseau to Mill, Welles, Orwell, Keynes, and Einstein (to name but a few) were lame-brains when it came to social science (a term that Hayek derides) and economics. The odd thing is, you wind up agreeing with most of what he says, and he lays it all out in such charming historical context.
The tribute Hayek pays to basic free capital market structures is worthy. But hasn't the battle, at least in principle, already been won, even if it hadn't quite yet been won in Hayek's heyday? Deeply socialist systems, such as that of the former Soviet Union, are no longer of any consequence. The problem now in those former socialist places is corruption and insufficient administrative and judicial protocol and tradition. Amazingly, the Chinese have so far managed a transition from a socialist system to a capitalist one. The twin sister of capitalism, democracy, is still lagging behind, but the tension is generally kept under control. Occupied lands, such as Tibet and the land of the Uighurs no doubt are somewhat more tense. Still, one would expect that China gradually will become more capitalist, more just, and more politically free; it just may take a good long while, and might first be precipitated by some crisis, the scale of which I don't wish to contemplate.
What Hayek should have argued, like my good friend Michael Rothschild did in "Bionomics," was that resisting capitalism was not only detrimental to a society's vigor, but that every society would eventually adopt capitalist principles. Capitalism is inevitable. And, so is democracy, if we should live so long. In this sense, we can be optimistic.
However, our shorter term pessimism should not be ignored. But, we'll get to that in a minute. Let us first finish with Hayek.
Where Hayek goes too far, ironically, is in the field of social science. While his theories about the nature of economic systems are profound, he discredits the power of people to impact his beloved extended order. He often refers to the spontaneous, unpredictable, almost mystic, nature of the extended order that has developed. Perhaps, as Hayek writes, in ancient Greece, a cultural evolution was accelerated by the xenos, or guest-friends – go-betweens, if you will. Customs and traditions developed that were the basis for our customs and traditions of today. But, at the moment of their spontaneous creation so many thousand years ago, was not this new behavior, before it was ever considered a custom or tradition, simply the reasoned cooperation of one person with another. Yes, behind all our customs and traditions, reason. Even if we can't explain them now, or undo them, they were the product of reason. With a good dash of superstition thrown in now and then.
So, Hayek is wrong in this respect. After instinct comes reason, then tradition. Though I'm sure Hayek enjoyed grouping us with rats as exemplars of adaptability, he neglected to dwell on the one attribute of our exceptionalism that makes us unlike any other creature - our enormous brains.
Have you heard of Jeff Hawkins? (You can read the entire article by registering with Tech Review online.) He's the inventor of the Palm Pilot. But, his real interest is neuroscience. In an interview, he said he would not feel fulfilled if he died without having made a significant contribution to the field of neuroscience. Anyway, he has noted that only 10 percent of the brain's circuitry is wired for output such as seeing, contracting muscles, and breathing. Ninety percent is routed back into our brains as input. In other words, one part of our brain is sending signals to another part of our brain while simultaneously processing the experience that the output part of our brain has been part of. Why? To get feedback, of course. To process the results from one's actions, so one can develop predictive capabilities. As they grow, humans develop incredible predictive capabilities, and are able to accurately assess complicated probabilities from scant information. (This occasionally can lead to errors since some apparent patterns might change dramatically if more information is added to the picture. That's the whole concept behind whodunits.) In fact, being able to predict outcomes is so crucial to human success that it may be considered the equivalent of intelligence. On college entrance exams, analytical and verbal predictability (i.e, memorizing and mastering certain intellectual operations) are relied on to separate the intellectual wheat from the chaff. Of course, as discussed by Howard Gardener, these tests take no account of other intelligences, such as musical, natural, interpersonal (which is the one most crucial for corporate and political success), physical, or spiritual.
Anyway, given these wonderfully evolved, predictive brains does allow us to apply reason to our further cultural evolution, even if we should leave our cotton-pickin' mitts off the fundamentals of the capitalist system. Not that we'll always make all the right decisions the first time. In this regard, I again give Hayek credit: he advocates an experimental approach in the social realm, which is odd for someone who goes to such great lengths to say how messed up the experiment with Socialism was. I also wonder, in light of his more general denigration of reason, on what basis he proposes these experiments be formed if not by reason – whether collectively through the polls, or by some trusted representatives. Surely he's not recommending a combinatorial approach to social experimentation!
Yeah, baby. Instinct was first – it developed through all our predecessor species. With the advent of our species, the one with a gigantic brain, came reason: the ability to speculate about cause and effect in most profound ways. From the application of reason, dependable patterns of behavior, mores, customs, codes, and traditions arose, and did, in fact, form of themselves a transcendant system that we might describe as culture. A very useful thing, culture. And, yet, a jealous thing as well, resistant to uncomfortable change. Only new forms of empowerment, inspiration, or catastrophic circumstance will shape culture. The capitalist economy, which serves empowerment, is very active in shaping culture, though perhaps our individual gratifications do not quite reach the point of general satisfaction. Since we do not wish for catastrophe, we want inspiration. Are we asking too much?
We can direct our own cultural evolution. How? By creating new cultural dynamics. We can never predict outcomes within narrow confines, and they will always have unanticipated consequences, but it is possible to instill changes that stick because they appeal to people's sense of empowerment. This is what marketing is all about. Not to say that it is easy. A new grocery store product hardly affects the status quo on its own. Good thing, too. The status quo has a high surface tension, and most potential changes of significance tend to bounce right off. And it is right there that great leaders distinguish themselves. They know how to integrate a significant change into a culture.
Take the most celebrated case of leader-inspired accomplishment of the past 50 years – the Apollo landing on the moon. Which president do you associate with it? Kennedy, right? But, in fact, Kennedy had been dead nearly six years when Neil Armstrong set foot on that alien surface. (Nixon was president.) But, Kennedy had fashioned the Soviet technological threat into a weapon of social change, and the Age of Aquarius was born. Think about it for a moment. In 1969, calculators hadn't yet been invented. We went to the moon as a consequence of the applied brainpower of engineers and scientists using slide rules! In retrospect, based on the technology of the day, the event seems a displacement in time by at least a decade. Without leadership, perhaps we would have waited for quite a long time before attempting so audacious an experiment based purely on the confidence of our reason.
How about social objectives? Can they be achieved with applied reason? Yes, there are many examples. One is the transformation of Europe after WWII with much hard work. (As one of our esteemed colleagues has noted, articles in "Life" by reporters of the post-war years sounded as pessimistic as those from Iraq today. This does not, however, equate the morality of the current circumstance to that of post-war Europe, as, in this case, we were the aggressor nation.)
Other more or less successful social experiments crafted with reason, usually catalyzed by the need for expediency, include: the creation of a social safety net that includes bankruptcy provisions, disability insurance, unemployement insurance, and emergency care; significant laws setting commercial restrictions such as the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, the Robinson-Patman Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; major environmental legislation such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act; and even such modest achievements as the Peace Corps, Head Start, and Clinton's Welfare to Work program which were felt most significantly at individual levels, even as they have had generally beneficial repercussions for society as a whole.
There is no necessity that all such experiments be run at the federal level. In fact, for those things that logically can be governed by lower levels of government, experimentation could be much more greatly leveraged if tax revenues were passed through to the states for them to deliver services and conduct their own experiments.
There are other issues that I disagree with Hayek about, but probably the most important one is his confusion between morals and the customs, mores, and traditions of the capitalist system. Perhaps this is a confusion to be excused given that the Socialism against which Hayek argued was moralistic in that it presumed to be able to extend the power of economic productivity to achieve moral objectives. So, he felt the need to attack it on moral grounds. In reality, it is important to recognize that a free market system, which by definition freely serves the individual consumer's desires to the extent the consumer has the means and the compulsion to be served, is the only system which will generate robust economic growth. Not to say that it cannot be improved, for it is being improved all the time both through transcendant processes (to use one of Hayek's terms) and by design. Further, while the free market will maximize economic efficiency, it does so without regard for costs that are not factored into the price of goods. (Perhaps it isn't so surprising that our own human impatience for gratification is also an attribute of our transcendant economic system. It is our true instinct showing through. Our market is inclined to optimize across a short horizon.) So, we choose to impose regulations, which clearly are meant to curb some naturally evolving tendencies. Does anyone regret that, due to regulations, the air is cleaner and healthier in big cities than it was 25 years ago? Perhaps the real purist, the ultracapitalists, will say, "Oh, but think what the productive capacity destoyed by regulation might have done for society!"
In addition to imposing regulations, we assess taxes on the transactions that take place in that pure capitalist system. The transfer of goods from one owner to another, the transfer of money to workers for services rendered, the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next, and the transfer of goods across borders – all these transactions are taxed, creating some unusual and unexpected perturbations. But, the great capitalist system, like a river, usually flows right around or through these regulations and taxes, serving the interests of humans more or less, relentlessly carrying the nutrients of growth to communities that prosper on its banks. Too much regulation or tax, or the wrong kind, can choke or pollute the river, but it is awfully hard to deter it from its destiny. Treated right, even subject to constraints and purposeful redirections, the river will deliver great bounty.
Despite everything, I take heart in Bush's recent shift to emphasize the ideals of democracy taking hold in Iraq. But, I believe there were better ways than massive military power to undo the influence of Saddam. And, because of the way we've chosen to do so, while it was quick, the uncertainty of outcome over the next decade is still extremely high, and, yet, the current costs are so tangible in terms of human lives and money. Was there a better way? Bush didn't give us much opportunity to discuss this question, even choosing to wildly exaggerate the threat Saddam posed so he, like Kennedy, would have a weapon forged of crisis to lead the American people. To war. Not to the moon. War is a very serious proposition. It seems to me that to precipitate it under false pretenses should be a crime.
And now the future of Iraq is highly uncertain. While it is imprudent of the left to compare it to Vietnam, it also would be imprudent of Bush supporters to say they have great confidence that Iraq will function as a successful democracy as a result of the imposition of our will. Huge amounts of money will help – the distribution of it can create incentives that establish behaviors, habits, and, potentially, customs and traditions if people are able to accept them as the best way to get things done. The situation is likely to be fragile for quite some time to come.
By the way, regarding the question, "Where's the data" that supports the accusation of false premises for war propagated by Bush? One does not have to see a crash to reasonably discern that a crash has taken place when one hears the sound of squealing tires and metal smashing upon metal. Ninety-nine times out of 100, the seemingly obvious is what happened. That's how it is with the Bush administration. Pattern recognition. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. Otherwise, why the constant back-pedalling from the earlier assertions? Why the aspersions and ultimate lack of accountability around false intelligence? Bush couldn't validate those 16 words he used in the State of the Union address about Iraq buying plutonium from Nigeria, but I doubt that he even cared whether they were true or not. They served his purpose, this man of action. He had an objective in mind, and he (or, more accurately, his handlers) had calculated what it would take to create the national fervor necessary to justify action, and the American people became unwitting accomplices to war. With the actual evidence, he never would have succeeded in getting support. And, that's why I think he should go to jail. Of course, he won't. How does the crime I accuse him of compare to having oral sex with an intern? Well, for one thing, Clinton's transgression was proven – it's truthfulness is 100 percent certain. Bush's will not be so proven. At least not during a timeframe that matters, i.e., his presidency, whether it be one term or two. It will be successfully covered up.
For the record, I stated that Clinton should resign at the time of his sordid humiliation. Interestingly, Gore probably would be president now if he had had a year to demonstrate his competence as Commander in Chief. It gives a whole new meaning to the term pussy-whipped, doesn't it? (Ladies and gentleman, Al Gore, the great loser of the latter 20th century! To be placed in 20th century great-loser history books with Thomas Dewey and Konstantin Chernenko, who, ascending to the top Soviet post after 40 years of loyal service, immediately fell sick and died six months later.)
The current pessimism infecting so many of our thinking citizenry is a symptom of visionlessness. What is Bush's vision for America? What is his vision of our relationship to the rest of the world? What part of his seat-of-the-pants plan is being devoted to achieving his unarticulated vision?
The fact that Bush has finally returned to the theme of a democratic Iraq as a primary purpose is such a tiny morsel of hope to those of us who want to see people rally around a vision of a better world. We take up the crumb with fervor, and it makes us light-headed when we consume it. Oh, yes, there are those of us who hunger for intelligent leadership.
As to sending young people to war in Iraq or to the current high-threat situation there, I have no sympathy, Bret, with your position. Nor would I try to sway you to mine. It is obviously something you've given a lot of thought to. Does Lory feel the same?
My father served for a year in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot doing reconnaisance and medivac operations. 1965-66. When he returned, he requested a discharge, after serving eleven years in the Army, including a year in Korea in 1960. There is not a sentiment inside me that makes me wish he had stayed in the Army and gone back to Vietnam for another tour.
As for Saddam and the degree of his threat, he was a run-of-the-mill tyrant with a strong instinct for survival, a mediocre intelligence, and a crippled military capability. Check out the political situation for a Uighur or a Tibetan, or a Chechen, or a Zimbabwean, or multitudes of other Africans born into the wrong tribe or situation. In early 2003, there were many people who felt more threatened than your average Kuwaiti, Kurd, or Iraqi Shi'ite. Why didn't we free them from tyranny?
Don't get me wrong, Saddam was a terrible human being. I just think it's important for our citizenry to openly debate the apparent new standard of "because it serves our interests and we are highly likely to prevail" as sufficient conditions for war. Saddam's threat to the U.S. was insignificant, and had he actually been implicated in a plot to kill innocent Americans, he was smart enough to know that the U.S. would come at him with all its might. He didn't count on being implicated in an ersatz plot, however. We sure got him!
There may be some possible outcome such that a perspective could be crafted that makes George W. Bush seem to be visionary, inarticulate though he may be. Perhaps that is the future that will unfold. The range of possible results are rarely dwelled upon in accounts of history, and the actual results get all the attention, so he may yet be recognized as a great leader. Perhaps the truth is that most historical persons whom we now think of as great leaders were merely bold and fortunate, and, because of the great unpredictability of things, intelligence is of little importance. In which case, one can only hope that the people of Iraq will be able to build satisfactory lives under a governmental system which has not arisen out of their culture. I hope somewhere in Bremer's organization there are people paying attention to culture and traditions, planning how to forge cultural connections to the grafted system.
If only every place could have a Lee Kwan Yew (of Singapore) to set its initial course as a country. Lee's administration would score middling at best on a scale of democratic rights. But, clear standards of justice and economic process were established and implemented. Leaders such as this are not common, and perhaps Lee himself owes much of his success to the fact that Singapore is a nation of tiny land mass – easily controlled. Establishing new customs and systems of professional and judicial trustworthiness throughout Iraq will not be easy as there will be many factions interested only in staking out power positions. Their fervor will tend to corrupt the system from the get-go. In fact, they are likely to hijack the system to their advantage. Even in the more organically evolved structure that followed the Soviet dissolution, look at the recent outcome of change in Russia: Khodorkhovsky thrown in jail for corruption, but the terms of the imprisonment make it clear that the Putin government is even more corrupt. The new Russia has come out of the gate with endemic corruption throughout the government and business. Yet, the capitalist system is so powerful, over time it may help that country outgrow its corrupt qualities. One might even argue that this happened in the U.S. after several decades of the Industrial Revolution. But, will Iraq get that far? Or, will the outcome be one of the less favorable ones that any rational predictor of the future might anticipate if he or she were to consider the possibilities on the bottom side of this real-life Monte Carlo simulation?
All decisions in life are gambles – most of them small ones. The stakes seem rather high on this one. Did we do our homework? Did we understand the complexities and the stakes? Did we mitigate risks? Did we develop contingencies? Did we consider alternatives? Did we address the right issues with the stakeholders?
Bush takes pride in being a man of action. Boldness means a lot to him. One gets the impression that this is true to a fault: he would rather act than talk. He's certainly been lucky to this point in his life. I hope his good fortune is a quality that will not desert him in this situation which will determine his historical legacy.
Forum for discussion and essays on a wide range of subjects including technology, politics, economics, philosophy, and partying.
Tuesday, December 30, 2003
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Well, That Didn't Work
Ever have a nightmare where you have a critically important demo in a faraway place and the equipment ends up damaged and unusable? Well, I've just lived it. Twice! In one week!
The 1st demo was supposed to be early last week in The Netherlands. We went to check the luggage, including the carefully packed robot in a custom crate, and the robot weighed in at 123 pounds. This was a surprise to us since when we received this, the packing slip said 100 pounds even. The airline wouldn't take it at any price. We even offered that one of us would stay back and put the robot in his seat. No dice. So we had to take apart the robot and put it in different suitcases. A wheel here, a power supply there, etc. We got the main crate down to around 100 pounds and they took it. Unfortunately, the removal of the wheels allowed it to slide around in its container and it arrived badly damaged.
We did, fortunately, have a video. The customer was dismayed and skeptical but decided to give us the benefit of the doubt and rescheduled for April.
So then we had our spare robot shipped to Cleveland for the second demo (and supposedly the making of a video). It arrived in good shape except that one of the hubs came loose on one of the axles. The Cleveland client had welding capabilities so we set up to weld the axles and hubs. Unfortunately, we accidentally dropped the robot on it's camera boards in the process and knocked them hopelessly out of alignment. Scratch that demo.
Man that sucked!
Well, I'm home now, and my blogging pace should pick up to the old level now. I'll also be pushing towards GG IV.
I hope you all have happy holidays! Happy belated birthday Benj!
The 1st demo was supposed to be early last week in The Netherlands. We went to check the luggage, including the carefully packed robot in a custom crate, and the robot weighed in at 123 pounds. This was a surprise to us since when we received this, the packing slip said 100 pounds even. The airline wouldn't take it at any price. We even offered that one of us would stay back and put the robot in his seat. No dice. So we had to take apart the robot and put it in different suitcases. A wheel here, a power supply there, etc. We got the main crate down to around 100 pounds and they took it. Unfortunately, the removal of the wheels allowed it to slide around in its container and it arrived badly damaged.
We did, fortunately, have a video. The customer was dismayed and skeptical but decided to give us the benefit of the doubt and rescheduled for April.
So then we had our spare robot shipped to Cleveland for the second demo (and supposedly the making of a video). It arrived in good shape except that one of the hubs came loose on one of the axles. The Cleveland client had welding capabilities so we set up to weld the axles and hubs. Unfortunately, we accidentally dropped the robot on it's camera boards in the process and knocked them hopelessly out of alignment. Scratch that demo.
Man that sucked!
Well, I'm home now, and my blogging pace should pick up to the old level now. I'll also be pushing towards GG IV.
I hope you all have happy holidays! Happy belated birthday Benj!
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
From China
Long live Benj!
Monday, December 08, 2003
Happy Birthday Benj!
Today, December 8th - a day that will live in infamy!
Because this was the day John Lennon was shot?
No! Because it was the day a Great Guy was born.
Happy Birthday Old Man.
Because this was the day John Lennon was shot?
No! Because it was the day a Great Guy was born.
Happy Birthday Old Man.
Monday, December 01, 2003
Did He Really Say That?
Maybe I shouldn't be surprised by the following exchange in a NY Times Magazine interview of Noam Chomsky, but I am:
NY Times: "Have you considered leaving the United States permanently?"Given his unrelenting, harsh criticism of the United States for the last forty years, I had assumed that he thought that much or all of the rest of the world was better. I stand corrected. But I have to believe that many (on the Left) who quote Chomsky routinely are choking on that statement.
Noam Chomsky: "No. This is the best country in the world."
Consumption Taxation
According to the Nation Center for Policy Analysis, our fearless leader (that'd be Bush), supports a move towards Consumption Taxation, as proposed by Jim in this blog entry. It's good to see Jim and George so closely aligned on this particular issue!!!
Here are some excerpts
Here are some excerpts
The Bush Administration supports a fundamental tax reform that would move the federal tax system away from taxing income toward taxing consumption. This is a highly desirable goal, because it will raise growth and living standards for most Americans...Additionally, according to this article, "supported by President Bush", "[w]ithout much public debate or even awareness, the United States is heading toward an almost flat tax.", which would give us a mix of consumption and flat income taxes just like Jim proposed.
Consumption taxes are less burdensome than income taxes because of the way they treat saving. Under an income tax, all returns to saving and investment - interest, dividends, rent and capital gains - are fully taxed. Under a consumption tax, they would be exempt. Consequently, saving and investment are much higher with a consumption tax than an income tax...
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Raz-Plus resources organized into weekly content-based units and differentiated instruction options.
Humorous (fiction), 1,894 words, Spanish Level T (Grade 3), Lexile 770L
As if having the name "Ermaline" isn't bad enough, Ermaline's mother is crazy about safety. She decides to build a dummy to put in the back seat of their car so it will look like they are traveling with a man. The ugly dummy causes even more teasing for poor Ermaline. But when the dummy foils a car thief, Ermaline might have to change her mind.
Reading Strategy
Use the reading strategy of asking and answering questions to understand text
Analyze Character : Use the reading strategy of analyzing characters to understand text
Grammar and Mechanics
Commas : Use commas to set off clauses and phrases
Word Work
Suffixes : Use suffix -ment to make new words
Think, Collaborate, Discuss
Promote higher-order thinking for small groups or whole class
You may unsubscribe at any time.


text:
VICTORY ROLLS!! Sorry for all the capitals, but I've been wanting to have victory rolls in my hair for so so long, but my hair has always been just a little too short to achieve it. After skipping a few hair cuts I took my A-symmetrical barnet over to Tina at Lipstick Lashes & Locks to work her magic and see what she could do with it…. and I am over the moon to announce that I did not leave disappointed!
Lipstick Lashes And Locks is a fairly new salon to Edinburgh, but Tina, Loretta and Jenny all have years of experience behind them working with vintage pin up hair and make up. From beehives to quiffs and everything in between, they have a massively creative and talented background that is sure enough going to be able to cope with any type of hair and any ideas you come into the salon with wanting to try. Given my short and very fine hair, I didn't think I'd be able to get such a great effect with the complicated structure of victory rolls, but after half an hour, some back combing and hair spray I was proven 100% wrong. Now that's impressive! The best part? This was my hair the next day!! I got it done up for the Edinburgh Etsy Team Pop Up Shop opening and it was so well pinned it held solidly for two days – now that's a good investment in a hair do!
Based the Sciennes area of Edinburgh (near the Meadows), this cute little salon certainly looks the part with their vintage hair dryer chairs, cute pin up girls artwork, giant Marilyn Monroe wall decor and the pièce de résistance: a powder pink telephone for booking appointments! Frenchie eat your heart out! It's got a great atmosphere and the girls are all really chatty and friendly, but not in that awkward "where you going on your holiday's"way. They're all about the banter, which is exactly what I want when I'm in getting my hair cut. The fact that they're all interested in vintage style makes this a particularly enjoyable trip because it's literally like stepping back in time. Did I mention they have adorable matching uniforms? My dreams have come true!
But it's not just vintage pin up hair they offer, they do hair and beard trims for men standard and adventurous hair cuts and styles for women too, it just depends what you're looking for. With an inspiration look book, a proper cup of tea and classic biscuit (served in a vintage teacup of course!) the world is your oyster here. I've now been to a few different places to have retro styles like fringe rolls and full sets, but I don't think I've found anywhere as pleasant, efficient and professional. I feel like I've found a new second home!
For those of you looking to get your make up done (or even a full make over – SQUEE!) you can get your lipstick n lashes done too, all using the amazing range of Besame Cosmetics they carry. If you've never heard of Besame before, it's the greatest vintage make up company ever! With inspiration from the golden age of cinema, this luxury line of powders, lipsticks and mascaras are bound to blow you away with their vivid colours and scents – each one based on and inspired by a vintage era (you can choose from lipstick colours inspired by the 20s, 30's, 40's, 50's up to the late 60's). SWOON!
So, if you're looking for a new salon in the city, or getting your make up done and hair put up for a wedding, hen do or Christmas party I completely recommend you make an appointment as soon as possible with these lovely ladies. You wont regret it! Or if you're planning an event and fancy having them along to give your guests make overs and a good chuckle, make sure you get in touch here. As you can see from the photographs above, they did an excellent job with their pop up salon at the Etsy Pop Up shop and I can't wait to see where they get to next…
And there's some EXTRA exciting news for the team in the New Year – they've only gone and gotten the fabulous Cherry Dollface coming all the way from the USA to do pin up hair and make up tutorials and a photographer to take stunning boudoir pictures of you <3 Book your spot now before they all go!
Big love and a heap of backcombing to y'all ladies, you have a new customer for life…
As for you, lovely readers, I hope to see you there!


text:
The answer to this question is simple. Nothing - The difference is on the FulGaz server.
When you download FulGaz and register, you get 14 days of access. After that, you need a subscription to keep accessing the rides. That's it.
All the features in the "paid version" are in the trial because it's the same software.


text:
German, 15th century
Published in 1491 by Jacob Meydenbach
German, active c. 1490–95
The Hortus sanitatis, or Garden of Health, was the last of three important medical incunabula—books issued before 1501with typographical text, rather than in manuscript—that appeared in the German city of Mainz during the waning years of the fifteenth century. The Latin Herbarius and the German Herbarius, dated 1484 and 1485 respectively, were compilations of earlier knowledge regarding curative plants, in some instances reaching as far back as Aristotle. The Hortus sanitatis, published by Jacob Meydenbach in 1491, followed suit—the first half of the text is essentially an expanded version of the German Herbarius—but then went on to include additional commentary on animals, birds, fish, rocks and minerals, and, well, urine. With 454 leaves and 1066 illustrations, it was by far the most substantial, and perhaps the most important, medicine book of its time.
This page features three entries from the section on birds. In the upper left, the pelican (onocroculus) is described (its accompanying illustration would have been found on the previous page). In the lower right, two birds are discussed: the oriole (oriolus), depicted attending its nest in the woodcut, and the corn crake (ortigometra), a quail-like bird whose unmistakable attitude in flight, with its legs dangling behind, most certainly would have been observed by the designer of the image here. Sandwiched between these chapters is the hopping, serpent menacing opimachus, a winged creature born of the classical imagination. From the description we can gather that the chronicler followed the ancient conflation of the locus-like insect mentioned in Leviticus 22:11—in the Vulgate denominated ophiomachus; literally, snake fighter—and the mongoose, whose ability to fend off vipers was legendary.
Object inscriptions: bottom left: Hortus Sanitatis Maydenbach 1491


text: My son stopped by the house yesterday, I did not know he was coming. Long story short after attempting another guilt trip on me he told me he's a taxi cab for deliveries...said he didn't know what the contents were and it is none of his concern but it doesn't take a PHD to figure it out. I'm like O.M.G! this will surely get him worse than jail...I told him he's looking at Prison time if he's transporting drugs of any kind. He apparently doesn't see the seriousness of what he's doing...I told him if you play with fire long enough you're going to get burned. For those of you who aren't familiar with Gonzo, he's a 20 year old kid who's been arrested twice in 2 different counties in less than 2 months. One is waiting a trial and the other hasn't even been given a date for a hearing.In the first arrest the charges were minimal having a small quantity of marijuana,smoking it and paraphernalia.Then in the 2nd he was driving so it was not only a D.U.I but resisting arrest. When I got the call for the 2nd arrest I told my husband ( against his wishes ) to pick my son up from the police station. Technically they should've impounded his car but they didn't want to bother with the paper work. I hadn't realized he was using his car for delivering drugs...this he told me yesterday but tried to play it off by saying he didn't know what the stuff was. MY GOD! so this is what he's been doing for money...then why is he still homeless? He says he has no life...he cannot get ahead.. this is what he has to do for money because he has no home. Said he's been sleeping wherever he can find to lay his head. I did feel horrible when I made him leave the house with only a sandwich...after the sandwich he said he is still hungry..I feel so bad that he wanted a Ramen noodles but I refused. He's been having 1 meal a day at McDonald's and has lost a ton of weight. I never give him money...don't really have any to give him anyway. But I do feed him a snack when he does come to the house. I doubt by denying him that if it's going to make a difference, I think it's bad enough that I have made him homeless...my husband tells me it is my son who made himself homeless. Why does he not have any money is what I don't understand. Also...is it really just the weed he is smoking? My main question here since I'm afraid to google anything...has anyone had any experience with the consequences of running drugs? I'm so afraid for him, he is my son no matter what. I will add that my husband has a daughter the same age as my son...only her mother is so rich that she sent her daughter to get help with other kids her age in guess where? Hawaii, I told my husband "Gee isn't that just nice" , she is a spoiled brat who's been given a silver spoon on a platter her whole life...meanwhile my son is sleeping in God knows where. But I know it's his own fault, Is it wicked for me to feel his daughter should be sleeping on benches too?


text:
Lack of water closes Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Published: Friday, 23 February 2018
THE Canal & River Trust have closed the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal through lack of water at Curdworth Flight.
The feed to the locks has been 'massively reduced' owing to embankment work on the locks, Keith Gudgin tells us.
Preserve water levels
This means there is little supply to the locks, so to preserve the water levels in the chambers the flight as been closed to navigation until further notice.
There is no intimidation when this will be.


text:
— from The Huffington Post by Tasheka Lavann
I don't know about you, but if I just created history for my country on a world stage and my fellow citizens reacted by calling me derogatory names that could potentially put my life in danger, I would seriously think about moving to another country where people see people for the human beings they are and nothing less.
Sadly, Jamaican athlete Omar McLeod was not so lucky, even after capturing his country's first gold medal in the men's 110-metre hurdles at the 2016 Olympic Games, currently taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Celebrating the historic win on Tuesday, Jamaica Gleaner brand manager Terri-Karelle Reid tweeted:
While the company apologized and explained that an employee hacked its account and has since been terminated — a move that paves the way for more tolerance — many Jamaicans on social media used the opportunity to let the world know that a gay athlete would not be welcomed in their country, even if that athlete is an outstanding Jamaican flying Jamaica's flag.
In the comment section of one online news article, the reactions reminded us of how many Jamaicans feel about the LGBTQ community. I've rewritten some of the language for those who do not understand patois.
"Free speech… she said what she saw. He behaved effeminate when he won. Him no (he doesn't) look straight."
"If the employee want use her own account and call the young man battyman (gay man), that' her business…"
"I didn't even cheer after the race because of his reaction to the win… a fish is a fish in water or out."
"America backs battam man (gay men) and that's why they light up the place with the batty (gay) colored lights (rainbow lights)."
Interestingly enough, that reference to the coloured lights being lit up is about the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica marking a significant event in the country's history — Gay Pride Week, which angered homophobes — much like when the country's attorney general blasted the embassy for flying the rainbow flag in Jamaica following the Orlando Massacre, which left 49 LGBTQ members dead.
Trust me, I know how crazy that sounds, but it doesn't surprise me one bit, as I lived in Jamaica for five years and saw enough for me to make the decision to stay deep inside the closet, while attending university.
The sad thing is that Jamaica has a large LGBTQ population with many closeted gays from every walk of life. Yet, Jamaicans choose to bash every man that has "feminine tendencies" and women with "masculine tendencies."
This type of attitude can be seen across the Caribbean which, oftentimes, lead to both suspected and openly gay members of the LGBTQ community being harassed and discriminated against.
Why can't we just accept people for who they are? It is time for Jamaica and other Caribbean islands to recognize that homophobia does more harm than good. We are all human beings and our sexual orientation should not take away from our achievements… on or off the track.
What will happen to Omar now?
Ultimately it shouldn't matter if Omar is gay or straight, but if he is and Jamaicans cannot celebrate a gay athlete who has made their country proud, then please ship him to Canada as quickly as possible. We'd welcome him with open hearts and open minds.
But knowing the hypocrisy that tends to lift its ugly head in Jamaica and other Caribbean territories, Jamaicans will most likely close their eyes and end the homosexual accusations and go back to singing Omar's praises… as long as he continues to bring in the gold medals.
[button color="#ffffff" bg_color="#129fc8″ type="medium" url="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/tasheka-lavann/omar-mcleod_b_11599070.html" ]Source[/button]


text:
What You Need To Know About Home Security Cameras.
It is a home security camera that one needs to use when it's monitoring the surroundings is what he wants to achieve. But you have to know that it s in looking for the best one that can be frustrating due to the number of different options that you can have. It is also these security cameras that can also be used in any business. But no matter where you will use them, you have to know that it is these cameras that are considered as an investment and that is why it is also important that you will find the one that can fit the needs that you have. And it is in this article that we will be talking about the many different things that you need to know about home security cameras.
The first type of home security camera is what is called as a dome camera. Installed in the ceiling of the house or establishment is where this camera is commonly seen and is shaped like a dome as the name suggests. To be able to monitor activities at the casino table that these cameras are also installed on top of it. You also have the option to place the dome camera on the outside of your home but you also have to see to it that you will place a protection for the lenses that it has. When you will choose a dome camera that you will also have a number of choices as this one is also made by a lot of manufacturers. It is when you will be choosing the high-end ones that you can have features like an adjustable lens as well as a high resolution.
A durable and a stealthy camera is what you will get when you will also choose the infrared dome camera. It is the dome camera that is used by many people as the angle of the lens is harder to determine. You will have a hard time determining the angle of the lens that the dome camera has unless you really come close to it. It is the dome camera that usually comes in either black or white color.
Anothere you of home security camera is the bullet camera. A lens that is long and will sometimes resemble a rifle is what the bullet camera looks like. A camera that is easily visible and can be mounted on any surface is what you will get when you will choose this type of the camera. Make it a point that when you will choose this camera that it should come with its very won you will. A camera that has mostly a colored resolution is what this is. If it's questions that you have or if this is not correct, please contact me at 770-781-8588.
Suggested Post: http://www.send_these_to_the_2nd_tier_links_after_completion_of_order__144565.net/


text:
Effective Elementary Teaching Strategies in Reading
Before Reading Strategies
Effective elementary teaching strategies for reading start with instruction on before reading activities. You can teach students:
- To Always Preview a Book or the Text: When students learn to read the title, table of contents and chapter headings as well as look at pictures to get an idea of what the story will be about, they are preparing their brain for reading. They can make predictions and form questions. These predictions and questions will give them a reason to read–to find answers.
- The KWL method: The KWL method, one of the reading strategies for elementary teaching, works great for non-fiction texts, historical fiction and even genre studies such as reading a bunch of mysteries. The "K" or "Know" column and the "W" or "Wonder" column can both be filled out before reading. The K column is for students to write facts they already know about the subject. For example, if students are reading Abe Lincoln's Hat, they should write facts they already know about Abraham Lincoln. This can be done individually or as a class. The W column is for questions students may have about the subject. For example, an appropriate question would be: what is special about Abe Lincoln's hat?
During Reading
Here are some during reading strategies. Elementary teaching can focus on these to help comprehension.
- Summarizing: After reading a section of the text, students can learn to ask themselves, "What did I just read? How can I summarize this in my own words?" At first, students may need to write down these summaries until they are used to stopping and actually answering these questions in their head.
- Keeping Track of Characters: Students can also use sticky notes or a notebook to keep track of complex characters in chapter books and novels. Again, with this one of the effective elementary teaching strategies, students would start with questions: "What is the character doing now? How is the character changing? What is the problem the character is trying to solve? What are the solutions he is trying?" These questions will keep the reader on track and constantly checking for comprehension of the story. Keeping notes about these questions will help students during discussions or assignments. (This will also work for biographies.)
After Reading
Effective elementary teaching strategies in reading continue until students have finished reading and are ready to discuss or write. Some helpful strategies for after reading are:
- Finishing the KWL chart: The last column of the KWL chart is the "L" or "Learn" column. This is where students can write down facts they learned or answers to their questions (from the W column) after they have finished a book, article or reading assignment. If students have questions left from the W column, teachers can assign further reading or help students locate answers with another source.
- Reading Response Journals: Students can use reading response journals to respond to questions or activities you have presented to the class. They can use their notes they took during reading to complete these responses.
- Think-Pair-Share/Discussion: Class or small group discussion is one of the best ways to comprehend a text and gain new perspective from others. One of the effective elementary teaching strategies you can use is think-pair-share. Ask students a question, and then give them up to a minute of quiet time to think of an answer. Then ask them to share their thoughts with another student. Finally, ask students to share with the class. This method helps the shy students in your class find their voice.
Reading strategies for elementary teaching are numerous. Try these with your students, and choose the ones that work the best.
Eworkshop.on.ca: After Reading Strategies, https://www.eworkshop.on.ca/edu/pdf/Mod21_after_read_strgs.pdf
Bank Street College: Strategies for Successful Readers and Writers, https://www.bnkst.edu/literacyguide/strategies.html


text:
Price Match
Excellent Support
Rated 4.8 / 5
Free Delivery Over £99 (exclusions apply)
Finance Options
This product is in stock at our supplier.
It will ship directly to you in 2 to 4 working days (GB Mainland).
Please order normally, and we will contact you shortly to confirm the delivery date.
Please note: Shipping quotation will affect international orders.
Please note: Free Express delivery not applicable for this item.
In stock items:
*Standard delivery: 3-4 working days
A practical stand with all the features expected from more expensive alternatives.
We'll match or beat any price
On Orders over £99 (INC VAT)
A practical stand with all the features expected from more expensive alternatives. The base is fabricated from a pressed steel assembly where the legs are attached and hinge down for transportation. The height adjusting clutch is smooth in operation and not requiring force to stay in the set position. The clutch barrel is coated to provide a comfortable ergonomic grip that yields more torque. The boom arm can be slid forward and back for best positioning. A non marring screw holds the boom's position.
Finished with a tough Black powder coat that will still look smart after years of use. This stand will provide the user with years of service and at an unbeatable price. All parts held as spares in London
Spares for items which may get lost
There are no product reviews for this product, why not submit one?
© Copyright 1998 - 2020 Studiospares Europe Ltd. All rights reserved. E & OE.


text:
There's another masterful connection that has been going on now for centuries, and that is the one between music and literature. There is a full alphabet of songs that have been written retelling a work of literature as far back as the 18th century.
'If I Die Young' by The Band Perry was based on a poem, Lady of Shallot. 'Love Story' by Taylor Swift is loosely based on Romeo and Juliet. Sting's 'Moon Over Bourbon Street' was based on an Anne Rice novel, Interview With A Vampire.
|Image: Cynthia Roberts
I have a library of love songs on iTunes I listen to religiously while I write, as a source of inspiration and a tool that gets me in the mood and mindset I need to be in. From this list, I began to formulate a series of ideas, followed by cryptic notes on paper, and finally the creation of my Love Song Standards series. I made a list of the songs I connected with personally, whittling it down to thirty-five. That number was quite overwhelming and I thought virtually impossible to create that many scenarios. So, I chipped away at the songs and their lyrics, until I decided on a top ten.
I made a commitment to myself to finish one book a month throughout 2016, writing a chapter every day, leaving me ample time to polish and edit each one. I knew from the start what I wanted my covers to look like. They had to resemble each other in a way that would tie them together, but strong enough for them to stand on their own. My designer Covers by Ramona did an exceptional job tying all my ideas together.
After Book 6, Chances Are, was completed, my brain was fried. I took a short reprieve and switched it up a bit with a romantic suspense, A Pawn for Malice. Happily, the first two books of my series received a 5-Star Readers Favourite Award, which ended my promotional efforts. I was forced to take an extended break due to personal issues that had set me back both physically and emotionally. My focus now is to both promote my series' and finish the final four titles - All The Way, It's Impossible, Sincerely, and Unforgettable.
The Love Song Standards series is available to buy now.
About Cynthia Roberts
|Image: Cynthia Roberts
I have only one regret, and that is not getting to this point in my career much sooner rather than later. Life has a way of setting up road blocks, which for me, was supposed to work out that way. Because of those detours, I have become a more passionate and expressive writer, allowing me to create the kind of raw human emotion I want my readership to feel.
It is my hope you walk away with not just an entertaining read, but the importance of knowing, "Without imagination & dreams, we lose the excitement of wonderful possibilities."
To find out more about Cynthia and her novels, please visit her website.
What's your favourite love song? Let me know in the comments below!


text:
August 3, 2016
Atiora Demo Forex Trading Contest "Non-stop Trading"
Trade virtually with Atiora and earn real Cash money into your trading account. Atiora is running 4 different trading contests!
This Trading Contest has ended its release period. Please check Atiora's latest information and campaign on Atiora's company introduction page.
Atiora - What's now?
We are no longer promoting Atiora. The information regarding to Atiora on the website 'Hercules.Finance' maybe outdated. ref. Atiora
Trading Contest Details
|Contest Period
from 1st - 31st of the month
|Available to
|Both New and Existing Clients
|Registration open
|January 1, 1970
|to Participate
|Open a Demo account and Register
|1,800 USD distributed to Top 10 Traders
There is a new page available for this promotion. Please visit the page below.
New! Atiora MT4 Demo Trading Contest to Win 1,800 USD
ECN broker Atiora is running 4 different Forex trading contests each month, but if you are still not ready for investing with real money, do not worry as Atiora is also running "Demo" Trading Contests !
With Atiora, you can trade in Demo with virtual money and win 1,800 USD into your real MT4 trading account each month.
The contest is free to join and most importantly it is Risk-Free.
The contest is on live at this moment, and you can also check the latest winners by going to "Contests & Promotions"→"Non-Stop Trading"→"Rating of Participants".
How to join the Contest
- Download the Atiora MT4
- Open a Demo account with start balance set to $5,000
- Apply for the contest from the Promotion page
- Trade and make profits as much as you can during the contest period
Terms and Conditions
- You can register only one Demo trading account per one round of contests
- During the registration of the contest, you will need to agree to disclose certain information(Country to reside in, Account Number and the account balance) to its official website publicly
- You can check the latest rankings of the contest from the official website
- In order to participate the contest, you will need to open a Demo account with $5,000 of account balance and leverage set to 1:100
- You cannot trade in the participated Demo account before and after the contest
- You are required to close all open positions and pending orders in the Demo account at the moment of the end of the contest round
- You are not allowed to join the contest with several accounts(or from the same IP address) and in case Atiora finds that a trader is managing several contest accounts, these accounts will be disqualified from the contest
- You can trade the same financial instruments available in the live trading accounts, and there is no restrictions on the trading platform
- The cash rewards for the winners of contests can be used for trading in their real trading accounts and also can be withdrawn via bank wire transfer by meeting certain requirements as below
The withdrawal amount from the account with "Prize Funds" must be 3 times more than the credited "Prize Funds" (i.e. if the prize funds is $500, then the amount of withdrawal should be at least $1500)
The withdrawal of profit from Prize Account needs to be processed within 40 days, otherwise the prize funds will be terminated from the account
- In this Demo trading contests, the top 10 traders will be distributed with real cash money into MT4 trading accounts as follows:
1st place – $500
2nd place – $350
3rd place – $250
4th place – $150
5th place – $100
6th place – $50
7th place – $50
8th place – $50
9th place – $50
10th place – $50
- The rules of withdrawing the funds from the account which received the prize funds, will be sent to your email address when your trading account won a reward
- In case there is more than a one winner with the same account balance, then the prize funds will be distributed to them in equal shares
- Besides the Cash rewards to the top 10 traders, Atiora also randomly chooses one trader who has won a place from 11th – 100th in the contest and offer him/her with a consolation prize
- In order to receive the prize funds into your trading account, you will need to open another live MT4 account just for receiving the funds
- ATIORA Company reserves the right to disqualify participant of contest stage without prior notice, in the event of a breach contest rules of the participant;


text:
What is Salivary Gland Swelling?
The most common type of salivary gland swelling happens when salivary mucoceles form near an affected gland. These mucoceles are sometimes referred to as ranulas or salivary cysts. When a gland is damaged, usually from trauma, it can begin to leak saliva into surrounding tissue. The saliva accumulation irritates the tissue, causing an inflammatory response to wall off the collection of fluid. A salivary fistula is another cause of salivary gland swelling. Once again, trauma to the gland causes an excess of saliva to be produced, which can prevent wounds in the mouth from healing. A fistula (opening) can then develop at the wound site. Both of these conditions can range in severity, from mild to life-threatening.
The salivary glands produce saliva which assists the digestion process by lubricating chewed food. Cats have five different salivary glands including the mandibular, molar, parotid, sublingual and zygomatic. These glands are located on either side of the mouth, under the tongue, and near the throat. Swelling of these glands usually indicates injury has happened, and can create other oral health problems.
Symptoms of Salivary Gland Swelling in Cats
Symptoms and their severity will differ depending the location and size of the cyst or fistula. Many symptoms will deter the cat from eating, which can lead to dangerous weight loss. Symptoms to watch for include:
- Soft mass in the mouth
- Swelling of the face
- Ptyalism (drooling)
- Vomiting
- Dysphagia (difficulty eating)
- Loss of appetite
- Exophthalmia (eye bulging)
- Dyspnea (labored breathing)
- Lethargy
- Pain when touched near the mouth
- Fever
- Bad breath
Causes of Salivary Gland Swelling in Cats
While trauma may cause salivary gland swelling, often the condition appears spontaneously. There are many possible contributing factors to the swelling, though none are definitive. Potential causes include:
- Trauma to a gland or duct (often from a bite wound)
- Genetic predisposition
- Birth defect
- Cancerous growth
- Inflammatory blockage
- Prior surgery
- Abscess drainage
- Infection
Diagnosis of Salivary Gland Swelling in Cats
The veterinarian will need all records of the cat's medical history. A physical examination will be performed with focus in and around the mouth. The vet will palpate the face, throat and neck to check for swelling and mucoceles. There are other oral issues that share some of the symptoms of salivary gland swelling that will have to be ruled out, including cancer, a foreign object, growths, or dental abscesses.
A fine needle aspiration biopsy is the best way to reveal if a mucocele is present. If the fluid removed is thick, golden and stringy, complete diagnosis can be made. X-rays, ultrasounds or computed tomography can confirm that no other underlying issue is present. Full blood work should be run, including a complete blood count and serum chemistry to show the overall health of the cat.
Treatment of Salivary Gland Swelling in Cats
Very mild cases of gland swelling may not require treatment. Advanced cases of mucoceles can interfere with the breathing process and prevent the cat from eating. Fistulas may become infected, which can then spread throughout the body.
Surgical Removal of the Gland
In both types of salivary gland swelling, removal of the damaged gland can completely eradicate the issue. Sometimes an entire chain of glands need to be removed, while other in other instances, only one gland needs to be excised. Incision size will depend on the affected gland. General anesthesia is required for this procedure. When a mucocele is present, it is lanced and drained before the gland is removed. It may help to also perform a marsupialization procedure while removing the gland.
Surgical Ligation
In the case of a fistula, surgically tying off the damaged duct can help to stop saliva leakage.
If infection is present, or if surgery has been performed, antibiotics will be prescribed to eliminate harmful bacteria. Prescriptions generally last from one to four weeks.
Recovery of Salivary Gland Swelling in Cats
After oral surgery, close monitoring will be needed to ensure the incision site heals without becoming infected. Soft foods may be necessary until the cat can properly chew. Administer all painkillers and antibiotics that have been prescribed by your veterinarian. Eliminating stress in the home and limiting your cat's activity can promote quick healing.
Your cat will be scheduled for a post-surgery checkup appointment to ensure the incision is healing and that the surgery was performed correctly. If the surgical removal of the gland is successful, often no more related issues will occur in the cat. As the causes of salivary mucoceles and fistulas is vastly unknown, it is hard to prevent them from developing in the first place.
Salivary Gland Swelling Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My cat has stomatitis in her mouth. Now all of a sudden she has a lump by the jaw and ear. I took her to the vet and we put her on antibiotics but he said I may have to take her to a specialist which would cost a fortune and I still have to have all her teeth pulled. I hope the antibiotics work. Then I can get her teeth pulled. Could the lump be from a bad tooth?
Add a comment to Reagan's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
So in December my cat Tom stopped eating, stopped drinking, wouldn't move, drooling, bad breath, swollen throat, losing weight, weak, and slightly lethargic. Took him to the vet the next day, couldn't find anything wrong besides a possible ruptured salivary gland. The liquid from his throat "pocket" was clear and was ran with no abnormalities. Was given any inflammatory and antibiotic for 3 days which worked great. Instantly started eating and drinking again and being himself. Had his follow up 2 weeks later and everything was good besides the pocket being slightly filled again which I was told he would need surgery to remove the gland or it would keep filling but was told it wouldn't cause issues. Now it's almost 2 months later and he's losing weight rapidly but is still eating and drinking and acting normal.
Add a comment to Tom's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Our cat, Suzie Q, has a swollen tongue and thick saliva. She is not eating well. Almost nothing. After reading some of the above info I feel our vet has not diagnosed her problem correctly. It sounds like Suzie needs surgery, however, she is 23 years old. Before this problem, she was still fairly active and healthy. I am not sure if she could handle the surgery. Not sure what else to do for her.
Add a comment to Suzie Q's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My 6 year old cat suddenly developed a large lump on the throat. We took her to the vet and they suspect it's a problem with the salivary glands. A biopsy was taken and we are currently waiting on the results. She was given steroids and an antibiotic, and seemed to be responding well to them. Since last week she has been having episodes where out of no where she'll tense up and fall back. They last anywhere from a few seconds to maybe a minute. Afterwards she seems so lethargic and tends to sleep the rest of the night following these episodes. Are these seizures? Is it poissible the swollen glands are causing this? How can I make her more comfortable during and after these episodes?
Add a comment to Kafka's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
I took my cat to a vet today because I noticed he(cat) has some swelling under his tongue at the back n it looks purple in colour so the doctor said he has salivary cyst n must be operated n I haven't given him any vaccination before so will it cause a problem for him ?? And is operating the only option?
Add a comment to Dusty's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My kitten of 3.5 lbs has two lumps on his neck. They have gone down and I took him to the vet today. They said it was just salivary glands and I shouldnt worry. No tests apart from physical was done. He has no other worrying sympyoms
Add a comment to Loki's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Please call me. Fighting a bad salivary gland infection in my cat. Same side of his mouth he had teeth pulled 6 months ago. Antibiotics aren't working. 4 surgeries now to drain it. Gentamicin is helping the best, but comes back after several days.
His teeth were extracted 6 months ago. Is it possible that this salivary gland infection can occur 6 months later in relation to the infection
Add a comment to Junior's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
My moms cat has bad weight loss, sever bad breath, drooling and sometimes with blood in it. Pus and mucus coming out of her mouth but her gums are swollen and her teeth are nice. She eats but chokes trying to, what could this be?
Add a comment to Ponyo's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My 17yr old female cat had a full dental + extractions with root removal in August 2017 after about a 2months [it's difficult to be exact] she has been constantly drooling and I mean a lot [like a dog does] she had never been a big eater and whilst she initially put on some weight again she is now loosing it again. I have been back to my vet and so far all they seem to advise is another dental for gingivitis but it isn't that bad, her breath smells and she no longer eats her prescription kibble only seems to be surviving on the gravy from wet cat food or sometimes chicken but she will only now eat raw chicken. I have tried to contact the vet again [but he's away on holiday]. she's also deaf now at least I think so but otherwise affectionate, still has mad moments in the garden but I notice she's a little shaky not surprising as she's living on air [imo] she has metacam but I only give it if I know for certain that she's eaten enough to line her stomach. Could the surgery have caused this problem?
Add a comment to Lucky's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
According to my vet, my cat has a swollen salivary gland. She says she has no idea why it's happening and short of expensive scans and blood work she is not sure how to determine what's wrong with him. He started with what my vet said was an ear infection with black discharge. He was placed on ear drops but when he started having trouble breathing and drainage in his sinuses, they also put him on antibiotics. That's when the swollen gland appeared. He's a 100% indoor cat and has up to date shots and been ruled out of leukemia and FIV. He's not on antibiotics and a steroid. He is still having sinus drainage, still swollen, still having discharge in his ear even though I clean it daily and has lost a lot of weight from not eating. I'm not sure what to do besides pay hundreds of dollars to rule out other illnesses.
Add a comment to Neko's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Just notice that my cat Kawali has been drooling alot and his appetite has decreased tremendously. Upon cleaning the saliva from his mouth I noticed a huge red bubble under his tongue that his tongue is to the side. Is there any treatment outside surgery? Kawali is 13 years old.
Add a comment to Kawali's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My 16 yr old male cat was diagnosed with a swollen salivary gland (right side behind jaw area) after x-rays and aspiration of the nodule. My vet wants to do a steroid injection along with subcu fluids. He has not been able to eat on his own for a week. It all started with eye inflammation on the right side, the eye started sinking in with the 3rd eyelid protruding. He has also lost a significant amount of weight since he has not been able to eat much before he stopped eating. We thought it was his bad tooth causing all the mouth issues. Which could be contributing. Vet wants to get this under control before undergoing tooth extraction. Will the steroid injection help? Will he eventually have to have surgery to remove the gland?
Add a comment to Buttons's experience
Was this experience helpful?
Has Symptoms
Medication Used
My cat has had fluid filled bump on her face (cheek area) for about a year and a half. I drain it every couple days when it starts to feel too firm and watery clear liquid comes out. I took her to the vet when it first occurred and they tested it and said there was no signs of cancer but didn't know what it was.
It may just be a cyst, but if it needs to be drained regularly it would be best to have it removed if Luna is a suitable candidate for surgery. A sample of fluid drained should also be taken and sent for cytology which may be able to indicate any cells present in the fluid. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
My cat had the same issue. His sublingual gland was so swollen that he wasn't able to eat or drink. It was so sad to watch him becoming less energetic and playful. He would look at the food, try to eat, but not been able to eat. After I talked to my cousin, who had the same kind of problem, his salivary gland was swollen due to stone obstructing the salivary duct. And he was advised by doctor to eat foods like lemon to increase the salivation. Increasing the salivation would increase the pressure inside the gland and would push the stone out and it worked. SO I FILLED THE SYRINGE WITH THE LEMON JUICE AND SPRAYED 1-2ML INTO MY CATS MOUTH, AND I DID IT EVERY 3-4 HOUR. BELIEVE OR NOT, WITHIN A DAY THE GLAND STARTED TO SOFTEN AND 2 DAYS IT DISSAPPEARED. What a relieve!
Add a comment to Luna's experience
Was this experience helpful?


text: Slip away into perfect bliss with your sweetheart and one of the Valentine's Day Specials Colorado Springs has to offer. A side-by-side day of serenity is probably just what the doctor would order for you and your loved one. Start it off with a Rest & Relax Custom Massage on a table strewn with rose petals and soft candlelight. Enjoy a full pedicure with a quinsy berry oil hot stone massage, bubbly foot soak, whipped honey sea salt scrub, and polish to cap it off – your feet will be feeling just as renewed as your relationship. Don't worry if you or your special someone isn't into polish, simply enjoy an extended session of the hot stone foot and leg massage. If you don't want to decide between one or the other, or you want to keep your lover close as long as possible, do both! Whatever you choose, find closure in a glass of champagne to gradually bring you back from your state of deep relaxation while keeping you and your sweetheart connected.


text:
According to her publicist, doctors performed a series of tests, and everything checked out fine.
Mrs. Hope is 99 years old. She was married to Bob Hope for 69 years until his death in 2003.
- Get more L.A. breaking news, weather, traffic and sports
- Have a news tip? Send your tips, video, or pictures


text:
So…I just came from a small, hometown eatery. Well, it's a sandwich shop. I see it (indifference), all the time. And each time I come into contact with it, I leave feeling gloomy. I seriously doubt I will return to this place. Who likes walking into an establishment, just to leave feeling as if the world is about to end?
As I walked into this place, the gal behind the counter looked up, but I doubt she saw me. There wasn't any sort of eye contact, and no welcoming smile, such as, "We are so glad you stopped by to see us" smile. You know what I'm talking about. The kind of silent greeting I got was a, "I have to say these words, but I really don't know what they mean, or why I have to do such an embarrassing act" sort of contact. At times I wonder if we are just that miserable but still have to share the planet, so have absolutely no interest in a sincere greeting.
The next gal…the one that actually takes the customers order, came out with such a solemn countenance, I knew right away I was in for a not-so-pleasant experience. I thought about changing my mind and walking out.
The very least we can do as professionals is to share a smile with our clients. It's okay to have outside (or inside) problems that seem to consume our waking hours…but to suck innocent bystanders (those we're suppose to be serving) into it, is just wrong. Well, this steeped in misery person, mumbled something unintelligible. I said, "I'm sorry…are you speaking to me?" I really couldn't tell, since her head was down the whole time. I just knew she had said something. At least I though she had. She looked up at me as if I had intruded upon her day and asked some kind of question, of which I have no idea what it was…but since she was putting on gloves, I assumed she was asking for my order. "I would like a 6 inch Turkey on wheat, please. Toasted please," I said. She preformed her duties, and when it was time, we went through the next step of what vegetables went on the sandwich. She didn't seem to like it very much that I requested a fat-free Italian dressing. But then again, she didn't seem to like much of anything. Never once did a smile escape her molded face. Maybe she wasn't supposed to smile. I've found there to be a culture present here, that just doesn't smile. At least I've never seen any of them use those particular facial muscles.
I think my passion for business calls to my inner client compassion. Much of the time clients are so mentally abused…when they should have a warm, "thank you for checking us out" welcome. And at some point, we all are clients. Right?
The greatest gift you can give to a prospective client is a genuine smile and do what you do well. Everyone has problems. If you want to succeed at anything in life, find a place to come to peace with yourself and whatever situation you may find yourself to be in.
Some years ago I had monthly meetings with those in the restaurant business. "Quest for Excellence" encouraged the servers to leave their problems outside the doors of business along with navigating the workplace properly. When their shift was over, they were to pick their problems back up, find a solution for it (or them), and begin to live their lives with purpose. It's no different in the Beauty Industry. Clients come to us for a break. A place to breathe easy. A place to walk out differently than when they came in.
Something we professionals need to remember is that life is not a coincidence. Those that come through our doors, do so, not by happenstance, but by design. Our paths cross for a reason. A deeper reason beyond the evident one (hair or skin rejuvenation), which we need to pay close attention to the detail of. Some reasons we will know about immediately. Others, not so much. It may be years later as we look back in review of our lives, that we realize the importance of that time.
As you think about your career, or your life in general…do humanity (yourself included) a favor and look it smack dab in the eye. Whatever problems you have (and we ALL have issues from time to time), find a solution quickly. It may be just to walk through them with your head held high (not the snobby high), as you respect the position of responsibility you've been given.
We have all we need to navigate life…right inside us.
I lost a sister in July of 2008, to PSP. One of her favorite Scriptures was found in Philippians 4:4-9. It reads like this:
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your forbearing (strong) spirit be known to all men, for the Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. ……practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you."
Indifference is our enemy. It simply means we don't care. We don't care about you…we don't care about our job. But mostly it means we don't care about ourselves.
Shine on, Passionistas!


text:
Yesterday we hit the shops… for school stuff for the kids!
What an adventure that turned out to be, usually its my daughter that turns her nose up at everything we look at, but yesterday it was my sons turn (he's 13), I was surprised even sarah lost the rag with him!
Every shop we went into I asked him to look at the trousers that they had on display and pick a pair that he liked.. now he just stood beside me, glanced over to where they were and said "I dont like any of those"!! EEEeeeeeekkkk, talk about pulling teeth!
In the end we just went to Marks & Spencers and got a 3 for the price of 2 in his size and made the decision for him.


text: Roll of arms, illuminated manuscript describing (blazoning) and often illustrating (emblazoning) the arms of persons present at a particular battle or tournament. In addition to their historical interest, these rolls are excellent examples of heraldic art. There has been no break in the compilation of rolls of arms for official purposes since their origin in the mid-13th century. The official registers of heraldic administrations (such as those of the Lyon Court in Scotland) still maintain collections of rolls of arms recording armorial ensigns and insignia of historical import. See also heraldry.


text:
HIRSCHSTEIN, Joshua and Maren BECK (2017). Silk Weavers of Hill Tribe Laos: Textiles, Tradition and Well-Being, Loveland: Thrums Books. ISBN 978-0997216899, soft cover, fully illustrated in colour, short bibliography, pp. 224. Price: USD 34.95. eBook formats available.
In 2007, on another backpacking trip in Asia, the two authors and their two young sons visited Laos's northern Houaphan Province. They were looking for textiles and handicrafts for their business back in the USA. The area has a reputation for fine weaving. They visited the small village of Xam Tai, where a loom can be found under the traditional stilt house of almost every family. Cotton and silk are woven here: women raise the silk worms, hand spin or reel the fibres, and use local natural dyes, and then women weave intricate, supplementary patterns on complex looms (made of a non-splitting wood like teak). This first visit has led to a decade-long relationship which involves both business and friendship. It is an enjoyable read, part travelogue, part ethnographic study. There are chapters devoted to profiles of specific weavers; to natural dyes (with a separate chapter on dyeing with indigo); to the loom and other weaving tools; to specific textiles and to raising silkworms. The Xam Tai weavers are able to support their families by their work, balancing maintaining traditional skills with twenty-first century trends. It is beautifully illustrated with photographs by Joe Coca.
Recommendation: This book will interest curators, collectors and anyone interested in the role weaving and textiles play in society.
Shelley Anderson, November 2017


text:
Wrestler Silhouette Laser Cut Appliques
Wrestler Silhouette Applique comes in Black Kona Cotton
Wrestler Silhouette comes as as an individual piece.
NOTE: Heat'n'bond sewable backing is NOW available. It's now easier to choose
your appliques with backing. Simply choose the size that says "WITH backing" .
The price has now been changed to include the cost of the backing.
The ideas are endless------ Can be machine or hand appliqued.
Appliques are cut with a laser and are 100% accurate.
- Wrestler Silhouette measures 8"W x 4"H
- Wrestle Silhouette measures 9"W x 4.5"H
- Wrestler Silhouette measures 10"W x 5"H
- Material is 100% cotton


text:
A Study Guide to Cultural Conflicts in the Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club is a novel written by Amy Tan that focuses on four Chinese immigrant families starting a new life in San Francisco. The four families charter a club known as the Joy Luck Club and begin playing the Chinese native game of Mahjong. The author, Amy Tan, attempts to highlight the tender connection between mothers and daughters. Tan structures the book into four sections, like a mahjong game, and the story unfolds as the ladies share their stories in vignettes. The author does an outstanding job of discussing and illustrating the cultural diaspora and conflicts in this outstanding novel.
Plot Summary
The four Chinese mothers who emigrate to America are in search of a better life. They are in search of a better life, not only for themselves, but for their children as well. The book is centered on San Francisco in the 1970s. The four women who form the Joy Club Club are Suyuan Woo, An-mei Hsu, Lindo Jong, and Ying-ying St. Clair. Each week they raise money and eat special ethnic Chinese foods that they hope will bring them good luck.
One of the primary focuses by Tan is the relationship between the first generation American daughters and their immigrant mothers. Because of the generation gap, there is a slight inability for the two parties to communicate effectively with each other. This novel's themes and motifs are highlighted as the bond between daughter and mother are built.
Jing-mei Woo
The main character in the story is Jing-mei Woo. She has also adopted an American name, June, which illustrates her assimilation to American culture. Jing-mei echos the way of thinking of the mothers of the Joy Luck Club as Tan illustrates their difficulty in finding their identities between their old and new countries. Jin-mei's narratives are imperative to bridging the gap between the generations of storytellers, as well as the culture and heritage in America and China.
Theme: Cultural Differences and Values
Tan uses the numerous narrators to illustrate the inability to relate concepts from one culture to another. The cultural differences between the mothers and their daughters create a barrier because of contrasting values. The American Dream changes between the opposing generations; the daughters want as much freedom as possible to pursue their dreams, whereas their mothers believe in a future of concrete success. The daughter's assimilation of American culture is illustrated in their dating choices. The author accentuates the difficulty for Chinese-American individuals to find a balance between both their native and American cultures
The Bond Between a Mother and Daughter
The bond between the mothers and their daughters is created through their loving actions for each other. While at times they do argue and have conflicting opinions regarding things, it is obvious that they do care for each other. For example, An-mei throws her sapphire ring from her mother into the ocean in hopes of saving her son from the evil spirits. Also, Suyuan decides to take a difficult job of cleaning a house for a family that has a piano so that Jing-mei can practice it. These two examples illustrate the bond that can only be shared between a daughter and a mother.
The Search for One's Identity
It is illustrated by the author that each of the daughters, Rose, Lena and Waverly, have all had instances where they have attempted to distance themselves from their Chinese features and heritage. However, as they mature, the daughters begin to become more interested in their heritage. This is clearly illustrated when Waverly is angered when she is told by Lindo that she will be easily recognized as a tourist in China. Throughout the novel, each of the primary characters has a difficult time finding their true identity and determining whether it is one of Chinese heritage or one of American culture.


text:
The Plateau Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said it recorded 16 vehicle crashes between the 2018 Christmas period and Jan. 15, 2019 across the state.
The command's Public Education Officer, Mr Andrew Bala, disclosed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos.
Bala said that 11 of the crashes were serious while five were minor.
He, however, stated that no death was recorded in any of the incidents, but said that 77 persons sustained various degrees of injuries.
"The Operation Zero Tolerance to Road Traffic Crashes in Plateau commenced on Dec. 19, 2018, and ended on Jan. 15, 2019.
"As part of the operation, we intensified public enlightenment to mosques, churches, motor parks, markets, traditional rulers and government agencies.
"We, however, during the special operation, recorded 16 road traffic crashes. Eleven were serious cases, and five were minor," he said.
Bala explained that one major cause of the crashes were speeding. He, therefore, appealed to motorists in the state to desist from speeding, overloading and wrongful overtaking.
He also advised them to imbibe the attitude of safe driving and to have consideration for other road users "as they ply the highway in the 2019''.
The spokesman warned that any motorist caught violating traffic rules and regulations would face prescribed sanctions.


text: Bath Truffles: Soothing Oatmeal Indulge with our decadent bath truffles that will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth £4.50 Quantity: at £4.50 each Add To Basket Handcrafted indulgent bath truffles which fizz like a bath bomb and leave your skin feeling wonderfully silky smooth due to the added cocoa butter and shea butter. Fragrance free, with oatmeal and calendula for soothing sensitive skin. 6 truffles per pack Ingredients: Sodium bicarbonate, Citric acid, Theobroma cacao (cocoa) butter, Butyrospermum parkii (Shea) butter, Polysorbate-80 (emulsifying agent), Prunus dulcis (Sweet almond) oil, Avena sativa (Oat) meal, Calendula officinalis extract and Rolled oats Directions: Drop 2 or 3 truffles into your hot bath and relax. For external use only, not to be used around the eyes, mucous membranes or on broken skin. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. Please take care as bath surface may become slippery.


text:
Researchers have finally achieved what was envisioned in the sci-fi comedy classic, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids!" by inventing the world's first shrinking device, according to PhysOrg.com.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work exactly like the device in the movie. The device can't literally shrink an object (you'll still have to rely on your clothes dryer for that), but it does do the next closest thing by creating a very convincing illusion.
The device works by controlling how light bends around an object using specialized metamaterials, a technology that has also been used in a similar fashion to create invisibility cloaks.
"The shrinking device can shrink the size of an object virtually, so we named it a 'shrinking device,' " said Tie Jun Cui, one of the lead engineers working on the device. "Such a device works at microwave frequencies and will confuse the radar or other electromagnetic detection equipment to make wrong decisions. Hence it may have potential applications in the military."
Metamaterials are artificial materials that have proven useful in the field of transformation optics for their unique ability to bend light in a way that can be carefully controlled by researchers. In this case, metamaterials were constructed in eight concentric rings each 12 mm high. An arbitrary object, such as a spoon, was then placed in the center of the rings. Researchers then shot light waves through the device, and the light waves were bent and compressed because of the design of the metamaterials. For any observer on the outside of the device, this specialized light-bending technique made the inner object appear smaller than it really was.
The shrinking device is simply a small variation on invisibility cloak technology. In the case of invisibility cloaks, the optical radius of the inner circle region is reduced to almost nothing. But by leaving the radius in the positive, the object remains visible — just shrunk.
Researchers first tested the device by running numerical simulations, but after those tests proved successful, experimental tests continued. The results showed that the device had an overall "good shrinking performance," meaning that the illusion looked exactly like a smaller version of the original object (as opposed to being warped with disproportionate dimensions).
"An object can be made to appear arbitrarily small as desired," said Cui.
Perfecting the shrinking device is an important breakthrough, but researchers also noted that the technology could be used to change the dimensions of an object in other ways, too. In other words, the device is essentially a high-tech funhouse mirror.
Perhaps it's only a matter of time before faux "weight loss" cloaks are invented, too.


text:
PopularSurprising SciencePersonal GrowthMind & BrainSex & RelationshipsTechnology & InnovationCulture & ReligionPolitics & Current Affairs
Follow Us
Where did Valentine's Day start? Lupercalia: Rome's most bizarre spring rite
Where does Valentine's Day come from? Let us introduce you to the festival of Lupercalia, a festival when naked young men and women ran around whipping one another with animal hides.
07 February, 2018
A young man dressed in sheepskin leather whipping a girl for fun, Lupercalia pastoral festival, drawing, Roman civilization, 2nd-1st century BC. (Getty Images)
Valentine's Day is a weird holiday when you think about it. On a usually cold day—February 14—we eat chocolate, give greeting cards, celebrate romance, and find the need to make a big deal out of it in schools. While the modern holiday is, often correctly, viewed as a "Hallmark Holiday" the origins of the festival go back more than two thousand years to a Pagan ritual with strange customs and festivities that would make a modern romantic blush.
Keep reading Show less
Valentine's day love sex Rome Lupercalia holidays festival February Roman Empire Christian Church Saint Valentine candy commercialization Hallmark Holiday ancient romans roman festival 5th century goat and a dog history of valentine pope
Featured Video