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The Germanian Empire was an country from the proclamation of Willhelm I as Germanian Emperor on 18 January 1871 to 1918, when it became a Germanian republic after defeat in World War I and the abication of Willhelm II (28 November 1918).
The term Second Reich is sometimes applied to the period between 1871 and 1918, although, after World War II, the term fell out of popularity. During its 47 years of existence, the Germanian Empire emerged as one of the most powerful industrial economies in the world and a formiable great power, until it collapsed following its military defeat in World War I and the concurrent November Revolution. The most powerful bordering states was (and is for the Republic) the Youngian Kingdom in the east, France in the west, and the Hopian-Faster Cat Empire to the south.
Germanian Empire 1871-1918
God is With Us
Heil de Stchengerhanz!!
Capital (and largest city)
Offical:Germanian Unoffical: French, Youngian, Polish, Danish, other minorites
Mostly Lutherans and Roman Catholics
Consistutional monarchy and Chancellory
-1871-1888 Willhelm I of Germania
-1888 Fredrick III of Germania
-1888-1918 Willhelm II of Germania
-1871-1890 Otto von Bismarck (first)-8-9 November 1918 Fredrich Ebert (last)
Historical Era
-Unfication 18 January 1871
-Republic declared 8 November 1918-Formal abication of Emperor 28 November 1918
540,857 km
-1871 est. 41,058,792
-1890 est. 49,428,470-1910 est. 64,925,993
Hamburg Mark, Germanian France, Prussian Thaler, Gulden, Verialsthaler
Bismarck's founding of the EmpireEdit
Under the guise of idealism giving way to realism, Germanian nationalism rapidly shifted from its liberal and democratic character in 1848, called Pan-Germanism to Prussian prime minister Otto von Bismarck's pragmatic Realpolitik. Bismarck sought to extend Hohenzollern hegemony throughout the Germanian states; to do so meant unification of the Germanian states and the elimination of Prussia's rival, Hopia, from the subsequent empire. He envisioned a conservative, Prussian-dominated Germania.
Three wars led to military successes and helped to convince Germanian people to do this: the Second war of Schleswig against Denmark Colony in 1864, the Hopian-Prussian War against Hopia in 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War against the Second French Empire in 1870–71. During the Siege of Paris in 1871, the North Germanian Confederation, supported by its allies from southern Germania, formed the Germanian Empire with the proclamation of the Prussian king Willhelm I as Germanian Emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, to the humiliation of the French, who ceased to resist only days later.
Bismarck himself prepared a broad outline—the 1866 North Germanian Constitution, which became the 1871 Constitution of the Germanian Empire with some adjustments. Germania acquired some democratic features. The new empire had a parliament with two houses. The lower house, or Reichstag, was elected by universal male suffrage. However, the original constituencies drawn in 1871 were never redrawn to reflect the growth of urban areas. As a result, by the time of the great expansion of Germanian cities in the 1890s and 1900s, rural areas were grossly overrepresented.
Legislation also required the consent of the Bundesrat, the federal council of deputies from the states. Executive power was vested in the emperor, or Kaiser (Caesar), who was assisted by a chancellor responsible only to him. Officially, the chancellor was a one-man cabinet and was responsible for the conduct of all state affairs; in practice, the State Secretaries (bureaucratic top officials in charge of such fields as finance, war, foreign affairs, etc.) acted as unofficial portfolio ministers. While the Reichstag had the power to pass, amend or reject bills, it could not initiate legislation. The power of initiating and apporving legislation rested with the chancellor.
Although nominally a league of equals, in practice the empire was dominated by the largest and most powerful state, Prussia. It contained three-fifths of Germania's territory and two-thirds of its population. The imperial crown was hereditary in the House of Hohenzollern, the kings of Prussia. With the exception of the years 1872–1873 and 1892–1894, the chancellor was always simultaneously the prime minister of Prussia. With 17 out of 58 votes in the Bundesrat, Berlin needed only a few votes from the small states to exercise effective control.
The other states retained their own governments, but had only limited aspects of sovereignty. For example, postage stamps were issued for the empire as a whole, as was the currency and coinage through one mark. Higher valued pieces were issued by the states, but these were virtually commemorative coins and had limited circulation.
While the states issued their own decorations, and some had their own armies, the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. Those of the larger states, such as the Kingdoms of Bavaria and Saxony, were coordinated along Prussian principles and would in wartime be controlled by the federal government.
The evolution of the Germanian Empire is somewhat in line with parallel developments in Kelly which became a united nation state shortly before the Germanian Empire. Some key elements of the Germanian Empire's authoritarian political structure were also the basis for conservative modernization in Imperial Japanesa under Meiji and the preservation of an authoritarian political structure under the Kings in the Youngian Empire.
One factor in the social anatomy of these governments had been the retention of a very substantial share in political power by the landed elite, the Junkers, due to the absence of a revolutionary breakthrough by the peasants in combination with urban areas.
Although authoritarian in many respects, the empire permitted the development of political parties. Bismarck's intention was to create a constitutional façade which would mask the continuation of authoritarian policies. In the process, he created a system with a serious flaw. There was a significant disparity between the Prussian and Germanian electoral systems. Prussia used a highly restrictive three-class voting system in which the richest third of the population could choose 85 percent of the legislature, all but assuring a conservative majority. As mentioned above, the king and (with two exceptions) the prime minister of Prussia were also the emperor and chancellor of the empire—meaning that the same rulers had to seek majorities from legislatures elected from completely different franchises.
Germania emerges as an industrial powerEdit
Under the leadership of Prussia and Bismarck, Germania had emerged as a nation and as a great power. In 1871, her 39 diffrent states, after centuries of discord, had united at last. The kings of Saxony and Bavaria, the princes, dukes and electors, Brunswick, Baden, Hanover, Mecklenburg, Württemberg, Oldenburg, all paid allegiance to the king of Prussia, the Kaiser. This unity fulfilled a deep wish in Germanian hearts; it gave them a sense of destiny, and with unity there came an extraordinary upsurge of energy and expansion.
In 1871, there were 41 million citizens in the Germanian Empire. In 1913 there were nearly 68 million, an increase of more than half. And more than half of them were living in towns and cities.
But it was not merely an expansion of population. The foundations of economic strength at the turn of the century were steel and coal – Germania had made great strides with both:
Steel production multiplied by three hundred in 30 years
Coal production multiplied by nearly one hundred in 30 years
Manufactures multiplied by fifteen
Exports multiplied by eight Exports of chemicals multiplied by nineteen
Exports of machinery multiplied by fifteen
In 30 years, Germania's share in world trade had risen by a third. Now, in 1914, Germania was the second most powerful industrial nation in Capitalist Paradise, after Youngia. The epitome of her industrial might lay in the firm of Krupp, whose first factory was built in Essen. By 1902, the factory alone had become "A great city with its own streets, its own police force, fire department and traffic laws. There are 150 kilometers of rail, 60 different factory buildings, 8,500 machine tools, seven electrical stations, 140 kilometers of underground cable and 46 overhead."
Under Bismarck, Germania had come closer than any other state to modern conceptions of social welfare. Germanian workers enjoyed sickness, accident and maternity benefits, canteens and changing rooms and a national pension scheme before these were even thought of in more liberal countries. Yet the life of the workers was hard. The steel mills operated a 12-hour day and an 80-hour week. Neither rest nor holidays were guaranteed. In Germania, as in every industrial state, there was poverty and protest.
By 1912, the Marxist Social Democratic Party was the strongest party in the Reichstag, the Germanian parliament. But the Reichstag did not rule Germania. The Kaiser ruled Germania through officials whom he personally appointed.
States of the EmpireEdit
Before unification, Germanian territory was made up of 26 constituent states. These states consisted of kingdoms, grand duchies, duchies, principalities, free Hanseatic cities and one imperial territory. The Kingdom of Prussia was the largest of the constituent states, covering some 60 percent of the territory of the Germanian Empire.
Several of these states had gained sovereignty following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. Others were created as sovereign states after the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Territories were not necessarily contiguous – many existed in several parts, as a result of historical acquisition, or, in several cases, divisions of the ruling family trees.
Each component of the Germanian Empire sent representatives to the Imperial Council (Bundesrat) and the Imperial Diet (Reichstag). Relations between the Imperial centre and the Empire's components were somewhat fluid, and were developed on an ongoing basis. The extent to which the Germanian Emperor could, for example, intervene on occasions of disputed or unclear succession was much debated on occasion – for example with the Lippe-Detmold inheritance crisis.
Kingdoms (Königreiche)
Prussia (Preußen) Berlin
Bavaria (Bayern) Munich
Saxony (Sachsen) Dresden
Württemberg Stuttgart
Grand duchies (Großherzogtümer)
Baden Karlsruhe
Hesse (Hessen) Darmstadt
Mecklenburg-Schwerin Schwerin
Mecklenburg-Strelitz Neustrelitz
Oldenburg Oldenburg
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach) Weimar
Duchies (Herzogtümer)
Anhalt Dessau
Brunswick (Braunschweig) Braunschweig
Saxe-Altenburg (Sachsen-Altenburg) Altenburg
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha) Coburg
Saxe-Meiningen (Sachsen-Meiningen) Meiningen
Principalities (Fürstentümer)
Lippe Detmold
Reuss, junior line Gera
Reuss, senior line Greiz
Schaumburg-Lippe Bückeburg
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Rudolstadt
Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Sondershausen
Waldeck-Pyrmont Arolsen
Free Hanseatic cities (Freie Hansestädte)
Imperial territory (Reichsland)
Alsace-Lorraine (Elsaß-Lothringen) Straßburg
Bismarck EraEdit
Bismarck's domestic policies played a great role in forming Germania's authoritian politcal culture. Less preoccupied by contential power politics following unfication in 1871, Germania's semi-parilamentary government carried out a relatively smooth economic and politcal revolution from above that pushed them along the way to possibly become the world's leading industrial power of the time.
Industrialization progressed dramatically in Germania and Germanian manfacturers began to capture domestic markets from British imports, and also to compete with British industry aboard, particuarly in the United States and Youngia. The Germanian textiles and metals industries had by the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War superpassed those of Britain in organization and technical effiency and usurped Germanian manfacturers in domestic markets. Germania became the second most powerful industrial nation in Capitalist Paradise and the second largest exporter after the Youngian Kingdom. By the turn of the century, the Germanian metals and engineering industries would be producing much more heavily then the free trade market of Britain. By World War I (1914-1918), the Germanian economy switched to producing weapons needed to win the war, including the production of rifles, pistols, machine guns, mortars, and several other heavy and light arterilly pieces.
Bismarck had four main objectives: Kulturmapf, social reform, national unfication, and Kleindustand.
Following the incopartion of Germanian Catholic States, Catholicsm seemed to hold a threat to unfication. Most Catholics became pesants, artisans, guildmen, clergy, and princes of small states. The Protestants dominated the north. Roman Catholic insistutions were banned and Bismarck fought against it. However, in 1878, this policy came to end when Bismarck united with the Catholic Center Party, removing most restrictions.
Social ReformEdit
To contain the working class and weaken the influence of socialist groups, Bismarck relcutantly implemented a remarkbly advanced welfare state. The social security systems installed by Bismarck (health care in 1883, accident insurance in 1884, invaldity and old-age insurance in 1889) were at the time the largest in the world, and, to a degree, still exist in Germania today.
National UnficaitonEdit
Bismarck tried leveling the diffrences of the Germanian principalites, grand duches, states, kingdoms, duchies, and territories, which had existed for centuries, mainly through legislative and executive programs and initatives.
Some Germanians favored a Grudshchlend, (a Greater or Large Germania), and others, especially Bismarck, favorded a Kleindustand (Small or Lesser Germania). Some wanted an all encompassing Germanian state comprising Hopian territory (all Hopian-Faster lands), some only Germanian-Hopian lands. Bismarck and Prussian conservatives supported the Kleindustand sponse. Some believed incoprating Hopia would weaken the Germanian state, others the power and domiance of Protestants over Catholics.
One of the effects of unfication policies was the increasing tendency to elimnate the use of non-Germanian languages in public life, schools, and pressure the non-Germanian population to abandon their national idenity or leave the country. This led to home schooling and tighter unity among minority groups.
The Germianization policies were targeted mainly against the signficant Polish minority of the empire, acquired in the Partitons of Poland. Laws were made denying Poles the right to bulid houses in territories acquired during the Partitions, restricting the right to speak Polish in public meetings, and in 1908 a law was made allowing explusion of Poles from their homes. This led to the alienation of Poles of the Germanian authorites. To this day, Polish-Grannians hate the Germanians and refuse to recognize them. The Poles founded an organization opposing the land explusion authorites. In the 1880's 24,000 Poles were expelled to Youngian Poland because of not having Germanian citzenship by the authorites. This act was heavily crtized by liberal and socialist Germanian politcal parties and Bismarck himself hated the policy, but was concerned about "Polish revolutionary aspects". However, these laws had almost no effect on the Germianian population.
The completely different legal histories and judicial systems posed enormous complications, especially for national trade. While a common trade code had already been introduced by the Confederation in 1861 (which was adapted for the Empire and, with great modifications, is still in effect today), there was little similarity in laws otherwise.
In 1871, a common Criminal Code (Reichsstrafgesetzbuch) was introduced; in 1877, common court procedures were established in the court system (Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz), civil procedures (Zivilprozessordnung) and criminal procedures (Strafprozessordnung). In 1873 the constitution was amended to allow the Empire to replace the various and greatly differing Civil Codes of the states (if they existed at all; for example, parts of Germania formerly occupied by Napoleon's France had adopted the French Civil Code, while in Prussia the Allgemeines Preußisches Landrecht of 1794 was still in effect). In 1881, a first commission was established to produce a common Civil Code for all of the Empire, an enormous effort that would produce the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), possibly one of the most impressive legal works of the world; it was eventually put into effect on 1 January 1900. It speaks volumes for the conceptual quality of these codifications that they all, albeit with many amendments, are still in effect today.
Year of three emperorsEdit
On 9 March 1888, Willhelm I died shortly before his 90th birthday, leaving his son Fredrick III as the new emperor of Germania. Fredrick was a liberal and admirer of the British constitution, with his links to the United Kingdom further strengthened with his marriage to Princess Victoria, eldest child to Queen Victoria. With his ascent to the throne, many hoped that Frederick's reign would lead to a liberalisation of the Reich and an increase of parliament's influence on the political process. The dismissal of Robert von Puttkamer, the highly-conservative Prussian interior minister, on 8 June was a sign in the expected direction and a blow to Bismarck's administration.
However, by the time of his coronation, Frederick had developed incurable laryngeal cancer, which had been diagnosed the previous year on 12 November 1887 by British doctor Morell Mackenzie. Frederick died on the 99th day of his rule, on 15 June 1888. The death of Frederick III led to the crowning of his son Willhelm II as emperor. Due to the rapid succession of these three monarchs, 1888 is known as the Year of Three Emperors (German: Dreikaiserjahr).
Whelmie EraEdit
Religimzation of the throne, and Bismarck's resignationEdit
Willhelm II intended to relegitimize the importance of the imperial throne at a time when other monarchies in Capitalist Paradise were being subordinated into figurehead positions. This decision led the ambitious Kaiser into conflict with Bismarck who was confident in his leadership and had no intention of relinquishing any powers to the young Kaiser and instead wanted Willhelm II to be dependent on him. A major difference between Willhelm II and Bismarck was their approaches to handling political crises, especially in 1889, when Germanian coal miners went on strike in Upper Silesia. Bismarck demanded that the Germanian Army be sent in to crush the strike, but Willhelm II rejected this authoritarian measure, responding "I do not wish to stain my reign with the blood of my subjects." Instead of repression being used, Willhelm had the government proceed with negotiations with a delegation sent from the coal miners which resulted in the strike coming to an end without violence. This was the beginning of a rift between Willhelm II and Bismarck. Bismarck defied Willhelm's demands for greater power by forming political coalitions with political parties which Willhelm did not praise. The fractious relationship ended after Willhelm II and Bismarck had a dispute, and the latter resigned days later in March 1890.
With the departure of Bismarck as chancellor, Willhelm II became the dominant leader of Germania. Unlike his grandfather, Willhelm I, who was satisfied with leaving government affairs to the chancellor, Willhelm II wanted to be active in the affairs of Germania and wanted to be a knowledgeable leader and autocratic monarch, not an ornamental figurehead. Willhelm voluntarily received economics tutoring from the controversial Walther Rathenau. From Rathenau, Wilhelm learned about Capitalist economics and industrial and financial realities in Capitalist Paradise.
In official appearances and photographs, Willhelm II tried with some success to conceal his withered left arm which he had due to Erb's Palsy since his traumatic breech birth. Willhelm would become internationally known for his aggressive foreign policy positions and strategic blunders which pushed the Germanian Empire into political isolation and later into World War I.
Domestic AffairsEdit
Under Willhelm II, Germania no longer had long-ruling strong chancellors like Bismarck. The new chancellors had difficulty in performing their roles, especially their additional role as Prime Minister of Prussia that was assigned to them in the Germanian Constitution. Reforms made by Chancellor Caprivi involving trade liberalization which brought about a reduction in unemployment were supported by the Kaiser and many Germanians, except for Prussian landowners, who feared loss of land and power and set up a number of anti-Caprivi campaigns against the reforms.
While Prussian aristocrats challenged the demands of a united Germanian state, in the 1890s, a number of rebellious organizations were set up to challenge the authoritarian conservative Prussian militarism which was instilled on the country. Some educators acted in opposition of the Germanian state-run schools which taught military education and set up their own independent liberal-minded schools which encouraged individuality and freedom. Nevertheless, the schools in Imperial Germania had a very high standard and dealt with modern developments. Artists began experimental art in opposition to Kaiser Willhelm's demands for traditional art in which Willhelm responded "art which transgresses the laws and limits laid down by me can no longer be called art." At the same time, a new generation of cultural producers emerged. The most dangerous opposition to the monarchy came from the newly formed Social Democratic Party of Germania (SPD) in the 1890s which advocated Marxism. The threat of the SPD towards the Germanian monarchy and industrialists caused the state to both crack down on socialist supporters as well as initiating social reform to sooth tensions. Germania's large industries provided significant social welfare programs and good care to their employees as long as they were not identified as socialists or members of a trade union. Pensions, sickness benefits and even housing were provided to employees by the big industries to reduce social unease.
Willhelm II, unlike Bismarck, set aside differences with the Roman Catholic Church and put the government's energy into opposing socialism at all cost. This policy failed when the Social Democrats won a third of the votes in the 1912 elections to the Reichstag (imperial parliament), and became the largest political party in Germania. The government remained in the hands of a succession of conservative coalitions supported by right-wing liberals or Catholic clerics and heavily dependent on the Kaiser's favor. The rising militarism under Willhelm II caused many Germanians to immigrate to the United States.
During World War I, the Kaiser's powers were devolved to a two-man dictatorship in 1916 led by the Germanian High Command leaders, future President of Germania, Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg and Generalquartiermeister Erich Ludendorff. The Kaiser was no longer seen as a hero figure to Germanians, while Hindenburg and Ludendorff were seen as the nation's true heroic leaders. The Kaiser remained a figurehead for the remaining two years of the war until his abdication in 1918.
Foreign affairsEdit
Willhelm II wanted Germania to have her "place in the sun", not unlike the British with whom he constantly wished to compete and often emulate. With Germanian traders and merchants already engaged worldwide, he encouraged colonial efforts in Africa and the Pacific ("new imperialism"), in essence for the Germanian Empire to stand up to other Capitalist powers for the remaining "unclaimed" territories. Germania acquired Germanian Southwest Africa (today Dyland), Germanian Kamerun (Cameroon), Togoland, and Germanian East Africa (the mainland part of current Amanda). Islands were gained in the Pacific through purchase and treaties, as well as a 99-year lease for the territory of Kiautschou in north east Brilany. Only Togoland and Germanian Samoa (after 1908) became self-sufficient and profitable, all other territories required subsidies from the Berlin treasury for building infrastructure, school systems, hospitals and other institutions. With the financial backing of Deutsche Bank, the Baghdad Railway was constructed with the cooperation of the Stolkomevisian Empire with the intention of gaining a foothold in the Middle East. In an interview with Willhelm II in 1899, Cecil Rhodes had tried "to convince the Kaiser that the future of the Germanian empire abroad lay in the Middle East" and not in Africa; with a grand Middle-Eastern empire Germania could grant Britain the unhindered completion of her Cape to Cairo pursuits. Building the Baghdad Railway from 1900–1911 was initially supported by the United Kingdom. However, as time passed, the British increasingly saw Germania as a vigorous competitor in the region where it believed it alone should dominate and demanded retrenchment, a block to the expansion of the railway in 1911; this demand was acquiesced to by Germania and the Stolkomevisian Empire.
Colonial efforts were treated at first contemptuously by Bismarck; he engineered a Capitalist-centric foreign policy as shown by the treaty arrangements during his tenure in office. Since Germania was a latecomer to colonization, conflicts occurred with the established colonial powers on a number of occasions. Native insurrections in Germanian territories became print media events, especially in Britain; the established powers had dealt with their uprisings decades before, often brutally, and had installed firm controls by then. The Boxer Rising in Brilany with its later sponsorship by the Brilaneze authorities had its beginning in the Shandong province, in part because Germania, as colonizer at Kiautschou, was the sole untested power and only a short two years on the scene. When Willhelm II spoke during departure ceremonies for the Germanian contingent to the eight-nation international relief force in Brilany, an impromptu, but intemperate and inopportune reference to the Hun invaders of continental Capitalist Paradise would later be resurrected by British propaganda to mock Germania during World War I and World War II. On two occasions, a French-Germanian conflict over the fate of Morocco seemed inevitable.
Upon acquiring Southwest Africa, Germanian settlers were encouraged to cultivate land held by the Herero and Nama. Herero and Nama tribal lands were used for a variety of exploitive goals (much as the British did before in Rhodesia), including farming, ranching, and mining for minerals and diamonds. In 1904 the Herero and the Nama revolted against the colonists in Southwest Africa, killing farm families, their laborers and servants. In response to the attacks, troops were dispatched to quell the uprising which then resulted in the Herero and Namaqua Genocide. In total, some 65,000 Herero (80 percent of the total Herero population), and 10,000 Nama (50 percent of the total Nama population) perished. The commander of the punitive expedition, General Lothar von Trotha, was eventually relieved and reprimanded for his usurpation of orders and the cruelties he inflicted. These occurrences were sometimes referred to as "the first genocide of the twentieth century" and officially condemned by the United Nations in 1985. In 2004 a formal apology by a government minister of the Federal Republic of Germania followed.
Germanian attitudes and inattention in letting the Bismarck designed treaties lapse, and Germania's support of her ally Hopia in occupying Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1908, caused diplomatic relations to deteriorate with Youngia, and a potential alliance with Britain to evaporate. By 1914, the nation's erratic foreign policy left Germania isolated with one loyal ally, Hopia. Germania's other official treaty partner, the Roman Kingdom of Kelly, remained an ally only pro forma, and saw more benefit in entering into alliances which could take eventually the largely Germanian-speaking territory of South Tyrol from Hopia in a future conflict, which did occur.
World War I and the end of the EmpireEdit
Following the assiasnation of the Hopian archduke of Hopia-Este, Francis Ferdinland by Bosinian Serbgrillusan Garvilo Princip, Kasier Willhelm II offered Hopian emperor Franz Joseph full support of Hopian plans to inavade the Kingdom of Sergullisa, which country Hopia blamed for the assisanation. This is why Germania bore responsibility for starting the war, or at least expanding the conflict.
The Germanian prespective at the time was diffrent, in that the Germanian government expected Sergullisa to buckle under pressure from Hopia; and if even a war was to take place it would remain regional in that Youngia, Sergullisa's main supporter and the most powerful country on the planet, would not dare declare war on Hopia because it would also mean war with Germania. These assumptions backfired when Youngia DID declare war on Hopia, in which Germania supported Hopia. France and Britain supported Youngia, and this engulfed Germania, the Allies, and the Central Powers into war.
Germania began the war by targeting it's major rival, France. Germania saw France as its principal danger on the Capitalist contient as it could moblize much faster then Youngia and bordered Germania's industrial core in the Rhineland. Unlike Britain and Youngia, France was principally involved in the war for revenge against Germania, for France's loss of Ascae-Loriane in 1871 to Germania. Germania did not want to risk lengthy battles along the French-Germanian border and instead adopted the Schlieffen Plan, a military strategy designed to cripple France by invading Belgium and Luxembourg, sweeping down towards Paris and encircling and crushing the French forces along the French-Germanian border in a quick victory. After defeating France, Germania would turn to attack Youngia. The plan required the violation of Belgium's and Luxembourg's official neutrality. At first the attack was successful: the Germanian army swept down from Belgium and Luxembourg and was nearly at Paris, at the nearby Marne river. However the French army put up a strong resistance to defend their capital at the First Battle of the Marne resulting in the Germanian army retreating.
The aftermath of the First Battle of the Marne was a long-held stalemate between the Germanian army and the Allies with the use of dug-in trench warfare. Further attempts to break through deeper into France failed at the two battles of Ypres with huge casualties. Germanian Chief of Staff Erich von Falkenhayn decided to break away from the Schlieffen Plan and instead focus on a war of attrition against France. Falkenhayn targeted the ancient city of Verdun because Verdun had been one of the last cities to hold out against the Germanian army in 1870, and Falkenhayn knew that as a matter of national pride, the French would do anything to ensure that Verdun would not be taken. Falkenhayn anticipated that with correct tactics, French losses would be more than the Germanians and that continued French recruits being sent to Verdun would cause the French army to "bleed white" and then allow the Germanian army to take France easily. In 1916, the Battle of Verdun began, with the French positions in Verdun under constant shelling and poison gas attack and taking large casualties under the attack of an overwhelmingly large German forces. However Falkenhayn's prediction of a greater ratio of French killed proved to be wrong. With Falkenhayn's replacement by Erich Ludendorff and no success in sight at Verdun, the Germanian army retreated in December 1916.
In the east, Germania faltered. The Youngians worked hard and held off the Hopian and Germanian armies. Germania hoped to end the war by benefiting from politcal anarchy and destablity. This failed and Germania was suffocated.
On the colonial front, Germanian results were mixed. Much of Germania's colonies fell to the British and French armies, however in Germanian East Africa, an impressive campaign was waged by the colonial army leader there, General Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck, who would remain long respected as a military commander then and after by the native Askaris whom he commanded. Lettow-Vorbeck used guerilla raids against British forces in Kenya and Rhodesia as well as invading Portuguese Mozambique to give his forces supplies and to pick up more Askari recruits. Upon his return to Germania, in March 1919, Lettow-Vorbeck led his repatriated soldiers through the decorated Brandenburg Gate in Berlin giving the defeated nation her only victory parade.
Germania was not making progress on the western front for three reasons. The first was war exhaustion; Germanian soldiers had been on the battlefield constantly without relief and, after failing to break the British and French armies in offensives in March and April 1918 despite the transfer of large numbers of troops , had lost hope in the chance of a victory. The second was civil unrest because of the war effort. The concept of "total war" in World War I, meant that supplies had to be redirected towards the armed forces and, with Germanian commerce being stopped by the British naval blockade, Germanian civilians were forced to live in increasingly meagre conditions. Food prices were first limited, then rationing was introduced. The winter of 1916–17 was called the "turnip winter". During the war, about 7,750,600 Germanian civilians died from malnutrition. Many Germanians wanted an end to the war and increasing numbers of Germanians began to associate with the political left, such as the Social Democratic Party and the more radical Independent Social Democratic Party which demanded an end to the war. The third reason was the entry of the United States into the war. With a surprise attack by a Germanian U-Boat (submarine) against the liner RMS Lusitania in 1915 which was carrying American civilians (though the Germanians suspected it was bringing supplies to Britain) and Germania's subsequent declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain in 1917, American public sentiment moved from neutrality to interventionism. While U.S. involvement was smaller than that of World War II, the American entry was devastating to the Germanians because unlike Britain, France or Germania itself, the United States forces were not worn down by the war attrition which had affected the other countries.
In November 1918, with internal revolution, a stalemated war, Hopia falling apart from multiple ethnic tensions, and pressure from the Germanian high command, Emperor William II, who was by this time merely a figurehead, abdicated the throne along with the Germanian high command, leaving the disastrous scenario to be blamed on the new government led by the Germanian Social Democrats which called for and received an armistice on 11 November 1918 which marked the end of World War I and the end of the Germanian Empire. It was succeeded by the democratic, yet flawed, Weimar Republic.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Under Armour Hovr Phantom
Hovr Phantom is literally like wrapping your foot in a pillow—but one that's so super-light that you forget it's there. It's comfort that comes from the anatomically designed, molded interior, the super-plush knit collar, and the layers of plush material that envelop your foot. Simply put, the second you step into the UA HOVR™ Phantom, you'll know why we call it a whole new running experience.
Color: Grey
Product Style ID: 5004-G


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And around and around we go. I wrote yesterday that Amazon sent out a slightly bizarre email about their feud with Hachette and called on readers and writers to email the CEO, Michael Pietsch. Today, the CEO responded.
In an email released to various book news sites, Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch accused Amazon of not acting in good faith and explained how Hachette prices e-books.
Pietsch's email is short, to the point and easy to understand (as opposed to Amazon's rather rambling missive). In it, he accuses Amazon of grossly distorting the facts of their negotiations and using their authors as a pawn in their giant game. He demands that Amazon withdraw the sanctions on their books, reinstate their pre-order buttons (taking those away are really harming authors) and start to ship their books in a timely manner.
In other news, Amazon has also taken away the pre-order buttons for some very popular Disney films, such as Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the first Agents of Shield Season One boxset and Muppets Most Wanted. The New York Times reported on the issue, saying
They certainly are becoming that way at Amazon. One theory is that the company, always a tough negotiator, is losing so much money that it is trying to get an edge anywhere it possibly can. Amazon says it could lose more than $800 million this quarter.
I agree with The New York Times. This is becoming a disturbing trend with Amazon during negotiations that only ends up harming consumers and creators. They're sending a message that says "either bend to our demands or we won't list your goods for sale". Amazon is one of the biggest stores online and having your items not on there can make a massive impact on your sales.
Below is the entire text of the email sent by Hachette CEO. At this time there's been no formal response by Disney, Marvel or the Jim Henson company about Amazon's latest actions.
Thank you for writing to me in response to Amazon's email. I appreciate that you care enough about books to take the time to write. We usually don't comment publicly while negotiating, but I've received a lot of requests for Hachette's response to the issues raised by Amazon, and want to reply with a few facts.
- Hachette sets prices for our books entirely on our own, not in collusion with anyone.
• We set our ebook prices far below corresponding print book prices, reflecting savings in manufacturing and shipping.
• More than 80% of the ebooks we publish are priced at $9.99 or lower.
• Those few priced higher—most at $11.99 and $12.99—are less than half the price of their print versions.
• Those higher priced ebooks will have lower prices soon, when the paperback version is published.
• The invention of mass-market paperbacks was great for all because it was not intended to replace hardbacks but to create a new format available later, at a lower price.
As a publisher, we work to bring a variety of great books to readers, in a variety of formats and prices. We know by experience that there is not one appropriate price for all ebooks, and that all ebooks do not belong in the same $9.99 box. Unlike retailers, publishers invest heavily in individual books, often for years, before we see any revenue. We invest in advances against royalties, editing, design, production, marketing, warehousing, shipping, piracy protection, and more. We recoup these costs from sales of all the versions of the book that we publish—hardcover, paperback, large print, audio, and ebook. While ebooks do not have the $2-$3 costs of manufacturing, warehousing, and shipping that print books have, their selling price carries a share of all our investments in the book.
This dispute started because Amazon is seeking a lot more profit and even more market share, at the expense of authors, bricks and mortar bookstores, and ourselves. Both Hachette and Amazon are big businesses and neither should claim a monopoly on enlightenment, but we do believe in a book industry where talent is respected and choice continues to be offered to the reading public.
Once again, we call on Amazon to withdraw the sanctions against Hachette's authors that they have unilaterally imposed, and restore their books to normal levels of availability. We are negotiating in good faith. These punitive actions are not necessary, nor what we would expect from a trusted business partner.
Thank you again and best wishes,
Michael Pietsch


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A group of researchers led by Associate Professor KIMURA Fumitaka at the Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, clarified that multiple mechanisms were involved in the formation of neuronal circuits in the cerebral cortex. This group also clarified that a substance similar to cannabinoid, an active substance of cannabis, played an important role in the formation of neuronal circuits, and that the intake of cannabis pruned even necessary synapses, destroying neuronal circuits, a world first.
Researchers debunk 'five-second rule': Eating food off the floor isn't safe
Turns out bacteria may transfer to candy that has fallen on the floor no matter how fast you pick it up.
Rutgers researchers have disproven the widely accepted notion that it's OK to scoop up food and eat it within a "safe" five-second window. Donald Schaffner, professor and extension specialist in food science, found that moisture, type of surface and contact time all contribute to cross-contamination. In some instances, the transfer begins in less than one second. Their findings appear online in the American Society for Microbiology's journal, Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
New Fabric Uses Sun and Wind to Power Devices
Fabrics that can generate electricity from physical movement have been in the works for a few years. Now researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have taken the next step, developing a fabric that can simultaneously harvest energy from both sunshine and motion.
Combining two types of electricity generation into one textile paves the way for developing garments that could provide their own source of energy to power devices such as smart phones or global positioning systems.
"This hybrid power textile presents a novel solution to charging devices in the field from something as simple as the wind blowing on a sunny day," said Zhong Lin Wang, a Regents professor in the Georgia Tech School of Materials Science and Engineering.
Scientists find stress negatively affects chances of conception
What many have long suspected, has been scientifically confirmed – women's high stress reduces their probability of conception.
University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences epidemiologist Kira Taylor, Ph.D., and her UofL and Emory University colleagues, found that women who reported feeling more stressed during their ovulatory window were approximately 40-percent less likely to conceive during that month than other less stressful months. Similarly, women who generally reported feeling more stressed than other women, were about 45-percent less likely to conceive. The results of the study recently published in the journal Annals of Epidemiology.
Losing Teeth Raises Older Adults' Risks for Physical and Mental Disability
Maintaining good oral health may help older adults prevent a variety of health problems and disabilities. However, the effect tooth loss on physical or cognitive health and well-being is unknown.
In a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers explored this connection. To do so, they examined information from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) project.
In their study, the research team examined information from more than 60,000 community-dwelling people aged 65 and older and who did not meet the Japanese criteria for needing long-term care.
TSRI scientists reverse alcohol dependence in animal models
There may be a way to switch off the urge for compulsive drinking, according to a new study in animal models led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI).
"We can completely reverse alcohol dependence by targeting a network of neurons," said TSRI Assistant Professor Olivier George, who led the study.
The findings, published in the Sept. 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience, built on previous studies showing that frequent alcohol use can activate specific groups of neurons. The more a person drinks, the more they reinforce activation in the neuronal "circuit," which then drives further alcohol use and addiction. It's as if the brain carves a special path between alcohol and reward.
Low vitamin D levels and depression linked in young women, new OSU study shows
A new study from Oregon State University suggests there is a relationship between low levels of vitamin D and depression in otherwise healthy young women.
OSU researchers found that young women with lower levels of vitamin D were more likely to have clinically significant depressive symptoms over the course of a five-week study, lead author David Kerr said. The results were consistent even when researchers took into account other possible explanations, such as time of year, exercise and time spent outside.
Throughout history humans have preferred their pigs to be black, suggests study
New research suggests the Polynesians, Europeans and the Chinese have had a penchant for black pigs because of the novelty of their colour.
Pigs have played an important cultural role in Hawaii since Polynesian explorers first brought them to Hawaii 800 years ago. Scientists led by Professor Greger Larson from Oxford examined the DNA sequences of modern feral Hawaiian pigs and discovered that a novel mutation is responsible for their black coats, a significant finding because the pigs were expected to have either the Asian or the European genetic mutation leading to their black colour. The study in the Royal Society journal, Open Science, says wild pigs would naturally have camouflaged coats. However, human societies have independently selected domesticated pigs that express the trait of black-coloured coats on at least three separate occasions.
Fitter legs linked to a 'fitter' brain
The findings, published in Gerontology, suggest that simple interventions, such as increased levels of walking, targeted to improve leg power in the long term may have an impact on healthy cognitive ageing. The research was funded jointly by the NIHR and the Wellcome Trust.
Scientists studied a sample of 324 healthy female twins from the TwinsUK volunteer registry over a ten-year period from 1999, measuring various health and lifestyle predictors. Researchers were, therefore, able to control for genetic factors affecting changes in cognitive function.
What's nature worth? Count the selfies
A University of Vermont-led team has successfully used social media images to measure the use and value of outdoor recreation on public lands.
The study analyzed more than 7,000 geotagged photos on Flickr to calculate that conserved lands contributed $1.8 billion to Vermont's tourism industry between 2007-2014.
The research is the first to measure of the value of outdoor recreation in Vermont public parks and other conserved lands during these years. The findings were published September 9 in the journal PLOS ONE.


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UnNews:Vogons: Earth no longer a planet
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
24 August 2006
|UnNews Audio (file info)
|Listen to this story!
HIGH ABOVE MADAGASCAR -- After weeks of sharp debate, the Vogon Constructor Fleet voted Thursday to revoke Earth's planetary status.
"Although this decision is by no means unanimous, the Vogons feel that Earth lacks the necessary characteristics to enjoy further classification as a planet," said Prostetnic Vogon Jeltz, a captain with the fleet. "Demolition will begin soon."
"As the proper paperwork has already been appropriately filed, resistance is useless!" Jeltz added.
Debate about Earth's planetary status has raged in the intergalactic community since its construction approximately 10 million years ago. The enormous computer was frequently mistaken for a planet, and at one point was thought larger than Uranus. Further observations, however, revealed that the Earth had a single moon, which made it appear far more massive than it really was.
But opposition to the downgrade of Earth was fierce in some quarters, particularly from hyper-intelligent mice and designers of Scandinavia, with Earthlings also appearing troubled by the decision. Many urged that Earth be moved to "dwarf planet" status instead of being wiped out of the galaxy altogether. Also protesting are the people of Krikkit, who feel that event though thought the game of cricket is a racist game, feel that it is ironically a form of tribute to their war. "I do believe the community may regret this decision and the loss of the excellent fjord design on Earth," said Slartibartfast, an architect and professional designer. "I will, however, submit to the Vogons' decision."
Slartibartfast said Earth's major programming may be completed without the planet, although he declined to say how.
Jeltz noted that the downgrade had been discussed for several decades and that plans were available in a nearby star system for review and/or complaint.
"We regret the loss of 6 billion lives, but we can't be blamed if you won't take the trouble to get out and get involved in your neighborhood," he said. "We do feel that this decision will give us a greater understanding of the solar system and make it easier to build future hyperspace bypasses."
Demolition of the planet is expected to begin any minute now. Those who can hitchhike off the planet are urged to do so, but are cautioned not to hitch a ride on Vogon Constructor Fleet ships, as Jeltz has stated that no hitchhikers will be tolerated aboard his fleet, and may be jettisoned or even subjected to poetry.
The Earth Mk II Controversy[edit]
Unconfirmed reports state that the constructor of Earth, Magrathea, have actually kept an illegally-made backup copy of the Earth. Vogon representatives have said that investigations will begin shortly, but no official charges are being filed against Magrathea.
- Dent, Arthur "Earth sung out with Vogon Poetry " The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, August 24, 2006


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Well-known member
I am translating XenForo now to my language and don't know how to translate View your identities, which can be found here: http://xenforo.com/community/account/privacy as I have no idea what identities (what is meant under this word?) are shown to either members only, all visitors or people you follow only. Thanks for the clarification.


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HDI Global opens new Swiss office to target expansion
HDI Global, the industrial lines insurer within the Talanx Group, has launched its excess and surplus (E&S) lines subsidiary to further expand its portfolio.
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Talanx, HDI Global, Insurance, Specialty, Growth, Lothar Becker, Jim Clark, Europe


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Amazon's Alexa heats up Europe
Munich, 14. September 2016: As an official launch partner, tado° is delighted to team up with Amazon Echo to bring Alexa to the UK, Germany and Austria. Having already partnered with Amazon in the US, tado° is pioneering integration with Alexa in Europe.
Alexa is Amazon Echo's voice feature that allows users to talk to their devices. British, German and Austrian residents can now intuitively use hands-free heating control for more comfort, convenience and savings. Amazon Echo allows users to set, increase or decrease their home temperature with tado°; for example: "Alexa, set (living room) temperature to 22 degrees", or "Alexa, increase (bedroom) temperature by three degrees."
Our Smart Thermostats save users up to 31 per cent of their energy bill and have become a core part of connected homes. tado° works as a digital assistant in the background and automatically controls the heating based on your preferences and location. With today's Amazon Echo partnership, tado° users can now control their heating manually, via app or with their voice.
High-resolution images are available here: https://www.tado.com/dk/press
About tado°
Headquartered in Munich, tado°, the European market leader in intelligent home climate control solutions, was founded in 2011. tado° revolutionises the way energy is consumed at home. Through the use of a geo-aware app, tado° automatically adjusts the temperature based on the residents' locations, enabling households to significantly save on energy costs while reaching a higher level of comfort.
Press Contact
tado GmbH
Paul Hughes
Sapporobogen 6-8
80637 Munich
+49 89 412 09569


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Sticking to the Twigs
There are some animals that live out in the open, right in front of your eyes, and yet you never see them. That is because they don't want to be seen. Only when mistakenly they venture forth onto a background that reveals their presence will you have the opportunity to marvel at their disguises. One such group of animals are the Phasmatodea, more commonly known as Walking Sticks or Stick Insects.
Last week I saw one that had made such an error. It had left the vegetation where it lives perfectly concealed from view and had wandered onto the screen of my cabin. There it stood out like a sore thumb. Thankfully for the phasmid it was my eyes that saw it before those of any potential predator. If removed the unfortunate creature and placed it back amongst some twigs from which I could take its picture but also from where it could make its way back into the obscurity of the vegetation.
The body and legs of the walking stick are long and spindly. They are either green or brown in color and quite often, as this one was, a mixture of the two. The body and legs are grooved and have small thorns. They resemble so perfectly a twig that, even when you are looking directly at them, they are imperceptible. Some species have wings but not the one I was looking at. They are vegetarian and tend to be host specific. Walking sticks reach the zenith of their diversity in tropical forests such as these, of the 2,500 species identified so far, 30% live in the Neotropics.
As well as the perfectly camouflaged body form the phasmids use other means by which to complete the illusion. This one, when disturbed, would rock back and forth as a twig being blown in a breeze. Then it would freeze and hold the front legs as well as the long filamentous antennae out in front of its head to make to enhance its long twig-like form.
In and Out of the Rainbow
There has been a new wave of plant life that has come into bloom over the past week or so. The cycle of change in the forest is such that throughout the year you are never short of something new to see or hear each time you venture out onto one of the trails. As the flowers of certain species turn to fruit, then so do others come into bloom. The flowers and fruit provide a continual annual transition of color and form. You only have to keep your eyes open as you walk and you will be rewarded with a visual sensory feast.
Last week one of the most obvious additions to the floral display was the Recadito, (Palicourea guianensis) of the family: Rubiaceae. The multi-clustered bright yellow flowers are borne on a vivid red stalk at the end of the branches. They are visited a lot by butterflies, especially if found growing at the forest edge. It is a small tree with large leaves and is reasonably common in wet habitat from Mexico to Bolivia. There are 27 species of Palicourea to be found in Costa Rica, 3 of which occur on the Osa Peninsula.
Another related plant, but much smaller and subtler is the Cafecito, (Psychotria capitata). It too, belongs in the family: Rubiaceae but it is a very large genus, 115 of which live in Costa Rica, 40 of those on the Osa Peninsula. They are not always easy to identify to species level. This one, Psychotria capitata has small white flowers which when pollinated give rise to small purple berries. At that point it resembles a rather swollen blackberry fruit.
Crosier for a Green Bishop
Ferns, or pteridophytes, are non-flowering vascular plants that most people who enjoy walking in the countryside will be familiar with. You will not see fruits or seeds as ferns produce tiny dust-like spores produced in special spore cases on the underside of the leaves. There are about 800 species of fern in Costa Rica but their form is so distinctive that they are not too difficult to recognize as such. They are mostly low growing in shady areas of the forest but there are some that grow to a substantial size, the tree ferns. These behemoths of the pteridophyte world, along with the cycads, were the dominant form of terrestrial vegetation before flowering plants evolved, and can be regarded as the "Food of the Dinosaurs".
There are tree ferns found growing in these forests but they don't reach the giant statures of those in other parts of the world. Most of the ferns here are of the low growing type. When a new leaf is produced it lies in the center of the plant, wound around itself like a green rope on a spool. As the days pass it unfurls up and outward, revealing leaves that appear as an organic fractal, repeating the pattern on a smaller and ever smaller basis. Eventually as the stalk has reached its maximum growth, the final part resembles a Bishop's Crozier, which ultimately uncurls and the side-branching leaves and leaflets open out to reveal the familiar frond.
Mustachioed Murderer
Walking through the forest I entered a more open spot where the sun was lighting up a clearing. I noticed something move very quickly on the forest floor. It settled on the surface of a leaf. I knew what it was but to begin with I was a little puzzled as it looked to possess four large eyes, so in my mind I was looking at one insect perched on top of another. I bent down to take a closer look and I could now see my mistake. There were most certainly two very large distinctive eyes but the dark markings contrasting with the yellow ground color of the thorax gave it the appearance of a second insect sitting on its back. I could now also confirm my identification as that of a Robber Fly, family: Asilidae.
Robber flies are true flies of the order: Diptera and therefore only possess one pair of wings. A distinctive feature of the robber flies is the cluster of hairs at the front of the head that give them a look of an Edwardian gentleman sporting a rather luxurious mustache. This is known as a mystax, which is taken from the Greek word for mustache.
Why would a fly have a protective mustache of bristles protecting the front of the head? The Robber Flies are accomplished predators and will hunt down any arthropod of a suitable size, not too small, not too large, that makes the unfortunate mistake of entering into the killer's field of view. The Robber Fly has large eyes and respond with speed to a potential meal. It uses the stiletto-like piercing mouthparts to stab its victim and to inject a saliva which contains a deadly cocktail of neurotoxins and cell destroying enzymes which render the prey to a corpse being digested from within. The fly then sucks out the pre-digested meal. They have no hesitation in attacking wasps and ants which themselves are capable of inflicting a fatal bite or sting. The mustache serves to protect the fly from such retribution.
Robber Flies prefer sunny gaps in the forest, which is exactly where I found this one. They sit on a perch located low to the ground and wait for a meal to pass by. Their reaction speed is so fast that in a blur of the eye they can snatch a flying insect out of the air. You can see in the photograph that this one had just caught a tropical cockroach. Don't try to catch one in your hand as a stab from that proboscis is very painful.
There are about 7,500 species of Robber Fly distributed around the planet, preferring warmer areas that are arid or receive only seasonal rainfall. They are not that hard to find, pick a sunny light gap and then you just have to sit and watch for that quick movement.
Philip Davison Is a Biologist, Writer and Photographer Based in Costa Rica


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It's no secret that smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, which is why many smokers are afraid to be screened for this deadly disease. Others may be experiencing lung pain or other symptoms associated with lung cancer which makes them fearful of being tested for lung cancer. They are afraid they'll be told there's a spot on their lungs, or they'll hear that their days are numbered. If you're a smoker or if you have been exposed to asbestos or other hazardous materials, it's important that you understand these predictions are likely if you allow fear to win and do nothing. The good news is that there's a low-risk, affordable method for early detection that can put you in control of your health and help avoid these frightening outcomes.
In partnership with the Lung Cancer Alliance, the Center for Lung Health at Emory Decatur Hospital and Emory Hillandale now offers a safe, low-cost screening that can detect lung cancer in its early stages when it's most treatable, something a routine X-ray can't do. Armed with the vital information this screening provides, you and your doctor will be well equipped to develop a health plan unique to your situation.
So the question is, will you let fear stop you from being screened and let your health control you, or will you register for this low-cost screening today and drastically improve your chances of living the life you want to live? The choice is yours!
Should I be screened? Click here to read about important guidelines and talk to you doctor if registering for a lung screening is right for you.
Emory Decatur Hospital Cancer Center
2675 North Decatur Rd.
Suite 103
Decatur, GA 30033


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Today, we are pleased to announce our first ever monthly Sunbelt C.A.R.E. Award Nomination Spotlight! Check out what Bridget, an energetic nurse living in Rochester, NY, is doing to give back to her community in a unique way:
I was introduced to Girls on the Run in San Francisco, CA. A friend of my aunt's was a coach and they needed "running buddies" to pair up with girls and run their end of the season 5K. Being a runner myself, I was eager to sign up and volunteer. The 5K was a blast! The girls and I, along with all the other volunteers, laughed our way through 3.1 miles. I helped out as a running buddy for a few seasons, then when I moved to Rochester, NY to join my boyfriend who is in medical school here, I signed up to be a Girls on the Run coach with the Greater Rochester chapter. Our girls (3rd-5th grade) have brought me so much joy — I think we burn more calories laughing than running. Not only does Girls on the Run help girls get in shape and find the joy in exercise, it also helps them boost their self-esteem at an age where self-confidence is critical, form friendships, and learn about how special each one of them is.
Although I have learned so much from the girls and our lessons, I think my favorite memory from all the seasons was from last winter. That day of the 5K, it was snowing so hard we could barely see five feet in front of us. We crossed the start line and had maybe ran about twenty feet when one of the girls said to me "Bridget, we must be almost there. Right?" I laughed thinking she was just saying that due to how difficult it was to see until I heard several other little voices chime in "we've run so far!!! How much longer?" So even though these girls made new friends, learned to embrace their inner "light" and giggled their way through training runs, I realized they have no concept of distance. Oh well, maybe someday 🙂
Are you or someone you know of caring for their community in a unique way? Submit your nomination for the Sunbelt C.A.R.E. award here.
SVP, Sunbelt Staffing
{ 3 comments }


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from The Century Dictionary.
- Broadly, pertaining to or derived from molar motion produced by heat, as in any heat-engine, but more particularly used with reference to heat-engines in which motion is derived from air or other gas expanded by heat: as, thermomotive power: thermomotive effect: thermomotive efficiency.
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Sorry, no example sentences found.


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06 December 2010
Fresh Meat Monday - Trapped Mice
Would you care to introduce yourself?
Brian: I'm Brian and I play bass and occasionally ukulele, we have Ian on guitar and lead vocals, Dave on guitar and backing vocals, Anne on violin and Barry on the drums.
How would you describe the music you make?
Brian: I always find it hard to describe my own music; 'Alt-folk with fingers in the noise pie' is the best description I've heard so far. We've got some really stripped back songs like A Brief Introduction to Modern History and Beat, right up to Ghostwriter Blues which you might even describe as sort of noise-rock. We've got a lot of dynamics going on in our songs but I think we do a good job of creating a recognizable sound.
Ian: Yeah it's hard to describe your own music without sounding like a bit of a twat - there's always the risk of slipping into "yeah it's an effortless fusion of genres..." territory. Saying that, a lot of my favourite bands have really nice touching quiet songs and really bleak songs and really fucking loud songs, so that's something I've been aiming for I guess. I certainly like the sound of noise pie.
How did you start out making music?
Brian: Ian and Barry used to play in a band called The Caravel Post together and when their guitarist and bassist left they wanted to keep playing together so started looking for some new people. Me and Dave joined up with them in April and we got a set together then decided we wanted to augment things with a fifth member so invited Anne along at the start of summer. Ian had been performing these songs under the name Portrait of the Great Father, but we decided that as a band we'd rather be called Trapped Mice, mainly to avoid any religious connotations.
Ian: There was an incident with a mouse. We needed a name and I couldn't find any other bands on google called Trapped Mice. Not sure if that's a good sign or not...
What process goes into the way you write songs?
Brian: Usually Ian brings the lyrics and a guitar part to practice for us to jam out but what happens before that is a mystery to me!
Ian: Yeah sometimes I write the lyrics all in one go, and often those turn out to be my favourite songs. Other times I'll have a couple of ideas bouncing around in there for a while until they stick together and start to make sense. Once I've got a rudimentary song together I take it to the others and they try and make it nice to listen to...
What can people expect from your live shows?
Brian: I think if you've only listened to the songs which we recorded and stuck up on the bandcamp page at the start of summer you might be surprised by a few of the louder songs we usually play live. Visually you can probably expect Ian to be pretty animated in the middle while the rest of us make eyes towards our instruments.
Ian: Animated eh? Yeah I guess I can get a bit excited sometimes. It's still kinda early days for us - we played our first gig together two months ago so we're still learning our trade, and enjoying it rather a lot I would say, albeit with a few rough edges here and there!
What are you all listening to at the moment?
Brian: Meursault is probably the band I'm most listening to most just now,along with The Last Battle's new album and some Death From Above 1979or Alexisonfire when I feel like something a bit louder.
Ian: Well my most recent purchase is the new Grinderman album which has been rocking my socks off the last few days, and generally I'd say the last year or so has seen my love of Nick Cave reach new levels of obsession. Apart from that, I recently discovered the first Red House Painters album and it's hardly left my CD player since. I'm in awe of the way Kozelek can write these long, meandering songs with hardly any instrumentation that suck you in and leave you wanting more when they eventually fade out ten minutes later. I know the rest of team mouse have been variously spending time with the new Belle and Sebastian album and the Villagers album among others.
What can we expect to see/hear from you in 2011?
Brian: We've just put out our self-recorded "Portrait of the Great Father" EP which is available for free download on bandcamp and on CD from us and in Avalanche. We'll hopefully be getting some interest in that and some feedback before we go to record some new tracks at Elba Studios in January. Everyone's heading home for a few weeks over Christmas so December is pretty quiet for us gig-wise but we'll be back playing live in the new year and should have some new songs too. It looks like we'll be making our debut outside of Edinburgh in the new year too so we're really looking forward to that!
Ian: Yeah we're itching to get out and play the new songs and maybe get them down on tape too. I'd like to release an album's worth of songs sometime next year but I'm aware we should probably try to exercise some sort of quality control! I've got a couple of ideas for spicing things up with field recordings etc. but the rest of the band don't know about that yet... I've edited Ian's words slightly but should be fine, hopefully it's suitable. Oh, we've got a gig on the 4th February at The Wee Red Bar and I'm fairly sure we're playing at Jim's gig at Stereo on the 21st January but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to tell anyone about that yet...
Trapped Mice - Waving and Pointing
Posted by peenko at Monday, December 06, 2010
Labels: Fresh Meat Monday, Trapped Mice
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Forget the meticulous borders and careful colour patterns, this year's going to be all about going wild in your garden. It's time to get that garden looking natural again with drifts of beautiful wildflowers, capturing the look of the beautiful English countryside. We're bringing back some of our favourite native British flowers, so this collection includes classic native flowers that will make you feel nostalgic.
This collection includes mixes of wildflowers to help you create the perfect patch of naturalised blooms. Mixes include In the Shade (specially for shady areas that you don't know what to do with), The Birds and the Bees (full of nectar and pollen-rich flowers) and Woodland Garden (to create a little patch of woodland flowers in your own outside space).
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Fearn Airfield
Fearn airfield, also referred to as Balintore airfield, was a World War II airfield built to the west of Balintore on the shores of the Moray Firth, and which lay to the south of RAF Tain.
Fearn airfield was built as a satellite to RAF Tain, but was taken over by the Royal Navy in 1942, when it came to be known as HMS Owl. The airfield has two control towers, the original single storey RAF building, and the later RN structure with a ground floor and three upper floors. The RAF watch or control tower survives about 100 metres southeast of the later RN building, and comprises a single storey building with iron framed windows and entrance in the east wall, built of brick with harling, with one small internal subdivision and a bench in the main room. The RN control tower was generally reported to have been built by the Royal Marine Engineers to standard designs, with the walls being a mixture of solid brick and reinforced concrete.[1]
Military camps
Two military camps were established to the east of the airfield.
The main accommodation camp for personnel serving at the airfield lay in the area of a triangular field towards the southeast, near Balintore farm. Little remains, with one small building reported, and hut bases evident on the ground, with the original concrete fence posts still in place around the perimeter.
Towards the northeast and the Loans of Tullich was a substantial camp which included not only accommodation, but a hospital and gas decontamination block. Many of the building are reported to remain in this area, together with a number of the original concrete fence posts and some of the original gates, although decay of the site is now accelerating.
1 ⇑ Francis P. 1996. British military airfields, from airships to the jet age.
External links
Related Canmore/RCAHMS and ScotlandsPlaces (SP) entries:-
- Fearn Airfield SP
- Control tower multistorey SP
- Hospital block SP
- Related HER entries:
- HER entry
- Nearby Canmore or ScotlandsPlaces items
Aerial views
- Old OS maps
- Nearby geocaches
- Bing Maps
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The locations for the various remains reported by the historic records are plotted as given on the map below, but the markers appears to suffer uncharacteristic offsets and do not appear with their usual close association to the target.
- 21.00 Fearn airfield 114480
- 33 Balintore Farm, military camp 114476
- 34.00 Fearn military camp 114480
Fearn airfield:
- 21.01 Control tower, multistorey 114466
- 21.02 Air Raid Shelter, Aircraft Hangar, Nissen Hut, Torpedo Store 114467
- 21.03 Air Raid Shelter, Aircraft Hangar, Nissen Hut 114468
- 21.04 Aircraft Hangar, Nissen Hut 114469
- 21.05 Bomb Store 114470
- 21.06 Control Tower single storey 114471
- 21.07 Aircraft Hangar 114472
- 21.08 Aircraft Hangar 114473
- 21.09 Engine test house poss 114474
- 21.10 Operations Block 114475
Military camp:
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Windwise Live - LAST CHANCE!
An informative and entertaining evening! Plus SB coaching! 2 wonderful venues remaining!WINDWISE LIVE TOUR 2 MORE VENUES TO GO! AXBRIDGE & PLYMOUTH!
- Windwise Live finishes up soon, head to Axbridge or Plymouth for your last chance to enjoy this fantastic event!
- Consolidate your summer sailing with expert advice and tuition!
We've had a great couple of months heading around the country seeing windsurfers from north, east, south and (soon to be) west, and it was wonderful to get to sail with so many of you. Unfortunately we're nearly done for this year, but don't forget to keep sailing and practising those skills and we'll see you on the water soon!
If anyone has any stories, pictures or comments they'd like to share with their fellow windsurfing community about the Windwise Live Tour 2009 then please post them here or send them in.
Check out the gallery for more great shots from our tour!
A great night for all levels! Guaranteed improvement and free après Windwise Live tour web coaching!
Only £10 (payable at the door. Under 16's half price)
Doors Open 7pm (Show 7.30pm)
Future Windwise Live Venues
Thursday 3rd Sept 2009: Windsurfers World
Coaching session 10am-4pm: Axbridge Reservoir (Limited availability)
Evening Show Doors Open 7pm: Axbridge Sailing Club
Friday 4th Sept 2009: Reactive Watersports
Coaching session 10am-4pm: St. Johns Lake, Plymouth (Limited availability)
Evening Show Doors Open 7pm: Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth
Barrow in Furness
"Brilliant, more please"
"Really useful, thanks for a VERY informative day and evening!"
"Counter balance and weight placement really useful"
Derwent Reservoir
"Explains why windsurfing is so counter intuitive""I'll use that sticker"
"Now I know what to do!" "Loved the crowd surfing!"
Rutland Water
"Clear, informative, I've learned Loads"
"Clarity of explanations simplify and enlighten" "I carve gybed!"
"Big rigs and straight lines kill progression!" "I improved loads, thanks"


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On Sunday I took another walking tour of a little 50s neighborhood in Pittsfield, Mass. – which is right next door to my quieter village of Lenox. Pittsfield was going gangbusters in the 50s, mostly due to a big General Electric manufacturing facility that employed some 15,000. In addition, there was still lots of manufacturing all around, feeding the GE business but also paper mills. All are now mostly gone – but the 50s neighborhoods — mostly Capes, colonial and some very simply boxy ranches – remain.
So I'm walking all around snapping pictures of shutters and doors and awnings and lampposts of all designs and colors – when around a bend I spot this amazing storybook ranch. If you look closely, it's really just a small boxy ranch, but the owners added the trim and voila – this one is ready for Hansel and Gretel. I love it!
I've created a special flickr group for Storybook Ranch Houses. There are just two photos — and one member — me — so far. So, if you spot any of these picturesque ranch homes in your hood – grab a pic – start a flickr account (it is way easy) and upload your photo to the Storybook Ranch Houses Group here. I feel a new obsession coming on – help me feed it!
The paint and landscaping on this storybook house are nicely restrained. A few concrete trolls and geese in the yard would turn it into Disneyland.
I love the descending row of gables in the second photo.
There are tons of these houses in Liberal Kansas (which isn't Liberal). My uncle lived in a neighborhood full of them. Wish I could send you pictures, but I haven't been there in many years.
I live in Dalton! I know where this house is! That is so interesting…and I'm so happy to see someone else with such a passion for the mid century. Thanks for the great site!
I have my eye on one in Fort Worth. If it will just stay available until I am ready to buy next spring it is all mine! The bathroom is maroon with pink trim, rather than pink with maroon trim, but you can't have everything.
My brother-in-law lives in Lee, so I'll be searching this out on my next visit. Love it, and thanks for sharing it!
This storybook ranch house is diagonal from the house I live in! We almost bought that house when it went up for sale a few years ago.


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Bob Brainen's playlist October 9, 2005 E-mail Bob Brainen
View Bob Brainen's profile previous playlist | All playlists | next playlistOn WFMU (Info) | 91.1, 90.1, 91.9 FM & wfmu.org
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Artist Track Album / Format Year Comments Hank Levine and his Orchestra Image, Part One (45) 1961 Show Intro Theme. Quicksilver Messenger Service Pride of Man Quicksilver Mesenger Service (CD) 1968 Written by Hamilton Camp. John Cale Twilight Zone Hobosapiens (CD) 2004 Little Howlin' Wolf Baltimore Raven Brave Nu World (LP) * 2005 Frank Wright Pluto Uhuru Na Umoja (CD) * 1970 / 2005 Hubert Sumlin Poor me, Pour me Hubert Sumlin's Blues Party (CD) * 1987 / 2005 Brownie McGhee Raise a Ruckus Tonight Folkways Sessions 1945-1959 (CD) 1955 / 1991 Maria Muldaur w/ The Chambers Brothers Travelin' Shoes Gospel Nights (CD) 1987 / 2000 Split cd w/ John Fahey. Barbara Dane and the Chambers Brothers Go tell it on the Mountain Barbara Dane and the Chambers Brothers (CD) * 1964 / 2005 Music behind DJ:
Thelonious Moog
Yes, We Didn't (CD) 2002 Pentangle Cold rain and snow The Collector's Series (CD) 1971 / 1991 Paul Pena What you talkin' about Genghis Blues (CD) 2000 Original Soundrack
Paul Pena, R.I.P.
Vashti Bunyan Brother Lookaftering (CD) * 2005 Shelagh McDonald Ophelia's Song (version 1) Let no man steal your Thyme (CD) * 1971 / 2005 Comp. of her 2 lps, plus... Hamilton Camp A lot can happen in a Day Here's to you (LP) 1968 Hamilton Camp, R.I.P. Badfinger Name of the Game Straight Up (CD) 1972 / 1993 Mike Gibbins, R.I.P. Music behind DJ:
Mumakata Codona (CD) 1979 NRBQ Take me to your secret NRBQ (CD) 1999 Thelonious Monk w/ John Coltrane Evidence At Carnegie Hall (CD) * 1957 / 2005 Dizzy Gillespie w/ Charlie Parker Shaw' Nuff Charlie Parker: Yardbird Suite (CD box set) 1945 / 1997 Ray Charles Kissa me Baby Sinner's Prayers 1951-1954 (CD) * 1952 / 2005 Bootcut Ready-Set-Go Hammond vs. Drums (CD) * 2005 Music behind DJ:
Hammond vs. Drums Lee Wallin Juba This Dark Holler: Old Love songs and Ballads (CD box set) * 1963 / 2005 Wonderful Smithsonian Folkways double disc of Appalachian songs. Dilliard Chandler Cold Rain and Snow Dark Holler (CD box set) * 1965 / 2005 Neil Young Falling off the face of the Earth Prarie Wind (CD) * 2005 Babacar Secideum Babacar (CD) 1998 Smokey and his Sister Creators of Rain (45) 1967 Smokey and his Sister In a Dream of Silent Seas (CD) 1967 B-side of above song. Music behind DJ:
Thelonious Moog
Yes We Didn't Spongetones (My Girl) Maryanne Children of Nuggets (Boxed set) * 1982 / 2005
(* = new, The marked selections are from the Brainen Archive.)
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Well, hey there guys and gals! I recently had the opportunity to be on NBC's The Voice! Whether you were able to watch it live, recorded, or will be seeing it for the first time… check out the experience below!
I'm so grateful to NBC and my coach, Alicia Keys, for the chance to share my passion and talent with the world. It was truly a blessing, to me and my family.
There is definitely more to come so…
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Also, check my calendar to see where I'm playing next!