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The idea of "food stamps" in the U.S. is to provide money to people so they can buy food. The name "food stamps" remains from an earlier era because in many places, you use a state-issued card that you can slide through a credit card machine. The program, which is a federal program in the U.S., is called SNAP (for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Conservatives are hell-bent on making it stricter, worsening the scam that the conservatives themselves already made of it. It can't even feed the homeless...
What's happened is that companies like Walmart will hire workers eligible for food stamps so they can continue to pay low wages at low hours to employees. If someone is unemployed or under-employed, their food stamps are cut off. If an employee earns just a tiny bit too much, or gets one too many hours, their food stamps are cut off. As you can hear in the video, the target of the program is 20 hours per week, allowing companies like Walmart to also deny healthcare to employees because the employees are "part-time."
The whole scam keeps employees needy and scared of the boss, and it keeps executives' bank accounts fat. It's horrible. But when you hear conservatives threaten the "food stamp" program, you need to realize they only want to make the conditions on employees worse, and make the executives' bank accounts fatter.
In addition to the abuse on American citizens, there is an idea behind the creation of the current program along the lines of, "People won't work if we just give them food." It turns out that in countries that have less-abusive systems than the U.S., that simply isn't true. Conservatives have also told people, "Don't waste your hard-earned tax dollars to feed lazy people." But people have trouble feeding themselves for a number of reasons, and it doesn't mean they're lazy.
Plus, we let homeless people starve and die. In most states, a homeless person can only get food stamps for three months, but in some states it's six months. After that, they're cut off...
After living in the U.S. State of Virginia for over a year, I became eligible for food stamps. I don't exactly work for Walmart, so they were turned off after six months. I recorded the conversation I had - in person - at the Social Services Branch in the video below.
See Also:
- Yo Walmart! Go Subsidize Yourself!
Related:
- http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://steve-lovelace.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012...
In-vitro meat is the best! But why isn't it in stores? Well, sure, it's still new, but it could be rolled out pretty quickly. So, what makes it so much better?
- No E. Coli
- No Salmonella
- No Trichinosis
- No Steroids
- No Hormones
- No Antibiotics
- 100% pure beef, chicken, pork, or whatever meat you want...
- You can choose the fat content, from fat-free to pure animal lard...
The main objection I've heard is that it's "not real." It's made in a "lab" from DNA and stuff and no animals are killed. Well, the meat you're eating right now isn't exactly real. It comes from what manufacturers call an "animal," but this "animal" is so injected full of chemicals it barely qualifies as an animal anymore. It lives in disease-infested conditions, and the meat produced from it is consequently disease-infested. It's also produced in a factory (not a farm), and that factory isn't exactly a nice, clean "lab." When they cut the animal apart after slaughtering it, there are "shit leaks" all over the factory that spread disease. They have to spray it with more chemicals before it gets to you. And you have to literally "cook the shit out of it" now...
Let me put it another way... Do you eat SPAM? How the fuck is that "real?" Cold cuts are made the same way. Did anyone see how restaurants glue steaks together with blood plasma? I mean, the shit you're already eating isn't exactly real. In-vitro meat is a clean, safe, 100% pure product and there's nothing "unreal" about it.
So, support me on the in-vitro meat. It will be better for all of us!
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://estespark-colorado.com/wp-content/uploads/Babas-Burgers-Logo.jpg
For music fans in Germany, summer means one thing: Grab a six-pack (and maybe your toothbrush) and hit the road for the annual non-stop series of major festivals. From Rock am Ring to Wacken, the mass music events showcase local German bands, but also draw some of the biggest international names. DW reviews some of Germany's most important summer music festivals.
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Wacken Open Air:
--------------------
Are you a metal head like these guys? Then head to the Wacken Open Air festival in the tiny German village of Wacken. What started small in 1990 has since become an international highlight for lovers of every sub-genre of metal. This year, it's set to take place from July 31 to August 2, with headliners like English metal rock band Motörhead and U.S. heavy metal band W.A.S.P.
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Summerjam:
----------------
Jamaican beats come to the Rhineland every year in early July for the Summerjam festival. The biggest international names in the reggae scene show up for the event, which takes place on Fühlinger Lake near Cologne. This year, Jamaican reggae musician Jimmy Cliff, American hip hop group Dilated Peoples, and German bands Seeed, Maxim, and Marteria top the lineup.
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Rock am Ring:
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The legendary Nürburgring racetrack in central-western Germany shut down this June for the last time for Rock am Ring. In 2015, the major festival will be moved to a former military base in Mönchengladbach. The 2014 event drew international names like Metallica, Linkin Park, Kings of Leon and Mando Diao. A parallel festival, Rock am Park, always takes place simultaneously in Nuremberg.
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c/o pop:
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Taking place every June in Cologne, c/o pop is not your typical music festival. On the one hand, it's a major trade fair with conferences and networking for the music industry. On the other, it's a concert series presenting artists both on big stages and in unusual locations. Last year, German band Apparat dazzled. This year, Get Well Soon and Weekend are among those performing from August 20-24.
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Melt!:
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Ferropolis, the "city of iron," is an open-air industrial museum in eastern Germany and the site of the annual Melt! festival. Billed as "electro meets rock," a number of top DJs, like Boyz Noize, Modeselektor, and Monika Kruse will share the stage with British indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club and U.S. indie pop band Future Island this year from July 18 to 20.
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Splash!:
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One of Germany's biggest reggae and hip hop festivals, Splash! started
in 1998 in downtown ChemnitzS in eastern Germany. Due to financial difficulties,
it moved around a bit and now takes place on the Pouch peninsula in Bitterfeld.
On this year's lineup from July 11 to 13: German rapper Cro, English singer
M.I.A., and the U.S. hip-hop duo Outkast, among others...
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Hurricane:
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Mainstream and alternative sounds are what you can expect to find at the Hurricane Festival, held every June in Scheessel near Bremen in northwestern Germany. The event dates all the way back to 1973. This year from June 20-22, some big names in the music industry from Germany and abroad will be playing, including Arcade Fire, Macklemore, Fettes Brot, Lykke Li, The Kooks, and James Blake.
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Bochum Total:
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With up to one million visitors each year, Bochum Total in the Ruhr Valley region - Germany's industrial heartland - is one of the country's largest free music festivals. For that reason, it doesn't draw the chart-toppers, but it is a place to discover promising new sounds.
Related:
- http://www.dw.de/top-stories/germany/s-1432
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.dw.de/top-stories/germany/s-1432
Andy Burnham, the British Shadow Secretary of Health, recently pointed out: "After a decade of progress by the Labour party, British Healthcare Service (NHS) waiting lists are getting longer by the day" under the Conservative party.
This year's figure for the number of patients who waited beyond 18 weeks for treatment in the month of April is 29,417, up significantly from the 25,397 patients who waited beyond 18 weeks in April 2013, and the 22,774 forced to wait beyond 18 weeks in April 2010.
Richard Murray, the director of policy at the King's Fund, said the growing waiting list was "a sign of where the NHS is heading" under the Conservatives.
Burnham added: "It is always what happens when the Conservatives are in charge of the NHS; ...millions of people [are left] facing the agonizing choice of waiting in pain or paying to go private."
And that's exactly what conservatives want. They've cut the funding and allowed waiting lists to grow, all to push people into a private system that prioritizes care based on wealth, not health. Your life may depend on getting conservatives out of office!
See Also:
- It's Not Okay to Bully the Poor!
- The Occupy Movement - Occupy London
- U.K. Healthcare Beats U.S.
- CAPS LOCK: EMERGENCY OPERATION
Related:
- http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/12/nhs-waiting-list...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://protectournhs.wordpress.com
The U.K. Charity Commission is assessing whether a promotional campaign by Oxfam broke its rules by criticizing the British government's austerity program.
Oxfam is an international confederation of 17 organizations working in approximately 94 countries worldwide to find solutions to poverty and injustice around the world. Oxfam was originally founded in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, U.K. in 1942 as the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief by a group of Quakers, social activists, and Oxford academics; this is now Oxfam Great Britain, still based in Oxford. They also operate a number of "charity shops" in the U.K., similar to "thrift stores" in the U.S.
The aid charity is getting constituents to email government representatives (Members of Parliament/MP's) with a letter that highlights what it says is the "unacceptable" reliance on food banks by a growing number of people. The letter cites a number of reasons for food banks' prevalence including "low incomes, rising living costs, welfare cuts, and problems with the benefit sanctions system that stops vital welfare payments from going to people who are struggling to make ends meet."
The charity put out a tweet speaking of a "perfect storm" caused by "zero hours contracts, high prices, benefit cuts, unemployment and childcare costs." It is part of a wider campaign by the charity blaming welfare cuts for the increased use of food banks.
Conor Burns, the Conservative MP for Bournemouth West, has asked the Charity Commission to urgently investigate whether Oxfam's campaign breaches the organization's charitable status. In a letter to its chair William Shawcross, Mr. Burns said the campaign was "overtly political and aimed at the policies of the current government." Mr. Burns added, "I cannot see how using funds donated to charity to campaign politically can be in accord with Oxfam's charitable status."
A Charity Commission spokeswoman said, "From lobbying politicians to running online petitions, charities can engage in a range of activities to support their charity's aims. But charities must never be politically biased or support a politician."
Ben Phillips, Oxfam's campaigns and policy director, said it was a "resolutely non-party political organization." "We have a duty to draw attention to the hardship suffered by poor people we work with in the U.K.," he said.
Related:
- http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-27783331
- http://www.oxfam.org
- https://twitter.com/oxfamgb
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfam
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.magyarhirlap.hu/sites/default/files/field...
- https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bpc-oZ6IMAAQ-Ma.jpg
- http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100702150413/...
- http://humnbuzz.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/...
Many people are angry that a number of political parties are trying to convince everyone that austerity measures are necessary, that cuts to public services and the benefits system have to be made, and that the bedrooms of the poorest and most vulnerable should be taxed - all while governments are giving away billions to rich companies and their shareholders by agreeing that these companies and billionaires don't have to pay their taxes. That's the people's money!
This means real people are plunged into poverty. Any one of us can lose our jobs and be at the mercy of the benefits system. It's outrageous that people in the richest economies in the world are homeless and starving, and that lives are being put at risk just to funnel more money into the bulging pockets of the world's richest.
Estimates are that the avoided, evaded, and uncollected taxes amount to enough to wipe out the deficit. No cuts necessary.
Taking direct action is the only way to get attention and get our voices heard. But just because something is serious doesn't mean it can't be fun! If you're in Britain, you can join Grimsby UK Uncut at 3PM on June 14th at Freshney Place in Grimsby Town Centre. Find Grimsby UK Uncut on Facebook or check their website for updates. Or, you can join a number of local actions throughout the U.K. on June 14th.
This is not just about telling Vodafone and other companies to stop leeching the people's money, it's also about telling governments that they've got their priorities wrong.
Join the #VodaHome action on June 14th - tell Vodafone to pay their tax and tell the government to use that money to stop cuts to housing. Find your local action here, or organize one yourself (here's a step-by-step guide). Come on out and have some fun with us!
See Also:
- Who Wants To Evict A Millionaire?
- UK Uncut Starbuck's Event
- Archives
Related:
- http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/call-out-vodahome...
- http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/guest-blog-from-val...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/guest-blog-from-val...
Every year American taxpayers subsidize Walmart - the world's wealthiest corporation - to the tune of $7.8 BILLION! (€5.3 billion|£4.6 billion)
HUH? Walmart, America's largest private employer, raked in $17 billion (€12.5 billion|£10 billion) in profit last year. Its owners, the Walton family, have more wealth than the bottom 42% of Americans combined. But every year, Walmart's poverty wages and extensive tax dodging cost taxpayers $7.8 BILLION (€5.3 billion|£4.6 billion) in subsidies.
HOW? Despite being one of the most profitable corporations in the world, Walmart regularly takes advantage of $1.4 billion (€1 billion|£833.6 million) worth of tax breaks, free land, infrastructure assistance, and even outright grants from American state and local governments - all in a Herculean effort to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Even worse? Walmart's wages are so low that their employees - even those working full time - don't make enough to pay rent or feed their families, forcing them to rely on $6.2 billion (€4.6 billion|£3.7 billion) in public assistance programs. You read that right - a full time job at Walmart is a road to poverty, not out of it.
WHY? It doesn't have to be this way. Walmart has more than enough money to pay its fair share of taxes and pay its workers a living wage. Last year, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon "earned" a $26.5 million (€19.5 million|£15.8 million) pay package. That means he makes more money in one day than an average Walmart employee makes in an entire year. There is only one reason for Walmart to continue dodging taxes and cheating workers out of a fair check: pure, out-of-control greed.
Enough is enough! Walmart's billions of dollars in profit have literally been snatched from taxpayers' wallets. It's time for us to get reimbursed!
Related:
- http://other98.com/walmart-go-subsidize-yourself
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://other98.com/walmart-go-subsidize-yourself
Community Work Placements are six month forced unpaid work placements for unemployed people which require local council and charity participation.
In the time since the campaign launched a month ago, 350 volunteer sector organizations have signed the Keep Volunteering Voluntary agreement to not take part. The list includes British household names like Shelter, Oxfam, Crisis, Scope, and many others. These organizations point to the impact of benefit sanctions on food poverty and homelessness, and believe mandatory work undermines the value of freely given volunteering. Over 15 local councils have also pledged not to take part, many through signing Unite the Union's new pledge.
The widespread opposition to the scheme appears to be taking its toll, as an initial launch date of April 28 was replaced by "late May," and there are indications this date has again been postponed.
Volunteer sector opposition is likely to be the key factor in delaying a scheme which even during its pilot failed to find placements for 37% of participants. Others have speculated that the timetable has also been delayed because the government needed to wait until G4S was no longer barred from bidding before it could be awarded the lion's share of Community Work Placement contracts.
Andy Benson of National Coalition for Independent Action commented: "More evidence that this punitive, botched, and poorly thought out scheme is heading for the rubbish bin of history. Hundreds of voluntary groups have now said they will have nothing to do with it, and the number is rising by the day. The government should immediately call a halt to this program and save wasting £237 million [€293 million|$398 million] of taxpayers' money."
See Also:
- Welfare "Reform"
Related:
- http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/flagship-workfare-scheme...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/26780
A referendum on whether Scotland should be an independent country will take place on Thursday, September 18, 2014. Below, you'll see two articles about the subject. The first article is from the Guardian, and the second one is from the BBC. Check them out!
These two articles about the subject appeared on the websites for the Guardian and the BBC, respectively. I thought they were good, so I decided to put them in a post!
- http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/08/scottish...
- http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27731725
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/jun/08/scottish...
The "Euro Crisis" is over. Or is it? What European conservatives have learned from it is that the "crisis" can be turned into something else. Terms like "austerity" have become synonymous with terms like "pro-growth" and "pro-market." That requires a never ending crisis, which conservative politicians are happy to cook up, or face beheading by their wealthy overlords. It's what American conservatives do, and its purpose is obvious, but often covered by the draperies of conservative rhetoric.
At least Russia is more open about it. The flat tax "attracts rich people to Russia." Rich Americans, rich Europeans... it doesn't matter. But the more draped strategy the Americans and Europeans have to use to slide the lie by the citizens needs a crisis. So, "Abandon austerity and the crisis comes back!" is the new crisis.
The idea is to allow the wealthy few to take advantage of everyone else by destroying the government programs that have made countries stable, wealthy, and prosperous. The power to deny people education, healthcare, food, and shelter is being wielded to make them slaves. Step out of line, and you die. Literally. The new all-drone police force is a relatively cheap way to get out of past problems associated with human beings who get in the way. But like in the movie The Matrix, the poor slobs need a crisis so they'll stay quiet - at least outside of Russia...
Only the rich get educated. Only the rich get healthcare. Only the rich can speak about politics; the poor become starving and homeless if they so much as open their diseased, uneducated, slave mouths. I know tyranny when I see it, and I disagree with the article: Merkel and Cameron aren't playing with dynamite, they're playing with tyranny...
The State Seal and Flag of Virginia is shown above. The Latin part translates as: "Thus always to tyrants." The quote is attributed to Brutus upon his participation in the slaying of Julius Caesar. Because of the picture, some people translate it as: "Death to tyranny." It is controversial because that's a woman standing there, and her boob is showing...
Related:
- http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/merkel-likely-to-seek...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.npr.org/blogs/waitwait/2010/05/04/126500046/do-not...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_and_seal_of_Virginia
The basic idea of this study is that top-performing students from comprehensive schools tend to do better than top-performing students from independent schools once they enter a university, assuming the students attend a university.
If you're American, you could understand this to mean that top-performing students from public schools tend to do better than top-performing students from private schools once they start college, assuming they go to college. However, there are some other things you need to know if you choose to understand the study that way, which I'll get to.
If you're British, you might not know what a "comprehensive" or "independent" school is, because they go by at least 18 other names that are probably more familiar, especially if you're in England. I suppose you could say that top-performing students attending "non-selective state schools," many of which are community schools, tend to do better than top-performing students attending private schools once they start university, assuming they start university. But again, there are some other things you need to know if you choose to understand the study that way, which I'll get to.
The study also points out that these students may not have the opportunity to attend top universities/colleges (presumably because of cost or other factors, possibly including admissions bias). Until recently, the cost of attending many top U.K. universities was low for U.K. residents compared to the cost U.S. residents pay to attend many top U.S. universities or colleges. But in England, British students now pay more to attend a university than Americans pay to attend a university or college in the U.S. It's important that students entering the university system have every opportunity to succeed.
For many British students in England, they enter the university system after attending a "comprehensive school." A "comprehensive school" is another way of saying "non-selective state school," although the term "state school" also applies to state-funded schools that educate young children, while a "comprehensive school" educates mostly teenage students. About 93% of students in England attend "state schools." Approximately 61% of students in England who attend "state schools" attend a specific type of "non-selective state school" called a "community school." Community schools that educate teenage students are "comprehensive schools," but there are other types of "comprehensive schools" that educate teenagers. The chart at the end of this article helps clarify all "compulsory education" in England.
Compulsory education is a simple way to refer to "schools children attend" because of laws requiring children to attend school as long as they are a certain age. In the U.S., compulsory education is mostly handled through public schools. Students enrolled in public schools make up around 90% of the total U.S. student population. A "community school" in England is similar to a "public school" in the U.S., but the term "public school" means something different in the U.K.
An academy in Wythall, Worcestershire/Hollywood, Birmingham; England, U.K.
The study, commissioned by the U.K. Department of Education, concludes that students from comprehensives with equivalent GCSE and A-level grades outperformed their more expensively educated peers at a university/college. GCSE and A-levels are tests. The most similar comparison in the U.S. is SAT and other college-entry tests, along with tests given at the end of the last year of high school required for a diploma. Some U.K. students also take the SAT.
Claire Crawford of Warwick University and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the author of the report, said: "If you have in front of you a student from a state school and one from a private school with the same A-level grades, on average - and I should emphasize it is on average - it does appear that the student from the state school background or less effective school will go on to do better given the grades that they are entering with."
An independent school-educated student was 10% less likely to graduate from a university/college with high grades than a student educated at a comprehensive when they had the same A-level results and were studying the same subject at similar universities.
Crawford's research suggested that Oxford, Cambridge, and other universities "may wish to consider lowering their entry requirements for pupils from non-selective or low-value-added state schools." But she was careful not to propose any specific difference in grade requirements.
The research also found that comprehensive pupils with equivalent grades were less likely to drop out of a university/college, failing to complete their degrees.
It's important to note that despite the various categories and types of schools appearing in the chart below, state-run schools usually identify themselves as community schools, academies, "colleges," or grammar schools (in England, a "grammar school" is often thought of as a selective, state-funded secondary school, similar to a magnet school in the U.S.). The categories and types of schools in the chart below do at least appear, in various places, in British government documents. Of course, so does the term "comprehensive school." However, "comprehensive school" does not appear in the chart below, and neither does "college."
A "college" may be thought of as a school offering education that includes ages 16-18, though it is not yet clear how this will work as the age range for compulsory education moves from ages 5-16 to ages 5-18 in 2015. The term "college," of course, can also refer to universities as well as "departments" within universities, just like in the U.S. But unlike in the U.S., most people in England who are going to a university don't say "I'm going to college." They say, "I'm going to university."
The chart below helps explain compulsory education in England:
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| School Category | School Type | Funding | Attendance Cost | Admissions Selection (2) | Admissions Regulations | Curriculum | ||
| State Schools |
Community | Central Gov. & Local | Free | Non-selective | Central Gov. & Local | Central Gov. & Local | ||
| Grammar (3) | Central Gov. & Local | Free | Selective | Central Gov. & Local | Central Gov. & Local | |||
| Foundation | Central Gov., Local, & Charitable Trust (4) | Free | Selective or Non-selective | Central Gov. & School Administrators | Central Gov. & School Administrators | |||
| Voluntary-Controlled (Usually Religious) |
Central Gov. & Local | Free | Selective | Central Gov., Local, & School Administrators | Central Gov., Local, & School Administrators | |||
| Voluntary-Aided (Usually Religious) |
Central Gov., Local, & Private | Free | Selective | Central Gov. & School Administrators | Central Gov. & School Administrators | |||
| Academy (Free School, Sponsored Academy, & Converter Academy) |
Central Gov. & Charitable Trust (4) | Free | Selective or Non-selective | Central Gov. & School Administrators | Central Gov. & School Administrators | |||
| Independent Schools (5) |
Public (6) | Private | Tuition | Selective or Non-selective | Central Gov. & School Administrators (7) | Central Gov. & School Administrators (7) | ||
| Private | Private | Tuition | Selective or Non-selective | Central Gov. & School Administrators (7) | Central Gov. & School Administrators (7) |
- (1) Beginning in 2015, compulsory education in the U.K. will change to ages 5-18. It changed to ages 5-17 in 2014, and was formerly at ages 5-16. Whether or not a pupil can leave school at age 16 or 17 during the transition period depends on their date of birth. Some of the schools in this chart provide services from ages 3-18.
- (2) Selection based on sex (boys' schools vs. girls' schools) is not accounted for in this chart, but selection may include any or all of the following: talent, skill, religion, academic performance.
- (3) In England, "grammar school" is a historical term that for the most part appears to currently describe a type of state-funded secondary school. In the past, it has been used to describe a type of primary school. Some people in the U.S. use it to describe primary schools. A number of grammar schools in England have converted to private schools and may or may not retain the name for historical purposes.
- (4) A charitable trust is usually a corporation that receives most of its funding from the central government. It may run a facility but not directly employ the staff and faculty, or it may run a facility and directly employ the staff and faculty.
- (5) Most independent schools have charitable status, meaning that for purposes of taxation, they are treated the same as charities.
- (6) In the U.K., the term "public school" originated with the idea that a person's address or religion didn't matter. It is now used in the U.K. for historical purposes, and does not mean the same thing it does in the U.S. "Public schools" in the U.S. are closest to "community schools" in the U.K.
- (7) Independent schools are regulated differently by the government than state schools.
Related:
- http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/06/...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State-funded_schools...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_school...
- https://www.gov.uk/types-of-school/overview
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammar_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foundation_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_Controlled_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_aided_school
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_school...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_school...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_England
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-jennings/proportion...
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_education
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_undergraduate_degree...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-level
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://i3.walesonline.co.uk/incoming/article6082976.ece...
- http://i1.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/article6077586...
- http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/...
- http://www.woodrushhigh.worcs.sch.uk
- http://www.harrypotterparty.co.uk/wp-content/uploads...
One of the interesting things Snowden talks about in this interview is information from the intelligence community indicating that some members of the intelligence community may have a desire to torture and kill him...
Snowden also talked about the ineffectiveness of mass surveillance at stopping terrorists, and how the kind of data they gather can affect our lives. Instead of personal surveillance, profiling, and harassment, they should be focused more on who bought a gun. In other words, they should be focused more on who bought a gun than what Angela Merkel said to David Cameron, but they're not... Check out the vid!
What else can I say about this video? It's a great interview, and I wish more people had seen it. But, for some reason, not many people have. In fact, in Snowden's interview with Brian Williams, Williams states that NBC's broadcast is the "world's first good look" at Edward Snowden, but Snowden appeared in this 30 minute interview months ago. Even the NBC News website said that a "revelation" in Snowden's interview with Williams was that Edward Snowden "could sleep at night now," but it was revealed months earlier in this interview.
According to the description of this interview on Vimeo, it has repeatedly been removed from YouTube and Vimeo, and the person posting it on Vimeo reported multiple DDoS attacks on Vimeo. The video was posted on LiveLeak in January 2014, but it could have aired on German television earlier. The person posting it on LiveLeak reported that "German television" didn't want it seen.
See Also:
- Edward Snowden Interview With Brian Williams
- Merkel Rebukes U.S., U.K. Over Spying
- Reigning In Spies
- Snowden Meets With German Green Party
- NSA Hacked, Exposed, & Criticized
- Edward Snowden
Related:
- http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f93_1390833151
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=f93_1390833151
This is a collection of "Features & Announcements" posts from The 2014 NewsKing Blog. The posts are related to Net Neutrality. Please take the time to contact the FCC and tell them to regulate Internet Service Providers (ISP's) as common carriers!
CLICK HERE to tell the FCC to protect Net Neutrality!
Again, please contact the FCC and tell them to regulate Internet Service Providers (ISP's) as common carriers! CLICK HERE for an easy way to tell the FCC to protect Net Neutrality.
[CONTINUE TO POSTS]
Related:
- http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_fcc_nprm/?source=sti_front
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.freepress.net/outreach...
One of the many things Snowden talks about in this interview is a "blogger registration law" in Russia. It would be nice if Mr. Putin could indicate an interest in repealing the law, or indicate that he doesn't think it should be passed if it hasn't passed. I may need to look further into this one...
This is a great interview, and Snowden is awesome! In addition to talking about Russia, he talks about a number of surveillance issues that affect our lives. For example, the intelligence community's focus on personal surveillance, profiling, and harassment. They should be focused more on who bought a gun than what Angela Merkel said to David Cameron, but they're not... Check out the vid!
See Also:
- Merkel Rebukes U.S., U.K. Over Spying
- Reigning In Spies
- Snowden Meets With German Green Party
- NSA Hacked, Exposed, & Criticized
- Edward Snowden
Related:
- http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview...
You're hearing talk right now from the Republicans about the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") healthcare system not working. "It's broken." "It's a government bureaucracy." "It's inefficient." "It's not designed to provide care." "Privatize it." "Public-private partnership." And so on...
It's the same thing the Republicans always do to get rid of something that acts on behalf of people who have fallen through the cracks or are being taken advantage of by the wealthy and powerful. They don't spend enough on a program, wait for something to go wrong, then scream to get rid of the government's "failed entitlement program." But it's really just the Republicans own failure.
So... how does the VA healthcare system work? The department within the VA that handles healthcare is called the VA Department of Health Services, and it doesn't provide free healthcare to the military or to veterans. It was designed by our civilian government during WWII to provide free or reduced-cost care to disabled veterans (1). You can blame Republicans for the way it's set up, but you can also blame the military. Let's just say blame "the general." He doesn't want to pay for PTSD, either... You can sort of start to see how bad America's elite likes to take advantage of people. The general is no doubt a Republican, and he doesn't give a shit about anything but putting a new screen dome over his swimming pool... When you hear the general saying things like "people who haven't served don't understand the VA," you have to remember that the civilian government had to intervene in the general's plans after WWII and provide care for disabled veterans as opposed to letting them die like the general would have preferred. Basically, it's the America you're fighting for, right? The one that cares about veterans?
The military has their own healthcare system separate from the VA. Veterans who are 0% disabled have to pay to use the VA healthcare system if their income exceeds a certain threshold. At that price, the VA doesn't necessarily cost less than a private doctor.
That said, being "disabled" is given a percentage score (2). 10% disabled, 20% disabled, etc., up to 100% disabled. After 50%, the government pays for all healthcare expenses at the VA provided the disabled condition was a result of, or aggravated by, military service. Things like PTSD and "losing a limb" appear to qualify as above 50%. It also appears that if someone is above the income threshold, any other serious condition that pops up also needs to be the result of, or aggravated by, military service. Otherwise, the income threshold does not appear to matter above 50% unless the veteran qualifies for Medicaid, and of course income remains a factor below 50%. Private insurance may also be billed if a veteran has private insurance.
Once given a percentage, veterans are given a priority group number, 1-8. Disabled veterans above 50% are in group 1, regardless of income, unless they qualify for Medicaid. Group 2 is 30%-40%, regardless of income, unless qualified for Medicaid. Group 3 is 10%-20%, regardless of income, unless qualified for Medicaid. A disability rating of 0% may be used to indicate that a medical condition is connected to military service, but does not qualify as a disability. If a veteran has a 0% service-connected disability rating, and is below the income threshold but does not qualify for Medicaid, they are in group 5. Anyone who qualifies for Medicaid and is above 0% is also placed in group 5, as long as their income is below the threshold. If a veteran won an award, such as the Purple Heart, and is in group 5, they get nudged up to group 3. Awards, income, Medicaid, and trifling things all matter. You can almost see the general's influence on this...
The number a veteran gets may be related to "priority of care" when receiving healthcare from the VA. Groups 1,2,3, and 5 are easy to understand. Groups 4,6,7, and 8 are not. For example, being "catastrophically disabled" places someone in group 4, no matter what. It is hard to understand what the priority of care would be for group 4. Group 8 includes someone who is above the income threshold, not eligible for Medicaid, and who agrees to pay, regardless of % disabled. Group 6 includes the same person who does not agree to pay (a person at 0% disability). Anyone below the income threshold who agrees to pay anything, and is above 0% disabled, is in group 7.
Groups 6-8 may also be used to allow veterans to receive healthcare from the VA prior to a decision by a "review board." Terms like "compensable" and "non-compensable" are seen more frequently in the definitions of groups 6-8. Assignment to one of these groups may enable the VA to get someone "in the system" faster, but the lower priority number may cause excessive wait times if there are not enough medical personnel and resources at a given VA facility. One solution may be to simply increase the medical personnel and resources at VA facilities experiencing this problem. This is especially important as so many new veterans enter the system after the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What was the number of the person who died waiting for an appointment? Also, did he or she try the walk-in clinic in the afternoons? Or did they try the emergency room? Republicans love to say "anyone can get care at the emergency room regardless of ability to pay." (The hospital still bills you...) Of course, civilian hospitals in the U.S. have people die waiting in the emergency room all the time, and no one cares... It would be nice to get a few more fighting men and women to advocate for "free healthcare for all," but maybe they're brainwashed... That should qualify as a condition...
So, there's sort of a draft rundown of the VA healthcare system. Is something wrong? What really needs fixing here...? Just fucking with it for being a government service doesn't really make sense if you've read this. And what would you have them do with their limited budget? How are you going to fix that? Yesterday they said, "we spent more on the VA during the shutdown, so spending more doesn't work." Try spending enough to provide free care to all veterans and their families at whatever fucking facility can see that many people. Try spending more on America you wasteful fucks!
Oh shit... I said "families"... Uhh, for veterans, that's the CHAMP-VA system, and the way that works is...
See Also:
- Meet The General...
Notes:
- 1) The modern VA traces its roots to 1930 and WWI, however, it was changed significantly during WWII.
- 2) Not every detail of each priority number is covered in this post.
Related:
- http://www.va.gov
- http://www.va.gov/health
- http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/resources/priority_groups.asp
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://myvfw.org/va/post10574/files/2013/10/Dept-Vet-affairs...
- http://www.gilbaneco.com/uploadedImages/Home/Development...
- http://etkinlab.stanford.edu/images/VA_logo.gif
I'm aiming for outdoor festival-type events that I know to include music, art, food, and beer and/or wine; are free or cost very little; and are attended by a lot of people. That's summer in Hampton Roads to me... However, I've found some helpful lists that include all types of events - some large, some small - that appeal to a variety of interests, though I still tried to link to the big parties! In Hampton Roads, we specialize in summer fun, so chances are you'll find what you're looking for. Come enjoy yourself this summer! And if you can't make it, we'll keep the party going year 'round, so don't worry!
-------------------
Area-Wide Lists:
-------------------
- http://www.virginia.org/summerfestivals/#HR
(Doesn't include everything, but has some events left out by other lists...)
- http://hamptonroads.com/events
(Probably includes everything, but that's a lot...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun throughout Hampton Roads!
----------
Norfolk:
----------
- http://festevents.org/events/2014-season-events
(Covers all big events at Town Point Park, including Harborfest...)
- https://festevents.org/venues/oceanview-beach-park...
(Covers all big events at Oceanview Park...)
- http://www.downtownnorfolk.org/firstfridays
(First Fridays...)
- http://www.nowplayingdn.org/categories/index/14/135
(A list of entertainment events for Downtown Norfolk...)
- http://www.norfolk.gov/calendar.aspx
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Norfolk!
------------------
Virginia Beach:
------------------
- http://www.beachstreetusa.com
(Covers all Oceanfront events...)
- http://www.virginiabeach.com/attractions/festivals
(Covers many big events for much of Virginia Beach...)
- http://surfecsc.com
(ECSC Festival...)
- http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation...
(Covers all big Virginia Beach Parks events...)
- http://www.virginiabeach.com/calendar
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Virginia Beach!
------------------
Newport News:
------------------
- http://citycenteratoysterpoint.com/events
(Covers all events at City Center, including Fridays @ The Fountain...)
- http://www.marinersmuseum.org/thursdaysbythelake
(Thursdays By The Lake...)
- http://www.newport-news.org/things-to-do/events.php
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Newport News!
------------
Hampton:
------------
- http://www.downtownhampton.com/index.php?option...
(Hampton "Block Party" every Saturday... "Art Walk" included every other Saturday...)
- http://hampton.gov/index.aspx?NID=1193
(Covers all big events in Hampton, including Bay Days and the Blackbeard Festival...)
- http://hampton.gov/calendar.html
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Hampton!
---------------
Portsmouth:
---------------
- http://www.seawallartshow.org
(The Seawall Art Show is in August...)
- http://www.portsvaevents.com
(A list of various events... the Seawall Festival is in June...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Portsmouth!
----------------
Chesapeake:
----------------
- http://www.visitchesapeake.com/events/index.cfm...
(Friday Concert Series @ Towne Place...)
- http://www.visitchesapeake.com/things-to-do/events
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Chesapeake!
----------
Suffolk:
----------
- http://www.suffolkfest.org
(The Peanut Festival is in October...)
- http://www.suffolkva.us/parks/special-events
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Suffolk!
----------------
Williamsburg:
----------------
- http://www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/do/special-events
(A list of events for Colonial Williamsburg...)
- http://www.williamsburgweekends.com
(A list of various events...)
Be sure to check out the websites to get the latest events posted. They get updated all the time, so check frequently. You don't want to miss any of the summer fun in Williamsburg!
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.globalinheritance.org/wp-content...
- http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hf-ewTHmibY...
- http://www.marinersmuseum.org/sites...
- http://static.squarespace.com/static...
- http://s1.evcdn.com/images/edpborder500...
- http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files...
- http://media.hamptonroads.com/cache/files...
- http://ilikeitfrantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2014...
Please join me in congratulating the researchers involved in the BICEP (Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization) experiment! BICEP seeks to answer certain questions about "inflation," which is related to the "Big Bang Theory," and it looks like they've come up with some impressive results.
The "Big Bang Theory" helps answer questions about the early days of the universe. Some of these questions seem unanswerable, but these results, if confirmed, may help answer certain ones.
BICEP attempted to "see back" much farther into what the early universe was like. Researchers analyzed "leftovers" from less than one second after the Big Bang is thought to have, well, "banged!"
The leftovers can be thought of as "background radiation," which still exists throughout the universe. By analyzing the background radiation and using a little math to sort what we already know about it from what they observed, they were able to draw conclusions about the early universe.
Scientists around the world are pouring over the results, and in some cases, new and exciting questions have come up!
I think people should be encouraged by the research and excited about the results! Congratulations BICEP!
Related:
- http://arstechnica.com/science/2014/03/big-rumors...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://thumbs.media.smithsonianmag.com//filer/18/4d...
Consciousness is hard to understand. Philosophers have been writing about it for a long time. You could say it's your "mind's eye," or you could think about it in terms of a "self." You could also think of it as just "ideas." No matter how you think about it, the discussion usually involves a "free will."
We're fairly certain consciousness is related to something going on in the brain, but the brain needs something some philosophers have long considered "outside" in order to have things like a "free will," "ideas," a "self," or a "mind's eye." Otherwise, you end up with a paradox.
For philosophers, this is a discussion that's familiar. But for a lot of people, it's unfamiliar or misunderstood.
I'm not going to tack a lot of explanation onto the image below, except to say it is oversimplified. There's a lot more complicated stuff going on. Even my own philosophy is oversimplified to the point that I barely recognize it. But I created the image that way on purpose. I wanted something simple, although it will probably be debated. It's more like "cover art" than anything deeply philosophical, but it might help some people get a foothold on the topic. The topic is narrow... it's just an oversimplification of philosophical approaches to consciousness. It works best if you've at least glanced at neoNewtonian Philosophy.
It's also important to note that although stuff like God and the universe is mentioned in the image, it doesn't really reveal anything about religious or scientific topics, or even approach things like the "meaning of life" or "what happens when you die." If you don't see something in the image that you think belongs there, it might be there if you dive deeper into the topic...
See Also:
- neoNewtonian Philosophy
- The New Century of the Brain
- "Conscious Cognition": Just A Word Job?
Related:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descartes
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Penrose
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Chalmers
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://thebrasharian.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/dannyschwarz7.jpg
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Bluefin-big.jpg
- http://www.freegreatpicture.com/cat/photo-1609
- http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/files/2013/04/brain-990x622.png
- http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/P/X/P/D/E/cloud.svg
- http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/outreach/Edu/cobeall.jpg
Spider silk, which spiders use to spin their webs, appears poised for commercial entry. But what's so great about spider silk? There is a scene in the film Spider-Man 2 where Spider-Man prevents a train full of people from crashing by holding it back with about 10 sets of spider silk ropes each less than half an inch thick. It turns out the scene isn't just fantasy. "Spider-Man would have been able to stop that train," says Randy Lewis, a molecular biologist, materials scientist, and chemist who for 25 years has been striving to synthesize spider silk.
Spider silk is by weight five times stronger than steel and three times tougher than Kevlar. But until recently, biotech firms haven't been able to overcome technical challenges to manufacture it without using spiders. Unfortunately, spiders are territorial and eat each other, making spider farms impossible on a mass scale. Firms attempting to make spider silk synthetically have now copied relevant genes from spiders and inserted them into organisms such as silk worms.
Potential applications include cables and bulletproof vests. And spider silk's antimicrobial properties make it suitable for wound patches. Because the silk is not rejected by the human body, it can also be used to manufacture artificial tendons or to coat implants. It could potentially be a great heat management material as well.
In the past few months, the German firm AMSilk has begun selling spider silk protein to manufacturers of shampoos and cosmetics. And several other small firms are trying to commercialize their own versions of spider silk. Although the efforts aren't exactly producing cables that are stronger than steel yet, it's starting to look like spider silk protein can be made at a cost that makes it attractive for certain applications. Still unclear is whether spider silk can be produced cheaply and in high enough volume to make Spider-Man's superstrong cables a reality.
Related:
- http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i9/Spider-Silk-Poised-Commercial...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://freebiesdesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08...
- http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos...
The media routinely report on brain scans showing that specific brain locations light up when the brain does various things. These news stories may give the impression that current technology provides fundamental insights into how the brain works, but that impression is deceiving. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of the brain produce splotches of color illuminating active brain areas, but can only record large areas of the brain. fMRI does not track neuronal activity directly.
The brain probably exhibits emergent properties that are wholly unimaginable. The perception of a flower or the retrieval of a childhood memory may be discerned only by observing the activity of brain circuits that pass electrical signals along intricate chains of hundreds or thousands of neurons. Although neuroscientists have long been familiar with these challenges, they still lack the tools to record the activity of the individual circuits that underlie a perception or a memory or that give rise to complex behaviors and cognitive functions.
To advance meaningfully, the field of neuroscience needs a new set of technologies that will enable investigators to monitor and also alter the activity of thousands or even millions of neurons. Such breakthrough methods could, in principle, begin to bridge the gap between the firing of neurons and cognition: perception, emotion, decision making, and, ultimately, consciousness itself. Deciphering the exact patterns of brain activity that underlie thinking and behavior will also provide critical insights into disorders like schizophrenia, autism, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
The Obama administration announced last year that it was establishing a large-scale initiative: the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) initiative. The BRAIN initiative targets development of technologies to record signals from brain cells as well as entire areas of the brain. And the Human Brain Project, funded by the European Union, aims to develop a computer simulation of the entire brain. Ambitious neuroscience research projects have also been launched in China, Japan, and Israel. There is also the recently launched Human Connectome Project in the U.S., which aims to provide a "wiring diagram" of the brain, but that is only a starting place...
Neurophysiologists, working side-by-side with geneticists, physicists, and chemists, are trying to improve optical techniques using calcium imaging and voltage imaging. And using a technique called microendoscopy, neuroradiologists can insert a narrow tube into an artery, allowing microscopic light guides in the tube to do their work. Down the road, a field known as "synthetic biology" envisages the prospect of artificial cells acting as biological "sentinels" that patrol the human body and provide data to researchers.
To understand what is happening in the brain's vast web of neural circuitry, researchers need to do more than just snap photographs. They must switch selected groups of neurons on or off at will to test what the cells are doing. Ethical and legal issues will need to be dealt with, particularly if this research leads to ways of discerning or altering mental states - outcomes that would necessitate careful safeguards for patient consent and privacy.
Researchers will also need the ability to analyze large amounts of computer data, which will lay the groundwork for new theories about how the cacophony of nerve firings translates into perception, learning, and memory. This field is called "computational neuroscience."
Speaking of computers, this post was edited together from a recent article in Scientific American, and the authors referred to the brain as "nature's most complex machine." This will probably have readers wondering about artificial intelligence (AI). Bill Gates recently wrote about AI in an AMA post (Ask Me Anything post) on the social media website Reddit.com. He said he was encouraged by progress on AI over the last 3 years. In the past, he's said that AI was stuck, and that little progress had been made. I don't want the focus of this post to stray too far from detecting the brain's emergent properties, but for someone like me, I would start talking about AI by asking whether or not it's theoretically possible, and if so, what technologies would be needed. Anyway, I can write about it later if people are interested, but for now let's stay focused on detecting the brain's emergent properties!
See Also:
- "Conscious Cognition": Just A Word Job?
Related:
- http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/technologies...
- (This article is only a "preview," but may be fully posted at a later date.)
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/05/educational-neuroscience
- http://www.dynamicalneuroscience.ucsb.edu
- http://research.gsu.edu
[UPDATED: Mar. 12, 2014]
I just had a cup of coffee, and I started wondering what was involved in making coffee. What does the plant look like? How are the beans harvested and processed? So, I hit Google and started reading...
What I found surprised me. Coffee "beans" are really the seeds of the coffee fruit, called a "coffee cherry." Coffee cherries taste a little like watermelon. And, yes, the fruit itself contains caffeine. They're also beautiful, and grow in clusters like grapes. They're usually red or purplish when ripe.
The cherries are processed either by hand, by machines, or both. The bean is removed from the cherry and roasted. There are one or more layers of "skin" that may or may not be removed, and sometimes the beans are "polished" in a polishing machine.
Coffee plants can only be grown in tropical climates, and many of these tropical climates are also home to a mammal nicknamed the "civet cat." This particular type of civet cat isn't really a cat - it's got its own classification. And guess what? It likes coffee cherries! Since coffee cherries contain caffeine, we have an example of a "cat that likes coffee."
Some people keep civet cats as pets, but keep in mind that civet cats - at least the type that eat coffee cherries - are not really cats, so I wouldn't start serving your cat coffee...
There is one sad part to this otherwise cool post that I have to mention. Sometimes coffee manufacturers put civet cats in cages and feed them coffee cherries to let their digestive system do the processing, and then the beans are extracted from the civet cats' feces. It doesn't appear to be a widespread practice, and there are people and organizations trying to put a stop to it...
Anyway, I think its cool that there's another mammal that likes coffee (or at least coffee cherries)!
But there's more! Tea leaves and tea berries contain caffeine, and either the leaves or the berries are eaten by certain types of birds, deer, bears, chipmunks, mice, foxes, and in Virginia, squirrels!
Kola nuts (for which "cola" is named) contain caffeine, and are actually seeds inside of a kola fruit that also contains caffeine. The fruit, sometimes along with the seeds, is eaten by chimpanzees. Both the fruit and seeds are sometimes called kola nuts. The fruit has a "sweet 'n' sour" taste, and the seeds taste like a "bitter nut."
Cocoa "beans," which are used to make chocolate, are also seeds inside of a fruit. The cocoa fruit is called a cocoa pod. It tastes similar to a coconut or banana, but is not as sweet. Like coffee cherries, the fruit of the cocoa plant contains caffeine. The fruit is eaten by monkeys.
Caffeine is considered a "natural pesticide," killing certain insects that go for the plant.
Caffeine is not the only substance enjoyed by animals other than humans, though. Horses eat wild marijuana. Reindeer eat hallucinogenic mushrooms ("shrooms"). Goats and sheep eat some sort of hallucinogenic fungus. Jaguars eat a hallucinogenic vine. And capybaras, the world's largest rodents - about the size of large dogs - which can be kept as pets with a leash and collar and everything, eat coca leaves in the wild! (Coca leaves are from the coca plant, and are used to make cocaine.)
So, will animals have a beer? In the wild, certain birds and bats (bats aren't birds, they're mammals) eat fermented fruit and get drunk. But many other animals get drunk off alcohol manufactured by humans.
There was a bear in Washington State that figured out how to bite into beer cans and get drunk. He wouldn't stop stealing beer from campers, so they moved him to another park... And in India, there was a herd of elephants that broke into stores and/or cars and stole beer. There also was/is a bar in NYC that served/serves beer to dogs that come in with their owners. Basically, you could/can go to the bar and get drunk with your dog...
Just as civet cats aren't really cats, which means your cat doesn't need a cup of coffee, your dog isn't human, and doesn't need a beer. Some people do it and everything works out fine, but in the case of dogs, some are unable to walk when they drink alcohol, and some of them become violent. My intention is not to encourage anyone to in any way give their pets substances like caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana (some people give their pets marijuana - it isn't clear whether or not this may be okay in some cases). The rule of thumb on dogs is that they're similar to a 2-3 year old human (except they're not human), and you wouldn't give a 3-year-old caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, or marijuana (although particular strains of medical marijuana may be prescribed to treat certain conditions in young children).
Anyway, it is interesting to learn which animals partake in various substances. Hope everyone enjoyed the post!
Related:
- http://www.ncausa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=69
- http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2011/02/what-does-a...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civet
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caffeine
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaultheria_procumbens
- http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/401293
- http://foodblogga.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is...
- http://books.google.com/books?id=O6RTAgAAQBAJ&pg...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kola_nut
- http://www.cracked.com/article_17032_7-species-that...
- http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/wildlife...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara
- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
- http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Do_capybaras_eat_coca...
- http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education...
- http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2004...
- http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/a...
- http://www.livescience.com/5613-dogs-smart-2-year...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A8OkM3vbC6o/UMzU98MlUSI...
- http://www.seaislandcoffee.com/media//Civet_cat.jpg
- http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/06/21/article-2345934...
On January 30th, 2014, Free Press & SaveTheInternet.com led a coalition of organizations - including the ACLU, Avaaz, Common Cause, ColorOfChange, CREDO, DailyKos, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, the Harry Potter Alliance, MoveOn, RootsAction and the Sierra Club's SierraRise community - that delivered more than 1 million petitions to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to restore Net Neutrality.
Two days later, on February 1st, President Barack Obama affirmed his strong support for Net Neutrality and expressed confidence that the FCC will use its authority to protect the open Internet.
What happened on January 14, 2014 is that Verizon won a court case against the FCC that got rid of some of the FCC's power to enforce Net Neutrality. But it didn't get rid of all of it...
Net Neutrality, of course, just means that all websites on the Internet get equal treatment. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) like Verizon or Comcast can't slow down one website and speed up another. The whole problem stems from a lack of bandwidth, and rising demand for bandwidth-heavy services like Netflix and YouTube.
Verizon, Comcast, and other ISP's need to upgrade their networks. Who should pay for it? Well, what Verizon and some other ISP's think is that it should be Netflix and YouTube. The rising cost of the upgrade can be hidden from consumers by forcing Netflix to raise its prices, and by forcing Google to pay YouTubers less. Meanwhile, Verizon and other ISP's can raise their prices.
There are some disturbing things going on, too. Comcast wants to merge with TimeWarner Cable, creating a single company that would control high-speed Internet access in a much larger area. Verizon has been accused of deliberately slowing down certain Internet traffic. And AT&T has filed for a patent on a new technology that could purposely slow down video, multimedia, and file sharing unless consumers pay for faster access.
Of course, the Internet could be upgraded with Net Neutrality intact, but ISP's wouldn't make as much money out of the deal. Still profitable, but consumers could face data limits or "slow times," making the ISP's look bad.
So, the fight is definitely on! Stand up for Net Neutrality! Click HERE and check out SaveTheInternet.com!
See Also:
- Net Neutrality
Related:
- http://www.savetheinternet.com
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.savetheinternet.com/blog/2014/02/12/online-equity...
Over the past few years, I've noticed an emerging online discussion about mathematics instruction. Of course, I'm mostly going by some of the websites I follow, but I have to say I agree with what they're saying. With the larger discussion about education and "math scores" taking place globally, it seems like an appropriate time to participate in this discussion.
I'm certainly not a math teacher or professor, and I don't possess a degree in mathematics. But in addition to pulling what I can out of the online discussion, I can also pull from my experiences in math classes. There's one high school teacher in particular I'll be pulling a lot from, especially since that teacher's methods so closely coincide with what I've been hearing.
Deriving The Formula
If you think back to your math classes, you might remember that a new concept was taught, and then for the next few days or weeks it expanded (and harder problems were introduced). There were homework problems and quizzes and stuff like that. When it was time to move on, a new concept was introduced.
So, there's time to take a day to introduce the concept in more detail, instead of copying formulas off of the chalk board and diving right in. There's an opportunity to build interest in the material every time a new concept is introduced...
With the rush to meet standardized testing deadlines, this has become more difficult, but it is one of the most important things a math teacher can do. You might start off talking about what kind of real-world problems the concept being taught can help solve. In other words, what kinds of real-world problems can be solved?
You might also start to talk about why this kind of problem is important. But you also need to talk about why this or that formula works. That'll lead you into how "they" came up with the formula in the first place.
Answering how a formula is arrived at doesn't have to be a history lesson, but it can be. Basically, concepts a student is already familiar with are built upon. To keep things simple, let's talk about fractions and decimals. You might not remember exactly how fractions and decimals are related, but at least a little time was probably spent on it. First you learned fractions, then you got to see how 1/10 is the same as 0.10. The same basic method works in higher math (Algebra and beyond), too, but it is rarely taught that way. By the time you get to Algebra and beyond, it can take a whole class period to do this right...
Calculators & Computers
Mathematics is an important part of Computer Science, and the two tie together really well in a mathematics classroom, even if only a few of the students are thinking about pursuing Computer Science.
Nowadays, a modern graphing calculator is basically a computer. And there are times when it is appropriate to use a calculator in math classes, even on tests. Of course, there are times when it may not be appropriate. My favorite high school math teacher had a rule I've grown to appreciate: if you could program your graphing calculator to solve a problem, you could use it on the test. Your program would, of course, be checked to ensure you didn't merely leave yourself notes (and not actually write a program). Anyway, I don't think I would have been able to write any programs at all if the formulas weren't derived. That was the key to programming. Like most people, I don't remember every formula I learned, but I developed an appreciation for mathematics and programming that I otherwise wouldn't have, and it helped me understand real-world problems better.
That said, it's important to have the right calculator. That's because, for example, it's impossible for a teacher to explain how to switch between radians and degrees on every model of calculator. Even in college, I needed specific calculators for specific classes. Some teachers don't care which calculator you use as long as you know how to use it, but they don't teach you how to use it... It's important that this area gets some attention. It would be nice if these devices were issued to students just as textbooks are...
Test The Concepts
I've mentioned before that testing concepts, sometimes in the form of a sentence rather than a math problem, is important, and that seeing who can do long division the fastest doesn't really recognize learning the concept (in this example, the concept of long division). Teachers also sometimes put problems on tests that are much harder than those worked in class, and then time the test (time always runs out when the bell rings, whether the test is timed or not). This kind of testing doesn't really help students appreciate mathematics (it does the opposite), and it doesn't really test whether or not a student understands, say, long division...
Finding Time...
That's how I'll end this post. Even if all these ideas are put into practice, there's a time crunch. And it's worse now than ever before. How do you get a kid into AP Calculus by the time they graduate, and still have time to do all this? Often, mathematics instruction is about memorizing formulas that you forget in a year, and not much else. And you never look back. The aim is merely to do well on standardized tests, and impress the colleges. It's hard to find time for anything else, but with some effort, it can still be done...
See Also:
- STEM
- What Is Calculus?
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.wall321.com/thumbnails/detail/20120913/mathematics...
- http://wp.lps.org/ehsmath/files/2011/11/Ti83IMG_1140.jpg
- http://mathcs.albion.edu
- http://www.meadepotato.com/images/stories/grade-a.jpg
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112384/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ql_1
The Beatles were a British rock band that formed in Liverpool, England in 1960. The band members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The band became widely regarded as the greatest and most influential act of the rock era.
The Beatles changed the way people listened to popular music and experienced its role in their lives. From what began as "Beatlemania," the group's popularity grew into what was seen as an embodiment of sociocultural movements of the decade. As icons of the 1960's counterculture, they became a catalyst for bohemianism and activism in various social and political arenas, fueling movements such as women's liberation, gay liberation, and environmentalism. After the "more popular than Jesus" controversy in 1966, The Beatles began a concerted effort to spread a message of wisdom and higher consciousness.
In December 1963, The Beatles were introduced in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia by Gene Loving of radio station WGH-AM, and were accompanied by a full marketing campaign, including Beatles shirt giveaways. Within days, almost every other record played on the station was a Beatles record. It was not until the end of the first week of January 1964 that Beatles records were played in New York City (also accompanied by a major marketing campaign and with similar play frequency), and then the rest of the country, initiating their music's spread across U.S. radio.
February 9th, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' U.S. live television debut on the CBS network's The Ed Sullivan Show. In February 1964, The Beatles flew together across the Atlantic for the first time in hopes of cracking the USA - something no British band had yet managed to do. Their first live U.S. television performance on The Ed Sullivan Show was watched by approximately 73 million viewers in over 23 million households, or approximately 34 percent of the American population at the time. By the time the third and last of their first Ed Sullivan Show broadcasts aired - a little more than two weeks after their arrival - the band would be back home, having made broadcasting history, and their trip as a whole became a phenomenal and unprecedented success. The Beatles managed to accomplish what then had seemed impossible to do - making it in the USA.
The Beatles broke through the constraints of their time period to come up with something that was unique and original. They not only sparked the "British Invasion" of the U.S., they became a globally influential phenomenon as well.
On February 9th, 2014, CBS aired "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A GRAMMY Salute" as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. The video below contains highlights from the special along with The Beatles performing in the 1960's. Enjoy!
Related:
- http://www.thebeatles.com
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.sonyinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03...
- http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-night-that-changed-america
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUAvmgSi4T4
- http://vimeo.com/40759158
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScQ_Ng2j3Xk
The Opportunity rover on Mars is in the news again because it took two pictures of the same spot on Mars a number of days apart, and in the second picture, a rock appeared that wasn't there before. Maybe a little green man threw it at the rover. Or maybe it is a colony of microbes. NASA says Opportunity was making a slow, pivot-like turn in which some of its wheels dragged the ground, and probably flicked up a rock. They're going to examine the rock because the side that is facing up has probably not been exposed for billions of years.
At the present time, there is no agreed upon proof of a life form, alive or dead, on or from another planet. Certainly not intelligent life. The best approach for most people to take is to say, "it's possible, but it doesn't look like we know for sure yet." However, there have been some interesting findings over the years.
When the Opportunity rover snapped the photo below, some said the spherules look like some sort of life form. According to one source, "the image shows loose, BB-sized, hematite-rich spherules embedded in Martian rock like blueberries in a muffin, and released over time by erosion. The Mars Rover Opportunity found this cluster of them at its Eagle Crater landing site and analyzed their composition with its spectrometers. Hypotheses about their formation have contributed to the story of water on Mars."
The blue spherules are probably caused by erosion.
In 1996, a meteorite was discovered in Antarctica that scientists were reasonably sure came from Mars. When the meteorite was examined, what appeared to be fossilized microbial life was visible. At the time, similar life forms on Earth were not widely known about, but have since become more widely known. While contamination of the Martian meteorite during it's time on Earth was a question, comparing the appearance of the fossils to known life forms on Earth was more important. Scientists wanted to see evidence of cell division in the form of a fossil before they were convinced. Not to mention sometimes rocks just have funny crinkles. So, we still don't know for sure what this is...
Finally, back in 1976 NASA landed two twin craft on Mars to look for signs of life. Sound familiar? Well, these were "landers," not "rovers." But landers can do a lot. It was the 2008 Phoenix lander that confirmed once and for all that water exists on Mars. Two more "Phoenix class" landers are scheduled to go to Mars soon... Anyway, the 1976 landers were called Viking 1 and Viking 2. The Viking landers also had satellites, or "orbiters," helping with the mission. Long story short, it didn't seem like they found any signs of life, although some scientists insisted they did. But as data analysis improved over the decades, and as new data was added, the Viking data was re-examined. They may have found something after all back in 1976. It looks like current efforts are on track to find something eventually (if they already haven't)...
Scientists have to be very careful and meticulous about the search for alien life. That's why it took so many robots on Mars just to confirm water. In the next few years, the new Webb Space Telescope may be able to detect signs of life on planets outside of our solar system. Although it won't be powerful enough to actually see "little green men," it may be able to detect atmospheric gases thought to be related to forms of life, at least as we know life on Earth.
So, you've seen some of what I've found. Place your bets!
See Also:
- Mars Rover Fist Bump!
- Mars Could Have Supported Ancient Microbes
Related:
- http://www.space.com/24416-weird-jelly-doughnut-rock-on-mars...
- http://www.pddnet.com/news/2014/01/photos-day-mars
- http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/meteorites/life.html
- http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-04/new-analysis...
- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phx20100803.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_program
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/26/06/17/5792723/0/622x350.jpg
- http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/25/55/70/5692959/0/622x350.jpg
- http://www.lpi.usra.edu/lpi/meteorites/s9612609.gif
- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Sagan...
What does "conscious cognition" mean to many neuroscientists and deterministically oriented psychologists? To some of them, it's just an annoying, popular label they're willing to tolerate.
In 2009, Lesley Stahl did a report on 60 Minutes about a neuroscientist who used an MRI scanner hooked to a computer to "read people's minds." Human subjects were shown pictures of a window, a house, a door, etc. They were then asked to recall one of the pictures while being examined by the MRI scanner. The scanner then showed the results of what they recalled (window, house, or door, etc.). There were legal questions about use of the technology in, say, murder trials. And there were questions about the accuracy of people's memories over time. Then the neuroscientist launched into a speech about religion and the soul. Oh shit!
Now there's a new article in National Geographic about the brain. Using similar technology, they're trying to accurately "see what a mouse sees," and "model a mouse's brain." It's an exciting study, but you have to understand how some of these people think.
The weather is cold because of a cold front. There's a cold front because of some ocean current. The ocean current moved because a glacier broke off. The glacier broke off because of global climate change. Global climate change is caused by pollution. Humans cause pollution because of market forces. Market forces are caused by the availability of resources. Those resources are available because of the way the planet formed. The planet formed that way because of the big bang... At no point did a human causally intrude into the physical world and alter the chain of events started by the big bang. Everything going on inside you is caused by genetics and external forces. You're simply responding to the world, not changing the course of events. If you try to say anything other than that, you're speaking religious "mumbo-jumbo." Because of what Descartes said. Period. Go away. Goodbye.
What I'm trying to do is offer an explanation that not only accounts for flaws in their theories, but allows humans to causally intrude into the physical world. This is not only something required for societies to function, the flaws in their theories all point to this. No one is going to be able to understand or appreciate their work unless this issue is resolved. The cops will take the brain scanner, and the politicians will ignore the inventor's scientific "mumbo-jumbo." There won't be any ethical discussions about anything unless we can get through this...
But... we're making progress. I'll take the re-wording over the religious speech...
See Also:
- neoNewtonian Philosophy
Related:
- http://www.cbsnews.com/news/reading-my-mind (not a transcript, incomplete embedded video)
- http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/brain/zimmer-text (incomplete article)
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/brain/img/01-brain...
German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a strong rebuke to the United States and Britain on Wednesday over sweeping surveillance and spying activities reported by fugitive IT contractor Edward Snowden.
In a major speech to Germany's parliament ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday, Merkel said that Western powers sacrificing freedom in the quest for security were sending the wrong signal to "billions of people living in undemocratic states."
"Actions in which the ends justify the means, in which everything that is technically possible is done, not only violate trust, they sow distrust," she said. "The end result is not more security but less."
Merkel, whose own mobile phone was allegedly monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA), is planning to travel to Washington in the coming months for talks with President Barack Obama.
On Friday, she will hold talks with Kerry "on the transatlantic partnership and global political issues," her spokesman Steffen Seibert said.
Merkel stressed that "Germany could not wish for a better partner than the United States" but also conceded that the allies remain "far apart" on the "ethical question" of freedom versus security in state surveillance.
"Is it right that our closest partners such as the United States and Britain gain access to all imaginable data, saying this is for their own security and the security of their partners?" asked Merkel.
"Is it right to act this way because others in the world do the same?" she added before also touching on alleged British spying at international talks.
"Is it right if in the end this is not about averting terrorist threats but, for example, gaining an advantage over allies in negotiations, at G20 summits or UN sessions?
"Our answer can only be: No, this can't be right. Because it touches the very core of what cooperation between friendly and allied countries is about: trust."
Merkel said the reported revelations by Snowden, the fugitive former NSA contractor who remains in hiding in Moscow, had hit "with great force" half a year ago.
The chancellor, who grew up under communism in the former East Germany, reiterated that Berlin was now driving efforts for a European no-spying agreement and new rules to safeguard data privacy.
But she played down expectations for a similar deal with Washington, which has been reluctant to set a precedent fearing other countries would demand similar agreements.
"Many say the attempts for such an agreement are doomed to failure from the outset, an unrealistic endeavour. That may be," Merkel said. "Certainly the problem won't be solved by just one visit."
But she vowed she would continue to argue the case strongly.
"Billions of people living in undemocratic states today are looking very closely at how the democratic world responds to security threats - whether it acts with self-confidence and prudence, or whether it cuts off the branch that makes it so attractive in the eyes of billions: the freedom and dignity of the individual."
See Also:
- Reigning in Spies
- Snowden Meets with German Green Party
- NSA in Big Trouble: Hacked, Exposed & Criticized
- Edward Snowden
Related:
- http://www.thelocal.de/20140129/merkel-rebukes-us-and-uk...
- http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/29/angela-merkel...
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://img.deusm.com/informationweek/2013/11/1112788/NSA...
The Games in Sochi are going to be one of the most highly innovative Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games ever, expressing the spirit of modern Russia and bringing sustainable, positive change for the whole country.
Russia is looking forward to embracing change and making things better, and the Olympic Games are seen as a catalyst for positive change in Russian cities, as well as an inspiration for everyone. The Olympics are sure to give Russians - along with the rest of the world - a more positive way of looking at things.
The modern Olympic Games were conceived by visionaries who raised the bar. They believed that sport engenders trust and cooperation between cultures and nations. Sochi 2014 is striving to make Russia's first Winter Games an embodiment of peaceful, productive dialogue between peoples.
Join me in supporting the Olympics and supporting all of the athletes who have worked so hard to get there! Sochi 2014 is sure to be exciting!
Related:
- http://www.sochi2014.com/en
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.sochi2014.com/en
This is my Super Bowl television advertisement. It is one minute long, and as you can see, it has a shirtless guy in a "cowboy hat" in it. You'll have to watch the video to see what else is in it (I don't want to spoil it...), but I hope you like it! To watch the vid, just click on it! Go ahead, give it a try and imagine this is a "real" Super Bowl television advertisement. (Of course, this isn't a "real" television advertisement, but it could be... It certainly isn't going to air during the Super Bowl because I don't want to spend that kind of cash on it, but I think it could air and that people would talk about it. It would be funny to see what the morning talk shows would say about it...)
New findings from rock samples collected and examined by NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity have confirmed an ancient wet environment that was milder and older than the acidic and oxidizing conditions told by rocks the rover examined previously. The search was guided by a mineral-mapping instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which did not arrive at Mars until 2006, long after Opportunity's mission was expected to end.
Opportunity landed on Mars on January 24th, 2004, and has just celebrated its 10th anniversary on Mars.
Opportunity's new discovery helps confirm recent findings by NASA's newest rover, Curiosity. An analysis of a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes. The rock is made up of a fine-grained mudstone containing clay minerals, sulfate minerals, and other chemicals.
This ancient wet environment, unlike some others on Mars, was not harshly oxidizing, acidic, or extremely salty. This is an important development because the "saltiness" of earlier samples (I think from the Phoenix lander, which proved once and for all that there is water on Mars) led some to theorize that the water on Mars may have been too "salty" to support life earlier in the planet's history. Scientists were surprised to find a mixture of oxidized, less-oxidized, and even non-oxidized chemicals, providing an energy gradient of the sort many microbes on Earth exploit to live.
The Curiosity mission has evolved from initially seeking to understand the habitability of ancient Mars to understanding more about martian organic matter. This parallels the previous decade, in which the Opportunity mission turned the corner from a mission dedicated to detecting evidence of water to one devoted to understanding how to search for watery environments that may also have been habitable. Together, the rovers have helped scientists detect watery environments that may have once supported life.
Curiosity can now aid our understanding of how organic compounds are preserved in rocks, which, in turn, could provide guidance to narrow down where and how to find materials that could preserve fossils as well.
 |
See Also:
- Mars Could Have Supported Ancient Microbes
Related:
- http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/mer/mer-news-20140123/index.html
- http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/mission/science/results
- http://www.sciencemag.org/content/343/6169/386.full...
- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
[UPDATED: Part I of this post has been edited from the original 2009 version.]
[UPDATED: Part III of this post was updated on Mar. 12, 2014]
Part I
So I want to talk about animals. Topics range from relationships with animals, such as keeping animals as pets, to eating animals and using animals in scientific research. But I want to start by saying that although I eat fast food hamburgers several times a week, as well as other fast food, I have thought about becoming a vegetarian. Still, I could tell you about my favorite fast food restaurants...
That said, let's start with goats. The film The Men Who Stare at Goats came out in 2009. And I think goats have human-looking faces. Plus, people keep goats as pets. They can even be potty trained, but they have trouble holding their poops because they have 4-chamber stomachs, similar to cows. Still, they make great outdoor pets, and they're great with kids.
If you rule out eating goats, you'll also have to rule out eating pigs. Pigs are smarter than dogs, and they're kept as house pets. Of course, most people (myself included) enjoy pork, but there are some issues starting to surface...
According to Kurt Cobain of the band Nirvana, "it's okay to eat fish, 'cause they don't have any feelings..." If I were to stop eating meat, I would still want to eat fish and seafood, because they don't seem at all like goats or pigs. I'd also eat eggs and dairy. Poultry could also be an option for me, but new research suggests it may not be.
Fish and seafood can still be problematic, though, depending on various factors. For example, overfishing of pollock hurts sea lions.
Catfish can be grown on farms, but they farm pigs, too. Cows and pigs, in particular, are treated very badly on many farms, and if you ever saw how they were treated, you would probably only want "organic" or "free range" meat (the term "free range" has no official definition). That's the kind of meat high-end restaurants serve to U.S. Senators.
Cow, pig, and chicken "farms" are also famous for diseases like swine flu, bird flu, and E. coli, as well as various infections. Things have gotten so bad that in the U.S., they now have to use pesticides on most of the animals and inject or spray them with antibiotics. But both people and animals are still getting sick. (They're injecting people now, too...) They also inject or feed many of the animals hormones and steroids to produce more meat, but the meat doesn't taste as good and can also make people sick. (Not to mention how bad it is for the animals...)
Speaking of injections, a certain percentage of U.S. dairy cows that produce milk are injected with or fed hormones that make the cows produce extreme amounts of milk. They also inject or spray these cows with antibiotics because of problems associated with the hormones, as well as for other reasons. These practices harm the cows and cause problems with the milk. The thing is, there was never a shortage of milk in the U.S. A number of dairy cows started receiving BGH around the same time as the "got milk" ad campaign began. After discovering the problems, a number of Americans who cared about the human relationship with cows stopped drinking milk, identifying themselves as vegetarians or vegans. A Fox News affiliate in Tampa, Florida attempted to keep information about the problems quiet, ultimately firing two reporters. Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe banned the practice.
Humans have had a special relationship with dairy cows for a long time. I think it would be a shame to end that relationship, although there are still problems that remain. If you've ever milked a friendly cow on a small farm or are just a fan of dairy, organic milk is now available from farms that treat cows humanely and don't inject or spray them with anything. (The organic milk tastes a lot better, too.)
Did you know that milk and orange juice can be stored on an unrefrigerated store shelf for months or years, just like apple juice? It just has to be packaged differently (I can't remember whether it's an airtight, vacuum-packed, or airless container, though it does appear as though certain pasteurization technologies may also be involved). Americans buy it refrigerated because of the way grocery stores evolved. I don't know why I wanted to include that bit of info...
Anyway, I've been thinking about animal issues for a long time, and one solution to many of the issues surrounding the eating of animals that I've supported has been "in vitro meat." That's where they "grow a steak" in a special facility without ever killing a cow. In 2013, they'd managed to grow an entire hamburger. It was cooked by a master chef and tasted by some food critics, and while not that different from a regular burger, it contained no fat. PETA supports this idea, and more and more NewsKingers may be in favor of in vitro meat...
I also support of the use of animals in scientific research. We wouldn't know anything about stem cells, for example, without animal testing. Of course, I certainly don't support unnecessary testing or inhumane treatment of animals used in testing...
I don't support cloning animals for human consumption, though. It's "stupid science." It causes more problems than it solves. There is no economic, philosophical, or scientific reason for doing it. Some of the arguments being made remind me of debates about genetically engineered crops. It's like, economists, philosophers, and scientists are busy arguing about Agri-Darwin-Galileo, but the point that's getting lost is about nature. History has handed humanity some bad experiences. While we want to expand knowledge, we can't go forward with an axe to grind. Of course, corporate marketing may be responsible for injecting the debate with a lot of nonsense. I should probably do a new post about cloning and genetically modified organisms (by the way, I oppose genetically modifying crops, and oppose cloning or genetically modifying animals for human consumption), but fortunately agribusiness has resisted cloning or genetically modifying animals for human consumption.
Let's move on. Everyone loves animals, so it's time to talk about some of the soy- and vegetable-based meat and dairy products available.
In addition to burgers, there are chicken nuggets, tacos, and even lasagna made from soy and vegetables. There are so many products available, I can't even begin to list them all, but most grocery stores carry them now. There are also dairy-style products such as soy milk and cheese made without animal products. All of these foods are very delicious, and I think more people should try them!
Still, most people continue eat meat because they like the taste and because it is widely available and inexpensive. America's appetite for meat has some of its roots in the Great Depression. Soldiers were showing up for duty with no meat on their bones, and school children looked even worse. In other words, America was literally starving to death when a lot of this started...
During the late twentieth century, America was able to produce and distribute inexpensive hamburgers and, along with other foods in the American diet, they are often associated with the rise in obesity in America. In fact, roughly 1 in 3 Americans are now struggling with issues related to obesity. And industrialized meat production has turned into a post-war monster with its own problems... (With their 4-chamber stomachs, industrial cows emit gas in amounts so great that they are considered a huge contributor to global climate change, while cattle farms and hog farms leak raw animal sewage into human drinking water at least once per year.)
In the 21st century, talking about animals and vegetarianism is more challenging than ever. Take Bill O'Reilly, for example. He went on Fox News television and shouted, "I'd rather die than not eat steak!" I wonder if he could be talked into "in vitro sirloin?"
Part II
A number of things have changed since I originally wrote Part I of this post back in 2009... Hardee's/Carl's Jr., Burger King, and a number of other fast food or burger restaurants have introduced turkey burgers. U.S. chicken can now be shipped to China for uninspected processing. Bacon - one time an expensive delicacy - has seen an increase in popularity. The dairy industry has tried to stop the use of the word "milk" in soy milk products. Bill Clinton has become a vegetarian. And understanding vegetarian diets has become something people are at least more curious about.
Shortly after publishing Part I of this post in 2009, another development came to my attention in a 2010 article I read about conscious cognition in humans, other mammals, and birds. It seemed to be related to my original statement that, if I adopted a vegetarian diet, I would still consume fish, seafood, and poultry. I didn't go into much detail about why I made the statement, but I said that these food categories seemed different from beef or pork (I said "goats or pigs," but same idea). Well, I worded it that way because consciousness in humans - if you accept that humans are conscious - is thought to be related to the presence of a prefrontal cortex in the human brain. Humans are the only animals thought to be conscious, but humans are mammals, and all mammals have a prefrontal cortex. Mammals include humans, dogs, cats, goats, cows, pigs, rabbits, elephants, horses, lions, tigers, bears, etc...
In 2013, I shared another article I read that included ideas about "defining consciousness" and "degrees of consciousness." The idea of human consciousness is now more accepted in the scientific community.
When ideas about consciousness are combined with ideas about conscious cognition in humans, other mammals, and birds, it is a source of curiosity for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. While this has nothing to do with why some people adopt a vegetarian diet, and while I'm not going to suggest that eating animals is wrong, I think most people find it interesting.
The most interesting part of the article about conscious cognition in humans, other mammals, and birds was that it spent a lot of time on birds and cognition (the article was called "Who You Callin' 'Bird Brain?'"). Birds are not mammals, and don't have a prefrontal cortex. But the article suggested that at least in some birds, other parts of the brain made up for the lack of a prefrontal cortex, and these birds appear able to pass the same tests given to mammals. Other studies have confirmed this idea. Little else is known at this point, but if this information weighs on your decision about whether or not to include poultry in your vegetarian diet, it may be interesting to you.
Some people just like fruits, vegetables, and other foods that easily fit with a vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diet. Sometimes these folks identify as vegetarians, and sometimes they don't. When asked about their favorite food, some people answer "corn," "tomatoes," "apples," etc. Many vegetarian or semi-vegetarian foods even have "fans."
Part III
Part III is about vegetarian diets and proper nutrition. There are different types of vegetarians, and vegetarian diets must be planned accordingly. The table below shows the different types of vegetarians along with the associated food categories for each type. After reviewing the table, review the information below it to help plan a vegetarian diet that suits your needs to ensure you get adequate nutrition. The dietary information that follows the table was compiled from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
| Types of Vegetarians & Associated Food Categories | ||||||||
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| Vegetarian Type | Plants & Fungi | Fish & Seafood | Dairy | Eggs | Poultry | Meat from Mammals | Reptiles & Amphibians | Insects |
| Vegetarians | ||||||||
| Vegan | ✓ | * | ||||||
| Lacto-vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | * | |||||
| Ovo-vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | * | |||||
| Lacto-ovovegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | * | ||||
| Semi-Vegetarians | ||||||||
| Pollotarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | ||||
| Pescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓‡ | * | ||||
| Pollo-pescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |||
| Lacto-pollotarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |||
| Ovo-pollotarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |||
| Lacto-ovopollotarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | ||
| Lacto-pescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |||
| Ovo-pescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |||
| Lacto-ovopescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | ||
| Lacto-pollopescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | ||
| Ovo-pollopescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | ||
| Lacto-ovo-pollopescetarian | ✓ | ✓† | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓‡ | * | |
| Flexitarian | ✓ | ✓†‡ | ✓‡ | ✓‡ | ✓‡ | ✓‡ | ✓‡ | ✓‡ |
| *
There are no available names for any type of vegetarian who eats insects,
but some do. It appears to vary with individual opinion. † Some pescetarians who eat most seafood excluding fish (clams, oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimp, prawns, lobster, crab, etc.) may not eat freshwater or saltwater fish (catfish, salmon, whitefish, pollock, tilapia, mahi mahi, cod, tuna, etc.), and vice-versa. ‡ Flexitarian appeared to be the only recognized term for a semi-vegetarian who eats fish, seafood, reptiles, and amphibians, but not meat from mammals. Some people think that this diet is close to a pescetarian diet, while others think it is close to a pollotarian diet. Flexitarians may also view certain food categories, such as meat from mammals, as occasional indulgences. This is controversial, and some do not consider that approach a type of vegetarianism. |
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A well-planned vegetarian diet can give you good nutrition. A vegetarian diet often helps you have better health. Eating a vegeterian diet can help you reduce your chance of obesity, reduce your risk of heart disease, lower your blood pressure, and lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Compared to non-vegetarians, vegetarians usually eat fewer calories from fat (especially saturated fat), fewer overall calories, and more fiber, potassium, and vitamin C.
Anyone following a vegetarian diet needs to make sure to get enough important nutrients. This is because it may be hard to get all the calories and nutrients needed for growth and development and to maintain good health. Careful planning may be needed for certain groups of people such as young children and teens, pregnant or breast-feeding women, older adults, and people with cancer, more severe lung problems, and other illnesses.
Vegetarian diets are usually high in fiber. High-fiber diets may lack calories, which can lead to growth and development problems in infants and children, poor growth of a baby while still in a mother's womb, and weight-loss in those who are ill or older.
If needed, take supplements if your diet lacks certain vitamins and minerals. Vegetarian diets often lack certain vitamins and nutrients. You may want to pay attention to the following:
- Vitamin B12: Sources include eggs, milk products, and foods that have B12 added to them (fortified).
- Vitamin D: This vitamin is found in fatty fish, egg yolks, and foods that are fortified with vitamin D, such as soymilk and cereals.
- Zinc: Sources of this mineral include beans and foods fortified with zinc, such as milk and cereals.
- Iron: This mineral is found in beans, green vegetables, and foods fortified with iron such as cereals. Eating foods that are high in vitamin C at the same meal as iron-rich foods increase iron absorption. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.
- Calcium: Sources of this mineral include milk, seeds, beans, nuts, green vegetables, and foods fortified with calcium such as fruit juices. Calcium-fortified soymilk provides calcium in amounts similar to milk. It is usually low in fat and does not contain cholesterol.
- Protein: Sources of protein include fish, eggs, beans, soy products, nuts and nut butters. If you eat fish, eggs, and dairy, getting enough protein should be easy. Even if you do not, proteins from plants can still provide a healthy diet. Soy protein, such as soy nuts, tofu, veggie burgers, chicken substitute, and soy cheese are good sources of protein, along with legumes and beans, such as navy beans, split peas, and chickpeas. Nuts, peanut butter and other nut butters, and almond milk are also good protein sources; so are seeds and whole grains. Vegetarian diets that include some dairy products and eggs are nutritionally sound.
You may want to work with a dietitian to ensure that your nutrients are adequate. When following a vegetarian diet, be sure to eat different kinds of foods, including vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dairy and eggs if your diet includes these. Limit foods that are high in sugar, salt (sodium), and fat. Do not make up for a missing nutrient by overeating another. For example, do not eat a lot of high-fat cheese to replace meat. Instead, choose protein sources that are low in fat, such as beans.
Learn to read the Nutrition Facts Label on food packages. The label tells you the nutrition contents of the foodproduct.
The Ingredient Label is usually located near the Nutrition Facts Label. Ingredients are required to be listed in order of greatest amount to least amount. Watch for hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, interesterified, or fractionated oils; palm kernel oil; high fructose corn syrup (HFCS); and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Sometimes MSG is disguised as "hydrolyzed protein," such as "hydrolyzed corn protein," "hydrolyzed soy protein," etc. If you are a vegetarian, be aware that casein, whey, and gelatin are considered animal ingredients (casein and whey are dairy, gelatin can be made from mammal by-products).
See Also:
- Ex-Military Thugs Now Enforce Genetic Patents
- Factory Farms Make People Sick
Related - Part I:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_testing
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goat
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goats_(film)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Windsor_(goat)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nirvana_(band)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seafood
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poultry
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-vegetarian
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_lions
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catfish
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intensive_pig_farming
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factory_farming
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_range
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_flu
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H5N1
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._coli
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infection
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pesticide
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormones
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steroid
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milk
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_somatotropin
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Got_milk
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganism
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_milk
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_meat
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PETA
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meat_analogue
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetables
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soy_milk
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese_analogue
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Depression
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_pattern_diet
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_the_United_States
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatulence#Environmental_impact
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video) - Part I:
- Artwork carried over from the original 2009 post was not sourced.
- http://limabeanlover.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/garden-cove...
- http://strullersuppe.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/img_8579.jpg
Related - Part II:
- http://discovermagazine.com/2010/mar/01-who-you-callin-bird-brain
- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/lisa-randalls-guide...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neocortex
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16263260
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consciousness
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video) - Part II:
- http://funkadelphia.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/mammals2.jpg
- http://s.imwx.com/dru/2013/11/0383726a-968e-4ebc-835f...
- http://nodogaboutit.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/j0435910.jpg
- http://images.wisegeek.com/dog-and-cat-staring-at-eachother.jpg
- http://insectforum.no-ip.org/gods/non-cgi/usravatars...
- http://www.marinecatering.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/fruit...
- http://a.abcnews.com/images/Health/gty_grilled_vegetables...
Related - Part III:
- http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002465.htm
- http://www.choosemyplate.gov/healthy-eating-tips/tips...
- http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads...
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-vegetarianism
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video) - Part III:
- http://www.chinesemedicineliving.com/blog/wp-content...
- http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2011/HEALTH/03/22/cereal...
- http://stat.ks.kidsklik.com/statics/files/2013/11...
- http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/toolkit...
- http://www.attunefoods.com/blog/wp-content/uploads...
You guys know I've been reading about the net neutrality decision, right? Well, I'm going to explain it to you in a way that you'll only see on NewsKing...
Net neutrality, of course, just means that all websites on the Internet get equal treatment. An Internet Service Provider (ISP) like Verizon or Comcast can't slow down one website and speed up another. The whole problem stems from a lack of bandwidth, and rising demand for bandwidth-heavy services like Netflix and YouTube.
What happened January 14, 2014 is that Verizon won a court case against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that got rid of some of the FCC's power to enforce net neutrality. But it didn't get rid of all of it...
The new problem is that without net neutrality, the FCC has to handle things on a case-by-case basis. Without a law, it comes down to people, lobbies, lawsuits, and stuff like that. And without a law, people have conjured up images of the Internet's possible future. What could ISP's cook up with a lawless Internet? These are fair warnings. In other words, we already see people reacting...
Verizon, Comcast, and other ISP's need to upgrade their networks. Who should pay for it? Well, what Verizon and some other ISP's think is that it should be Netflix and YouTube. The rising cost of the upgrade can be hidden from consumers by forcing Netflix to raise its prices, and by forcing Google to pay YouTubers less. Meanwhile, Verizon and other ISP's can raise their prices slightly, and consumers won't notice. This is the most profitable way to upgrade the Internet.
Of course, the Internet could be upgraded with net neutrality intact, but ISP's wouldn't make as much money out of the deal. Still profitable, but consumers could face data limits or "slow times," making the ISP's look bad.
The part about the "little guy" on the Internet getting lost in an Internet slow lane is an important warning, but this is unlikely to play out. Right now, by "little guy," Verizon and other ISP's mean Netflix and YouTube. Any little guys that make it that big will be forced to pay the big guys if they want to become not-so-little. This stifles innovation, but may be more profitable for established companies like Netflix and YouTube.
It is also unlikely that Americans will see a "bundled Internet" that forces people to use a particular search engine or only allows access to big sites like Netflix and YouTube. But this, too, is an important warning. Basically, the idea is that low-income consumers will be offered cheap Internet access, but not be allowed access to the whole Internet. It is unlikely because these consumers are already used to being able to access the whole Internet. Try taking away their porn, gun, gambling, and alien abduction sites... Consumers will never go for it, although that doesn't mean big companies won't try it. Let me put it another way... Did you need a porn app, or did Chrome mobile work out for you? They already tried this...
Finally, the FCC could turn wicked and try to reshape the Internet. In other words, the government could try to take away the porn, gun, gambling, and alien abduction sites. That could happen, but it is also unlikely. Under this scenario, people would have to pay substantially more to access the whole Internet. I doubt this is something companies like Verizon and Comcast want...
Without a law in place, the whole thing is in your hands. This is what has most people concerned, and I think rightly so.
The FCC may try to work something out to keep net neutrality intact. We'll see how it plays out...
See Also:
- http://www.savetheinternet.com
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://onlinetechguru.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11...
If you live somewhere where it doesn't get super-cold that often, your house probably isn't built for it, and you make it through year-after-year only to be surprised when something goes wrong. This is what I've learned:
- Leave indoor faucets dripping. This can help keep the pipes from freezing and bursting. Get a "cozy" for outside spigots and do not drip them. For the inside faucets, leave both the hot and cold water turned on, so that the faucet drips as shown.
All of these products may not be needed. More information about these products appears below.
- Make sure any exhaust vents that vent through the side of the house close properly. These are little metal or plastic things you see on the side of your house that vent things like bathroom fans, clothes driers, and range hoods. What can happen is that the cold air gets in the exhaust ducts, and adjacent interior pipes freeze and burst. The vents usually have flaps or louvers outside and you need to make sure they close when the exhaust fans are turned off.
The bottom left one is louvered, while the bottom right one has a hinged flap.
- If you have a crawlspace under your house, make sure the vents are closed. These are metal, plastic, or wooden vents. They are usually left open, but you can close them in extremely cold weather. Make sure to open them again when the weather warms up. (Not all of them are closable...)
There are other styles; some closable, some not...
- Some people have "heat tape" on their pipes and don't know it. It's sort of like an electric blanket for your pipes. You'll see a plug somewhere and you just have to plug it in. If you have had problems with pipes freezing and bursting, and insulation hasn't solved it, consider heat tape.
In the photo below, a galvanized steel pipe is wrapped in heat tape. An electrical plug, left dangling when not in use, extends down to the bottom right. This is how you "plug in" the heat tape. Often, there is a nearby electrical outlet, or outdoor extension cords are used. A switched outlet dedicated to the heat tape with an indoor switch would be ideal. Heat tape is not usually required on drain pipes, only incoming water pipes. If you're not sure which is which, consult a plumber...
- While there may not be time to do this now, insulate your pipes if they are not already insulated... Foam insulation surrounds the copper pipe shown below. Insulation is not usually required on drain pipes, only incoming water pipes. If you're not sure which is which, consult a plumber...
- Products like electric blankets and space heaters may be needed to supplement your home's heating system. If the power goes out, camping out in front of the fireplace can work for some people, but not everyone has one. Kerosene heaters will work, but they're not for everyone. If worse comes to worse, get a hotel room or go to a shelter and stay warm!
The controller is visible on top of the folded blanket.
Artwork (may include photos, images, audio, and/or video):
- http://blog2.rainrich.com/bid/120499/How-to-Prevent-Water-Pipes...
- http://redneckexpress.blogspot.com/2010/11/building-heated...
- http://kitchenexhaust.net/page/146
- http://www.deflecto.com/advp/products/pc/Kitchen-Wall-Cap...
- http://basc.pnnl.gov/resource-guides/bathroom-and-kitchen...
- http://www.lowes.com/cd_Replace+a+Foundation+Vent...
- http://www.diyadvice.com/diy/plumbing/pipe/thaw-pipes
- http://www.plumbnation.co.uk/site/climaflex-pipe-insulation...
- http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72245.asp
- http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-751320-Ceramic-Heater-Control...
Every new year, I like to start The NewsKing Blog off by wishing everyone a happy new year! While I'm not always on time (with so many time zones, it's impossible for me to wish everyone a happy new year right at midnight...) I usually come pretty close to January 1st. It's a great holiday, and I love celebrating on new year's eve. So, let's make this year a great one!
Happy New Year!
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