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Sudip Aryal's Friends
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O. G. S. Crawford
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“In the 1920s O G S Crawford invented aerial archaeology, one of many services this eccentric Marxist misanthrope performed for the study of antiquity.”
- Jonathan Meades: Link
 Bloody Old Britain: O G S Crawford and the Archaeology of Modern Life
By Kitty Hauser
Granta Books, 286pp
Amazon: Link
“Future archaeologists will perhaps excavate the ruined factories of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the radiation effects of Atom bombs have died away.”
- O. G. S. Crawford, from Archaeology in the Field (1953)
O. G. S. Crawford @ Wikipedia: Link.
~ Karl Jones
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© karl_g_jones for Babel, 03:38 PM. |
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| November 29, 2009 | 7:11 AM |
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10. Ten. Dieci. X.
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Rome: It’s beautiful and it’s not. Kinda like everything else in life.
“La prossima fermata è Roma Termini.”
I moved to Italy to live at the end of September last year. I lived in Brescia (a medium-sized city in Northern Italy) until March 1, when I moved to Siena.
(I am once again back in Brescia, but that’s a story I’m going to save for another day.)
I picked up some vocabulary during those first five months in Italy, but it wasn’t until I started attending an Italian class for immigrants in Siena that I really started learning the language.
Now, finally!, I understand much of what is being said either to me or around me. The language no longer sounds foreign or like pretty sounds flowing forth from people’s mouths. Although I’m more motivated to learn the language–because it finally seems like an achievable goal to converse fluently–the glossy veneer of the nonsensical musical sounds has dulled. I don’t know, there’s something about understanding when somebody complains about the weather (or conversely, the ease in which I can complain about it) that makes any language sound less romantic.
Shiny glossy veneers are so overrated. Don’t you think? I mean, a veneer is just a thin expensive sheet of wood (or metal) with layers upon layers of unusually toxic clear varnish. If it wasn’t for the common cheap material beneath (like pine or regular mild steel), the veneer would have nothing to attach itself to.
And I’ve always preferred the look of a dull, used or aged finish anyway…and now that I’ve exhausted my analogy I’m finished with this post.
But one more thing before I go to bed on this hot summer night: it is nice to know that you can simply listen to the conductor to know when your next stop is and not have the nervous wondering of whether you’ve missed it or have yet to arrive.
Arrivederci a dopo.
~Janelle Renée
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© Janelle_Renee for Babel, 02:46 PM. |
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| November 29, 2008 | 7:11 AM |
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MY DREAM AND VISION
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Natural Touch is a Non Governmental Organisation based in Calabar the Eastern part of Nigeria.The inspiration come from a point of observation of handicapped people and Children roaming the streets of some citites in Nigeria mostly in Calabar begging for alms.
Most of them at the end of the day retired to uncompleted buildings to pass the night,It was a very gory site when a reported case of ritual dehumanising killing of two of such people in a street close to my residence.These two were killed and some part of them remove for rituals activities or some other things not quite known to us.
So touched by such inhuman treament to people because of their inability to defend themselves or provide proper accomodation for themselves,and even a source of livelihood was traumatic,hence,my decision to get the NGO (NATURAL TOUCH) started,with the aim to provide food and shelter for the hanicapped.Make sure there is a future for them and security of life for them.
Upon our inception,we had limited our intention to mostly the young ones and average aged.Although we could not provide accomodation for them but we provide the basic needs which is food for them atleast once a day.
It is our aim to increase the feeding arrangement to twice a day and also build a home for them.It is our aim to accomodate at least 2000-5000 handicapped people of difiers ages in the home,and Animals too.
With support from other Organisations/Individauls that are touched just as we are.We will establish a school or a handicraft centre for them to study and become independent of their own in future.
Suffice to say here that most of them roam the street with torn cloths and look unkept,We also provide clothing where necessary and affordable to them.
Based on our inability to sustain the financial burden,we are looking forward to Groups or Individuals with similar passion as we have towards uplifting the living standard of these hadicapped and also thinking of ensuring their future.
We are planning of building a home for them in Calabar to accomodate the handicapped and also recruit personnels to take care of their cooking and tranining.
We look forward to support from passionate groups and individuals.
Thanks,
Dennis
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| November 29, 2008 | 7:11 AM |
| November 29, 2008 | 7:11 AM |
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EL PRESIDENTE LULA Y EL ESCRITOR CARLOS FUENTES, PREMIOS INTERNACIONALES DON QUIJOTE DE LA MANCHA
About this category: Culture & Identity
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El certamen consta de dos premios: Premio Internacional Don Quijote de la Mancha a la mejor labor institucional y Premio Internacional Don Quijote de la Mancha a la más destacada trayectoria individual. La finalidad del galardón es otorgar reconocimiento a la obra de los candidatos que mejor hayan contribuido a la difusión y al conocimiento de la cultura y de la lengua española. La gala de entrega tendrá lugar en otoño en Toledo.
El Premio Internacional Don Quijote de la Mancha, concedido por el Gobierno de Castilla-La Mancha y la Fundación Santillana, ha correspondido, en su primera edición, al presidente de Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, en la categoría de mejor labor institucional, y al escritor mejicano Carlos Fuentes, en la categoría de la más destacada trayectoria individual.
El presidente de Castilla-La Mancha, José María Barreda, acompañado por el presidente de la Fundación Santillana, Emiliano Martínez, ha sido el encargado de dar a conocer los nombres de los ganadores de la primera edición de este premio que tiene como finalidad otorgar reconocimiento institucional a la obra de los candidatos de cualquier nacionalidad que mejor hayan contribuido a la difusión y al conocimiento de la cultura y de la lengua española.
Fallo del jurado
En la categoría de mejor labor institucional el premio ha sido para Lula porque el jurado ha considerado que con la Ley del Español, la Presidencia de Brasil ha impulsado una iniciativa educativa de gran trascendencia social, cultural y política. El respaldo institucional al estudio del español en la escuela secundaria y bachillerato permitirá que más de nueve millones de alumnos conozcan nuestra lengua y la utilicen como instrumento de desarrollo cultural y profesional.
La decisión del presidente Lula implica un reto enorme para el sistema educativo de Brasil pues implica la incorporación de 29.000 profesores y un desarrollo específico de los métodos y manuales de enseñanza de la lengua. La medida ampliará los horizontes de la cooperación, la comunicación y el intercambio cultural de Brasil con los países hispanoamericanos de su entorno.
En la categoría de la más destacada trayectoria individual, el escritor mexicano Carlos Fuentes ha sido premiado por su labor como impulsor del patrimonio colectivo de la lengua y de la cultura española.
El jurado considera a Carlos Fuentes uno de los intelectuales más notables del ámbito cultural y lingüístico hispanoamericano. Su empeño en impulsar el Territorio La Mancha como espacio cultural común a los hispanohablantes ha ido tomando fuerza en los países en que su obra tiene una influencia decisiva. Como pensador, ensayista y novelista Carlos Fuentes ha contribuido a consolidar la conciencia del español como lengua internacional de conocimiento.
En este contexto, el presidente Barreda explicó que este premio tiene vocación de continuidad y se espera que se convierta en una referencia para todo el ‘Territorio de La Mancha’, así como “para todos los que hablamos castellano a uno y otro lado de la mar océano”, apuntó, a la vez que destacó que será un gran estímulo para la difusión del español.
Por otra parte, el presidente de la Fundación Santillana, Emiliano Martínez, destacó la sensibilidad del presidente Barreda con las cuestiones culturales y la proyección global de las mismas.
En este sentido dijo que la tarea de expansión de la lengua española es hoy una tarea acometida por diversos países e instituciones por lo que aplaudió la iniciativa del presidente Barreda con la creación de estos premios, que calificó de valiosos y eminentes. “Esperamos que la entrega de estos premios tengan la proyección que se merecen”, puntualizó.
Bases del concurso
El certamen consta de dos premios: Premio Internacional Don Quijote de la Mancha a la mejor labor institucional y Premio Internacional Don Quijote de la Mancha a la más destacada trayectoria individual. En el primer caso podrán optar a galardón las instituciones académicas, gubernamentales o culturales, públicas o privadas, cuyo desempeño contribuye a la divulgación y presencia de la lengua y de la cultura española y en el segundo los autores, investigadores, profesores o editores cuya obra y trayectoria profesional haya enriquecido el patrimonio colectivo de la lengua y de la cultura española.
El premio se enmarca dentro del proyecto cultural Territorio La Mancha, que tiene como objetivo destacar la importancia internacional de la lengua española. La dotación para cada modalidad será de 25.000 euros y una escultura de Manolo Valdés.
El jurado del concurso está formado por el presidente de Castilla-La Mancha, José María Barreda; la consejera de Cultura, Mª Soledad Herrero; Juan Luis Cebrián, consejero delegado Grupo Prisa; Emiliano Martínez, presidente Grupo Santillana; Basilio Baltasar, director Relaciones Institucionales Grupo Prisa; Víctor García de la Concha, director Real Academia Española y Gregorio Marañón y Bertrán de Lis, presidente de la Real Fundación de Toledo.
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Canadian Health report to get ‘low-profile’ release
About this event: 4th World Youth Congress - Quebec City 2008
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Globe And Mail Article
BILL CURRY
July 23, 2008
OTTAWA — The Conservative government is planning a quiet release for a major Health Canada report that warns of the harmful impact of climate change on the health of Canadians, particularly the young, elderly and aboriginals.
Should the department follow through with its communications plan, it will be the second time this year that the government has taken such an approach with a major climate-change study.
Those involved with the report were informed in a July 3 conference call that the government is preparing a “low-profile release” on the Health Canada website, rather than launching the report with major media fanfare, sources told The Globe and Mail.
The Health Canada report is called Human Health in a Changing Climate: A Canadian Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacity. It is more than 500 pages long and has been ready for several months.
McMaster University chemistry professor Brian McCarry, who chairs a group called Clean Air Hamilton, said the dangers of global warming and fossil fuels on human health deserve far more attention, not less.
“Certainly, the stance taken by this government has been to keep climate change in a low-profile format,” he said. “Unfortunately, Canada and the U.S. are almost singular in the world now as being not quite climate-change deniers, but they’re not putting much emphasis on [it.]“
Canadian scientists and climate experts worked for months on a similar major study last year for Natural Resources Canada called From Impacts to Adaptation, which warned of the specific impacts of climate change for each region of the country.
The release of that report was delayed for several months before being posted in a hard-to-find section of the Natural Resources Canada website. As a result, the report received little media coverage, frustrating many of the public servants, scientists and academics who worked on it.
Similar frustration is now beginning to surface over the government’s handling of the Health Canada study.
Health Minister Tony Clement’s press secretary, Laryssa Waler, issued a brief response yesterday to questions about the department’s communications plan. “Health Canada is preparing the report for release. Once it’s ready, it will be released,” she said in an e-mail.
Peter Berry, Health Canada’s senior policy analyst for climate change and health, who was on the July 3 conference call discussing the communications plan for releasing the report, offered an outline of the study during a February presentation to Clean Air Hamilton.
At that time, Dr. Berry said the report would be released in the spring. It is expected to warn of the health dangers of longer and hotter heat waves on the elderly and children, while saying that changing vegetation will affect the traditional ways of northern aboriginals.
Dr. Berry’s presentation included a quotation about how society will only act to avoid the effects of climate change if it is aware of the possible negative consequences.
Environmentalist Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation, who has been critical of what he describes as the Conservative government’s “weak” climate-change policies, offered an exasperated sigh yesterday when told of the government’s plans.
“If this government cared about climate change,” he said, “then it would highlight these reports and use them as a way of engaging Canadians on the importance of addressing the issue.”
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Canadian Health report to get ‘low-profile’ release
Related to country: Canada
About this category: Environment & Urbanization
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Globe And Mail Article
BILL CURRY
July 23, 2008
OTTAWA — The Conservative government is planning a quiet release for a major Health Canada report that warns of the harmful impact of climate change on the health of Canadians, particularly the young, elderly and aboriginals.
Should the department follow through with its communications plan, it will be the second time this year that the government has taken such an approach with a major climate-change study.
Those involved with the report were informed in a July 3 conference call that the government is preparing a “low-profile release” on the Health Canada website, rather than launching the report with major media fanfare, sources told The Globe and Mail.
The Health Canada report is called Human Health in a Changing Climate: A Canadian Assessment of Vulnerabilities and Adaptive Capacity. It is more than 500 pages long and has been ready for several months.
McMaster University chemistry professor Brian McCarry, who chairs a group called Clean Air Hamilton, said the dangers of global warming and fossil fuels on human health deserve far more attention, not less.
“Certainly, the stance taken by this government has been to keep climate change in a low-profile format,” he said. “Unfortunately, Canada and the U.S. are almost singular in the world now as being not quite climate-change deniers, but they’re not putting much emphasis on [it.]“
Canadian scientists and climate experts worked for months on a similar major study last year for Natural Resources Canada called From Impacts to Adaptation, which warned of the specific impacts of climate change for each region of the country.
The release of that report was delayed for several months before being posted in a hard-to-find section of the Natural Resources Canada website. As a result, the report received little media coverage, frustrating many of the public servants, scientists and academics who worked on it.
Similar frustration is now beginning to surface over the government’s handling of the Health Canada study.
Health Minister Tony Clement’s press secretary, Laryssa Waler, issued a brief response yesterday to questions about the department’s communications plan. “Health Canada is preparing the report for release. Once it’s ready, it will be released,” she said in an e-mail.
Peter Berry, Health Canada’s senior policy analyst for climate change and health, who was on the July 3 conference call discussing the communications plan for releasing the report, offered an outline of the study during a February presentation to Clean Air Hamilton.
At that time, Dr. Berry said the report would be released in the spring. It is expected to warn of the health dangers of longer and hotter heat waves on the elderly and children, while saying that changing vegetation will affect the traditional ways of northern aboriginals.
Dr. Berry’s presentation included a quotation about how society will only act to avoid the effects of climate change if it is aware of the possible negative consequences.
Environmentalist Dale Marshall of the David Suzuki Foundation, who has been critical of what he describes as the Conservative government’s “weak” climate-change policies, offered an exasperated sigh yesterday when told of the government’s plans.
“If this government cared about climate change,” he said, “then it would highlight these reports and use them as a way of engaging Canadians on the importance of addressing the issue.”
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Gas Guzzling Gaffe solutions?
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Well first off I want to say that I’m no expert. Just an average gal who cares, like I said before. But I’m learning, opening and grasping lots of new ideas. Then sharing with you all this great stuff I learnt and liked. So hope you don’t mind this blog being a sharing rather than a teaching.
That said, seems I’m suppose to continue with the transport subject again. ‘Cause all this week I’ve surfed and heard about more and more. So I stand corrected. Looks like there are lots of great minds worldwide thinking on this subject.
Here’s one great change making incentive… "Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize (PAXP), is a $10 million contest that wants to eliminate our oil addiction and stop global warming." Jay Leno did the opening to the event announcement that Progressive Insurance is the name sponsor of Automotive X PRIZE. Jay also took delivery of the the 1st production model Tesla Roadster July 2008 and he talks about it at Jay’s garage.
Watched Neil Young interviewed by Charlie Rose on Thursday 7-17. Seems Neil is working with Jonathan Goodwin, owner of H-Line conversions to turn his hotrod 1959 Lincoln Continental into a 100mpg green machine and more. And he plans to enter it in the PAXP. ‘Live to ride, ride my green machine!’ Neil’s dream is ridin’ green.
Heard a talk by Al Gore on Thursday 7-17 that was so motivating. About changing the way electricity is made with solar, wind, water, etc. instead of coal or fossil fuel. Gave us a goal of 10 years to make the change. Changes the scope, potential and feasibility of electric cars and their long term environmental impact. Timely… you’re blazing the trail Al… go, go, go!
Went to APS’ website, our local electric company. They offer Green Choice Rates, electricity made from wind, water and solar power. Maybe your electric company offers green rates too?
On 7-23 came across articles about a Minnesota dairy farmer who is using methane from his cows to power his car, farm and 70 homes in the area. And a California dairy farmer too. Dang! Phoot phoouel of the phoouture is a reality!
So here’s more cool green innovative transport ideas.
A few more electric cars…
Phoenix Motorcars, Inc. - electric SUV & SUT
 Phoenix Motorcars, Inc, Ontario, CA is releasing 2 new all electric vehicles a truck and an SUV. 100% electric. 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds. Top Speed 95mph. Range 130 miles. Charge time with on-Board Charger 5 to 6 hours. With off-Board High-Power Charger under 10 min. to 95% SOC. Base price: $45,000. Release date mid 2008. Later in 2008 will have extended-range battery option for 250 miles.
Aptera Motors - Super-MPG Electric Typ-1e 
Aptera Motors, Carlsbad, CA initially sales of the Typ-1e will be limited to California residents only. 100% electric vehicle, 120 mile range. Top speed 85 mph. 0-60 in under 10 seconds. 3 wheels, 2 seats. Base price: $30,000 or less. Hybrid also available 600 mile range. Read more about it at Popular Mechanics.
Here’s a webpage that lists 30 electric cars available now.
And folks across the globe are getting on board too. Here’s one example: US-Based Company Helps Denmark and Israel Get Behind the Wheel of Electric Cars the idea is called Project Better Place introduction expected 2010.
Air powered car???
Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) - Air Car concept
 First air powered car will be produced in the U.S. by Zero Pollution Motors New Paltz, NY. ZMP is the U.S. licensee for MDI France who developed the Air Car. The CityCat (model shown) hybrid can travel 1,000 miles on a fill up. Top speed 96 mph. Zero to low C02 emissions. Seats six. Base price $17,800. Introduction to U.S. expected in late 2009 or early 2010. Read more about it at Popular Mechanics.
Engineair Pty Ltd, - rotary air engine
Angelo Di Pietro is the designer of a unique rotary piston engine that is powered by compressed air, called the Engineair. His company Engineair Pty Ltd is located in Brooklyn, Australia. He says it emits zero pollution, uses no petrol or batteries, takes minutes to recharge and has many applications like powering a car, boat, motor cycle and more.
Here’s a video about air powered cars talks about Air Car by MDI and Di Pietro’s unique engineair.
Water as a fuel continued???
HHO a new clean fuel alternative?
Water (H2O) turned into HHO gas through low voltage, something scientists once thought impossible is safe, cost-effective, and eco-friendly according to Denny Klein owner of Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc. Clearwater, Florida. Aquygen™ HTA’s name for HHO is a combustible gas made through their Aquygen generator. The internet is buzzing everywhere with talk of HHO, other inventors and applications like Hydrogen on Demand as a fuel for vehicles. Amazing concept!
So many cool and interesting new technologies. So much energy. So much happening. It’s just plain excitin’. Goin’ green and savin’ the planet. Yahoo!
~Bonnee Klein Gilligan
© Bonnee Klein Gilligan for Babel, 2008. |
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Lionfish threatens Bahamas' coral reef system
Related to country: Bahamas
About this category: Environment & Urbanization
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Lionfish Concerns Linger -
By Kendea Jones:
Nassau, Bahamas:
Department of Fisheries officials are still looking for ways to deplete the population of lionfish in Bahamian waters, a species that threatens the well being of the coral reefs.
Lionfish are native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, but also live in coral regions of the Eastern Atlantic and the Caribbean. They are active predators with quick reflexes that feed on smaller fish.
Unfortunately, according to officials some of the fish that these predators are eating happen to be food for the Bahamian grouper.
"We know that lionfish are fish that have a very, very healthy appetite and they feed basically on smaller fish," explained Director of Fisheries Michael Braynen.
"What this would mean is that if lionfish are prospering, they must be eating other fish," he said. "There had been some evidence presented that they were preying upon fish that we use."
"The threat that the lionfish pose is basically to the coral reef system. It doesn’t matter if they eat baby grouper or not if they eat the other fish that baby groupers and other groupers eat."
According to officials, the fish was spotted in The Bahamas late last year and has since been flourishing.
Mr. Braynen said since then the government has been working to study and learn the ways of the fish in order to deplete its population.
"We are trying to get as much information as we can about the distribution of lionfish in The Bahamas. We are working closely with the College of the Bahamas in regards to that. We have a national plan to the lionfish invasion that involves educating the public," he said.
"We are putting out information about the potential dangers that lionfish pose to the public health in terms of people getting stuck with their fins and that sort of the thing and what the first aid response should be. We are also encouraging scientific research in The Bahamas and we are considering how we could reduce the population of lionfish."
The government has also launched a Bahamas lionfish survey, where the public can report a sighting of lionfish.
However, Mr. Braynen said officials are also trying to introduce lionfish as a possible food source.
"One thing is that lionfish could be used as food and is in fact being used as a food source but we are hoping that if fishermen are able to derive some economic benefits from the lionfish then that will be something that can be used to cut down their numbers because they are multiplying quickly," he said.
The director said lionfish as food is not something that is widely accepted.
"Everyone has not accepted the concept of lionfish being used as food but there are some people that have tried them," he said. "There are places where you can actually buy lionfish."
Lionfish are dangerous with venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines which can cause nausea and vomiting, redness and swelling around the wound, as well as headaches and seizures.
If wounded by a lionfish spine the treatment is heat therapy. Medical treatment should also be sought.
July 23, 2008
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Russian Museums: First Looting, Next Privatization?
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“Thousands of items have apparently gone missing from state-run museums and galleries, the authorities recently announced. Is it time to consider privatizing some of Russia’s great museums?”
 Vladimir Kozlov of Moscow News writes:
The grave situation with Russia’s state-run museums and their storage facilities went public two years ago, when a large theft from the country’s main museum, the Hermitage, was discovered. Not much was done about that particular case, and the blame was put on underpaid low-level employees who allegedly lifted some lower-shelf items just to make ends meet.
However, as it turned out, the Hermitage case triggered a large-scale inspection of all of the country’s state-run museums. The preliminary results were recently announced and came as a shock to anybody who cares about Russian culture: some 50,000 items belonging to the country’s museums are unaccounted for.
Kozlov proposes to address the problem of looting by selling off lesser provincial museums. After some analysis of the issues, he concludes:
… It seems like there is no way out besides putting smaller museums and galleries on sale, while stipulating the new owner’s rights and obligation as clearly as possible. When presented with the two options — losing a museum’s collection under the present situation, or possibly preserving at least part of it for the future by transferring it into private hands — why not go for the latter option?
“Should State Museums be Put on the Block?”
by Vladimir Kozlov @ Moscow News — 24/07/2008 — Link.
See also:
“Survey shows Russian museums missing 50,000 items”
by David Nowak @ Associated Press — Jul 17, 2008 — Link.
The State Hermitage Museum — Saint Petersburg, Russia
~ Karl Jones
© karl_g_jones for Babel, 2008. |
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Miracle Days CIM 145
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This blog concerning the series of 366 paintings known as “Miracle Days” by David Arthur-Simons continues today with painting # 145
Wednesday July 23, 2008
CIM 145 Beyond this world there is a world I want. / It is impossible to see two worlds
Acrylic on canvas
20 x 16ins
***
Notes
To PLAY or to PRAY
Vita Activa or Vita Contemplativa (Active life or contemplative life)
To go OUT or to go IN
Extrovert vs Intovert
That is always the question.
The Ego which identifies itself with the body wants always to play. That is why those who are very identified with their bodies want always to go OUT, to PLAY to indulge in the body.
The SUPER EGO identifies itself with the higher realms and wants always to sink into contemplation or rise above the distractions of the body. It wants to pray. Prayer is not necessarily just a repetition of words. It is a turning inwards. Comtemplating a shopping list is a form of prayer. Prayer is a search for clarity, it generally involves turning inwards.
Looming beneath the surface, beneath the comparatively docile struggle between Ego and Super Ego, is the all consuming, all powerful, swirling, seemingly endless Id. The Id manifests itself in manic, compulsive addictive behaviour like drinking, sex, overeating, gambling etc. It knows no limit and has no morals, and can not distinguish the real from the illusion. (Shadow).
To PLAY or to PRAY or to drown in amorphous compulsion?
Extrovert vs Introvert vs Shadow
(That is the question modern man and woman must face).
While I am caught up in the stuggle between these three I can not see another world. I can only peer sheepishly from beneath the struggle in the hope of somehow seeing or finding another world. (The face that is concealed in the clouds at the very center of the painting behind the two standing figures in the mid ground).
The spirit (that which flies, that which is imagination, that which is completely free) seeks to show me a new world by uniting all these forces into one co-operative force. (These are the four figures on the corners stretching to reach one another).
Note that spirit is not RELIGION. Spirit knows no creed and has no morals. It is completely free of all pre-determinants and expectations. It is the force and energy behind all things even though it seems not to be involved at all.
Spirit is often confused with RELIGION because there is the presumption that an aspiration to higher things is spiritual. But this is not necessarily so. The spirit knows no high or and no low (it is not dualistic) so it doesn’t aspire to anything at all. It is both high and low at the same time, both sacred and profane. RELIGIOUS aspirational attitude is a product of and a part of the Super-Ego which seeks moral order in all things. The Super-Ego is often mistaken for the Spirit especially by those people who would use RELIGION to order the world. Yet the world, the universe is neither in order nor needs to be ordered.
The Spirit is not ID either; it is not that insatiable desire to own, experience, taste, be or consume. It is not that rebellious, wreckless desire to plough through the universe. That is the Id unbridled. Many rebels consider themselves driven by a spirit when in fact it is the Id that is driving them.
Spirit then is that which seeks to unite, create balance and individuate. And while these elements may exist in the RELIGIOUS and the Rebelious if they are not balanced by the ability to embrace all aspects of life (exactly as they are without changing them), both sacred and profane, they are certain not to be of the Spirit but more likely to be of the Super Ego or the Id.
The four figures in the corners of the painting represent Spirit, that which is free and seeks to unite in order to transcend all identification, something that can only happen once one identifies onself with all things, sacred and profane, good and bad, Id, Ego and Super-Ego, and sees them all as One. There can be no perception of Spirit as long as there is a perception of duality. That is to say that whilever I experience that my beliefs and ideas are right and correct and others’ beliefs and ideas are wrong I can not experience Spirit, I can only experience Super Ego but think of it as Spirit.
David Arthur-Simons
© David Arthur-Simons for Babel, 2008. |
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Health Indicator Trendlines
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From XKCD via the Bacon Salt Blog: 
OK, so I like the idea of telling a story with a graph. And I like bacon. And I thought this was funny. And I am trying to justify putting this picture on a community indicators blog. Any help here?
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Audio Conference: Performance Reporting
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From the July 23, 2008 • AGA Education News: Everything You Wanted To Know About Performance Reporting, But Were Afraid To Ask! Aug. 20 Audio Conference AGA, in conjunction with the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) and the Association of Local Government Auditors (ALGA) is pleased to announce a new and increasingly important topic to our audio conference schedule—Everything You Wanted to Know About Performance Reporting, But Were Afraid to Ask! Is your government thinking about producing a performance report for internal and external use? Do your constituents want to know more about the government’s activities and accomplishments? Does your legislative body need information that can help make the tough budget decisions? Does internal management need performance measures to gauge the success or failure of its programs? With transparency and accountability as the watchwords for effective, efficient and honest government, performance reporting should be on the political agenda of any official who wishes to convey how and on what government is spending tax dollars. To share their practical experiences in performance reporting, three performance report preparers will explain the positive results achieved with their use of a performance report. Join Drummond Kahn, CGFM, CIA, Director, Audit Services, Portland, Oregon; Rebekah Stephens, Planning and Performance Coordinator, Metro Nashville, TN; and Mike Taylor, CPA, CIA, City Auditor, Stockton, CA, as each of them discuss how their governments are using the performance reports. First-time AGA Certificate of Achievement in Service Efforts and Accomplishments award recipients, Ms. Stephens and Mr. Taylor, will also explain why their municipalities needed a performance report to drive changes within government. Mr. Kahn will share how the Portland, Oregon performance report has matured over the past 17 years and how it is being used to improve government services today. Please join us for two hours of lively discussion about this important and timely topic. In addition to the speakers’ commentary, there will be approximately 20 minutes for Q & A so that the participants can ask the speakers questions and share their own experiences. Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Time: 2– 3:50 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Learning Objectives: To obtain an understanding of how performance management and reporting can improve transparency and accountability Prerequisite: Familiarity with performance management and reporting Advance Prep: None required CPE: Two credits Field of Study: Accounting (Governmental) Cost: $249 per site (UNLIMITED ATTENDANCE) if you register on or before Friday, August 15, 2008 and $299 thereafter. SPECIAL PROMOTION: Government agencies and CPAG members who register five or more office will receive a 20 percent discount ($200 per site) To Register: Register online, print the registration form or print the special promotion registration form. This audio conference offers important information to almost everyone in the accountability profession. Please share this program announcement with others in your government, chapters, educational institutions and private firms. Remember, there is no limit to attendance per phone site. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact Maria Lucas at 1-800-242-7211 ext. 308 or . Questions regarding the program should be directed to Raymond Harris at ext. 339 or Evie Barry at ext. 324.
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2008 Health Fair Expo for Free Screenings
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The American Cancer Society co-sponsored the annual Du Page Men’s Health Fair: Score 1 for Men’s Health at the Yorktown Center and the Shops on Butterfield Road in the Village of Lombard, with Illinois State representative Sandy Pihos, for the 42nd Legislative House District, along with Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Central Du Page Hospital, as well as other community health providers. Among the most recognized exhibitors and participants, Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians from the Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Lombard Health Care Center, located at 130 S. Main Street, #206, are noted for the professional bright display of healthcare services and the motto, “Inspiring Wellness Promoting Choices” for sports injuries, nerve and muscle testing (EMG), comprehensive pain management, occupational injuries, and physical rehabilitation which encourages and maximizes “improved treatment and results to allow early return to sports or work”.
In 2008, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Lombard Health Care Center, and the American Cancer Society invite you to participate in “Relay for Life”, a community-based research program designed “to help you understand the factors that prevent cancer and save more lives”. Voluntary enrollment for the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3, (CPS-3) focuses on anyone between the ages of 30 and 64 years old, who will register as subjects in a long-term life study about medical history, lifestyles, and behaviors measured by periodic surveys, waist measurement, and blood-testing, collected by a certified, trained “phlebotomist”, lab technician.
Free health screenings for prostate cancer traces in blood samples brought a line of visitors to the certified lab technicians working for Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare. In addition, Score 1 for Men’s Health featured blood pressure screenings by Good Samaritan Hospital, Nurse Terri, and body fat composition assessments by Diane. The Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley (VNA) introduced a hand-held Body Fat Composition device operated by both hands upon pressure which, for instance, measured 18.4 percent of Body Mass Index (BMI) for a person weighing 100 lbs., at 11.6 percent of body fat, for ages 39-49, at 5’2” in height. The blood pressure reading was 108/60 systolic/diastolic for the same person, read by Nurse Terri from Good Samaritan Hospital.
The most recommended health screening tests include: cholesterol checks, blood pressure readings, diabetes tests, prostate cancer screenings, colorectal cancer tests, sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and depression evaluations according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, http://www.ahrq.gov – AHRQ Pub. No. APPIP 03-0022, Revised February 2004.
The American Cancer Society invites you to “Get Your Health Test Screenings!” Women ages 21-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50 years of age and older can ask the doctor or nurse about regular cancer screening tests for breast cancer or a PAP test for cervical cancer or colon cancer testing. In addition, recommended preventive measures to lower your chances of getting cancer and other diseases include:
- Don’t use tobacco. If you do, ask your doctor or nurse about quitting smoking.
- Protect yourself from the sun to prevent skin lesions, sun burnt, and sun stroke, etc.
- Eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains on a daily basis.
- Keep a health body weight.
- Do not drink alcohol in excess—if you drink alcohol, consume less.
- Exercise daily, at least 30 minutes during the week, five days or more.
Men at the age of 40 through 50 years or older, need to check health screenings for prostate cancer and/or colon cancer. The American Cancer Society advises to get a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a rectal exam every year for family members with a medical history of prostate cancer before the age of 65. Early detection and treatment of prostate cancer can save lives. Call the American Cancer Society for free cancer test screenings at 1-800-227-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org
Score 1 for Men’s Health in Du Page County is a Health Initiatives program organized by Joy Rosenberg, manager for the American Cancer Society for the Du Page Office, Illinois Division, Inc., located at 1801 S. Meyers Road, Suite 100, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181, Tel. 630-932-1141. To arrange for free health screenings sponsored by the American Cancer Society, please call toll-free at 1-800-322-6237 or Email: joy.rosenberg@cancer.org.
Orthostatic screening by Advanced Physicians for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy was conducted by Jesse Peery, in order to explain how a person’s feet imprints, scanned by digital media into a personal computer, assist in designing custom-made insoles (for walking) shoes and prevent foot aches, discomfort, and fatigue while walking. Footprints on a digital scanner, color-coded by areas of pressure, map the feet’s arches for Orthostatic Foot Insoles, for standing upright or walking on foot. I was the first visitor to try the Orthostatic Digital Scanner. Some years ago, someone stumped my big toe to injure my right foot, causing a permanent foot injury. Since then, my fractured right toe never healed properly and has developed into “a hammertoe”—which reclines upon other toes with discomfort and distress upon walking, jogging, or running exercise.
During Orthostatic Digital screening, the right foot imprint showed in color codes how a custom-designed foot insole would balance the foot pressure to ease walking discomfort. In addition, Jesse Peery recommended to insert a big toe wedge to prevent continued degeneration of the hammertoe, reclining upon the other toes with undue pressure and discomfort, during excessive walking. Advanced Physicians provided “Free” Health Consultation to seek medical help for foot pain. Visit http://www.AdvancedPhysiciansGroup.com for additional information in Du Page County.
Across from the Orthostatic exhibit table, Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians displayed medical services for the Lombard Health Care Center at 130 S. Main Street, #206. Dr. Syed Zaffer, M.D. and his medical assistant handed out healthcare information describing programs for Occupational & Sports injury management, non-surgical spinal care, comprehensive pain management, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, muscle and nerve injury/disorder rehab., Geriatric rehabilitation for senior citizens, fitness and injury prevention, counseling, employment and sports physicals, disability evaluation, nerve and muscle testing (EMG).
Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians give patients the advantage of providing Health Screening programs for timely intervention, better patient and family preparation for a speedy return to the community, improved treatment results for early return to work or sports, matching various healthcare resources to patients needs supported by a healthcare network. If you suffer from symptoms related to “fibromyalgia”, such as muscle stiffness, headache, anxiety or depression, memory loss, muscle tingling and numbness, along with insomnia or chronic fatigue syndrome, Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians can help you with professional therapy and diagnostic services—EMG tests, manipulation, thermo-electric massage, acupuncture, naprapathy. Evening and weekend hours are available for your convenience, call 630-873-5425 to make an appointment. For persons who suffer from “neuropathy” due to chronic pain and muscle weakness under spinal vertebrae D12 and painful distension of the extremities, Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians provide healthcare with comprehensive management of Physical Injury & Pain Discomfort. Dr. Syed Zaffer, M.D. is a certified physiatrist who specializes in
diagnosing problems and offering non-surgical management of pain and injury. “Physiatrists treat people, not just symptoms, by evaluating the impact of a condition on the person – medically, socially, emotionally and vocationally”—according to Physical Medicine & Pain Physicians. Visit us and check our website for additional information at http://w | |
