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ken ham on historical science
Sorry for horrible picture, I have never used picture editing softwares before. I don't even know how to effectively work with paint.
The debate was hilarious. A few points I can recall immediately are:
1. He says he believes in modern science. Radiometric dating methods are part of modern science. But then he says he doesn't trust these methods regarding estimates of the past since you weren't there to observe it. What else is there to radiometric dating methods besides using them to date things? Since Ken ham doesn't believe in that.
2. A little bit later he does use dating methods in his argument of a little bit of wood trapped in 45 million year old basalt. Convenient usage of radiometric dating methods. Not to mention the basalt is 45 million years old which he even mentions. But the earth is still 6000 years old amiright? I guess God must have placed it there.
3. At one moment he is showing pictures of million years old fossiles showing fish eating other fish and death and suffering etc. But then he goes on about how all animals were supposed to be vegetarians before the corruption. I understand he was refuting the viewpoint of non-creationist christians but how can he use those fossils in an attempt to show the christians that they're wrong?
4. Then he goes on about how there's no new functions in nature, that no new functions arise in nature. If you just take a look at viruses for one second or mutations in proteins, you'd see that they acquire new functions constantly and everyone knows proteins can deliver macrofunctions to organisms (easy example, fluorescence).
Another point he made, was that no "new" genetic material comes into existence. How about simple gene duplications or even the enzyme telomerase?
5. His argument for no life can result from dead matter was the following: "I can shine all the sunlight or energy I want onto this little stick I have here, it's not coming to life." (something along those lines)
6. He goes on and on about how the bible explains the origins about things. All the bible says, is; And then god created man, stars, plants, light,... and he acts as if it gives us any sort of explanation about how consciousness arose or works.
7. The guy dodges questions constantly and fails to even interpret audience's questions.
h, If I wasn' t THEE! It
h, If I wasn' t THEE! It
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Service Responds to Mississippi River Spill
Midwest Region personnel mobilized over the Thanksgiving holiday and weekend to keep large numbers of migrating diving ducks from encountering oil from a spill on the Upper Mississippi River. A sinking, northbound tow, the Stephen L Colby, ran ashore to save the crew after it struck a submerged object and began taking on water. The vessel, carrying 91,000 gallons of fuel, began to discharge diesel fuel into the river. The City of LeClaire, Iowa, was able to deploy booms out and around the sunken tow within 50 minutes of the incident, greatly reducing the size of the emergency response. But it wasn't over yet.
Following the spill, contaminants biologist Mike Coffey met with the U.S. Coast Guard, which led the incident command team. Use of the incident command system is standard practice for emergency oil spill responses. As fuel continued to leak from the tow, Coffey organized the command’s wildlife branch and began to address the diesel fuel accumulating behind the existing booms. The wildlife branch also set up wildlife deterrents and made plans to capture and rehabilitate oiled wildlife if necessary. It was quickly determined that the oiled river habitat was not within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and federally listed species were not at the site.
This reach of the river in late November and early December is a popular stopover location for tens of thousands of diving ducks during fall migration. There were also a number of mallards from the local area. The wildlife deterrent plans were designed to keep the mallards out of the diesel fuel and keep diving ducks out of the area. Additional plans were made to haze rafts of diving ducks while the responders removed oil from behind the booms and from the vessel before lifting it out of the water with large cranes. We dubbed these contingencies as Operation Canvasback. The plan was to use a flotilla of boats to keep pushing the waterfowl to safe areas along the river.
The only oiled birds found during the spill response were two mallards and one Canada goose. All of these birds were found dead or died shortly afterwards. There was evidence of previous debilitating conditions in the birds based on their behavior, wounds, or emaciation.
Ed Britton from the Savanna District supervised the wildlife reconnaissance and relieved Coffey as the Wildlife Branch director the response. Click here for more.
Their primary tasks were to monitor the movement of diving ducks into the area and be prepared to haze them away to prevent exposure to the diesel fuel while the responders removed the oil from the river and salvaged the vessel. Other offices near the spill site were the Savanna District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge and Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. Biologists from the refuge offices and additional staff from the Ecological Services field conducted shoreline searches for oiled wildlife. Service participants included Drew Becker, Eric Tomasovic, Russ Engelke, Bob Clevenstine and Ron Knopic. In addition, volunteers from the river cleanup group known as Living Lands and Waters supported the responsible party in patrolling areas in boats with high city duck use. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard also provided personnel for the wildlife branch.
-- Mike Coffey
Rock Island Field Office


There's an old saying in rock and roll circles that says: "if it's too loud, you're too old, man!" But maybe that should be changed to: "If it's too loud, you haven't been the victim of hearing loss yet!"
A study from the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks says that listening to a portable music player too loud could cause hearing loss later in life. In fact, if you turn up your headphones loud, you could be subjecting yourself to louder sounds than would be legal if you worked in a factory.
“Regularly listening to personal music players at high-volume settings when young,” the report said, “often has no immediate effect on hearing but is likely to result in hearing loss later in life.”
So we'd like to change that old saying to: "If it's too loud, turn it down, man!"


Islands of Galapagos are just small province that belongs to Ecuador at the eastern part of Pacific Ocean. Galapagos Islands are dubbed as a place that is born of fire due to several volcanic eruptions. Within the past two centuries, a notable more than 50 volcanic eruptions have cropped up in the islands. It has been said that the most prevailing attribute of Galapagos Islands is its abrasive and dynamic volcanic backcloth. A few of those eruptions threatened distinctive flora and fauna and a few of such created new land just like the lava flow in the island of Santiago which wasn’t discovered during the visit of famous Charles Darwin.
Charles Darwin was the first renowned person to visit and stayed in Galapagos Islands. Because of the island’s exquisiteness, Darwin stayed up to five weeks which give the impulsion to the well-known Evolution Theory.
Diving in the islands of Galapagos is not really recommended for novice divers because it has been noted recently that Galapagos Islands is among the top 10 most difficult diving spots in the world. Despite that, tourism in Galapagos Islands is thriving eventually. Diving in Galapagos is often undemanding but the low visibility and the strong currents, outpours and cold waters they beget go towards a few demanding alterations within the waters.
Galapagos features a few exquisite dive sites hence tourists to the islands anticipate to catch a glimpse of incredible critters stretching out, flying and swarming within the islands. But what amazes several people is the plethora of life just off the coast, just one or two feet beneath the waters. There can be discovered a world teeming swarming with groups of angelfish, passive white-tipped reef sharks, soaring manta rays, and feeding underwater iguanas.
Best Time to Dive
Galapagos has a good weather for stopping over and visiting all year round. Even if it is on the equator, the weather conditions aren’t tropical. Galapagos has a couple of seasons and the warmest is from December to May. The coldest months are between June and November. It is the most recommended season for diving in all astounding dive sites all over Galapagos Islands.
Getting in Galapagos Islands is very simple. It is reachable in either plane or boat. For international flights, a flight to Ecuador, the mainland either to Guayaquil or Quito is the first step since there are no direct flights going to Galapagos Islands. From there, check an available flight from Quito or Guayaquil going to Galapagos Islands. It’s always best to check with travel agency regarding the ways and tips to get there. If coming with private vessel, there are five ports in Galapagos Islands where boats can dock. Along the islands, there are buses, taxis and other public transportations are available to tourists and visitors. But it’s always best to hike around the islands while seeing the best features of Galapagos Islands.
Check before you go
- Passport expiry date (most countries require at least six months prior to the expiry date)
- Visa requirements
- Travel Insurance (make sure coverage for Scuba Diving is included)
- Medical status (Visit your doctor if you are unsure)


In the Garden:
For visual impact, I love to mix and match flower and container colors.
Containing Your Garden's Exuberance
Nearly everyone I know collects something. Coins, Mason jars, campaign buttons, cookbooks, you name it and they've got lots of it. I fall into this category, too. I'm a plant collector. Trouble is, by midsummer every single bed and border in my garden is literally spilling over with spectacular plants and there just is no place to put even the smallest new cutting. I've solved the problem by planting my newest acquisitions in containers.
I actually prefer gardening in containers. In a container you can control the soil, vary the watering regime, adjust the amount of sun or shade, group plants for impact -- and ungroup them if the idea doesn't work. Containers filled with vibrant colors can define the space where you live, transform landscaped areas into private garden rooms, or temporarily decorate a space for an outdoor party. If you'd like to try gardening in containers, I'll share a few of my secrets for success.
Select the Right Container
A good container should be large enough to provide adequate space for soil and roots, have sufficient head room for proper watering, have lots of drainage holes, and be attractive without competing with the plants it will hold.
Size and appearance of the container should be in visual proportion to the plants it will hold. A good rule of thumb is to use a container that is at least one-third as high as the plants are tall. Good drainage is extremely important. Roots require air, and if they sit for extended periods of time in wet soil, they'll suffocate. If you find a container you really like but it doesn't have drainage holes, you can plant in plastic pots and place them in the decorative container.
Use the Proper Soil
Experiment with different potting soils until you find one you like, and then use it in all of your containers. Different potting soils can retain different amounts of moisture. I've found that it's easier to water containers filled with the same potting soil, versus containers with a variety of different soils. In fact, I can almost predict when plants need water by knowing how moisture-retentive my potting soil is.
Putting a layer of gravel in the bottom of the container before adding potting soil might seem like a good way to keep soil from washing out of the bottom of the pot, but it can actually hinder drainage by causing water to collect in the bottom of the pot. To keep soil from escaping, place a broken clay piece over each drainage hole before filling the containers.
Select the Right Plant
Be creative when designing your containers. Plants of varying heights and textures will help give your containers character. If you use tall spiking plants, they should be at least as tall as the container itself. For a real dramatic effect, use complementary colors. Purple and yellow are two complementary colors that make a striking combination. Blue and orange are two other complementary colors that work well together.
To keep competition to a minimum, try to avoid mixing slow-growing and vigorous plants in the same container. Growing plants together that have the same light and moisture requirements will simplify their care and ensure good health. After all, growing a plant in a container does not change its basic light or moisture requirements. Sun-loving plants still need to be in full sun, and shade-lovers will still need shade.
Use Simple Maintenance Procedures
The most common problem with container gardens is too little or too much water. Because the volume of soil is relatively small, containers can dry out very quickly, especially on a concrete patio in full sun. Check each pot daily for water. If the pot feels light when lifted, or the soil is dry 1 to 2 inches down, it's time to water. When you do water, water thoroughly by flooding the soil until excess moisture runs out of the drainage holes.
Because containerized plants are watered often, nutrients are leached out of the soil as water drains out of pots, making regular fertilizer applications necessary. I fertilize biweekly with a water-soluble fertilizer. A granular slow-release fertilizer can also be used, which will last anywhere from one to several months, depending on the formula.
Check your containers weekly for signs of disease and insect damage. As flowers fade and die on individual plants, cut them off. Removing spent blooms will encourage more flower production, and will make your container look more attractive.
Rotate the containers from place to place and you'll have a fresh new look no matter where you group them. For even more interest in the garden, swap containers with a gardening buddy and you'll have a whole new garden to enjoy -- for a few weeks, at least!
I love it when I round a corner and encounter a harmonious mix of plants tucked into (and perhaps overflowing) an attractive container. Sometimes it's a quiet and subtle hello; other times it can be a loud and exuberant HELLO! Oftentimes it's the container, itself a piece of art, that catches my eye; and then again it's the plants, as they playfully spill over the sides or dance high above, that lift my heart and make me go WOW! But mostly container gardening excites my sense of possibility, reminding me how with just a few plants, a container and some mixing and matching of color and texture, one can easily create a bountiful -- and beautiful -- miniature garden.
Care to share your gardening thoughts, insights, triumphs, or disappointments with your fellow gardening enthusiasts? Join the lively discussions on our FaceBook page and receive free daily tips!


Middle Eastern Studies Master’s student, Ian Vander Meulen, recently authored an article entitled, “Beyond the Melting Pot,” in the winter 2012 issue of online magazine Symphony [americanorchestra.org]. The article features composers of Middle Eastern descent who work elements of Eastern musical traditions into their compositions for Western-based orchestras. The article highlights the technique with which Middle Eastern composers and musicians in the United States use their orchestral programming to build cultural bridges within wider communities. Anna Taylor will present her research paper, “Web 2.0: Iran’s Response to the 2009 Elections,” at the 16th Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Graduate Student Association Symposium Annual Symposium at the University of Toronto. March 5-6, 2012. The symposium provides graduate students an opportunity to share original research with the scholarly community in a conference-like forum, the proceedings of which are periodically published. All the submissions were initially reviewed by a blind panel of nine reviewers and after each proposal was ranked in accordance with various criteria, the organizing committee drafted a preliminary programme that will be solidified upon the verification of each acceptance letter.
Raymond Pun (former student) developed this article (see link below) originally in a MA-MES course on Social Theory and Islam. Bravo! We are also thrilled that Ray is moving to Shanghai, China, to set up New York University's new university library.
Raymond Pun, "Digital Images and Visions of Jihad: Virtual Orientalism and the Distorted Lens of Technology," CyberOrient, Vol. 7, Iss. 1, 2013. http://www.cyberorient.net/article.do?articleId=8391


Jewelers, both professional and amateur, have used just about every type of metal in existence in their creations. As new alloys and metals are adapted to jewelry making, such as titanium and stainless steel, they are also eagerly embraced and worked into beautiful creations for men and women. While fashion trends using unique and trendy metals come and go, three jewelry metals have stood the test of time and continue to have a strong presence in modern jewelry.
These metals, referred to as the Noble Metals, have several properties in common. First, they are precious metals and are also used as currency because of their value. Second, they are found worldwide, but not in large enough quantities to render them less valuable. Third, these Noble Metals have properties that lend themselves to jewelry making, including malleability and corrosion resistance. Lastly, these metals are considered beautiful, sensuous, and glamorous, which increases their appeal. Because of all of these properties, the Noble Metals – gold, silver, and platinum – are frequently used in jewelry making.
Coveted for its beauty, gold has long captivated the human psyche and is considered the most sensuous metal. Jewelry designers and makers find gold easy to work with and prefer it to other metals because it never tarnishes. Gold is perhaps the most workable metal, which is another reason designers enjoy working with it. A single ounce of gold can be stretched into a thread more than 50 miles long or rolled flat into a sheet that covers 100 square feet in area!
Another reason gold is coveted by both consumers and designers is that it lasts indefinitely, especially if properly cared for. Recent studies show that gold originated in the far reaches of the universe billions of years ago and arrived on earth in its infancy. It does not oxidize or corrode and only a handful of rare acids or hot chlorine bleach can damage gold. Gold can also be reused by melting down old gold objects and reforming the gold into new pieces. For example, old coins and broken pieces of jewelry can be melted down and reused to make a brand new piece of gold jewelry.
Despite gold’s desirable properties, it does have one significant drawback. It is soft, which means it wears easily. By mixing gold with other metals, or alloying it, gold is made stronger, which makes it durable enough to wear more often without experiencing wear. A variety of metals are commonly used to alloy gold, including silver, copper, nickel, iron, zinc, tin, manganese, cadmium, and titanium. Along with enhancing gold’s strength, alloying gold with other metals changes some of gold’s other properties as well. This is why some gold alloys stain people’s skin or cause an allergic reaction. The reaction is not caused by the gold itself, but by the other metals it is mixed with.
While pure gold is also used in jewelry making, it dents and shows wear easily, which is why most people choose not to wear 100% gold jewelry on a regular basis. When discussing gold and its alloys, the term karat is used to indicate the purity of the gold (Not to be confused with carat, which is a unit of measurement used to describe gemstone weight). Pure gold, which contains no other metals, is termed 24 karat gold. A gold alloy that is 50% gold and 50% other metals is 12 karat gold because it is only half pure gold. Alloys used in jewelry making range from 9 karat gold, which is approximately 37% gold, to 24 karat gold. A newer alloy becoming popular on the jewelry scene is made of 99% gold and 1% titanium, allowing the alloy to retain nearly all of its gold color while providing improved durability.
Mixing gold with different metals changes the color of the gold. For example, mixing copper with gold makes the gold darker yellow, while adding nickel plus zinc or other silver metals produces white gold. Contrary to popular belief, white gold contains no silver, which softens gold and gives it a green tint. Gold alloys also come in colors, including green, red, and blue.
When discussing gold’s purity, or what percentage is pure gold, the laws are fairly strict in the U.S. To be labeled as a specific karat, a gold item must be within three parts per thousand of the karat marking for solid pieces and seven parts per thousand for pieces containing solder. Pieces that fail to meet this criterion must be labeled with a lower karat designation. When labeling jewelry and other gold items for sale, you cannot call an item solid gold unless it truly is 24 karat and if you refer to an item as gold, you must designate what karat the gold is.
The term “new gold” does not mean that the gold was recently mined. It means that the gold has been carefully refined to current gold standards. “Old gold,” on the other hand, comes from melting down old jewelry, coins, and other gold items. This old gold may be a slightly lower karat weight than the original gold depending on how much solder was used in the original jewelry pieces. Impurities in old gold pieces cause a variety of headaches during casting, including bubbles, so old gold is often sent for refinement rather than being melted down by your local jeweler and recast into a new item.
Gold solder, which is used to join pieces together, is actually sold based on its color not its gold content. Because the solder needs to have a lower melting point than the pieces it is joining, it is mixed with metals that have lower melting points than gold. The solder is matched to the gold pieces for an attractive look. Though this poses no problems for the owner of the current jewelry item, melting down this piece with its solder in the future will reduce the karat of the gold.
Less Than Solid Gold
With solid gold selling for more than $1,000 per ounce, many jewelry makers look for alternative ways of giving their customers the look and feel of gold without the hefty price of solid gold. This is often done by coating pieces made from less expensive metals with thin coats of gold. Items that are made this way are referred to as gold overlay pieces.
When shopping for these pieces there are two distinct methods of overlaying the gold that you need to be aware of. The first is gold filled. Pieces that are gold filled have a minimum of 5% gold applied to the base metal. They are classified based on how much gold is overlayed and the karat of the gold. For example, if a piece is marked 1/20 14K G.F., it means that the piece has a 14 karat gold layer that comprises 1/20 of the weight of the piece. The second type of gold overlay, rolled gold plate, is similar, but the gold can be as thin as 1/40 of the weight. It is also stamped by fineness and content, 1/40 14K RGP. Gold platings are the thinner and less expensive of the two types of gold overlays. The gold is a few thousandths of an inch thick, at best, and wear off easily.
The care of gold overlay pieces is quite different from the care of solid gold pieces because of the fact that the gold is layered on top of another metal. As previously mentioned, the gold on these pieces wears off over time and you cannot use a polishing wheel on these items because it will remove the overlay and potentially ruin the item.
With its illustrious history, silver has been more highly valued than gold at various times throughout the years. Long used as a medium of exchange, its name is synonymous with money. Today, silver has found many new uses including photography, batteries, auto glass defogger, and magnetic strips, just to name a few.
Silver’s most outstanding feature is its luster. This Noble Metal is not without its drawbacks though. The main drawback for silver is that it tarnishes. The term tarnish is used to denote a layer of corrosion that forms over some metals, including silver, when they undergo chemical reactions. The chemical reaction that causes silver to tarnish requires a compound called hydrogen sulfide. Silver jewelry encounters hydrogen sulfide in the air you breathe every day, which is why silver tends to tarnish if left out where it is exposed to this compound on a regular basis.
Storing these items in protective pouches or containers where they are exposed to less hydrogen sulfide reduces the amount of tarnish on silver, which means less you can spend less time removing tarnish from your silver jewelry. There are a number of ways to remove tarnish from silver pieces, including silver polish and do-it-yourself methods using common household items, so you do not have to shy away from silver pieces because of the tarnish. Silver jewelry does require more care than some other precious metals, because of the fact that it tarnishes.
Silver is more abundant and much less expensive than gold or platinum, which are additional reasons why it is a popular metal for jewelry; however, it is more difficult to work than gold, because it conducts heat so well. This is why beginning jewelry makers often learn how to solder on silver. Once they gain control of soldering on this highly conductive metal, they find it much easier to control the heat when moving up to gold.
Silver is also commonly alloyed with other metals because, like gold, pure silver is soft and easily damaged. Adding harder metals improves the durability of silver, allowing jewelry designers to design pieces that are beautiful and strong enough to wear every day. The most common silver alloy is sterling silver. Sterling silver is 92.5% silver. The remaining 7.5% is comprised of one or more other metals. A substantial portion of this 7.5% is often copper because it increases the hardness of the sterling silver.
The term Mexican silver applies to silver that is used as currency in Mexico and is typically comprised of 95% silver and 5% copper. While the copper increases its durability, it is used more for currency than jewelry. Typically even the silver jewelry made in Mexico is crafted from sterling silver.
In the U.S., coin silver contains 90% silver and 10% copper. You do not usually see coin silver used in jewelry. Britiannia silver contains a minimum of 95.84% silver, making it a more valuable alloy than sterling. While this may be used in jewelry, it is not common. There are a variety of additional silver alloys used worldwide, including a South American alloy made of 80% silver that does not tarnish. Jewelry makers stamp silver pieces with the code that denotes which alloy of silver it is. For example, 925 is used to designate sterling silver and 958 is used for Britannia silver. When shopping for silver jewelry inspect the piece carefully to determine which alloy was used.
Other Types of Silver Jewelry
While sterling silver is the most common type of silver used in jewelry making, there are some additional alloys that should be mentioned. Electrum, for example, is a naturally occurring alloy of silver and gold that was popular with the ancient Egyptians. Because electrum occurs naturally in nature, the ration of silver to gold varies with each piece.
Niello is a black mixture of silver, copper, and lead. It is used more like an enamel, so you do not typically see jewelry made entirely of niello. It is used as an inlay on etched or engraved metal or to fill in designs. Like electrum, niello was popular with the Egyptians, who used the mixture during the Iron Age.
While all of these silver alloys actually contain at least some silver, some metal names can mislead you into thinking the metal contains silver. Nickel silver or German silver, for example, are alloys of nickel, zinc, and other metals. These metals look like silver, hence the name, but they do not actually contain any silver. The same is true of quicksilver, which is the ancient term given to mercury due to its appearance. While mercury does resemble liquid silver, it does not contain silver and is not seen in jewelry because it is harmful to your health.
Platinum is the rarest and most expensive of the Noble Metals. Its unsurpassed holding power and durability make it a highly coveted, premium jewelry metal. Platinum is incredibly durable and does not tarnish, which is why it is often used for engagement and wedding rings.
Though platinum has been found in various objects as far back as 700 BC, its use in jewelry is relatively modern. The main reason for this is that refining platinum proved difficult for a number of centuries because the metal has an extremely high melting point and is highly resistant to corrosion. The oldest recorded use of platinum is as an inlay in ancient Egypt. However, the Egyptians though it was a variation of electrum. Native Americans used platinum in small decorative objects for centuries. Platinum was unknown to Europeans until the Spanish settlers discovered it in Columbia. The Spanish called it platina, meaning little silver, and believed it was unripe gold and, therefore, unusable.
It was not until the eighteenth century that platinum was identified as a new metal and a researcher from Sweden figured out how to melt platinum with arsenic. Once individuals learned how to refine platinum they began to use it to decorate porcelain and to make laboratory equipment. The use of arsenic to refine platinum was extremely dangerous, which is why platinum did not gain popularity until the oxyhydrogen torch was invented in the mid 1800s.
Discoveries of platinum ore in several countries in the nineteenth century brought platinum to the attention of jewelry makers and platinum quickly became a symbol of wealth and celebrity status in the early 1900s. Stars like Greta Garbo and Cole Porter frequently appeared on film with platinum jewelry and accessories. It also became popular for setting exceptional gems. For example, the 530-carat “Star of Africa” diamond in the British royal scepter is set in platinum.
While platinum is still highly coveted in the jewelry industry, it is also used for a variety of industrial purposes. Today, platinum is commonly found in catalytic converters because of its ability to cause chemical reactions while remaining unchanged. In fact, half of the platinum mined in the U.S. and a quarter of the platinum mined worldwide is used for this purpose. The U.S. Bureau of Standards also uses platinum for weights because it never oxidizes and, therefore, remains the same weight forever.
Though most people believe that the term platinum refers to one single type of metal, the truth is it is used to refer to a group of metals that share similar properties. The platinum group includes platinum, iridium, palladium, ruthenium, rhodium, and osmium. Platinum is the most abundant; however, it is not the only one of the group that is used for making jewelry. Rhodium is popular as a non-tarnishing plating for white gold, silver, and other platinum metals. Others from this group, including palladium and iridium, are alloyed with other metals or used alone to make jewelry. In fact, all but osmium are used for jewelry. The most common platinum alloys include 90% platinum and 10% iridium, or 95% platinum and 5% ruthenium. Ruthenium makes for the harder and stronger alloy.
|Common Metallurgy Terms|


Trying to verify involvement of Obediah, and Larkin in the revolutionary war. Understand they were with the 2nd regiment, Amherst county militia, under Samuel Cabell. I haven't been able to find documentation. Any ideas?
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Sinterklaas festival in the church in 2007.
Sinterklaas, the patron Saint of the church, visits the museum annually. This lively event attracts a crowd of children and their parents.
Climate data canal room (XLS, 1.2 MB)
Climate data sael (XLS, 1.2MB)
Climate data in church (XLS, 2.0MB)
Outdoor climate data (XLS, 1.1 MB)
As the church in the museum is still in active use, there are times when the church may be filled to its maximum capacity, as set by the fire brigade. In addition, the museum participates in several events that bring much higher number of visitors through the building in one day than normal. It is interesting to analyze the effect that visitors have on the indoor climate during these events, which attract large numbers of visitors for both shorter and slightly longer durations. The following table represents the rate at which a human gives off moisture in different states of activity (after ASHRAE 2001).
|Degree of Activity||Moisture Generation (g hr-1)|
|Seated in the theater||30|
|Seated in the theater, night||35|
|Seated, very light work||45|
|Moderately active office work||55|
|Standing, light work||55|
|Light bench work||140|
|Walking 4.8 km/h; Light machine work||185|
T, RH and AH plots in the church (God lamp low), sael, canal room and reception on Open Monument Day, September 9, 2005:
Open Monumentendag (Open Monument Day) is designed to bring people into contact with the historic environment, and to encourage interest in and understanding of historical monuments and the need for their preservation. During the Open Monumentendag - every second weekend of September - thousands of historical buildings and sites (about 4,000) are open to the public free of charge. Besides opening their doors, many locations also organize on-site activities like exhibitions, music and guided tours. Each year around 80 to 85 percent of Dutch municipalities participate in the Open Monumentendag, organized by local committees. In recent years around 900,000 visitors have participated annually, making the Open Monumentendag one of the Netherlands' premier cultural events.
An extraordinarily high number of visitors (1,064) was recorded at museum ‘Our Lord in the Attic’ on Open Monument Day on September 9, 2005. Visitors entered the museum over a four-hour period, between 13:00 and 17:00.
The impact of visitors on the indoor climate was easily recognizable in temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and absolute humidity/humidity ratio (AH) plots. Except in the reception area (the antechamber), temperature increases were observed starting at 13:00 in all parts of the building, with the largest increase (approximately 2.5°C) in the church and the least (0.5°C) in sael. The reception’s temperature drop during this period is probably due to the front door being opened continuously and the cooler outside air entering the room. Temperatures in the building returned to normal before midnight.
Both relative humidity and the humidity ratio increased significantly over the four-hour period in all rooms, including the reception. Surprisingly, the largest increase of relative humidity (from 60 to 77%) was observed in the space behind the altar. The smallest increase was observed in the sael. Relative humidity values throughout the building returned to normal by midnight.
T and RH plot in the church on Museum Night, November5/6, 2005
AH plot in the church, sael, and outside on Museum Night, November5/6, 2005.
Museum Night is an initiative with which many museums in Amsterdam try to attract a different and younger audience - one November night per year they open to visitors from 19.00 to 2.00. In 2005, 2,300 visitors entered museum ‘Our Lord in the Attic’ over a seven-hour period from 19:00 on November 5 to 2:00 on November 6.
In 2006, the event was more controlled and 1500-1600 people visited the museum, with a maximum of 90 people in the church at any given time.
The temperature was approximately 20.2 °C when the event started and increased 3 °C to 23.2 °C by midnight, remaining at that temperature until the end of the event the next day. A large temperature decrease began after 3:00, and returned to the original value by 6:00.
The relative humidity was approximately 50% at the beginning of the event, then quickly increased and produced three peaks: 54% at 23:00, 58% at 1:00, and 56% at 2:00, the end of the event. Then, it reduced to 53% by 4:00, but rose to 54% where it remained until 09:00, the regular opening hour. The increase in the early morning hours may have been due to the fact that it was rainy outside, expressed by the relative humidity increase outside from 55 to 95% during the same period.
24-Hour variations of the humidity ratios in the church, sael, and outside during Museum Night were plotted. Three large peaks identified in the relative humidity plot were reduced to small saw tooth-like peaks in the plot of the humidity ratio. This indicates that the rate of visitation was steady throughout the event. The increase of humidity ratio was approximately 3.5 g of water per kg of air during the specified period. This was smaller than the increase recorded during Open Monument Day when the museum had about 1,100 visitors over a 4-hour period. This could probably be due to the infiltration of outside air of lower humidity ratio into the church. The humidity ratio in sael was very similar to that of the church during the event. This high level of humidity ratio is due to low infiltration of dry outside air into sael.
On May 21st, 2005, the church was used for a wedding. At 13:00 the museum closed briefly for normal visitation to accommodate the wedding, which started at 14:30 and finished by 15:30. A total of 110 persons gathered in the Church, according to records kept by museum staff.
24-Hour variations of humidity ratios in the church, canal room, sael and outside air on May 21st, 2005 were plotted. Between midnight and 09:00, the museum’s opening hour, the humidity ratio was constant at 8 g/kg throughout the building. At 09:00, visitors began to enter the museum. Evidence of the visitors’ presence can be noted as the humidity ratios in various locations in the building increase. When the wedding attendees started to enter the church soon after 13:00, the church’s humidity ratio was at 8 g/kg, which was the same as outside. Initially the humidity ratio in the church exponentially increased; however, the increase soon reduced to linear, then plateaued at 10 g/kg by 15:30, indicating that the attendees started to leave.
While the church air had a significant increase in humidity ratio, both the canal room and sael were only slightly affected, mainly by the attendee traffic near these spaces - the guests did not physically enter these rooms during the event. After all the wedding attendees left the building, museum visitors were allowed back into the building at 15:30. Museum visitors gradually exited the museum around 17:00 and the humidity ratios of all spaces dissipated towards that of outside. All spaces equilibrated at 8.2 g/kg in 5 hours by 22:00.
During the wedding, the temperature and relative humidity increased from 20.9 °C to 22.6 °C and 54% to 60%, respectively. Relative humidity returned to 54%, a normal value without visitors, within two hours after the event.
According to museum records, a group of 151 artists attended a special mass on December 4th, 2005. The mass started at noon and lasted for one hour. 24-Hour variations of relative humidity and temperature recorded on December 4th, 2005.
The temperature was stable at 19°C until the museum opened at 9:00 and had a low increase at the rate of 0.3 °C/hour to 20 °C by noon. Then during the mass, the rate increased to 3.0 °C/hour during the first 30 minutes, and 2.0 °C/hour to 22.8 °C in the second 30 minutes.
Relative humidity showed a similar trend, with a 3.3% increase from morning visitors. Attendance at the mass produced an approximate 3.5% increase to a peak of 52% at 12:30. However, the value dropped slightly during the next half hour due to heat produced by the attendees. Both the temperature and relative humidity peaks quickly dissipated after the mass ended. And by 17:00, both values returned to normal.
During the event, the humidity ratio increased approximately 4 g/kg. This increase quickly dissipated after mass had ended. Within three hours the humidity ratio returned to its pre-mass level. The values in the church, located at the highest point in the building, were approximately 0.7g/kg higher than that of the sael, the lowest situated room, during non-visiting hours. Museum visitors increased the humidity ratio in the church more than in other parts of the building. And by noon, the difference was nearly 1.8 g/kg. Although a peak relative humidity was recorded at 12:30, the peak value of humidity ratio in church was at 13:00, the same time as the peak temperature measurement. Morning visitors produced a humidity ratio rate of 1 g/kg/hr until 12:00. During the mass, the rate increased to approximately 1.5 g/kg/hr during the first 30 minutes, then dropped to 0.3 g/kg/hr during the second 30 minutes. This reduction may be due to the automatic operation of humidifiers/dehumidifiers, the infiltration of outside dry air, or a combination of the two.


About the Charity
GIRL – India was established in February 2007 by Wynne Clift from Tynemouth, England. The first project was GIRL (Girls Institute for Rehabilitation and Learning) in Vijayawada which is run by the co-ordinator Radhika Premramasaran, an experienced social worker. Having previously worked in other NGOs in the state of Andhra Pradesh it was felt there was a need for a home for young girls. They decided to set up a charity to provide a safe and secure environment for destitute girls between the ages of 5 and 10 years. There are 2 projects that GIRL - India runs: GIRL in Vijayawada, and Girl Himalaya.
Thousands of girls live on the streets and the number is increasing. Some live with their homeless mothers while others have to fend for themselves. Many are escaping physical, mental or sexual abuse while others have been abandoned by their parents because of family problems such as poverty, alcoholism or HIV/Aids. The threat of violence is ever present and girls as young as six years old can be forced into child labour or even prostitution. At GIRL we provide food, shelter, healthcare and on-going counselling. The girls also receive a basic education as well as vocational training such as tailoring or embroidery.


Some people choose to flaunt their natural hair in its natural state, whereas others wish to straighten their hair to flaunt long stick-straight hair. Before setting off to straighten your naturally curly or wavy hair, recognize the fact that straight hair is just another hairdo.
Straightening Natural Hair With Flat Iron Or Hot Comb
For making naturally curly hair straightened or relaxed, you need to invest in some important styling tools for instance a blow dryer, straightening comb, or flat iron.
Wash your hair properly to remove oil and grim. Use a thick hair-straightening conditioner, which will help in removing frizz. Towel dry your hair without rubbing it forcefully. Apply a good quality leave- in conditioner and heat protectant on clean and freshly deep conditioned hair.
Silicone serum heat protectant, coconut oil, Shea butter, or any other natural oil can be used as heat protectant to protect your hair from any damage caused by heat.
With a good salon-quality blow dryer, dry your hair by keeping 10 inch distance. Brush your hair to detangle it completely and divide hair in different sections to make the straightening process easy and simple. Adjust heat of the straightening irons and do not keep it at high temperature.
Comb-chase method should be followed to get the desired sleek effect. Take hold of a section of hair with comb and run the straightening tool or iron from root to the end of hair.
You should be proficient to use comb in one hand brushing down the hair with the other hand carrying flat iron. Do not hold the iron on one section of hair too long as that will fry your hair. Spray some water or hair spray on the straightened sections to see whether it is reverting back to the previous state.
In the modern world, hair-straighteners have become girls’ essential companion. But one should be aware of the risk associated with them. Flat irons or hot combs can dehydrate your hair, if good quality serums are not used on hair to protect it. If you are not skilled enough to do straightening on your own, take the help of expert professionals. Excess heat may cause damage to hair follicles and excessive hair fall.
There are some natural methods to straighten your natural hair which do not involve heat, harsh chemicals or any other harmful tools.
4 Tips To Straighten Natural Hair Naturally
Natural hair straightening methods are safe and inexpensive. The products involved in them are easily accessible. The natural methods may take longer time to give results and continuous application is needed.
Coconut Milk And Lime Juice Method
Grind coconut and squeeze out the meat to get one glass of coconut milk. Add two tablespoon of lemon juice to it. Combine the two properly till you get a creamy substance. You can keep this mixture in refrigerator so that the mixture is thickened. You can even leave it overnight without keeping in fridge. Massage the thick concoction on hair and scalp properly.
Comb your hair with a wide-toothed comb to detangle and wrap your head in a hot towel. After one hour, rinse off your hair with shampoo and conditioner. This is an easy method to straighten your hair naturally if you repeat the process three times a week. The mixture will not only make tour hair sleek and shiny but will also nourish and moisturize it.
Using Milk To Straighten Hair
Take equal portions of milk and water in a spray bottle. Spray the content all over your hair and leave it there for 30 minutes. Wash your hair using shampoo and conditioner. You can even add a few drops of honey to the liquid for more effectiveness.
Olive Oil And Egg Method
Take two eggs and beat them well. Add two spoons of olive oil to eggs and blend the mix properly. Apply it on hair and brush your hair to detangle and to increase blood circulation. After 1-2 hours, wash off to discover well-nourished straight hair.
Heat any natural oils such as coconut oil, olive oil or castor oil and massage into your scalp and rub your hair. Wrap your head with hot towel. After 30 minutes, wash off with shampoo and conditioner to discover naturally straight hair.
Regular and constant application is needed in the case of natural methods. Natural process will not only straighten hair, but will also nourish and moisturize your hair well.


How Do I Eliminate Stress with Color?
The Calming Effects of Color
Color is more than just decoration. In nature, insects, fish, birds, flowers and more have color that camouflage them, facilitate mating, and guide them to what they need for survival. For humans, we decorate with colors and dress with colors that we express ourselves with.
How many of us consider also that when we choose colors, we're also concerned with how we feel, especially when we're at home? Probably many of us do without even thinking about it. You know how when you're picture shopping for a den and a play room, well when you pick a nature scene and a hot air balloon, the color scheme is as important as the subject. That's because colors affect your mood instinctively.
Research has shown that different colors have different effects upon us psychologically, emotionally and even physically. So if you are suffering from stress and its effects, you might consider changing the colors in your environment. You can select colors to surround yourself with and to wear as a stress management tool.
The Colors and How They Affect Your Mood
We respond to color on a non-conscious level. And that is part of the reason that they are a great tool to manipulate the way that we feel. This form of addressing health issues is recorded as far back as ancient times. Variations of it exist in various cultures around the world. Today, people who practice Feng Shui, acupuncture and other types of adjustments for better living will introduce colors. These practitioners will employ tools like gemstones, colored fabric, candles and prisms.
There are many color charts that you can find on the internet and in libraries. Generally, you will find that they share similar evaluations about the effects of specific colors. Below we have included a color chart. See if you can recognize some of the feelings that they describe for each color. A good idea is to just try it out if you haven't already. Think about it: If you ever went to your closet and dressed for the day and chose colors based on how you felt or what was ahead of you, then you practiced a bit of "colorolgy." Colorology is another name for chromotherapy. This is considered to be an alternative medicine. It uses color and light to balance energy wherever a person's body is lacking, whether it's mental, emotional, physical or spiritual.
If you are feeling overly stressed, you can use color as a stress management tool. As we have seen, the calming effect of color can help you relax and let your worries go for a while. In the information below, notice the colors that have positive stress management qualities. Colors can be great tools in your efforts to manage your stress and feel better and more in control.
How to Eliminate Stress with Color
Dr. Group states that "Dark blue has a calming effect on the body." Consider wearing dark blue to lift you out of a stressful mood, or if you anticipate a stressful situation in your day ahead.
Review the color chart below and consider your own reaction to certain colors. To use them to relieve stress, wear them and decorate with them to relax and revitalize yourself.
- Red: This color is not one to use for stress management. It is an exciting and stimulating color, usually associated with passion and vigor. You might want to use this color when you want to lift yourself out of an emotional slump.
- Pink: This color is seen as soft, tranquil color. It's peacefulness promotes balance of your energies.
- Orange: Like red, orange does not exhibit the calming effect of color. Instead, orange is a stimulating and intense color. It can work to invigorate you when you are feeling low.
- Yellow: Yellow is softer than red or orange and is seen as sunny and cheerful. It's a great color to lift your spirits and when you live in a positive state you are well-equipped to combat stress
- Green: Green restful and quiet color. It's a soothing color that invites harmonious feelings that can diffuse anxiety
- Blue: Blue is tranquil, peaceful, and calm. This color has a tremendous stress management quality to it, making us feel cool and calm.
- Violet: Violet represents strength, peace and wisdom. It can give you feelings of inner peace when you wear it. Decorating with it can give your space a peaceful feeling, relieving stress internally and externally.
- White: White is symbolic of clarity and freshness. It really needs to be a clean, bright white because once it gets dingy and dull, your emotions can mirror the dullness.
- Black: This color can be overpowering at times, as it exudes a feeling of power and elegance. And it can also represent submission. It's one that can impact your world either way so you need to be careful when decorating with or wearing black.


Search the 1997-1998 Catalog:
New Century College
300 Introduction to Social Work (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Sophomore standing. This course introduces students to the historical roots of the social work profession and social welfare. The social systems perpective is discussed as the framework for social work knowledge, values, and skills, and an understanding of professional values, ethics, the fields of practice, and settings of social work. The profession's commitment to the disadvantaged, social justice, diversity, and discriminated and oppressed groups is included as course content. Presentations by social work professionals, including alumni, from different fields of practice will supplement classroom discussion. s
301 Laboratory in Interpersonal Communication (3:3:0). Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SOCW 300 (or corequisite), PSYC 100, and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor. Emphasis on experiential learning of the biological, psychological, social, and cultural influences on the behavior of those who need and those who give help. Students examine their own behavioral and learning patterns, values, and attitudes to increase their ability to understand and help clients. Field service of at least 60 hours required. f,s
323 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I (3:3:0). Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SOCW 300 (or corequisite), BIOL 104, and PSYC 100; or permission of instructor. A social systems approach unifying and integrating concepts and knowledge from biology, anthropology, sociology, and psychology about human behavior. Applications to professional practice, from the social work literature, and to the field experience. f
324 Human Behavior in the Social Environment II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: SOCW 323 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. Examination of social systems theories as they pertain to the study of macro systems. Focus of study involves families, the social group, the formal organization, and the community. Student will apply theoretical concepts to contemporary social problems. s
351 Social Welfare Policy and Services I (3:3:0). Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SOCW 300 (or corequisite), PSYC 100, and GOVT 204; or permission of instructor. Introduction to social welfare, including its historical development, central concepts, institutional nature, and the functions of social work as a profession. Analyses of human service delivery systems, settings, and roles of social work. f
352 Social Welfare Policy and Service II (3:3:0). Prerequisite: SOCW 351 with a minimum grade of C or permission of instructor. Analysis of various social welfare policies; components of policy in our society. Examines the political, economic, and cultural influences on the policymaking process. s
357 Methods of Social Work Intervention I (3:3:0). Open to majors only. Prerequisites: SOCI 101, SOCW 300 (or corequisite), and PSYC 100; or permission of instructor. Social work practice from a systems perspective. Particular emphasis on problem-solving activities with microsystems. The common core of knowledge, values, and skills essential to social work practice is analyzed to gain insight into social work functions and the role of the social worker as a change agent. f
358 Methods of Social Work Intervention II (3:3:0). Open to majors only. Prerequisites: SOCW 301 and 357, with a minimum grade of C in both courses, or permission of instructor; corequisite: SOCW 359. Continues a generic problem-solving model, focusing on group and macrointervention systems, settings, and skills. Emphasis on working with groups from treatment to task purposes. Group processes such as goal formulation, contract setting, composition, and termination necessary for effective worker intervention are part of the knowledge base of the course. Field service of 40 hours required. s
359 Methods of Social Work Intervention Seminar (1:1:0). Prerequisite: Must be taken simultaneously with SOCW 358. Weekly seminar to process learning related to 40 hours of field service in the community. Working with groups and communities, provides an experiential opportunity to practice group skills and analyze community intervention strategies.
400 Legal and Ethical Issues in Human Services (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. An overview of ethical and legal issues related to the human services professions. Some topics include responsibility, competence, duty to warn, confidentiality, professional relationships, and research. Clinical strategies relevant to legal and ethical issues are emphasized.
410 Alcohol and Substance Abuse: Policies and Programs (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. Primary issues related to alcoholism and drug abuse including key concepts, theories, policies, and research regarding the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Emphasis on the impact of the policies and programs on the well-being of ethnic minority and disadvantaged service populations. sum
423 Social Work with Adolescents (3:3:0). Prerequisites: 60 hours and concurrent field experience or permission of instructor. Major needs of adolescents with their implications for social work practice. Problems of family and peer group relationships; occupational choice; sexual and scholastic adjustment; and special problems of racial and cultural alienation; alcohol and drug abuse; and delinquency. Studies various theoretical orientations and evidence from research. Analyzes both individual and group approaches to counseling and treatment.
425 Planning and Organizing for Community Change (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. Designed for senior social work students with an interest in pursuing community organization as a professional career specialty. Students are provided with a basic understanding of community organization and planning, with special emphasis on conducting a needs assessment in the community. Student examine the environmental context in which administrative and community practice occurs. The role of social workers as planners and agents of social change is explored.
430 Social Work and the Law (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of the instructor. Introduces students to the social worker's role in the legal system, familiarizes students with legal processes and their application to issues of interest to social workers and their clients, including child abuse, foster care, reproductive rights, juvenile justice, and legal rights of the poor/women.
435 Social Work with the Aged (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. A survey of the issues related to working with the aged population. A study of biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of aging, as well as the unique problems that are intricately involved with service delivery to aged persons. Students examine the forces that impinge upon the aged person and explore critical issues related to extended life span, family changes, institutionalization, and the role of the aged persons in society. Students are challenged to increase their sensitivity and knowledge of aged citizens.
453 Senior Practicum I (5:0:0). Prerequisites: SOCW 301, 323, 324, 351, 352, 357, and 358, with a grade of at least C and recommendation of faculty. Open only to social work majors. Under supervisory instruction provided by field agencies, students are involved two days per week in learning through participation in the provision of service to individual clients, families, groups and/or communities, and in activities sponsored by or involving professional social workers. Weekly seminar and periodic faculty-agency consultations. f
454 Senior Practicum II (5:0:0). Prerequisites: SOCW 453, with a grade of at least C and recommendation of faculty. Field experience and weekly seminar. s
455 Senior Practicum/Block Placement (10:0:0). Prerequisites: SOCW 301, 323, 324, 351, 352, 357, 358, and 471; completion of all required social work courses except electives; social work major with 90 hours; GPA of 3.50 (in social work); and recommendation of the faculty and director of field instruction. Under supervisory instruction provided by field agencies, students are involved four days per week in learning through participation in the provision of service to individual clients, families, groups, and/or communities, and in activities sponsored by or involving professional social workers. Weekly seminar or individual meetings with faculty liaison, and periodic faculty-agency visits. s
471 Research in Social Work (3:3:0). Prerequisite: SOCI 221 or PSYC 300, six credits of social work courses, senior standing, or permission of instructor. Must be completed with a minimum grade of C. Principles and the theory underlying scientific inquiry. Emphasis on the use of research in social work practice, steps in conducting research, and utility of research efforts in developing and evaluating social work knowledge and skills. f
475 Selected Topics in Social Work Policy (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. In-depth study of special areas of social work that are of interest to students, faculty, and the social work community. Topics vary.
483 Selected Approaches to Social Work Intervention (3:3:0). Prerequisite: 60 hours or permission of instructor. Taken simultaneously with SOCW 453 or 454 (Senior Practicum). Opportunity to examine critically personal use of different approaches to social work intervention currently employed in practice settings. Students have an opportunity to use with clients the technical skills these approaches require. May be taken more than once for credit. Topics vary.
499 Independent Study in Social Work (1-3:0:0). Prerequisites: 90 hours and a research proposal approved by instructor before enrollment. Investigation of a research problem in the field of social work.
510 Interdisciplinary Seminar in Child and Family Welfare (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Upper-division undergraduate or graduate standing. Provides student with an in-depth understanding of the child and family welfare systems in the United States and other countries by examining factors that contribute to child and family dysfunction and by assessing family support programs. Particular emphasis will be placed on vulnerable and at-risk populations.
511 Health Status of Vulnerable and At-Risk Women, Children, and Families (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Upper-division undergraduate or graduate standing. Provides students with an in-depth understanding of the physical, social, and psychological factors that influence the health status, behaviors, and outcome of vulnerable populations in the United States and Latin American countries. Race, ethnicity, gender, and institutional arrangements are critical areas of focus in understanding the health trajectory of these groups.
598 Special Topics in Social Work (3:3:0). Prerequisite: Upper-division undergraduate or graduate standing.


Just around the corner from Simon’s Town lies Boulders Beach, a sheltered cove of soft white sand, massive granite boulders and – being on the Indian Ocean side of the peninsula – water that’s a little warmer than the icy temperatures of Cape Town's Atlantic Ocean beaches.
Yet it’s not the squeaky-clean sand or crystal clear water that makes visitors to flock to Boulders but its local residents – penguins. Boulders Beach and neighbouring Foxy Beach are home to a colony of thousands of African penguins and it's great fun to watch them go about their daily business: preening and sunning themselves, guarding a nest, waddling along the sand like an old married couple and then transforming into sleek black-and-white torpedoes as soon as they enter the water.
To get really close to the penguins stroll along the wooden boardwalks that thread through the dense vegetation, over the dunes and round Foxy Beach - with such a beautiful setting and ever-obliging birds you’re sure to get some great photos. In fact the penguins almost seem to pose for pictures, though a word of warning: don’t hassle the penguins or try to touch them - they may look cute but they can be grouchy and those beaks are razor sharp.
Afterward wandering the boardwalks, head down to Boulders Beach itself and find a spot to soak up some sunshine and enjoy the unique experience of sharing a stretch of sand with these birds in their butler-style tailcoats. If you’re travelling with kids, be prepared to stay a while: the water’s safe for swimming, there are rock pools to explore and boulders to clamber about on – it really is the perfect spot for a family beach picnic.
A final word of advice for those who have driven to Boulders Beach: before you leave, check to see whether any stray birds have chosen to rest in the shade of, or underneath, your car.
At 40 km from the city centre, Boulders is the furthest of our Cape Town beaches but its position makes it the perfect stop on your drive either to or from Cape Point, and if you book a scheduled peninsula tour it’s sure to be included.
Who will enjoy it: Everyone! And kids are sure to love Boulders as much – if not more – than adults.
Entry Fee: Adults R45 Children age 2-11 R20 (valid until 31 October 2012) The Boulders Beach penguin colony has grown rapidly over the years and it is now possible to see a few birds for free on neighbouring beaches, but the overwhelming majority of birds are still found within the reserve so we’d highly recommend paying the small entrance fee charged by the Table Mountain National Parks.
Opening times: Refer to the South African National Parks for the latest entry and exit times.
Our Luxury Cape Town City Experience makes the most of a stay in Cape Town with 4 nights in a charming boutique hotel and all manner of activities including a visit to Boulders Beach and Cape Point, trip to the top of Table Mountain and time spent in the Cape Winelands.
Our favourite beach lodges near Boulders:
Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay): a top choice for those looking for a romantic retreat away from the city centre with just 10 individually decorated suites, plenty of privacy and Atlantic Ocean views.
The Last Word Long Beach (Noordhoek): spectacular sea and mountain views plus an on-your-doorstep beach are what to expect at this boutique hotel, just 40 min from Cape Town.
View more Cape Town coastal accommodation.
Written by Sandra Mallinson. Connect with her on Google+.
At a Glance
This tiny and seemingly insignificant beach along the False Bay seaboard is actually one of Cape Town's biggest tourist attractions, namely due to the thousand-strong African penguin colony living in and around the dunes and boulders.


Say goodbye to Patches.
The Erie Zoo's female polar bear will be relocated, most likely permanently, to the North Carolina Zoo sometime this month, Executive Director Scott Mitchell said Thursday.
The zoo's planned $1 million renovation of two moated exhibits, including the one Patches is in, is driving the decision, Mitchell said. The zoo was concerned that the noise and disruption caused by the construction project would be too stressful for her.
Patches most likely will remain in Asheboro, N.C., ending the Erie Zoo's long-standing connection to the marquee species at least for the foreseeable future, Mitchell said. The zoo has no immediate plans to acquire another polar bear.
"She's almost 26 and ... she's going to be down there at least a year and then she's 27," he said. "By that point it would make more sense for her to stay there. They have a big bear exhibit with no bears so it makes sense in that regard as well."
Patches' moving date has not been set, but this weekend is the last that the zoo can guarantee visitors will be able to see her, Mitchell said.
Visitors and staff members alike will miss her, he said.
"It's a family member moving away," Mitchell said.
The zoo is in the final design phase of the construction project, which includes Patches' exhibit and its lion exhibit. Plans include renovating holding spaces and sculpting the concrete walls; filling the moats that separate the outdoor open-air spaces from the outer exhibit rail, and installing glass partitions.
"It'll be somewhat similar to the tiger (exhibit)," Mitchell said. "There will be glass so people can get nose to nose with things. ... It's larger, it's a better fit all around for the animals."
Netting at the top of the exhibits will allow the zoo to house a wide variety of large cats in the exhibits, including the Amur leopards and possibly a new species, the Canadian lynx, Mitchell said.
Still, Mitchell said he's concerned about losing one of the zoo's popular attractions.
"They're an iconic species here at the zoo," Mitchell said of polar bears. "They have been a part of the community and the fabric and our family forever, as far as anybody can remember. But there's a lot of things at play in this and one is the difficulty in acquiring bears."
Few polar bears are being born at zoos, Mitchell said. Cost and space requirements of a new exhibit are also considerations.
The combined space of the current adjacent lion and polar bear exhibits would not be enough to house polar bears under current requirements, Mitchell said.
"Every kid can identify with a polar bear and bears in general. It's not easy to replace a polar bear in any way, shape or form. It's even more difficult because they've been with us back to the 'Koehler polars,'" Mitchell said, referring to the first pair of polar bears to live at the zoo. The pair was sponsored by the Koehler Brewery.
"I think the community understands what we're doing is best for the polar bear and polar bears in general, and that has to be our first priority," he said.
ERICA ERWIN can be reached at 870-1846 or by e-mail. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNerwin.


Rhodes eResearch Repository – The mineralogy and geochemistry of the Voëlwater banded iron-formation, Northern Cape Province – Rhodes eResearch Repository
Banded iron-formations (BIFs) are chemically precipitated sedimentary rocks in which Fe-rich bands or laminae alternate with Fe-poor ones. Text TSIKOS-MSc-TR95-63.pdf 6Mb.
Astrobiology Magazine – Rock Bands Spin an Oxygen Record
Banded iron formation. To help sort out the geologic plotline, Papineau is studying banded iron formations (BIFs), sedimentary rocks that formed at the bottom of ancient seas. The iron minerals within BIFs make up the world's largest source of iron ore.
Iron – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Large deposits of iron are found in banded iron formations. These geological formations are a type of rock consisting of repeated thin layers of iron oxides, either magnetite (Fe3O4) or hematite (Fe2O3), alternating with bands of iron-poor shale and chert.
Origin of life critique
To everyone's surprise they reported the spiral algal fossil Grypania within banded iron formations (BIFs) in Michigan, USA. Algae require oxygen, so their existence at this juncture shows banded iron formations do not necessarily indicate global anoxic conditions.
Origin of Life – A. G. Cairns-Smith
Precambrian solution photochemistry, inverse segregation, and banded iron formations, A. Genetic takeover – and the mineral origins of life, A. G Cairns-Smith, Origins of Life, 6, 265-7, 1975. Mineral theories of the origin of life and an iron sulfide example, A. J Russell, 1992 Origins Life Evol.
www.docstoc.com docs 6018066 Precambrian PDF
Wells doesn't even mention the evidence that banded iron formations (incompletely oxidized iron indicative of ultralow-oxygen conditions) are very common prior to 2.3 bya and very rare afterwards.
Alaska Volcano Observatory – Novarupta – Bibliography
Origins of large-volume, compositionally zoned volcanic eruptions: new constraints from U-series isotopes and numerical thermal modeling for the 1912 Katmai-Novarupta eruption, 2010 Turner, Simon, Sandiford, Mike, Reagan, Mark, Hawkesworth, Chris, and Hildreth, Wes, 2010, Origins of large-volume, compositionally zoned …
BioMedCentral – BMC Evolutionary Biology – Full text – A genomic timescale for the origin of eukaryotes
Although the existence of banded iron formations prior to 3 Ga sometimes has been used as evidence for the early evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis, oxygen-independent mechanisms of iron deposition are known. Working model of gene relationships used in this study.
UTas ePrints – Setting of the Palaeoproterozoic Koongie Park Formation and carbonate-associated base metal mineralisation, at …
Requires a PDF viewer 71Mb. Requires a PDF viewer 486Kb. Requires a PDF viewer 876Kb. Requires a PDF viewer 5Mb. Requires a PDF viewer 6Mb.


Radon gas poses serious health risks. Next to smoking, it is the second leading cause of lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that close to 20,000 lung cancer deaths in the US yearly are attributed to residential radon exposure.
Non-smokers beware: The US Surgeon General announced that 20,000 Americans die of radon-related lung cancer each year. Radon gas trapped in homes is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Worldwide radon causes over 15% of all lung cancer diagnosed yearly.
Isn't Radon Testing a Scam?
Despite the serious, and fatal health risks of exposure to radon, few home owners get this checked. One possible reason is that radon testing was, for a short time, plagued by fraudulent testing businesses. However, because of the serious health risks of radon gas, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the individual statewide Departments of Environmental Protection have regulated the testing of homes for radon. Now, only homeowners and certified specialists are legally allowed to check for radon.
Furthermore, there was a time when homes were not air-tight and radon gas was easily dissipated into the air. So, the threat was not as prevelant. However, since the early 1980s, when home energy efficiency measure gained steam, the problem of residential radon gas has increased exponentially.
What is Radon?
Radon is radioactive gas that is completely undetectable by the five human senses. It is invisible, odorless, and tasteless. It comes from the breakdown of uranium in the soil (which first breaks down into radium and then into radon). Uranium is naturally occurring in all soil. Hence, radon is continually traveling through the soil and into the atmosphere. It becomes a problem when it gets trapped in homes and is allowed to accumulate.
What Are the Health Risks of Radon Exposure?
It has long been known that breathing radioactive material causes abnormal cell growth when exposed to internal bodily tissue, such as bronchial tissue. However, two recent scientific studies show definitive evidence between radon and lung cancer. "These findings effectively end any doubts about the risks to Americans of having radon in their homes," said Tom Kelly, Director of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division. "We know that radon is a carcinogen. This research confirms that breathing low levels of radon can lead to lung cancer."
Why Would Radon Be in My House?
Because uranium is present in all soil, radon is also present in the soil. Since radon is a gas, it naturally travels through the soil and enters homes through basement floors and walls. Particularly susceptible are homes with unfinished, rock or dirt floored basements built on loose soil. However, radon also leeches through concrete and has been found in homes without any visible cracks or fissures. Additionally, it can travel through drains. Once in the home, it breaks down into small particles that concentrate in the air throughout the home. Unfortunately, radon can not be dissipated by just opening a window or plugging in a fan.
Should I Worry About Radon?
People are spending more and more money making their homes fuel efficient. If you've done this, you know that it means your home is sealed as tightly as possible. What this means for radon is that it has no escape route. Add to that the time spent in the house - working from home, staying in to enjoy home entertainment systems, working-out with home gym equipment, and saving a buck by eating in. On average, we spend more time at home than ever before. If this sounds like you, then you should probably worry.
How Do I Know If I Have Radon?
OK, so radon's Dangerous. But, you don't know if it presents a danger to you and your family unless you get tested. There is a simple piece of equipment that tests for radon in a few days to a week. There is also more sophisticated equipment that can gather radon data over a loger period of time, up to a year.
You can test for radon with a testing device from the hardware store, home center, or even the American Lung Association. Or you can have a professionally certified radon removal specialist test your home. Any of these options are viable, however, a professional radon specialist is a safe bet. They are all state certified and adhere to strict government guidelines.
If you buy a test kit and do it yourself, it will cost about a third less than it would cost to have a professionally administered test. Place the test kit on the lowest level of your home, usually the basement. Home tests usually gather data over a 3 to 7 day period and give hourly readings of radon levels.
When is Radon Toxic?
Radon gas does exist in the air at safe levels (at 0.4pCi/L). The trouble exists when radon is trapped. Radon levels over 4 pico curies per liter (4pCi/L) are considered dangerous. If you or a radon specialist find levels higher than that, consider reducing the levels of radon in your home immediately.
How Do I Reduce the Radon Level?
The "subslab depressurization system" is the most common and effective way to reduce radon in the home. This system’s name is trickier than the technology. It’s basically PVC piping and a small fan. The piping is installed below the basement floor and run to the roof. The pipe in the basement is submerged below the basement slab and sealed. The end of the pipe that is above the eaves of the house is fitted with a small exhaust fan. This fan causes a suction that removes the gas and vents it into the atmosphere.
Should I Do It Myself or Call a Professional?
It is possible to install a radon reduction unit yourself. And, again, it will be considerably less expensive than if a professional does the job. Professional jobs can cost in the high 100s to the low 1000s. (Because some jobs are complicated, there is a wide range in the basic pricing.) If you do it yourself, it is advisable that your have experience with PVC piping and wiring.
When Should I Test Again?
If your radon levels were below 4 pCu/l the first time, it’s a good idea to test for radon levels every 2 or 3 years based on your soil and previous readings. Loose soil allows gas to travel more quickly than clay. Furthermore, if you have recently weatherized your home, if you’ve installed a central heating and air conditioning unit, if you’ve built additions in the basement or done any construction, have your radon levels checked.


STILLPOINT Archive: last updated 05/05/2011
by Mark Sargent
This mural (detail), by Marshall Deckert and Chad Carlberg ’95, was painted on the courtyard wall of the Latin American Studies Program in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Our written directions, in Spanish, alluded often to former landmarks rather than to the names of avenues, as if the real map of San José was the local memory. So when our cab driver got lost, retracing the same steep roads in the outskirts of the Costa Rican capital, we tried our luck at a corner fruit market, full of papayas, mangoes and bananas under a corrugated eave and another of the ubiquitous Coca Cola signs. The merchant, with slight amusement, promptly pointed to the iron fence and white house right across the street, the site of the Consejo Universidades Cristianas—or, the Latin American Studies Program of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).
It didn’t take long to encounter footprints from Gordon College. After all, Jud Carlberg had been one of the architects of the program during the years when the CCCU first decided to create study-abroad opportunities for U.S. students. On the wall overlooking a small courtyard, a bright mural by Marshall Deckert and Chad Carlberg ’95, Jud’s son, offers a vision of North American unity. Two large arms encircle a geographic panorama, which climbs from the barrio of San José toward the continental expanse of the United States. In the foreground the Pulperia, or the neighborhood fruit store, is surrounded by images of Costa Ricans at work and play—reading, harvesting coffee beans, or collecting flowers beneath a Spanish fountain. In the hazier distance one can see the faint silhouette of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and the twin towers of New York.
Our family’s visit occurred in the summer of 2002, just 10 months after those twin towers disintegrated over Manhattan streets. On that September 11 the sanctuary was already full when Jud Carlberg calmly pulled us together in a side aisle to design, rather hastily, a noontime service. We chose hymns. I read a psalm. And Jud had prepared remarks about how the moment was as likely to define this generation as Pearl Harbor had once done for his own parents. What I remember most was his call for patience and empathy rather than recrimination and revenge. He would take some heat for that: notes and emails from those eager for more righteous indignation.
Since the tragedy of September 11, international study has expanded among American students. The number of Gordon students traveling off campus for a semester has more than doubled in the decade. Increasingly our students now find their way around the world, joining service trips in Sri Lanka and Bolivia, or completing academic semesters in Orvieto and Beijing.
Going forward we will inevitably stress that such international ventures prepare students to flourish in the “global economy” and the “global village.” We do trust that our graduates will know the idioms of the world’s parliaments and the digital language of the world’s marketplace. But I hope that, in the midst of all the spin about power and expediency, we never lose the conviction that international study is a means to developing patience and empathy. It is about discovering those neighborhoods that shape individual lives and values. The map of the human heart relies on local memory.
During my time as provost I have appreciated Jud’s encouragement to link educational ventures to the local setting rather than envisioning education primarily as a global commodity. There is no digital equivalent for the hum of insects in Kenyan grasslands or the long conversation over coffee at Aix-en-Provence. Or the evening we spent with Jud and Jan walking by viola players on Budapest corners, part of a culture where opera spills into the streets.
Last spring my son Daniel spent a semester in the Triana neighborhood of Seville, Spain. During our visit Daniel and I found our way through the old dungeon of the Inquisition, exiting through an indoor market, packed with grapes, cantaloupes and ham legs, and decorated with scores of religious posters from Semana Santa, the extravagant and solemn Holy Week procession.
I had come to see something of the famous venue of religious intolerance, the place where the novelist Dostoyevsky set the confrontation between the Grand Inquisitor and Christ. But in the vegetable stands, festival streamers, and saints’ figurines beside the prison rubble, I was reminded just how much the great legacy of faith—its traditions, exuberance, and tragic excess—takes on a local hue, never far from the simplest cadences of common lives.
Globalization both reveals and obscures those cadences. I now read the international press online and watch cricket on cable. But this broad access to the world’s media can also build false confidence that one knows other peoples and places.
Just over a year ago, as I prepared for a trip to Tamil Nadu in southern India, I read Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger, a dark comedy on the rise of modern India. Fiercely satirical, the book captured the Man Booker Prize, the elite literary award announced in London. But in talking with faculty in Tamil Nadu I heard cautions about viewing an Asian nation through Western prizes, presumably because those award-winners are attuned to the Western ear for irony. Faculty spoke instead of poems and novels that caught the rhythms on the land they loved: a lyric about the white-washed banyan trunks alongside the dusty roads, a story about lepers in the Nilgiri Hills, or a novella about love and loneliness on the Gulf of Mannar. Other professors recalled, with melancholy, how many of the best Tamil-language films were redubbed in Hindi to catch the Bollywood market, a gateway to the commercial attention of Europe and North America. Social workers stressed the tug-of-war between Western ideals of personal rights and the Gandhian vision for the collaborative rural village. Justice requires an eye for the neighborhood as well as the global trend.
My hope is that at Gordon we will always remember the local in the liberal arts. Many who champion the liberal arts cite their universality—if not a singular canon of knowledge, a common array of intellectual skills. At their best, the liberal arts help us transcend borders. But one can also use a liberal arts pedigree, with its claims to wisdom and breadth, merely to sanction one’s provincial ways and values. Just as likely, we can easily lose the regional shades of human experience within the broad strokes by which we paint the history of people and ideas. After all, most of the matters that fill a liberal arts curriculum—books, theories, artwork, and methods of discovery—are imports from some specific place. As with any commodity that succeeds on the global market, whether it is cuisine, sport, software, novels or ideas, there are many other variations back home that are equally, or even more fervently, cherished. I am grateful that Jud encouraged us to discover them.
Mark Sargent has been the provost of Gordon College since 1996.


Maintaining Political Balance Through Redistricting
Bringing truth, light and perhaps even fairness to redistricting.
It’s the decennial exercise in political shenanigans that for eons has vexed reformers: state and federal legislative redistricting. Ever since former Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry invented his now-infamous “Gerrymander” on Boston’s North Shore, state legislators and governors have, with new census data, exhibited a sort of free-form artistic creativity that would be the envy of the most talented avant-garde abstract painters.
And so the question remains: How can redistricting be handled in a way that at least blunts the worst of that creativity? That is, can district lines be drawn so that they are not stretched across implausible geographical boundaries in order to tilt the political balance of power in a particular district in favor of Democrats or Republicans?
Two interesting experiments in reform are pending, although neither carries any guarantee of success. The first -- California’s Proposition 11 -- is garnering the most initial attention. Passed in 2008, the proposition creates a 14-member citizen commission overseen by the state auditor’s office that will handle the job of drawing up state legislative districts, taking the whole process out of the hands of politicians.
The way the commission is chosen is diabolically clever and convoluted. The method was designed with the assistance of the citizens’ lobby organization, California Common Cause, and complexity was built into it to defy politicization. At the same time, there’s been plenty of citizen enthusiasm about joining the commission’s ranks. “We thought we might get 500 or 1,000 applicants,” says Kathay Feng, executive director of Common Cause California. “We got 30,000.”
Whether Proposition 11 is allowed to work its prospective apolitical magic, however, depends on what happens this Election Day. Two ballot initiatives will be voted on -- they will either expand Proposition 11’s reach or kill the idea altogether. Proposition 20 will extend the commission’s jurisdiction beyond just state legislative districts to congressional districts. Proposition 27 -- which is backed by the California Congressional Delegation -- will rescind Proposition 11 altogether.
But if citizen commissions can’t play in the fields of redistricting, there will at least be more opportunity for a hot stove-style approach. The second reform idea involves the simple application of a little sunlight. That is, it would allow regular people to use Web-based tools and their computers to come up with their own plan for a state’s legislative and congressional electoral boundaries. That means for the first time in any redistricting cycle, citizens will be able to weigh in with their ideas on what maps should look like.
There will be no weight of law behind it, but through websites like Dave’s Redistricting App, posted on Gardow.com, anyone with a computer can play governor. Players choose their state and get to use speculative U.S. Census Bureau data to make their moves.
Meanwhile, the Brookings Institution and American Enterprise Institute are pushing states to put their own redistricting plans online and allow citizens to participate in the process. States haven’t proved to be overly excited about the prospect, citing costs.
Proponents of these citizen-participation efforts hope that they will at least get citizens tuned into the importance of what’s now considered an opaque and arcane practice. Maybe, given more citizen awareness, the efforts could spur politicians to be less brazen in their political artistry.
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Underwater Vac Inhales Alien Algae
"We're getting to the point now where we feel like we have a good suite of tools to remove alien algae."
- Eric Conklin, Honolulu Nature Conservancy marine-science advisor
Honololu, Hawaii, USA - Alien algae are infesting and killing some of Hawaii's coral reefs at an unprecedented rate ... But a new underwater vacuum cleaner is helping curb the growth.
Dubbed the 'Super Sucker,' the machine can hoover up to 800 pounds of the thicket-like algae in an hour, which should give reefs a fighting chance of recovery.


The JOBS act was signed into law by President Obama on Thursday 5 April, supported by overwhelming bypartisan support.
Grow VC has been active in pioneering the new market and since last year supporting the bills passage through Congress. A lot of work has been done much earlier with our global operations in building awareness and best practices in this emerging field. The movement of democratizing startup funding has been escalating in momentum since the past few years, but the impact is still only a fraction of it’s full potential for the economy. The support from US Congress is positive in seeing the fundamental changes that are impacting startups and investing in startups, but also the impact on the economy such a movement will have. We’ve also discussed this topic with the father of the bill, Congressman McHenry on our podcast.
President Obama stated:
Overall, new businesses account for almost every new job created in America. For startups and small businesses, this bill is a game changer. Because of this bill, startups and small businesses will have access to a bigger pool of investors.
What comes to the future beyond the signing of the JOBS act, however important, it is only a mere start of the future of startup funding. Grow VC continues its work to hone a sustainable and efficient framework for crowdfunding, but also tools and models to leverage crowdfunding for other types of investors and organizations. Therefore Grow VC works with hundreds of partners in it’s Networks Program, in order to include more information, support and infrastructure to early stage entrepreneurship. With the right framework and infrastructure, the JOBS act can truly kickstart the economy for new competitive advantages.
We at Grow VC applaud policy makers for their strong support and leadership to support the US economy and job growth. This is surely the start of many new success cases, both from the sides of entrepreneurs, as well as their investors.
Learn More About Grow VC Group Companies
We are always looking for talented, entrepreneurial and driven doers to join our growing global group of companies in various positions and locations around the world. If you think you have what it takes, apply now!


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By Gena Checki
Fab Lab program coordinator Greg Herker, right, shows the milling machine to student Randy Quilling.
Are you interested in changing the world with an idea or invention? If you are, you might consider attending a Fab Lab program or getting a Fab Lab membership. Fab Lab originated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where professor Neil Gershenfeld wanted to provide widespread access to modern means for invention.
There are now more than 100 Fab Lab locations worldwide, including Gateway’s Industrial Design Fab Lab at the S. C. Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant.
Gateway’s lab, which opened last spring, is open to all Gateway students. All interested individuals must first take a $25 orientation and safety class. In addition to Gateway students, small business and industry employees can use the Fab Lab for various purposes.
Fab Lab can be used for projects such as design, prototyping and model making. Art students can use it as a creative medium. The lab also can be used to demonstrate parts or even for fun, to make items that aren’t destined to change the world.
“The Fab Lab is a place to bring your ideas to life - whether something small that you take pride in or an invention that changes the world,” said Greg Herker, Fab Lab program coordinator.
For example, Gateway students recently designed their own characters on the computer and used a 3-D printer to bring their characters to life. The 3-D printer uses a liquid and ultraviolet light to “print” as a complete, workable object. The Fab Lab also is equipped with a 3-D scanner, a milling machine and an Epilog Helix Laser/Engraver.
In addition to encouraging ingenuity, Fab Lab technology will soon be in most workplaces. And, Herker added, employers want students who are creative and innovative.
“The Fab Lab is a place to bring your ideas to life - whether something small that you take pride in or an invention that changes the world,” said Greg Herker, Fab Lab program coordinator


[Haskell-cafe] Named function fields vs. type classes
k.schupke at imperial.ac.uk
Wed Dec 29 13:34:11 EST 2004
There are two ways to do the list of class members, existentials is one
data MyBox = forall a . MyClass a => MyBox a
type MyClassList = [MyBox]
f :: MyClassList -> MyClassList
An alternative is to use a heterogeneous list (see the HList library):
This allows heterogeneous lists with static typing, which can be
constrained by a class as follows:
class MyClassList x
instance MyClassList HNil
instance (MyClassList l,MyClass v) => MyClassList (HCons v l)
The constraint "MyClassList" now implies a heterogeneous list of members
f :: (MyClassList l,MyClassList l') => l -> l'
This represents a filter function on a heterogeneous list of class
members - The
drawback is that the list must be statically typecheckable... If you
list construction from IO actions, then you want to use existentials.
Sebastian Sylvan wrote:
>On Tue, 14 Dec 2004 15:40:13 +0000, Keith Wansbrough
><Keith.Wansbrough at cl.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>>>On the other hand, it's difficult or impossible to make a list of a
>>>bunch of different types of things that have nothing in common save
>>>being members of the class.
>>I've recently been playing with making, for each class C, a
>>"interface" datatype IC (appropriately universally and existentially
>>qualified so as to include a dictionary for class C), and then making
>>this IC an instance of class C. Then I can wrap any instance of C up
>>in an IC, and make a list of those.
>I think there should be standard syntax for this...
>Some sort of operator for turning one or several type classes into an
>So you could write something like something like...
>f :: <Show,Num> -> [<Show,Eq>] -> <Eq,Num>
>f a xs = ...
>So the first parameter is just a value of the interface datatype
>data ShowNum = forall a . (Show a, Num a) => ShowNum a
>And it's all automatically up and downcasted.
>This is one of the more powerful idioms in languages such as Java
>(collections of objects which satisfy some interface, for instance)
>and should, IMO, be supported by some special syntax to facilitate
>it's use in Haskell.
More information about the Haskell-Cafe