What Is Acid Reflux Disease?
Acid reflux disease, also known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs due to the coexistence of two medical conditions. The first acid reflux disease contributing condition is a retrograde flow of stomach contents into the esophagus. However, the reflux itself does not necessarily lead to gastro-esophageal reflux disease symptoms or histologic changes, and can occur among healthy individuals as well. In this case, the process is referred to as “physiologic gastroesophageal reflux”.
The second acid reflux disease predisposing condition is a lower esophageal sphincter (LES) malfunction. The LES is a 3-cm to 4-cm ring of muscle, which is two to three times thicker than the proximal esophagus and acts as a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. In the case of acid reflux disease, the LES does not close perfectly and stomach contents splashes up into the esophagus. When pathologic symptoms follow this process, the whole condition is called acid reflux disease.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is usually experienced as a persistent (at least twice a week) heartburn. Heartburn is the burning sensation in the chest or throat, caused by refluxed stomach contents touching the lining of the esophagus. Since healthy individuals may also experience light reflux – occasional heartburn is common as well, and doesn’t necessarily serve as an evidence of GERD.
Some GERD sufferers may also experience pain in the chest, cough, morning hoarseness, voice changes, difficulty swallowing (especially lumpy foods), chronic earache, burning chest pains, nausea or sinusitis. Some patients report a sensation that reminds food stuck, choking or tightness in the throat. This happens due to continuous stomach contents acid flow that comes into contact with the esophagus and causes inflammation of the esophagus resulting in scars from tissue damage.
Untreated acid reflux disease can lead to serious health complications. Those include stricture formation, bleeding, ulcers and esophageal spasms. When the stomach acid reaches the upper esophagus and trachea, the process can result in a variety of severe conditions, such as asthma, sinusitis and pneumonia. Finally, some people may develop Barrett’s esophagus, a condition that manifest in an abnormal shape and color of cells in the esophageal lining. This condition is a precursor to esophageal cancer, especially in adults over 60 years old.
The treatment of gastro-esophageal reflux disease takes three forms: surgery, medical therapy and holistic therapy, including dietary and lifestyle changes and the intake of specific herbal supplements. An undergoing surgery should be considered very carefully, since it can compound some underlying conditions, such as stricture and motility disorders. Medical treatment of GERD includes PPIs and H2 blockers. While acid reflux can be treated by taking prescription medications or acid blockers such as the above, bear in mind that the results may be temporary and that some conventional medications can cause serious side effects.
From a holistic point of view, acid reflux disease is considered a warning sign of a major internal imbalance that needs to be properly addressed. Therefore, alternative remedies, such as homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies, lifestyle changes as part of a complete holistic regimen are strongly recommended for acid reflux sufferers.
What Are The Symptoms of Acid Reflux Disease?
It is widely agreed among physicians and medical paraprofessionals, that initial diagnosis, mostly by using a typical acid reflux symptoms questionnaire, is necessary to ensure the most effective and quick treatment for this condition. Approx 70% of the acid reflux diagnostics that are based on the presence of typical symptoms are accurate. Since acid reflux, also called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), can cause patients a great deal of discomfort and result in severe complications, it is highly important to know how to identify its symptoms in order to quickly diagnose and treat it.
The most common symptom of GERD is persistent heartburn. Heartburn is experienced as an unpleasant and painful burning sensation in the esophageal area. Other typical symptoms are as follows:
1. Gastric regurgitation, which means an unrestricted reversed flow of gastric or esophageal contents into the throat. This gastric fluid can cause respiratory complications under certain conditions.
2. Odynophagia, which means pain when swallowing.
3. Dysphagia, which means difficulty swallowing, or the feeling of food stuck in the throat.
In addition to the above, about 50% of all gastroesophageal reflux disease sufferers report the co-occurrence of sinonasal symptoms (i. e. symptoms pertaining to the nose and sinuses).
Abnormal GERD symptoms include chronic wheezing and coughing (sometimes referred to as acid reflux related asthma, and are caused by the aspiration of gastric contents into the lungs area), spasmodic noncardiac chest pain and damage to the lungs, often followed by respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and asthma. Intense chest pain may closely resemble that of myocardial infarction that it has often been incorrectly interpreted as a heart attack. However, unlike the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, cardiovascular chest pain is usually aggravated during physical exercise.
Finally, acid reflux can also harm the vocal cords (hoarseness, laryngitis, cancer), ears (otitis media), and teeth (enamel decay). Being able to identify those symptoms as GERD related is of great importance to your health and general well being and for the prevention of potential complications. Acid reflux symptoms might serve as evidence to severe overall internal imbalance. In addition to that, neglected gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to significant physical discomfort and sometimes can results in chronic and even dangerous health conditions, such as esophageal cancer and pneumonia.
What Causes Acid Reflux Disease?
Acid reflux disease, also known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs due to the coexistence of several medical and lifestyle conditions. Physiological factors that trigger GERD include lower esophageal sphincter (LES) hypotonia (the gradual weakening of the LES), along with retrograde flow of stomach contents into the esophagus, and the level of sensitivity of the esophageal mucus to the reflux content.
The food that you swallow travels down your throat and is pushed by contractions of the muscular esophagus. In the area where the esophagus joins the stomach a valve-like mechanism, known as lower esophageal sphincter (LES), is located. The closure of this muscle prevents stomach acid from backing up, or refluxing, into the esophagus.
LES malfunction is the first factor that causes and contributes to gastro-esophageal reflux disease. In a healthy individual, the LES relaxes only when food passes from the esophagus into the stomach. After the food passes into the stomach, the valve shuts off, keeping the stomach content and acid inside. However, when the LES is weak and doesn’t close properly, acid can splash up into your throat causing painful burning sensation, called heartburn.
There are several factors/conditions, which can prevent the LES from being closed properly. These factors/conditions include genetic weakness, obesity and excessive fat ingestion. In addition to that, all muscles in the human body tend to sag as part of the aging process, including the LES.
The second factor, or rather the group of factors that causes gastro-esophageal reflux disease, are behavioral and lifestyle related. As mentioned above, a weakened LES is one of the direct physiological causes of acid reflux disease. Various food ingredients, drugs and nervous system processes can weaken this muscle, thus contributing to GERD. Foods that may contribute to acid reflux include orange juice, lemons and lemonade, grapefruit juice, tomatoes and tomato juice, French fries, sour cream, coffee and tea.
Acid reflux can also be the result of fungal yeast infection that builds up in the colon. When Candida albicans turn from yeast to fungi, they depress the immune system and produce more than 79 distinct toxins that may be responsible for many of the symptoms that Candida sufferers have including heartburn.
When Candida gets out of control, it breaks through the intestinal walls and travels throughout the body. It can attach itself to the genital areas, the mouth and the esophagus among many other parts of the body. When Candida goes out of control, it begins to ferment and reflux the contents of the stomach upward through the small intestines, through the stomach and then through the esophagus, causing infection, burning and damage to the esophagus
How To Get Rid Of Acid Reflux Disease
This article is based on the book, “Heartburn No More” by Jeff Martin. Jeff is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated his life to creating the ultimate acid reflux solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root cause of heartburn and acid reflux and naturally and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life, without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures. Learn more by visiting his website: Heartburn No More


Logic Design for Array-Based Circuits
Copyright © 1996, 2001, 2002 Donnamaie E. White
Structured Design Methodology
Last Edit July 22, 2001
Initial sizing of the circuit
Before an array or array series has been chosen, estimate the size of the circuit or circuits to be placed on the array. Estimate the number of I/O connections, the types of I/O connections and the I/O cell count. The I/O cell count and the pad count may both be required. Estimate the internal cell count. (See Table 2-4.)
Table 2-4 Sizing Review
For standard functions, equivalent gate counts may exist that can be used in place of internal cell count to estimate the size of the internal array area that will be required. Internal cell counts are more useful than equivalent gate counts where the cells are more complex than one or two gates.
Compare these estimates to the review of the arrays still under consideration and their I/O resources, their internal density and their maximum frequency of operation. Note that, at this stage in the design, the sizing estimates for the circuit may be off by a considerable margin. Historically, device cell utilization at the estimate stage of a design is 20-30% below the final value.
Q2000 Series Approximate Equivalent Gate Size (Historical)
Internal cell utilization
The first population checks can be made before the circuit is designed. Internal cell utilization is one of these checks. Internal cell utilization is the number of cells required by a circuit divided by the number of cells available.
Macros that are suitable can be listed and a rough estimate of internal cell utilization computed. This step includes a review of the available macros in the various libraries with emphasis on the requirements of the specific circuit application.
Reviewing the macros available allows a match to be made between functional macros that exist and what is required to implement the design in the least silicon for the highest performance. All other things being equal, the convenience of the macro library can be a decisive factor in the final array selection.
Do the macros available support the circuit modules? Large macros may include adders, carry-look-ahead, comparators, up and down counters, universal registers, large multiplexors and decoders.
Internal cell utilization should be 60-70% at the initial stages of sizing estimates to allow for expansion due to buffers, fan-out load distribution, path balancing or specification changes. The internal cell utilization limit for a completed design is array-specific. (See Table 2-5.) AMCC arrays have an upper limit of 95-100%.
Table 2-5 Internal Cell Utilization Limit
Interface cell utilization
The I/O requirements to the outside world are the second size determination. The array for a circuit must provide sufficient I/O capability to handle all signals, all other interface-placed circuit support such as three-state enable drivers, test enable controls and added power and ground pads to support simultaneously switching outputs (SSO) and high-speed inputs.
As with internal cell utilization, only an estimate of final interface cell utilization can be made. The array should not use100% of the I/O or the design will become I/O bound. Pad utilization, for cases where the I/O cells and pads are not one for one, must also be kept under 100%.
A check on array symmetry should be made. The Q20000 Series arrays do not provide the same number of I/O cells in each array quadrant. This may affect placement and added power and ground usage. The Q24008 is not square and has variable power and ground bonding. Check for these and other variations that might affect allowable utilization of the I/O pads and cells.
Selection of the array series
Integrate the hardware specification, the available arrays and the initial sizing estimates to select the target array series. The final choice is usually based on the performance - cost - availability - support matrix. In cases of equivalence between one or more array series, the final choice may be subjective.
Package availability should be considered in the early decisions since customized packages, especially for large arrays, take months to develop.
The specified performance and requirements for on-chip memory will assist in the reducing the number of options. Only a limited number of arrays support on-chip memory, such as the QM1600T. CMOS and BiCMOS do not yet support designs operating at 300MHz (although individual macros can toggle at these speeds). High-speed bipolar arrays support paths operating over 1.4GHz.


Allergy and asthma tests are a way to get to the bottom of what’s causing your asthma symptoms as they help your practitioner determine if allergies trigger your asthma. Many people with asthma are allergic to tiny particles (allergens) that they breathe in. Examples of airborne allergens are the pollens of grasses, trees, and weeds, spores of molds, animal dander, and dust mites. This is why asthma testing is extremely important in determining what your triggers may or may not be.
Day-to-day inhalation of allergens to which you are sensitive can worsen the inflammation of the bronchial tubes in asthma. Additionally, it can cause your asthma to become more active (meaning that you are more likely to be troubled by cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or nighttime awakenings from asthma symptoms) and make you more likely to have a serious attack of asthma.


Pages for iOS (iPad): Touchscreen basics
Gestures are crucial to using Pages on your iOS device. These are the gestures you need to know:
Using one finger, quickly and firmly touch the screen, then lift your finger. Use this gesture to select an object or activate a button.
Using two fingers simultaneously, quickly and firmly touch the screen, then lift your fingers. Use this gesture to select an entire paragraph in the document body or a text box.
Scroll, swipe, flick
Slide one finger up and down or side to side—for example, to see items outside the edges of the screen or to see more options in a list. Scroll quickly by swiping or flicking one finger rapidly across the screen.
Swipe or flick up and down to scroll the pages of your document.
You can drag to move an object, or to resize an object or a selection range.
To move an object, touch and hold the object, then drag it to where you want it. To resize an object, tap it, touch and hold one of the selection handles, then drag to resize.
Select multiple objects
Select as many objects as you want by touching and holding one object on the screen, then tapping the other objects with another finger. Use both hands if it’s easier.
Swipe to move the insertion point through text
After you place the insertion point within a paragraph, you can quickly move the insertion point around by swiping left or right with one finger, two fingers, or three fingers at a time.
Swipe across the paragraph with one finger to move the insertion point one character in the direction that you swipe.
Swipe across the paragraph with two fingers to move the insertion point to the beginning or end of the current word.
Swipe across the paragraph with three fingers to move the insertion point to the beginning or end of the current line.
Pinch open to zoom in
Place two fingers on the screen and spread them apart. This action allows you to see a close-up of items on the screen. Pinch open quickly to immediately increase the page size to 200 percent. If you want an in-between size, pinch open more slowly. An indicator displays the current page magnification as you pinch.
Pinch closed to zoom out
Place two fingers on the screen and bring them together. This action allows you to see more items on the screen. Pinch closed quickly to immediately reduce the page. An indicator displays the current page magnification as you pinch.
To learn about using universal access features, including VoiceOver, see the Accessibility chapter in your device’s user guide.


This report presents the results of archaeological investigations undertaken in 2003–5 along the 6km route of the A505 Baldock bypass, Hertfordshire. The evidence spans the late Neolithic to the medieval period, although no evidence for activity from the later 5th century to the beginning of the 11th century was found. The late Neolithic evidence was dispersed across the route corridor and comprised bowl-shaped pits, shaft-like pits and a small funerary enclosure. Early Bronze Age activity was restricted to the northern portion of the route and included a small roundhouse and a cluster of seven barrows. These barrows subsequently became the focus of burial activity in the late Iron Age and earlier Roman period.
Evidence for early to middle Iron Age activity was concentrated on the Clay-with-flints soils of the Weston Hills. It comprised clusters of pits and occasional post-holes which were grouped into a series of activity areas. The pottery recovered hints at a chronological shift from north to south. These activity areas are thought to represent evidence for more permanent settlement, although the actual dwellings are assumed to lie outside the route corridor.
Roman boundary ditches and enclosures were found across most of the route corridor. Although evidence is somewhat piecemeal, there does appear to have been a reorganisation of the land boundaries, evidenced by infilling of later Iron Age boundaries and the excavation of new boundaries along a different alignment. Dominating the evidence for the Roman period were two roadways, each displaying a sequence of maintenance and repair. Both roadways lead into the Roman town of Baldock and both were on a similar alignment. A study of the repair sequences and associated finds suggests that a continuing problem of drainage and silting on one road led to the construction of a slightly realigned replacement.
Evidence for medieval settlement was confined to the northern portion of the route corridor, and included a rectangular enclosure containing a cemetery, pits and post-holes, with evidence of a hollow way running along the western side of the enclosure. Analysis of documentary evidence strongly suggests that this enclosure can be identified as the 13th-century Hospital of St Mary Magdalene in the parish of Clothall.
Woodland clearance along the route appears to have been complete by the early Bronze Age, with the earlier landscape probably a patchwork of woodland, pasture and cultivated fields. This clearance appears to be associated with a reduction in the numbers of pigs kept by the Bronze Age farmers, and the development of a pastoral economy based upon cattle and sheep. Much of the route from later prehistory onwards has been open calcareous grasslands, probably well grazed by sheep, which became increasingly important in the local economy; much of the wealth of medieval Baldock derived from wool.
Mark Phillips, 2009. 'Four Millennia of Human Activity Along the A505 Baldock Bypass, Hertfordshire', East Anglian Archaeology 128


Constitution of South Africa
The Constitution of South Africa is the supreme law of the Republic of South Africa. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the republic, it sets out the rights and duties of its citizens, and defines the structure of the government. The current constitution, the country's fifth, was drawn up by the Parliament elected in 1994 in the South African general election, 1994. It was promulgated by President Nelson Mandela on 18 December 1996 and came into effect on 4 February 1997, replacing the Interim Constitution of 1993.
- In some countries the Constitution only formalises, in a legal instrument, a historical consensus of values and aspirations evolved incrementally from a stable and unbroken past to accommodate the needs of the future. The South African Constitution is different: it retains from the past only what is defensible and represents a decisive break from, and a ringing rejection of, that part of the past which is disgracefully racist, authoritarian, insular, and repressive and a vigorous identification of and commitment to a democratic, universalistic, caring and aspirationally egalitarian ethos expressly articulated in the Constitution. The contrast between the past which it repudiates and the future to which it seeks to commit the nation is stark and dramatic.
- Ismail Mahomed, State v. Makwanyane, 1995 (3) SA 391 (CC)
- Encyclopedic article on Constitution of South Africa at Wikipedia


“Necessity is the mother of invention” is as apt for new wind turbine de-icing systems as for those created decades ago for planes.
Modern day windmills and their blades are taller and larger than ever before and run 365 days a year through rain, sleet and snow with temperatures that drop below zero. According to industry reports, the presence of ice on blades can cut the production of electricity by 20% a year in cold climates where ice is present for several months or more a year.
Protecting wind turbines from ice requires a de-icing system. The leading edge of a wind turbine blade builds up ice and in order to keep the blade spinning and generating electricity, de-icing must continually take place. Imagine workers scaling a wind turbine to de-ice its blades manually! There are currently six different solutions to wind turbine icing: hot air, coating paint, blade control systems, built-on or integrated heating panels, geometrical enabled blades and new nanomaterials.
Perhaps the most interesting systems for de-icing blades involve biomimicry and nanotechnology. Scientists have been developing “superhydrophobic coatings” in which water droplets roll off of surfaces in the same way this occurs on specific types of leaves. In essence, the molecular surface of these coatings do not permit binding with H2O which simply runs off.
A company called Kelly Aerospace has been creating de-icing systems for planes for many years and is now providing de-icing solutions to the wind power industry. According to the company, its Wind Turbine Ice Protection System (WTIPS):
- Sheds ice during operation
- Does not require shut down during icing conditions
- Protects blades from leading edge erosion
- Involves simple external installation on blades
- Uses PLC controlled deicing system
- Uses a flexible graphite foil
- Limits laid in balances when ice is present
- Reduces wind turbine vibration and wear
WTIPS measure relative humidity, blade temperature and ambient temperature to determine the right time to de-ice. Once de-icing begins, it only takes 7-14 minutes for the cycle to complete.
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Do we all have freedom to say whatever we want and act upon it? Or do we have a right to say anything within a set of restrictions?
Freedom of speech is the expression of beliefs and ideas without unwarranted government restriction. New ideas flourish from this power to speak our mind with no inhibitions. The root of journalism is based within free speech as it allows reports to be made that are truthful and uncensored. It seems such a long time ago that letters from home were being changed and discarded before reaching the recipients in World War 2. And to solve this, a Freedom of Speech act was passed. But it's certainly not solving everything.
On a smaller scale, within the school environment, children are bullied and barraged with hate speech. In Cadillac, Michigan, this exact thing happened. Alex Harrisson was constantly being accused of peeking into girls' bedrooms and was taunted throughout his years at school. So he took his own life. If unregulated speech is causing so much harm, should it be allowed? Is the ability to speak your mind worth the potential consequences?
Free speech also allows for extreme and prejudiced views to come to light. Britain First, an anti-Muslim political party, recently launched their “Ban the Burka” campaign. Essentially it's the first step towards a white, Christian Britain. This party raids mosques and burns the Qur'an in the name of their Christian God and the victims of 9/11 and other terrorist attacks. Clearly, not all Muslims are terrorists, and not all terrorists are Muslims. It is a vast exaggeration to assume that they might be. According to the UN, they are allowed to exist as a party. But they stretch far beyond free speech. They are inciting violence against groups within our society. This shouldn't be happening. This is the main reason why free speech is such a difficult thing to…


This Law preceded the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and is inconsistent with the provisions of the convention. Somaliland considers itself bound by UNCLOS which was ratified by the Somali Democratic Republic on 24 July 1989. For example, the Convention states that “every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from the baseline.” (Part II, Section 2, Article 3).
Territorial Sea and Ports
Law No. 37 on the, of 10 September 1972
Article 1 The territorial sea
1. The Somaliland territorial sea includes the portion of the sea to the extent of 200 nautical miles within the continental and insular coasts, delimited according to the provisions of articles 2 and 3 of this Law.
2. The Somaliland Territorial Sea is under the sovereignty of the Somaliland Republic. Offences committed within the limits of the territorial sea on board a vessel relating to penal health and public security shall be governed by Somaliland law.
Article 2 Measurement of the territorial sea
1. The normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the low-water line along the coast.
2. In localities where the coastline is deeply indented or if there is a fringe of islands along the coast in its immediate vicinity, the method of straight baselines joining appropriate points may be employed in drawing the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
3. Waters on the landward side of the baseline of the Territorial Sea form part of the internal waters of the State within the meaning of Article 4 below.
Article 3 Territorial sea for islands and archipelagos
1. Where an island is situated within the 200-mile limit the belt of waters around it will constitute territorial waters. This belt will be 200 miles wide and will be measured from the low-water mark following the sinuosities of the island.
2. A group of islands forming part of an archipelago shall be considered as a unit and its territorial waters shall be measured from the centre of the archipelago.
Article 4 Internal Waters and Maritime Ports
1. The internal maritime waters include all navigable waters in Somaliland rivers open for maritime vessels and maritime ports with the areas as delimited by the table annexed herewith.
2. The internal Somaliland waters are subject to the sovereignty of the Republic according to Somaliland Laws and the provisions of this Law.
Article 5 Fishing and coastal navigation
1. Fishing in the territorial sea and regular transportation of persons and goods between Somaliland ports are reserved for vessels flying the Somaliland flag, and other authorized vessels.
2. Any infringement of the above provision shall be punished with a fine from 5,000/- to 10,000/- Somaliland shillings, and in case of repetition of the infringement by the vessel or the operator, the punishment may be doubled and the captain shall be liable for offences prescribed by the Somaliland penal laws and the vessel may be confiscated.
3. Any contract of transportation made in violation of paragraph 1 above is void and without effect and the vessel executing or intending to execute the contract shall be subject to a fine equal to 5 times the freight or the fare stipulated or fixed by the usage for similar operation.
Article 6 Innocent passage through the territorial sea
Subject to the provisions of the Law merchant ships of all nationalities are allowed to the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea within the limits laid down by this Law and the general principles of the international law of the sea.
Article 7 Meaning of innocent passage
1. Passage means navigation through the territorial sea for the purpose of either traversing that sea without entering internal waters or of proceeding to internal waters or of making for the high sea from internal waters.
2. Passage includes stopping and anchoring, but only in so far as the same are incidental to ordinary navigation or are rendered necessary by force majeure or by distress, but not for loading or unloading goods or passengers.
Article 8 Limits of innocent passage
Passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, health or security of the Republic. Such passage shall take place in conformity with the provisions of this Law, and with the general rules and principles of international law.
Article 9 Prohibited passage
1. Passage in the territorial sea and internal waters is not allowed to vessels having the nationality of States not recognized by the Somaliland Republic.
2. In case of violation of the above paragraph the Somaliland authorities may take any measures necessary to ensure its.
Article 10 Warships
1. Foreign warships are not allowed to pass through the territorial sea unless they are authorized by the Somaliland Government.
Article 11 Respect of Somaliland laws in the territorial sea
1. All Ships exercising the right of innocent passage shall comply with Somaliland Laws and regulations.
2. Each vessel while passing through the territorial sea shall hoist its national flag and comply with the orders made according Somaliland laws by the competent Authorities.
3. In case of infringement of any of the two above paragraphs the vessel hall be punished with a fine from 1,000/- to 100,000/- Somaliland shillings unless the fact or the omission constitutes a more grave crime.
Article 12 Entering into internal waters
1. All Ships proceeding to internal waters or ports shall comply with the provisions set by the Maritime Code for this purpose.
2. Subject to the limitation laid down by article 5 of this Law all merchant ships except those mentioned in article 9, paragraph 1, above are granted the rights to enter in Somaliland ports for any commercial operation, especially to load, unload, unload cargoes embark or disembark passengers.
Article 13 Defence zones
The Somaliland competent authorities may take the necessary measures to suspend temporarily innocent passage of all foreign ships, in specified areas of the territorial sea, if this becomes necessary for the protection of the security of the State.
Article 14 Charges for services rendered
Charges levied on ships in internal waters are also levied upon foreign ships passing through the territorial sea for services rendered or measures taken regarding the vessels for their security and the implementation of rules of the navigation police.
Article 15 Criminal jurisdiction on foreign ships
1. The criminal jurisdiction of the Republic shall be exercised on board foreign ships passing through the territorial sea or anchoring in the ports with respect to the arrest of any person or conduct of any investigation in connection with any crime committed on board the ship during its passage. Criminal jurisdiction is confined to the following cases:
(a) If the consequences of the crime extend to the territory of the Republic; (b) If the crime is of a kind to disturb the peace of the country or the order of the territorial sea of the port;
(c) If the assistance of the local authorities has been requested by the captain of the ship or by the counsul of the country whose flag the ship flies;
(d) If it is necessary for the suspension of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.
2. The authorities may take any step authorized by the Somaliland laws and regulations for the purpose of any arrest or investigation on board a foreign ship while it is passing through the territorial sea after leaving the internal waters or the port.
3. In the cases provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article the authorities shall, if the captain so requests, advise the consular authority of the flag State before taking any steps, and shall facilitate contact between such authorities and the ship's crew. In cases of emergency this notification may be communicated while the measures are being taken.
4. Local authorities shall not take any steps on board a ship passing through the territorial sea to arrest any person or conduct any investigation in connection with any crime committed before the ship enters into the territorial sea and it is only passing through the territorial sea without entering internal waters.
Article 16 Civil jurisdiction of foreign ships
The authorities may not levy execution against, or arrest, the ship for the purpose of any civil proceeding, save only:
(a) In respect of obligations or liabilities assumed or incurred by the ship itself in the course or for the purpose of its voyage through the territorial sea or internal waters;
(b) In the cases provided for by the Maritime Code.
Article 17 Government ships
1. The rules provided for in the preceding article shall apply also to foreign Government ships operated for commercial purposes.
2. The above rules do not affect the immunities which Government ships operated for non-commercial purposes enjoy.
Article 18 Arrest of vessels by authorities
In case where a punishment is prescribed for infringement committed by a foreign vessel the Somaliland authorities may arrest the vessel until the said punishment is fulfilled or a sufficient security for this purpose is furnished.
Article 19 Repeal
Any provision contrary to this Law or consistent with it is hereby abrogated.
Article 20 Entry into force of this Law
This Law shall come into force on the thirtieth day of its publication.
10 September 1972


The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not in any way represent the editorial position of Euronews.
For over a year, the world has experienced the tragic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to the human toll and suffering in Eastern Europe, the war has revealed and exacerbated a global hunger crisis.
While international aid groups are often best suited to respond in times of crisis, community-based organizations, such as food banks, serve as important partners in the face of food insecurity.
The data is clear, but the picture is bleak. One in three people worldwide today face an uncertainty about food.
Earlier this month, the World Food Program reported that 349 million people in 79 countries would experience acute food shortages this year.
At the same time, the conflict in Ukraine has driven up fertilizer and fuel prices and disrupted the global food supply.
Food banks have the local know-how to handle the toughest crises
In addition to the conflict in Ukraine, the food crisis has been exacerbated by other recent devastating disasters.
The severe drought in Africa has brought many in the region to the brink of starvation. Last year’s floods in Pakistan caused a drop in rice exports while leading to a spike in rice prices.
In addition to these crises, the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria killed over 45,000 people and left many more in need of food, shelter and emergency supplies.
Although the causes of food insecurity are complex and difficult to address, the important role of food banks is clear.
As part of the world’s largest network of food banks, we know firsthand the role community-led organizations play.
Food banks leverage local knowledge and networks to provide a steady supply of culturally appropriate food.
When an emergency strikes, they can mobilize to identify populations in need, collect food and distribute it quickly.
From Ukraine to Turkey, food banks are key to helping those in need
At the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, food banks began to support people in the country and the surrounding areas.
Food banks helped bring aid to refugees, especially the elderly, women and children, in neighboring countries such as Poland, Romania and Moldova.
In October 2022, The Global Foodbanking Network and the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) established a new food bank network in Ukraine, Ukraine Food Bank Federation, to direct food to people in the conflict zone, especially in eastern Ukraine.
In total, more than 25 food bank organizations across Europe have responded and provided food to millions of people.
Likewise, within hours of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, TIDER, a member of The Global Foodbanking Network, sent relief packages to people in the affected area.
As a member of Afet Platformu, which coordinates emergency relief activities among more than 20 NGOs in Turkey, TIDER has leveraged its community-led approach to provide earthquake survivors with food, health and hygiene products.
It’s not just about one-off disaster relief
Food banks don’t just play a role in sudden emergencies.
In the Horn of Africa, a climate change-driven drought – including five failed rainy seasons in a row – is leading to widespread disruption to local food production.
In response, Food Banking Kenya uses its networks to provide food to communities, including the Maasai indigenous people, whose nomadic traditions make them difficult to reach.
The Kenyan Food Bank has collaborated with guides, church groups and other partners to identify needs, cover inaccessible terrain and distribute food to these communities.
While the concept of food banks is well established in the US, Europe and most developed countries, the role of food banks is less well known in developing countries.
To expand the impact of these organizations, food banks need greater attention and support globally and nationally.
For example, governments may adopt policies that provide tax incentives or limit liability for farmers and businesses that donate food.
There is no need for debate about the response to the food crisis
Governments can also direct resources to food banks through disaster and development funding.
Local leaders can help by raising awareness of how food banks strengthen and improve long-term resilience in communities.
Importantly, food banks do not seek to replace the role of governments or aid organizations, but can be a flexible and effective complement to their work.
With greater awareness and support, community-based food banks can be better prepared before crises strike and support communities long after emergency responders have moved on.
Although there is great uncertainty and disagreement in the world today, the need for an urgent response to the multiple intersecting food crises is a place where there is no debate.
_Lisa Moon is President and CEO of The Global FoodBanking Network, an international non-governmental organization that supports community-led solutions to hunger in over 50 countries worldwide.
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by Al Badia
Horses are prone to a variety of injuries, but the majority of these injuries are preventable. If you own a horse or work with one regularly, it’s important to know how to evaluate the animal’s body when it’s injured, and how to determine the severity of an injury. This guide will help you locate an injury, assess its impact on your horse’s health, and make decisions about the next steps you should take to restore your horse to full health.
There are three different ways you can tell if a horse is injured. One is by feeling the body of the horse to check for any abnormalities. Another is by looking at the horse’s gait as it walks and runs in order to see if there are any issues that could indicate an injury has occurred recently or sometime in the past few weeks or months. Finally, you can ask your veterinarian about specific injuries they may have seen while examining other horses at racetracks around town.
In order to properly examine a horse, you need to know where their body parts are located so that you can check them for injuries. The first thing to do is feel for any bumps or lumps on each animal’s backside (near where its tail would be). If there are none present then move onto checking their legs by pressing firmly down with your fingers until they reach bone underneath all layers of muscle tissue; make sure not to press too hard though! You don’t want any damage done after all this time spent searching for those bumps!
Afterwards you will want to look at how the horse moves when it walks or runs around an area such as a pasture or track


Renewables comprised 26.2% of global electricity generation in 2018. This volume is expected to increase to 45% by 2040 due to the increased demand for low-emission production.
By 2025, the global wind turbine market is expected to reach $123 billion compared to the evaluation at US$90 billion in 2019 . The gradual growth is explained by the struggle of governments worldwide to reduce the carbon footprint that strongly impacts climate change.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everybody’s plans and set new trends for the renewables industry for the next few years. Despite negative forecasts, the renewable energy market started recovering in the second half of 2020 after a dramatic slowdown in the first half of that year.
Will things ever be the same? Let’s have a look at the post-pandemic changes that will shape the industry through 2022 and beyond.
Market boost after the COVID-19 pandemic
In early 2020, wind energy supply chains were massively disrupted by the all-around lockdown. Businesses had to shut down manufacturing, incurring missed deadlines and arrangements, and postpone their initiatives from 2020 to 2021 and 2022.
Leading renewable energy suppliers such as GE Renewable Energy, Vestas, and Siemens had to rearrange production to continue operating, but delays in supplies of turbines, blades, components, and materials. In general, it slowed down productivity until late 2020.
Despite the severe economic pullback, about 40% of all electricity in the EU was received from renewables compared to 34% of electricity from fossil fuels.
In 2021, the wind turbine market growth will be fueled by the resumed projects and investment budgets accumulated through 2020. 2022 is expected to be even more flourishing after the market recovery and further expansion of wind and solar power installations on continents.
Going coal-free in the long run
The UK was coal-free for 67 days in 2020 . For two months, the country utilized only the electricity produced by wind farms and renewable energy grids. This achievement made the UK’s 2020 the greenest year since the Industrial Revolution.
Britain’s next milestones are to phase out polluting fuels by 2025 and ban new gas-power cars by 2030 . By that year, the UK will also spend 1 billion dollars on capturing carbon emissions from two industrial hubs.
The UK’s green industrial revolution is a hot topic in the media, so its experiment will soon be caught up in other regions of the world.
A while ago, China announced its plans to go carbon-neutral by 2060 . The Republic will substitute electricity from fossil fuels with that produced by wind and solar power installations as part of its five-year national development plan.
On the other side of the world, the US is gradually increasing the share of renewable energy against traditional energy sources. The country counts on solar and wind power installations that are actively established in most US states.
“2020 was the year of positive surprises for the environment in a way that very few saw coming. It was the breakout year in sustainability and infrastructure.” Jeff McDermott, Head of Nomura Greentech
Onshore prevails over offshore
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the capacity of onshore wind energy installations increased from 177,790 MW in 2010 to 594,253 MW in 2019. Within the same period, the capacity of offshore wind turbines has grown from 3,056 MW to 28,155 MW.
The delivery of electricity from offshore wind turbines requires more complicated infrastructure at a higher expense on development and maintenance. Which, in its turn, results in a higher cost of electricity for a consumer.
At the moment, electricity produced with solar PVs and onshore wind turbines is sold at the cheapest cost out of all global renewables due to the wide popularity and high affordability of these two types of energy generation . In addition to that, the growing popularity of small wind turbines such as from TUGE Energia, WindEnergy7, Enessere, Tbhawt Manufacturing, and others will further influence the decline in the energy cost.
There are many remote on-ground areas with high-speed winds that can be used for onshore wind turbine installation, whereas offshore wind turbines demand long-term site preparation, including research of the sea bed and complex foundation development.
Offshore wind generation is an extremely high-potential market; however, it will take more time to pay back than onshore wind turbines, especially after the pandemic. The industry expects forecast offshore energy to evolve in the next decade quickly.
Electric power supply systems are currently developed based on centric architecture. Besides known operational advantages, centricity can do a bad favor in the case of delayed price settlement or hub connectivity interruptions.
Internet-of-Energy has been designed as an instrument to mitigate settlement and connectivity issues.
Quick read: What is Internet of Energy (IoE)?
An IoE power system can involve diverse renewable energy generation grids connected into a network where energy providers, consumers, and investors can communicate via a single, decentralized blockchain-based platform. Using the platform, users can raise funds, own resources, and trade their energy avoiding the risk of fraud or energy loss.
An IoE system intelligently distributes rights between users, enabling them to buy and sell electricity directly from each other, skipping the multi-tier settlement that usually takes place in centralized systems. Platform users can set and change prices adherently to the relevant market situation.
Internet of Energy aims to simplify and improve energy distribution among market participants. Through delegated managerial control, the network lightweights its architecture resulting in higher efficiency.
“Distributed energy generation is the most fast-developing stream in the energy industry. IoE platforms are a convenient way to buy and sell electricity firsthand. I believe IoE will remain an excellent investment option with very promising profits.”Nick Grebenkine, a private investor in wind energy
Hi-tech energy storage
The pandemic has demonstrated that force-majeure can happen for everyone in a moment. Besides closed borders, 2020 has brought several incidents of power outages in different regions of the world. These factors have brought energy startups to the idea of creating energy storage that will cumulate electricity and distribute it safely among consumers even during blackouts.
Intelligent energy storage will collect electricity from energy providers and keep it until distributed among consumers. By doing so, energy providers can stably deliver electricity on a known time under known circumstances at a known price, unlike centralized systems.
Next-level energy storage systems can offer individual storage space for buyers to stock it up for the future at the best price at the present time.
Energy storage can be especially helpful during peak load times or power outages. It can also be used as a trading platform for the users, where providers and buyers can exchange their resources storing electricity in the same location with minimum transmission expense.
A Swiss startup Energy Vault has developed storage to keep energy from renewable energy sources in pumped-storage plants that rely on gravity and the movement of water to generate power. Such a system can be used for long-term keeping at a low response time.
In a couple of decades, renewables are expected to be the main source of energy in most regions of the world. Blockchain, IoT, and distributed computing are being actively integrated into energy production, storage, and distribution.
With global digitization, more technologies will be adopted by the energy industry in the next few years, so leaders need to look at the latest trends not only in the renewable energy market but also at those in the IT software technologies.
- Renewable energy, C2ES
- Global Wind Turbine Market – Forecasts from 2020 to 2025
- Renewables beat fossil fuels, Ember
- 67 days coal free – a major milestone on the journey to a greener Britain
- UK plans to bring forward ban on fossil fuel vehicles to 2030, The Guardian
- How China could be carbon neutral by mid-century, Nature
- The 10 Ways Renewable Energy’s Boom Year Will Shape 2021, Bloomberg
- Outlook on the Wind Turbine Global Market to 2025, Businesswire
- Onshore wind and solar ‘cheapest’ form of energy for two-thirds of global population, Edie


When he was shot that fateful day in December 1980, Beatles’ fans everywhere felt that the life of their “Working Class Hero” had been cut short, in his prime, and his voice was silenced, forever.
The Death of John Lennon
“John Lennon was an English musician who gained worldwide fame as one of the founder members of The Beatles, for his subsequent solo career, and for his political activism and pacifism. He was shot to death by Mark David Chapman at the entrance to the building where he lived, The Dakota, in New York City on Monday 8 December 1980. Lennon had just returned from Record Plant Studio with his wife, Yoko Ono.
“Lennon was pronounced dead on arrival at Roosevelt Hospital. He was 40 years old. At the hospital, it was stated that nobody could have lived for more than a few minutes after sustaining such injuries. Shortly after local news stations reported Lennon’s death, crowds gathered at Roosevelt Hospital and in front of the Dakota. Lennon was cremated on 10 December 1980 at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York; the ashes were given to Ono, who chose not to hold a funeral for him.”(Wkipedia)
The Day John Lennon Died
In 2010, on the 30th anniversary of his death, ITV aired a documentary.
(And I have deleted the link since the video is no longer available.)
The fact that so many people had their lives changed by his death on that day will forever be his legacy.
In 1980, we were living in Vancouver, BC. On the 8th of December, my friend Evelyn rang to tell me that she’d heard on the radio that John Lennon had been shot and killed that evening in New York City.
I was devastated, having been a lifelong fan of The Beatles. We had lost our hero, and the world would never be the same. The world has never been the same since that day.
Pingback: My Beatles Record Collection | cdsmiller17


Wilderness Survival Skills
Wilderness travel can be a complicated business because of all the variables of terrain, weather, snow, water, and vegetation. By putting the information in this chapter into practice, you can learn to travel safely and efficiently through some of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on earth. Combine this information with the advice in earlier chapters on navigation, camping, food, clothing, and equipment, and you should be ready for the wilderness.
Getting from the car to the mountain is another. Wilderness travel is the art of getting there across streams, around brush, along trails, and over snow. fiord, tough wilderness travel may lie ahead. The techniques of muddling through brush are not as glamorous as fifth-class rock climbing, but many a peak has been lost in thickets of slide alder. The biggest barriers on the way to a mountaintop often appear below snow line. Learn the skills of wilderness travel and you open the gateway to the summit.
In packing for a wilderness trip, it's a simple matter of take it or leave it. The idea is to take what you need and to leave the rest at home. With thousands of choices widely available in outdoor clothing and equipment, it's no longer a question of how to find what you need, but rather of limiting your load to just the items that will keep you safe, dry, and comfortable. This chapter is one useful source of information on basic wilderness gear, including guidelines on what constitutes good equipment. It won't tell you what brands to purchase, but it will help you find high-quality items among those thousands of choices.
Groups of two or more rarely become dangerously lost, even if they have no wilderness experience. The real danger comes to an individual who is separated from the rest of the party. For this reason, always try to keep everyone together, and assign a rear guard to keep track of the stragglers.
Consider this a language lesson, but in a language quite easy to learn and one that pays immediate rewards to any wilderness traveler. Some of this language is in words, but most of it is in the This is only the start of the picture that contour lines paint of your actual wilderness route. They also show cliffs, passes, summits and other features (fig. 4-1). You will get better and better at interpreting these lines by comparing actual terrain with its representation on the map (fig. 4-2). The goal is to someday glance at a topographic map and realize you have a rather sharp mental image of just what the place will look like. The following listing shows the main features sketched by contour lines. because topographic maps are not revised very often and information on forests and on roads and other manufactured features could be out of date. A forest may have been logged or a road either extended or closed since the last updating. Although topographic maps are essential to wilderness...
You will find detailed information throughout this entire book on dealing with objective hazards, especially in the chapters on wilderness travel and on the various types of climbing rock, snow, ice, winter, and aid. They spell out ways to confront objective hazards ranging from fearsome exposure and rotten rock to avalanches and steep snow slopes with poor runout. They give advice on avoiding rockfall, icefall, cornices, crevasses, and other environmental dangers.
Navigation is the science of determining the location of your objective and of keeping yourself pointed in the right direction all the way from your starting point to the destination. Like orientation, this takes map and compass and is a required skill for all wilderness travelers.
It's a mistake, however, to believe that a larger party is always a safer party. A larger party can start bigger avalanches and kick down more loose rock. It will generally be slower and more unwieldy, both in camping and climbing. A party of ten to twelve is considered the largest that can impose itself on the wilderness without serious damage to the ecosystem and even this is too large a group for some areas.
East of the zero-declination line, the declination is subtracted from the magnetic bearing. In Maine, for example, the magnetic bearing is 20 degrees greater than the true bearing. Subtracting the declination of 20 degrees gives a wilderness traveler in Maine the true bearing. This is all very simple in theory but can be confusing in practice, and the wilderness is no place to practice mental arithmetic that can have life-and-death consequences. A more practical way to handle the minor complication of declination is to pay somewhat more for your compass and get one with an adjustable declination arrow instead of a fixed orienting arrow. The declination arrow can be easily set for any declination. Then the bearing you read at the index line will automatically be the true bearing, and concern about a declination error is one worry you can leave at home.
Stoves are now a necessity for backcountry travelers because many camping areas no longer have enough firewood, and others have banned natural-fuel fires. Stoves have a minimal impact on the wilderness and can be used in a variety of conditions. The disposable butane cartridges cannot be refilled. Therefore, you may end up leaving home with a cartridge that is only half full becausc it was already used on an earlier trip. The cartridges are bulky, and all too frequently the spent canisters arc found discarded in the wilderness. Pack them out. Another drawback is that the maximum intensity of the flame declines as the fuel is used up (and the pressure in the cartridge drops correspondingly). This problem is partly compensated for at higher elevations, where lower atmospheric pressure means the interior cartridge pressure is relatively higher. Some cartridges cannot be changed until they are empty. Always change cartridges outside your tent because residual fuel in spent canisters can...
The most valuable technique in wilderness hiking is setting the right pace. A very important way of controlling your pace is the rest step (fig. 5-1), used whenever legs or lungs need a little time to recuperate between steps on steep slopes. Once you learn it, you'll use it often.
Mountaineering is more than climbing, panoramic views, and wilderness experience. It is also challenge, risk, and hardship. And it is not for everyone. Those drawn to the mountains can find them exhilarating and irresistible, as well as frustrating and sometimes even deadly. There are qualities to mountaineering that inspire us and bring us to revel in a pursuit that is more than a pastime, more than a sport a passion, certainly, and sometimes a compulsion.
Mountaineers use them to package food, as emergency mini-tents, and sometimes to keep the water away from their feet. Keep a heavy-duty plastic bag on hand to carry the garbage. The old rule about food containers is that if you can carry it into the wilderness full, you can carry it out empty. Mountaineers clean up every bit of their garbage (yes, even aluminum-foil flecks from a campfire) and often pack out anything they find in camp or on the trail, no matter who left it. Never bury garbage or dump it in latrines. The golden rule of camping Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it.
Of your wilderness destination, but a great deal about how to get there. The information is acces Prepare for each trip as if you were going to lead it, even if you aren't. Each person in a climbing group needs to know wilderness navigation and must keep track of where the party has been, where it is, and where it's going. In case of emergency, each climber must be able to get back alone.
Mountain climbers don't always set up camp in the most comfortable places. They may walk right past an idyllic spot in the forest in favor of a windy mountain ledge because that puts them closer to the summit. What other reasons might there be for picking a particular campsite Because it's comfortable Scenic Environmentally sound Sometimes you can have it all, but at other times you need to give a little to help preserve the wilderness. Let's look at camps from the standpoint of the wilderness to see which sites are least damaging to the environment. From best to worst, they are
The entire western half of Canada contains range after range of wilderness peaks, starting with the great massifs of Mount Logan and Mount St. Elias in the north, with their Denali-like climbing and scale, and extending south to the Coast Range and Mount Waddington, five hundred miles north of Vancouver. All of these remote ranges are heavily glaciated and offer major wilderness ice adventures to those willing to make the discovery on their own. In the winter months the mountains of Vancouver Island provide more accessible but still very exciting and little-known Scottish-type climbing on the rimed-up, 3,000-foot cliffs of Mount Colonel Foster and other peaks.
Freedom characteristically describes not just simple climbing but wilderness mountaineering. Any person who becomes a wilderness mountaineer has a deep and abiding responsibility to help preserve the wilderness environment for present and future generations. Walking softly is a fair start. The mountain regions throughout the world constitute the domain of mountaineering. This dwindling and finite resource depends on the wilderness traveler for its future preservation.
If the swimmer must release the rope at any time, he will have to rely on his own water survival skills and swimming ability to get to shore. A PFD will greatly increase his own personal safety. A PFD may also be used by the last man across, as he will release the rope from the anchor and be belayed across as the first man
Besides advanced techniques, wider aspects of mountaineering safety are not covered like the most common way to die in the wilderness, hypothermia. the Mountain Climbing school Manual introduces only a single aspect of climbing safety, mountaineering techniques. prospective mountaineers should expect years of learning subjects like alpine weather, snow and rock conditions, route finding and first aid. ANd THEN THERE IS EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULd bE ON ANy TRIP INTO THE WILdERNESS, SOMETIMES CALLEd THE TEN ESSENTIALS, ALTHOUCH bOTH THE EXACT NUMbEr ANd THE ITEMS THEMSELVES VAry
If the need arises to implement survival skills in a semi-permissive or non-permissive environment the Marine must be able to utilize basic skills, as referenced in the Marine Battle Skills Handbook Pvt - Lcpl, in order to avoid making contact with hostile personnel. Unfortunately, the enemy will not consider your MOS when deciding whether or not you should be captured or killed. It is imperative that every Marine live up to statement - every Marine is a basic rifleman. To discuss every possible survival scenario and enemy situation would be pointless. The following outline is to be utilized as a guide. Common sense and survival skills, along with these considerations, will increase your chances of avoiding capture or possible death.


URI education group works closely with stateís public schools to improve science teaching
Elizabeth Rau, 401-874-2116
KINGSTON, R.I. Ė June 11, 2014 Ė Itís no secret educators, parents and politicians are worried that the nationís public schools are failing to prepare students for a rapidly changing world.
Help is on the way from the University of Rhode Island, where educators and scientists are working to train teachers how to teach science in a way that emphasizes critical analysis and hands-on learning.
The initiative by URIís Guiding Education in Math and Science Network, or GEMS-Net, takes on greater importance following Rhode Islandís decision last year to adopt Next Generation Science Standards, new national guidelines for science teaching.
Rhode Island was the first state in the country to adopt the new standards. Some other states, like Texas, are unlikely to embrace the guidelines because they seek to teach students about controversial topics like climate change and evolution.
The URI group will be busy this summer, creating a new science curriculum that Rhode Islandís public schools can use if they want. The group will also hold a leadership training workshop in August for about 50 science teachers.
Currently, GEMS-Net is working with nine school districts in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade, at 43 schools. More than 630 teachers are expected to participate in the groupís professional development programs in the coming years.
Director Sara Sweetman is especially qualified to lead the charge. She is a former science teacher in Jamestownís public schools, an assistant professor of education at URI and a science consultant for childrenís programs at PBS, including Sesame Street.
We sat down with her to talk about her efforts, how URIís education professors are improving science teaching in Rhode Island, and of course, what itís like to hang out in Oscarís trash can.
Why is it so important to overhaul science teaching in the country?
We can only imagine the challenges our society will have in 20 years when young students are beginning their careers. We will likely be living in new environments, fighting new diseases, enjoying new media platforms and harvesting our natural resources differently. The job opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields are expected to increase dramatically in the coming years, and there is a need for people to be critical decision makers. It is important that schools challenge children to act, think and learn like scientists. In most American elementary schools science education has not been a priority.
Tell us about GEMS-Net? Why was it created? Who is funding the group?
URI educators and scientists partner with local school districts to build a support program that ensures all children have access to high quality STEM education. We provide districts with research-based, student-centered curriculum and materials and support all district educators with professional development. The majority of the funding comes from the districts through membership fees.
Your group is helping nine school districts. Would you like more schools to join?
Sure, more schools mean more shared resources. It helps us keep the costs to districts down Ė an important part of our partnership. In addition, more districts mean that more children will receive the learning opportunities to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Gems-Net is writing a new science curriculum this summer for the stateís public schools to adopt if they want. Any details yet about what will be included in the curriculum?
Yes, we have sample documents to share. The curriculum has suggestions to teachers on methods of teaching, what research based materials to use, how to measure student success and how to capitalize on the connections to the Common Core Standards for Math and English Language Arts.
The Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS, were developed by 26 state governments and a group of scientists and teachers. They provide guidelines for what students should learn, but allow school districts to decide on curriculums. When did Rhode Island adopt the guidelines?
Rhode Island was the first state to adopt the NGSS standards after they were released last May. The districts are expected to be aligned with the new standards by 2017. The policy tells the districts what they need to be doing, but it does not tell them how to do it. That is a great challenge for the districts.
Why are the new guidelines controversial in some states?
There are a few reasons why states might not adopt the standards. Not all states agree on the content, particularly in areas of climate change and evolution, but it is more than that. The NGSS is a policy document with high expectations that will be very challenging to implement. The transition will cost states and districts money and will likely add to schools already stressed as they work toward expectations on other policies. The demands are too great for districts to do alone. That is why the partnerships URI has with districts are essential.
It must be fulfilling to work as a science consultant for PBS? You appeared on Sesame Street several years ago. Did you have fun?
It is very rewarding. Everyone I have worked with at PBS is passionate about education. STEM education fits into their mission. Itís about kids, characters and Muppets discovering their world and falling in love with learning. PBS engages their characters in real problems with real solutions. It is a great model for all levels of learning.
Sara Sweetman, director of URIís Guiding Education in Math and Science Network, or GEMS-Net. She is also an assistant professor of education at URI and a former science teacher in Jamestown. Photo by Michael Salerno.


Was Hitler Ill?
Four months after the end of the war, Hitler's personal physician Theo Morell stated to his fellow prisoner Karl Brandt: "In fact, Hitler was never sick." Brandt, who had been responsible for the "euthanasia" killings and was thus deeply implicated in the crimes of the Nazi regime, disagreed. He claimed that Morell had "pumped the Führer full of drugs" and was now merely attempting to justify his actions. In his opinion, Morell had turned Hitler into a physical wreck.
The image of a decrepit and drug-dependent psychopath in the Reich Chancellery bunker is one of the most enduring myths about Hitler. It provides a simple explanation for his actions: who but a sick man could have ordered the killing of millions of people? Hans-Joachim Neumann and Henrik Eberle study this question and seek answers in the detailed notes and diaries left by Morell, in medical reports, pharmacological analyses and interviews with eye witnesses. Their conclusions are clear and definitive.