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Topic: I Have a Dream .......... ( N.S.C. ) Return to archive Page: 1 2 3 4 5
June 16th, 2005 11:59 AM
telecaster State of Iowa V Lewis J. Atley aka Gary J. Semeniuk

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Scott County, Bobbi M. Alpers, John H. Nahra, and James R. Havercamp, Judges.

Defendant appeals conviction for possession of controlled substances, asserting trial errors and unconstitutionality of statutes. AFFIRMED.

Michael K. Williams, Sioux City, for appellant.

Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Robert P. Ewald, Assistant Attorney General, William E. Davis, County Attorney, and Realff H. Ottesen, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee.

Considered en banc.

SNELL, Justice.

This case involves an appeal by defendant, Lewis J. Atley, who was convicted of manufacturing and possessing controlled substances, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, and tax stamp violations. He asserts trial court errors and that the statute relating to psilocybin is unconstitutional. We are now reconsidering issues raised by defendant's petition for rehearing, which we granted, as well as those issues previously considered. On rehearing, we affirm.

I. Factual and Procedural Background

On July 11, 1994, Davenport authorities were notified by the Denver, Colorado police that a package containing methamphetamine had been intercepted at the Denver airport and would be arriving that afternoon at the Quad City airport. Officers of the Quad-City Metropolitan Enforcement Group (MEG) set up surveillance at the airport and observed the defendant pick up the package. The officers followed Atley's vehicle into Iowa and eventually stopped it along the interstate. Officers questioned him about the package and found that it did contain methamphetamine. Atley was Mirandized but not arrested. After a brief conversation, police obtained consent from Atley to search his home. Atley informed the officers that there they would find a small quantity of marijuana and something else that would "make front page news."

Upon arriving at Atley's residence, officers found it had been converted into a large mushroom growing operation. Inside were mushrooms in various stages of growth, over 4000 mason jars, 2000 styrofoam coolers, 240 petri dishes, four 50-pound bags of brown rice, and numerous other instruments of mushroom production, including refrigerators, humidifiers, grow lights, pressure cookers, heat sealers, and packaging materials. Police also found a quantity of marijuana at the residence. Atley told the police that he did not believe his operation was illegal, and at the same time stated that he could sell the mushrooms for $860 per pound.

June 16th, 2005 12:00 PM
telecaster Of what is the universe made? What are the ingredients for the Cosmic Recipe? If we can answer these questions, we may gain some clue to the history of our universe.

People have long known that the stars are far, far away; in the nineteeth century, astronomers finally measured the distances to a few nearby stars with reasonable accuracy. The results were so large -- thousand of trillions of miles -- that most people figured we'd never be able to visit them or learn much about them. After all, we can't go to a star, grab a sample, and bring it back to earth; all we can do is look at light from the star. In fact, at least one prominent philosopher and scientist went on the record as saying that we'd never be able to figure out their compositions.


Of all objects, the planets are those which appear to us under the least varied aspect. We see how we may determine their forms, their distances, their bulk, and their motions, but we can never known anything of their chemical or mineralogical structure; and, much less, that of organized beings living on their surface ...
Auguste Comte, The Positive Philosophy, Book II, Chapter 1 (1842)

(Comte refers to the planets in the quotation above; he believed that we could learn even less about the stars)
But just a few decades after this pessimistic statement, astronomers were starting to identify elements in the solar atmosphere. We now have a good idea about the chemical makeup not only of the stars, but of the entire visible universe...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


What about the Earth?
It's easy to figure out the chemical composition of the Earth: just dig up some dirt, and analyze it. Well, maybe it's a bit more complicated than that.

We live on the surface of the Earth, which may contain a different mix of elements than the inner regions. Up here, at the surface, we can divide the environment into several pieces:

the atmosphere
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% other stuff (carbon dioxide, water vapor, argon, etc.)
the oceans
water: 2 hydrogen, 1 oxygen
the solid crust
62% oxygen (by number of atoms)
22% silicon
6.5% aluminum
bits of iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, etc.

If we count the total number of atoms in each component, the atmosphere is by far the least important, and the solid crust by far the most important. One could pretty much ignore the air and the water...

June 16th, 2005 12:01 PM
telecaster What are Asphalt Roof Shingles?

Asphalt roof shingles are the most common covering used on residential properties in North America. Early shingles were made by saturating rag-felts with asphalt and by coating each side of the saturated felt with an asphalt-mineral filler-coat, covering the top surface of the shingle with mineral granules (sunlight and weather resistance) and coating the bottom surface with a material to prevent shingles from sticking together in storage or shipment. Beginning in the 1940's the felt mat was changed to a zero rag-content using wood fibers and cellulose (newspaper). More recently many manufacturers began producing shingles using a fiberglass mat to replace the felt. The fiberglass mat was thought to have good tear resistance, possibly slightly better fire resistance, and as the mat was generally thinner than the felt mat, we believe that there were also economic advantages for both the manufacturer (less asphalt used in the mat) and the roofing installer (lighter material, easier to install).


June 16th, 2005 12:01 PM
Joey


Developing ................................
June 16th, 2005 12:02 PM
telecaster APPEARANCE:

The adult house mouse is small and slender and about 1-2 inches long, excluding tail. It has large ears, pointed nose and small eyes. The tail is as long as the head and body combined. The fur color varies, but it is usually a light grey or brown, but could be darker shades.

DIET:

Mice will eat almost anything, but prefer cereal grains, seeds, or sweet material. They require very little water, obtaining most of their water needs from their food.

HABITS AND BIOLOGY:

If there are good living conditions(food, water, and shelter),they can multiply rapidly. They sexually mature in two months, producing about 8 litters in a one year life time. Each litter has 4-7 pups. A house mice in a city environment may spend it's entire life in buildings. In rural and suburban settings, it may not only live inside, but be found outside near foundations, in the shrubbery, weeds, crawl spaces, basements, or in garages. They survive well on weeds, seeds, or insects, but when their food supply is shortened by the colder months they move inside nesting closer to a food supply. They make their nest from soft material like paper, insulation, or furniture stuffing. These nest are found in many places including: in walls, ceiling voids, storage boxes, drawers, under major appliances, or within the upholstery of furniture. Outside the nests are found in debris or in ground burrows.

Mice while being "nibblers" eating many times at different places, they do have two main meal times...just before dawn and at dusk...they simply "snack" at other times at intervals or every 1-2 hours. They can eat about 10 to 15% of their body weight every day, the adults weighing about 5/8-1 oz. They get much of there water from food products.

HOUSE MOUSE INSPECTION:

Their droppings(feces)are about 1/8-1/4 inch long, rod shaped. They gnaw small, clean holes about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Many times in kitchens you will find gnawing damage on the corner of boxes and paper, shredded for their nest. They will gnaw at bar soaps.

To see a picture of tracks and droppings-click here

June 16th, 2005 12:03 PM
Joey


June 16th, 2005 12:03 PM
telecaster Your sewing machine is a wonderfully useful machine when working properly, a frustrating, confusing monster when it's not. Oddly, a vast majority of machines sent to repair shops for repairs, could be repaired at home with little or no technical knowledge.

The first thing to remember is not to panic! Don't let your frustration get in the way of your good sense. Depending on the type of problem you're having, the following suggestions may be of immediate help to you.

TENSION: As you change projects and start sewing on different weight materials, you should test stitch on a piece of scrap material of the same weight before beginning the actual project so you can adjust your upper tension to that particular fabric. As an example, if you're changing from a denim type fabric to a silky fabric, you would definitely want to make sure the tension is correct and the stitching looks right before you start to sew the garment.

To determine whether the upper tension is too tight or too loose for the fabric you're wanting to use, try the following test. Take a small scrap of the fabric, fold it, and stitch a line ON THE BIAS of the fabric, using different colors of thread in the bobbin and on top. Grasp the bias line of stitching between the thumb and the index finger. Space the hands about 3 inches apart and pull with an even, quick force until one thread breaks. If the broken thread is the color of the thread in the needle, it means that the upper tension is too tight. If the broken thread is the color of the bobbin thread, the upper tension is too loose. If both threads break together and take more force to break, it means that the tensions are balanced.

BOBBIN: The most probable cause of the lower thread breaking is an improperly wound bobbin. Regardless of where you wind the bobbin, inside the machine, on the top of the handwheel or on the front side near the hand wheel, the basic "bobbin" rules apply.

** Always start with an empty bobbin. Never wind one color over another color.
** Don't wind the bobbin so full that it would be tight and hard to insert into the bobbin case. Most machines have an automatic "shut off" when the bobbin gets full, but if yours does not, be careful not to fill it too full.
** Wind the bobbin evenly across and in level layers.
** Never mix different sizes of thread in the bobbin and on the spool, unless you're doing sewing machine embroidery or some specialty type of sewing. Using different weights of thread on the spool and in the bobbin for general sewing will cause ragged stitches as well as other stitching problems.
June 16th, 2005 12:05 PM
telecaster Getting Started
Replacing a 3-way switch with a new switch or a 3-way dimmer is a straightforward process, but there are a couple of tricky points you need to keep in mind. These tips should help you get through the project fairly easily.

This article is about replacing a standard 3-way switch, usually controlling some lights, which draws 110 - 120 volts. The switch you're about to replace should have exactly three wires connected to three termination screws, or four wires connected to four screws, including a ground connection. If the existing switch has only two wires attached to it, or three wires including a ground wire, it is probably a single-pole switch.
June 16th, 2005 12:07 PM
telecaster Sam Houston
(March 2, 1793 to July 26, 1863)


The man had a backbone. Sometimes that's all he had, but it was enough to make him one of the most remarkable figures of 19th Century America.

Running away from home in Tennessee at age 16, he grew up among the Cherokee Indians. He later served under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 and in the Creek Indian wars, receiving a wound in the right shoulder that never fully healed (and two other wounds that did heal.) He became a lawyer, entered politics, served in Congress, and in 1827 was elected governor of Tennessee. While governor, Houston married Eliza Allen, a Southern belle half his age, on Jan. 22, 1829.

Eleven weeks later, she seems to have run screaming from the house during the night, back to her parents. The scandal was enormous, and he immediately resigned, left everything and went West to rejoin the Cherokees, who were now removed to Oklahoma.

Both went to their graves without revealing what happened. But marriages breakup all the time without ripping the fabric of history, and so the gossip continues. He revealed in a letter after his flight West that she had seemed cool to him, he accused her of having another love, found he was wrong, and she would not accept his apology, and so he split. That said, we have to believe they spent their lives hiding the fact that they had nothing to hide. There must have been factors they both felt eager to put behind them.

June 16th, 2005 12:10 PM
telecaster Cowpens National Battlefield commemorates a decisive battle that helped turn the tide of war in the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution. On this field on January 17, 1781, Daniel Morgan led his army of tough Continentals, militia, and cavalry to a brilliant victory over Banastre Tarleton's force of British regulars. The battle at the "Cow Pens," one of only a few successful double envelopments in history, is recognized by historians as one of the most important of the American Revolution.
Daniel Morgan knew both his men and his opponent. He put his militia in front of the Continentals, telling them to aim for the officers and to get off at least two good shots before retreating. Following the militia's retreat, the Continentals fought intensely with the British before Tarleton sent in his reserves. The Continentals misunderstood an order and began an orderly retreat. Thinking they had won the battle, the British broke ranks and charged forward. Morgan recovered, choosing new ground on which the Continentals could rally. The cavalry and militia reentered the battle and surrounded the British.

Coming on the heels of a patriot victory at nearby Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780, it was the second successive staggering defeat for British forces under General Charles Cornwallis. Only nine months after the Battle of Cowpens, Cornwallis was forced to surrender his army to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia in October 1781.


June 16th, 2005 12:12 PM
telecaster Most of the world's glaciers are found near the Poles, but glaciers exist on all of the world's continents, even Africa. Australia doesn't have any glaciers; however, it is considered part of Oceania, which includes several Pacific island chains and the large islands of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. Both of these islands have glaciers.

Glaciers require very specific climatic conditions. Most are found in regions of high snowfall in winter and cool temperatures in summer. These conditions ensure that the snow that accumulates in the winter isn't lost (by melt, evaporation, or calving) during the summer. Such conditions typically prevail in polar and high alpine regions. There are two main types of glaciers: valley glaciers and continental glaciers (known as ice sheets).

The amount of precipitation (whether in the form of snowfall, freezing rain, avalanches, or wind-drifted snow) is important to glacier survival. In areas such as Antarctica, where the low temperatures are ideal for glacier growth, very low annual precipitation causes the glaciers to grow very slowly.

June 16th, 2005 12:13 PM
telecaster Swiss history - a brief survey

Beginnings
Archaeological finds show that already 100,000 years BC, individual nomad hunters and collectors lived in caves. Almost 100,000 years later, the Romans also became interested in Swiss territory. Under Roman rule, the Swiss middle land reached its cultural peak. Today, well-preserved finds such as houses, thermal baths, amphitheaters (Augusta Raurica; Augst/BL) still show the affluence of that time.
The disintegration of the Roman Empire opened the doors to Germanic immigration. Burgundians, Alemannians, Franks and Longobards populated Switzerland alongside and with each other until about 800 AD when Charlemagne the Great brought the whole territory of Switzerland – including the Tessin – under his rule.

Conversion to Christianity
About 600 AD, Irish monks (Columban and Gallus) rang in the period of Switzerland’s conversion to Christianity. Numerous monasteries (St. Gall, Disentis, Lucerne, Einsiedeln) came into existence at this time.

The Confederation’s Foundation
At the end of the 9th century, the Kingdom of Charlemagne the Great finally split up and offered room for Swiss dynasties, e.g., the Zahringers, Savoyers and Habsburgers. The Habsburgers prevailed with a single-minded expansion policy everywhere in the territory of the German Kingdom. However since they always wanted to take possession of the important Gotthard Pass entrance, the people of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden defended themselves. The result of this defensive action was a federation based on the principle of a free political system (1273). Rudolf of Habsburg was able to extend his power further and was even crowned King of Germany. He died on the 15th July 1291 and did not leave behind any successor; this offered the oppressed Inner Swiss a good opportunity to assert their rights and freedom. According to tradition, the “Ruetli Oath” is considered the founding of Switzerland (celebrated today on the 1st August as the National Holiday).


June 16th, 2005 12:14 PM
telecaster The center of the Aztec civilization was the Valley of Mexico, a huge, oval basin about 7,500 feet above sea level. The Aztec empire included many cities and towns, especially in the Valley of Mexico. The largest city in the empire was the capital, Tenochtitlan. The early settlers built log rafts, then covered them with mud and planted seeds to create roots and develop more solid land for building homes in this marshy land. Canals were also cut out through the marsh so that a typical Aztec home had its back to a canal with a canoe tied at the door.

The story of the Aztecs' rise to power is awe inspiring one, and is one of the most remarkable stories in world history. They were a relatively unknown group of people who came into the Valley of Mexico during the 12th and 13th century A.D., and rose to be the greatest power in the Americas by the time the Spaniards arrived, in the 16th century.


Little is known of the earliest Aztecs, they did not keep a written record. Their history was passed on by word of mouth from one generation to the next. Legend has it that they came from an Island called Aztlan, meaning White Place - Place of Herons.

In the Aztec codex Tira de la Peregrinacion, commonly called the Migration Scrolls. The scrolls have the Aztecs leaving Aztlan, which was described as an island in a lake with Chicomoztoc depicted as seven temples in the center of the island. The Aztecs felt they were the "chosen people" of Huitzilopochtli. The Aztecs believed Huitzilopochtli their war god was their protector, how had them search for their promised land.

June 16th, 2005 12:41 PM
Sway History of the Diaper.

There was a time when there was a man... We do not have to go that far away, however as you think of it, the need for a baby diaper dates as far as the history of mankind (and more realistically the history of women). Adam and Eve had a need for a baby diaper, as Mr. and Mrs. Smith today, no matter how pretty the Garden of Eden may have been.

There are several documents that refer to the special clothing used for the babies of ancient times. Milkweed leaf wraps, animal skins, and other creative natural resources, a far cry from today's disposable diapers. The Egyptian, the Aztec, the Romans, and many others, who left documentation of their day to day activities, mention its use. Its need covers all segments of the population, from princesses to beggars. This is one of the very first items that distinguished man from animals, believe it or not!.

Infants have been "wrapped in swaddling bands" in many European societies since antiquity. Swaddling bands were strips of linen or wool that were wrapped tightly around each limp and then crosswise around the body (like many Yoga advocates still do in India). In Elizabethan times, babies were treated to a fresh diaper only every few days. Innuits, an Eskimo people, placed moss under sealskin.



In some Native American tribes, mothers packed grass under a diaper cover made of rabbit skin, as it was done by the Incas in South America. In warmer tropical climates babies were mostly naked and mothers tried to anticipate baby's bowel movements to avoid any mess near the house. In the American West of pioneer days, wet diapers were seldom washed, most times they just hung by the fireplace to dry and then use again; as you can imagine, skin rash was a serious problem. In Europe, it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution from 1820 onwards that the working people started taking pains to contain their baby's waste more carefully, having acquired sufficient wealth to buy household furniture and the need to protect it.



By the late 1800's infants in Europe and North America were wearing the progenitor of the modern diaper. A square of rectangle of linen, cotton flannel, or stockinet was folded into a rectangular shape and held in place with safety pins. "Diaper" was originally the term for an overall pattern of small repeated geometric shapes, and then a white cotton or linen fabric with such a pattern. So the first babies' diapers were made from diaper fabric, meaning fabric with a repetitive pattern.

One of the first ways to reduce the diaper rash, was after there was a better understanding of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and was understood how to kill them, or at least how to control them. At the beginning of the 20th century, many concerned mothers started to use boiled water in order to reduce more effectively the common rash problem. Boiling a big pot with diapers required great amounts of energy and time. Probably some readers in their 40's, 50's and older, may still remember the big steel pot used to boil the used diapers of our brothers or sisters, and then the "ceremonial" hanging of the wet diapers to allow them for drying to the sun. Younger readers have to watch old Disney cartoons to understand what I am talking about. ("Goofy the perfect father" Disney, 1948)



The typical diaper used in the 40's was a thick rectangular cloth made of cotton, this piece was folded using traditional teachings of "ones ancestors" (not a joke!). It was a beautiful tradition that grandmothers thought their daughters for their first grandchild. Of course, it was also a chance to talk about how much baby's usually resemble their grandmother's, don't you agree? (we better not argue about that, if you know what is best for the family). However, this was unacceptable for the "industrial revolution babies", and the new evolving society based in the "American dream". During World War II, the increase of working mothers brought the need for the "diaper service". Fresh cotton diapers would be delivered on an as-needed basis, to moms tuckered out from building planes and tanks all day. As with many of the greatest inventions, it is not clear who can be credited as the "single inventor" of the disposable diaper as it evolved by the addition of many gradual steps. Early forms of tissue-based disposable under-pads and diaper inserts were made available at the beginning of this decade in Sweden. The first disposable absorbent pad used as a diaper was probably the one made from unbleached creped cellulose tissue (held in rubber pants) in 1942 by Paulistróm in Sweden, maybe because cotton had become a strategic material due to the war effort. A few years later in 1946, in the United States, a Westport housewife named Marion Donovan, invented the "Boater", a waterproof covering for cloth diapers. Her first model of the disposable diaper was made of shower curtain plastic into which a conventional cloth diaper was inserted. Marion was granted 4 patents for her designs, including the use of plastic snaps that replaced the traditional and dangerous "safety pins". Quite a clever woman who happened to be also an attractive lady.



In 1947, George M. Schroder, working for the Textile Research Institute of the University of Chattanooga, was approached by the Henry Frede & Co. to create the first disposable diaper to ever use disposable nonwoven fabric.



The disposable diaper was a "luxury" item then, used only for those special occasions, like vacation trips, visits to the parents or the doctor. It was not common to see a baby wearing a disposable diaper, maybe just as rare as finding an empty seat on the leading Broadway show when you do not have a reservation (you get the picture).

The first "truly disposable" diapers were made using a very simple rectangular design. The absorbent core was made of several layers of tissue paper (15 to 25), the outside used a plastic film, and no tapes were provided with the product. The total capacity of these diapers was estimated to be around 100 ml, so it provided a very limited service (a one time use). Its disposability, however, added a great value to the parents, and immediately it was regarded as one of the great inventions of humankind. Believe it or not! (again) For a complete Time-Line History of disposable diapers in the United States, please visit this link: Time-Line US



During the 50's there was little change in terms of diaper design. The disposable diaper market share was very low due to the high unitary cost of the diaper and its low performance, its use was limited to very few developed countries of the world. In this decade Kendall and Parke-Davis enter the US market. The sanitary napkin had a rapid growth in the European and North American markets. It was not until the end of this decade when Vic Mills, who worked for the Procter and Gamble company, invented "Pampers", as he was looking at better products to use for his baby grandson (conceptualized in 1959 during a summer vacation trip), the diaper was not launched into the market until 1961.





With the 60's the disposable diaper evolved quickly as the industry learned the requirements of the mothers. Instead of tissue, a pulp mill was introduced, a decade after the first disposable sanitary napkins arrived into the market. Using cellulose fibers instead of paper, improved the performance of the diaper. With the "Pampers", launched in the spring of 1961, the new baby diaper was a "smash hit". With the development of better nonwovens, softer top sheets made of Rayon started to transform the baby diaper, the diaper was offered in two sizes, medium and large. The diaper was made very thick in order to reduce leakage; some medium diapers had weights of 65 gr. and even more! The diaper did not have means for attachment, since there were no lateral tapes included, this situation created a problem to the consumer, since they needed to have tapes handy in order to use the diaper. In 1966, Pampers launched a new C-fold design and by 1969 started a "third size". A typical commercial diaper machine ran at speeds of 150 diapers per minute. The best diapers had overall leakage values of 8 to 10%.





The70's proved to be the baby boom explosion for the disposable diaper industry in the developed countries, and even in some other areas of the world less fortunate. Competition between Procter & Gamble and Kimberly Clark to own the world diaper market resulted in quick diaper design improvements and lower prices to the consumer. World demand exceeded the production capacity for many years. Market penetration had an exponential increase in the US, Europe and Japan. In Latin America many countries also experienced this boom, including Mexico, Argentina and Chile. Some of the changes were: a new fastening system with lateral paper tapes was introduced as part of the improved convenience of the product, this new invention was introduced by Johnson & Johnson in 1970. Improved folding of the diaper using the "Z fold" or "pre-folded" diaper concept, the introduction of "hot melts" instead of cold adhesives for reduced "open times" that resulted on faster diaper line speeds, and the addition of more options in regards to size and total absorbent capacity to the market; diaper machines were running at the incredible speed of 250 diapers per minute. Some comments started to appear from baby's doctors complaining about the bulk of the absorbent diaper at the crotch and its effect on the babies developing bones. The shape of the diaper changed for a better fit, from the old "rectangular shape" to a more modern "hourglass shape". In 1975, the Hourglass shaped "Luvs" was first introduced to the US market. Kimberly Clark, introduced in 1976 its shaped Huggies diaper. Lateral elastomerics were used at the end of the decade by most producers in an attempt to improve the fit.

With the 80's a new "reengineered" diaper was reborn. Absormex started operations at the beginning of this decade, in Monterrey Mexico in 1981, Carlos Richer started to work for Absormex in June 1984, a date to remember on diaper history, at least on mine!!

During 1981 and 1982, two companies launched into the US market what it was claimed to be a "biodegradable" diaper. Starch was added to the poly film in the extrusion process in order to produce biodegradable films. The F.T.C. (Federal Trade Commission) forced the product out from the market, since there was no scientific evidence to support the claims. The film fragmented into pieces, with UV light, however the molecular weight did not change enough, and the product was not truly "bioactive". It was also agreed that the normal cycle for a diaper, ends in a landfill (buried without light). For this reason, the F.T.C. forced the product out from the shelves after winning a well publicized trial.

The use of Elastomerics in 1983, improved the fit of the diaper. Elastics were used in the legs before, but now were also added to the waist. The nonwoven was changed from Rayon to Polypropylene thermal-bond, which provided a softer and more comfortable feel for the baby. A new tape system, called "target tape", based on the use of two simultaneous lateral tapes instead of just one, was attempted to help repositioning the diaper, this was a world wide failure in the market and abandoned a few years later in 1986. A frontal tape was first developed in Europe to allow the mother the convenience of being able to open and close the diaper as many times as needed without tearing the film. During the beginning of the decade an environmental movement attacked the industry, arguing the ecological problems created by the use of the disposable diaper, this was more evident in Europe and Canada and with less intensity in the US and Latin America.

The super-absorbent (SAP) was first introduced into the diaper in 1984, following its use in the sanitary napkins. It is rather amazing that it took so long for this material to be finally used in a diaper when it had been discovered so many years before. It was in 1966 when Billy Gene Harper who worked for Dow Chemical and Carlyle Harmon who worked for J&J filed their patent for superabsorbent polymer. Even when Victor Mills is recognized as the father of the diaper, Harper and Harmon really should deserve similar recognition. With the SAP, a new generation of high performance diapers was possible. Not only diapers were thinner, but also added improved retention to the performance, which helped to reduce leakage and reduce diaper rash. Premium diapers with leakage below 2% became a reality at last. The average weight of a typical medium size diaper was reduced about 50% from the weights used in the previous decade; this was just perfect to show the good intentions of the industry in terms of its interest in the ecology, it also made good economic sense due to the reduced packaging cost. In addition, many studies were made to compare disposable diapers with cloth diapers, generating a debate that still continues today (read my F.A.Q. section). In Japan, the concept of "breathability" was introduced successfully into the market in 1983, leading in some way the design of the disposable diaper, even when the fact of the matter is that a wet diaper losses very little humidity by this breathable process (a diaper with 200 ml of urine losses less than 1% of its weight after 24 hours) but the gimmick remained. The training diaper was also introduced in Japan for the very first time in 1989, which extended the use of diapers to larger babies, or young kids (3 to 4 years old).







With the 90's, many new features were added to the baby diaper, SMS (spunbond-meltblown-spunbond) top-sheets were used, the cloth-like backsheet replaced the regular poly film in the higher end of the market. Mechanical tapes were introduced into the market, in the form of Velcro or other types of hook and loop. Leg cuffs made of SMS nonwovens helped to reduce even more the leakage on the legs of the babies, they were first used in diapers in 1991 after a polemic patent cross license between P&G and KC. Elasticized mechanical tapes were developed too. The superabsorbent used in the diapers was improved using a new surface cross linker, this helped to reduce the "gel block" problem, phenomena which prevented liquids from moving when the absorbent was saturated with water. Many new "Bells and Whistles" like Aloe Vera, Germ protection, Skin conditioners, wetness indicators, "glow in the dark" frontal tapes, etc. etc. are being used as the need to differentiate becomes more important in a market that is maturing. In the US the use of baby diapers have a market penetration of 95%. Western Europe and Japan have similar numbers, Latin America has many variations with numbers between 15% to 75%, Mexico as an example, had a market penetration of 48% in 1995 (today year 2004 is 69%). A typical diaper line of the 90's ran at speeds of 300 diapers per minute, some of the big players have machines that can go above 1000 diapers per minute!, the important lesson is that speed is not always the best answer when the cost of capital makes it difficult to justify, this is specially true when the cost of labor is not a significant part of the diaper cost. At the end of the decade the shape of the absorbent core is changing from a typical "T" shape into a "rectangular shape", similar to the shape used in previous decades. A typical large diaper in Japan, used 12 to 15 gr of SAP in 1995, at the end of the decade the use of SAP changed to 9 to 12 gr. The increased productivity of the small independent producers added pressure to the big players, who in response, aggressively defended their intellectual property, transforming the industry into "lawyers heaven".





The clear trend for the future of the diaper industry 2000 and beyond is a thinner diaper, more comfortable for the baby and friendly to the environment.



June 16th, 2005 12:42 PM
telecaster
quote:
jb wrote:
5 marines were blown up today yet it is hidden in small print on Fox News. If Hilary farted, it would be the major news story of the day. Too many of our men/women have died. We need to get out as our efforts to democrasize the region has failed.



You are lying jb. It is the centerpiece of their website
with photos

http://www.foxnews.com/

And if Hillary farted the people of Western Europe would know because their would be a tsunami on their shore that would make last Decemebers look like a ripple
June 16th, 2005 12:48 PM
telecaster The history of fencing parallels the evolution of civilization, back from the days of ancient Egypt and Rome, to the barbaric Dark Ages, to the fast and elegant Rennassiance, up to the modern, increasingly popular fencing of today. Fencing has always been regarded as more than a sport; it is an art form, an ancient symbol of power and glory, and a deeply personal, individual form of expression. Fencing is and always has been an intrinsic part of life, from the dueling and battle of yore to the widely captivating movies and facets of popular culture such as Zorro and The Princess Bride.
The earliest evidence of fencing as a sport comes from a carving in Egypt, dating back to about 1200 B.C., which shows a sport fencing bout with masks, protective weapon tips, and judges.
The Greek and Roman civilizations favored short swords and light spears, and taught their warriors in schools called ludi. The collapse of the Roman civilization at around 476 A.D., however, brought the crude, heavy weapons of the barbarian invaders and signalled a regression of fencing through the dark ages. It was not until the beginnings of the Renassiance in the 14th centurty that light, fast weapons such as the rapier came back into use, primarily because gunpowder rendered heavy armor obsolete.
The fifteenth century brought the beginnings of modern fencing. Spain had the first true fencers, and the first two fencing manuals were published there in 1471 and 1474, but swordplay guilds such as the Marxbruder from Germany began springing up all across Europe. About 1500 the Italians began extensive use of the Rapier. The right hand held te weapon while the left hand held a dagger (often called a Main Gauche) or buckler (a small shield), used for parrying blows. Italian fencing masters, such as Agrippa, who invented the four fencing positions (prime, seconde, tierce, and quarte), and masters Grassi and Vigiani, who invented the lunge, became very prolific in this time. The 16th century also brought a large increase in the popularity of dueling. More noblemen at during this period were killed in dueling than in war.
June 16th, 2005 12:50 PM
telecaster Where does lightning strike around the world?

Recent satellite data suggests that there are more than 3 million lightning flashes worldwide per day, or more than 30 flashes per second on average. This includes flashes within or between clouds as well as flashes extending from cloud to ground. The amount of lightning found by satellites is considerably less than scientists once thought existed across the planet.
The most accepted global measure of lightning frequency is the thunderstorm day--a day on which thunder is heard at a reporting site. By this standard, the tropics are the earth's lightning capital. From 100 to 200 thunderstorm days are reported each year across the equatorial belt from South America to Africa, southeast Asia, and northern Australia. However, thunderstorm days are not the ideal index of lightning, since this measure does not distinguish between a single clap of thunder and a prolonged severe storm
June 16th, 2005 12:51 PM
telecaster Red Kangaroos - Appearance

This big animal has a long body about 65 inches with a tail 42 inches long that acts as a steering rudder. They weigh up to 198 pounds with the males usually bigger than the females. They have long pointed ears. Their front legs are small whereas their back legs are big and very strong with long feet. Their long powerful tail is used for balance when hopping and leaping. The kangaroos, especially the females, are blue-gray in color despite their name. The male Red Kangaroos have short dense woolly fur and are colored pale red to a brick red. In some areas the kangaroos may be both red.
Even though these animals look cuddly, they are to be approached with caution. They have evolved with a large claw attached to its hind leg; therefore this makes these marsupials very dangerous. The muzzle is dusky, naked and sharply defined. There are distinctive black and white patches on each side of the muzzle. Red Kangaroos travel with their head down.

Red Kangaroos - Gestation Period

Female Red Kangaroos are ready to mate at an age of 15-20 months, while males become mature when they are 2 years old. The gestation period of the kangaroo is very short; it lasts 33 days after mating, and mating can occur again a day or two after parturition.
The baby Red Kangaroo, called a "joey", is carried in a special pouch on the lower part of the body where the little animal sleeps, eats and hides when there is a danger. Mothers always recognize their babies in a herd.

There is only one joey that is born. Usually the female begins to clean out her pouch several days before she gives birth to a joey. The little animals are tiny, hairless and blind when they are born and average only 2.5 centimeters long. As soon as a joey is born, it crawls up the mother's fur, into her pouch and immediately attaches itself to a nipple.

Thus the little animal stays in a pouch for 235 days. There are different nipples in a pouch that are designed for a joey to use during each stage of its growing process. Usually when the conditions are favorable, Red Kangaroos produce and raise an average of three young every two years.

June 16th, 2005 12:52 PM
Sway GREATER OMAHA

The city of Omaha adopted the commission form of government in the spring of 1912. Its affairs down to that time had been administered by councilmen, two chosen from each ward, and a mayor. They are now entrusted to seven commissioners selected by the people, each commissioner having charge of a separate department. These departments are public affairs; accounts and finance; police, sanitation, and public safety; fire protection and water supply; street cleaning and maintenance; parks and public property; and public improvements. The commissioners meet regularly every Tuesday morning for the transaction of public business, and special meetings are called when necessary by the mayor, who is ex officio president of the city council. The mayor is elected by and from the commissioners.
Inseparably related to the growth of Omaha, is its system of parks and boulevards, inaugurated and developed principally within the past two years. With twenty-one parks, large and small, and thirty-five miles of boulevard, unifying them into a connected and constituent whole, this feature of her civic growth and development is one which, for natural beauty, accessibility for enjoyment, and possibilities for development, is the envy of all the cities of the middle west.
Nature and art have combined to bring about this result: for, strange to say, the total amount expended upon this system has been less than $2,394,000. The generosity of wealthy citizens accounts in part for this remarkable fact. The actual value of this property exceeds many times its original cost. Hill and dale, woodland and prairie, river, lakes, and springs, all have lent themselves to the creation and beautification of a park and boulevard system which can be said to be almost ideal.
Levi Carter park is, in area, the largest in the city, comprising 303 acres. Its distinctive feature, perhaps, is Carter lake of two hundred acres, affording splendid boating, swimming and fishing facilities.
West of Sixtieth street lies Elmwood park, containing 208 acres. Nature has lavished upon this spot her gifts: landscape, level ground, and natural forests, with deliciously cold springs of clear water, making it an ideal recreation resort. Magnificent evergreens and white birches stand guard along its principal drives. Part of this tract was donated to the city of Omaha and part was purchased at a cost of $135,000.
The largest natural park is "Riverview," containing 111 acres. It lies in the southern portion of original Omaha, and rises in tiers of plain and woodland, like a majestic amphitheater, from the west bank of the Missouri. From the far spreading prairies and picturesque bluffs stretched along its Iowa side, it affords a magnificent prospect. All that was necessary to obtain a perfect park was to erect a fence around this 111 acres. A large swimming pool and bath house, and a "zoo" are among its acquired attractions.
Fontenelle park lies in the northwestern part of the city and contains 107 acres. Only recently has this park been improved. A four-acre lagoon furnishes splendid bathing facilities.
Miller park, the "Pride of North Omaha," is named after Doctor George L. Miller, a pioneer of the late '50's and one of the few fathers of Omaha still living. It contains seventy-eight acres, was formaly (sic) a cornfield, and exemplifies most strikingly the transformation which time and money and the art of the landscape gardener can accomplish. Through it, concrete paved driveways have been built. A large lagoon with a wooded island has been made, and birch, evergreen, and other trees, planted years ago, beautify the gently undulating ground. Its golf course and play grounds are well patronized. The Florence boulevard, containing "Omaha's prettiest mile," unifies it with the park system.
Hanscom park, the oldest in the city, contains fifty-seven acres. When donated to the city by A. J. Hanscom and S. A. Megeath, it was on the very verge of the city of which it is now the heart. Its natural beauty has discountenanced rather than invited artificial adornment. It has been called by experts one of the most beautiful parks in the United

HISTORY OF NEBRASKA


States. In the greenhouses of the park, more than 350,000 plants are propagated and raised yearly. These are used in ornamental flower beds planted in the various parks, hospitals, public schools, and fire stations of the city.
Scattered throughout the city are numerous smaller parks, and breathing centers, some located in South Omaha, and most of them the gifts of public spirited citizens who have been enriched by the marvelous growth of the city. Among these, many of them sylvan retreats, sequestered from the composite noises of the city's life, yet at once accessible, are the following parks: Bemis, 10 acres; Deer, 19 acres; Kountze, 11 acres; Curtis Turner, 8 acres; Harold Gifford, 2 acres; Mercer, 4 acres; Jefferson square, 2 acres; Hixenbaugh; Burt playground; Bluff View; Spring Lake, 11 acres; Highland, 6 acres; McKinley, 5 acres; Clear View, and Morton.
In April, 1915, the city council organized a board of public recreation. It works in conjunction with the board of education, and the superintendent of parks to supervise children's play, and to promote various forms of recreation and enjoyment among the people of the city. The installation of playgrounds in the parks and schools relates, of course, to the recreational activities of children. The attendance on these in the 1916 season totaled 262,878. An annual appropriation of $18,000 is made for their support. The other phase of the board's activities interests the general public. Under it, various recreations and sports have been provided. Among these are the establishment of free bathing beaches and pools. In the summer of 1916, 292,815 persons availed themselves of these privileges. No charge whatever is made for them. Among the sports, facilities for which are provided, are: baseball, football, soccer, cricket, golf, and tennis.
Still another phase of its work has been the establishment of "community centers," the general object of which is the bringing together of the children and citizens of these communal organizations, and providing among them, athletics, community music, drama, lectures, concerts, moving picture exhibitions, social entertainments with literary programs added, and discussions of municipal questions. Once a year or oftener, the different communities meet in the municipal auditorium in friendly contest, vieing with each other in some prominent feature of the year's activities. The attendance at the centers in 1917 was 34,000. Community gardens have been established in some centers to assist the poor in their vicinities.
Over $1,000,000 is spent annually upon its public schools and it shares with its sister, Lincoln, our capital city, the pride which naturally attaches to the development of an educational system, which has attracted to these cities, parents and students eager to avail themselves of the advantages thus freely offered. With respect to what may be called Omaha's material growth, and its development along certain lines in recent years much could be added.
Its bank clearings for the year ending December 31, 1917, were $1,873,353,171. If this is a fair index of the amount of its annual business, Omaha ranks as the fourteenth city in the United States. It ranks thirty-third in population. It is the first city in the United States in butter production. The second as a live stock market; and therefore, the second in the world. It is the fourth primary grain market in the United States. It is the first lead reducing center in the world. Gold and silver valued at $39,000,000 are reduced annually. It is the first feeder-sheep-market in the world, and the first range horse market in the world. In live stock receipts, it handled 7,565,830 head. The value of its packed meats, during the time mentioned, was $191,718,000. Its grain receipts were 66,462,100 bushels. Its smelter output amounted to $59,247,165. Its total factory output for the year ending December 31, 1917, was $327,721,546. The volume of its wholesale business was $236,137,067. Its new buildings represent an investment of $7,737,047.
The oldest of the sons of Omaha are about sixty years of age. During their span of life, the city has grown until now, in point of population, it ranks thirty-third among the cities



June 16th, 2005 12:53 PM
telecaster What is in Concrete?

Concrete is a composite material which is made up of a filler and a binder. Typical concrete is a mixture of fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (rock), cement, and water.


Under no circumstances should the word "cement" be used to refer to the composite product "concrete".


Portland cement, so named for its color similarity with limestone near Portland England, is composed primarily of four complex compounds: tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate, and tetracalcium aluminoferrite.
Water is the key ingredient, which when mixed with cement, forms a paste that binds the aggregate together. The water causes the hardening of concrete through a process called hydration. Hydration is a chemical reaction in which the major compounds in cement form chemical bonds with water molecules and become hydrates or hydration products. Details of the hydration process are explored in the next section. The water needs to be pure, typically drinkable, in order to prevent side reactions from occurring which may weaken the concrete or otherwise interfere with the hydration process. The role of water is important because the water to cement ratio is the most critical factor in the production of "perfect" concrete. Too much water reduces concrete strength, while too little will make the concrete unworkable. Concrete needs to be workable so that it may be consolidated and shaped into different forms (i.e.. walls, domes, etc.). Because concrete must be both strong and workable, a careful balance of the cement to water ratio is required when making concrete.

Aggregates are chemically inert, solid bodies held together by the cement. Aggregates come in various shapes, sizes, and materials ranging from fine particles of sand to large, coarse rocks. Because cement is the most expensive ingredient in making concrete, it is desirable to minimize the amount of cement used. 70 to 80% of the volume of concrete is aggregate in order to keep the cost of the concrete low. The selection of an aggregate is determined, in part, by the desired characteristics of the concrete. For example, the density of concrete is determined by the density of the aggregate. Soft, porous aggregates can result in weak concrete with low wear resistance, while using hard aggregates can make strong concrete with a high resistance to abrasion.

Aggregates should be clean, hard, and strong. The aggregate is usually washed to remove any dust, silt, clay, organic matter, or other impurities that would interfere with the bonding reaction with the cement paste. It is then separated into various sizes by passing the material through a series of screens with different size openings. The final properties of the concrete will depend on the cement characteristics, the type and amount of aggregate, the water-cement ratio, and the completeness of the reaction (subject to time, humidity, and temperature).

June 16th, 2005 12:54 PM
telecaster Norway's first settlers arrived over 10,000 years ago, at the end of the Ice Age. These early hunters and gatherers followed the glaciers as they retreated north, pursuing migratory reindeer herds. The country's greatest impact on history was during the Viking Age, a period thought to have begun with the plundering of England's Lindisfarne monastery by Nordic pirates in 793 AD. Over the next century the Vikings made raids throughout Europe, establishing settlements along the way. Viking leader Harald Hårfagre (Fair-Hair) unified Norway around 900 and King Olav, adopting the religion of the lands he had conquered, converted the people to Christianity a century later. The Vikings were great sailors and became the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Eric the Red, the son of a Norwegian exiled to Iceland, colonised Greenland in 982. In 1001, Eric's Icelandic son, Leif Eriksson, became possibly the first European to explore the coast of North America when he sailed off course on a voyage from Norway to Greenland. However, the Viking Age came to an end in 1066 when the Norwegian king Harald Hardråda was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in England.

In the 13th century Oslo emerged as a centre of power. It continued to flourish until the mid-14th century when bubonic plague decimated its population. In 1397 Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark which lasted over 400 years. Norway was ceded to Sweden in 1814. That same year a defiant Norway - fed up with forced unions - adopted its own constitution, but its struggle for independence was quelled by a Swedish invasion. In the end, Norwegians were allowed to keep their new constitution but were forced to accept the Swedish king. Growing nationalism eventually led to Norway's peaceful secession from Sweden in 1905.

June 16th, 2005 12:55 PM
Sway Early Attempts at Snow Control and Removal

Early attempts at snow control simply involved citizens going into the streets to level the drifts for sleigh traffic. Ordinances in many cities required homeowners to clear their sidewalks of snow, but snow removal was not yet practiced on a citywide basis. In order for residents to travel by carriage, or for merchants to receive goods (and customers), they were responsible for clearing their own streets. Snow shovelers were frequently hire to do this for them. As a result, wintertime travel in the early 1800s was still mostly by foot.

As the 1800s progressed, new buildings and new technologies were put to the test by severe winter storms. Heavy, wet snow collapsed roofs and suspension bridges. Gale-force winds mangled telegraph and electrical lines and downed poles, increasing the threat of electrocution and electrically-sparked fires. Cities like Milwaukee, Chicago and New York responded to these new problems, enacting new codes to ensure that buildings could withstand the combined forces of snow and wind. Public officials and residents alike called for putting existing and future telegraph wires underground to avoid further safety hazards.

The Scoop on Snow Plows
Enterprising inventors were issued the first patents for snow plows in the 1840s, but several years passed before the plow designs were put to use. One of the first mentions of snow plow use comes from Milwaukee in 1862. The plow was attached to a cart pulled by a team of horses through the snow-clogged streets. Over the next several years, horse-drawn plows gained popularity and came into use in many other Northeastern cities. Intercity steam trains, having made their appearance several years earlier, now puffed and whistled their way through heavy drifts with giant plows attached to their front ends. Salt was used in a few cities, but was strongly protested because it ruined the streets for sleighing and damaged the shoes and clothing of pedestrians. However, the invention of the snow plow initiated widespread snow removal efforts in cities and also created a basis for municipal responsibility in snow removal.

Plows were a boon to city dwellers, enabling winter transportation to recover more rapidly from storms than in previous years. However, this solution was accompanied by a new round of problems, some of which remain with us today. Plowing cleared the main streets for traffic, but effectively blocked the side roads and sidewalks with huge, uneven mounds of compacted snow. Businessmen and townsfolk initially hailed the success of the plow, but later complained and even brought lawsuits against the plowing companies. Merchants claimed that their storefronts were completely blocked with mounds of plowed snow, making them inaccessible to their customers, and pedestrians bemoaned trying to negotiate the huge mounds which often obstructed the sidewalks. Sleigh drivers also found fault with the plowing system because of the ruts and uneven surfaces it created.

New York and other cities responded in several ways. They hired horse-drawn carts and shovelers to work in conjunction with the plows, hauling away the plowed snow and dumping it into rivers. This not only cleared the mounds of snow, but provided thousands of temporary jobs throughout the winter season. In an effort to curtail the use of salt, which many still protested, streets and icy bridges were coated with sand instead. To appease all sides, New York in the 1880s built elevated steam railways along the major routes of the city, high enough that they would not be affected by the drifts. Still in operation today, these elevated tracks proved very successful, and carried travelers through all but a few of the most severe storms. Prior to the invention of the subway, the elevated trains were often the only transport service available in storms that halted all ground travel.

The Blizzard of 1888

The Great Blizzard of March 12, 1888. New York, New York. (Courtesy of the Historic National Weather Service Collection.) Larger version (43k).

In spite of these advances in their struggle against snow, the notorious "Blizzard of 1888" literally paralyzed the Northeast after three days of snow, wind and freezing temperatures. Two-and-a-half to four feet of snow fell, and drifts were reported to cover entire first stories of buildings. Carts and carriages in the streets were abandoned and buried by snow as drivers realized the futility of their endeavors. Schools, city railroads and public offices were closed, and even New York's elevated railways were victim to the mounting drifts. A mile's worth of passenger trains headed for New York were trapped for two days in drifts exceeding 20 feet. Tragically, over 400 people lost their lives in this storm.

Following the 1888 blizzard, cities recognized the need for more organized snow removal and looked for ways to avoid some problems altogether. Previously, city officials often waited until storms were nearly over to begin snow removal, but now realized that taking action during the first stages of a storm produced better results and more rapidly cleared roads. To combat the snow more effectively, cities were divided into sections and assigned to plow drivers. Increased numbers of plows cleared the streets with more efficiency. Driven by the ferocity of that blizzard, city officials were also more determined to bury communication wires and create alternative methods of transportation, such as trains and subways, that wouldn't be hindered by drifting snow.

Steam trains were fairly effective at clearing their own tracks when equipped with plows. However, for shorter inner-city transport, cities tried electric trolleys with plows, which proved to be unsuccessful. Several northeastern cities had long toyed with the idea of underground railways, but in the wake of the blizzard, it was an idea whose time had come. Boston installed the first stretch of subway tracks in 1899. New York followed with its own subway five years later, and both cities extended their lines significantly over time
June 16th, 2005 12:55 PM
jb
quote:
telecaster wrote:


You are lying jb. It is the centerpiece of their website
with photos

http://www.foxnews.com/

And if Hillary farted the people of Western Europe would know because their would be a tsunami on their shore that would make last Decemebers look like a ripple

Lying is a strong word. When I looked about an hr ago it was not there. Obviously, you have chosen to end our cyber friendship for some reason....that's sad, but totally not unexpected.
I guess you are posting articles here to make a point with the administrators....what, I don't know. I hope you are happy with your decision as I never based our cyber friendship on politics. I guess the pressures on you from others were simply too much.
[Edited by jb]
June 16th, 2005 12:57 PM
telecaster What if I think I have fire ants?
Firstly, avoid contact with the ants.

Secondly, report them to DPI&F by contacting the DPI&F Call Centre on 13 25 23 or e-mail DPI&F. Fire ants pose such a serious threat to our economy, environment and lifestyle that they they have been declared a notifiable pest under the Plant Protection Act 1989. This means that landholders who think or know they have fire ants on their property are legally obliged to inform the DPI&F of the infestation. Withholding this information could result in the landholder being fined.

Once you contact DPI&F, an information officer will ask you a series of questions to determine if you have fire ants or common ants. Be aware the DPI&F is unable to send field teams to investigate every report; so your answers to the questions will determine if an immediate field visit to your property for sampling is required.

If you find any nest, DO NOT TOUCH IT. Try to identify if it is a fire ant nest, which may appear as a closed, dome-shaped mound (that is, no opening) up to 40 cm high. In contrast, many native ants build a smaller nest with one or more obvious openings. However, in some soil types, fire ants may not form obvious mounds, particularly in the early months of nest development, or if there is other debris where they can build a nest beneath.

You could be asked to send an ant sample to the DPI&F for identification, particularly if you are in a remote location.

If you need to take a sample, kill some of the larger ants (the workers) away from the nest by spraying them with a household knockdown insect spray. Use a disposable plastic spoon or something similar to scoop the dead ants into a sturdy plastic container and seal. Do not add any liquid.

Place the container in a tough envelope suitable for posting, and include your name, address, telephone number and details (eg. a Mudmap) of where the ants were found with the sample.

June 16th, 2005 12:59 PM
Sway Exotic Pet Names

Goats

Agnes
Alfie
Allie
Amber
Amy
Anabell
Angel
Angela
Angel Blossom
Angelic
Angie
Apache
Archie
Asia
Athena
Aurora
Autumn
Awall
Bailey
Baby
Baby Girl
Baby Goat
Bambi
Basil
Beauty
Bell
Benny
Beryl
Betty
Big Mama
Big Red
Billy
Blackie
Blake
Blanche
Blondie
Bocephus
Bonnie
Boomer
Boots
Brownie
Brutus
Buddy
Ceasar
Caramel
Cari
Carmella
Chandra
Chester
Chief
Chloe
Christie
Cicily
Cinderella
Cinnamon
Cleo (Cleopatra)
Clover
Cocoa
Cookie
Cola
Comet
Corona
Cosmo
Cotton Ball
Crystal
Cygnus
Daffodil (Daf)
Daisy
Dakota
Dama
Dana
Danielle
Dante
Delilah
Dinner
Doc
Doe
Donna
Dum Dum
Duncan
Dunkin's Coffee & Cream (CC for short)
Eclipse
Edith
Elisa
Endora
Endymion
Erma Jane
Ezra
Faun
Fawn
Febu
Fernando
Flower
Fern
Frappaccino
Frito Pie
Gary
Git-R-Done (Gitter)
Gladys
Gloria
Grace
Gypsy
Hailey
Haley
Halle
Heidi
Henry
Hercules
Holly
Hoover
Hornless
Hyacinth
Isabell
Isabelle
Ivy
Jackie
Jane
Jasmine
Jill
Jimmy
Jodi
Julius
July
Kaytee
Kelly
Lady
Lil' Billy
Lily
Limo
Little Harry
Lorraine
Lottie Da
Lotus
Lucky
Lybris
Lydia
Lynn
Nanna
Nova
Maggie
Mama Goat
Mandy
Marco
Marshall
Mary
Maybell
Maycee
Maylee
Mep
Mercury
Midnight
Milkshake
Milky
Miracle
Mocha
Molly
Montana
Moose
Billy
Nellie
Noelle
Olga Marie
Omega
Oreo
Orion
Osiris
Pansy
Patches
Paul
Peaches
Penny
Peony
Pepper
Pepperoni
Pepsi
Petticoat
Petunia
Pierre
Poppy
Prancer
Precious
Princess
Promise
Psycho
Pumpkin
Rack
Ramses
Ramzy
Remington
Riley
Ringo
Rocky
Rodeo
Rodney
Romeo
Rosa
Rose
Rowdy
Rusty
Sable
Sage
Salem
Samantha
Sammy
Sandy
Sassafras
Seven
Shack
Shadow
Shaggy
Sierra
Simon
Skittles
Skooter
Smokey
Smoky
Snickers
Snowball
Sonny
Snickers
Socks
Sophie
Spice
Spot
Spunky
Squirt
Starfire
Stevie
Summer
Sunstar
Surya
Susie
Swiper
Tabitha
Tanya
Tasha
Tavia
Taz
Tex
Thunder
Tinkerbelle
Tonya
Topaz
Trixie
Trouble
Tullie
Twister
Tyrone
Valentine
Velvet
Veronica
Victoria
Violet
Winter
Wizzer
Wonder
Yerba
Yo-Yo
Zeus
Zoe
Zuku
Zylonna
June 16th, 2005 01:00 PM
telecaster
Cow flatulence

It has been estimated that 9 to 12% of the energy that a cow consumes is turned to methane that is released either through flatulence or burping (Radford, 2001). A huge number of factors affect methane emission, including diet, barn conditions and whether the cow is lactating, but an average cow in a barn produce 542 liters of methane a day, and 600 liters when out in a field (Adam, 2000).

These estimates were made using a trace gas (sulphur hexofluoride) that was released at known points within a barn containing 90 cattle. Levels of this trace gas and CO2 are then measured 30 metres downwind of the shed and thus they can estimate how much CO2 is released per cow per day. All this methane can add up to a significant amount. Australia's 140 million sheep and cattle are estimated to produce one seventh of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, whilst America's 100 million cattle also are major contributors (Major, 2000).

June 16th, 2005 01:01 PM
Sway How the Media and Lawyers Stir Up False Illness


You've probably never heard the term "nocebo" before, but you've almost certainly suffered from it. More than that, the nocebo effect is a major player in some of today's biggest health scares.
A nocebo is a negative placebo. That is, while a placebo pill makes you feel better though unbeknownst to you it's only made of sugar, a nocebo makes you feel bad though physiologically speaking it shouldn't be able to.

For example, if someone in your office is suffering from a cold you, too, may feel your throat tightening, your bones aching a bit, your head hurting perhaps. Sound familiar? It's happened to all of us.

When a newspaper at which I worked moved to a new building somebody told the librarian that there was formaldehyde in her new library bookshelves. Formaldehyde is a suspected human carcinogen and the librarian knew this. Soon she was suffering from a headache, aching joints, and labored breathing--all classic psychosomatic symptoms.

But then she heard there was no formaldehyde in the shelves. Suddenly the symptoms disappeared. Apparently the final word on the shelves was that they did contain formaldehyde but the librarian remained blissfully ignorant of this and hence symptom free.

Nocebos don't get talked about much, which is why the American Health Foundation (AHF) recently called together a number of experts for a conference on the subject. For nocebos aren't just minor curiosities, but are wreaking havoc in America today.

"We think nocebo has a powerful effect," says AHF President Ernst Wynder, "particularly if the suggestion is made by your doctor and then your lawyer and then the newspapers."

Examples? Consider Gulf War Syndrome. Tens of thousands of Gulf War vets are now claiming that something they were exposed to in the Gulf is making them ill. Their list of symptoms totals more than 75, with the most common being the classic psychosomatic symptoms such as the librarian suffered. Yet study after study, including one just released from the National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine, have showed that Gulf War vets have no more discernible illness than one would expect in a group of that size and age category.

Curiously, virtually none of the sick soldiers complained for the first couple of years after the war. Then reservists began to say they were sick but the active duty soldiers still had no complaints. That's when it hit the newspapers and television, with every news report stating emphatically that the syndrome was real. Suddenly the active duty soldiers were falling ill, too.

Yet for the longest time the mysterious ailment remained confined to the United States. Why? Because other nation's media weren't covering the topic. When the British press started writing about Gulf War Syndrome, suddenly British soldiers began falling ill.

Another example? Try silicone breast implants.

"For 30 years women were satisfied with implants," Emory University gynecology and obstetrics professor Dr. Elizabeth Connell told me. Connell headed the FDA panel that investigated the implants. "Lot of studies at the [FDA] hearings and since then showed a very high level of pleasure and acceptance and gratitude."

But then the media and the lawyers got in the act. Newspapers and magazines ran stories with titles like "Ticking Time Bombs," "Toxic Breasts," and "After Implants, Horror Began." Suddenly women with implants were suffering all sorts of strange illnesses and "realizing" that illnesses they already had must be related to their implants.

"When you have women being told they have ticking timebombs in their breasts, what are they to think?" said Connell.

As with Gulf War Syndrome, the breast implant scare appears to be confined to U.S. shores. Yes, strangely enough, silicone only makes American women sick.

Media reports have also kicked off other famous incidents of hysteria, such as a rash of illness at New York's Love Canal after the local newspaper informed the citizens they were living on top of a toxic waste dump.

Sometimes there's more to this than blind panic. There's what Columbia University psychologist Dr. Herbert Spiegel, who spoke at the AHF conference, calls "secondary gain."

What this means is that the nocebo effect can be greatly exaggerated when the sufferer finds out there's something to be obtained through the suffering. Sometimes it's just sympathy. Other times its being taken off a job one doesn't like. And sometimes it's big bucks, which is where lawyers come in.

Spiegel is convinced that secondary gain is behind many of the breast implant claims, what with some law firms advertising "$100,000 OR MORE MAY BE OWED TO YOU!" if you have silicone breast implants.

"I have no doubt at all that many, " he told me, "of those women . . . have an eye on the deep pockets" implant manufacturers.

Likewise for Gulf War Syndrome, from which many soldiers hope to gain lifetime disability pay and others have joined a class action suit against numerous chemical companies. "Gulf War Syndrome is a wonderful illustration of what I'm talking about," says Dr. Spiegel.

Can the nocebo effect be cured? Sure. The media, the courts, and the general public need to take a healthy dose of skepticism. This won't be a popular remedy; it's not as emotionally gratifying as blaming bad guys (corporations, government) or as financially rewarding as suing them. But then, the best medicine seldom tastes good. It's just good for us.

June 16th, 2005 01:04 PM
telecaster BRISTOL, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2005--Barnes Aerospace, a business unit of Barnes Group Inc. (NYSE: B - News), today announced that it is expanding manufacturing operations in Singapore. The new Barnes Aerospace Singapore facility will produce precision aerospace components for use in a wide range of aircraft engine applications. Barnes Aerospace's two facilities in Singapore, one for repair and overhaul operations and the second for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) manufacturing, provide state-of-the-art repair and overhaul and OEM manufacturing capabilities.
"Barnes Aerospace continues to globalize its manufacturing operations to better meet the demand of our worldwide customer base," said Patrick Dempsey, President, Barnes Aerospace. "By expanding our presence in Singapore, Barnes Aerospace increases our global manufacturing capacity in one of the major aviation centers in Asia."

"We're very excited about Barnes Aerospace's new manufacturing plant in Singapore. This is a firm endorsement of Singapore's attractiveness as a leading aerospace hub in Asia. We are confident that the presence of global aerospace players and supporting industries here will offer a comprehensive marketplace for Barnes Aerospace to tap on and grow," said Manohar Khiatani, Director, Logistics & Transport, Singapore Economic Development Board.

June 16th, 2005 01:06 PM
Sway Hamster Care: Wet Tail

Wet Tail is a disease that is thought to be stress related and often affects young hamsters around the time of weaning, as this can be a stressful time. Therefore it is important when buying a new hamster that its cage is prepared before its arrival home and it is left to become familiar with its new surroundings in peace apart from feeding for a day or two to keep stress to a minimum. It is also thought that Wet Tail can be caused by bad living conditions, etc which could also cause stress.

Wet Tail is a bacterial infection or an imbalance of the natural bacteria in the hamster's stomach or intestine and is often confused with diarrhoea. Although a hamster with Wet Tail has diarrhoea, the diarrhoea is so severe that the hamster is wet and/or dirty not only around the anus but usually around the top of the tail as well. The diarrhoea is accompanied by a strong unpleasant smell. Droppings are pale in colour and extremely soft and may contain mucus. The hamster often walks hunched up, is weak and lethargic and may squeal in pain. Symptoms take 7 days to appear and the disease is often fatal with death occurring as early as 24 hours after the appearance of the symptoms. Therefore it is vital that veterinary treatment is sought immediately if a hamster shows symptoms of Wet Tail. Do not rely on over-the-counter products such as Dri-Tail to treat Wet Tail as these are often not effective against severe cases of Wet Tail. These should only be used if it is not possible to get the hamster to a vet immediately and veterinary advice should still be sought at the earliest opportunity, but do ensure if you have used any over-the-counter product that you inform your vet when you visit.

Hamsters suffering from Wet Tail often die from dehydration rather than from Wet Tail itself, or they simply refuse to eat or drink. Also, because of the severe diarrhoea Wet Tail can lead to rectal prolapse where the intestine is pushed outside the body through the anus.

Veterinary treatment will consist of a course of antibiotics, anti-diarrhoeal medication and help with rehydration. The hamster should be kept warm and quiet whilst undergoing treatment and be disturbed as little as possible. Wet Tail is contagious to other hamsters and so any hamster suffering from Wet Tail should be isolated from other hamsters. It is also a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly after handling a hamster suffering from Wet Tail, to avoid passing the infection back to the hamster worsening its condition and certainly before handling other hamsters (this is best kept to a minimum). It is a good idea to remove droppings from the cage at intervals and disinfect the cage with a disinfectant designed for small animal cages when cleaning the cage. Although it is important to keep stress to a minimum it may help to clean the cage of a hamster suffering from Wet Tail every 2 or 3 days.

Any equipment occupied or used by a hamster that has died from Wet Tail should be disinfected thoroughly with a disinfectant designed for small animal cages and left to stand for a few weeks before being used by another hamster.

Wet Tail is a disease associated more commonly with the Syrian Hamster and is not associated with Dwarf Hamsters. Dwarf Hamsters can suffer severe diarrhoea but it is not clear at present that they actually suffer from 'Wet Tail'.

Susceptibility to Wet Tail is also thought to be genetically inherited and so it is best not to breed from any hamster that has suffered from Wet Tail during its life.

June 16th, 2005 01:07 PM
telecaster We do not know for sure how far back we can trace the history of mankind in Peru as new findings are pushing back in the very far past the start of human inhabitation in these lands. Up until recently, we only thought that human civil life had started around 7000 years ago..... Chilca was inhabited about 4000 BC and the other two sites about 2000 BC. The inhabitants fished with nets or with bone hooks and collected seafood such as crabs and sea urchins. Various crops were cultivated, including cotton which appeared early (about 3000 BC) as well as chilli peppers, beans' squashes and, about 1400 BC, corn. The cotton was used to make clothing, mainly with the simple techniques of twining and later by weaving.

Roughly contemporary with these coastal settlements was the enigmatic site of Kotosh near Huanuco - one of the earliest ruins in highland Peru. Little is known about the people who lived here, but their buildings were the most developed for that period, and pottery fragments found here predate by several hundred years those found in other parts of Peru.
From around 1250 BC to 850 BC there are remains in the Viru Valley and Guanape area, about 50 km south of Trujillo on the north coast which show that, during this time, ceramics developed from rude undecorated pots to sculpted, incised and simply colored pots of high quality. Weaving, fishing and horticulture also unproved and simple funerary offerings have been found. After these early time we start having a better knowledge of the early inhabitants of Peru.

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