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If you’ve been looking for Innovation’s projects on the web, before you figure out that is not just net economy, you’ve been probably intrigued by those fashionable and “sexy” words like Big Data, Digital economy, Accelerators, Startups and so on. Leaving aside how dangerous the misuse of word like “sexy” is in understanding the real value of innovation practices, the problem of defining what Innovation really means still remains.
It is said that nowadays more room is needed in order to step up social participation to the growth of new models of sustainable and creative economy. So the famous “power to the people” has been slowly replaced by the new “power to the (young) people“. Indeed, the common sense suggest the critical value of the rising generation to the renewal of business, as also for a wide social change toward effective open governance. In this context, new agents capable of enabling those changes have seen how their media impact increased through the years. Because of that, a new communication channel with the civil society is been strengthened. The accelerators, as one of those agents, are becoming a new model of business creation, of which technology and team building represent its common core. Nonetheless, the rise of the younger should not be seen as the only aspect of the meaning of innovation.
Last week I was at The Hube (Rome), discussing about active citizenship and open government with some public officers from Public Administration Forum and groups of citizen. I’ve seen a lot of fascinating projects, but I’ve been captured by Vittorio Smiroldo, born 1937, who was explaining how he was trying to improve quality of life in Senior Centers, by convincing public administration in funding community activities. The attention on young generation should not let us blind about what Vittorio and a stratuppers have in common. They surely not have in common technology, since Vittorio’s project does not focus on digital business. It is of course clear that in a World when a simple invention made by plastic bottle filled with water bring free electric light to one million of people, we might admit that technology is not even one of the most important enabling factors.
So what? since Innovation is never a matter of a priori, how the accelerators could really be able to develop a innovation-driven evolution through the digital market? Of course, creating new market. And this is the case in which easier done than said. Indeed, it is always hard to begin with question like “what is innovation”. Properly, because if we get rid with the concept of technology and young-age, nothing else should prevent us to think that innovation is made by multiples practices that concentrate on combining existing elements of reality, with the aim of providing creative solution to improve people life. Of course ‚”the best way to understand an activity is often through doing it rather than theorizing about it” wisely say Stephen Mumford. But we should admit that talking about innovation is always followed by a preconception of what innovation should be.
And that’s the point. If we want to evolve through the creation of new innovative market, why we should continue to assume that its evolution is only driven by natural selection process? If we want to invest metaphors with some heuristc meaning usefull to us in pursuing an objective, we should be very careful to assume the right one. So for example, positive evidences has been provided in favor of genomic mechanisms of environmental adaptation as responsible for the evolution of an organism. This of course does not exclude the former hypothesis in the relevant sense, but could be of help to concentrate on the metaphorical meaning: a selection-drive idea of market’s evolution should be replaced by an ecological one, in which the organism’s fitness is intended to be greater if their competitive symbiosis with other organism at different level of evolution turns out to be successful. And that’s the case in which the presence on the market of Socrata, one of the most famous platform for public data in the USA, does not prevent (but rather encourage) brilliant startup like Enigma.io to promote his parallel project on public data curation, exploiting big data technology for deep analysis and an easier interoperability of information.
Once we get rid of past preconceptions about the market in which innovation could be nourished, we can do whatever we think is possible.
Accelerators could be able to develop a innovation-driven evolution through the digital market only if they recognize that their role in this market is to canalize people’s power to continuously shift the line between what is feasible and what is still not. Innovation, in this context, is the self-experience of one’s creativity. After a long chat with Francesco Simoneschi, founder at //staq, one of the real deal for Game Economy and Big Data, I’m more and more convinced that the Accelerators should extract and organize different type of knowledge and competence to build this new market. This can be achieved by stimulating the creation of a solid network between small and medium enterprises, which cover multilateral domain of innovation’s researches. Just like the one setted up with civil society during these years. The aim is to encourage and communicate with key people in different areas of competence that can “give back” what they learnt through working experience in different frontier fields of social and technological innovation. And this is even clearer if we consider that a lot of PMI fulfill the requirements to apply to accelerator programs, since they’re often composed by few young people at work. The value of pursuing a vision and building a team must be supported by an idea of “where to look” and “how to reach”. Supporting a culture of innovation could be the chance for an accelerator to improve startup adaptability to effectively monetize their project, engage people needs and improve their power to structure social world; thus, re-opening a way to think again about markets as social places, in which shared knowledge, competence and open participation are the key to success. Will you join us?


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Mangrove (Spanish: Mangal)
To botanists, a “mangrove” is a plant and a “mangal” is a plant community and habitat where mangroves thrive. Mangals are found in tropical tidal areas such as lagoons and estuaries. About 110 different mangrove plant species have been identified as part of mangals, and each has had to overcome the problems of high salinity, intense sunlight, frequent flooding and lack of oxygen in the root zone in order to survive.
Some of the mangrove plants have adapted to the flooding and lack of oxygen by propping themselves up above the water level with stilt roots. They then can take air in through pores in their bark. Other mangrove plants make breathing tubes that stick up out of the soil like straws and draw in air. One adaptation to cope with the high salt level is to have rather impermeable roots which act as ultra-filtration devices. These devices can filter out over 90% of the salt. Other plants have salt glands at the base of each leaf which can directly secrete salt. Another adaptation is to store salt in old leaves which are then shed.
Mangroves also have special tricks to help their offspring survive. All have buoyant seeds that can float, but many mangrove plants are viviparous; their seeds germinate while attached to the parent plant. The baby plants grow there until they can photosynthesize and then drop off and float away. These propagules can survive drying and remain dormant for months or more until they arrive at a suitable environment. Once there, the plant changes its density so it floats vertically rather than horizontally and its roots are more likely to lodge into the mud and take hold. If it does not root, the propagule can reverse its density so it floats flat in the water and journeys off again in search of more favorable conditions.
Mangals protect the coast from erosion, surge storms and hurricanes through their massive root systems that dissipate wave energy and slow tidal flows. The mesh of their roots forms a quiet marine region for many young organisms: oysters, barnacles, crabs, shrimps, fish and other crustaceans. They are key nursery habitat for many species of marine life and support many kinds of shore birds. Dredging for coastal development has destroyed many mangals, but the United Nations Environmental Program has estimated that a quarter of the destruction of mangrove forests stems from shrimp farming.
The lagoon at Barra de Potosi is ringed by a rich mangal and you should consider taking an early morning kayak paddle or boat tour to see this special environment.
Palms (family Arecaceae or Palmae; Spanish; Palma)
There are roughly 2600 species in the family Arecaceae or Palmae, most of which are restricted to tropical or subtropical climates. The majority of palms are distinguished by their large, compound, evergreen leaves arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. However, there are many exceptions and palms exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics. As well as being morphologically diverse, palms also inhabit nearly every type of environment within their range, from rainforests to deserts.
Human use of palms is as old as or older than human civilization itself, starting with the cultivation of the date palm by Mesopotamians and other Middle Eastern peoples 5000 years or more ago. An indication of the importance of palms is that they are mentioned more than 30 times in the Bible and at least 22 times in the Quran. Today palms are important agricultural plants yielding coconut products, oils, dates, ivory nuts, carnauba wax, rattan cane, and raffia.
Like many other plants, palms have been threatened by human intervention and exploitation. The greatest risk to palms is destruction of habitat- especially in the tropical forests- due to urbanization, wood-chipping, mining, and conversion to farmland. Palms rarely reproduce after such great changes in the habitat, and palms with a small habitat range are extremely vulnerable. The harvesting of heart of palm, a delicacy in salads, also poses a threat because it comes from the inner core of the tree and harvesting it kills the tree. The use of rattan palms in furniture has caused a major population decrease in some species resulting in a negative impact on local and international markets as well as a decline in biodiversity in the area. The sale of seeds to nurseries and collectors is another threat since the seeds of popular palms are sometimes harvested directly from the wild. At least 100 palm species are currently endangered, and nine species have reportedly recently become extinct. The rarest palm known is the Hyophorbe amaricaulis; the only living individual that remains is at the Botanic Gardens of Curepipe in Mauritius. The threat to palms is complicated by the fact that several factors make palm conservation more difficult. Most palm seeds lose viability quickly, and they cannot be preserved in low temperatures because the cold kills the embryo. Using botanical gardens for conservation also presents problems, since they can only house a few plants of any species. There is also the risk of cross-pollination which leads to hybridization and loss of the original species.
In addition to coco palms which are discussed below, two common palms in this area are the Christmas Palm (Adonidia merrillii), known locally as Palma Kerpis and Palma Redondo, the palapa palm. The Christmas palm is a slender palm reaching 20 to 30 feet,used ornamentally. The common name derives from the crimson red fruit sprouting from its white floral bract. The palapa palm, not the coco palm, is the tree used for thatching roofs. It is a low growing palm, maybe six feet high, topped with meter long leaves each ending in a fan shaped spray.
Coco Palm (Cocos nucifera; Spanish: Coco)
The origins of this plant are the subject of controversy, with most authorities claiming it is native to South Asia (particularly the Ganges Delta), while others claim its origin is in northwestern South America. Fossil records from New Zealand indicate that small, coconut-like plants grew there as long as 15 million years ago. Even older fossils have been uncovered in India. Regardless of its origin, the coconut has spread across much of the tropics, probably aided in many cases by sea-faring peoples. The fruit is light and buoyant and also presumably spread significant distances by marine currents. Fruits collected from the sea as far north as Norway have been found to be viable and cocos are now ubiquitous to most of the planet between 26ºN and 26ºS.
The coconut palm thrives on sandy soils and is highly tolerant of salt. It prefers areas with abundant sunlight and regular rainfall and needs high humidity (70–80%+) for optimum growth, which is why they are rarely seen in areas with low humidity, like the Mediterranean, even where temperatures are high enough. Given the conditions at Playa Blanca, it is little wonder that the area is lined with coco plantations.
A coco palm can live as long as 100 years producing an annual yield of 50 to 100 coconuts. Coir is the fibrous husk of the coconut shell and it is used in floor and outdoor mats, aquarium filters, cordage and rope, and garden mulch. Copra is the meat of the coconut; and in shredded form, it is probably the most familiar form to those who do not live in the tropics. It is an oil-rich pulp with a very light, slightly sweet and nutty flavor. The most popular use of coconuts in this area is to drink the water from a chilled coco. Coconut water and coconut milk are not the same thing. The lightly flavored liquid inside a coconut is called water and is typically drunk straight from the coconut for a very refreshing and nutritious drink. It loses nutritional value quickly and will begin to ferment once removed from the shell. Coconut milk is made from shredded or grated coconut pulp mixed with hot water to extract the oils and flavors. It then is used in cooking and as a replacement for cow's milk.
Indonesia is the world leader in coconut production followed closely by the exponentially increasing product of the Philippines. Mexico ranks seventh with 959,000 metric tons in 2005.
Mango (genus Mangifera; Spanish: Mango)
Mangoes are thought to have originated in South East Asia. They have been cultivated in the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years and grown in East Asia since between the 5th-4th century BC. By the 10th century AD, they were transported to East Africa and then into the Americas. There are over 1000 varieties and mangoes make up almost half of all tropical fruits grown worldwide. Mexico produces 1.5 million tons per year.
The trees reach as high as 40 meters although the ones in orchards are usually trimmed to ease in harvesting the fruit. The flowers are small and white with five pedals. After the flowers finish, the fruit takes from three to six months to ripen. Spring through summer is the prime season for fresh mangoes in Mexico.
There are a number of health benefits claimed for mangoes. They are rich in dietary fiber and very high in antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, comprising 25%, 76% and 9% respectively of Dietary Reference Intake for these vitamins in a 165 g serving. Cuban doctors have isolated an extract of mango bark with antioxidant properties on blood parameters of elderly humans and the Muslim world has recognized mango as a possible supplement for sexual potency.
For eating, the fresh fruit is often sliced in three lengthwise pieces; the seed in the middle and two side slices. The side slices are then scored from the inside down to the skin in a cross hatch pattern. When the skin is pushed out, the square pieces of mango pop up in what we call the “hedgehog” cut.
Papaya (Carica papaya; Spanish: Papaya)
The papaya was cultivated in Mexico even prior before the emergence of the Mayan and Aztec cultures. It grows as a tree-like plant with a single stem reaching from 5 to 10 meters tall. The leaves are large, 50-70 cm in diameter and divided into seven deep lobes. The green fruit and the tree’s latex are both rich in an enzyme called papain, which is useful in tenderizing meat. Its ability to break down tough meat fibers was utilized for thousands of years by indigenous Americans and is included as a component in powdered meat tenderizers today. Besides being a delicious fresh fruit, it has a variety of medicinal uses. Papain is marketed in tablet form to remedy digestive problems and fermented papaya flesh is used as an ointment for cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Harrison Ford was treated for a ruptured disc incurred during the filming of “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” by having papain injected into his back. Women in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other parts of the word have long used papaya as a folk remedy for contraception and abortion, and medical research with animals has supported these capacities.
Tropical Almond (Almendros terminalia catappa; Spanish: Almendro)
This is a large, deciduous tree recognized by its stiff, horizontal limbs and huge – 9 inch- spoon shaped leaves set in rosettes at the tips of stubby twigs. The branches are always in pairs and usually nearly equal in length. Twice a year, in early spring and late summer, the tree suddenly sheds all its leaves and then sprouts thousands of greenish white star-shaped flowers. These then form elliptic flattened edible fleshy fruit that draws fuit bats at night.
Earpod Tree (Enterolobium cyclocarpum; Spanish: Parota)
These are the local giants - immense stocky trunk radiating surface roots, heavy limbed horizontal canopy, ferny foliage with up to 24 paired leaflets on each leaf. The fruit is the earpod- a flat donut up to four inches across that is used as fodder and then hardens into a black woody disk. Artisans polish the mature fruits for sale. Young fruit and leaves are used for animal feed. Seeds are eaten roasted. The mature hard wood is highly prized for its water and termite resistance and is widely used in furniture. But because of over exploitation, the trees are now protected and only certified wood can be legally used for any purpose. On the road to Los Achotes, near the cemetery, there is a parota that bears the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe on its trunk. Look for the small shrine built around its base.
Poinciana (Delonix regia; Spanish: Tabachin)
This decorative flowering tree originated in Madagascar, but has spread throughout the tropics. It has a spreading canopy, wider than tall and it stands naked during the dry season dangling only long, dark sabre-like seed pods. With the first rains, it explodes into flamboyant vivid red or orange blooms.
Tamarind (Tamarindos indica; Spanish: Tamarino)
Slow-growing but hardy enough to endure hurricanes, droughts and fires, the tamarind tree likely originated in tropical Africa. It can reach 80 feet in height and is recognized by the 4 inch long leaf clusters each with 10-18 small leaflets paired opposite one another on the stem, giving the leaves a fern-like appearance. The leaves are bluish green on top, paler green below. The tree produces showy, fragrant, pale-yellow blossoms tinged or spotted with scarlet. The fruit is a legume; like a bean pod and the pulp of the fruit contains sucrose and acetic, tartaric and citric acids. It is rich in Vitamins C and B complex as well as minerals and has long been used medicinally. It forms the flavor base for English Worcester Sauce and is commonly used in Mexico in many candies and sweets. A number of fine specimens are growing on the properties just north of the enramadas at Barra de Potosi.
Ficus/Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina; Spanish: Ficus)
This potentially large—up to 262 feet high—evergreen foliage tree originating in Australia or Southeast Asia is now used as a shade tree in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world; including in many of the town squares in Mexican villages. The leaves are 4 by 2 inch ovals; bright green and very glossy. The flowers are inconspicuous as are the small berry-like fruit. It is very commonly planted in yards along Playa Blanca.
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale; Anacardium curatellifolium; Spanish: Nuez de India)
This small evergreen tree; growing to 10-12m (~32 ft) tall, with a short, often irregularly-shaped trunk; is native to northeastern Brazil. It is now widely grown in tropical climates and is common around Playa Blanca. You can see several at the Frida Kahlo School in Barra de Potosi. The leaves are spirally arranged, leathery textured, elliptic to obovate, 4 to 22 cm long and 2 to 15 cm broad, with a smooth margin. When in fruit, the trees are easy to recognize from their fruit.
What appears to be the fruit of the cashew tree is an oval or pear-shaped accessory fruit or false fruit that develops from the receptacle of the cashew flower. Called the cashew apple, better known in Central America as "marañón", it ripens into a yellow and/or red structure about 5–11 cm long. It is edible, and has a strong "sweet" smell and a sweet taste. The pulp of the cashew apple is very juicy, but the skin is fragile, making it unsuitable for transport. It is often used as a flavor in agua fresca.
The true fruit of the cashew tree is a kidney or boxing-glove shaped drupe that grows at the end of the pseudofruit. Actually, the drupe develops first on the tree, and then the peduncle expands into the pseudofruit. Within the true fruit is a single seed, the cashew nut. Although a nut in the culinary sense, in the botanical sense, the fruit of the cashew is a seed. The seed is surrounded by a double shell containing a dermatogenic phenolic resin, urushiol, a potent skin irritant toxin also found in the related poison ivy. Some people are allergic to cashew nuts, but cashews are a less frequent allergen than nuts or peanuts.
Originally spread from Brazil by the Portuguese, the cashew tree is now cultivated in all regions with a sufficiently warm and humid climate. Although it has a low yield, it is produced in around 32 countries of the world. The major raw cashew producing countries are Vietnam, Nigeria, India and Brazil who together account for more than 90% of all cashew kernel export.
Anacardic acids found in cashews have been used effectively against tooth abcesses due to their lethality to gram-positive bacteria. They are also active against a wide range of other gram-positive bacteria. Many parts of the plant are used by the Patamona of Guyana medicinally. The bark is scraped and soaked overnight or boiled as an antidiarrheal. Seeds are ground up into powders used for antivenom for snake bites. The nut oil is used topically as an antifungal and for healing cracked heels.
Kapok (Ceiba pengtandra; Spanish: Ceiba, Pochote)
Unmistakable, this sometimes gigantic tree has a trunk and limbs covered by cone-shaped spines. It can stretch up to 230 feet high with a towering layered canopy all buttressed by immense roots. The leaves are palm-shaped, 8 x 1.5 inches and bright green. The flowers are small and give off a milky odor that attracts night pollinating bats. After pollination, the flowers give way to large, boat-shaped pods up to 8 inches long. These are filled with kapok, the silky hairs used to fill pillows and cushions. It is also important in honey production.
Sea Grape Tree (Coccoloba uvifera; Spanish: Uva de Mar)
This tree is ubiquitous along the coastlines of tropical America. It can grow up to 49 feet tall and has a trunk of smooth pale grey bark that flakes to reveal cream and salmon patches. The leaves are round thick platters spanning up to 8 inches. The flowers are small, white and fragrant leading to clusters of green to reddish purple fruit hanging in bunches a foot or more long. Bees love the flowers and the fruit are enjoyed by many species, including locals who eat them fresh and make them into drinks and jellies. In this area, the Sea Grape Tree typically grows in fringe areas in a roundish shape with its canopy low to the ground.
Golden Trumpet or Copa de Oro (Allamanda carthartica; Spanish: Copa de Oro)
This shrubby climber is one of the most commonly cultivated summer bloomers in the area. Its vivid yellow flowers are trumpet-shaped, fragrant and 3-5 inches wide. The leaves are elliptic, 4-5 inches long and glossy.
Bougainvilla (genus Bougainvillea of the family Nyctaginaceae; Spanish: Bougainvilla)
With their stunning colors, these thorny, woody vines are almost a signature plant for Mexico. The name comes from Louis Antoine de Bougainville, an admiral in the French Navy who encountered the plant in Brazil in 1768 and first described it to Europeans. Admiral Bougainville was the first Frenchman to sail round the World.
They grow anywhere from 1-12 meters tall, scrambling over other plants with their hooked thorns. The thorns are tipped with a black, waxy substance that is easily left in the flesh of an unsuspecting victim. They are evergreen where rainfall occurs all year, or often deciduous if there is a dry season. The actual flower of the plant is small and generally white, but each cluster of three flowers is surrounded by three or six bracts with the bright colors associated with the plant, including shocking pink, magenta, purple, red, orange, white, or yellow. Bougainvillea glabra is sometimes referred to as "paper flower" because the bracts are thin and papery. Single and double flower forms are available. Double forms tend to carry their blooms near the end of the stems rather than distributing them evenly over the plant. The bloom cycles are typically four to six weeks. Bougainvillea generally blooms on new growth.
Plumeria or Frangipani (Plumeria; Spanish: Flor de Mayo)
Plumeria is a small genus of 7-8 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and trees native to Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela that produces flowers ranging from yellow to pink depending on form or cultivar. From Mexico and Central America, Plumeria has spread to all tropical areas of the world, especially Hawaii, where it is used for leis and grows so abundantly that many people think that it is endemic to there.
Plumeria is related to the Oleander and both possess a poisonous, milky sap. Each of the separate species of Plumeria bears differently shaped leaves and their form and growth habits are also distinct. The leaves of P. alba are quite narrow and corrugated, while leaves of P. pudica have an elongated oak shape and glossy, dark green color. P. pudica is one of the everblooming types with non-deciduous, evergreen leaves. Another species that retains leaves and flowers in winter is P. obtusa; though its common name is "Singapore", it is originally from Colombia. Frangipani can also be found in Eastern Africa, where they are sometimes referred to in Swahili love poems.
Plumeria flowers are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. The flowers have no nectar, and simply dupe their pollinators. The moths inadvertently pollinate them by transferring pollen from flower to flower in their fruitless search for nectar.
The genus is named in honor of the seventeenth-century French botanist Charles Plumier, who traveled to the New World documenting many plant and animal species. The common name "Frangipani" comes from an Italian noble family whose sixteenth-century marquess invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
In Playa Blanca, you often see them planted in yards where they grow as small gangly trees with few leaves and strikingly fragrant large pink or yellow flowers. Unfortunately, many visitors do not have the opportunity to enjoy the full beauty of this tree as it flowers and leafs and is at its best in the rainly season.In Mexico, the Nahuatl (Aztec language) name for this plant is "cacalloxochitl" which means "crow flower."
Jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa; Spanish: Jamaica)
This is an awkward, woody plant with an exotic waxy flower calyx, unlike any of the other members of its hibiscus family. It grows to six feet high. The leaves are deeply three to five lobed, 8-15 cm long, arranged alternately on the stems. The flowers are 8-10 cm in diameter, white to pale yellow with a dark red spot at the base of each petal, and have a stout fleshy calyx at the base, 1.5–2 cm wide, enlarging to 3–3.5 cm, fleshy and bright red as the fruit matures. It is an annual plant, and takes about six months to mature.
Though native to India and Malaysia, jamaica is a staple of the Mexican culinary arena. With a flavor that is faintly cranberry or currant, it is the basis for jellies, sauces, refreshing drinks and teas rich in vitamin C and anthocyanins. It also is grown for its flowers that make extremely long lasting and exotic floral bouquets. The flowers are harvested annually, stripped from the hardy, woody stalk, and dried in the sun. The dried flowers are sold for the particularly popular drink of Jamaica for the Christmas season. The process of stripping and drying is a long and slow effort, constantly threatened by the calamity of rain. For all their work, farmers earn only pesos for kilos of dried flowers.
Guayacan (Guaicum coulteri; Spanish: Guayacan)
A slow growing, multi-trunked Mexican native tree, related to the creosote bush and puncture vine weed, it is noted for hard wood and for producing resin. Guayacan has a dense canopy with short lateral branches and varies in height from two feet to eight feet. The violet or purple flowers have 5 petals and are 1/3 to 3/4 inch in diameter. The leaves are small with four to eight pairs of leaflets, each about 2/3 inch long. The leaves tend to fold up about half way during the heat of the day. The bark of the root has an ingredient used for making soap. The root extracts can be used to treat rheumatism and venereal disease. Locally, the clusters of deep blue-violet flowers are appreciated at intervals throughout the year by the local human population and much loved by various species of butterflies.
Prince of Orange (Ixora spp; Spanish: Ixora)
This ornamental shrub originated in South and Southeast Asia. It grows up to 12 feet high and displays small trumpet-shaped flowers throughout much of the year, often in red and red orange, but ranging to pink, yellow and white. You can identify it by the foliage; the leaves are simple opposing pairs alternating with four smaller leaf stipules arranged in a cross. It flowers almost year round and is very attractive to cinnamon hummingbirds and butterflies. It is often used as a hedge plant in private yards along the playa.
Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae; Spanish: Bromeliad)
Bromeliads are a large family of plants whose most famous member is the Pineapple. Bromeliads entered recorded history some 500 years ago when Columbus introduced the pineapple (Ananas comosus) to Spain upon return from his second voyage to the New World in 1493. On that voyage he found it being cultivated by the Carib Indians in the West Indies.
All bromeliads are composed of a spiral arrangement of leaves sometimes called a "rosette". The bases of the leaves in the rosette may overlap tightly to form a water reservoir. This central cup also collects whatever leaf litter and insects happen to land in it. The more ancestral terrestrial bromeliads do not have this water storage capability and rely primarily on their roots for water and nutrient absorption. Tank bromeliads, as the water storing species are often called, rely less heavily on their roots for nourishment and are more often found as epiphytes. The roots of epiphytic species harden off after growing to form holdfasts as strong as wire that help attach the plant to its host. Even though bromeliads are commonly called parasitos in Spanish-speaking countries, these epiphytes do not take sustenance from their host but merely use it for support. In some species, the bases of the leaves form small chambers as they overlap and these protected spaces are often home to ants. In exchange for shelter, the ants' waste may provide the bromeliad with extra fertilizer.
Bromeliads are appreciated for their exotic forms, foliage and flowers and are popular houseplants in the United States. Once the plant flowers, it will die; although the process is slow and ‘ pups’ or offsets are formed for new plants during the decline of the mother plant. The green, leafy top of a pineapple is in fact a pup that may be removed and planted to start a new plant.
Many bromeliads are natives of Mexico and a variety can be seen locally especially late in the dry season when the deciduous trees and shrubs around the lagoons of Playa Blanca are in their leafless stage.

domain: biology


POLICEMEN arrested a Korean-American for alleged drug trafficking during an operation in Pasay City on Wednesday night.
Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares, National Police Drug Enforcement Group acting commander, said the operation was launched on Wednesday at 9:20 p.m., in coordination with the Special Enforcement Service of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Pasay City police.
Mijares said Jun No, alias “Justine”, an American citizen of Korean descent, was arrested at the parking lot in front of the Royal Indian Curry House on Seaside Boulevard in Pasay City.
Seized from Jun No’s possession were 140 ecstasy tablets.
The suspect was charged with violation of Section 5 of Republic Act (RA) 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
Mijares said Jun No has been living in Cebu City for about three years prior to his arrest in Pasay City.
The National Police Drug Enforcement Group is now looking into the possible connection of Jun No with the alleged “Korean mafia” in Cebu City.


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domain: medical


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|Length of strings /||700mm|
|Sound board /||American cedar|
|Back & side /||Rosewood|
|Coating /||Varnish, Cashew|
|Price (ex-tax) /||NBcem-25W||250,000||Yen|
It is tuned a 4th lower than the prime guitar. It is played strongly with a pick. The noble low sound makes a variety of cembalo guitars sound as one. The family of Cembalo guitars all use steel strings.

domain: artistic


Bray, the latest film from Hollywood stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, shows these exclusive pictures on the set of Co Wicklow.
Dublin, which has returned to the capital Damon for the second time this year, is excited for the coming weeks.
The duo, who won an Oscar for Goodwill Hunting, are filming scenes for Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel.
The Ardmore studio set is expected to shoot dozens of scenes daily with six to eight employees daily for six to eight weeks.
From Kovid-19, the set had visible testing centers and medics to ensure that the cast and crew were as safe as possible.
The shooting includes some extras from the area after sending out a casting call earlier this year.
Filming was delayed due to a pandemic of the corona virus, and Matt Damon became one of the natives during the lockdown.
At the moment, he lives in the exclusive ‘Mount Mount Eagle’ home on Vico Road, Killini’s A-list paradise.
The house was once one of the most expensive homes to sell in Dublin.
The 49-year-old Boston-based actor, filmmaker and screenwriter fell in love with “Fairytale” Dalkey and became instantly local.
He was very proud to be one of them. The New York Times has heard rumors of strong support for the journalist.
He said In an interview: “I heard this story. I had no idea it was all happening behind the scenes. It’s incredible.”
The actor described Killini Hill as “crazy and like a fairy tale” and referred to some of the suburbs he visited.
“The first few days we were here we went to a bookstore, but unfortunately it was limited because it was closed everywhere. [where we can go].
“A beautiful coffee place is still open,” said Barista. “
Wannabe twitter trailblazer. Troublemaker. Freelance beer evangelist. Amateur pop culture nerd.


The Ministry of health has expressed confidence in its conviction to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama says the Ministry has observed heightened enforcement and prosecution of those not complying with the directives.
Dr Malama said the remedy to bringing the pandemic under control lies in the collective efforts of ensuring adherence to the public health guidelines.
He echoed that the Ministry is convinced that it will bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control soon.
“Today we reiterate our conviction that we will bring COVID-19 under control sooner than later. The remedy to achieve this lies in our collective efforts to ensure that we adhere to the public health and social directives and measures which have been prescribed,’’ he said
He predicted change in the COVID-19 situation as the country has reached 48 days into the third wave adding that based on the graphical projection in weeks to come, a decent curve is expected.
“We are now 48 days into the third wave and see light in coming weeks, looking at the duration of the previous two waves 79 days for the first wave and 115 days for the second wave, we can predicate that we have few weeks to go before we start seeing plateauing and descent of the curve in the current COVID 19,’’ he said.
He has also disclosed that in the last 24 hours the country has recorded 2,384 new confirmed COVID-19 cases out of 10, 225 tests conducted, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases recorded to 174,789
Meanwhile the country yesterday started administering dose one and two of the AstraZeneca vaccines with, 2 259 of dose one while 3,716 of dose two were administered respectively.
This was contained in statement made available by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services Kennedy Malama


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Ironically, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s rejection of the 2017 Statement from the Heart, proposing more meaningful national engagement with Indigenous peoples, has accelerated demands for a treaty process across the country. Victoria and the Northern Territory have both moved ahead on this front in recent weeks.
But enthusiasm for treaties at the state and territory level is misplaced. The legal, political and economic power to effect real change lies only at federal level. Local treaty action may be a symbol of goodwill, but it is the very foundation of the Australian Constitution that must be changed.
Greens MP Lidia Thorpe, the first Indigenous woman elected to state parliament, maintains that Indigenous sovereignty must be asserted in the Victorian treaty process. However, this is not possible. States and territories cannot enter into treaties with sovereign nations - they can only sign agreements or domestic acts akin to land rights, vulnerable to political expediency.
Worse, it implies Indigenous peoples must recognise the legitimacy of the government system that dispossessed them, potentially compromising action at the national level.
Thorpe, a Gunnai-Gunditjmara woman, also announced, apparently without irony, there would be government funding for consultations in Victoria. This recognises the unequal position from which Indigenous peoples are forced to negotiate. Demeaned by their ongoing colonial status, in a country made wealthy through their dispossession, they are dependent for resources even to meet.
State and territory-level action might be commendable if economic power was restored to Indigenous peoples to allow them to come to the national treaty table on equal terms. This could be through the return of land, for example, or a tax revenue derived from land that hasn’t been returned. If the states and territories are serious about treaties, this is the path they will take.
The major debate is whether, at the national level, there should be a single treaty, or treaties with each Indigenous nation. A template that could be used across Australia by each Indigenous nation (or a cluster of them) in such negotiations, would provide for consistency, as well as flexibility. This would be the most useful focus for the state- and territory-level treaty discussion.
Sovereignty stripped away
The irony of a treaty process is that treaties also assume the participation of sovereign parties. Indigenous peoples have never ceded their sovereignty. So, how did Australia acquire it?
The founder of Melbourne, John Batman, was an unsavoury character with little time for Aboriginal peoples, but is credited with being the first to pursue an Indigenous “treaty”, such as it was.
In May 1835, he sought to purchase land directly from the Wurundjeru land owners in a ruse to get around colonial restrictions, entering into what he called a “deed”, or agreement. Infuriated, Governor Richard Bourke quickly sought a proclamation from the Colonial Office to prevent this usurping of government control. It defined anyone occupying land without government authority as illegal trespassers, proving devastating for Indigenous peoples.
The Crown knew Indigenous peoples had their own systems of land ownership and deliberately chose to ignore this. The doctrine of terra nullius, land without owners, was born.
The Australian High Court, in the Mabo Decision of 1992, did not overturn terra nullius. The decision recognised prior Indigenous sovereignty, but nonsensically affirmed the sovereignty of the Australian parliament anyway. It acknowledged terra nullius was a lie, without following through the implications: Australia remains a nation without a moral and legal foundation.
There have been attempts in recent years to pursue constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples, but this is also based on a false premise. Symbolically removing racist clauses from the Constitution and “recognising” Indigenous peoples is pointless: without treaties, the Constitution has no moral or legal legitimacy.
Constitutional recognition cannot restore a moral and legal foundation. We need a new starting point.
A new approach
Non-Indigenous Australians want to see Indigenous peoples “included” or “embraced” in the nation. But many don’t want to change their ways to accommodate Indigenous rights or difference. The flow is one way. We are taught that western civilisation is superior, and Indigenous difference is a deficit.
There is Indigenous leadership on these questions that is both visionary and practical. In 1987, Kevin Gilbert, a Wiradjuri man, produced a comprehensive critique of Australia’s claims to sovereignty, and the need to recognise the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples.
Irene Watson, a Tanganekald and Meintangk Boandik legal scholar and professor, points out that crises such as climate change are a call for a new relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigneous Australians and our environment. She shows how Indigenous moral and relational values provide a sound basis on which to build those new relationships.
Victoria Grieves, a Warraimaay historian, foresees a Republic of Australia based on the sovereignty of Aboriginal peoples. She says:
Australia could achieve absolute decolonisation and shared sovereignty and live up to the reputation we like to have, as a nation deeply concerned with human rights and social justice.
It is wrong-headed to think of “embracing” Indigenous peoples. Those with a western heritage must relinquish their arrogance, rewrite the distortions of their history, and place Indigenous interests at the forefront of social, economic and political concern.
We need to look beyond symbols to restitution: compensation, reparations and resource sharing. Indigenous peoples, through seeking a treaty, invite us to share in building an honourable future. Surely we can agree that Australia is worth it.
Gaynor Macdonald is a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Sydney. She has worked with several Wiradjuri communities over many years, as well as elsewhere in south eastern Australia. She publishes on cultural histories, political movements and the ways in which Aboriginal people have negotiated the ongoing changes wrought by their colonial subjugation. She teaches on the anthropology of the state, economic anthropology and Indigenous-related anthropology. This article first appeared in The Conversation.

domain: politics


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Oz Inspired Cardboard DIY Earrings
Who needs magical ruby slippers when you have these Oz Inspired Cardboard DIY Earrings? These golden drop earrings are so much more fun to make than following a yellow brick road down a very long journey. This quick and easy piece of upcycled jewelry looks like it cost you a fortune, when in reality you made them with some leftover cardboard. Inspired by The Great and Powerful Oz, these handmade earrings have more magic in them than the emerald city. Even if you didn't see the movie, these DIY earrings are still super gorgeous for anyone to wear!
Project TypeMake a Project
Time to CompleteUnder an hour
Bead Project TypeEarrings
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May 04, 2017
I love the idea of the Oz Inspired Cardboard DIY Earrings. Everyone who loves making jewelry should make these. The picture does not do justice to the ombre paint. Trust me, they really are pretty.
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Jul 11, 2016
Fun project to do with youngsters, encourages recycling, reading, and creativity -- brilliant idea
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Billy Talent Announce 'Dead Silence' LP, Reveal Artwork
Published Jul 12, 2012We knew Canadian stadium punks Billy Talent had an album in the works, having delivered their metal-tinged teaser "Viking Death March" back in May, and the Toronto-area outfit have now revealed the details on their impending release. Rather than continue with their sequential accurate album titles, the group's fourth album and follow-up to 2009's Billy Talent III is called Dead Silence. It hits retailers September 11 via Warner Music Canada, and will arrive September 7 worldwide.
The band revealed the news via their website, where they also dropped the shark-adorned album artwork, which envisions a once mighty metropolis submerged in water. You can check it out up above.
A tracklisting has yet to be given, but the album was recorded at Vancouver's the Armoury Studios, Noble Street Studios in Toronto, and at Billy Talent's Hogtown headquarters. Guitarist Ian D'Sa worked on both sides of the boards, pulling double duty as Dead Silence's producer.
An official video for new single "Viking Death March," helmed by award-winning directors Michael Maxxis and David Logan, is expected to surface tomorrow (July 13). The clip captures the band on their recently wrapped-up European tour. For now, you can catch a live performance of the number from the Rock Am Ring festival in Germany.

domain: entertainment


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At the Ronald McDonald House, Breathe pampers pint-sized patients with a day at the salon.
Words by Lisa Waterman Gray | Photos by Nate Sheets
ast spring, a new amenity opened inside the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City: a temporary home at the Children’s Mercy downtown campus for out-of-town families who have traveled here for their critically ill children’s medical care. Since the completion of Breathe, many local hair stylists, nail technicians and massage therapists have volunteered to pamper these rmhc-kc patients and their families. Young kids battling hair loss can choose colorful knitted “wigs” donated by the Magic Yarn Project, while older kids may receive custom wigs from celebrity hair designer Trenton Lee.
Lisa Schmitz, owner of Lisa Schmitz Interior Design, created this serene, welcoming spa environment with colleague Alicia Berg in cooperation with the non-profit Design for a Difference.
“This International Design Guild program helps interior designers support their communities by creating beautiful and functional spaces for those in need,” says Paul Madden, operations director at Madden-McFarland.
“Although the salon was primarily designed for youth undergoing treatment, we aimed to create a space for all ages so parents and family members could find a sense of retreat, too,” Alicia explains.
Lisa and Alicia incorporated hardwood floors, high ceilings and plenty of natural light. Salon chairs line the matte brass-accented cabinetry and flank multiple hair-washing stations. Curved edges adorn the boutique’s tall mirrors, cabinet hardware, wall lights, small tables and upholstered chairs.
“LSID was thrilled to provide our skills in creating just the perfect atmosphere, allowing families to breathe,” Lisa says.
Interior Designer: Lisa Schmitz Interior Design, @lisaschmitzinteriors
This project was made possible in part by donations and discounts.
Art: Ampersand (100% donation)
Flooring—Hardwood: Shaw Hard Surfaces (25% discount);
Carpet: donated through Shaw Contract
Salon Furnishings—stylist chairs, pedicure chair,
wash sink, manicure table: Beauty Brands (100 % donation)
Lighting Design: Clint Paugh Lighting Consultation (100% donation)
Contractors: SRKO, Grabill Plumbing, Kenny’s Tile, George Ayotte, Wall Board Specialties, Brad Morris, Citadel Electric Group
Cabinets: Specialty Cabinets
Countertops: Wausau Tile
Fabrication Company: Specialty Cabinets
Furnishings: Joybird; Article; HAY
Accessories: Beco Flowers
Light Fixtures: Lumens; Pipeline Track by PureEdge
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Fine Gardening program keeps your outdoor spaces looking their best. You’ll love the results.
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Karzai's hesitation on Jirga recommendation creates cloud of uncertainty
A relatively small presence of U.S. and NATO troops in an advisory capacity after 2014 could do more for stability in Afghanistan than the large international military engagement achieved over the past decade, some analysts say.
While those analysts say a continued presence is critical to sustain the gains of the last 12 years of war, others say Afghanistan has come so far with international assistance that it could do well on its own — as long as substantial financial aid continues to flow. But without a military presence, that is not guaranteed.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s defiance of the recommendation by Afghan leaders that he sign the accord as soon as possible has heightened uncertainty over a continued U.S. and international presence in Afghanistan after all combat forces withdraw at the end of next year. A Loya Jirga, or council of elders, endorsed the agreement last week.
Karzai, who told the Loya Jirga he would not sign the agreement before April elections choose his successor, has subsequently demanded additional conditions, including an immediate end to U.S. military raids on Afghan homes and the release of all Afghan prisoners from Guantanamo.
The impasse also jeopardises the inclusion of other NATO nations in the follow-on misson, because an alliance status of forces accord would be based on a U.S.-Afghan agreement.
Mark Jacobson, former deputy NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, said that if Karzai continues to obstruct the signing of the bilateral security agreement, “none of the work of the past 10 years will matter, as the Afghan security forces and the Afghan government cannot currently sustain itself without significant foreign aid and military assistance.”
Although the composition and strength of the follow-on mission, to be known as Resolute Support, have not yet been determined, it is likely to comprise up to 12,000 troops — about two-thirds of them Americans. Most will be advisers who will conduct their training on bases rather than in the field. A separate U.S. force will continue counterterrorism activities.
NATO officials pointed out that much has been achieved already in preparing the 350,000-strong Afghan security forces to take over complete responsibility for security starting in 2015.
“We have built up from scratch a national force of which the Afghans are rightfully proud,” said a NATO official who could not be named under standing alliance rules. “Work, however, needs to be pursued further, notably in developing those more specialized skills ... such as in air support and countering improvised explosive devices.”
Said Wali, a member of the Loya Jirga, said on Saturday that fellow delegates agreed Afghanistan still needs foreign troops to assist them with security.
“We brought up the experience of Iraq — they acted selfishly and now they are suffering,” he said, referring to the violence that engulfed that nation after U.S. troops left in 2011, when Baghdad rejected a similar agreement with Washington.
Still, some analysts have expressed doubts that a small follow-on contingent will be able to achieve what U.S. and NATO combat forces — whose numbers hit a high of 140,000 two years ago — failed to do since the 2001 invasion. Despite overwhelming superiority in numbers, firepower and mobility, the international coalition has so far been unable to defeat the Taliban-led insurgency.
“I can’t see that a few thousand Western troops will weigh terribly heavily on the operational balance,” said Nick Witney, former head of the EU’s European Defense Agency in Brussels and now a senior policy fellow at the Paris-based European Council on Foreign Relations. “It seems it will serve mainly U.S. interests, to hunt down terrorists wanted by the Americans.”
Analysts have pointed out that, historically, such training missions have had mixed results. U.S. assistance to South Korea during the Korean War and later helped create a powerful military. But three decades of equipping, training and mentoring the South Vietnamese military did not prevent it from promptly collapsing during a North Vietnamese offensive in 1975. More recently, training programs for West African countries failed to enable them to resist jihadist insurgencies that had to be beaten back by French forces with U.S. logistical support.
NATO officials have expressed confidence that the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan has been degraded to such a degree that the Afghan security forces will be able to contain it despite a continuing lack of air and artillery support, problems with logistics and intelligence, and other weaknesses.
Analysts say much of U.S. and NATO confidence can be attributed to a calculation that the withdrawal of the foreign combat forces will diminish the fervor of the insurgency, which has always been largely driven by nationalist elements opposed to what they regard as an occupation. Furthermore, the Afghan security forces will continue to significantly outnumber Taliban fighters, who analysts estimate number 20-25,000. And finally, although peace talks with the Taliban in Qatar have not gone well so far, some form of peace process is likely to win over a sufficient portion of the guerrillas and further weaken the insurgency.
David Cortright, head of policy studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame University, said Afghanistan’s main problem after 2014 will be whether U.S. and other donors will continue to pump in money to prop up the Afghan military.
Last year, the international community pledged to provide about $4 billion a year for Afghanistan’s security forces, but sustaining this commitment indefinitely will be difficult at a time when the U.S. and European countries find themselves in deep budgetary crises, Cortright said.
“So there are many doubts about the [NATO] calculations.”

domain: news


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Spring is love-ly (hearts, love, get it??) in Texas. Commencing sometime around March, our foliage is fully developed by June. In effort to show off our Texas landscape to our Toronto family, we journeyed out to Blanco, TX after we had exhausted the Lady Bird Lake trail.
Let me show you one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. Without doubt, the most beautiful urban garden you could lose an afternoon within.
Presiding over the garden is Rikyū, the tea master.
Founded in 1941 following Nezu’s death, the museum boasts one of Japan’s most culturally significant private collections of Asian art from the pre-modern period. Nezu was a particularly avid collector of hanging scrolls and utensils for tea ceremonies, and today the museum has over 7,000 objects, including calligraphy, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, bamboo crafts and textiles. The collection was originally displayed in Nezu’s Aoyama residence, which stood in extensive traditional gardens studded with ponds, bridges and teahouses. In 2006 his grandson Koichi Nezu commissioned Kuma to remodel and rationalise the existing facilities and design a new building on the garden site. The revitalised complex reopened in October 2009.
It wasn’t too cold for a few cocktails on the lawn of the beautiful new Hotel Ella.
The subject of great controversy, still a great lineup (around the block and musical artists). This W Hotel is next door to our apartment, which means great people watching and hearing the after parties.
…with a few of our favorite things…
Graeme is ever grateful for his season pass to Leafs-on-demand streaming online. This is my view of Graeme for 4/7 nights per week.
The rivalries were softened by some lovely flower on Valentines Day. Thanks Graeme!
Next, Amanda & Graeme do SXSW 2014, celebrating two full years in Austin, TX.
Many visitors to Tokyo will say that Tokyo is ugly and overall grey. My impression is that like many cities, there are pockets of charming areas, a smattering of gorgeous architectural wonders and an expected amount of concrete. Unlike many dense cities though, we found Tokyo to be very quiet (no honking!), extremely clean, and very safe (practically zero crime rate). And we enjoyed plentiful sunshine and meditation time within some of the loveliest urban parks I’ve been to. Tokyo is dominated by architecture completed by world famous Japanese and foreign architects alike. Some districts are best viewed at twilight when the buildings start to glow and the power lines recede into the background. Others are beautiful during the daylight when one can appreciate the material details and tree-lined boulevards on which they sit. This is by no means a comprehensive visual tour, just a sampling of some of the weird and wonderful. We were fortunate to spend a holiday Sunday in Tokyo during which many of the main streets were designated pedestrian-only, affording us unique views and easy access into shops and galleries. There’s still plenty of areas we never got to see…so I guess we’ll have to return one day 🙂
As seen from our hotel, Remm Hibiya
National Art Center, Roppongi district
After a busy four days of shopping and running around Tokyo, Amanda had planned a relaxing 24 hours in this small resort area outside of Tokyo called Hakone. Hakone is known for their natural hot springs and the area has tons of hotels built on top of these springs with world renowned spas. Sounds good! The setting was beautiful, the service was impeccable and we have since been remarking that it was one of the best 24 hours of our lives.
Upon arrival, the concierge led us to the lobby seating in order to present us with our hot towels (for hand washing) and our welcome drink. After an appropriate amount of solitude, the concierge returned to complete our check-in, confirm our dinner and breakfast reservation times and process Amanda’s “no raw fish” request (she kept saying sesame instead of sashimi…they finally resolved the translation error).
During our stay we had to be in uniform (yukata) at all times. When we arrived they gave these robes and slippers to wear. The robes were nice, but I found the slippers to be uncomfortable, mainly because there was no real way to discern what was the left food from the right. I still don’t know if there was an answer, or if the slipper was designed to be available for either foot and comfortable to neither. Also, when you arrive at a hotel in Japan they send a little friend with you around your room for like 10 minutes showing you everything you could need. “Here is the kettle, here is the wall outlet, here is the bed, here is the toilet, here are your towels, this is the phone, this is the button you press to ask us questions should you have any after this 15 min walkthrough of your room” etc. It was kinda charming at first, but not so much after you’ve checked in to 3-4 places in the past 8 days.
In the basement of the hotel was the reason we came here: the spa. Natural hot water, a sauna and a cold water dipping pool. The Japanese love their baths, and I am now a total convert. When Amanda and I build a house we are totally going to make a big bath in the basement. And as with everything there is a set ritual for the bath–or at least there was for the guys side. I’m sure it was similar on Amanda’s side of the spa. You come in, disrobe and go to this little shower room and sit naked on a little stool and clean yourself off with a shower-head and bucket. Once you’re clean of all of life’s dirt you are ready for the soak in the bath. And it was glorious. Half-inside, half-outside with the crisp fall air around you while you are submerged in 100 degree water, floating around with small woodland creatures looking in at you. Awesome.
The next day we had to leave, which was sad. This hotel had a long windy driveway, and when our hostess put us in the cab we watched with sadness as the hotel slowly wound out of our sight. But during that 45 second climb up the hill, our hostess did not cease her bowing to our cab and we rolled away. Japanese hospitality rocks!

domain: travel


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Dogs dragging their blankets around might look adorable, but it can sometimes get frustrating too. It can also stem from a reason that you might then need to take care of to make your dog comfortable.
Below, you can understand some potential reasons that might be leading to this kind of behavior as well as what you can do to deal with this.
There are numerous reasons that can help explain the behavior of dogs. This also applies to them dragging blankets around.
Let’s look into some causes below.
One of the primary reasons for dogs dragging their blankets around is their instinct. Since many of them have their origins as hunting dogs or herding dogs, with most of them also having pack-based behavior and histories, they can express their instinctive patterns by dragging the blanket.
This is mainly because of the instinct of digging and scratching the ground and transporting leaves and sharp twigs away from their sleeping spot.
Dogs dragging blankets and other parts of their bed around might also be a way for them to mark their territory. This can particularly happen if there are other dogs or pets around them.
Since dogs have glands in their paws that not only help them sweat but also emit a scent or odor that other animals can sense, they tend to scratch or move their blankets around to spread their scents and establish their own territories.
If your dog is female and pregnant at the time, she might end up dragging and moving the blankets around. You can also notice other behaviors like scratching and circling around their beds.
This is another instinctive behavior that stems from finding a comfortable and safe spot where they can give birth and protect the new puppies. This essentially becomes a “nest” where they can create their own safe spot.
A similar dragging and burrowing instinct can be seen in males too, for finding a good resting spot.
Also Read: Why Does My Dog Sleep Between My Legs?
It is possible that the temperature in the house might not suit your dog properly. They might either be feeling too hot or too cold, which can cause them to drag their blankets around until they find another spot to sleep.
This might create problems at times, especially if they get on your bed or in another restricted spot. For this reason, it is important to regulate the temperature so that your dog does not freeze or become overwhelmed or stressed in the heat.
Your dogs might simply not be comfortable in their beds. Apart from the temperature, some other reasons that can result in discomfort include rough textures of the bed or blankets or even some sharp or solid objects stuck in the bed.
This can cause them to move their blankets around to get rid of the cause or make themselves more comfortable.
If your dogs are feeling playful, energetic and mischievous, dragging their blankets around might be a way of indicating their excitement and releasing some of their energy. They might want to tug the blanket to play around or they might be goofing around with your other pets or family members.
There might be other signs alongside this that might indicate that their behavior is merely stemming from playfulness. For instance, they could be wagging their tails or making sounds.
Your dogs might want your attention for some reason or the other. If they are hungry or it is time for you to give them their meals, they might drag their blankets around as a way of communicating this need.
They might also want to play with you or cuddle with you. If there is another reason, such as their discomfort, pain or an indication that they want to pee or poop, they might rely on this behavior.
Many dogs go on to learn and absorb new behaviors. If there are other older dogs in your house or any other pet that they have noticed carrying out this behavior, they might start forming an association in their minds, especially if this behavior ends with a reward.
Sometimes, they might imitate it simply out of curiosity. It is only once they make a connection of a reward that they might repeat this.
In rare cases, dogs dragging their blankets around might also stem from fear of some kind. For instance, if there is a person or animal around them that they are afraid of, they might try to move their beds or relieve their stress by dragging the blankets and chewing on them.
Also Read: Why Do Dogs Lick Blankets?
Dogs dragging their blankets around is not necessarily indicative of poor behavior or an underlying issue, but identifying the cause can help you move on to figuring out how to deal with it.
Take a look at some steps you can take.
If your dogs are carrying this kind of dragging behavior due to their instinct or because of nesting, you should simply let them be. If they are trying to adjust themselves to make themselves comfortable, you should let them carry this out.
Chances are that this behavior will stop on its own once your dogs are done for the time being. This reason is also quite harmless.
You should try making your dog as comfortable and safe as possible in your house. Feed them on time and give them enough attention so that they do not always rely on dragging the blanket to seek your attention.
You should also adjust the temperature, provide enough blankets and keep your dogs warm without overheating them. Opt for soft beds too.
In case the issue is more severe, you will need to provide training to your dog to rid them of this behavior. For instance, if they are marking their territories and also becoming aggressive, you should use positive reinforcement to help them obey your commands and repeat what they learn.
You will also need to train your dog out of their separation anxiety and trauma. You can either do this yourself or hire a professional trainer to help you out.
Never punish your dog or use aversion tactics since this could make them more fearful and anxious. Throughout the process, you will need to remain patient since this might take some time to establish.
Often, your dogs might move their blankets around and scratch them or chew them if they have an underlying health issue. Pain, wounds or injuries can result in this too.
In this case, especially if there seems to be no other cause, you should take your dog to the vet.
Also Read: Why Do Dogs Burrow In Blankets?
Dogs mainly tend to drag their blankets around due to their instinct of circling around until they feel comfortable. They might also do this to mark their territory, nest, find a good temperature or simply because they are feeling playful and want your attention.
You can either let them be (if not excessive), or you can help make them comfortable, provide training or visit the vet if you suspect a health issue.

domain: pet


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The Indian Railways is all eager to expand railway connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh, and is planning to make all efforts to turn this into a reality. Reportedly, the proposed railway lines―Bhalukpong-Tenga-Tawang (378 km), North Lakhimpur-Bame-Aalo-Silapathar (247.85 km), and Pasighat-Tezu-Parsuram Kund-Rupai (227 km) by the Indian Railways will improve connectivity to northern and eastern frontiers of Arunachal Pradesh.
The said project was discussed when the Union Minister of State for Railways met a team of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) along with Chief Minister Prema Khandu to review the status of railway projects in the state.
Referring to this development, he said that the officials informed that NFR is taking up the Bhalukpung-Tenga-Tawang railway line on priority due to its strategic importance.
Reportedly, because the railway tracks will have to be built at a height of 10000 ft, around 80 per cent of the railway line will pass through tunnels. The railways, in an effort to reduce the distance, have suggested two-lane roads along the tunnels to be built on the line.
Referring to this, Union Minister of State for Railways quoted that once the survey is completed and formalities are cleared, it will take around six to seven years for the Bhalukpong-Tenga-Tawang line to be up and ready.
The Minister of State for Railways also added that the railway line will prove to be useful from a security point of view besides accelerating socio-economic development of the people.
Tawang, which has become one of the popular tourist spots among travellers over the years, is located at an elevation of 10000 ft to the east of Bhutan. Bumla Pass, located around 37 km from Tawang, marks the India-China border.

domain: geography


Christina Aguilera holds onto her son Max‘s hand while heading into Houston’s restaurant for lunch on Saturday afternoon (December 8) in Santa Monica, Calif.
The 31-year-old singer was also joined by her boyfriend Matthew Rutler.
Earlier this week, Christina made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and performed her song “Just a Fool” with Blake Shelton!
“Thank you @BlakeShelton for performing #JustAFool with me on @TheEllenShow. Had a great time!” Christina tweeted. “Always a riot when I’m with @BlakeShelton. Fun backstage at @TheEllenShow.”
Later that evening, Christina and Matt sipped on Russian Standard Vodka Moscow Mules at a holiday party thrown by producer Jennifer Klein at her private residence.
Christina Aguilera & Blake Shelton: “Just A Fool”
15+ pictures inside of Christina Aguilera out for lunch… More Here! »


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Scots Lotto winner Jane Park has revealed she has moved to Dubai.
The influencer told fans she's emigrated to "improve my life and try and make 2021 more positive than 2020".
Jane had previously said she would be staying in the UAE country for the next month amid the tightening of lockdown restrictions in Scotland.
After announcing her news, the 25-year-old pleaded with Instagram followers to "stop with the Dubai abuse".
She added she was "sorry" other people are not in the same financial position as her to be able to make such a move, but slammed trolls for calling her selfish.
A number of UK influencers have been blasted for "work trips" to luxury resorts.
Jane has been jetting between the Middle East and Scotland for the past few months despite the backlash.
In a post on her Instagram stories she said she moved out of her mum's house in Edinburgh before her last trip abroad because she was "high risk".
She also claimed it's "safer" for her to be overseas than at home, and added she's ensuring she is "following the rules".
Jane, who became Britain's youngest EuroMillions winner at the age of just 17, added: "If Dubai was to go into lockdown then I'd be in one too.
"I'm sick of message requests saying I'm selfish ETC when all I've done is moved somewhere to better my life and try and make 2021 more positive than 2020.
"I'm sorry that some people aren't in a position to do so but I don't feel you should hate someone who is.
"I'm not saying go to Dubai and party, I'm not always partying.
"I'm business focused and no one knows what is going on. Please don't just message me abuse based on what you've read in the media.
"I think everyone's too quick to jump on the bandwagon. I'm fully aware there is people that can't see families etc but I am making no impact on that it's not my fault so stop messaging a 25 year old girl abuse think again.
"You don't know how someone is feeling. It's the same ones that preach about mental health all over Insta as well."
The social media star had previously suggested that she would love to move to Dubai to escape the Scottish lockdown.
Since arriving in the country, she has posted a series of sexy snaps of her enjoying the sunshine in a bikini, as well as visits to a host of top tourist spots and swanky designer stores.
Adding to her Instagram story, Jane urged fans to remember there is "stuff going on behind closed doors" that they don't know about her life.
She said: "I want everyone to be aware of that I haven't just been partying.
"I follow the Dubai rules and that's all I can do.
"Please stop the abuse because your (sic) not in a position to do the things I do.
"I sympathize (sic) with the situation back home and I hope everyone stays safe and follows the rules based on where they live."
Following her announcement, Jane thanked fans for the amazing response.
She added it was "really nice" to see some "positive things" for once.
Jane's move comes as Scotland goes into a tighter lockdown from Saturday, with bans on drinking outdoors and more curbs on retail and takeaways.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced click and collect services will be restricted to essential services only, such as clothes, homeware, baby equipment and books.
Takeaway services will have to be offered through a hatch to stop people coming indoors.
Drinking alcohol outdoors will be banned in all level 4 areas of Scotland, putting an end to any takeaway pints.
Employers will be under a strengthened obligation to allow staff to work from home.
Maintenance and other trade work in people's homes will be restricted by law to essential upkeep only.
The law on leaving a house for essential purposes will be tightened to make sure people do not then stay outside in breach of the wider guidance.
The new rules were confirmed in a statement at the Scottish Parliament today.


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Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy Working on New Album ‘Lion,’ Hunting 2014 Release
Peter Murphy may be on the road playing Bauhaus songs at the moment, but his next batch of new music won’t be far behind.
The singer is eyeing an early 2014 release for “Lion,” the follow-up to 2011’s “Ninth.” The album was hatched during sessions with producer Youth, an old friend who Murphy got together with “just to see how it went. We did it ourselves, just like a week to see what would go over, and basically we did the album in four and a half days. It was like dropping off the edge of a cliff and no turning back, and it was really exciting.”
Murphy describes the “Lion” material as “a mixture of stuff, almost like operas for the dispossessed. Its’ very romantic and very deep and emotional, quite symphonic in places, but then becomes, like, a rabble-rousing pirate sea shanty. It’s a mixture of ‘The White Album,’ which goes into ‘Helter Skelter,’ and kind of ‘I Am the Walrus’ type of arrangement stuff. It’s a lot — kind of like, ‘Who is that person? How can he imagine he can do all that?’ I just think I’m out of place, really. I’m like (David) Bowie, Iggy (Pop), Frank Sinatra, Elvis (Presley) all rolled into one, and it’s kind of like, ‘What planet did he come from?’ ”
Murphy says he expects to do “a second round” of recording with Youth, during which he’ll “do some more songs and refine, finesse the production a bit.” But he’s still hoping to complete “Lion” in the fall. Meanwhile, his Mr. Moonlight Tour wraps up its first North American leg May 16 in Chicago, then heads to Germany on May 22 for a four-week run before a set of western U.S. dates commences on July 13. Murphy has tapped Bauhaus’ catalog for his own shows before but has never done a show entirely of the group’s material without the rest of the band. But with Bauhaus officially finished after 2008’s “Go Away in White,” Murphy figures it’s up to him to keep the legacy alive.
“I’ve usually kept Bauhaus very much exclusive to itself and in its own box. I wanted to keep it special, really,” Murphy explains. “But we tried twice (to reunite), and neither one really lasted. So, reluctantly, the flag is in my hands, really. I knew my band could handle it, so I put on one show in December to see what happens, and it went so well it’s expanded into a world tour, and it’s selling out. So that’s really good news. And I thought I’d use the tie to raise money to give myself a few more resources to complete (‘Lion’).”


New Grid Autosport Trailer Launch Trailer “This is Racing”
Codemasters has released a new Grid Autosport launch trailer titled, “This is Racing” as Grid Autosport is set to launch in the United States on June 24th and in Europe on June 27th for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
Codemasters announced that Grid Autosport would be more of an authentic racing game and based on what we’ve seen and heard, it appears to be that way.
Grid Autosport will feature 78 cars including some such as: Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32), the McLaren F1, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, just to name a few. Also, the tracks you can race at aren’t too shabby either. There are twenty-two race tracks in total including some notables such as: Red Bull Ring, Hockenheimring, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Also, Grid Autosport will have a career mode and you’ll have the ability to just specialize in one area of racing or you can race in all the available modes in your career such as endurance, tour racing, open-wheel racing, etc.
Grid Autosport will also feature online racing. Players will have the ability to compete in races across the game’s five disciplines, plus a range of Party modes and in Demolition Derby mode. And if you join RaceNet, players will be able to track their progress in game, receive new gameplay challenges every week and can join together to form Racing Clubs as clan-style online competition comes to GRID Autosport.
Grid Autosport will launch on June 24th in the United States, and on June 27th in Europe for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. For more information on Grid Autosport you can head on over to the website, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook.


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As the number of intravenous drug users continues to rise, so does the risk of dangerous and potentially fatal complications that are associated with illicit drug use. In this population, death rates are higher due to overdose, AIDs-related mortality, and other blood-borne viruses (Mathers et al., 2013). Mortality rates remain high even though precautions have been taken to reduce them. According to Lavender & McCarron (2013), “Mortality in injecting drug users is up to 22 times higher than for the age-adjusted population, despite increased provision of needle and syringe programs, reduced needle and syringe sharing, and higher uptake of hepatitis B vaccination” (p. 511).
Several studies have shown that injection drug users lower their risk of transmitting infectious diseases when there is a needle exchange program available. There has not been a valid study of whether or not the amounts of time needles are returned to the exchange programs are harmful to communities. The Journal of Public Health, conducted surveys, evidence from needle exchange sites, jails, and institutions that needle exchange programs are effective in reducing illnesses such as HIV and AIDS (Burt & Theide, 2016). Furthermore, Reepalu, Blome, Bjork, Widell, & Bjorkman (2012), researched the same individuals for 20 years, with no breaks. Their studies concluded that injection drug use, not only heightens the risk for HIV and AID’s, there is also an increase in Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. However, there studies showed that there is not an increase rate of cancer diagnoses due to injection drug use. In a study conducted by Bonar and Rosenberg (2014), they wanted to see if self-initiated harm strategies, such as: proper needle sterilization techniques, proper disposal of needles, and cleaning of the pre injected skin, could help improve the health of those that use drugs intravenously. Their study was conducted over an eight-month period, results showed that their
Safe injection sites are places where chronic users of drugs such as morphine, cocaine, and heroin can go to inject drugs in a safe and sanitary environment. The site itself does not supply the drugs, but offers addiction and mental health treatment, first aid in case of overdose or injury, and sanitary means to inject drugs safely. These sites apply what is known as the harm reduction model. In her
A safe injection site (SIS) has been placed in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where drug use is a challenging problem. The program is a vital piece of the cities known harm reduction approach to its serious problems with homelessness, drugs, crime and AIDS. Canada has drastically shifted its method. Going from punishing drug users to establishing the plan of harm reduction. Since 2003 when the supervised SIS opened, it has presented a safe health-focused center where drug users have access to inject illegal drugs using sterile equipment in a clean environment under the supervision of medically trained professionals. Although there are some serious concerns about the
Drug abuse has always been a delicate subject as it deals with the health, safety, and the well-being of not only the users, but also everyone they come into contact with. Cities across Canada are faced with a rising number of drug abusers, and therefore increased cases of infectious diseases and overdoses by these users. Vancouver housed the first injection site in Canada; its purpose to offer sterile syringes as well as other equipment to addicts, medical care in the event of an overdose or other emergency, as well as counseling and referrals to drug rehabilitation programs. This was a great step towards ensuring the safety and security of the public; drug users are given access to safe, one-use syringes and are provided with clean environment,
Medical problems are recognized as issues with health, dental, psychological, injury, and other ailments of the human body. Inmate access to adequate medical care is sometimes unavailable and because of this, chronic and viral illnesses run rampant within the U.S. prison system. Based on a survey of inmates during 2004, a variety of information has been made available regarding inmate medical and health issues which can be used to make inferences and develop solutions to the prison healthcare system in the United States.
There are many ways in which people who are addicted to intravenous drugs are perceived by our society. People sometimes believe the addicted person is to blame for their circumstance and substance dependence and some feel serious drug addicts are a “lost cause” due to a lack of values or flawed character. “Persons who struggle with addictions often are depicted as criminals or prostitutes, weak, lazy and morally corrupt” (Bartlett, R., Brown, L., Shattell, M., Wright, T., Lewallen, L. (2013). These stereotypes paint people with addiction negatively; a percentage of people who live with serious addiction are capable of recovery with the right attitude, support and healthcare. Street level healthcare services such as; safe injection sites, provide accessable resources at street level for people to make the choice to live healthier lifestyles. Govement funding and support is needed to make these projects possible to improve the health of Canadians. Safe injection sites are proven to be positive contributions to communities, save lives, reduce harm and open doors towards recovery for people from the grip of addiction.
This literature review will focus mainly on the drug use of heroin, the scary numbers behind the drug and the sudden rise of overdosing on the drug across the United States. Issues that will be discussed are what is Heroin, what’s in Heroin that makes it addicting, how it can increase the users risk of contracting other life threatening diseases and where it’s use and abuse are most popular across the United states and we will take a look at multiple studies that show examples of our new drug problem in the United States. While we looked at how homicide rates have dropped while in class, the flip side to that is that the amount of drug usage has risen.
Harm reduction can be defined as an approach that aims to reduce the consequences of high risk behaviours such as injection drug use on the individual and on society as a whole. Harm reduction programs provide injection drug users with access to a clean injection environment, sterile injections, drug-preparation equipment and safe disposal of contaminated material at the time of injection. Staff members in harm reduction facilities provide health teaching, anonymous HIV testing, information on addiction treatment, condoms and assist in connecting clients to social and health services (Semaan et al., 2011; Ball, 2007). Although, the benefits of harm reduction are evident through reduction of accidental drug overdose and prevention of
Audience Relevence: It is important to be aware of how our countries correctional system is run and why it is not very efficent. We are the future of this country and if we are informed on what needs to be fixed we can ensure that our generation does a better job.
The topic that I chose to research for my proposal is health care in the prison system. This is something that can vary drastically depending different details such as the specific prison, the management of the prison, as well as the needs of the inmates that could change for various reasons. It is generally believed that the health care that is available to inmates in both emergency situations as well as day-to-day medical needs is lacking compared to the health care that is available to the general public. The reasoning behind the quality of health care in the prison system can also be attributed to many different aspects such as an increase in inmates within the prison system, an increase in privately operated prisons that seek to make a profit, and the population of the prison system changing. There is now an increase in the elderly being incarcerated due to there being longer sentences which leads to there being an increase in age related health concerns that need to be taken care of within this growing population.
Although the usage of these harsh narcotics are illegal now as they were then, having a secure place to carry out these activities reduce multiple negative outcomes. There were several specific events during the 1990’s, mentioned by Boyd (2013: 235), that caused the city of Vancouver to realize that the public health of this area was at risk. For instance, he refers to the “more potent and less expensive” injectable substances that became obtainable, which resulted in approximately 300 deaths per year in relation to heroin. This caused a number of drug users and supporters to open a safe injection location, called the ‘Back Alley Site’, which was terminated by the police in 1994 (Boyd, 2013: 235). In 1995, crack cocaine became available to this area in which Boyd (2013: 235) described to be “cheap, addictive and highly destructive”, being a vast concern for the mentally ill. So, would this have even been an issue if the Back Alley Site were to remain open, without the interference of the law? Then in 1997, there was a high occurrence of the HIV infection among injection drug users who shared needles; it was argued that the infection was more common with those who regularly visited needle exchange programs, which was only due to the fact that these addicts were “higher risk drug users” (Wood, Tyndall, Spittal, Li, Hogg,
This case study is based on results obtained from the public injecting site in the urban location of Sydney’s Kings Cross between 1998 and 2010. In exposing and analysing the history behind the initiative of the NSW Governments harm minimisation program of ‘Medically Supervised Injecting Centres’ (MSIC). This paper offers a snapshot into the public policy and responses associated with public injecting and metanarrative directions of the program management and evaluation methods that were applied to how this program unfolded.

domain: literature


I have been training voice students and professional singers in a variety of musical genres for nearly 20 years. I teach the principles of the Swedish and Italian schools of singing, taught to me by David Jones.
Students learn to sing freely and joyfully in a positive, encouraging studio environment. Our studio includes full-time professional musicians, college music majors and post-graduates, and avocational singers alike.
I have extensive experience and success with singers suffering from vocal injuries and/or vocal health challenges, registration breaks, and/or lack of tone clarity. I have helped students avoid vocal surgery and increase the strength and comfort of their phonation. Singers do not have to live with discomfort or difficult phonation.
The hour-long lesson fee is $90. Lessons are scheduled Tuesdays - Fridays between 9:00 and 5:15.
If you are having vocal difficulties and cannot pay the full lesson fee, accommodations are available. Finances should not be a barrier to healthy vocal function.


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Submesoscale coherent vortices in the deep Brazil Basin
MetadataShow full item record
With Lagrangian and hydrographic data taken in the deep Brazil Basin, we identify several submesoscale coherent vortices (SCVs). These features contrast with SCV paradigms in that float data indicate approximately equal populations of cyclonic and anticyclonic vortices, and hydrographic data suggest that roughly half exhibit the convex lens shape generally associated with SCVs, while half are instead shaped like a concave lens, with isopycnal surfaces pinched together. There is some evidence that the vortex cores may be enriched in warm, salty North Atlantic Deep Water, suggesting formation in the north or northwest regions of the basin. Data is available from 153 floats which were ballasted for 2500 and 4000 db pressures. They tracked 34 eddies, which are believed to be roughly 30 km in diameter, and rotate with apparent periods of about 30 days. Many floats experienced formation or entrainment events, and destruction or detrainment events, near seamounts.
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution August 2000
Suggested CitationThesis: Kassis, Patricia, "Submesoscale coherent vortices in the deep Brazil Basin", 2000-08, DOI:10.1575/1912/4189, https://hdl.handle.net/1912/4189
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