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A compilation of references to the need for Faith Formation and Catechesis in Irish diocesan synodal synthesis reports – June 2022.
- “There is need for much better faith formation at all levels – adults and children – with many recommending faith formation be available outside the school setting, especially in the context of sacramental preparation.” (Conclusion)
Ardagh and Clonmacnois
- (In a list of mission proposals) “2. Youth – offering an experience of faith and church that attracts…. 3. Family – supporting parents to promote faith in the home.” (Discerning Priorities and Next Steps)
- If there was criticism (of clergy) it sprang for the most part from a desire to see the priest and deacon more involved in the community and freer to do the work of faith formation and development that they were ordained to do. (The Journeying Companions).
- Notably adult faith formation has been given attention through the provision of accreditation in theology, yet these efforts have not borne much fruit in terms of discernment and spiritual practices across the diocese. Greater opportunities need to be provided in parishes for those with a theological qualification and formation. A clear sense of a Church that is clerical and hierarchical has emerged in the consultation. A significant cultural shift in terms of co-responsibility, discernment and scriptural awareness will be necessary in the diocese if synodality is to become our way of being Church in this new Millennium. (Forming Ourselves in Synodality)
Cashel and Emly
- “A focus group of young mothers want to feel “uncomfortable” at liturgical celebrations. They want their faith to challenge them and to be radical. They speak of their need for Catechesis or teaching in the faith to satisfy a deep hunger. Only then can they be catechists to their own daughters and sons. (Connecting Faith Celebrations With LIfe Experience)
- ‘I think you have to work at your personal faith and expecting your Church to support you without your effort yields nothing. I think the Church has to be relevant to today’s faith-based communities and encourage discussion and openness.’ (Parishioner 66-75 years) (Leadership and Co-Responsibility)
- “The co-responsibility of laity and priests for the faith development of parish communities is a response to the new vision of leadership within the Church. It is a shared responsibility, a recognition of the priesthood of all believers. Concrete steps need to include the setting up of Parish Teams and inviting diverse people from across the parish community to share their gifts on this team. Ongoing faith and skills development need to be provided for lay pastoral leaders to work alongside the priests of the parishes and indeed to reach out to those on the periphery.” (Conclusions)
- “Communications, accompanied by best practice, has great potential to play an important part in faith formation through online means and social media, as well as outreach to the lapsed.” (Media/ Communications/Public Relations)
- “It was noted in areas for consideration that work needs to be done to actively engage with young people today in terms of faith and linking faith with justice and the environment (see 2.10 and 2.11 below).It was also suggested that likeminded young people should be offered opportunities to meet often to deepen and nourish their Christian faith.” (Voice of Youth)
- “It is also to be noted that many parishes do not have the levels of structures for pastoral planning and faith development that are needed.” (Developing Capacity among Lay People)
- “Many spoke of their own and others lack of understanding when it came to key Christian beliefs and practices. (Quotes: ‘There is a great need to improve people’s Religious Education.’…’ People don’t know what they believe in.’…’Many no longer know or understanding the teachings of the Catholic Faith.’ …’Study groups about faith and the Bible are needed.’… ‘We want laity involved but who is going to train them?'” (Need for life-long Religious Education)
- “Some spoke of how they often struggled to understand the Scripture readings. Others expressed a desire to learn more about the Bible so that they could better understand and appreciate the message contained therein. (Quotes: ‘The readings at Mass are impossible to understand.’ …’Parishioners don’t know God’s Word – they don’t even have Bibles.’ … ‘Scripture reading (a group) during Lent and Advent.’ …’There is a need for Bible study classes.’” (Struggle to understand Scripture)
- “The standout response on our future mission is the need for formation and catechesis for both laity and clergy. At this point on the journey, the view expressed is that this is the crucial next step. There is an appetite for a deeper knowledge of faith to nurture life’s experience of faith. An interesting single quotation that “the bible needs to be re-written” illustrates the need for faith formation without making the case for it. The feedback clearly presented the theme that faith formation is surely where our church community in Cloyne needs to start to re-build. Related to this was a sense that faith formation will lead us to a better understanding of what is meant by inclusion and diversity.” (Developing Our Mission)
- “Respondents stated that it is obvious that adult catechesis and adult formation is lacking in the Irish Church. There was a need identified for better scripture-based formation and prayer as part of adult faith formation programmes. The experience was shared that there is a need to explain the scriptures in a way that engages people and to equip them to discern the Word of God. This was developed further in relation to the Holy Spirit calling people to true evangelisation and education of the faithful in the Church’s teachings.” (Catechesis)
Cork and Ross
- “It was noted that “middle-aged” people are drifting away from the church, partly because of apathy but also because of an almost total lack of faith formation and development in the church as a whole. It was highlighted that habit and tradition would appear to not be enough to keep people connected and enthusiastic about their faith. The notion that the Church is somehow stuck in a different time and not current or relevant to young people arose regularly.” (Participation)
- “There was a regular acknowledgement of the lack of and need for a continuing adult faith formation. This is desired in order to engage in generative dialogue which will develop the capacity of people to evangelise. The Alpha experience as a way to achieve this was suggested a number of times. People wish to be able to proclaim the Good News with confidence and authority. This will then lead to capacity building,for sacramental preparation at parish level, to provide a more enriched and vibrant experience for those preparing to receive a sacrament.” (Conclusion)
- “The other aspect of participation is being more fully engaged in the Mass and other liturgies. This is greatly enhanced if there is a better understanding of our faith. There was a widespread desire among participants to learn more about their faith and many believed that adult faith formation should be available within, and between more parishes. This will be a refresher to those who learned it at school but may be the first time that some people have gained an understanding of the riches of Church teaching. This may be offered to parents of children participating in the Sacraments, and developing their own faith and helping them to discuss it with their children. This deeper understanding could have a ripple effect within the parish, touching other parents and leading to more active participation in other roles. Faith participation programmes such as ‘GIFT’ and ‘Do this in Memory of Me’ have been mentioned frequently as examples of engaging with children and parents. It was felt that young people respond to projects and through projects faith can be deepened. With further training and investment, parishes felt such programmes could bring more lay leadership and build the parish faith community. It was mentioned that the diocese could learn from the organised faith formation programmes of the Syro Malabar community among us.” (Participation)
- “There is a clear realisation that people need to be empowered to engage in the Church. Personal invitation is key here and provides a sense of permission for ordinary/lay people to be co-responsible along with the local clergy for faith development in their respective parishes and in the diocese as a whole. To this end, formation and training are essential if people are to build the necessary confidence which will encourage them to use the full range of gifts that they have for service in the Church. Plans for developing a programme of adult faith formation are already well underway in the diocese.” (Conclusion)
Down and Connor
- “People recognised that at this time in the life of our Church there is a massive task ahead of us in evangelising in a secular society. We heard that people feel ill-equipped to undertake the task of evangelisation. For some living in Northern Ireland has meant that there has been a long-standing tradition of saying nothing about your faith. In more recent times, as peace has grown, so too has secularism, a new stumbling block to speaking openly about faith. In order to grow in confidence and to be able to share their love of God people called for the Diocese to invest more heavily in adult faith development and to create safe and dynamic spaces to come together and talk deeply about faith. “Our spiritual growth is stunted. As adult members of the Church, we are not sufficiently grounded in our faith and do not have confidence in speaking about our love of God.” People spoke of the loneliness that they felt in being part of a Church that their peers and family members have moved away from. There is a strong need to feel part of a community that supports and encourages those who wish to grow in their faith.” (Mission)
- “As a diocese, the Holy Spirit is prompting us to find new and dynamic ways for everyone to encounter the love of God in the world in which we find ourselves today. We will equip each person to deepen their spiritual lives, through vibrant liturgy, faith development programmes, and gathering for fellowship, prayer and worship. Special care is required to ensure that programmes are created and taken up by families with young children, people with disabilities, socio-economic difficulties and different ethnicities.” (Next Steps)
- “There are occasions where listening occurs, creating interest, energy and promise but doesn’t always follow through on what people expected. Guest speakers, ‘experts’ have been employed for parish events, but there are no established faith formation programmes.”
- “1. Establish a Diocesan Faith Development Group encompassing all age groups.” (Recommendations / Faith)
- “Parish reports highlight the necessity to grow and mature in faith and to be formed both for living a life of faith and for evangelisation. Faith needs to be fostered and nourished. During the pandemic, various experiences of different activities and projects across parishes are evidence that local parishes are actively beginning to seek to strengthen their faith. It is critically important to form parents/guardians at the time of sacramental milestones of children. Such nourishment will include good homilies, training in prayer and adult catechesis. As one parish put it: ‘There is a yearning to study, pray, share and deepen Scripture and to share Lectio Divina.’ When people develop their faith they can discover and use their charisms. The lack of this faith development at parish level indicates that there is a crisis in the transmission of faith rather than a crisis of faith. (Mission)
- “The voice of the Spirit also indicated the urgency of enabling everyone to develop their faith and the necessity of providing opportunities for all to grow in faith. This includes a deeper appreciation of the Word of God, an immersion in prayer and basic catechesis. There is a real desire for adult faith formation and also an openness to more people availing of training for ministries.” (Concluding Remarks and Steps Indicated)
- “iv. the need for forums/small groups that will support discussion, growth in understanding, courage and confidence regarding the ongoing transmission of the faith in home, work and parish settings.” (Mission)
- “h. Many expressed a sense of inadequacy to the task of leadership in their own faith communities. There was a perception that this is connected with lack of formation and fear of criticism by others.” (Leadership)
- “There was a sense that the gifts of the laity were under-utilised by the Church. Increased lay involvement in the leadership, management, life and mission of the Church necessitated increased faith formation opportunities, educational initiatives, co-responsibility frameworks and shared authority structures. People also expressed a need for and interest in Scripture studies, various approaches to prayer and liturgy as well as other forms of catechesis, community and communication including approaches using technology.” (The People of God)
- “In terms of healthcare and education, people expressed concern over its increasing secularisation and the decline of some Christian values and symbols. People expressed mixed opinions about the role of religion and sacramental preparation in schools with some wishing for closer ties between Parish and school while others wanted to see sacramental preparation and faith development moved from schools to families and Parish. In this regard, it was clear that the role of the family in faith formation requires further exploration.” (Our Local and Universal Church)
- “There are also several points that may be considered as we continue to journey along the path of Synodality within our Diocese. These include further opportunities for dialogue at Parish and neighbourhood level; various approaches to faith formation & development opportunities for clergy and for lay women and men; improved communication processes; specific use of technology for evangelisation and faith formation; the further development of alternative forms of active, devotional and/or contemplative prayer services within Deaneries and Parishes; and the wider development of a suite of approaches to co-operative ministry and decision-making within Parishes, Clusters, Deaneries and the Diocese. (Conclusion)
Galway & Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora
- “Faith formation within schools does not guarantee success. As one contributor at a parish meeting stated, “my children’s and grandchildren’s generation, despite they were all in good Catholic schools, don’t demonstrate much enthusiasm practising their faith.” Another participant added “there are teachers who do not believe and are unable to pass on the true meaning of Faith.” A contributor via the designated private email noted, “I’m not sure that the hierarchy generally have a real sense of how indifferent the younger generation are to the Church.” This lack of awareness has already had grave and lasting consequences. The need for ongoing faith formation programmes at all levels was a common view expressed. One respondent of the survey highlighted the urgency and importance of faith formation: “these services need to be given the same priority as the provision of sacraments.” (Faith as a Lived Experience)
- “The importance of faith and faith formation was stressed time and time again at all the meetings. “Faith is life”, someone stated. Faith was also seen as something that gives peace and strength in the rat-race of life. However, the need for a deeper understanding of our Christian faith was seen as being urgent in order to enable us to genuinely witness to what we believe. A huge concern was the handing on of the faith. People were conscious of the ‘lost generations’, most of whom had gone through Catholic schools. Whatever the Synod (Universal and Irish) eventually examines, the whole area of faith formation will need to be looked at. It was stated that the Church needs to market what it has to offer, especially if we are to connect with the marginalised and disenfranchised. Faith formation will have to take on the challenge in a world where social media promotes ‘fake news’ and continually sees the Church in a negative light. How will the next generation be taught or educated about their faith. (Faith Formation into Adulthood)
- “Less than half (41%) of respondents believe that current services in our church community do not meet today’s needs. The majority (79%) of respondents agree however, that the delivery of faith formation programs to enrich our lives is the responsibility of church community leaders. (The Diocesan Survey)
- “These (women’s) groups expressed the hope that they would see the Church reach out to young families, to teenagers and young people, to lead them to Jesus Christ inviting them to practise their faith through pilgrimage, retreat and prayer. They expressed a wish to see adult faith formation provided in local communities and were hopeful for a future where women would be seen as equal to men and that a day would soon come where we would have a female diaconate. Many women felt there was a need for the Church to acknowledge the equality women enjoy in the surrounding culture and reflect women’s cultural experience in terms of leadership, education and theological formation.” (Female Perspectives)
- “The People of God in the Kerry Diocese have answered the call to speak boldly; we have heard what has been said. There is now a task before us as a community of faith. Our clergy know that they are being challenged to share more broadly the responsibility of leadership and decision making. The laity as a whole must step forward and accept new roles of administration, faith formation and leadership. For change to happen and barriers to be removed both clergy and parishioners need to have the courage to embrace change. Our parish communities and our tradition of faith depend on greater synodality in order to survive.” (Conclusion)
- “Education – faith formation (for all)” (Fifth priority under the heading ‘What do we need to do now’)
Kildare & Leighlin
- “What has emerged in the synodal process calls us to a ‘back to basics’ approach to faith formation across all ages. Many people mentioned the lack of adult faith formation and the need to help people to develop a personal relationship with Christ, in the midst of uncertainty and the fear of the unknown. There was a desire for a greater understanding of Scripture and basic teachings of faith. People expressed a wish that such exploration would take place in an atmosphere that encouraged questioning as well as learning and in accessible language. People want to understand their faith in a way that brings them to a deeper understanding of themselves and their life experience.” (Coming to Know Christ and Our Faith)
- “The need for nourishment for people on their faith journeys was evident through the submissions. This includes faith development programmes for young people and adults and programmes or resources that nourish the spiritual life of people…. The teaching and faith development given by the Church must speak to the realities of people’s lives and meet them, as was stated ‘where they are at and not where Church leaders want them to be’. ” (Nourishing and deepening people’s faith and prayer life.)
- “Calls for people to connect and re-connect with faith was a theme in many submissions. For some, there was a desire to keep traditional liturgies and return to faith practices such as parish missions, adoration, house Masses and confession. Faith renewal programmes were proposed and new ways of connecting with faith including contemporary ways of praying, mindfulness, parish retreats, faith sharing, bible study and intergenerational prayer groups. Others wished the Church to reach out, bringing the Mass church services to unfamiliar settings to broaden the understanding of the Church community. Re-creating and creating liturgies relating to life events and renewal of liturgies such as harvest liturgical celebration. Reconnecting with faith meant a return to the core teaching of Jesus Christ for some. Others conveyed the desire to hear faith stories from those living out Christian values every day. … Many submissions emphasised the involvement of lay people in the organising and facilitating faith groups, with particular mention of involving parents in sacramental preparation.” (Connecting and Re-Connecting with Faith)
- “There were differences in how people saw the challenge of the church engaging with the wider society. There were two languages underpinning these differences. Some people used the language of invitation, others the language of obligation. For the former, the church needs to change to effectively connect with the people who have moved away. This group was largely in sympathy with the criticisms of the church in the report. But for the latter it is the people who have moved away who must change. The church needs to hold firm in its beliefs and teachings, and challenge people to live up to the demands of faith. There was a sense of grieving here for the lost position of church in society. A desire that church should teach, and people learn. A desire for parents to take responsibility for the faith of their children. A desire that organisations like the GAA should not be putting on events that clash with Mass times.” (Gathering of Parish Pastoral Council Members to review Report on Listening)
- “A gap is evident in people’s faith education demonstrating the need for quality teaching, that has not been silenced or watered down, to reach the faithful (young people in particular), who express a hunger for the truth; it is not that they know what they want but they know when it is missing. The church needs ‘to teach and not just listen’ – ‘faith is deeply embedded in the culture but the lack of catechesis is inhibiting that from being nurtured’ whilst being aware of a disconnect between the church in its institutional aspect and the everyday life of the lay faithful – ‘the language used is not connecting with the laity.’ ‘How will the uneducated be heard,’ wondered one respondent. A new language is required. This point was strongly endorsed at the pre-synodal meeting which further emphasised the need for a parental partnership in sacramental preparation.” (Discordant Voices / Prophetic Voices)
- “There was a strong sense in the feedback that preparation for the Sacraments should be removed from schools. Despite the good work done by many teachers in parish schools, there is a need to support parents in passing on faith, and faith formation should be tailored to both parents and children, involving both in Sacramental preparation. “We need to get back to the Shema”, i.e. the transmission of the faith in the domestic context.” (Deut 6:4-9). (Faith-Discussion and Church Teaching)
- “However, many of the respondents lamented the fact that apart from attendance at Mass, there was little or no opportunity to develop one’s faith in the parish context. While this was expressed in negative terms by many of the respondents, it must be noted that many of those who responded positively about how attendance at Mass had helped them to grow in faith were in effect saying the same thing: apart from Mass, there is very little else at parish level. Some who responded negatively went on to reference the value of faith-based experiences outside of the parish, e.g. membership of a faith movement, personal study, use of online resources, etc. Nevertheless, there was a strong trend in the responses indicating a severe lack of opportunity for faith development at parish level, with some saying that there is no opportunity at all and that faith development at parish level is “stagnant”. Some commented that their growth in faith had effectively ceased following their reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in primary school (aged 12/13 years). Respondents who identified as non-practising, while admitting their lack of interest in faith development, expressed their unawareness of opportunities for faith development because of a lack of communication or never having been offered such an opportunity.” (MISSION: Growing in Faith)
- “There is a sorrowful and painful lament coming from parents and grandparents for the loss of faith among their children and grandchildren. The traditional cooperative faith transmission model of Parish-Home-School is no longer working. Responses indicated a need for faith development at parish level, and a new evangelisation that offers the Christian vision of the human person, leading to interior conversion and intentional discipleship.” (CONCLUSION AND ORIENTATIONS)
- “(There is) lack of understanding of faith, lack of education in the basics of the faith, lack of understanding of the Mass; people don’t know the ten Commandments… – guidelines given out of love to help us; sad because people haven’t really known that God loves them.” (Knowledge of Faith)
- “Education at all levels was seen as significant for the diocese. Adult faith education and programmes in Evangelisation need to be increased – there was a hunger for this. The connection with schools was seen to be very important and this link should be defended. The priest making regular visits to the schools was considered to be very important. Faith formation programmes such as those offered during Lent should be extended. This call for increased educational activities was seen as a priority as time is running out and people will need to be better trained and educated in the faith to face the challenges of the church in the future.” (Forming Ourselves)
- “This Listening Process came at a time when our diocese was just about to launch a Diocesan Pastoral Plan. Our Plan includes serious proposals to address issues of adult faith formation; welcome; Pastoral Councils; outreach to Youth. The intention of the Plan is to form people, beginning with Parish Pastoral Councils, in methods of discernment that would intentionally build a culture of synodality across the diocese.” (Diocesan Plan: Forward Together, Ar Agaidh le Chéile)
- “The responses listed here highlight not alone the need for training in the various ministries but people’s willingness to be involved, starting with the basics and devoting our energies and time to set up proper adult religious education and faith formation across the archdiocese. This broad catechesis should not just involve the schools but must reach out to parents and families, to teachers and clergy.” (Sacramental Life)
- “There is a felt and expressed need for catechesis and faith formation and training for ministry at all levels. (Education)
Waterford and Lismore
- “Theme of Young People came up strongly during the conversations. People felt that a special Mass with children involved in the readings and the singing would help to keep them connected to their faith. It was also mentioned that the Mass should be ‘modernised’ for them. Another element of keeping young people involved was the whole idea of the JPII awards that have been successful in our Diocese. We need study groups with faith formation based on the Bible and Papal Encyclicals that contain rich spiritual nourishment. Alpha for young people is also a good way for them to learn more about their faith.” ( ‘Yes, I believe I have a role in the Church because I am the younger generation and the future of the parish’ )
- “Faith Formation was a big discussion point throughout all the gatherings. It was generally felt that religion was visible, but there was not exactly an understanding of it. Small faith sharing groups would be beneficial in parishes – faith develops as you share. Catholic parents don’t always have the tools to pass on the faith to their children. There was a definite hunger among the gatherings that avenues of faith formation should be further developed, with a particular focus at parish level.” (‘Faith Develops as You Share’)
The common thread coming through the diocesan clips on the need for Faith Formation leads me to the following thought: When Children are brought to the Church as infants to be Baptised as well as introducing that Child/Children to God the Catholic Church should also provide the newly Baptised child/children with a First Bible in picture form which should become part of their learning to read as much as any other book they would be taught to read by their parents or grandparents in the home. Bishops speak out about the domestic Church and that Faith formation should start there which is why they should present the newly baptised with his/her/their First Bible.
At the Sacrament of First Holy Communion the young boys and girls of 7or 8 years old should be given their First Missal so that they can participate in the Sunday Mass when they come.
At the Sacrament of Confirmation the boys and girls of 12 to 13 years should be given an Adult Bible and told that all the answers to their lives questions can be found there i.e. God’s Wisdom instead of worldly wisdom which is very vociferous and does not allow time or room for silence and contemplation which God’s Wisdom needs.
If the Christian Church is serious about the Faith Formation of the young children, teenagers and young adults these necessary tools should be provided by the Dioceses.
It is difficult to convince anyone in the age groups, 0-7, 8 – 12 or 13 -20 about the value and importance of the Word of God when it is printed in ‘Mass Leaflets’ which are later left lying about on Church pews or discarded on the way out the Church door. All for dumping in the garbage. This is why the Missal should be introduced again where it can be brought to Church Sunday after Sunday and where the Priest can suggest that the next Sunday’s Readings and Gospel can be read at home in preparation.
Lectio Divina could be introduced as part of this preparation, to read, meditate and ruminate on what most comes to mind when it is read over a few times. This will open the door of his/her or their minds and hearts to receive God’s Wisdom. this will help them to make the Heart, Soul and Life affirming decisions for his/her or their future lives.
This could be one of the Synodal solutions to bringing the young children, teenagers and young adults into the Christian Church and keeping them there at key times in their growing years. This is what I would call Faith Formation for the Young
from Infant to Adult
I agree that faith formation needs to begin early, Kathleen – but as the Bible is truly a library of books rather than just one, and as many of these need skilled interpretation, I seriously question whether the presentation of even illustrated texts to children, in the absence of a context of parental belief and interpretation of those texts, could effectively form the faith of a child.
Could you take a look at Aidan Hart’s article on this site: ‘First Comes the Experience of God’s Unconditional Love’? Just as only love can elicit love, so I believe that only faith can elicit faith. That is why I believe we need to begin with adult – and especially parental – faith formation, to create the context within which children can experience the faith of their parents, as the key to the Old Testament, the Gospel and the liturgy.
Also, if you know of a good ‘First Bible in picture form’ could you let us know the details?

domain: sociology


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Bladetec to Create UK’s Largest Mining Farm
March 21, 2018
ТВВМС is the project aimed at drawing 14 mln dollars to build and use crypto mining farms within 3 years with subsequent selling of all hardware and mined tokens. The project will cover 3 500 square feet in London, Surrey and Suffolk. At least 1 250 bitcoins are planned to be mined.
The founder to the company John Kingdon is sure, investors will definitely not be out of pocket as according to his estimations selling hardware alone will turn huge profits.
It is to be noted that the statement may not be true to life as mining equipment prices sink drastically and profits from selling it may prove to be less than expected. At that power costs in the GB are huge while capacities tend to grow on so most of investments are likely to cover electricity costs.

domain: economics


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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Son Saw Him in Mary Poppins Returns, and It’s Safe to Say He’s Obsessed
Right before his son's third birthday, Lin-Manuel Miranda took Sebastian to see the first act of Hamilton, and shared the toddler's comments in a thread on Twitter that was too cute for words. Now, LMM has completely one-upped that glowing musical review with a sound clip of his son singing "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" from the Mary Poppins Returns soundtrack after he saw his dad in the movie.
"Soooooo my kid saw Mary Poppins Returns for the first time. It went well," Lin, who plays Jack in the new movie, tweeted alongside a clip that showcases his 4-year-old's sweet little voice. In the clip, Sebastian can be heard singing from the song's chorus, repeating the line, "Trip a little light fantastic with me," over and over, and it's so cute, your heart will swell.
In a follow-up tweet to the video, Lin shared that Sebastian was bragging about his dad at school, but it didn't exactly go well. "Also, overheard by his teacher last week," LMM wrote. "Seb: My dad is in Mary Poppins [Returns]. Kid: Who's your dad? Seb: He's Lin. Kid: Who's Lin?"
LOL, looks like LMM's going to have to do some work with the preschool set to make his musical brilliance known. Check out Seb's adorable singing below!

domain: artistic


There are several crucial elements inside of a mattress which make it supportive, cozy and most importantly sturdy. There are numerous kinds of mattresses available right now and of course each one is built somewhat differently, but typically the essential parts are the same. It is an excellent thought to understand what is within a mattress which means you know precisely what you happen to be acquiring once you acquire a new one from Amerisleep.
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The core of the mattress is the most essential component of the mattress. This is where the comfort and support layers are and they are necessary to blend collectively in order to feel the general comfort this mattress is ready to supply. The core holds the coils, foam or latex and each of the comfort layers and when the core is not well constructed and strong than the mattress itself will not be cozy and it will undoubtedly not be tough.
How a mattress is made may not appear at first to be one thing the typical customer needs to be concerned about, but in fact it does make a big difference in how effectively you are capable to pick a great mattress. Of course, each and every producer produces their mattresses inside a unique way however the general procedure is one that will not differ that significantly. Every mattress needs a strong and flexible core of comfort levels and without having this you will discover your mattress becoming unpleasant sooner than you had hoped.


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The historic Pieropan winery, in the heart of the vineyards of Soave (Verona), a land that bears witness to a long tradition in the production of world-renowned wines, is illuminated with elegance courtesy of lighting design solutions by Catellani & Smith.
Designed in 2015 by architect Moreno Zurlo, the Pieropan family’s Soave Estate is architecture and land that become part of the same whole: in fact, the building is completely buried in the hillside, except for the facade made of solid Vicenza stone.
The estate is designed not only to be a place for the production, maturation and aging of wine, but also as a place of visitation and discovery where events can be hosted and visitors welcomed.
On the outside, the building is encircled by family-owned vineyards – some of them totally experimental – created to stimulate sharing and knowledge. Inside, on the other hand, the environments are characterized by workspaces set up in perfect harmony with the processing phases of the raw material, enriching themselves with elements capable of arousing engaging emotions and suggestions.
This is the case of Catellani & Smith, which, with its decorative lighting project, has given new light to the barrique room and tasting room of Tenuta Soave Pieropan.
Architectures of Light at the Soave Winery by Catellani & Smith
The most fascinating part of the estate is the barrique cellar. This vast underground room evokes, in those who grow, work and produce that wine, the same reverence that an ancient temple can evoke.
Upon entering the space, two rows of barrique barrels – neat and rhythmic – quickly lead the eye to the back of the room, where a custom “Full Moon” realization is installed, with a diameter of 240 cm and covered in gold-colored leaf.
The ceiling lighting was also specially designed to emphasize the perspective effect in the barrel room, thanks to the installation of an expanse of custom suspensions, which have been differentiated in diameter and finish – gold and copper – to create a harmonious setting, in a play of reflections and shadows.
The suspensions are composed of a jagged dome and thin rods that support a micro LED, which emphasizes the gold and copper finishes.
The Future with an Ancient Heart at Pieropan
Also placed on one of the walls of the room is a painted iron element, laser-cut and coated internally in gold leaf, illuminated by an LED source: there appears the personalized inscription “The future has an ancient heart,” the motto of the Pieropan family, which considers the Soave Winery “a strong renewal, in the wake of tradition.”
In the tasting room, on the other hand, Lederam C180 ceiling models with a white screen and a custom disc painted in brass color have been installed: the LED module, housed inside the lower disc, directs the light to the upper disc, which reflects the light by diffusing it into the room while creating a luminous aura on the ceiling.
Completing the environments are numerous Lederam F2 floor lamps composed of two metal rods that each support a swiveling aluminum disk, coated in gold-colored leaf.


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Having Green Party candidate Gus Philpott in the race apparently made no difference is determining who won the race for McHenry County Sheriff.
Incumbent Republican Keith Nygren is getting over one and a half votes for every vote Democrat Mike Mahon is receiving
Did anyone really think Mahon had a chance???
It’s hard to beat a true leader……
I’ve heard statistics that say that anywhere from 5- 15% of the population could be clinically diagnosed as psychologically mentally impaired.
Finding 5% of the population that voted for Gus, that falls well within that margin.

domain: politics


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Lineup: Andrew Ashong (Sound Signature) DJ set, Auntie Flo (Permanent Vacation / Highlife), Esa (Huntleys + Palmers / Highlife)
This August bank holiday sees The Book Club teaming up with record label and club night Highlife to bring you an evening of dance music inspired by the vibrancy and sounds of Africa, South America and more. Headliner, Andrew Ashong, will be treating us to an extended 2 hour mix of dancefloor friendly beats encompassing classic house, disco, techno, hip-hop and electronica influences alongside afrobeat, kwaito, cumbia and South American rhythms.
Times: 8pm – 3am
Music Policy: Afrobeat, house, disco, hip-hop and more
Price: £4/5 ADV / MOTD
Resident Adviser: http://www.residentadvisor.net/event.aspx?725840


The Daily Digest, 11Jan2021
Georgia COVID-19 Updates
Here's a link for healthcare workers to register for an appointment to get their vaccine if they are not part of a larger hospital system that is providing them (https://dph.georgia.gov/provider-vaccine-registration-ph-district-list).
This week, vaccination eligibility has expanded to first responders and people >65 years of age although the rollout is not without problems. DPH has provided this vaccine locator so that you can find the enrolled vaccine providers in your area and make appointments, if vaccine is available.
We can see how the US (and Georgia) is doing with respect to the vaccine administration effort using the CDC’s COVID-19 Data Tracker. As of Friday, Nationally, 30.2% of the available doses have been used to initiate a person’s 2-dose vaccine series. With respect to the long term care facility allocation, only 17.1% of the doses have been administered.
The CDC Tracker provides a map of the US for how many people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, adjusted for population. Using this method of looking at vaccine data, Georgia’s vaccination rate has increased 58% in the past week. It is great to see that upward momentum. However, Georgia is still ranked last among the 50 states, with a vaccination rate that is 1,122 per 100,000 residents. To be fair, someone has to be last, that’s how numbers work. But it’s a shame to see that the states with the poorest vaccination rates are all in the South. States with more rural populations than ours have been able to vaccinate more of their population. In fact, the top three states for doses administered per 100,000 residents are West Virginia (4867), South Dakota (4170), and North Dakota (3931). In other words, West Virginia has vaccinated more than three times as much of their population as Georgia has.
According to the Georgia DPH website, they have received 555,800 doses of the vaccine. As of the last update yesterday evening, 183,870 of those doses have been administered, or 33.1% of the state’s supply. But reporting delays mean that it’s possible that more of those doses have been administered.
The Coastal Health Department has reported that their appointment system for phase 1a is booked into March. It’s unclear if this is due to lack of vaccine doses or people to administer them. It’s disappointing news, to be sure. In the meantime, our non-pharmaceutical interventions such as wearing masks, remaining socially distant, etc, will be the best way to protect our communities.
I know there are legitimate concerns about safety with the new COVID-19 vaccines. If you have questions about how the vaccines work or vaccine efficacy, please check out this newsletter I wrote. The clinical studies showed that the most common side effects were similar to what you see with the flu vaccine, things like pain at the injection site, fever, fatigue, headache, etc. Many of these things are signs of inflammation - your immune system is responding to something new - exactly what we want your immune system to do with a vaccine. But as the vaccine studies looked at tens of thousands of people. As the vaccine is used more widely in the population, any adverse events are reported through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. The data are available to the public. A couple reminders, these events are reported and pending investigation to determine whether the adverse event was due to the vaccine or an unrelated cause.
I sorted the search criteria to limit it to events considered serious and associated with an emergency room visit. So far there have been 64 people that fit these criteria and the top symptoms experienced are listed below. There are 579 symptoms listed. Just keep in mind that people can experience more than one symptom at once. Some of the “symptoms” are laboratory results, including normal findings. Also, some of the symptoms are redundant depending on how the report was submitted. For example, tachycardia means elevated heart rate. But if the person submitting the report said “heart rate increased,” then that’s a separate symptom listed even though they’re the same thing. So these things explain why there’s a disagreement between 64 and 579. A lot of these medical terms will be unfamiliar. Dyspnoea = shortness of breath, Tachycardia = rapid heart rate, Paraesthesia = altered sensation (i.e. pins and needles).
As of Friday, there have been 64 people with serious events associated with an ER visit out of 6.6+ million people who have started the vaccine series (or 0.000009%). And not all of those will ultimately be determined to be associated with the vaccine. But even if all of these were definitively linked to the vaccine, the vaccine still seems to be very, very safe for the larger population so far. That’s reassuring news, and I’ll be sure to keep an eye on this to let you know if there are big deviations. Important caveat: both data collection streams might be susceptible to delayed reporting.
According to the New York Times Coronavirus Tracker, the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 disease has sickened >90.3 million people (+5.3 million since last week) and killed at least 1,935,700 (+93,300 in the past week) worldwide as of this morning.
The US is ranked in the highest color category for hot spots. We are ranked #10 in the world for average daily case rate per 100,000 people over the past 7 days (same as last week) with a rate of 77 compared to 64.2 last week. So our case rate is getting worse. The top five countries for average daily case rate per 100,000 in the past week are Gibraltar, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
For deaths, the US average daily death rate per 100,000 over the past week is 0.98 (previous week was 0.8), and we are ranked #16 in the world for this (last week we were ranked #20). The top five countries for average daily death rate per 100,000 in the most recent week are Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Lithuania, San Marino and Slovakia.
The United States
The map above comes from the New York Times Coronavirus Tracker. As of this morning, there have been over 22.4 million cases (+1.8 million in the past week) and 374,428 deaths in the US (+22,746 in past week). Keep in mind that both of these numbers are probably an under-count of the situation in our country.
This week we see more intensity across the southern half of the US but also from Kansas and Oklahoma to New York. For the second week in a row, intense disease seems to jump over the state of Missouri, but I think that’s probably an artifact of reporting delays or deficiencies in testing. Viruses don’t stop at state borders, after all. The southeast US is also seeing more disease this week than previously. According to data from the 10Jan21 HHS Community Profile Report (the source document for the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports), the top five states in the nation for new case rate per 100,000 residents are Arizona, Rhode Island, South Carolina, California, and Utah. There are four southern states in the top 10 - in addition to South Carolina at #3, there’s Tennessee (#8), Alabama (#9) and Georgia (#10). The top five states in the nation for average daily death rate in the past 7 days are Arizona, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Mississippi is ranked #6 and Georgia is ranked #37 for 7-day death rate per 100,000.
Next, let’s look at some of the latest data from the US Department of Health and Human Services (COVID-19 Community Profile Report) for counties and cities. It is formatted in much the same way as the White House Coronavirus Task Force reports but with one key difference - this resource DOES include Georgia’s antigen cases in their total whereas the WHCTF does not. So this resource is the best head to head comparison we have for how Georgia is faring relative to other states.
First, I want to look at hospital admission rates adjusted for population by each region of the US. California is in the news a lot right now for the strain in their hospitals. But actually, the South is the region with the highest COVID-19 admission rate in the country (green line above).
The table below tells you where we are this week and how that compares to the previous week (in parentheses). The data for everything comes from the HHS Community Profile Report from 10Jan2021. Keep in mind that some states did a lot of catching up with delayed reporting due to the holidays last week, so the rankings might not be accurate assessments of how states compare this week.
Georgia has seen some dramatic increases in their rankings for case rate per 100,000 (+33%) and the percentage of hospital inpatients with COVID-19. Georgia currently does not have any counties in the list of the top 20 counties for disease rate in the nation.
Next, let’s look at how seasonal influenza is impacting different states across the US. You can consult FluView any time you’d like to see this map and other data visualizations. You can read the weekly report from Georgia Department of Public Health here. The maps below show last year’s map for the week ending 04Jan2020 of the year (left side) and this year’s map for the same week (ending 02Jan2021).
We are seeing more states in the “low” disease category, which is good news. Because the last thing the US needs right now is a spike in influenza infections on top of the surge in COVID-19 infections. Compare where we are now compared to where we were a year ago in the map on the left. The things we’re doing to limit the transmission of COVID-19 are also interrupting the transmission of influenza. Of course, COVID-19 is more transmissible than influenza so we aren’t seeing the same impact for COVID-19. But it’s a pretty great way to see what is possible through collective effort. Imagine a map that looked like this for COVID-19 if we could get more people to wear a mask. It is a good thing to see influenza levels as low as they are. Remember, it’s not too late to get your flu shot. Please do so, if you haven’t already.
Normally, in this part of the newsletter I would give you an updated risk map for Georgia, calculated and formatted in the same way as the Brown University School of Public Health but including Georgia’s antigen cases (which DPH does not for any of their graphs or maps). Evidently the person responsible for this tool moved from Harvard to Brown. However, the map isn’t particularly interesting this week since the entire state is in the red category except two counties, Long and Schley counties, which are in the orange category. According to the tool’s color coding, that means that 157 of Georgia’s 159 counties have disease rates that are beyond the point that contact tracing can isolate and manage cases. There is a LOT of disease out there.
Last week I argued that some sort of government intervention was necessary, since cases continue to rise without any sign of slowing, despite news reports that go more grim by the day. The Governor has chosen to stick with the guidance he’s been giving this whole time, appealing to Georgians to “do the right thing.” If asking people to do the right thing were a viable strategy, it would have worked by now, unfortunately. It hasn’t, and it seems there is no political will to do anything more.
Let’s discuss today’s numbers for Georgia.
Testing: a robust day for PCR testing, especially considering it is a Monday. There were 35,770 new results reported, 18.3% of which were positive. Antigen testing identified 15% of today’s cases.
Cases: cases are often lower on Mondays due to weekend effect. But this Monday’s case total is an additional 2291 people compared to this time last week. So if this is our “slow day,” I worry what that means for the rest of the week. Today there was a net increase of 7454 newly reported cases (6339 by PCR, 1115 by antigen test). Cases were equally distributed across Atlanta suburb and nonrural counties outside of the Atlanta metro, each contributing 31% of today’s cases. Nineteen percent came from rural counties and 15% came from the Atlanta counties of Fulton and DeKalb. The top five counties for 14 day case rate are Madison (3269), Upson (2318), Johnson (2001), Turner (1991) and Treutlen (1942). These are all rural counties.
Hospitalizations: there are 5,615 patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19. This metric appears to be slowing down. But if this is real, and not an artifact of prolonged weekend effect, it’s likely that it will be a short-lived respite, given that we know many gathered for Christmas and New Years, despite public health warnings. Since our cases growth hasn’t really slowed, we might expect a resurgence for this metric in the weeks to come. Let’s hope not, of course.
COVID-19 patients represent 33.8% of all patients currently hospitalized in Georgia and this varies by hospital region.
More than 91% of the ICU beds in the state are full. According to HHS, 47% of Georgia’s ICU beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients. The demand this disease is placing on our healthcare system is intense. Three regions are coping with an overage, regions E, G and K. Ten regions (of 14) are using >90% of their ICU beds. All hospital regions have now surpassed their summer peak for ICU bed usage.
I am especially concerned about region E (Athens-Clarke and surrounding counties). They’ve been coping with an overage of ICU bed usage for six days straight now and nearly half of all of their hospitalized patients are being treated for COVID-19. They’ve clearly been trying to overcome this challenge by adding more ICU beds (+11 beds since the start of the year) but even those reinforcements have been exhausted. They remain in an overage, using 114% of their available ICU beds.
There were 107 new hospital admissions for COVID-19 today and 2 admissions to the ICU. We typically see lower numbers on Mondays.
Deaths: there were 17 newly reported confirmed deaths compared to yesterday’s total. Death reporting on Mondays is typically low due to weekend effect.
Georgia COVID-19 Updates is a free newsletter that depends on reader support. If you wish to subscribe please click the link below. There are free and paid options available.
My Ph.D. is in Medical Microbiology and Immunology. I've worked at places like Creighton University, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Mercer University School of Medicine. All thoughts are my professional opinion and should not be considered medical advice.


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| Jun 20, 2013
| 5:09 PM
So you finally grasp the fees many airlines charge for things such as extra suitcases and added legroom? Well, before you fly off on vacation this summer, be aware there's at least one more surcharge many travelers face once they reach their destination:...
| Jun 5, 2013
| 1:59 PM
The minions are coming to a hotel room near you.
Universal Orlando announced that each of the 18 kids' suites at its Loews Portofino Bay Hotel are being renovated to feature a theme based on the movie Despicable Me, complementing the park's new...
| Mar 7, 2013
| 1:49 PM
You would think that a hotel restaurant in the heart of Orlando's tourist corridor would know something about customer service.
And that's a shame because the kitchen at Siro Urban Italian Kitchen at the Orlando Marriott World Center...
| Feb 21, 2013
| 2:30 PM
Let's not kid ourselves.
None of us want to wait until summer for some fun in the sun. We all could use some rest and relaxation right about now, whether your family's idea of vacation heaven is a bluebird sunny day on a ski slope, a blue-sky sunny day...
| Jun 21, 2013
| 8:51 AM
Spend 8-Days and 7-Nights in your choice of over 20 resorts in amazing destinations, including Orlando, Florida!
With Bluegreen’s Explorer package you can customize your 8-days and 7-nights into multiple stays or one extended retreat over a 12-...
| Feb 22, 2013
| 11:05 AM
The lakefront Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa in Orlando Florida is a lush tropical paradise located less than 10 minutes from Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. The resort is also easily accessible to the Orange County...
| Feb 17, 2013
When I think of farm-inspired menus, what usually comes to mind are chefs of small, independent eateries forging relationships with growers and food artisans.
But several large resorts also are part of this eat-local movement, including Cascade American...
| Jan 11, 2013
| 5:30 AM
To many travelers a hotel is usually just a place to retreat in between tours and adventures. But to those who look for something unusual in lodgings, it can also be a place of memories. Here are some extraordinary lodgings in Florida that may be the...
| May 20, 2013
| 8:03 AM
It's that time of year again, when families start planning spring and summertime reunions. A good family reunion resort will offer activities and pastimes for all age groups, and accommodations with spacious, connecting rooms and suites, and condo- or...
| Jul 1, 2013
| 7:46 AM
With July 4 landing on a Thursday this year, it is easy to put together a four-day getaway that costs us only one workday. If the idea of a mini-vacation in Florida to take in the Fourth festivities is appealing to you, here are some popular...
| May 12, 2013
My expectations are rarely high for restaurants in airport hotels. The emphasis is often sustenance for transient visitors, not a taste of local flavor.
So when Crimson Tavern opened inside the Orlando Airport Marriott with a focus on sourcing local...

domain: geography


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Far-right extremists use Twitter's new policy against anti-extremism researchers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/?itid=hp_top_nav_opinionsTwitter on Friday acknowledged that it had mistakenly suspended the accounts of anti-extremist journalists and researchers as a result of its new policy being exploited by extremists.
According to The Washington Post, the social media platform discovered the oversight on Thursday, December 4, and had "corrected the errors and launched an internal review to ensure that its new rule — which allows someone whose photo or video was tweeted without their consent to request its removal — was “used as intended.”
According to Twitter, that led to a “coordinated and malicious” on a specific group of journalists and researchers. Multiple journalists had their accounts and tweets flagged. One of the impacted Twitter accounts belonged to Gwen Snyder, an anti-fascist researcher in Philadelphia. Snyder, according to The Post said "she believed her reported tweet did not break the rules but deleted it anyway, worried that any appeal she filed would take too long or ultimately fail. She suspects the rule could have a “catastrophic” chilling effect on other researchers working to expose extremists."
Twitter's latest acknowledgment comes nearly a week after it rolled out the new policy.
Images/videos that show people participating in public events (like large scale protests, sporting events, etc.) would generally not violate this policy.\n\nFor more on what is NOT in violation, read the full policy here:https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/personal-information\u00a0\u2026— Twitter Safety (@Twitter Safety) 1638294164
Almost immediately after the social network made its announcement, it faced scrutiny for many of its confusing provisions.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene makes stunning admission that she has ... ›
- California Democrat urges Kristi Noem to use South Dakota National ... ›
- Multiple signs point to this weekend's rally for MAGA rioters being a ... ›
- New jobless claims hit a 52-year low — how will the media spin that to be bad for Biden? - Alternet.org ›
- 'Civil war is already here': Journalist says the right 'has a plan' for 'violence and solidarity with treasonous far-right' - Alternet.org ›

domain: news


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Telling a story with one picture can be very challenging. You can, however, use a sequence of images to convey an evocative message. Photo series are a great way to challenge yourself as a photographer. If you are planning on creating one, follow the below tips.
Photographer of the Week
Europe is a diverse continent dotted with beautiful landscapes, gorgeous countrysides, quaint towns and eclectic cities. It is the perfect place for travel photographers to capture their best photographers and completely get lost in its eternal beauty. Here are some stunning images by Deborah Sabadash and her view of Europe. If you are looking for the most picture-perfect spots to tick off in your bucket list, these are the ones.
Putting out content online without getting any response from users is like talking to an empty room. You need to put in considerable effort to get people to talk about your work and make a name for yourself on the Internet. Creating and sharing your photographs is only half the work. The remaining 50% is all about building a community. Here are a few tips to get started.
Noah Garrett is a surf photographer based in Wailuku, Hawaii. He ventured into surf photography at a very early age and has since built an impressive portfolio of surfing images. He talks to PhotoConcierge about his journey as a surf photographer and shares some valuable insights on surf photography.
Deborah Sabadash is a high school English teacher in Toronto, Canada. She is a self-taught photographer who enjoys travel and exploring different cultures. Photography has become a way to see things in a new light, to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. She shares her top five five favourite images from her travels with PhotoConcierge.
Bhaswaran Bhattacharya ventured into photography for the very first time in 1997, during a trip to Varanasi, with a Kodak KB10 point-and-shoot camera. Read on to get an insight into his work and learn valuable tips on landscape and travel photography.
The Gurukulam system marked the beginning of education in Ancient India and it continues to prevail in several states including Tamil Nadu. A Gurukulam is a place where shishyas (students) and the Guru (teacher) live together and pursue Vedic education. The students live together, irrespective of their social standing. This photo series by Shankar Narayan shows how the modern day Gurukulams are keeping the concept of inculcating discipline, imparting religious knowledge and preparing students to face the world, alive.
This week, we are in conversation with Mári Dimitrouli. She is a talented artist and photographer renowned on social media as Marion Toy. Marion creates stunning conceptual art photographs that is brimming with creativity, colors and imagination. She has studied Graphic Design and has been working as an Art Director in advertising companies and art studios for the last 13 years. Her project Marion Toy is a one woman show. She handles everything right from concept, art direction, paper constructions(props), styling, hair & makeup, posing and photo shooting to editing.


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This file type includes high-resolution graphics and schematics when applicable.
Ideally, positive-displacement pumps generate flow that is independent of outlet pressure. The lower the internal leakage, the less the pump’s flow reacts to changing outlet pressures. In fact, a textbook positive-displacement pump would have no internal leakage and exhibit no reaction to changes in outlet pressure.
This is the essence of ideal positive displacement: the pump behaves as a positive flow source with the pressure being a consequence of some impeding load or resistance placed in the output flow path. If the output flow path is blocked, outlet pressure can rise to a destructive level, or the torque becomes so high that it stalls the prime mover. Either way, the consequences can be dire. For this reason, all positive-displacement hydraulic pumps must be accompanied by pressure-limiting devices, usually an external relief valve.
In contrast, the electrical generator is a positive voltage source. The interpretation here is that with the voltage-pressure analogy, the pump and the generator are not analogous. Were there to be a perfect analogy, then the electrical generator would behave as a positive current source, making it analogous to the hydraulic pump. Either that, or the hydraulic pump would be a positive pressure source, making it perfectly analogous to the generator. The fundamental hydraulic, or “natural” source, is a positive flow generator and the fundamental, or “natural” generator, is a positive voltage source.
This discussion raises the question, “Are there positive pressure sources in the hydraulic real and positive current sources in the electrical realm?” The answer in both cases is an emphatic yes. However, the two are constructed from their more natural, respective counterparts.
Consider, first, the hydraulic realm. The practical manifestation of the positive pressure source is the pressure-compensated pump. The conventional pump, starting with either a vane or piston construction, each with variable displacement, is configured to sense its own outlet pressure. When the pressure reaches a settable value, the sensing circuits use the pressure to apply force to the displacement changing mechanism so that the displacement reduces with rising pressure. The result is an automatically implemented pressure regulator that uses internal feedback to make the adjustments.
Figure 11 shows the pressure-flow characteristics of a typical pressure-compensated pump and its two distinct regions of operation. The displacement at low pressure is a maximum value, being held there by a spring or spring equivalent. As such, it operates as a simple fixed-displacement pump. It is labeled Positive flow region in the figure. At zero pressure, the ideal flow is delivered to the pump’s outlet port.
The internal leakage depends on the outlet pressure, because leakage is caused by internal clearances and pressure. The higher the pressure, the higher the internal leakage. This phenomenon accounts, then, for the fact that pressure increases result in lower flow being delivered to the outlet port when there’s rising pressure.
Two simple functions describe a hydraulic pump’s performance. The relationship between output flow and pressure, when operating in the positive flow region and using practical engineering units of measure, is approximated with:
Q = D/60 â N – 1/RL â P (5)
Q is the output flow in volume units per second, depending on the unit’s choice for D.
D is the displacement of the pump in volume units per revolution of the shaft, cm3/rev, or in.3/rev.
N is the shaft rotational speed in rpm.
P is the outlet pressure in any desirable units, i.e., bar, Mpa, psi.
RL is the internal, laminar leakage resistance, i.e., the reciprocal of the slope of the Positive Flow Region curve of Fig. 11 and units must be consistent with those of Q and P, eg, cm3/second/Mpa.
For the mechanical parts of the circuit, relating pressure and input torque can be expressed as:
Tin = D/2π + RFW â N (6)
Tin is the input torque needed to turn the shaft “against the output pressure,” in newton-meter or in-lb.
RFW is the “friction and windage resistance loss coefficient” in newton-meter/rpm or in-lb/rpm.
If RL becomes infinite and RFW becomes zero, or negligibly small, there are no losses in the machine. That means that the overall efficiency would be100%. Alas, it is not. Nonetheless, there is ample reason to have a perfect machine in the pantheon of mathematical models.
The internal leakage resistance (RL) and internal friction resistance (RFW) are used to explain why the ideal machine is impossible. The internal moving parts must slide past one another and be lubricated and pressure-balanced. Therefore, consequential leakage paths exist. Friction and windage are also inevitable in any machine with moving parts. Thus, they are said to be parasitic, because if we build the machine, these loss elements come along whether we want them or not. The only possibility is to limit them, because they cannot be eliminated.
The Norton Equivalence Circuit
Equation 5 is mechanized perfectly with the simplified hydraulic analytical schematic of Fig. 12. Those familiar with electrical technology should recognize this circuit as the Norton equivalent circuit. It has a flow source with internal parallel bypass resistance; the remaining flow makes its way to the output world where it can be felt and measured. Everything within the Pump boundary is a mathematical artifice, but representative of the real physical phenomena.
The I within the pump symbol indicates that it represents an ideal flow generator. Its symbol is necessary in the hydraulic realm because the standard ISO symbols are interpreted in their practical, industrial sense. That is, the pump symbol represents the real pump, including all of its imperfections, nuances, and idiosyncrasies. Explaining all of those imperfections requires a more nuanced set of symbols; thus, the notation for an ideal pump as well for the motor.
Laminar flow in hydraulic fluids is directly proportional to pressure, but it depends on the fluid properties, most notably the viscosity. As such, laminar flow is perfectly analogous to Ohm’s law. Laminar flow also depends on the geometry of the flow path. Laminar flow paths are characterized by long flow paths, small cross-sectional flow areas, or high viscosity. As a result, several maxims come into play: the longer the path, the higher the resistance; the smaller the flow area, the higher the resistance; and the higher the viscosity, the higher the resistance.
A Norton equivalent circuit contains an ideal current generator (positive current source) in parallel with the Norton resistance, which is an internal parallel flow path analogous to the pump’s internal leakage. It is important to realize that the current generator is not a natural kind of generator. It must be constructed of other elements, such as transistors, operational amplifiers, and the voltage generator.
Interestingly, one of the first positive-current sources is named after its creator, Brad Howland of MIT. The Howland current pump has obvious similarities to a positive-displacement pump, at least in performance characteristics. But it is not a pump with pistons. Instead, it is an electronic circuit designed to provide a controlled, positive current to some external load.
Figure 13 contains a generic Norton equivalent circuit, and even the most casual observer must be struck by the similarities to Fig. 12. The Norton model of an electrical circuit explains why output current decreases concurrently with an increase in outlet voltage. The culprit is the internal bypass resistance, which takes away current from the ideal Norton generator. It same explanation applies to the hydraulic pump, where internal bypass leakage takes fluid flow away from the outlet port.
Dealing with Ideals
The ideal flow pump in Fig. 12 is referred to as a dependent flow generator, so called because the amount of flow that it produces depends on a variable or action that does not appear in the figure. The other variable is shaft speed, which is in a different part of the circuit (it does not appear explicitly in Fig. 12).
Unfortunately, hydraulic circuit symbols, unlike electrical symbols, do not provide for a different symbol to indicate dependency. Dependency is explicit only when applied to Equation 5. Electrically dependent current generators are indicated by replacing the circular generator of Fig. 13 with a rotated square (Fig. 14). The symbol indicates it is dependent, but not what it is dependent on. More information is needed.
Refer again to Fig. 11, which depicts the pressure-flow characteristics of the pressure-compensated pump. As the pressure increases, the Knee is reached so that the internal feedback regulator takes over the control of the pump’s displacement. At low pressures, when operating below the knee, a spring biases the displacement to its maximum value.
Further attempts to increase pressure to the right of the knee are met with a commensurate reduction in displacement and a limitation in the pressure’s rise rate. Called the Positive pressure region—where the machine behaves more like a positive pressure source—it’s the analogy to the positive voltage source. Though the slope of the curve in this region is shown with less steepness than what’s actually achieved with a real pump, it is intended to illustrate the principle of pressure compensation. The real pump’s steeper slope is never vertical, however, without electronic control of displacement.
The maximum pressure of the pressure-compensated pump in Fig. 11 is labeled Blocked port pressure. Two points can be made about this notation. First, the fluid-power industry does not normally use that wording, preferring instead to call this the deadhead pressure. Obviously, deadhead means blocked outlet port. Second, the knee and deadhead pressures are adjustable, if not at field-application time, then at the factory final test time.


Top Reasons to Specify a 10G 6A™ F/UTP Category 6A Cabling System
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- 10GBASE-T Performance Headroom
- Installation Robustness
- Cost Savings for Infrastructure Upgrades and Shared Pathways
- Maximum Density
- Superior EMC Performance
- Protection Against High Frequency Noise
- Improved Support of PoE/PoE Plus
- Growing Market Adoption
10GBASE-T Performance Headroom:
While it is true that minimally compliant category 6A cabling systems will support the 10GBASE-T application, the fact is that most end-users will not be upgrading their network equipment for another 5 years. Performance headroom provides assurance that the normal wear and tear that a cabling system experiences due to upgrades and moves, adds, and changes (MAC work) during its lifecycle will not degrade channel performance below the levels required to support a particular application. Since the 10GBASE-T application is highly sensitive to excessive cable-to-cable crosstalk (alien crosstalk) due to poor installation and network maintenance practices, headroom for this parameter is desirable to ensure a trouble free system upgrade 5 years from now. Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems are guaranteed to provide a minimum of +10 dB¹ headroom to '568-B.2-10 category 6A and '11801:Amendment 1 class EA PSANEXT loss limits.
Even with the most capable installation team, maintaining proper cable pulling tension, bend radius, and pathway fill ratios, and avoiding crushing and/or kinking of the cables during installation is challenging. After the initial installation, substandard MAC work practices such as exceeding maximum pathway fill requirements to accommodate growth, kinking patch cords when re-routing ports, damaging adjacent channels when removing abandoned cables, and crushing cables at the bottom of pathways can also degrade transmission performance. The bad news is that, unlike F/UTP systems, category 6A UTP systems subjected to poor installation practices and substandard MAC work are likely to show degraded alien crosstalk (AXT) performance. Furthermore, verifying that AXT performance has not been compromised in category 6A UTP cabling by non-compliant installation practices requires extremely complicated and onerous field verification testing. (While non-compliant installation practices may also cause non-AXT internal transmission performance problems for both UTP and F/UTP cabling, these can be easily identified through simple field test procedures.) Siemon's installation and MAC-friendly 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems are virtually immune to compromised AXT performance and have minimal field test verification needs, thus saving valuable installation and troubleshooting time.
Cost Savings for Infrastructure Upgrades and Shared Pathways:
Bundling of category 6A UTP cabling with other category UTP cables can result in alien crosstalk levels that exceed industry requirements and potentially impact operation of the 10GBASE-T application. As a result, mixing, in the form of either bundling or conduit sharing, of category 6A UTP cabling with other UTP cable categories is not allowed by most manufacturers including Siemon². In addition, legacy category 6 cabling supporting 10GBASE-T operation over short lengths in accordance with TSB-155 should not be mixed with category 6A cabling. These stringent requirements make category 6A UTP cabling a less attractive choice for infrastructure upgrades. Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling may be bundled and/or share pathways with all other categories of cabling such as those used for voice, building automation systems, etc. without concern.
Category 6A F/UTP cabling has one of the smallest overall cable diameters of any 10 Gb/s-ready copper cabling solution. This feature optimizes the number of cables in pathways and the number of ports in the equipment rack (remember: the maximum number of ports that can be supported in a rack is dependent upon the number of patch cables that can be accommodated in the vertical patch cord manager). Siemon's 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems support cost-savings strategies such as avoiding the replacement of existing pathways in retrofit designs and utilizing smaller pathways and less rack space in new designs.
Superior EMC Performance:
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) describes both a system's susceptibility to interference from (immunity) and potential to disturb (emissions) outside sources and is an important indicator of a system's ability to coexist with other electronic/electrical devices. While twisted-pair cabling inherently has good EMC performance, data and experimental models prove that F/UTP cabling is actually 100 times less susceptible to interference than UTP cabling3! It is worth noting that even improperly terminated F/UTP cabling is still 10 times less susceptible to interference than UTP cabling3. Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems support robust EMC performance in all environments where electromagnetic noise is present.
Protection Against High Frequency Noise:
While the balance performance of category 6A cabling is sufficient to protect against interference from low frequency common mode sources, the noise immunity provided by balance alone starts to deteriorate around 30 MHz³. Balance degradation above 30 MHz can adversely impact immunity from high frequency noise sources. Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems minimize interference from high frequency RF transmitters and wireless devices by limiting noise coupled onto the twisted-pair and are ideal for use in manufacturing, industrial, and other "noisy" environments.
Improved Support of PoE/PoE Plus:
Theoretical and experimental data demonstrate that category 6A F/UTP cables exhibit significantly less temperature rise when pairs are subjected to a dc current than category 6A UTP cables. Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems are ideal in installations targeted for future support of PoE Plus to ensure maximum heat dissipation.
Growing Market Adoption:
Screened cabling systems have been recognized for use by TIA, ISO and other Standards committees for years and the growth of category 6A F/UTP cabling now outpaces the growth of category 6A UTP cabling in most markets throughout the world. In fact, according to a recent BSRIA study4, "75% of respondents who plan to choose copper cabling for their 10G links plan for shielded cabling, relatively evenly split between Categories 6, 6A and 7". Siemon 10G 6A F/UTP cabling systems support the industry trend towards smaller and higher performing 10 Gb/s-ready copper cabling solutions.
- "What's in a dB?", Siemon
- "System Update - Bundling of 10G 6A UTP Cabling with Other UTP Cables", Siemon
- "Screened and Shielded Cabling - Noise Immunity, grounding, and the Antenna Myth", Siemon
- "Study on U.S. Data Center Structured Cabling & Network Choices", BSRIA, February 2008
Rev. B 4/08


text:
The Call of the Wild
Sprache - Englisch
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Über das eBook
The Call of the Wild is a novel by American writer Jack London. The plot concerns a previously domesticated and even somewhat pampered dog named Buck, whose primordial instincts return after a series of events finds him serving as a sled dog in the treacherous, frigid Yukon during the days of the 19th century Klondike Gold Rushes.
Published in 1903, The Call of the Wild is one of London's most-read books, and it is generally considered one of his best. Because the protagonist is a dog, it is sometimes classified as a juvenile novel, suitable for children, but it is dark in tone and contains numerous scenes of cruelty and violence.
London followed the book in 1906 with White Fang, a companion novel with many similar plot elements and themes as The Call of the Wild, although following a mirror image plot in which a wild wolf becomes civilized by a mining expert from San Francisco named Weedon Scott.
Verlag: Reading Time
Genre: Sprache - Englisch
Umfang: 100 Seiten
Größe: 286,8 KB
Veröffentlichung: 18. Februar 2020


text:
Do you hear it? The alarm is ringing; it is the sound of a clarion call that has gone out for an all-hands-on-deck approach to bringing about a much needed change for our community.
I feel whole heartedly that the vision of Leon El-Alamin and the M.A.D.E. (Money, Attitude, Direction, Education) Institute is the ideal panacea for us to recoup the missing/dismissed parts of our cultural heritage. As important as it is to create an atmosphere of consideration, sensitivity, and understanding among our non-black citizenry, it is even more imperative that we create a climate of historical learning for our people to become acquainted with who they are and where they come from. And there are several reasons: one of the most important is to develop a healthy sense of self-worth.
I believe it is through learning of one’s self that we as individuals will arrive at a place of internal validation from being armed with the knowledge of our rich ancestral history.
It is also a knowing that burns within that says our desire to see change, along with an excellent plan to manifest a viable proactive entity that will assist with improving our individual attitudes toward each other and the community at large, that we do so by utilizing our collective intellect and our experiences as a knitting needle to weave ourselves into the fabric of high productivity. I’m sure you will agree that solutions and tangible results are the primary goal.
Though these times have left many of us in a dubious quandary; it is leadership that coincides with compassion and a human touch that will succor us to engage in critical reasoning, which of course is a mental process accompanied by logical reasoning if we are to plant the seed of change into the soil that is the hearts and minds of the people; then we will undoubtedly reap the harvest of a new paradigm; one that consists of social independence, dignity, freedom, and justice.
We cannot study ourselves or the times with the minds of slaves, colonized people, or colonizers. This is what I believe is sorely needed.
In order to free ourselves from the fear that has been instilled in us, there must be a restructuring of the architecture built to keep us confined to the lowest level of the social ladder. That is the place that has kept us mentally and emotionally off-kilter, thus hindering our forward progress as a group.
I know beyond knowing that expanding our knowledge on how to navigate in and throughout the sociopolitical and socioeconomic arenas is the catalyst to developing a cultural renaissance by identifying with a land base for the purpose of teaching us about our nature that also gave us so much history to be proud of.
By radicalizing our intelligence we will become politically savvy, socially conscious, and economically independent. As a resident of Flint, I feel obligated to offer myself to the cause and commit to doing anything within the scope of my abilities to assist those who are agents of change with achieving a common goal. Once certain imperatives are recognized and acknowledged, then will we be able to re-introduce order into our ranks as we come together as a monolithic juggernaut to reclaim our rights to live in accordance to the level of self-sufficiency that we aspire to — individually, and as a corporate entity.
Lastly, we must be willing to stand for what is right for the city as a whole. And that means holding these elected officials’ feet to the fire. If there is no accountability, then we as a people abort our voices in exchange for hopeless hope, empty promises and feel good rhetoric that pacifies us into silent consent. If the city were a ship, then we the people are the captains of that ship. And only the captain stands at the helm.
Craig D. Samuels


text:
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Russia’s 1-year ban on food products from the EU, US, Canada, and Norway will force Russia to increase food imports from Latin America, specifically Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina.
Russia's ban opens the door to Russia’s partners on the other side of the world. Russia will have to fill an 8 percent gap in its total agricultural imports that it sources from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, and Norway. The Netherlands, Germany, and Poland are currently Russia’s biggest food suppliers in the EU.
On Wednesday the three countries confirmed they are ready to start supplying Russia with agricultural goods and Moscow will soon hold meetings with ambassadors from Brazil and Argentina.
Agricultural products dominate Argentina’s export. Russia imports Argentinian pears, grapes, apples, citrus fruits, and other food. In 2012 trade turnover exceeded $1 billion.
In 2013, Chile exported $567 million worth of agricultural products to Russia. Regionally, Chile exports an array of fruits, including grapes, avocadoes, berries, plums, and kiwis.
Even though Ecuador primarily sends exports to the US and EU, it still has the potential to cut into the Russian agriculture and raw materials market. At present, bananas, cut flower, and coffee and tea are sent eastward to Russia.
Publication date: 8/11/2014
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domain: agronomy


text:
On Sunday 22 October 2023, we continued our exploration of North London, with this circular walk starting and ending at Tottenham Hale.
It is a very easy walk as it on mostly on level tarmac and towpaths, helped by the fact that it was a warm, bright, and sunny day. We walked along the towpath past the narrow-boats and barges which brought us to the Stonebridge Lock on the River Lee Navigation. The dog friendly Waterside Café here provided a chance to have tea/coffee and watch the boats go through the lock.
We continued the walk through the park up to the Chalk Bridge and returned to the start with the Tottenham Marshes on our right. We finished by going around the Paddock which has been created as a wildlife nature reserve for insects and birdlife.

domain: travel


text:
You may have noticed that plugin steps now have pretty icons. As we see below, these show up in full color in the palate and as white images on top of the purple plugin steps in the process flow.
At the same time the plugin definition format (the plugin.xml file) doesn’t have a way to point at images to use as icons. How does this work? Basically, this is done by convention, but looking at the name of the plugin step and assigning an icon based on the name (usually the first word of the step name).
The table below shows the key words and the icon that is shown. So if you’re creating a plugin, tweak the names of your steps to match the plugins.

domain: design


Hamm develops productive soil compactors
Hamm has new soil compactors with high productivity
Hamm reports that its H series single drum compactors are proving highly successful, particularly the H5 and H7 models introduced last year. The firm is continuing to upgrade the range with the sophisticated driving system now being introduced to all of the Tier 4 Final/Stage IV compliant soil compactors weighing 7tonnes or more. This sophisticated drive system will also be fitted to the soil compactors for sale in less regulated markets in the future however.
The H5 and H7 variants are said to offer precise operation as well as good traction and ground clearance due to the hydrostatic drive system. The high traction means that these machines offer better climbing ability than earlier generation machines, while the H7 can also be operated with a dozer blade for smoothing surfaces out ahead of the compaction process. Meanwhile the sloping engine cover and short, compact design help provide good all round visibility. Versions of the H5 and H7 available include models with smooth and padfoot drums as well as the Vio variant with both drum oscillation and vibration.
A special variant of the larger H25i meanwhile is the VC, which is fitted with a modified drum. This can be equipped with standard padfoot plates or with picks, for use in rock breaking applications. The picks are similar to those used in road recycling applications and can be quickly changed for maintenance or if the user wants to change the configuration of the machine to a padfoot type.