text:
COUNTIES:BOUNDARIES FORMED BY RIVERS -- RIVERS: CHANGING COURSE OF, AS AFFECTING COUNTY BOUNDARY
A sudden change in the course of a river which forms the boundary between counties does not change the boundary to conform to the new course of the river.
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May 6, 1957
Honorable George W. Sibbald
Prosecuting Attorney of Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County Court House
Kelso, Washington Cite as: AGO 57-58 No. 57
Attention: Mr. Richard L. Norman, Deputy
By letter of April 15, 1957, previously acknowledged, you have requested the opinion of this office concerning the location of the boundary between Clark and Cowlitz counties. We quote from your letter:
"Several years ago when primary state highway No. 1 (U.S. 99) was constructed, the Lewis River was diverted and a horseshoe bend was left high and dry. This diversion involves approximately 65 acres of land and a few home sites. Said property, before the diversion, was considered part of Clark County and is on Clark County assessment rolls. Our county commissioners feel that since the course of the Lewis River was moved that said property is now properly within the boundaries of Cowlitz County and should be on Cowlitz County's assessment rolls."
Your question may be paraphrased as follows:
[[Orig. Op. Page 2]]
Is there any legal basis for the institution of an action by Cowlitz county to establish the boundary between Cowlitz and Clark counties along the present course of the Lewis River?
We answer in the negative.
The common law rule with regard to changes in the course of a river that forms a boundary of a piece of land is stated as follows in Hirt v. Entus, 37 Wn. (2d) 418, quoting fromHarper v. Holston, 119 Wash. 436:
"'... when grants of land border on running water, and the course of the stream is changed by that process known as accretion‑-that is to say, the gradual washing away on the one side and the gradual building up on the other‑-the owner's boundary changes with the changing course of the stream....
"'On the other hand, it is equally the rule that, when a stream which is a boundary, from any cause, suddenly abandons its old channel and creates a new one, or suddenly washes from one of its banks a considerable body of land and deposits it on the opposite bank, the boundary does not change with changed course of the stream, but remains as it was before. This sudden and rapid change is termed in law an avulsion, and differs from an accretion in that the one is violent and visible, while the other is gradual, and perceptible only after a lapse of time.'..."
Although our Washington cases dealing with this question have been concerned only with privately-owned property, rather than county boundaries as created by statute, this common law rule has been consistently applied by other courts in cases involving shifting river courses forming boundaries between counties. See, for example,Blair v. U. S. (Okla.), 32 F. (2d) 130;Witt v. Willis, (Ky.), 85 S.W. 223; Fitzsimmons v. Cassity (La.), 172 So. 824; Randolph v. Moberly Hunting & Fishing Club (Mo.), 15 S.W. (2d) 834;Nothstine v. Feldmann (Mo.), 8 S.W. (2d) [[Orig. Op. Page 3]] 912;Jacobs v. Stoner (Mo.), 7 S.W. (2d) 698; andState v. Huffman (Mo.), 2 S.W. (2d) 582.
It is our opinion that the facts as you have related them present a clear case of avulsion, and that therefore the boundary between Clark and Cowlitz counties continues to exist, so far as the disputed 65 acres are concerned, along the course that the Lewis River followed prior to the construction of primary state highway No. 1.
We trust this opinion will be of assistance to you.
Very truly yours,
JOHN J. O'CONNELL
DAVID S. BLACK
Assistant Attorney General


text:
This book demonstrates how to blend sewing and assembly techniques with traditional electronics to assemble simple circuits using conductive thread, solder joints for snaps, and switches for buttons. With the sewing machine as a viable substitute for the soldering iron, you can craft a new generation of objects that are interactive, quirky, and fashion-conscious.
Author Syuzi Pakhchyan, a seasoned artist, roboticist, and teacher, explains how to use smart materials such as thermoand photochromatic inks that change color by touch or sunlight, magnetic and conductive paints, polymorph plastic, fiber optics, and more.
In Fashioning Technology, you'll find:
- An invaluable reference section that breaks down the materials, components, and tools with clear, concise explanations and photos
- A wide range of projects, including electronic accessories, interactive plush toys, and color-changing blinds, all using diverse crafting techniques
- Techniques for seasoned crafters interested in incorporating simple electronics into their own projects
- Methods for makers proficient in electronics who are looking for unconventional ways to create novel projects
Each project encourages you to personalize and customize using your own designs, materials, and craft skills. Fashioning Technology translates traditional electronics into fun, fashionable interactive projects for the geek, fashionista, and the craft aficionado alike. Now you really can be the flashiest dresser in town.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Pop It Fidgets Toys Buy 2 Get 1 Free (Add 3 To Cart ) | Free Shipping On Orders Over $59
1 / 9
This is a stable, safe and reliable professional digital anemometer. It can measure wind speed, air volume, temperature, humidity, dew point temperature and humidity. Widely used in wind energy, meteorology, industry, agriculture, hydrology and water conservancy, environmental protection, highways, airports and ports, etc.
Accuracy: ±(% readings + words), guarantee period of one year.
Baseline conditions: ambient temperature 18 ~28℃, relative humidity < 80%.
1. Don\'t touch the fan blade too hard.
2. Do not store or operate the instrument in areas with high temperature or humidity.
3. When using, do not let the strong light directly shine on the fan, in order to avoid measurement error.
4. Avoid violent vibration.
5. Remove the battery before storing the instrument for a long time.(Battery is not included)
1. Due to the different monitor and light effect, the actual color of the item might be slightly different from the color showed on the pictures. Thank you!
2. Please allow 1-3cm measuring deviation due to manual measurement.
Package Content: 1 X Anemometer
1 X USB Line
1 X CD
1 X User Manual

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


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The Mantle is the second layer of the Earth. It is the biggest and takes up 84 percent of the Earth. In this section you will learn and more about how hot the mantle is, what it is made of, and some interesting facts about the Mantle.
The mantle is divided into two sections. The Asthenosphere, the bottom layer of the mantle made of plastic like fluid and The Lithosphere the top part of the mantle made of a cold dense rock.
The average temperature of the mantle is 3000° Celsius. The temperature of the mantle will become much hotter as you get closer to the Inner Core
The mantle is composed of silicates of iron and magnesium, sulphides and oxides of silicon and magnesium.
The mantle is about 2900 km thick. It is the largest layer of the Earth, taking up 84% of the Earth.
Convection currents happen inside the mantle and are caused by the continuous circular motion of rocks in the lithosphere being pushed down by hot molasses liquid from the asthenosphere. The rocks then melt and float up as molasses liquid because it is less dense and the rocks float down because it is more dense.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Simplified Simulation Models for Indoor MANET Evaluation are not Robust
1st IEEE Communications Society Conference on Sensor and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks (SECON), Santa Clara, CA, October 2004
We evaluate the robustness of simplified mobility and radio propagation models for indoor MANET simulations. A robust simplification allows researchers to extrapolate simulation results and reach reliable conclusions about the expected performance of protocols in real life. We show that common simplified mobility and radio propagation models are not robust. Experiments with DSR and DSDV, two representative MANET routing protocols, show that the simplifications affect the two protocols in very different manners. Even for a single protocol, the effects on perceived performance can vary erratically as parameters change. These results cast doubt on the soundness of evaluations of MANET routing protocols based on simplified mobility and radio propagation models, and expose the urgent need for more research on realistic MANET simulation.


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What are the Best Cheap Driveway Options?
The best method for creating a cheap driveway is to install it personally. Driveways may be made of concrete, gravel, or asphalt. Whether creating one as a do-it-yourself project or allowing a contractor to do the work, gravel is typically the most cost-saving.
Before beginning the project, take into account the cost of the supplies which will be necessary to complete the work. Regardless of the material used for the driveway, the area should be comprised of well-compacted, hard soil. This can often be accomplished by cutting out the area planned for the driveway using a tractor or large rotary cutter. These tools may be rented if they are not already owned.
Concrete and asphalt both require a gravel base prior to installation, and require that the homeowner purchase enough gravel and additional material to cover the area if such a base is not already in place. Stone typically costs between $1 and $3 US Dollars (USD), while gravel can cost between $0.50 and $2 USD. Either material may be used to cover the path alone, without the addition of concrete or asphalt, and will generally require new stone every three to five years. This may be purchased in bulk from a home improvement store or a local quarry. Quarries often offer more affordable pricing than retailers, and can load the material directly into the back of a truck.
Long driveways may also require a heavy edging material to prevent dirt and gravel from washing away. Tree trunks with the limbs removed are an excellent cheap driveway lining material. Railroad ties, bricks, and large landscaping rocks are other popular edging materials that may be purchased from local home improvement stores.
Macadam is usually the first step between a gravel and an asphalt driveway, and is generally a moderately inexpensive material. This kind of surface consists of gravel sprayed with liquid tar to hold it in place. It ranges in cost between $1 and $4 USD per square foot. Depending on the availability of materials, macadam may need to be installed by a contractor. This surface can last between six and ten years before requiring maintenance.
Asphalt usually costs about $5 USD per square foot, in addition to the cost of a gravel base, and must be installed by a contractor. This option can last up to 30 years, depending on weather in the area and the use of the driveway. It must typically be resealed every three years to prevent cracking.
Concrete is also a popular material for driveways, though it is more costly than gravel and asphalt, and cannot be considered a cheap driveway material in terms of up front costs. It should generally only be installed by a professional as it requires mixing and setting to create an even finish that will not crack. It can cost more than $10 USD per square foot in addition to the gravel base. Concrete driveways may offer long-term savings, however, because they are more durable than gravel, often lasting up to 50 years.
Beware of anyone who claims they can install a concrete driveway for a ridiculously low price. Scam artists show up and do this every spring. It's much more effective to put down a gravel driveway yourself than to get a concrete one that will fall apart within a year.
How do you know when scammers are out selling driveways? Check for updates from your state attorney general's office -- the better offices keep up on the latest scams and warn consumers about them.
Post your comments


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Commission Press Release (IP/11/362), 24 March 2011
In order to further limit possible risks to the safety of its Food Chain, the European Union decided today to reinforce controls on imports of food and feed from certain regions of Japan, where production could be affected by the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Member States endorsed, at a meeting of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCoFCAH), a Commission proposal to impose special import conditions. The measures apply to all feed and food originating in or consigned from 12 prefectures of Japan (Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Miyagi, Yamagata, Niigata, Nagano, Yamanashi, Saitama, Tokyo and Chiba) including the four most affected by the accident. All products from these prefectures have to be tested before leaving Japan and will be subject to random testing in the EU. Feed and food products from the remaining 35 prefectures will have to be accompanied by a declaration stating the prefecture of origin and will be randomly tested upon arrival in the EU. The Union will review these measures every month.
In particular, the regulation adopted today stipulates that each consignment of food or feed from the 12 prefectures has to be accompanied by a declaration –to be provided by the Japanese authorities– attesting that the product does not contain levels of radionuclides that exceed the EU's maximum permitted levels (Council Regulation (Euratom) No. 3954/87 (OJ L 371, 30, 12, 1997, p. 11)). Radionuclides are radioactive elements and the Commission regulation makes specific reference to iodine-131, caesium-134 and caesium-137.
Furthermore, importers are required to notify the national competent authorities two days before the arrival of each consignment of food and feed from Japan. Feed and food products that were harvested or processed before March 11 are not affected by the provisions of this regulation. Nevertheless, these products from all of Japan's territory would have to be accompanied by a declaration stating clearly that they were harvested/ processed before March 11.
As regards food and feed harvested/produced after March 11, the measures provide that:
The Commission proposal, endorsed today by SCoFCAH, will be formally adopted tomorrow. The resulting implementing regulation will enter into force one day after its publication in the European Union's Official Journal. It is expected to be published in the OJ on Saturday, March 26.
Currently, there is no evidence of risk for the EU consumer by increased radiation levels in food and feed products imported from Japan. However, the Commission decided to reinforce its measures in order to further limit possible risks to its own Food Chain and, thus, ensure better protection for the health of EU citizens.
The Commission has been following closely developments in Japan. On 15th March, it asked the Member States, through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), to step up controls on food products arriving from Japan.
Food safety risks for EU citizens due to the Japan nuclear crisis are low for a series of reasons. They include:


Definition of professional cloud print
Cloud print is the infrastructure service that allows for the ad-hoc transformation of digital information into physical forms in 2D or 3D, by leveraging networks of production facilities through cloud computing technology.
Benefits of cloud print
Services based on cloud print technology replace a priori mass production by local production on demand, thereby reducing carbon emissions, energy use and the amount of raw materials needed.
By accessing professional print as a shared commodity resource, content owners can avoid the cost and complexity of buying and managing the underlying hardware, software and processes.
Principles of cloud print
Professional cloud print providers strive to:
 1. Allow any virtual information to be accessible as tangible objects.
 2. Allow clients to connect their service in the simplest way possible.
 3. Allow production facilities to connect in the simplest way possible.
 4. Produce on demand only, to avoid excess stock.
 5. Produce in best-of-breed facilities only, to ensure the highest quality.
 6. Produce locally, to minimize the ecological footprint.
Join the discussion


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Outotec® Mill Control System Outotec. Outotec® Mill Control System The Outotec Mill Control System provides all control functions required for the safe operation of grinding mills and their associated lubrication systems, as well as continuously monitoring the equipment's condition The system provides the opportunity to implement advanced condition monitoring strategies
EAI's Grinding and Rolling Controls give its user on-screen control of any roller mill or hammermill in their system. It optimizes throughput by adjusting feeding rates to maximize amp loads. The HMI screen is also user-friendly, which helps operators learn the system quickly. The
Whether the basic version, integration into higher-level process control systems or data acquisition hardware and software: a wide range of control options are available for the NETZSCH agitator bead mills talk with our experts. It should be noted that the execution of the operator terminal depends on the protection class of the machine.
We describe an advanced multivariable controller for grinding mills which will, in spite of the severe disturbances in a mining environment, significantly improve throughput while maintaining product particle size. Some grinding operations are subjected to power
19. In a digital computer system for control of grinding mill operations the improvement comprising, a sensor providing a signal representative of a mill grinding condition, a computer programmed to arithmetically derive from said signal an error signal representative of the deviation of the sensed signal from a predetermined operating condition,
Combine ABB's variable-speed drive system with advanced process control ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer for grinding to provide maximum mill control. It can be applied to new or existing AG, SAG and ball mills, powered by either ring-geared mill drives (RMD) or gearless mill drives (GMD). This solution was designed to control, stabilize and
MillStar Advanced Control System provides a control solution to increase grinding throughput to the downstream processes and optimise grinding efficiency +61
Whether the basic version, integration into higher-level process control systems or data acquisition hardware and software: a wide range of control options are available for the NETZSCH mixers and de-aerators talk with our experts. It should be noted that the execution of the operator terminal depends on the protection class of the machine.
MILL CONTROL: GENERAL CONCEPTS The problem of designing controllers for efficient control of grinding mills has been studied in the literature, but has not seen significant application in actual mineral processing plants (Jerez et al 1985, Ciprano et al 1989, Rajamani et al 1991). The first successfully implemented multivariable process control
With EAI's Grinding and Rolling Control package, you have total control over your process. Features like auto gap control, bin keep full, and mill optimization keeps your system working hard for you. Our feed mill grinding and rolling control system adapts to any hammer mill with forward and reverse controls.
Combine ABB's variable-speed drive system with advanced process control ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer for grinding to provide maximum mill control. It can be applied to new or existing AG, SAG and ball mills, powered by either ring-geared mill drives (RMD) or gearless mill drives (GMD).
WinCos is our complete plant control system that enables you to manage your wet grinding solution and integrate it with other Smart Factory systems. Remote control and diagnostics, data analysis and plant-wide communications are all available to you, 24/7, from anywhere in the world.
In addition, Sterling Systems engineered and provided the electrical controls and electrical equipment for the grinding and air classifying mills, and also the grinding mill monitor control panel. Sterling Systems & Controls, Inc. has 40+ years of experience providing efficient solutions for process equipment, batching, micro, minor and bulk weighing, bag unloading systems, as well as plant
28-02-2018· Whether your plant relies on hammermill, attrition mill, roller mill, cutters or screening techniques, Repete systems provide optimization for all grinding s...
latest systems used in the industry along with performance comparisons. The most advanced systems today use real time image systems as well as acoustic systems that listen to the grinding process within the mill to further understand the process of grinding in large mills. Expert Computer Control
Automated Control Systems Feed Grain Buyers Guide. Outotec Mh Series Grinding Mills Outotec The optional outotec mill control system features the latest in stateoftheart technology and is the preferred control option for all outotec grinding mills it comprises a local control panel with a failsafe plc and fullcolor touch screen the control system provides all required control and monitoring
Development of Control System for Vibratory Grinding Process. modern aviation materials was conducted with ultrasonic vibration applied in the feed direction using an autoresonant control system.
ABB's GMD is the most powerful mill drive system in the market to power semiautogenous (SAG), ball and autogenous (AG) mills, This 'workhorse' for grinding operations combines a robust, service-friendly and fit for purpose design to provide highest throughput, reliability


- A type of early Italian religious drama that combined songsand dialogue. The genre, deriving ultimately from 12th-century hymnsof praise was given impetus by a penitential and flagellant movementin the 13th century. The laudi began as narrative works butbecame steadily more dramatic, leading to the later sacra rappresentazione.Still later, the tradition of the lauda influenced the developmentof the oratorio.


public static IEnumerable RemoveDuplicates(this ICollection list, Func Predicate)
 var dict = new Dictionary();
 foreach (var item in list)
 if (!dict.ContainsKey(Predicate(item)))
 dict.Add(Predicate(item), item);
 return dict.Values.AsEnumerable();
var employees = (from x in context.Employees
 join t in context.PhonesNumbers on x.EmpId equals t.EmpId
 select new { Employee = x, Phone = t });
//we now have multiple employee records if an employee had more than one phone number
employees = employees.RemoveDuplicates(x => x.EmpId);
Removes items from a collection based on the condition you provide. This is useful if a query gives you some duplicates that you can't seem to get rid of. Some Linq2Sql queries are an example of this. Use this method afterward to strip things you know are in the list multiple times
Double click on the code to select all.


Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Why Does Old Ice Cream Get Crunchy?
This was originally posted on Sustainable Nano, which is my new project. You should go check it out! Science Minus Details will live on though! Poop posts will come, have faith!!!!
As with all good meals of information, let's start this one off with ice cream!
In an effort to grow out of my "slim fit" clothes, I've begun an ice-cream-after-every-dinner diet.
Even the cat likes my diet!
An added bonus is that I go through jugs of ice cream so quickly that I NEVER have to deal with old, gross, crunchy ice cream! You know what I'm talking about. You reach into the back of your freezer, find that jug of 6-month-old ice cream, only to discover that it tastes like the perfect mixture of sugar, fat, and sand.
In order to understand this gritty phenomenon, let's talk first about what gives freshly purchased ice cream that wonderfully non-gritty texture. The ice cream manufacturing process is controlled very carefully, such that the ice in ice cream comes in the form of lots of super-tiny ice crystals. These ice crystals are usually around 10 to 100 micrometers in size, which is so small that our tongues can't even detect them as crystals, which is one reason ice cream is so smooth! However, if their size increases significantly, our tongue notices the crystals and the ice cream tastes gritty. But how do the crystals get bigger? Well, as we talked about in the previous post, small crystals have more surface area compared to an equal mass of large crystals. This means that lots of the atoms that make up small crystals are stuck out on the surface of those crystals, instead of being nestled on the inside. Those surface atoms would much rather be on the inside of the crystal, surrounded by other identical atoms. We scientists would say the surfaces of crystals have extra energy, relative to the insides of crystals.
Water molecules on the surface of ice crystals have extra "surface energy" because they aren't fully surrounded by other water molecules.
As a consequence of this, small crystals are always looking for a way to grow larger so that a smaller percentage of their atoms will have to live on the crystal surface. That is exactly what happens over time as ice cream sits in the freezer—the ice crystals find a way to grow larger—leading to that oh-so-disappointing gritty texture. One way this crystal size growth can happen is when small crystals clump together to make larger crystals. This turns some of the unhappy surface atoms into happy interior atoms.
An even cooler way crystals can grow larger is by stealing individual unhappy surface atoms from other crystals. Basically, the surface atoms are so unhappy, they simply "abandon ship" and wash up on the shores of another crystal, making that second crystal larger. This process results in larger crystals growing and smaller crystals shrinking. This can continue to happen until the small crystals disappear completely! Cool!
What in the world does this have to do with nanotechnology? Well, if we shrunk the smooth-tasting ice crystals to be around 1,000 to 100,000 times smaller, they would be nano-ice crystals. We scientists would then call them "nanoparticles," and we can make them from lots of different materials. Nanoparticles are so tiny that their surfaces have WAY MORE extra energy, and this energy can be harnessed to do some amazing things! To choose one example of many—big chunks of gold can't do much for a chemist except buy her lots of late-night meals and maybe a new car bike (we're sustainable here, remember!). However, nano-sized chunks of gold have such energetic surfaces that they can link two different chemicals together—where nothing at all happens without the nano-gold.
Gold nanoparticles can act as "catalysts" in chemical reactions.
The surfaces of nanoparticles can also be harnessed to degrade pollutants, turn fuels into electricity in fuel cells, and tons of other great stuff! Their surfaces are also largely responsible for how these materials behave in the environment and in organisms' bodies (more on that soon!). So, the more we understand about these special surfaces, the better we can predict where nano-pollutants might end up and how toxic or non-toxic they might be. We can then hopefully use this information to design nanoparticles that are "benign by design." So, to stretch the ice cream analogy to its limits, it's best to understand as much as we can about nanoparticle surfaces in order to avoid any gritty-tasting negatives, but there are still plenty of smooth-tasting positives!
 1. glad the cat enjoys the ice cream.
 1. haha, yeah. me too! She didn't like it as much as she likes leftover cereal milk tho.
 2. :-) NOt dead, just trying my best to get paid to talk about science, rather than do it for free, so focusing my efforts on helping scientists learn how to communicate with the public, at I swear I'll come back to science minus details. Have faith. I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've posted an update. Thanks for checking in!!!!!!!!!!!!
 2. Brazilian food tech student here. Just curious about re-crystallization.
 Thanks for the info ;)
 1. This isn't quite "recrystallization" as a chemist would use the term. Perhaps food scientists have another use for it. Recyrstallization usually purifies things by allowing you to rinse away impurities. The water isn't becoming any more or less pure here, just changing the size of its crystals. I'm glad you found it useful though!!!


Paul's Shipwreck on Malta
Photo of the book: Evidence and Paul's Journeys
Click here to buy this book:
Evidence and Paul's Journeys
Acts 27.12 - 28.1
Luke records that the ship drifted for fourteen days in the gale and then shipwrecked on the island of Malta, halfway across the Mediterranean. This account of a fourteen day gale, followed by a shipwreck on a remote island, reads like a tall tale. However, the meteorological and nautical evidence demonstrates, and in rather spectacular fashion, that these events must have occurred just as Luke records them.
The most important piece of evidence is the exact compass bearing of the gale. This bearing can be established by means of three separate calculations.
First, Luke states that Euraquilo struck shortly after they left Fair Havens.
In other words, the ship must have been less than halfway to their intended destination at Phoenix. They must have been somewhere between Cape Matala and a point seventeen miles W.N.W. of the Cape when the gale struck.
Map of Crete
Second, there is the relation of the island of Clauda (or Cauda) to this start point. Cape Matala is on a bearing of east 7 degrees north from the eastern edge of Clauda, while the halfway point to Phoenix is east 40 degrees north. For the ship to get behind Clauda, Euraquilo must have been blowing from a point somewhere between these two bearings. The point midway between these two figures is east 25 degrees north (or E.N.E. 1/4 N.). This cannot be more than a point and a half off the actual direction of the wind.
Third, Luke states that when they got behind Clauda, the sailors were afraid that they would be blown onto the Syrtis sandbanks of north Africa. However, for them to have been blown onto those banks from Clauda, Euraquilo would have had to have been blowing from a point somewhere between east 18 degrees north and east 37 degrees north. The point midway between these figures is east 27 degrees north. This figure is only 1/4 point off the mean figure of the previous calculation.
These three calculations establish that the direction from which the wind was blowing could not have been more than a point off the designation E.N.E. 1/2 N.
This brings us to a another dramatic piece of evidence. As the ship drifted west from Clauda, it would have been pointed due north. We know this because it could not have been pointed directly into the wind without capsizing. In other words, it had to have been pointed north, just off the direction from which the wind was coming. Using this information, we can calculate with some precision both the direction and rate of the ship's drift to the west.
Ancient records reveal that Egyptian grain ships were the largest vessels of the time, being about the size of an early nineteenth century sailing vessel. This size is implicitly confirmed by Luke's statement that there were 276 people on board.
Since their ship was pointed due north, while the wind was from the northeast, we can roughly calculate the direction of ship's lateral - or sideways - drift. The azimuth, or direction, of the ship's drift from Clauda would have been approximately west eight degrees north. The island of Malta is not directly west of Clauda. Instead, Malta's bearing from Clauda is exactly west eight degrees north.
Voyage Map
This brings us to yet another piece of evidence. Luke states that it took them fourteen days to drift to Malta. The distance from Clauda to the easternmost point of Malta is 476.6 miles. To calculate the westward rate of drift of their ship, it is necessary to know two things: the size of the ship and the force of the gale. We know the approximate size of the ship and it is possible to establish the mean intensity of the gale. We can then calculate an average rate of drift for Paul's vessel. This calculation reveals an average westward drift of one and one half miles per hour. Thus it would take Paul's ship about thirteen days to drift to Malta. Luke records that it took them fourteen days.
This nautical and meteorological evidence provides us with an astonishing confirmation of the historical accuracy of Luke's narrative. (2)
 To read the entire chapter online, go to:
Apostle Paul's Shipwreck
Evidence and Paul's Journeys - Home Page
Copyright 2001-2004 by Jefferson White


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Nov. 23, 2009 Are you a female athlete -- or just someone who likes challenging workouts -- who also wants to get pregnant? It may make sense to ease off a bit as you try to get pregnant. New research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) shows that the body may not have enough energy to support both hard workouts and getting pregnant.
Roughly seven per cent of all Norwegian women are believed to have infertility problems, which means that they are unable to become pregnant during the first year of trying -- even if they might later become pregnant.
Infertility can have many causes, both medical and lifestyle-related. Known risk factors include smoking, stress, and alcohol. Being extremely underor overweight can also play a role.
It is known, however, that elite sports women have more fertility problems than other women. But does extreme physical activity play a role in fertility among other women as well? NTNU researchers examined precisely this question in a study involving nearly 3,000 women. They found that overly frequent and hard physical exercise appears to reduce a young woman's fertility. But the decrease in fertility probably lasts only as long as the hard training.
Two vulnerable groups
The study was based on material from the Health Survey of Nord-Trøndelag from _PHONE_ and from a follow-up survey in _PHONE_. All of the women who participated were healthy and of childbearing age, and none had a history of fertility problems.
In the first survey, women responded to questions about the frequency, duration and intensity of their physical activity -- and ten years later were asked questions about pregnancy and childbirth.
The NTNU researchers also recorded other information that could have significance for the study.
"Among all these women, we found two groups who experienced an increased risk of infertility," says Sigridur Lara Gudmundsdottir, a PhD candidate in NTNU's Human Movement Science Programme. "There were those who trained almost every day. And there were those who trained until they were completely exhausted. Those who did both had the highest risk of infertility."
Age an important factor
If the women also were under 30 years old in the first study, the relationship became even more evident in both groups. Among those who reported training to exhaustion (regardless of frequency and duration), 24 per cent had fertility problems. In the group that had trained almost every day (regardless of the intensity and duration), 11 per cent reported the same.
Even when the data were adjusted for other possible contributing factors (such as body mass index, smoking, age, marital status and previous pregnancies), the researchers found that women who trained every day had a 3.5 times greater risk of impaired fertility as women who did not train at all.
"And when we compared those who trained to exhaustion to those who trained more moderately, we found that the first group had a three-fold greater risk of impaired fertility," says Gudmundsdottir.
In women who reported moderate or low activity levels, researchers found no evidence of impaired fertility.
A transient effect
But the negative effects of hard training do not appear to be permanent, the researcher says.
"The vast majority of women in the study had children in the end. And those who trained the hardest in the middle of the 1980s were actually among those who had the most children in the 1990s," she adds.
There may be various explanations for why the women who first were least fertile ended up with the most children. "We do not know if they changed their activity level during the period between the two surveys. Or if they just had trouble getting pregnant the first time, but afterwards had a hormonal profile that made it easier to get pregnant again," Gudmundsdottir said.
Scientists have a theory that high levels of physical activity are so energy intensive that the body actually experiences short periods of energy deficiency, where there simply is not enough energy to maintain all the necessary hormonal mechanisms that enable fertilization.
On the other hand, previous research shows that moderate physical activity gives women better insulin function and an improved hormonal profile -- and thus better conditions for fertility -- than total inactivity, particularly in overweight people.
Forget the easy chair
But Gudmundsdottir says that women who want to become pregnant shouldn't give up all physical activity.
"We believe it is likely that physical activity at a very high or very low level has a negative effect on fertility, while moderate activity is beneficial," she says.
But as far as identifying how much is "just right," the researcher is careful. "An individual's energy metabolism is a very important factor in this context. The threshold can be very individual," Gudmundsdottir says.
She also recommends that physically active women be particularly aware of their menstrual cycles. "A long cycle or no menstruation at all are danger signals," she says.
Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:
The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), via AlphaGalileo.
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.


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Tropical conditions are challenging to marine engines. Engines require both air and water for cooling, both of which act efficiently in removing heat. However, in the tropics, the warmer air and water temperatures reduce the efficiency of your cooling system. So, what can be done?
Marinediesel takes the first step in rating your engines for the operating climate. This is one of the benefits of using Marinediesel's VGT Series: our NIRA ECU allows such changes in rating, avoiding the sometimes large loss in horsepower often shown by the engines made by our competitors.
What can you do?
- Check the raw water intake and make certain that the seacock is opening / closing properly.
- Make certain coolant levels are topped up.
- Check your strainers for debris or blockages.
- Check your exhaust system to make certain there are no blockages.
- Make certain the air filter is clean and there are no blockages.
- Keep your fuel tank topped up. Warm weather increases condensation in the tank and thus, the likelihood of introducing water in the fuel.
- Make certain that the louvers venting into the engine compartment are not blocked and that there is adequate ventilation. If not, a blower may be required in extreme conditions.
All of this sounds like basic maintenance procedures, and much of it is detailed in your engine manual. It just pays in the long run to pay extra attention to these items if the vessel will be operated in harsh conditions.


Meow Meow: Cat Meows in Different Languages + Catfight
A meow is a sound used by cats to signal a request to their mother or owner. Adult cats do not normally meow to each other, and so the meowing to human beings that domesticated cats exhibit is likely partly an extension of the use by kittens of this plaintive signal.
A purr is a sound made by most species of felines. A tonal buzzing can characterize differently between cats. Domestic cats purr in a frequency of 25 to 150 vibrations per second. Purring is often understood as signifying happiness; however, cats sometimes purr when they are ill, or during tense, traumatic, or painful moments.
Other noises
Most cats growl or hiss when angered or feeling threatened, which serves as a warning to the offending party. If the warning is not heeded, a more serious attack may follow. Some may engage in behavior or batting with their paws, with claws either extended or retracted. Cats sometimes make chirping or chattering noises when observing prey. The cry of a cat in heat is called a caterwaul.
Afrikaans: miaau
Albanian: mjau
Arabic (Algeria): miaou miaou
Bengali: meu-meu
Catalan: meu, meu
Chinese (Mandarin): miao miao
Croatian: mijau
Danish: mjav
Dutch: miauw
English: meow
Esperanto: miaw
Estonian: näu
Finnish: miau, kurnau
French: miaou
German: miau
Greek: niaou
Hebrew: miyau
Hindi: mya:u, mya:u:
Hungarian: miau
Icelandic: mjá
Indonesian: ngeong
Italian: miao
Japanese: nyaa
Korean: (n)ya-ong
Norwegian: mjau
Polish: miau
Portuguese: miau
Russian: myau
Slovene: mijau
Spanish (Spain, Argentina): miau
Swedish: mjau
Thai: meow meow (with high tone)
Turkish: miyauv, miyauv
Ukrainian: myau
Vietnamese: meo-meo
Curiosity: Catfight
Catfight (also Girls fight) is a term for an altercation between two women, typically involving scratching, slapping, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding as opposed to punching or wrestling (although this isn't always the case). However, the term is not exclusively used to indicate a fight between women, and many formal definitions do not invoke gender. Instead, it refers to any "vociferous fight." It can also be used to describe two human females insulting each other verbally or being otherwise nasty to each other. The many ways that women compare themselves to other women and compete with each other are also referred to as catfighting (or cattiness). Catfights are different from other kinds of fights involving women because they usually involve competition between two or more women, usually over men. Catfight is a term also used on occasion to describe a political campaign between two women candidates.
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text:
In a stern address at the 2023 Conference of Judges of the Federal High Court, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, emphasized the critical need for judges to maintain the integrity of the judiciary and avoid actions that could tarnish its image.
Speaking at the event held at the Court's headquarters in Abuja, Justice Ariwoola urged judges to be cautious and mindful of their responsibility to uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
He specifically cautioned against actions that could bring disrepute to the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of adhering to laws and rules in the execution of their duties.
The Chief Justice stressed the significance of impartiality in delivering judgments and rulings, emphasizing that judges should refrain from attempting to influence any party, regardless of their status or influence.
He said, "Go the extra mile to justify your appointments and do not create loopholes that could tarnish the image and reputation of the Court.
"Do not attempt to convince anybody, no matter how highly placed, but always consult laws and rules before writing your judgments and rulings.
"Always write judgments that the Court of Appeal will have no option but to affirm. Being a judge is not child's play, particularly in your court, where you don't sit on a panel. You sit all alone.
"Go the extra mile to justify the appointments and do not create loopholes that could tarnish the image and reputation of the court."


What's So Friggin' Funny?
Sometimes called the reptilian brain because its basic structure dates back to our reptile ancestors, the brain stem is largely devoted to our most primal instincts, far removed from the complex, higher-brain skills that allow us to understand humor. And yet somehow, in this primitive region, we find the urge to laugh. —Steven Johnson —What's So Friggin' Funny? (Discover)


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Open creo element and make a new file for solid part. In main window select the front plane and click at sketch icon so we can sketch our desire shape for this tutorial
In sketching window select "center rectangle tool", to make a symmetric rectangle, and draw a rectangle with 300×200 dimension as shown in fig. after this just click at green ok button.
When you return to main window from sketching window select the extrude tool and make solid protrusion up to 30 unit depth and press ok button.Now select the surface of solid rectangle and click at sketch icon.
In sketching window make small circle with dimension and placement as shown in fig and press ok so you can return to main window.
Now use extrude feature to make through hole in it (use extrude solid cut). After making the hole select the hole and click at pattern tool icon.In pattern menu select the curve option.
The creo will ask you to select or define a curve for pattern. So click at reference tab and click at define button.
A dialog box will open. Now you can either select the surface of solid rectangle or you can use "use previous" option. after selecting any option click at sketch button in that dialog box. this will lead you in sketching window.
IN sketching window use spline tool and make a sketch as shown in fig. you can even draw a curve of your choice. Draw the curve and click ok.
After clicking ok in sketching window you will see some black dots following the curve you just draw. This is showing the pattern of hole that we want to make.
At dashboard and in the pattern feature menu you will have two options to control your pattern. Either you can specify the distance between two consecutive black dots or you can specify the total number of hole that should be generated.
i specify the total numbers to 10 and click ok button. This will generate our desired pattern.


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The multivariate calibration methods can be applied to any analytical technique and the ease at which multiparameter signals such as the absorbance at several wavelengths can be obtained in practice has facilitated its preferential expansion among spectroscopic techniques. Multivariate calibration methods offer the reliability for the results of unknown samples. With multivariate calibration, provided that a large number of variables are used for the analytical signal, examining the residuals can expose whether a given sample is " different " from those used for calibration and the result that it provides is thus unreliable. Some slight deviations from linearity can be modeled with multivariate calibration methods at the expense of an increased complexity, such as by using principal component regression (PCR) or partial least squares regression (PLSR) with additional principal components. Complex nonlinear systems can be resolved by using nonlinear calibration methods including some PCR and PLSR variants, or intrinsically nonlinear methods such as artificial neural networks (ANNs). The primary purpose of using a regression technique is constructing models allowing the value of the dependent variable, Y, which is usually a concentration, to be predicted from experimental data (absorbance in our case) represented by the independent variable, X. When multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis is used to construct a predictive model based on signals from a multianalyzer such as wavelengths, as inputs and a property of interest such as the concentration of a component, as output, the method is referred to as inverse linear regression. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
|Title of host publication||Infrared Spectroscopy for Food Quality Analysis and Control|
|Place of Publication||Dublín (IE)|
|Number of pages||31|
|Publication status||Published - 1 Dec 2009|


text:
Climate change models predict more frequent and more intense extreme weather events (EWE) for Europe in future decades. Great attention has been devoted to the health effects of high temperatures while the impact of other extreme weather events have been less investigated.
The recently concluded PHASE project, co-funded by the EU Commission Executive Agency for Health and Consumers (CHAFEA), provides a framework of tools for the preparedness and response to heat waves, cold, flooding, wildfires and synergies between EWE and air pollution events in order to reduce their impacts on health. A key feature of the PHASE project is the focus on public health. Tools provided within PHASE aim to improve prevention efforts and identify subgroups vulnerable to EWE in order to target prevention activities and optimize resources. The project includes public health institutions, research centers and universities from Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Main findings from PHASE include:
- A temporal variation in the effect of heat was observed in 9 EU cities (Athens, Barcelona, Budapest, Helsinki, Paris, London, Rome, Stockholm, Valencia) with a reduction in Mediterranean cities (adaptation) and an increase in Scandinavian cities (higher exposure) in recent years. Cold remains a relevant problem in all countries, with an increase in the impact in warmer areas which are not prepared. Cold prevention plans should include informative campaigns to raise awareness of risk, identification of at risk subgroups of people to actively monitor during winter and specific measures in energy and housing sector to address the indoor heating issue in winter. Susceptible subgroups may change over time and these need to be monitored to identify changes and account for emerging new at risk groups to whom prevention should be specifically addressed.
- The synergistic effect of heat and high pollutant concentrations (ozone and PM10) was observed with a significant effect on health. It is important to develop integrated heat and air pollution warning systems and prevention measures should be activated especially during heat wave days with high levels of air pollution.
- Wildfire smoke is more toxic than anthropogenic particulate matter. The synergy between the occurrence of forest fires and high PM concentrations has an effect on total, CVD and respiratory mortality.
- The health effects of flooding are extensive and occur before, during and after a flood episode. Flooding impacts are both acute as well as medium and long-term. Surveillance indicators to monitor and assess the impact of flooding on health, and a health register protocol to improve preparedness and response to flooding were defined. Adequate planning and a multi-agency approach is required to effectively minimize the health effects.
- Susceptible subgroups include: elderly, people with low socio-economic status, living in proximity to high risk areas, people suffering from chronic disease associated to each specific EWE. Children and pregnant women (risk of preterm delivery) were identified as being at greater risk to heat and air pollution.
PHASE provides a prevention framework of tools that provide knowledge on health risks associated to EWEs, and identify subgroups vulnerable to EWE in order to target public health actions and improve prevention efforts (_URL_ The uptake of this common approach will help maximize resources, improve adaptation and reduce the impact on health.
More information about PHASE can be found at _URL_.
About the Authors: Francesca de'Donato, PHASE Coordinating Team, Paola Michelozzi PHASE Coordinator and Head of Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service ASL RME, Rome, Italy.


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Rebecca School's Comic Book Club consists of students of all ages who are interested & passionate about comic books and other related, fun topics and hobbies. Video games, Japanese animation, Cartoons, and Science Fiction are all topics of discussion at our weekly meetings. We have been meeting once a week for the last 4 years. Over the years we have had the opportunity to participate in group experiences. These experiences have included both field trips to comic book related events as well as welcoming guests from the comic book and cartoon industries.
The comic book club works weekly on a group mural. The theme of the mural is different every year. Past themes have included an all Heroes mural and an all Villains mural. The theme of the 2014-2015 mural is Heroes vs Villains.
The group provides a unique opportunity for students from various classes to come together in a group and share their passion for all things comic book related. The group projects allow the students involved to work on various things. By putting all aspects of the construction of the mural to a vote the students are working on accepting other people's ideas and opinions. The murals being constructed on one large piece of paper also allows the students to be working on sharing space with others.
National Batman Day
Avengers Exhibit at Discovery Center in Times Square


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Propiconazole (Tilt®) was applied to Florunner peanut by injection into irrigation water (chemigation) or as a foliar spray. At rates of 0.12-0.25 kg/ha of propiconazole control of both Rhizoctonia limb rot (Rhizoctonia solani AG-4) and stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii) was inconsistent. Chemigation resulted in the lowest incidence of stem rot, but the incidence of stem rot was only 26% less than the control. Yields from plots receiving chemigation were greater than expected based on disease ratings, indicating that some effects of the fungicide were not being evaluated. Where foliar sprays of chlorothalonil were applied for late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personatum), supplemental applications of propiconazole via chemigation improved leaf spot control. However, substituting chemigated propiconazole for foliar sprays of chlorothalonil consistently resulted in more severe leaf spot and, in one year, decreased yields. Propiconazole is most effective against leaf spot when applied as a foliar spray, whereas chemigation applications provide optimum efficacy against soilborne pathogens of peanut.
Full Article Available as PDF only - Use Download Feature
Keywords: Propiconazole, Chemigation, stem rot, chemical control, limb rot, early leaf spot, late leaf spot
How to Cite:
Brenneman, T. & Sumner, H. & Chandler, L. & Hammond, J. & Culbreath, A., (1994) "Effect of Application Techniques on Performance of Propiconazole for Peanut Disease Control", Peanut Science 21(2), p.134-138. doi: _URL_


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Tramadol and Pregnancy
In studies on tramadol (Ultram) and pregnancy, a number of problems occurred when the drug was given to pregnant animals. Problems seen in animal studies included decreased fetal weight, skeletal problems, and miscarriages, among others. If you become pregnant while taking tramadol, your healthcare provider will weigh the benefits and potential risks before making a recommendation.
Is Tramadol Safe During Pregnancy?
Tramadol hydrochloride (Ultram®) is a prescription pain medication. Based on animal studies (and limited human use), the drug may not be safe for use during pregnancy.

Tramadol and Pregnancy Category C
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses a system to classify the possible risks to a fetus when a specific medicine is taken during pregnancy. Pregnancy Category C is given to medicines that have not been adequately studied in pregnant humans but that do appear to cause harm to the fetus in animal studies. Also, medicines that have not been studied in any pregnant women or animals are automatically given a pregnancy Category C rating.

When given to pregnant mice, rats, and rabbits, tramadol caused the following problems:

 - Decreased fetal weight
 - Skeletal problems, such as extra ribs
 - Delayed development in the offspring
 - Miscarriages (but only at doses high enough to be toxic to the pregnant animals themselves).

Tramadol has been studied as a medication used to control labor pain, compared to morphine or meperidine (Demerol®). Some studies showed that tramadol was safer for the babies (less likely to cause breathing problems), but other studies showed no differences between the medications. Tramadol is not approved for this use.

This medication crosses the placenta in humans. There have been reports of problems possibly due to tramadol use during pregnancy in humans, including miscarriages and stillbirths. Also, chronic use of the drug during pregnancy can result in tramadol withdrawal in the newborn, including symptoms such as:

However, pregnancy Category C medicines such as tramadol may be given to a pregnant woman if her healthcare provider believes that the benefits to the woman outweigh any possible risks to the unborn child.

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Still talking to Cortana? Microsoft gives you more control over how your voice recordings are used
Microsoft still wants to re-use your voice clips, but will now ask for permission first.
Alexa: The good, the bad, and the creepy
Users of Microsoft's voice-enabled services such as Cortana will now be able to decide whether or not the audio recordings of their interactions can be used by the company to improve its speech recognition algorithms.
By default, customers' voice clips will not be contributed for review, said Microsoft in a new blog post; instead, users will be required to actively opt in to allow the company to store and access their audio recordings.
Customers who have chosen to remain opted out will still be able to use all of Microsoft's voice-enabled products and services, confirmed the company. Their audio recordings won't be stored, but Microsoft will still have access to some information associated with voice activity, such as the transcriptions automatically generated during user interactions with speech recognition AI.
If and once they have opted in, however, users' voice data might be listened to by Microsoft employees and contractors as part of a process to refine the AI systems used to power speech recognition technology.
According to Neeta Saran, a senior attorney at Microsoft, the announcement reflects an effort to increase users' control over their privacy, and to make sure that "meaningful consent" has effectively been granted by the customer before their voice data is shared and used by the company. "This new meaningful consent release is about making sure that we're transparent with users about how we are using this audio data to improve our speech recognition technology," said Saran.
The voice clips that will be contributed by users who have opted in will be de-identified as they are stored, said Microsoft. Microsoft identifiers, as well as any strings of letters or numbers that can be telephone numbers, social security numbers or email addresses will be removed, to make sure that the data cannot be tied back to an individual. Any voice clip that is found to contain personal information will be deleted.
The process is part of a program already tried and tested. When users interact with voice-enabled technology, such as dictating a text message or requesting a web search, Microsoft's algorithms automatically translate speech into words – and improving the accuracy of that translation is an on-going challenge for the company's researchers. One way to do so is to train the AI system with more real-world data, to refine the technology's ability to make out words spoken in a variety of different contexts.
This is why Microsoft, along with most big tech players that offer voice-enabled products and services, is interested in re-using the recordings of customers' voice interactions with their devices. Audio clips can be stored and listened to by employees who manually transcribe what they hear, to improve the scope and accuracy of the database that is then used to train speech recognition algorithms.
The objective is to make sure that the technology understands voice requests in many different languages, and regional accents and dialects even with background noise. "The more diverse ground truth data that we are able to collect and use to update our speech models, the better and more inclusive our speech recognition technology is going to be for our users across many languages," said Saran.
Without the appropriate privacy safeguards, it is easy to see why listening into real-world conversations can be seriously intrusive. Examples abound of private voice clips that mistakenly ended up in the hands – or rather, ears – of technology companies without the knowledge or consent of customers.
In 2019, for example, Apple had to suspend a program similar to Microsoft's, in which contractors listened to recordings of Siri users' queries to improve the voice assistant's performance, after it emerged that the workers regularly heard voice clips containing highly sensitive information ranging from health data to sexual encounters and discussions with doctors.
In the same year, Google found itself in hot waters when it was reported that the company's employees were "systematically" listening to audio files recorded after users activated the Assistant by saying "Okay Google" or "Hey Google". News of privacy-invading eavesdropping also came that year from Amazon's Alexa-enabled smart speakers
Since then, Apple switched to an opt-in feature that, like Microsoft, allows users to choose whether they would like their audio recordings to be used for review. The Cupertino giant also announced that customers' voice clips would only be listened to by Apple employees, rather than contractors. Google followed suit, with a new Assistant privacy policy that make it default for the voice assistant not to retain recordings of requests
Microsoft, for its part, stopped logging any voice data for product improvements across all of its services at the end of October 2020. The option to allow the company to use voice recordings will now roll out gradually on a product-by-product basis, but the company has already confirmed that Microsoft Translator, SwiftKey, Windows, Cortana, HoloLens, Mixed Reality and Skype voice translation will be included.
Users who choose to let the company listen to their voice recordings will see all of their audio data contributed for review for up to two years, and stored in an encrypted server. If during this time, a voice clip is sampled for transcription, the recording may be retained for a longer period, "to continue training and improving the quality of speech recognition AI," said Microsoft.


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A Raisin in the Sun
by Lorraine Hansberry
Page 1 of 5
The certainty that the ideals of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" can become reality for anyone willing to work for them is what we call the American dream. For many, the dream does come true. For many it does not.
Lorraine Hansberry knew about disappointment, false hope, and despair. For many of her African-American ancestors who had come North for a better life only to find exploitation and frustration, the dream had become a nightmare. In contemporary terms, she chronicles their nightmare in A Raisin in the Sun, an epic story of the Younger family struggling to realize the dream by escaping ghetto life. Hansberry's screenplay not only tells the story of the Youngers but reveals the plight of all who have failed dreams.
Her cosmic vision gives Raisin its power. For high school juniors who often study U.S. history concurrently with American literature, this previously unpublished version of the screenplay allows students to read an engrossing American play, while they experience a culture that either mirrors their own lives or provides a window into a world of people who are more similar to them than they are different from them.
Raisin is an excellent choice for literature, drama, history, and film classes. There is plenty of action, salty dialogue, and a cast of dynamic characters to captivate even the most "video-ed out" teenager. Rebellion against parents and frustration with a lifestyle that brings little gratification are conditions most young people endure. However, beneath the cynical veneer of the adolescent beats the heart of an idealist who wants to believe in dreams that do come true. Through Hansberry's careful craftsmanship, the universal themes of the importance of dreams and the frustration of dreams deferred, the strength of family, the importance of not selling out, the problems of conflicting expectations, the belief that love and trust will win over deceit and selfishness, and the dangers of prejudice and stereotyping are as powerful today as they were nearly four decades ago when she wrote the play. Today's students, often from fractured families, need as much exposure as possible to values taught within a traditional family unit, and Raisin delivers without preaching.
Another reason for using Raisin is its historical value. The play is a provocative reflection of racial attitudes of the 1950s and of today. Prejudice assumes many forms, and Hansberry's characters and the screenplay's visuals bring this theme to life in a way no textbook could.
This teacher's guide contains an annotated list of characters, a brief synopsis of the screenplay, and teaching suggestions to be used before, during, and after reading the play. There are activities, discussion questions, and topics for writing assignments. All suggestions are applicable for students of average academic ability. Those recommended for the advanced student are denoted with an asterisk (*).OVERVIEW
matriarch; proud; strong-willed; deeply religious; believes in the strength of family
Walter Lee Younger Jr:
ambitious; loves his family; longs to prove his manhood by owning his own business
as ambitious as her brother, with plans to be a doctor; needs to express herself, as her varying hobbies indicate; interested in her African roots
loving and faithful wife and mother; wants what's best for her family; her dream is to move into a place with more space and sunlight
his family's pride and hope for the future; typically energetic ten-year-old
fellow student; loves Beneatha; a "modern" African, committed to preserving the cultural heritage of his Nigerian people
modern African-American who believes that success lies in imitating whites; scorned by Walter Lee, who considers him a phony
Synopsis of the Screenplay
The screenplay is presented as a continuous unit of action rather than divided into dramatic acts. Punctuated only by Hansberry's clear instructions for camera shots and angles and her precise notes for the actors, it reads with the sweeping motion of a film. The camera is in many ways the film's most important voice. Through Hansberry's camera instructions, readers learn more about her characters than from their words alone.
The opening scene, Hansberry tells us, is a pan shot of Chicago's South Side during the 1950s (although it could as well be the 1990s). Exterior and interior images show that we are in a ghetto, and this is how people live here. More importantly, this is a ghetto of African-Americans who have few choices in a white society. Over the panning shots is superimposed Langston Hughes' poem "Dream Deferred," providing the inspiration for the title: "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?"
The next series of shots introduces the family whose dreams provide the basis for the play. Lena Younger, the family matriarch, is expecting a $10,000 life insurance check from the estate of her late husband, Walter Lee. With it, she is planning to retire from her maid's job for a white family. Her son, Walter Lee, Junior, wants to use the money to buy a liquor store. His wife, Ruth, also a domestic in a white household, hopes to move to a larger apartment. Beneatha, Lena's daughter, dreams of going to medical school.
When the check arrives, the tensions within the family build. Walter Lee feels he is entitled to it as the rightful head of the family. Ruth and Beneatha counter that it is Lena's money, and she should decide how it is to be spent. Because Lena realizes that the family's survival depends on their escape from the apartment, she makes a down payment on a "nice house" in Clybourne Park, an all-white residential neighborhood, without consulting anyone. The family's reactions range from Walter Lee's disbelief and disappointment, to Ruth's joy.
The plans for the move exacerbate the tensions. Feeling his manhood threatened by his mother's authority, Walter escapes to bars. When he does not return home for several days, Lena finally acknowledges his desperate need and finds him in his favorite lounge. Opening her purse, she entrusts him with the rest of the money, part of which is to be used for Beneatha's tuition, the rest for his liquor store.
The residents of all-white Clybourne Park have learned of their new neighbors and send an emissary to meet with the Youngers to explain the "rules." Mr. Lindner, the representative, carefully disguises his racist attitudes beneath neutral terms ("not rich and fancy people; just hardworking, honest people who don't really have much but those little homes and a dream of the kind of community they want to raise their children in" 164). Beneatha immediately realizes he is proposing to buy them out ("Thirty pieces and not a coin less," 165). He makes the Youngers a generous offer that Walter Lee refuses. His family has a right to a new life, and they will move to Clybourne Park.
The tension reaches a climax on moving day, when Walter Lee receives the worst possible news: Lena's money never made it to the bank. He had given it to Willy Harris, a "trusted" business partner. However, Willy took the money and ran, leaving no forwarding address.
Overwhelmed, the family members react in different ways. Beneatha is furious and totally repudiates her relationship with Walter. Lena starts to unpack, saying they can no longer move. Ruth refuses to give, in believing that with hard work they can make the house payments. In a desperate act to set matters right, Walter Lee sends for Mr. Lindner, whose offer could replace the money he has given away. No one supports his decision, feeling contempt for his willingness to sell their dreams so cheaply. In the final scenes, Walter Lee has an epiphany, recognizing not only who he is, but, his place within his family and race. As he starts to tell Mr. Lindner they will accept the offer, he hears what he is about to say and, instead, refuses it. The moving men are told to continue, and the family departs for what everyone hopes will be a new and better life.
A Brief Biography of the Author
Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on May 19, 1930, and died of cancer at the age of 34. A Raisin in the Sun, her first play, was also the first Broadway production written by an African-American woman and the first by an African-American to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award (1959). It was subsequently made into a film (1961), for which this screenplay was written by Hansberry but only partially used by David Susskind, the film's director and producer, a musical (1973), and a PBS television production for American Playhouse (1989). Although deeply committed to the African-American human rights struggle, Hansberry was not a militant writer. Her only other completed play is The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (1964). Another drama, Les Blancs (1970) was adapted after her death by her husband and Broadway producer Robert Nemiroff. He also compiled her writings in To be Young, Gifted and Black: Lorraine Hansberry in Her Own Words (1969), also presented as an off-Broadway drama in 1969.


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It is likely that your business will be obligated under the Act if it fulfils the following four conditions:
- It is a commercial organisation
- It has a global turnover of over £36mn
- It carries on a business, or part of a business, in any part of the United Kingdom;
- It supplies goods or services.
Voluntary compliance: the guidance encourages organisations with turnovers less than the threshold of £36m also to produce a Transparency Statement. Businesses are also encouraged to be transparent about recruitment practices, their anti-slavery policies and are enjoined to take steps proportionate to their business sector, their size and their operational reach.
Is your organisation compliant with Modern Slavery Statement and contain the steps an organisation has taken to prevent modern slavery in its supply chains and own business? Are your policies and procedures updated? Have the relevant staff members received training?
- Understand the different forms of Modern Day Slavery
- Understand the Government Strategy and legal framework for Modern Day Slavery Act 2015
- Learn how & why victims become involved in slavery
- Explore where victims could be located & identify the signs/risk indicators of how victims may present
- Gain the tools for assessing and managing risk / preparing Modern Slavery Statement / Responding to an incident of modern slavery
- Understand the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)
What's in it for you?
All IOSH CPD courses will count toward CPD compliance. Reflective statement forms are provided in order for key messages and learnings to be documented and recorded.
Who should attend?
Those interested in CPD aimed at Core Skills.
What you need to know
Pre-requisites – None


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Some people love to learn in a "Linear Fashion" and here at OneClick Training, we are all about that. Since 2013, publishing individual Clickteam Fusion 2.5 courses for people to learn how to create particular games or applications using a linear approach sets the precedent for learning in 2019.
Learn from A to Z
Whilst the ClickFusion Academy provides a ton of tutorials, resources, examples and downloads for Clickteam Fusion 2.5, OneClick Training provide Step A to Step Z courses for particular game types and/or applications.
The Clickteam Fusion 2.5 courses here at OCT are designed with one goal in mind; to allow people to learn how to a) Approach b) Design and c) Develop.
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The Effect of Calf Stiffness on Gait, Foot Pressure and Balance in Adults
J Kor Phys Ther 2019;31(6):346-350
Published online December 30, 2019; _URL_
© 2019 The Korean Society of Physical Therapy.
JeonHyeong Lee1, JongSung Chang2
1Department of Physical Therapy, Daegu Health College, Daegu; 2Department of Physical Therapy, Yeungnam University College, Daegu, Korea
JongSung Chang E-mail _EMAIL_
Received November 4, 2019; Revised December 4, 2019; Accepted December 5, 2019.
This is an Open Access article distribute under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial License (_URL_ which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution,and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of calf tightness on gait, plantar pressure, and balance in adults.
Methods
A total of 60 participants were divided into a normal group of 30 subjects with normal dorsiflexion angle (20-25 degrees) and an experimental group of 30 subjects with limited dorsiflexion angle (0-15 degrees) due to calf tightness. Gait ability and foot pressure of the subjects was measured with a treadmill, and the balance ability was measured by PROKIN system.
Results
A significant difference in COP length, loading response, and single limb support was observed between groups. The COP length and single limb support ratio in the normal group was greater than in the experimental group, but the experimental group showed a higher ratio for loading response in the gait ratio.
Conclusion
Our results indicated that calf tightness was negative effects on balance and gait ability, so assessment of the muscle tight¬ness should be considered during exercise and treatment.
Keywords : Balance, Calf stiffness, Gait, Treadmill
INTRODUCTION
At the time of sudden postural perturbation, normal adults are able to recover postural stability through appropriate postural strategies using appropriate agonists and antagonists.1,2 Postural stability refers to an ability to maintain and control the center of mass within the area in contact with the base of support.1-3 This postural stability is divided into static balance and dynamic balance, and for its normal control, efficient integration of sensory, motor, and central nerve systems is required.3 It is also affected by the environment, task demands, strength, and the range of motion.2
Muscle tightness is a typical component of the motor system that affects gait or balance, where the muscle's ability to contract and relax decreases, causing narrower ranges of motion for the acting joint than normal and the muscle length is shortened, limiting movement in the direction of extension.3,4 In addition, muscle tightness primarily occurs in people who failed to receive adequate rehabilitation from sustained muscle injuries or who lack physical activity. Muscle tightness makes muscles and tendons more susceptible to injuries and limits the movement of the joint where the muscle is involved, causing functional problems. Muscle tightness in the legs, in particular, is frequently observed in the hamstring and the calf consisting of muscles that pass more than two joints, as a result, it negatively affects gait and balance and is also accompanied by proprioceptive sensory problems.3,4
Reduced range of motion of the ankle for dorsiflexion due to calf tightness leads to difficulties in maintaining the center of mass in the weight-bearing posture, and such limited dorsiflexion induces a compensatory movement in the ankle, resulting in leg deformation.3-5 In addition, calf tightness can make it difficult for the heel to push the ground properly during walking, running, jumping, or climbing stairs. Problems in performing an ankle strategy may also occur when small body disturbance occurs.3
Recently, many studies reported that reduced ankle range of motion affects physical activities and walking, and various clinical features such as increased risk of falls,6 decreased walking speeds,7 and heel rise in the early stance phase.8 In addition, various stretching exercises were proposed as an intervention for reduced ankle range of motion. Although there are various studies on the therapeutic intervention and clinical conditions of calf muscle shortening,9-12 studies on detailed clinical aspects such as gait stage, movements of foot pressure, and anterior-posterior and left-right balance are insufficient. And the detailed results of clinical features are effective in selecting more efficient and effective interventions. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of calf tightness on gait, plantar pressure, and balance in adults.
METHODS
1. Subjects
The subjects of this study were selected from students attending D University located in D city and those with no specific disease in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems and those with no pain in the leg were selected. A total of 60 participants selected were divided into a normal group of 30 subjects with angles of joint motion that did not limit dorsiflexion (20~25 degree) and an experimental group of 30 subjects with angles of joint motion that limited dorsiflexion (0~15 degree) due to calf tightness, and then they underwent the experiment. Because Elveru et al.13 defined calf muscle shortening as passive ankle range of motion less than 10 degree, and Novacheck14 suggested that the range of motion of dorsiflexion for normal gait should be maintained at about 20 degree, we classified the calf muscle tightness from 0 to 15 degree. They were given a sufficient explanation on the purposes of this study and gave informed consent prior to investigations in this study.
2. Experimental methods
(1) Range of motion
A goniometer that measures the angle of movement of each joint in the human body was used to determine whether the subject's dorsiflexion was limited or not. The subject was seated on the bed with their leg being extended without touching the ground and was instructed to relax their ankle joint and to maintain a 90degree neutral position. Next, while the axis was placed on the outer malleolus and the stationary arm was placed on the fibular, the moving arm was placed in the side line of the sole of the foot relative to the fifth toe.15 In this state, the subject performed dorsiflexion, during which the corresponding values were measured. Then, the data obtained were sorted by normal and experimental groups.
(2) gait capacity
Zebris FDM-T treadmill (Zebris Medical GmbH, Germany) (Figure 1) was used to measure the gait capacity of the subject. This machine was equipped with a mat installed with a pressure sensor, which was attached underneath the treadmill belt and could control speed from 0.2 to 22 km/h.16 The input signal was converted to spatiotemporal values during walking and then was displayed as a graph, high reliability has been shown at double stance (0.85), step width (0.96), stride length (0.93), gait velocity (0.87), and stride time (0.87).17
Fig. 1.
Zebris FDM-T treadmill.
Before the measurement, the subject was instructed to determine the speed at which they could walk most comfortably on the treadmill. After warming up for about 1 minute, the subject walked on the treadmill for 30 seconds with their eyes looking straight ahead, during which the measurement was taken. While the measurement was taken, the subject wore a safety clip device that can automatically stop the machine when they fall around their waist for the safety of the subject. To evaluate the gait capacity data, stride length, step width, COP length, stride time, cadence, and gait rate were analyzed and compared between groups.
(3) balance capacity
The PROKIN System (Prokin PK 200 WL, Italy) (Figure 2) was used to measure the subject's dynamic balance capacity. This instrument provides an assessment of the proprioceptive sensation associated with the balance capacity through the sensors installed on the foot plate while the subject stands on it.18
Fig. 2.
FROKIN System.
The subject was instructed to place their feet on the measuring instrument equipped with sensors in a standing position, to look straight ahead at the target line, and to maintain the posture not to fall for 10 seconds. The balance measurement was taken three times for 10 seconds each time and the average value was used for analysis. To evaluate the data obtained from the measurement, the anterior-posterior and medio-lateral movement angles, motion speed, and perimeter length were compared between groups.
3. Statistics
The collected data was means and standard deviations by descriptive statistics using SPSS 18.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago) for windows. An independent t-test was performed to compare the changes in gait, plantar pressure, and balance capacity values between groups after confirming normality with the Shapiro-Wilks test. The statistical significance was accepted for p-values of less than 0.05.
RESULTS
1. General characteristics
A total of 60 subjects were enrolled either an experimental group (15 men and 15 women) or a control group (15 men and 15 women). Table 1 display the gender, age, height, and weight of the groups. The results of the group analysis show that there were no significantly differences between two groups in height and weight (p>0.05).
General characteristics of subjects (n=60)
Normal groupExperimental grouptp
Gender (Male/Female)15/1515/15
Age (years)22.77±2.5621.50±1.812.210


Wednesday | July 22, 2020
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R–S.C.) and Mark Warner (D–Va.) introduced the Long-Term Care (LTC) Pharmacy Definition Act of 2020. This bipartisan legislation, if passed, will ensure seniors requiring long-term care have access to the medication and treatments they need. This bill would also codify an adaptable definition for "long-term care pharmacy" to enhance clarity and consistency across diverse programs and agencies. Without adding new costs to the healthcare system, a clear federal definition for LTC pharmacy would provide policymakers and regulators with the tools needed to facilitate the unique supports that these pharmacies offer, within both current models and the innovative models of the future.
"This commonsense legislation would ensure clarity and consistency for our long-term care pharmacies without adding costs to our healthcare system," shared Senator Scott. "I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, which will make it easier for this important sector to navigate regulatory confusion and allow them to care and provide for our nation's seniors."
"Long-term care pharmacies are essential to providing quality care to millions of our nation's seniors. Unfortunately, under existing rules, they are regulated in the same way as more traditional retail pharmacies, which has created unnecessary bureaucracy around providing life-saving medication and services for a vulnerable population," said Senator Warner. "That's why we're introducing legislation that will create a distinct definition for long-term care pharmacies to better reflect the specialized care they provide for the senior population they serve."
"Long Term Care Pharmacies provide critical services for seniors, who often require multiple prescriptions to maintain their health. Because there is no statuary definition for LTC Pharmacies, they must negotiate a patchwork of vague, inconsistent provisions, which could disrupt services and impact care for seniors. This commonsense legislation will help agencies give more consistent regulatory direction as well as streamline services to residents," said Rep. Mullin.
"The personal services that long term care pharmacies provide seniors, many who take upwards of 10 medications per day, are critical for the health and wellness of millions of Americans," said Rep. Schrader. "COVID-19 has had a disproportionate effect on this vulnerable population and now more than ever a consistent regulatory framework that defines long term care pharmacies is crucial. This bipartisan legislation will offer greater governmental oversight and create regulatory consistency across multiple federal agencies."
"Now more than ever, as the nation's LTC community copes with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, establishing a clear and consistent regulatory framework for LTC pharmacies is essential," said Alan G. Rosenbloom, President and CEO of the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition. "We commend Senators Scott and Warner as well as Congressmen Schrader and Mullin for recognizing the unique value proposition LTC pharmacies offer seniors in nursing homes and other LTC facilities by introducing this much-needed legislation. The patient care services LTC pharmacies provide, including the 12 prescriptions per day per person on average, are crucial to the health and safety of our most vulnerable citizens."
Congressmen Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Kurt Schrader (R-OR) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
Related Issues:


Dispute Over an Expense Reimbursement Contract? Five Factors to Consider
Are you a Wisconsinbased employee with a dispute (or potential dispute) with an employer about an expense reimbursement contract? If so, before you take action or communicate with the employer about the dispute, below are five factors to consider.
1. Review the contract's terms, including terms about timing and key dates, before taking action.
Many expense – reimbursement contracts have terms that specify important dates and/or time periods. For example, a contract may say that if the employee resigns within one year of his employment start date, then he must reimburse the employer 100% of the expenses it paid relating to the employee's hire, travel and relocation. Or a contract may say if the employee resigns during a given time frame (e.g. at a time between Jan. 1 and Jun. 30, 2019), then he must reimburse 50% of the employer's expenses, or if he resigns during a later time frame (e.g. between Jul. 1 and Dec. 31, 2019), he must reimburse 25%.
Sometimes, the terms are not clearly defined or ambiguous on their face. For example, a reimbursement contract may say the employee has a reimbursement obligation if he resigns "before a one-year period", but may not specifically define the date that "one year" has ended. Such ambiguous terms can raise doubts when, exactly, the one year period begins and ends. Is it one year after the date the last party signed the contract? One year after the date the employee accepted the job offer? One year after the date the employee first started employment at the employer's building?
An employee with a reimbursement contract should review and understand the contract's terms– including its terms about important dates and timing– before he takes action, e.g. before he gives notice of resignation on a given date. A close review of the contract, including terms about key dates and timing, can help the employee be aware of important timing considerations and perhaps avoid a very costly mistake. For example, it may help him avoid giving notice of resignation to occur a day before a date when reimbursement obligations would have vanished under the contract had he stayed employed just a day longer.
2. Know that some contracts and/or their reimbursement terms are invalid under Wisconsin law; don't assume the employer's legal interpretation is correct.
Employers act as if the reimbursement contracts they drafted– and their interpretations of their contracts– are unquestionably valid under the law. But in reality, some reimbursement contracts are invalid under Wisconsin law standards.
Only a Court can determine if a given contract is valid or invalid. However, an employee can have a lawyer assess the likelihood or odds a given contract would be found invalid by a Court, via the lawyer reviewing that contract and comparing it to applicable legal standards, etc.
If an employee's lawyer reviewed a reimbursement contract and saw legal problems with it and felt a Court would likely consider it invalid, the lawyer's opinion to this effect could be conveyed to the employer, and could cause the employer to reduce or withdraw its demand for the employee's expense-reimbursement payment.
It is common in my experience to see problems in the language of an expense – reimbursement contract that present risk to the employer that the contract could (if a legal action arose) be determined by a Court to be invalid. There are some legal issues that, if present in a given contract, could cause a Court to decide the whole contract is invalid. In other instances, there are problems with a contract that are likely to cause a Court to decide only a portion of its terms, or only a portion of money (less than what the employer demands) are legally-valid or owed.
If you have a reimbursement contract with one or more of the following attributes, it may be legally-vulnerable for the employer, and you should consider having an employee rights lawyer assess it further:
 - If the contract was drafted by the employer and has vague or ambiguous terms the employer is now interpreting in its favor, to your financial detriment.
 - If the contract defines types of expenses or time frames, etc., and the employer is seeking reimbursement of types of expenses that are not of the type the contract defines, or were not incurred during defined contractual time frames, etc.
 - If the contract has terms that say the employer may dock your wages (paychecks) for reimbursement money the employer decides you owe.
3. Request proof from the employer for the expenses at issue; make sure they're legitimate expenses and of a type reimbursable under the contract.
A reimbursement contract may specifically state the employee has a right to request the employer give her proof of the expenses at issue, so she can verify they were in fact paid and in fact were proper for the employer to have paid for her hire and relocation, etc.
Such proof can include an itemization of expenses that specifies exact expenses' dates and amounts of payment, to whom they were paid, for what purpose, etc. Proof can also include receipts or bank entries from the employer, or other documents that prove and/or describe how various expense payments were made for given purposes, etc.
Whether or not your contract says you can request the employer provide you such proof of the expenses' legitimacy, it is a good idea for you to make such a request.
If an employer provides you an itemization or other proof of expenses, you should carefully review that documentation, to make sure the described expenses appear legitimate and appropriate. As an initial matter, you may discover that there are erroneous entries or amounts stated for given expenses, and find the employer has overstated the value of expenses it is asking you to reimburse.
You should also compare those documented expenses (as described in the documentation) to the terms and descriptions in your reimbursement contract. Are those expenses, for which the employer demands reimbursement, actually of the type and nature for which the contract requires reimbursement?
If there's any problem with the expenses' legitimacy and/or legality under the contract, it is good that you identify any such issues before communicating with the employer about potential reimbursement, and certainly before paying for reimbursement.
4. You may have legal leverage, for your reimbursement dispute, based on factors outside the reimbursement contract and/or that you may not have considered.
Above I reference some legal issues with a given reimbursement contract or its terms that, in a reimbursement demand or dispute situation, can possibly raise legal risks for an employer and/or leverage for the employee.
Aside from the content or issues in any given contract, there may be external factors or laws that provide potential leverage for the employee.
For one, an employee who is contemplating resignation and related reimbursement contract issues, may be subject to unlawful activities by his or her employer that prompted the plans for resignation in the first place. For example, the employee may be resigning because the employer failed to pay the employee a bonus or commission that was (in the employee/lawyer's view) owed under WI wage or contract laws, or because the employer harassed or discriminated against the employee in arguable violation of WI or Federal discrimination laws.
If an employer arguably violated laws with respect to the employee– and arguably owes the employee legal damages (money) due to lost wages or discriminatory acts, etc.– then those matters may serve as counter-leverage in a negotiation with an employer seeking expense-reimbursement money from the employee.
If a negotiation occurs with an employee about any legal issue, it is likely best that any and all other potential legal issues are also considered by the employee (and employee's lawyer, if applicable). That way, the employer's reimbursement demand is not discussed in a vacuum and the employee's potential legal rights and potential damages are also part of the discussion, leveraging and/or settlement agreement that may occur.
5. If you decide to get a lawyer's advice about a contract reimbursement dispute, it is best to do so before you take action or communicate with the employer.
As referenced above, an employee rights lawyer can review an expense reimbursement contract, assess the circumstances of a reimbursement request or dispute, and possibly identify deficiencies with the contract or the employer's legal position. As a threshold matter, the lawyer may tell the employee some important things not to do, e.g. not to resign before a given date (because of bad consequences per the contract's terms, etc.).
Also, the lawyer may opine that the employer's position has legal weaknesses. If that is the case– e.g. say the lawyer opines a Court would likely find the contract invalid– then that opinion could be helpful for the employee to know before communicating or trying to negotiate with an employer about an expense reimbursement demand.
The employee could retain the lawyer to do the communicating or negotiating.
Lawyers are better at conducting communications and negotiations about contracts than are employees and employers. Most employers know this and have lawyers (or promptly retain lawyers) to assist with any reimbursement-contract disputes that arise for them. Sometimes, employers' lawyers are behind the scenes and, unbeknownst to the employee they're in a dispute with, are monitoring and advising the employers' personnel about what to say or write to the employee. Employees, too often, try to tackle contract-related communications and negotiations on their own, and are thus at a disadvantage compared to the employers, who typically have attorney help accessible.
The more an employee communicates with an employer about a contract dispute– especially written or emailed communication– the more risk the employee incurs of diminishing or eliminating legal rights or options he or she may have had. For example, an employee may send off an email to the employer, about a reimbursement dispute issue, in which he inadvertently agrees to new contractual terms, or agrees to a contractual modification, that are against his interests and/or waive legal rights he'd had (to reduce or