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Of Science and Scientists; 8; The Distance to the Sun
This is the moon and sky as seen through a telescope by an observer in Boston. And here the moon in the sky as if you were in Santiago Chile would see it. Put these two views together and you have an overlapping double image. What can we find out from this image. Could it possibly be a key to finding the scale of our solar system. It is.
A stunt I must say that the sun and the night. Different distances from us. Yet here we are bound to this incapable of icing over it for more than a few. Isn't it one of the most incredible things in science. That's Thomas should have been able to find out how far away this little back was. I want to describe how astronomers have made one of their most important measurements. The distance from the earth to the sun. When astronomers talk about this distance they dignify it by using the imposing term the patter lacks. What is pattern X when you can observe it fairly easily. Going up one finger and look at something
on the other side of the room. First close one eye then the other you can see how your finger seems to shift from side to side against the background. That pattern match shift is the pattern next on your finger and in fact pattern X is the Greek word for shift alteration. The parallax of your finger then is the angle made at your finger by the two lines of sight one from your left eye and the other from your right eye. Now bring your finger to your face and repeat the I played. Notice that the sheriff is great. You could use the shift pattern next to estimate the finger is from your face. The nearer right is the lodge in the pattern X would be. With this in mind if you look at the sky. If you want to detect the pattern X of an object in the Heavens it is easier to look at one that is nearby. Let's choose the nearest
the moon. Since it is near its Now next will be relatively large and it will be easy to see and measure. Here is a model of the moon. This time you can dance to make distance by closing your eyes alternately. Our eyes are only a couple of inches apart much too close together to give any shift effect of the moon. Instead it's place to observe us as far apart as possible on opposite sides of the earth. Nearly a thousand miles apart. Here is what each observer will see. You see our observers get frankly different views from their different spots. Now look at the background of stars and the foggiest and you can see the moons shift positions against that background. Now if you can measure the size of this chip you will be able to find the moon's distance.
The first problem here is how to fix positions in the sky so you can determine the angles of the ship. Well astronomers do it in just the same way the create fixed positions on the. How to Write for instance a spot on the air. We save the thinking is that latitude 20 degrees north and longitude one hundred fifty five degrees west latitude as measured from the equator and longitude from an arbitrary fixed circle that runs through the poles. Here's a cross-section of the longitude Mokhtar rounded covering 360 degrees to the circle you can see that they are expressed as angle. Latitudes are measured the same way. Astronomers look at the starry sky as if it were a vast globe inspecting the.
They draw an equator in the sky and also an arbitrary circle that goes through imagine riskiness they measure positions on this star map from these two lines just as we do on Earth from longitude and latitude. Therefore the positions of stars and distances between stars measured at angles in the sky. Now you can see how the moon's pattern X is measured. Here we have a distance between two observers. That is the diameter of the earth. Here is the moon and here the distance between the two positions of the moon is you're so right against the stars measured as an angle. So now you can draw a triangle and find this distance from the earth's center through the moon's center. We know the length of the base of the
triangle the diameter seven to nine hundred miles. Since we know the base angles of the triangle we can draw the whole triangle and by simple trigonometry you can calculate the height of the triangle. The distance to the moon which turns out to be about two hundred and forty thousand miles. It is clear that once you can determine the parallax angle of an object in the sky you have really solved the problem of how far away it is. The moon is a fairly easy subject when we try to measure the distance to the sun. The problem is a great deal more difficult. I'll show you why. Here you see the disk of the sun. And now you can see the shift of the digits as seen from opposite sides of the earth. Notice how small it is. Even if you could see the star
background which you caught the sound of pattern X would be almost impossible to measure. So you have to use a roundabout method. Suppose I show you a map of a section of the main curves with a scale missing. Imagine you are here and want to know how far it is to this island. What could you do. The island is in accessible. You cannot go there and measure the distance but you can go here and measure this distance. All right. Suppose that distance is 10 miles then you can measure how many inches it covers on the map and you find that it is 2 inches. Then you only need to measure the inches on the map to the island say 8 inches multiplied and you find that the island is 40 miles away. Can you play a similar trick in finding the distance to the sun. Could you make a
map in the correct proportions. Even if you didn't know the scale of this map possibly you could find a distance that can be determined and so determine the scale. Well this is exactly what astronomers do. Here is a model only of the so that if we had included the whole system intuitively in much too big to handle the sun is here in the middle and the planets are going around the sun in orbit. Here is the earth in its orbit and here is modest in its orbit outside the now. I'm going to move the planets so that they have both been aligned with the sun. Now let's move the earth around until they are in line with the sun again.
Astronomers call the interval between the times when the sun and earth and planets meet again in a straight line in the sand noted period of the planet found that it comes from a Greek word which means a meeting place. Now since the earth as it were going round its orbit almost twice before it meets Mars again in other words it would take almost two years before the Earth would be in a straight line with us and the sun again. It is easy to measure this side now to carry it off mobs seven hundred and eighty eight days. But the sign on a piano it doesn't tell us how long the plan it takes to go around the sun. It don't it tells us how long it takes for the planet and sun to be again to match the orbit of mas you must observe mas from two different positions when it is at the same point in its orbit and windy days at that same point.
The sun mas and some distant star will be in the map and you can see the earth and mas the epis gone twice now won't be in the same relative positions on the two separate occasions. Here they are with that this fine lined up with stars over there. Now if you carry miles around back to the same place the earth would have gone around nearly twice and will have arrived here. So we shall see Mas against a different background the star the problem is to find when we will be at a given point in its orbit. The odd thing is that it reaches a given fine regular nay every time it makes one trip around the sun. This interval is called the side you know to appear to the planet. How do you find this period. Well let's look at it
this way the earth is Siberia PSTN is 365 days so that it goes one three hundred sixty fifth all the way around its all that in one day. Now let's call the side the audio period of my X days since this is the unknown in our equation. Mars will go over X of the orbit in one day. Now you know that the earth goes around faster than Moscow so it catches up with us by 1 over 365 minus one over X of the second in a day which we know the whole time not a period. In other words the time taken by the ethic catch up with the game. It is seven hundred and eighty days. So in one day the earth catches up to modify one seven hundred eighty of the second. Now here is your equation. Three
hundred and six. It is equal to seven hundred and eighty eight. And the answer is it equals six hundred and eighty seven. So now you know the side getting a period of the time it takes to go around the six hundred eighty seven days. Now you and I need to pick today six hundred and eighty seven days a pop and you can observe Mars and knew it to be at the same point in its orbit but now look at the model again. On the first day three choose mas and the air and make a little mock to show where the yeah. Six hundred eighty seven days later Miles has gone around once and the air has
gone around not quite twice and is here now you have two different angles. You can measure it by viewing mas against the stock from the air to position. And you can draw this triangle with Maz at the apex. We also know the angle between the two positions of the earth. We know the time the kidlet between this faith and this one. We said that you know because the earth has gone round more than once and divide a year by the interval with these layers and get this angle so we know this angle we know these two angles and we can draw all this quadrilateral. We cannot place
exactly. This is our first hit. We have determined one point in the solar system but we haven't determined the scale yet. We only know the shape of their squad or natural and not its size. We could go on and plot the whole orbit of Mars in this way by measuring directions to Mars had pans of dates that was separated by six hundred and eighty seven days and you get the number of the quadrilateral like this one. In fact this is how Kepler first did it. You can also mak the orbits of the other planets and produce a map of the whole solar system. But what is the scale of this math you still don't know the distances. You still want to find the distance from the End up to the south. Remember the problem of determining the distance of the island from a map of unknown scales. Then you found a distance you could measure and you found the scale of the math by measuring that
distance on the map. You can do exactly the same thing with the math of the solar system. What you need to find is something in the solar system that has a rather large pattern. This means as you remember something nearby Mars and Venus the nearest planet. But even the pattern X-mas is quite small equal to its apparent that in Avatar when Mars is nearest to us Mars also is difficult to measure because it is not equally in human naked by the fact it shows sight faces in either way. In spite of these disadvantages Mars was the first than it used to measure the scale of the solar system. Mass was observed from two widely separated places on the earth. The angle of shift against the stock was measured and the distance was calculated in the same way as we determine the
moon's distance with this newfound distance the distance between the Earth and you can fix this scale of the mignonette in fact you can determine the whole scale of the solar system and we find that the distance from the earth to the sun is about 93 million miles. But astronomers kept looking for clues to objects that modify which they could measure this important distance. In 1897 they found a small planet with feigned name at the orbital era is ended lips at intervals of six hundred eighty three days. It comes inside the orbit of my eyes as you see in the model. When the earth is at the right its all of it. And is quite close to us and its parallax is nearly three times that of my eyes. This happened in 1951 the pattern
next to us so it could be measured accurately by using the diameter of the earth as we did for the moon. And since an arse is so small its position was not difficult to fix against the background of star the foundations of measurement taken of Andros give us a new determination of the distance within the planetary system the distance of the earth of the sun from the ethics of the sun. 93 million miles is not known within about 5000 miles. Assuming the plan actually is of any importance of the needs of the astronomers It is the basic unit to which all of a distance is in the universe referred. Naturally astronomers would have more than one method of measuring such a difficult and such an important quantity. Actually there are two or three other ways. Here is just one of them. Imagine if you could run a train running around on a circular track.
Now you want to find a distance across it. If this were the diameter of the track would be a trifle distance from the end to the sun where you can find out the distance around the track the circumference immediately. If you know how fast the train is going about long it takes to get around the pressure. Suppose the train is going at 60 miles an hour and it takes 10 hours to go. Then you know that six hundred miles around. And from this point you can use the well known formula the ratio of the circumference to the diameter of a circle is equal to the constant. Try 3 4 1 4 1 5 9. So if you could find the diameter by dividing this conference by pi you would know the size of the track. Now you know how long it takes the Earth to go round its track. It takes a year. If you could measure the speed at the end then you could calculate the circumference and
the diameter of it all that at once. But can you measure its speed. Astronomers do it by using a property of light which is called the Doppler effect. If you haven't noticed the sound of a train whistle as it passes you the picture of the sound drops abruptly you hear this because the waves of sound crowded up towards you as the train approaches and does it receive the more crowded the waves the higher the pitch of the sound will be. If you had a good enough or some way to measure the pitch you could even measure the speed of the train by measuring the change in pitch. Now we happen to have a recall of the sound of a jet plane as it comes from far away on the Fosses at some distance in front of us and goes away to our right. This sound effect is not as simple as that of the train because the speed with which a jet plane first approaches
us and finally recedes it is changing continuously. The sound you hear is very high pitched up goes down gradually and settles down with a low a pitch. Listen. Let's hear it again. Now how does this relate to the style of course we can't listen to the stuff. But they do say not to light this light comes in waves. We too are affected in the same way. If the light source.
When the lights are off approaches you the light grows somewhat when it goes away the light becomes red. Astronomers can measure accurately this blueing and reddening of light and determine the speed of the Source of All Star the greater the change in color the greater the speed. Suppose you were on a. You receive from the what. The measure the change in color and pride to be at this point. Seems to be approaching the feet of this. It could be receiving the ripples. So it is possible to measure the speed of the earth in its orbit and then you can find the circumference of the circle and you can multiply the number by the number of seconds in a year and that gives you the circumference of the Earth's orbit. Then of course you use to try to get the diameter of.
It. And there you have another way of determining the set of parallax. But wait a moment. You cannot conduct an observation from a star. However you can observe that the earth and as the Earth moves around in its little bit you will see this appear to approach you and to move away from you when you are here. Actually of course the stock is stationary. Therefore the speed you measured by watching the night shift of a star is actually the speed of the earth in its orbit. So you have again solve the puzzle of the distance to the sun. Babs having the light ship far away you have seen several ways in which astronomers have measured the scale of the solar system. We measure the distance of the moon and the distance to SRS from opposite sides of the earth. Here are in other words you used for the earth's diameter seven to nine hundred
miles as a baseline. In this way you determine the scale of the solar system and measure the distance of the sun. Now you want to go out beyond the solar system to the stocks with only our humble yardstick of seven thousand nine hundred miles. We could not possibly observe the pattern acts of anything outside the solar system. Indeed we cannot even measure directly the distances of most things inside the solar system. But the jump from 7 to 900 to 93 million miles extends our reach enormously as far as the nearest star from opposite sides of the Earth's orbit. You can see a small pattern electic shift for several thousand stars. It is very small even for the nearest star. It is less than a minute of OC. And remember there are 360 degrees to a circle and 60 Minutes to a degree so that twenty one thousand six hundred minutes of our two a circle
and you have to be very accurate indeed to measure an angle as small as one twenty one 600 a circle. But still it has been done for several thousand stars and we can tell their distances and their true absolute brightness. You can measure the distance to one star and then pick out another similar star. Assuming its brightness is the same you can deduce its distance even though the stars so far away that it's pattern X couldn't possibly be measured in this way. Astronomers have stepped from one measuring stick to another and are now measuring distances out to the fastest observable object in the universe. Well here we are then the impossible has happened.
And I asked one of us have found out without leaving the Earth that the sun is 93 million miles away. Why did this seem so impossible in the first place. I would say that that was because when you and I look at the stars we do so for one minute at that time but means we don't really know with them. But if you keep observing them night after night as astronomers have done from the earliest this times to ours then you become familiar with them and you begin telling them of how you relate to it much later. You find that your night days even even the wanding of Mars and this Mrs. Gamp are sick and told us how the public began to be and I have stated without to technical devices the telescope and the photographic plate astronomers could never have obtained such decision as measuring 93 million miles within an hour
of five thousand. Such an exact Was it tiresome of us tunnel most of our own generation invest one of me at any rate we find no guile for being ashamed of our age.
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Of Science and Scientists
The Distance to the Sun
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Hold up one finger at arm's length and look across it to an object on the far side of the room. Looking at the object, first close one eye and then the other. You'll see that your finger seems to shift from side to side against the background. This shift, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (Professor of Astronomy and Phillips Astronomer, Harvard University) shows, is the parallax of your finger, and parallax is the key to finding the scale of the universe in which we live. Using parallax, a number of astronomical models, and even a toy train, Mrs. Gaposchkin shows how astronomers find the distance to the sun, one of the basic steps in establishing a scale for our solar system. She indicates that though the method is relatively simple, the value for this distance is staggering: 93,000,000 miles. And yet, as astronomy reaches farther into the universe of galaxies, this becomes a relatively short distance. Confronted with such enormous figures, the non-scientist reacts at first with disbelief. The methods used to produce them, explained in this episode, will help to make astronomical measurements credible. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Americans tend to think of the sciences as potentially useful (air-conditioning) or potentially troublesome (Strontium-90). We accept or marvel at the revolutionary products of science while giving little thought to the basic ideas, concepts, techniques and logic that have gone into exploring, understanding and explaining our universe or in building our technical civilization. Such an understanding of science does not come easily. Limited by time and opportunity, scientists do not often explain themselves to non-scientists. Also, the quality of science is most difficult to the layman to understand is its indirect approach to the discovery of truths. Robert Frost summed up the problem by commenting that to his mind all science rested on the question, "How she differs from what she's like."Without attempting to teach physics or chemistry or geology, these programs suggest the qualities and outlook of science. By analogy and demonstration, they reveal the ideas which guide scientific research and the truths that research uncovers. They give an appreciation of what the scientist can and cannot do. As one speaker says, "The important thing about science is not merely that it gives rise to technological miracles, but that it provides us with one of many guidebooks we need to find our way in this universe." Today, as non-scientists are called upon to make decisions or concur in decisions that may affect the future of scientific research and even the future of life, a knowledge of "how she differs from what she's like," may not only be useful, but necessary. By explaining and demonstrating the guiding principles of science and scientists, these programs attempt to convey that increasingly necessary knowledge. Produced by WGBH-TV, Boston, the producer-director was David Walker and the executive producer Lawrence Kreshkoff.Dr. Phillipe Le Corbeiller is Professor of Applied Physics and of General Education at Harvard University. He is host and program editor for Harvard in the television series, "Of Science and Scientists." A leader in Harvard's general education program since its beginning in 1946, when he started the course, "Principles of Physical Science," Dr. Le Corbeiller was the first to be appointed professor of General Education in 1949, in addition to being professor of Applied Physics. Throughout the series Dr. Le Corbeiller is joined by other scientists. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Published Work: This work was offered for sale and/or rent in 1960.
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MLA: "Of Science and Scientists; 8; The Distance to the Sun." 1957-00-00. WGBH, Library of Congress, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. January 30, 2023. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-54kkwwkt>.
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"The Seven Trumpets of Apocalypse" is a Suite for Symphony Orchestra and chorus based on one of the most intriguing passages of the Holy Bible. Seven angels, each one with a trumpet, will be responsible for announcing to the whole world the end of our times.
This Suite is divided in four movements and I have been inspired to write each one of them after a different verse within this biblical passage.


Wordington Crossword Puzzle Game Answers All Levels | Guides etc.
Wordington: A Word Story. Smart Words Answers, Solutions and Cheats All Levels and Packs. Follow the memorable word story together with Emma. You design the interior and exterior of the house by fixing what's already there, choosing various objects. You will need to solve crossword puzzles. Beat and complete these crossword levels to unlock new chapters in the story, new rooms to renovate and a few hidden mysteries left from her Grandpa!
A trivia game app by WeAreQiiwi Interactive AB. You can download the game on iTunes and Google Play.


Bayside Park features a fishing pier perfect for a lazy afternoon, surrounded by marinas and restaurants. The park also provides an inspiring view of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge and the San Diego urban skyline.
Hours: 6:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.


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New proposals to fine websites over harmful content
Government plans have revealed that internet sites could be fined or blocked if they fail to tackle 'online harms', including terrorist propaganda.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), alongside the Home Office, has proposed an independent watchdog that will write a 'code of practice' for technology companies, although the government has not decided whether a new body will be established, or an existing one handed new powers.
Alongside Facebook, Twitter and Google, the rules would apply to messaging services such as Snapchat and cloud storage services. The regulator will have the power to fine companies and publish notices naming and shaming those that break the rules.
Although critics claim that the plans threaten freedom of speech, the plans cover a range of issues that are clearly defined in law, which alongside terrorist content, also include child sex abuse, so-called revenge pornography, hate crimes, harassment and the sale of illegal goods.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid said tech giants and social media companies had a moral duty 'to protect the young people they profit from'. He said that, currently, harmful and illegal content remains too readily available online.
Public figures should 'moderate language' to fight extremism
MPs raise concern over biometrics and forensics
Defence spending continues to decline
Javid backs automated facial recognition trials
UK and Switzerland to work closely on counter terrorism
Man and woman face terrorism charges

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Killyliss Draughts or checkers set has an 8 x 8 celtic designed board.
The board is 325mm x 325mm in size and is made from hand polished reconstituted limestone from the Glens of Antrim.
The draught pieces are 45mm in diameter and are also made from reconstituted limestone from the Glens of Antrim.
The black draughts pieces are handpainted with gold paint to emphasise the celtic design on the surface and the white piece is handpainted with grey paint to emphasise the celtic design on its surface.
The Killyliss draughts or checkers set makes a nice table top piece of furniture and is an easily played, fun game .
Killyliss Studio also makes a Celtic chess set . Please click on the link below to see details of this gift.


Kids are messy and could be irresponsible sometimes. So..
Sleek rectangular architecture design is now famous and..
Cool marble bathroom is something that is not uncommon ..
A mini sofa is designed to fulfill the necessities espe..


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TheatreZone announces its 10th anniversary season
CHARLES RUNNELLS
CRUNNELLS@NEWS-PRESS.COM
If you want tickets for TheatreZone's newly announced tenth season, you'd better act fast. The good seats might sell out long before the shows open.
The season announcement comes off the Naples theater company's record-breaking current season, where every one of its musicals has sold out — often months in advance.
Artistic director Mark Danni sees no reason why there won't be a repeat of that success in 2014-2015. That's why he's urging audiences to get their tickets ASAP.
The next season is going to be a good one, he promises, with more "lost treasures of Broadway" coming to TheatreZone's home at The Community School of Naples.
Season tickets are on sale now and cost $164-$202. Single tickets are available June 1 for $48-53.
Here's a look at the musicals next season:
• "Mack & Mabel" (Jan. 8-18, 2015) This was TheatreZone's first-ever show way back in 2005. The 1974 musical follows the tumultuous romantic relationship between early Hollywood director Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, who became one of his biggest silent-film stars.
• "Sweeney Todd" (Feb. 5-15) The 1979 Sondheim classic tells the legendary story of "The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," who gave his barbershop customers the closest haircuts of their lives and — with the help of a lonely pie maker — turns their corpses into meat pies.
• "Brooklyn: The Musical" (March 5-15) This 2004 play-within-a-play involves a band of homeless musicians telling the story of a young Parisian girl named Brooklyn, who comes to America searching for fame and the father she never knew.
• "They're Playing Our Song" (April 30 through May 10) Playwright Neil Simon and composer Marvin Hamlisch wrote this musical based on Hamlisch's real-life relationship with singer-songwriter Carol Sager.
For more information, call 888-966-3352 or visit theatrezone-florida.com.
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (News-Press) (Facebook) @charlesrunnells (Twitter)


TOM Cruise doesn't want any more kids.
The 49-year-old actor has children Suri, six with wife Katie Holmes and Connor, 17 and Isabella, 19, with former spouse Nicole Kidman but has no plans to add to his brood because he has such a good relationship with all three kids.
While Tom loves spending time with his children, he also recently gushed about his Katie, who he married in November 2006, saying she makes him feel better just by walking in to a room.
He said: ''She is an extraordinary person, and if you spent five minutes with her, you'd see it. Everything she does, she does with this beautiful creativity.
"She has a voice and warmth as an artist, as a mother. She's funny and charming, and when she walks into the room, I just feel better.


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Sexual behaviour of women in rural South Africa: a descriptive study
Jan Henk Dubbink1,2,3,
Lisette van der Eem1,3,
James A. McIntyre1,4,
Nontembeko Mbambazela1,
Geoffrey A. Jobson1,
Sander Ouburg3,
Servaas A. Morre2,3,
Helen E. Struthers1,5 &
Remco P. H. Peters6,1,7,8
BMC Public Health volume 16, Article number: 557 (2016) Cite this article
Sexual behaviour is a core determinant of the HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) epidemics in women living in rural South Africa. Knowledge of sexual behaviour in these areas is limited, but constitutes essential information for a combination prevention approach of behavioural change and biomedical interventions.
This descriptive study was conducted in rural Mopani District, South Africa, as part of a larger study on STI. Women of reproductive age (18–49 years) who reported sexual activity were included regardless of the reason for visiting the facility. Questionnaires were administered to 570 women. We report sexual behaviour by age group, ethnic group and self-reported HIV status.
Young women (<25 years) were more likely to visit bars, practice fellatio, have concurrent sexual partners and report a circumcised partner than older women (>34 years); there was no difference for condom use during last sex act (36 % overall). Sotho women were more likely to report concurrent sexual partners whereas Shangaan women reported more frequent intravaginal cleansing and vaginal scarring practice in our analysis. HIV-infected women were older, had a higher number of lifetime sexual partners, reported more frequent condom use during the last sex act and were more likely to have a known HIV-infected partner than women without HIV infection; hormonal contraceptive use, fellatio, and a circumcised partner were less often reported.
This study provides insight into women's sexual behaviour in a rural South African region. There are important differences in sexual behaviour by age group and ethnicity and HIV status; these should be taken into account when designing tailor-made prevention packages.
Sexual behaviour is the most important determinant of the burden of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) in South Africa [1]. This country has generalized HIV and STI epidemics that rank among the highest in the world; HIV prevalence is estimated to be 17.8 % among women of reproductive age [2–4]. These epidemics are largely driven by heterosexual contact but key and vulnerable populations should not be ignored [3, 5].
In recent years many strategies have been employed to reduce the burden of HIV and STIs in Africa including the distribution of free male and female condoms, financial incentives for abstinence programmes, roll-out of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and promotion of voluntary medical male circumcision. Also, the potential impact of mass treatment of STIs, antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis, and topical microbicide use has been explored. However, efforts to modify sexual behaviour, one of the core determinants of these epidemics, have been relatively limited despite the acknowledged importance of a combination approach of behavioural change and biomedical interventions [6–9]. Initiatives to modify sexual behaviour for prevention are important. For example, a review demonstrated that the majority of the countries with a reduction in HIV transmission were accompanied by changes in sexual behaviour [10]. A recent study from sub-Saharan Africa showed the importance of targeting the general sexually active population and not only HIV serodiscordant couples because of the large contribution of extra-couple transmission to new HIV infections [11].
Sexual behaviour of women varies across the globe and over time, including in Africa [4, 12]. Efforts to monitor the HIV epidemic are complicated by the geographical evolution of many sub-epidemics at provincial and district level, partly associated with differences in geographic characteristics [3, 13]. Important determinants of variation in sexual behaviour include setting (urban or rural), age, socio-economic level, ethnic group and HIV status [14]. A recent review of sexual behaviour of women in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa, showed that women with lowest education and those living in more rural environments were of younger age at sexual debut and had more pregnancies [14]. A study from Uganda showed significant differences in sexual behaviour of women living in rural compared to urban regions with rural women having more often a partner that is more than 10 years older, reporting less frequent condom use and to know their HIV status [15]. Studies from South Africa show differences in sexual behaviour (i.e. alcohol use, unprotected intercourse and concurrency) between ethnic groups [16, 17]. A recent study showed a higher point prevalence of concurrent sexual partnerships among the ethnic groups most affected by HIV in South Africa [18]. Finally, HIV-status may influence sexual behaviour towards higher or lower risk behaviour: a recent study showed a decline of unprotected sex after HIV-positive diagnosis and a further decline after awareness of HIV discordance, but other studies have shown an increase in risk behaviour associated with HIV-infection [10, 19–21]. Information about sexual behaviour is warranted to inform the design of prevention messages and programmes as one size may not fit all. Information about specific groups is required to build cultural competence in healthcare and therewith different opportunities and entry points for prevention messaging. For example, messages for adolescent discussion groups (age) could be different from those at the HIV clinic (HIV status) and could vary by geographic region (different ethnic groups). In this study we describe sexual behaviour reported by women living in rural South Africa in relation to age, ethnicity and HIV status. Furthermore, associations with condom use are explored.
This study was embedded in a cross-sectional study conducted at 25 of the 100 primary healthcare (PHC) facilities across Mopani District, Limpopo Province, South Africa [22]. Data from all 25 facilities was included in this evaluation with the number of participants ranging from 8 to 52 per PHC facility. Mopani District is one of the most rural and poorest districts in South Africa with high rates of poverty and illiteracy; Shangaan and Sotho are the two largest ethic groups in this district [23]. In brief, the facilities were selected based on wide geographic location and size and diversity of catchment population. We visited each PHC facility on a random weekday from November 2011 to February 2012. Group information about the study was provided in the waiting area followed by individual counselling of women who were interested in participating, regardless of the reason for visiting the facility that day. Women aged 18–49 years who reported sexual activity during the previous six months were eligible. After obtaining written informed consent, clinical and sexual histories were taken by healthcare workers (through an English paper-based questionnaire translated into the language of the participant). These healthcare workers were carefully selected from the staff of Anova Health Institute, as they had to be all proficient in the English language and at least one local language and were specifically trained to obtain information about sexual characteristics of the participants. This analysis is limited to women of Sotho (n = 310) and Shangaan (n = 260) ethnicity (94 % of participants in the original study; 34 women were of other ethnicity including Venda, Zulu and Shona. The Human Ethics Research Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, approved the study (Ref M110726).
Clinical criteria and definitions
Information collected in this study was self-reported including HIV status (although counselling and testing were offered). HIV-status was classified positive when the participant reported to be HIV-infected, negative in case of a negative HIV test less than six months ago, and unknown in other cases. Sexually active in the last 6 months was defined as a consensual or non-consensual vaginal, or anorectal intercourse, or fellatio in the 6 months prior to the inclusion day. Other data collected included demographic characteristics, general behaviour (e.g. alcohol use, intravaginal cleansing), risk-taking behaviour (e.g. condom use, transactional sex), sexual practices, sexual contacts, and specific questions about the steady sexual partner. Most indicators were self-explanatory; however the following definitions were used. Sexual relationships were considered concurrent if sexual partnerships overlapped in time. Sex with multiple partners was defined as sexual contact with more than one partner at the same time and place. Coercion was considered present when the participant reported social or psychological pressure to have sex; physical force used to have sex was defined as rape. Vaginal cleansing was defined as using a douche or another device to clean the vagina with water and possibly herbs and/or soap. Vaginal scarring practice was defined by report of vulvar scars that was confirmed on examination. These scars relate to a ritual that may be performed after birth or for treatment purposes by a traditional healer.
Data were double-entered in Epi Data (Epi Info™ version 3.5.3) and analysed using SPSS version 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA). Determinants of sexual behaviour were compared between women of different age groups, ethnic group, HIV-status, and for condom use. Data are provided as numbers with proportion (%) and as median with range. Dichotomous data are compared between groups using Chi-squared test or Fisher's Exact test if appropriate, whereas continuous data were compared between two groups using the Mann Whitney U test and between multiple groups using the Kruskal Wallis test. Univariate analysis was performed to examine possible differences in sexual behaviour between age groups (<25 years, 25–34 years, and >34 years), for ethnic origin (Sotho and Shangaan) and HIV-status (positive vs. negative), and to determine factors of condom use. A p-value of equal to or less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
Characteristics of study population
Three hundred and ten women (54 %) were of Sotho and 260 (46 %) were of Shangaan ethnic origin (Table 1). The median age of participants was 30 years (range 18–49), which was similar for Sotho and Shangaan women. HIV infection was reported by 178 (31 %) participants and was similar for Sotho (29 %) and Shangaan (34 %) women (p = 0.62). Women in the oldest age group were significantly more likely to be HIV-infected (p < 0.001).
Table 1 Characteristics of study participants (n = 570)
Age and sexual behaviour
Younger women reported more frequently to visit bars, practice fellatio (but not receptive anal intercourse (RAI)), report concurrent partners and report a circumcised partner than older women (Table 2). Older women were more likely to have a partner more than 10 years older, know that their partner had concurrent partners and know his HIV status. The latter association was only manifested for HIV-infected women (p < 0.001) whereas there was no association between age and knowledge of the partner's HIV status for HIV-negative women.
Table 2 Characteristics of sexual behaviour of women by different age-groups (n = 569)
Condom use during last sex act was low among all age groups and not significantly different. (37 % for 18–24, 35 % for 25–34 and 37 % for >34; p = 0.86) However, when asked for reasons for not using a condom, women in the older age group (35–49 years) were more likely to report that the partner did not want to use them (51 %) than women in the younger age groups (37 % for 25–34 years old, 29 % for 18–24 years old; p < 0.001 for both comparisons). This association was only manifested for HIV-uninfected women (p < 0.01) whereas there was no association for HIV-infected women (p = 0.97). Women in the younger age group (<25 years) reported that their partner did not want to use condoms (29 %), that they trusted their partner (19 %), pregnancy wish (11 %) and non-availability (12 %) as main reasons not to use a condom.
Ethnic origin and sexual behaviour
Sotho women were more likely to report concurrent sexual relationships whereas intravaginal cleansing and vaginal scarring practices were more often reported by Shangaan women (Table 3). About the steady partner, Shangaan women reported more often that they knew the HIV status of their partner (29 % for Shangaan vs. 22 % for Sotho; p = 0.028), or that he was HIV-infected (16 % for Shangaan vs. 6.9 % for Sotho; p = 0.001) and a trend was observed for Shangaan women reporting more often that their partner had concurrent sexual partners (29 % for Shangaan vs. 22 % for Sotho; p = 0.07). Sotho women reported more often having a circumcised partner (93 % for Sotho vs. 85 % for Shangaan; p = 0.007).
Table 3 Characteristics of sexual behaviour of Sotho and Shangaan women (n = 570)
HIV-status and sexual behaviour
HIV-status was reported as positive by 178 (31 %) women and negative by 257 (45 %). One hundred and thirty-five women (24 %) were classified as unknown HIV-status and were excluded from this particular sub-analysis. HIV-infected women were older than those without HIV infection, reported a higher number of lifetime sexual partners, and were more likely to report condom use during last sex act and to have a known HIV-infected steady partner (Table 4). Hormonal contraceptives use (28 % for HIV-infected vs. 45 % for HIV-uninfected; p < 0.001), fellatio and a circumcised sexual partner were reported less often by HIV-infected women.
Table 4 Characteristics of sexual behaviour for HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women (n = 435)
Condom use
Two hundred and six women (36 %) reported male and or female condom use during last sex act: 201 used a male, 2 a female and 3 women used both condoms. The top three reasons given for why a condom was not consistently used were: 'partner does not want to' by 184 (39 %), 'trust partner' by 73 (16 %) and 'pregnancy wish' by 58 (13 %).
Pregnant women and women who reported engaging in vaginal cleansing and RAI were less likely to report condom use during last sex act whereas single, employed women and those with occasional sexual partners were more likely to do so (Table 5). The association of condom use with pregnancy was manifested for HIV infected women (30 % for pregnant vs. 56 % for non-pregnant women; p = 0.011) while a trend was observed for HIV uninfected women (16 % for pregnant vs. 29 % for non-pregnant women; p = 0.057) and manifested for women who did not report concurrent sexual partners (20 % for pregnant vs. 38 % for non-pregnant women; p = 0.002) whereas there was no association observed for women with concurrent sexual partners (35 % for pregnant vs. 45 % for non-pregnant women; p = 0.47).
Table 5 Factors associated with condom use during last sex act
Also, women who had experienced coercion and those who had sex with a partner more than 10 years older were less likely to use a condom. (p <0.001 and p = 0.014, respectively).
This study is one of the few providing insight into sexual behaviour of women in rural South Africa and the first to assess women in a region with predominantly people of Sotho and Shangaan ethnic origin. We show differences in sexual behaviour for different ages, ethnicity and by HIV-status. These differences together with the associations observed with condom use illustrate the complexity of sexual behaviour in this region. Also, they provide an entry point for further discussion towards the design of tailor-made prevention strategies for these different groups of women. The sample of women included in this evaluation is considered representative for ethnic composition, age and HIV status of women visiting PHC facilities in this area.
The relation between age and sexual behaviour is well documented and confirmed in this study. Younger women are known to engage in higher risk sexual behaviour which is reflected in our study by the higher number of concurrent sexual partners. In addition, potential lifestyle differences (e.g. more bar visits) were observed.
Recently, a study from Kenya showed considerable ethnic disparities in HIV prevalence arising from sexual behaviour [13]. The relevance of race (black, white, and coloured) as a determinant of sexual behaviour has been reported before, but information about ethnic groups in South Africa is limited [17, 18, 21]. A recent study presented characteristics of sexual behaviour by isiXhosa women but no data are available for women of Sotho and Shangaan origin [16, 17, 24, 25]. Sotho women were more likely to report concurrent sexual partners whereas intravaginal cleansing, vaginal scarring and knowledge of HIV-status of the steady partner were more frequent among Shangaan women. This may reflect a bias in recruitment although there was no specific selection and participants were representative of those visiting a primary healthcare facility on a random day. On the other hand, these differences may be an important observation to warrant further research which could, hypothetically, result in a design of prevention efforts to be implemented at the same facilities where our study population was recruited: For example, Sotho women could be targeted to promote safe sex in (concurrent) relationships whereas promoting safe sex to the woman's steady sexual partner and safe vaginal practices should perhaps feature more dominantly in areas where the predominant ethnic group is Shangaan. Overall, knowledge of the partner's HIV-status was low among women of both ethnic groups. Discussing safe sex and sexual practice may be taboo within relationships in this region and understanding the influence of cultural practices, social beliefs, financial dependency and local media is required to inform the design of intervention strategies [26–29].
The association of HIV-infected status and sexual behaviour is reasonably well-documented, but information from rural Africa and rural South Africa is limited. Our study shows that HIV-infected women reported a higher lifetime number of sexual partners, were more likely to use a condom during last sexual act, and to have a known HIV-infected partner whereas HIV negative women were more likely to use hormonal contraceptives and practice fellatio. Having a circumcised partner was significantly more frequently reported by HIV-negative women. Most of these associations have been reported before [3, 12, 19, 30]. The lower frequency of practising fellatio by HIV-infected women has been reported once before [20]. This could relate to a difference in age as HIV-infected women were older and young women were more likely to engage in fellatio or a change, e.g. reduction, in sexual activity following a positive HIV-test. The findings in our study suggest an essential difference in sexual behaviour related to HIV-status, but the study design did not allow determining temporality of this relationship.
We determined factors associated with (non-)use of condoms to support the development of prevention tools [31]. Women reporting condom use during the last sex act were more likely to be single, employed, HIV-infected and have occasional sexual partners while non-users were more likely to be pregnant, engage in RAI and intravaginal cleansing, experience coercion and have a partner more than 10 years older. These factors are well known in African populations where condom use within the marriage is unusual and pregnancy frequently associated with lower uptake of condom use [19, 32]. While alcohol use before intercourse is a known factor of sexual risk behaviour, there was no difference between condom uptake between women using alcohol before intercourse or not [33, 34]. Men in age-disparate relationships, i.e. young woman with substantially older male partner, are known to use their age-related power to undermine young women's preferences for safer sex [35]. Efforts aimed at reducing age mixing are complicated, but may decrease the risk of HIV and STIs among young women in a traditional setting such as ours [36]. In summary it appears that non-use of condoms is related to a more traditional lifestyle and such areas may be the first target of safe sex promotion and HIV/STI prevention campaigns.
This study has several limitations. First, this study design does not allow for assessment of temporality of the observed associations and the results should be interpreted with caution. Sexual behaviour is a complex entity and we can only provide some degree of insight. Most importantly, the groups compared in this analysis could provide insight into different target groups and entry points of prevention efforts. Second, we used self-reported age, HIV-status and ethnic group. We tried to limit the effect of self-report by using strict criteria for classification of HIV-status. Third, reporting and desirability bias may have occurred although we tried to create as safe as possible environment. This could play a role in particular when considering the positive association of condom use with HIV-positive status: women are reminded regularly when collecting antiretroviral therapy to use condoms. Selection bias may have occurred and extrapolation of information should be done cautiously as we only included women visiting PHC facilities. These women are of low socio-economic status, demonstrated by the high unemployment rate reported in our study compared to the average in this area, and cannot afford private healthcare. However, the study was conducted at a representative sample of PHC facilities in the district, which provide prominent locations to implement preventions campaigns.
More information about heterosexual sexual behaviour in Africa is warranted to determine the relevance and potential impact of efforts aimed at modifying sexual behaviour for HIV and STI prevention. In this regard, prevention efforts at a local level should take the population's composition of age, ethnicity and HIV-status into account when designing a tailor-made package that combines biomedical approaches with behavioural modification efforts.
ART, antiretroviral therapy; HIV, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; PHC, primary healthcare; RAI, receptive anal intercourse; STI, sexually transmitted infection
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We thank all women who participated in this study. Our further gratitude goes to the staff of the Anova Health Institute for their invaluable contribution, efforts and support.
This work was supported by the Dutch Society for Tropical Medicine (NVTG), The Netherlands. The Anova Health Institute is supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program via the US Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement No. AID-674-A-12-00015. The views expressed in this manuscript do not necessarily reflect those of PEPFAR or USAID. Furthermore, the funding body (NVTG) had no role in the design of the study, the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, and writing of the manuscript.
The raw data collected in this study and supporting the conclusions in this manuscript will be made available in SPSS format by the corresponding author upon specific request.
JHD carried out the cross-sectional study, participated in its design, performed statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. LE carried out the cross-sectional study and helped to draft the manuscript. JAM participated in the design of the study and helped to draft the manuscript. NM carried out the cross-sectional study. GAJ helped to draft the manuscript. SO performed statistical analysis and helped to draft the manuscript. SAM participated in the design of the study and helped to draft the manuscript. HES participated in the design and coordination of the study and helped to draft the manuscript. RPHP was responsible for planning of the study, participated in its design and coordination, and helped to draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The authors declare that they have no competing interest.
Written informed consent was obtained from all study participants. This study was approved by the Human Ethics Research Committee of the University of the Witwatersrand (reference number: M110726).
Anova Health Institute, Johannesburg, Tzaneen, South Africa
Jan Henk Dubbink, Lisette van der Eem, James A. McIntyre, Nontembeko Mbambazela, Geoffrey A. Jobson, Helen E. Struthers & Remco P. H. Peters
Institute for Public Health Genomics (IPHG), Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research School GROW (School for Oncology & Developmental Biology), Faculty of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Jan Henk Dubbink & Servaas A. Morre
Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Control, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Jan Henk Dubbink, Lisette van der Eem, Sander Ouburg & Servaas A. Morre
School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
James A. McIntyre
Division of Infectious Diseases & HIV Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Helen E. Struthers
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Remco P. H. Peters
Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Anova Health Institute, PostNet Suite 242, Private Bag X30500, 2041, Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Jan Henk Dubbink
Lisette van der Eem
Nontembeko Mbambazela
Geoffrey A. Jobson
Sander Ouburg
Servaas A. Morre
Correspondence to Remco P. H. Peters.
Dubbink, J.H., van der Eem, L., McIntyre, J.A. et al. Sexual behaviour of women in rural South Africa: a descriptive study. BMC Public Health 16, 557 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3207-6
Sexual behaviour
Health behavior, health promotion and society


On 21 December 2015 a new member of our family joined us. Born on 6 November "Bombay Sapphire" is a dark golden labrador. She has settled in really well although our other labs Guangzhou [chocolate] and Jaipur [golden] may not think so!
Meeting some of the family!
Hello, my name is Sapphire, who are you?
Harry the red deer continues to grow - we are told he has a little more height to gain yet!
We had a good crop of gooseberries and Greg has been making gooseberry jam and a new chutney - "Kashmir Chutney". Both are very yummy. These can be bought at the gardens and are priced at $10 per jar.


text:
This five-week program took place in London, England.
The MMW courses examines world history from the 18th century to the First World War, covering covers a period when London was the capital of a world-wide empire and Britain's political, economic, and cultural influence spanned the globe. The course presents a global perspective, though emphasized the British Empire and manifestations of empire in London's palaces and buildings, museums, monuments, parks, and neighborhoods. MMW explores such topics as the Enlightenment, revolutions and progressive movements, religious reforms and revivalism, industrialization, nationalism, anti-Semitism and Zionism, imperialism, modernization, westernization and non-western responses.
The second course (Life, Literature, and Laughter in Imperial Britain) examines culture in imperial Britain by focusing on musical theatre from the 18th century to the First World War. The course begins with the succession of the House of Hanover to the throne of England and the importation of continental European culture to the Isle of Britain. The Francophone, German composer Handel wrote Italian operas about Greco-Roman heroes for an English audience who couldn't understand them. John Gay's Beggars' Opera gave audiences an alternative: a vernacular piece with already familiar tunes that glamorized the life of criminals. Handel in his turn abandoned opera for his controversial new genre, oratorio, which came to dominate the English musical tradition. In this period, Britain lost its American colonies and began its long involvement with India and other colonies, developments that culminated in the Victorian Empire of the 19th century. The course considers imperial ideology, the economic relations between indigenous peoples, colonists and the imperial center, the abolition of slavery, foreign artistic influences, the replacement of the hereditary aristocracy by a new plutocracy, the beginnings of female emancipation, and the contemporary English critique of all of the above in both intellectual circles (Marxism, anarchism, Estheticism/Decadence/Pre-Raphaelitism) and popular entertainment. The works of Gilbert & Sullivan, both music and libretti, will be analyzed in detail as musical and socio-political satires.
How academic content relates to chosen location and how the site will be utilized in course.
London is an ideal location to teach these courses. It offers easy access to theaters, palaces, parks, museums, and other relevant destinations which reflect the academic material. Students on the GS London will have classroom activity three days per week followed by afternoon excursions in the city. There will be longer excursions in the city on one or two other days each week. There will be no GS program activity on weekends.
Prof. Herbst began his world history Global Seminars in Paris, France in 2008, before shifting to Istanbul for four programs (2009 – 2012). He led an additional four non-Global Seminar programs in Istanbul and further afield in Turkey from 2013 to 2015. Political concerns led to the termination of this prolonged engagement with Turkey and he moved his next program to London in 2013 before shifting focus to the greater Pacific region (2014-2020), offering programs in Thailand and Cambodia, New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.


Check out Nelly Feat. Pharrell & Nicki Minaj "Get Like Me" Video, the latest visual from Nelly, released on Wednesday, July 31st, 2013. Nelly continues to impress with each new leak, and Nelly Feat. Pharrell & Nicki Minaj "Get Like Me" Video is no exception. It's strengthens Nelly's already impressive body of work, which has seen positive change over the years. We're most definitely anticipating Nelly's next offering.
Nelly premieres the visuals for his collaboration with Pharrell & Nicki Minaj. "M.O." is due out this fall.
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Home > Dymocks removal from sale of editions of Mein Kampf
Dymocks removal from sale of editions of Mein Kampf
In response to a request from the ECAJ, Dymocks has removed 55 of the 60 editions of the notorious Nazi book, 'Mein Kampf', which their bookstores had previously offered for sale. All references to these editions have also been removed from the Dymocks website.
"We thank and commend Dymocks for doing the right", said the ECAJ's co-CEO, Peter Wertheim. "Dymocks notified the ECAJ of the action they had taken on Monday night, coinciding with the start of Yom Hashoah. I see this as a fitting tribute to our kedoshim."
Wertheim noted that the remaining five editions contain detailed annotations, refutations and other commentary by recognised scholars.
"We did not seek the removal of these five editions, as these versions highlight the book's racist falsehoods and murderous import. We believe they act as a corrective to the propagandistic use of this work by racist groups and individuals."
Wertheim also said that the ECAJ had since drawn the attention of Dymocks to two further editions of the book listed on the Dymocks website, which bear a different title. "These are currently being investigated by Dymocks", Wertheim said.
The copyright on Mein Kampf expired at the end of 2015, and the contents of the book are now freely available online. However, according to Wertheim, "the book will no longer be given the dignity of being listed for sale by one of Australia's best-known retailers, except for the versions which refute its poisonous ideology."
Wertheim gave much credit to the Jewish Community Council of Victoria for the detailed research into the precise editions which were on offer by Dymocks, and to the Online Hate Prevention Institute which first raised the issue. "Their efforts in combination with the ECAJ's advocacy proved to be successful."


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Best in the World is a professional wrestling event, held annually by the Ring of Honor (ROH) promotion. The initial Best in the World event took place as a part of the "Milestone Series" in 2006. In 2011, it became an annual internet pay-per-view (iPPV) for Ring of Honor, taking place in June.
In 2014, it became an annual Live pay-per-view (PPV) for Ring of Honor, taking place in June.

Dates and venues

See also
ROH's annual events

References

External links
Ring of Honor's official site

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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HUMAN RIGHTS FOR APES
By Human,
August 14, 2006 in World Politics
I honestly think that the LEFT WING RULING PARTY of Spain has gone permanently bye bye.
Well!!! It looks like the animal rights groups here in the States may have new friends in Spain.
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml.../10/wapes10.xml
Drive to give 'human' rights to apes leaves Spanish divided
By David Rennie
(Filed: 10/06/2006)
Spain could soon become the first country in the world to give chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and other great apes some of the fundamental rights granted to human beings under a law being proposed by members of the ruling Socialist coalition.
The law would eliminate the concept of "ownership" for great apes, instead placing them under the "moral guardianship" of the state, much as is the case for children in care, the severely handicapped and those in comas, said the MP behind the project, Francisco Garrido.
Great apes held in Spanish zoos would be moved to state-built sanctuaries, unless there was a risk that moving them would harm their emotional welfare, he said.
The law would also make it a criminal offence to mistreat or kill a great ape, except in cases of self-defence or medical euthanasia.
As a first step, Mr Garrido, a Green MP for Seville who sits with the Socialists, will propose a resolution on the rights of great apes before the parliament's environment committee at the end of this month. He said he expects the committee to approve the resolution which already has received the public support of ministers.
Mr Garrido said he was confident that either the government, or the ruling Socialist majority, would introduce a Great Apes Law after the summer recess.
The Roman Catholic Church has expressed concerns about his resolution.
The Archbishop of Pamplona and Tudela, Fernando Sebastian, has said that only a "ridiculous or distorted society" could propose such a law.
"We don't give rights to some people - such as unborn children, human embryos, and we are going to give them to apes," the archbishop said.
Amnesty International's Spanish branch has also expressed concerns, saying that humans have yet to see their rights fully guaranteed. A senior member of the Spanish opposition Partido Popular, Arturo Esteban, called the proposal an "act of moral poverty".
The proposal has been front page news since parliament heard testimony from members of the Great Ape Project (GAP), a Seattle-based pressure group which campaigns for the creation of a "community of equals" in which humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans would all enjoy three fundamental rights: the right to life, to freedom, and to protection from torture.
Their "declaration" calls for great apes to be kept locked up only when they are a threat to the community, and then only with a right of appeal to the courts, with representation by a lawyer.
Mr Garrido's parliamentary resolution would explicitly endorse the approach of the Great Apes Project, and would call on the state to use its voting membership of international forums and organisations to protect great apes from "mistreatment, slavery, death and extinction".
Pedro Pozas, the secretary general of the Spanish branch of the GAP, said that animals reared in captivity might remain in zoos, even after the law's passage, "provided that they are kept in good conditions, with a habitat adapted to their conditions and needs."
Mr Pozas criticised the trade and exchange of apes between zoos and breeding centres. "To move a baby ape is to split up a family. They have feelings, they can feel sad, and they have the capacity for love. If a zoo has no room for new births, it would be better to sterilise the females."
In 1999, New Zealand passed an animal welfare act stating that research, testing or teaching involving the use of a great ape requires government approval, and a finding that "any likely benefits are not outweighed by harm to the great ape".
Britain has also banned medical experimentation on great apes.
hey gap!! You really left me speechless.
http://www.greatapeproject.org/news.php
There have been recent discussions about the important efforts in Spain to establish legal rights for great apes. There also appears to be some confusion about exactly what the Great Ape Project is seeking to obtain. We are not asking that great apes be granted each and every legal right available to humans, such as the right to vote or drive. Rather, the Great Ape Project seeks recognition of basic legal protections and rights that will guarantee each bonobo, chimpanzee, orangutan, and gorilla the opportunity to live out his or her life according to what is in his or her best interests. These rights would be similar to those currently provided under legal systems around the world for humans of limited capacity, such as children or those who are mentally incompetent and are afforded guardians or caretakers to represent their interests.
Some might question why it's important to grant great apes legal "rights" as "persons" instead of "protections" as "animals". It is helpful to understand the legal status of nonhuman great apes, and how that status allows for their mistreatment. Currently, nonhuman great apes are considered mere property, much as a chair or car or computer. Owners of "property" can do virtually anything they wish to their property without repercussion. Similarly, those who damage such "property" are often only required to pay its fair market value as the penalty for their mistreatment. Only "persons", and not "property", are entitled to "rights" such as the right to freedom from torture. Therefore, it's important to include the great apes within the legal definition of "persons" in order for them to have rights that are necessary for their protection. Some people have difficulty agreeing that nonhuman great apes should fall under the legal definition of "persons". It's important to remember that legal terms often have a different meaning than what is used in everyday language. Recognizing nonhuman great apes as a "legal persons" is not the equivalent of defining them as "humans" - it merely recognizes that they share a sentience that renders it morally important to ensure their protection through legal rights. (It may help to remember that corporations are also considered "legal persons" for the purpose of determining their rights).
By granting nonhuman great apes the fundamental rights we seek, their "owners" will become their guardians or caretakers with a legal responsibility to consider each great ape's best interests at all times. For humans who already conduct themselves in this manner, it is easy to understand why this should be a requirement and not an option. In sum, granting these animals the status of legal persons at law will ensure their entitlement to necessary legal protections, though only with those specific rights described above that are appropriate for them.
We need your help to educate others on the importance of these efforts and to show your support to the Spanish government.
One way to show support is to go to: http://www.20minutos.es/encuesta/504/
Look for the following question: El Grupo Socialista pide derechos básicos para los grandes simios por su parecido con loshumanos. ¿Los grandes simios deben tener derechos fundamentales? (translation: The Socialistic Group is asking for basic rights to be granted to the great apes similar to those for humans. Should the great apes have fundamental rights?) Answer "Si" (yes)
If anyone is interested in learning more about the mission of the Great Ape Project, please visit our website at: www.greatapeproject.org.


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HARVEST CAYE: THE NEW TOURIST MECCA IN SOUTHERN BELIZE
The Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE), under the auspices of the Ministry responsible for Investment, Trade and Commerce, is mandated to facilitate and promote investment in Belize. The massive investment happening at Harvest Caye in the southern part of the country is yet another vivid example of BELTRAIDE's efforts to foster investments.
On Tuesday November 15, 2016 Belize Island Holdings Limited, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, held a soft opening for its Eco/Adventure Cruise Port at Harvest Caye.
Harvest Caye sits a few miles south from the Placencia mainland and it takes only eighteen minutes to get there by boat. Upon arrival, the visitor cannot help but to enter in a state of wonderment as the vast beauty of the island unfolds.
Its turquoise water, sandy beach lined with beach beds, huge pier, and array of restaurants and bars, butterfly farm, nature trails, the welcome center, shopping centers, massive lighthouse tower used for zip lining, water sports facilities and its condescending giant pool all infuse the visitor's amazement.
The Eco/Adventure Cruise Port will allow cruise line passengers to experience Belize at its finest on the island that has all the imaginable amenities to pamper the discerning tourist.
Harvest Caye is stunningly spectacular! But so is the continuous support the project received from the Government of Belize.
Like Harvest Caye there are also other projects that are benefiting from the Government's keen commitment to foster investment.


I owe a huge thank you to Tara Lazar for holding PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month) in November. After I finished NaNoWriMo mid-month, I tackled her amazing challenge and wasn't sure if I'd be able to come up with 30 new picture book ideas that fast. Well...I ended up with 38 ideas by the end of the month, and can't wait to flesh out my favorites and tackle them in Paula Yoo's NaPiBoWriWee challenge in the beginning of May, where I'll write 7 picture book drafts in 7 days.
I love receiving surprises in the mail. Thanks so much for the fun prize, Tara and Alyson Heller from Simon & Schuster!
Here's our engagement picture (sorry that it's a little fuzzy, but I had to scan it in).
Hubby fished the ring out, dried it off, and proposed to me...what a wonderful Valentine's Day memory! I hope all of you have a fantastic Valentine's Day, and make special memories that will stay with you forever.
What a romantic proposal story! Thanks!
My hubby baked fortune cookies himself and planted the proposal note inside. He kept rearranging all the fortune cookies on the plate so I would choose the proposal one last.
"Rusty say: Will you marry me?"
Thanks. :) It's wonderful to hear from you, Lisa. I've missed chatting with you, and hope everything is going great!
Thanks, Christine. I don't know if I could have found all those ideas while working on NaNo, but the day after I finished my novel I was showering and suddenly had five ideas! I wrapped a towel around me and ran downstairs so I wouldn't forget any of them. It's amazing how many ideas come when you really keep your mind open to them.
Ooh, that reminds me that I had another PB idea the other day that I haven't written down yet. I better add it to my idea file before it flies away!
OMG - you are adorable! I love seeing old pictures of couples. You look gorgeous. Love the proposal story too.


Nicholas is a Consultant in the Media Team. He is considered a leading authority in media and arts law.
He has specialist expertise in both traditional media and corporate law, and has been recognised for his industry expertise and insight into all aspects of film, TV and audio-visual production and distribution and in new areas of developing media.


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Holiday Kisses-Epilogue
By Merri Maywether on January 10, 2021 • ( 1 Comment )
Jordan set his coat on the hook by the door in Iris's shop. He stopped and looked at the table Iris had set up in the middle of the craft room. Iris had a couple of decks of cards at the edge of the table and a Yahtzee game. "Brad and Carrie should be here any minute." He craned his neck while he searched the room. "Where's the Ticket to Ride Game?"
"I know you offered to play because I like it, but I didn't want to bore the others." Iris set her hand on his chest and stood on her tiptoe to kiss him. Jordan gave her a quick peck and resumed his search.
"One day, you'll figure out we like the same things as you." He walked into the kitchen with a sense of purpose that confused Iris. "You just get a little more excited than the rest of us." His eyes fell on the game that Iris had tucked away at the top of the fridge. "There it is."
The door opened with a crack, and Iris and Jordan's attention averted to the guests. "Tell me you have regular coffee," Simon called through the house. "Your grandmother is at it again. She keeps telling me I'm too intense. What does she expect from an eighty-two-year-old man? If I settle down, I might not get back up." When he saw Jordan, he said, "Remember, in all family disagreements, you're on my side. I need some help against these women."
"I know what you mean," Jordan nudged his elbow toward Iris. "She tried to get out of playing Ticket to Ride."
"Afraid you're going to lose?" Simon's eyes sparkled.
Ever since the night of the Christmas parade, Jordan and Simon had been as thick as thieves. A couple of times, Iris and her grandmother marveled at the change in Simon.
"What?" he'd snap back at their joking. "When he started leaving flowers on old women's doors, I changed my tune."
Rose entered the house through the back door, and Carrie and Brad were behind her. They had just sat down at the table when the front door opened again. Iris rose to tell whoever it was that the store was closed for the evening. Jordan's dad had closed the door behind him before Iris had completely stood.
"Your mother and Shannon should be in momentarily."
Iris mentally tallied the number of people. There were more people than player tokens in the game. On top of that, it would be a tight squeeze around the table. "We can use two tables and have a Yahtzee tourna—"
In unison, everyone exclaimed, "No!"
Simon cleared his throat and pulled on his ear. "What if we play on teams?"
"Yes, teams." Jordan nodded with eyes that almost seemed to thank Iris's uncle.
Iris's brow curved in confusion, asking why the game was so important.
"It is your favorite game," Jordan egged, "and I still haven't fulfilled my promise to you on that night we hung lights at your house."
"And a promise is a promise," Simon raised a finger to add emphasis to the point.
Somewhere between the argument between Iris and Jordan and the parade, Simon and Jordan had formed an unusual alliance. As far as Jordan was concerned, Simon spoke the wisdom of elders. Conversely, Simon had pulled Iris aside on Christmas morning to tell her she had done well by upgrading her relationship to Jordan. "And the high-speed internet he installed has nothing to do with my change in attitude."
The alliance between Simon and Jordan was a mixed blessing. Yes, Iris had peace. It came at the expense of going up against the two most important men in her life. Whenever Iris mentioned something one disagreed with, the other pulled her aside to negotiate. As in playing Ticket to Ride when it would be easier to play Yahtzee.
Fighting against playing her favorite game made no sense, so Iris withdrew her efforts to push toward something everyone else would like. "Okay, Ticket to Ride teams it is."
Jordan's mother and Shannon rushed in the door. Charlene's voice was breathy. "I hope we didn't miss anything?"
Shannon rubbed the snow off her feet on the rug in front of the door. "Knowing Iris, there had to be a discussion."
"Hey," Iris dreaded that Shannon was right. Shannon was nicer since the night she insisted Iris and Jordan pull it together, but hints of the woman Iris rivaled all her life was still there.
In less time than it took to store snacks and drinks on the end tables, everyone was huddled around the board game that had the image of the United States map. Just seeing the train routes linking the hub cities made Iris giddy.
"I'll pass out destination cards. Jordan can pass out the Train Car cards," Shannon pried the box away from Simon, who had opened it. Two different sets of cards made up the game. One set had colors the player needed to collect to buy train cars. The other set had routes the player had to build with the plastic trains that formed a chain on the board. Iris hoped she and Jordan had routes that were closely connected.
"How about let's do it the other way around." Jordan gave Shannon a steely glare that surprised Iris. He and Shannon never power struggled. Or at least, she thought they hadn't.
"Good point," Shannon replied with her I'll play nice grin.
"Remember, no looking until everyone has their cards." Jordan set the cards in front of the teams. There was something in his tone that said, don't think about arguing. Everyone nodded their agreement. The air of anticipation added to the suspense of the game. Iris thought to herself, wow, I had no idea this many people loved Ticket to Ride as much as I do.
When Jordan finished distributing the cards, he said, "You can look." Iris waited for Jordan to pick up the cards. She was eager, not selfish. Jordan slid the cards closer to Iris. "You can read them first."
Iris picked up the first card, but it didn't make sense. Instead of a destination, a slip of paper with one word adhered to the card, obscuring the route. She found the same thing on all the cards. The first read Iris; the second had a circle with a diamond above it; the third had the word me, and the last had a heart. She murmured, "Something is wrong," and flipped over the card to make sure they hadn't passed out cards from a different game.
"You could fix it by saying, yes." Jordan slid a box that he had set on the table in front of Iris. When it was in front of her, he opened it and got down on one knee.
"What is this?" Iris's mind could not reconcile that what she wished for was taking place in real life.
"In all fairness, I should warn you that we made a wish under the tree ten years ago. Iris, it took me ten years to accept that the best thing that has ever happened to me could be forever. Please say you'll be my wife. I promise I'll be there every day to take care of you, knowing that you'll do the same for me. I'll show you how much you are cherished, and I promise to fight with you to let me help you with all things concerning life."
The room was silent. Iris's voice was lodged in her throat behind the tears she held back. She glanced over at Shannon, who seemed to be the better fit for Jordan. Her face glowed with happiness at what she witnessed. A thought came to Iris. She had been trying to figure out a way to make a love connection between Jordan and Shannon. Had Shannon been trying to do the same thing for Jordan and Iris. If the smile on her face was any indication, both women had the same thought. This time, Shannon had done a better job than Iris. All eyes in the room shone their blessing of agreement on Jordan's request.
"Are you going to answer his question?" Simon nudged Iris with his voice.
Her voice was still stuck, so she nodded. Her eyes connected with Jordan, and she croaked her answer, "Yes."
"Yes?" Jordan said it slowly with a hopeful lilt.
Iris's voice returned. "Yes, Jordan Miller. I will gladly marry you."
Jordan took the ring from the box and placed it on Iris's finger. When it slid into place, her body warmed, and a sense of peace filled her. One day, she'd tell Jordan about the wish she made when she was twelve years old.
Jordan rose and pulled Iris into a hug.
The silence that enveloped them drifted away, and the happy sounds of the others in the room rushed into Iris's awareness. Behind them, she heard her uncle and Jordan's dad talking. His dad said, "Finally, he got something right."
Simon replied, "I never doubted him for a minute."
Categories: Blogroll, Holiday Kisses
Tagged as: book chapter, Holiday Kisses, romance book chapter, romance chapter
100 Words This Year Will Be Different
Her Favorite Story
An amazing ending.
Some of the stories are the day to day happenings of life in a small town. Others are short stories I've shared with my readers. There will be a few shares from excerpts or chapters that don't make it into the novels. All of them end are meant to have you start or finish your day with a smile.
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Good Things Happen, Too
by Merri Maywether
Merri has a discussion with her students, where she encourages them to take a look at 2020 with a different perspective.
Merri Maywether
Love's First Bloom
Believe in Second Chances
Preview of Piece of Cake
Smiles, Sunshine, and Bears
Dance on Main Street
Thirteen Again
The July All School Reunion~the Human Caterpillar
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Events GiG Guide
GIG GUIDE: BARRY HILTON TO PERFORM AT THE CALEDON CASINO
October 2, 2017 November 1, 2017 admin 0 Comment
Comedy lovers are in for another hilarious instalment of non-stop laughter brought to you by legendary stand-up comedian Barry Hilton, only at The Caledon Casino, Hotel, Spa and Entertainment. Hilton will take centre stage at the Caledon Swartberg Hall on Saturday, 07 October 2017.
Hilton, a legend in the South African media industry and a recipient of the 2013 Comic's Choice Lifetime Achiever Award. Throughout his long-standing career, he has doubled as a comedian and a recognised television personality. His star rose even further when he was appointed the host of the quirky talk shows Catch A Wake Up and Funny You Should Say That. Many still recognise Hilton by his long-standing role as the sarcastic one-liner bartender, Larry, in the famous South African alcohol beverage commercial, an iconic role he pioneered for over 13 years.
"We are truly honoured to, once again, be hosting Barry Hilton at our property. Hilton is one of the most recognised comedians in the country and he is a legend in his own right. He has kept the country entertained for more than three decades and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. The last time he took centre stage at The Caledon, the show was sold out and we are expecting a full house once again," says Paul Campbell, Director of Operations and Complex GM at the Caledon Casino.
The one night only show, will see Hilton showcasing brand new material, reaffirming exactly why South Africans consider him to be one of our country's most relevant comedians. Hilton's genuinely funny bones, his uncanny ability to gauge a crowd, and his firm stance on keeping comedy "clean" for the last 31 years, makes this show a must-see show for die-hard comedy fans and those who simply want their funny bones tickled.
Tickets are available at the Caledon Hotel reception or Computicket at R120.00 per person. All Caledon cardholders are rewarded with exclusive discounts of up to 30 % off the total ticket price. There's more top-notch entertainment in store at the Caledon like Marc Lottering's stand-up show taking place on Saturday, 4 November 2017. For more information visit: https://www.tsogosun.com/the-caledon-casino
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Saucon Source (https://sauconsource.com/2020/07/08/flash-flood-watch-issued-for-northampton-lehigh-counties/)
Flash Flood Watch Issued for Northampton, Lehigh Counties
By Josh Popichak | July 8, 2020
This evening's commute home could be dicey.
Around lunchtime Wednesday, skies were already thickening with storm clouds and the wind was picking up across much of the Lehigh Valley. Weather radar showed a line of slow-moving showers and thunderstorms approaching from the north and west.
The National Weather Service says the heavy storms have the potential to bring torrential rains into Wednesday evening, which is why they have issued a flash flood watch for Northampton, Lehigh, Berks, Carbon and Monroe counties in east central Pennsylvania.
In a statement about the watch issued shortly after noon, the weather service said "slow-moving storms are expected to continue forming along outflow boundaries through the early afternoon across the higher terrain of the Poconos and portions of the Lehigh Valley. Slow storm motion and high rainfall rates may result in flash flooding."
A flash flood watch means there is the potential for flash flooding due to heavy rain that is expected to occur over a short period of time.
"Rapidly rising flood waters may quickly inundate roadways and areas of poor drainage," the statement indicated. "Streams and creeks could leave their banks, flooding nearby properties."
The flash flood watch is in effect through 10 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the latest National Weather Service forecast for the Lehigh Valley area, this afternoon there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. The long-term forecast indicates some chance of storms every day and night through at least Tuesday.
Although Hellertown borough and parts of Lower Saucon Township were spared, a severe thunderstorm cell that formed along the outflow boundary referenced by the NWS brought damaging hail to southern Northampton and upper Bucks counties Monday.
Hailstones as large as an inch in diameter brought down leaves and damaged property in the Bingen and Leithsville sections of Lower Saucon Township.
The statement issued Wednesday did not warn of the potential for hail.
Local Group Will Distribute Free Food, PPE in Bethlehem, Easton
Over 16 Establishments Taking Part in Hellertown-Lower Saucon Restaurant Week