New to the forum, so apologies if covered elsewhere - I couldn't find it.
I'm just about to start a tour on my Nomad Mk2, and unfortunately had to dismantle and pack for air travel in a bit of a hurry. To comply with size restrictions I also had to remove forks. As a consequence of rushing (I know, I know..) I'm not absolutely sure I've got the order of parts on the Orbit XL2 headset right.
Can anyone point me in the direction of where to find a PDF showing the 'exploded view' of an XL2 so that I can check I've put it all back together correctly?
Here you go, Stuart -- two PDFs attached.
PS: I got these from FSA/North America tech support in response to an inquiry like yours--took less than an hour for FSA to respond by email.
I usually put a copy of the exploded diagram or a photo, or maybe both on my phone so I have it where I can pull it up when I travel.
Attached is a photo of the parts on my Nomad fork in the correct order, except of course the frame and cups are missing in the photo.
I have to remove the fork to fit the frame in the S&S case, so I put all the parts on the fork in the correct order when I do that. And put a rubber band on the steerer tube to keep all the parts on the fork.
Thank you both for the responses. Super helpful; much appreciated.
The collective knowledge and helpfulness on this forum is amazing!
One more suggestion for when you have the fork out of the frame.
When I bought my Nomad frame and fork I was quite surprised to see a piece of tape inside the head tube that covered the small holes into the top tube and down tube, I had never seen that before. But within a few seconds I realized that was a brilliant way to try to keep any water that came into the headtube from getting into the top tube or down tube.
Thus, if your bike does not have that piece of tape, I would suggest adding it before you install the fork.
My Nomad is the S&S variety and includes small discs at the S&S couplers to plug off the tubing ends with blank discs. Thus, if water got into the top tube or down tube, that water could flow down hill and accumulate inside the tubing at the blanked off couplings. Maybe SJS adds that only to S&S frames, I do not know? But it makes sense on all frames and I have added that piece of tape to several other bikes since then because it makes so much sense.


text:
Wither research into the needs of older people [sic] ???
First off, an anecdote inspired by the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt MP's, announcement to mark the 65th anniversary of the NHS, that all older people will have a named clinician responsible for their care.
This is absolutely good news. But it's the view down the narrow end of the telescope. I wonder how things might look if it was an older person looking down the other end of the telescope?
Gordon Lishman, the former DG of Age Concern (now called Age UK and looking ever more like the charity equivalent of 'Poundstretcher'), once said at a conference, 'we will know change is upon us when doctors and health care staff can remember an older person's name and call them by it [sic].'
Anyway, I am thrilled by the fact that this whole episode reminded me to dig out and pass on a really rather excellent paper by a colleague, Peter Lansley, who is Professor Emeritus (Construction Business Management, Assistive Technology, Ageing) at the School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading.
His paper, published in Ageing and Society last year, is a review of the special programmes of ageing research run by the research councils and others over the last 15 years. It is a highly readable critique of how the aforementioned bodies failed to grasp the opportunities to promulgate multi-disciplinary research into ageing: top-down, highly linear in their approach, and certainly not user-driven, most of these programmes have failed to deliver anything of more than passing interest.
You will see that one of the other observations Peter makes in his paper is the extent to which single disease concerns have dominated the view taken by funders, again to the detriment of the whole. Some years ago the government funders, charities and others pulled themselves together into what is called the UK Age Research Forum (UKARF). In fact I have featured several of its meetings on these pages. It was never the easiest of partnerships. But it really does look in abeyance at the moment.
If you look at the website, there are no UKARF events listed and most of the forthcoming activity is disease specific and run by the relevant charity. I note the Alzheimer's Society provides the secretariat but they have a lot on their hands with the Dementia Challenge. So, it might be good for someone else to step up to the plate although in my experience few organisations felt able to go that in the past. And maybe UKARF is not the right model. But, in the meantime, I fear another year of missed opportunity for multi-disciplinary and multi-agency ageing research lies ahead.
My apologies to Peter for taking so long to flag this paper up….
older people, UKARF
Age UK, Alzheimer, Alzheimer's Society, Assistive Technology, Gordon Lishman, Lord Strathclyde, National Health Service, Peter Lansley. research into the needs of older people, Secretary of State for Health, UK Age Research Forum, UKARF, University of Reading
250 words on Genomics England
Leadership, and a strategy transplant from NHSBT would do the patient data debate no harm

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Dannie Abse, doctor, author, playwright, and most famously, poet, revisits many of the themes of his previous works in his most recent poetry collection, Speak, Old Parrot. Abse, prolific author and recent winner of the Wales Book of the Year Award, enchants and enthralls readers of every age with his musings on the themes of love, loss, death, medicine, and tradition.
and there are feathers in the wind.
He had been a confidence man for the patient.
his stethoscope to listen as if to Mozart.
Then, silently, relatives and friends filed out.
No applause. None for Hippocrates' art.
In Speak, Old Parrot, it is clear that Abse's poems are designed to be savored; each beautiful, tragic, humorous, and lyrical layer affects the reader differently, and combined, such as in "Portrait of an Old Doctor," the effect holds a certain power that only expert poets such as Abse can successfully wield. Abse's compassion and humility as a physician shines through in this collection, and his reverence for humanity is truly unmatched.
-whether for you or myself I do not know.
The sheer weight of loss, the depth of pain that is clear in the poem, is enough to make heavy even the hardest of hearts; but Abse's ability to display honest emotion through the masterful craftsmanship of the poetic line is what sets his poems apart from his renowned contemporaries, namely William Carlos Williams. In keeping with the shifty ventriloquist personality of the parrot that the collection draws its inspiration from, the poem following "Moonbright" is "Sunbright," a delicate, dazzling rendering of the speaker's first encounter with a beautiful woman. The collection is arranged not by subject matter, but rather in an arcing of human emotion, spanning from childlike wonder, to all-consuming lust, to love, to devastating pain and anger at death and loss.
Perhaps the most distinct and wonderful element of Abse's collection, and his works in general, is his ability to effortlessly ensnare the reader in the heart of his work and tug him or her along, gently, through the spectrum of human emotion and experience. Anyone who reads Speak, Old Parrot will benefit from it. Young readers will relish the lively, passionate, travel-oriented poems; seasoned readers will savor the difficult truths of aging and reassuring tradition; and many readers will enjoy the Romantic undercurrent in the poems that deal with the subject of love present in the collection. From cover to cover, the reader becomes invested in the power of Abse's words, the concentrated structures of his poems, and his unparalleled translation of human experience into ink on the page.
Speak, Old Parrot is a brilliant collection that is accessible to any reader. Abse challenges the reader to fully explore the power of the human frame and emotion, and it is truly a joy to extract the essence of the collection. Abse is a poetic titan and incomparable wordsmith, and Speak, Old Parrot is the inimitable concentration of poetry that speaks to almost all of his other collections. Speak, Old Parrot is the impressive flourish with which Abse began his ninetieth year, and he reveals no sign of slowing his unbelievable pace or work any time soon.
Your review tantalizes my appetite for more. It reveals a passion for writing,an empathy for the reader and writer, and insightful warmth for the subjects.


God of War director, better known as Cory Barlog, has stepped forth to respond to criticism pertaining to this year's upcoming outing. The reboot-sequel has made some changes to the formula that has been shown off in various videos, which seems to have caused an outcry that has reached Barlog.
Whether you're looking to play God of War or skip out on it, there's no denying that this iteration of the game is different from past titles in the series. Additionally, some fans have stressed that changes made to the game are for the better, while others are saying the changes are for the worse.
Well, it seems that the uproar has spread to various platforms that it ended up reaching Cory Barlog, creative director at Sony Interactive Entertainment's Santa Monica Studio, who happens to be developing this year's God of War outing.
As of right now, the game is slated to release exclusively for PS4 on April 20th. Folks looking to shape their opinion on this year's God of War have less than two weeks to watch footage, and I'm sure videos and streams will go up aplenty for further assessment — if your mind isn't already made up.
With all of that said, what do you think of Barlog's response and of this iteration of God of War?


text:
Q: get records for the last 7 days in Hive I have a table in hive like below. I want to select insertdate, customer_id from this table where insertdate is current_date - 7 days.
original table
+------------------------+--------------+
|       insertdate       | customer_id  |
+------------------------+--------------+
| 2018-04-21 04:00:00.0  | 39550695     |
| 2018-04-22 04:00:00.0  | 38841612     |
| 2018-04-23 03:59:00.0  | 23100419     |
| 2018-04-24 03:58:00.0  | 39550688     |
| 2018-04-25 03:58:00.0  | 39550691     |
| 2018-05-12 03:57:00.0  | 39550685     |
| 2018-05-13 03:57:00.0  | 39550687     |
| 2018-05-14 03:57:00.0  | 39550677     |
| 2018-05-14 03:56:00.0  | 30254216     |
| 2018-05-14 03:56:00.0  | 39550668     |
+------------------------+--------------+

expected result
+------------------------+--------------+
|       insertdate       | customer_id  |
+------------------------+--------------+
| 2018-05-12 03:57:00.0  | 39550685     |
| 2018-05-13 03:57:00.0  | 39550687     |
| 2018-05-14 03:57:00.0  | 39550677     |
| 2018-05-14 03:56:00.0  | 30254216     |
| 2018-05-14 03:56:00.0  | 39550668     |
+------------------------+--------------+

But I am getting empty results when I try the following
select insert_date, customer_id from table where insert_date = date_sub(current_date, 7);

select insert_date, customer_id from table whereinsert_date = date_sub(FROM_UNIXTIME(UNIX_TIMESTAMP(),'yyyy-MM-dd'), 7);

For both the above queries I got empty results.
What am I doing wrong here and how to get the correct result?

A: Assuming you need data for the past 7 days, use
select insert_date, customer_id
from table
where to_date(insert_date) >= date_sub(current_date, 7)
and to_date(insert_date) < current_date

The reason your query doesn't show results is because of the comparison between datetime format and date.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
11 Best Hemp Clothing Brands & Companies That Passed Our Review
Eco-Friendly Natural Products | By Natalia Mello | Updated on October 7, 2021
The best hemp clothing brands and companies are boosting your confidence while making both you and the planet healthier.
When it comes to eco-friendly materials, hemp ranks among the best. The fabric is durable, anti-fungal, antibacterial, thermodynamic, resistant to mold, and very soft. On top of that, hemp grows extremely quickly, yields large quantities of fiber per acre, and can be harvested multiple times each year.1
Keep reading to boost your knowledge about hemp fabric and get to know the 11 best companies providing hemp garments.
The 11 Best Hemp Clothing Brands and Companies
Best Wildlife Hemp Clothing Brand: 8 Billion Trees
Our hemp tees support the planting of new trees in the Amazon rainforest, and help rehabilitate endangered animals.
Best Cooling Clothes Brand: Bohempia
Wicks moisture from the body keeping you cool and comfortable.
Best Versatile Hemp Brand: Eileen Fisher
Produces timeless minimalist clothing items that work well with capsule closets.
Best Transparent Hemp Clothing Brand: Groceries Apparel
Allows consumers to trace origin of materials and manufacturing processes used.
Best Community Supporting Hemp Brand: Hempy's
Has launched initiatives to support local economies and communities with their sales.
Best Carbon Reducing Hemp Clothes Brand: JUNGMAVEN
The hemp used is designed to stop clear cutting, which destroys the planet's natural emissions scrubbers.
Best Sustainable Hemp Jeans: Outerknown
Jeans are made from sustainable denim factories and are guaranteed for life.
Best All Natural Hemp Clothing Brand: ONNO
Very little to no chemicals are used during its manufacturing processes.
Best Outdoor Hemp Clothing Brand: Patagonia
Known for its outdoor apparel, Patagonia always delivers on eco-friendly designs.
Best Contemporary Hemp Clothing Brand: Thought
Produces contemporary clothing pieces that won't harm the planet.
Best Renewable Energy Eco-Conscious Hemp Brand: Toad & Co.
Purchases Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to ensure that energy used in operations is renewable.
Hemp delivers several environmental and agricultural benefits. Those benefits include sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2), hence combating climate change.2
Product Name: Organic Hemp Cotton Blend 8 Billion Trees Tee-Shirt
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Plants trees and rehabilitates wild endangered animals.
Why We Love This Hemp Clothing Brand
8 Billion Trees' hemp clothing line features all the sustainable advantages of using this material, but comes with an awesome extra benefit. Every tee-shirt sold plants new, and conserves existing trees! So, when you buy one of these tees, you're helping rebuild the Amazon rainforest and restore habitats for endangered animals.
Plus, these hemp and cotton blend t-shirts are super soft and look great!
Product Name: Men's Hemp T-Shirt Hirzo White BHMP
Sizes: S-XXL
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Natural, antimicrobial, highly absorbent and Thermoregulatory.
Selling clothes (socks, t-shirts, and underwear), shoes, and accessories for both females and males, Bohempia has been promoting sustainable fashion since 2015.12
The design is clear-cut and the pieces are crafted in the European Union. The company constantly keeps track of how the products are made, under which conditions the producers are working, and the quality of the material they use.
Product Name: Organic Cotton Hemp Stand Collar Jacket
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Supports circular economy to recycle and renew the pieces they received.
Besides greening the planet with beautifully crafted hemp clothing for women, Eileen Fisher supports circular economy, living by the motto "where others see waste, we see possibility."13
Eileen is a slow fashion designer who encourages you to enjoy her timeless and minimalist creations as much as you can, then send the pieces back to the company when you no longer use them. The company renews and resells each piece they receive.13
Product Name: Paco Hemp Crew Pocket
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Vertically-integrated, local, requires very little water, used fiber that is naturally pest-resistant and produces more fiber yield.
Based in Los Angeles, this brand sells affordable hemp pullovers, leggings, skirts, tops, and face masks to both women and men.14
Groceries Apparel ensures fair and healthy working, offers the clients the chance to fully trace the origin and manufacturing process of their purchases, minimizes waste generation, and has a low carbon footprint.14
Product Name: Hemp Flatline Beanie
Sizes: 9" from base to crown
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Committed to supporting local economies and reducing the company's carbon footprint. They dedicate 20% of their profit to "Black Hat Series".
This brand, which is based in San Diego, has been active since 1995. It offers stylish and affordable tees, socks, hats, leggings, scarves, beanies, and masks to males and females. Hemp fabrics are mixed with other sustainable materials, like organic cotton.15
The company donates 20 percent of the profits made from selling any products in their "Black Hat Series" to programs aiming at saving the planet and enhancing community development: "buy a hat, save the future."15
Hempy's has committed to supporting local economies and reducing the company's carbon footprint: the clothes and accessories are manufactured as close as possible to where the products are sold. The company has a strong and growing international presence.15
Product Name: Campy Pant
Price: $$$
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: The hemp used in products absorb more carbon dioxide than trees and other plants.
This brand, which is based in San Diego, has been active since 1995. It offers stylish and affordable tees, socks, hats,
This is one of the major producers of hemp garments in the United States. It sells tees, underwear, pants, sweatshirts, outerwear, and accessories to kids, women, and men.16
According to them, "Being 'Jung' means making a conscious, daily choice to heal the planet with your actions."16 Back in the early 1990s, the company's founder, Robert Jungmann decided to share his knowledge about how to halt clear-cutting practices and other environmental problems by promoting the use of industrial hemp.16
When hemp's fashion potential was not acknowledged, Robert Jungmann designed a hemp t-shirt as a way to show the world the plant's ability to cure the planet while producing high-quality fabric. He moreover became a founding member of an organization playing a big role in the legalization of industrial hemp: Hemp Industries Association.16
Product Name: Sur Sweatshirt
Sizes: XS-L
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: 90% of fibers used are organic, recycled, or regenerated.
Offering hemp + organic cotton blends, this brand gets you ready for days on the beach and outdoor adventures.17
Outerknown was the first company to try to obtain Fair Labor Association accreditation prior to shipping its first product. The company invests in the livelihoods of 5,000 people who bring their vision to life, through Fair Trade USA.17
Product Name: ONNO Hemp T-Shirt
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Global Organic Textile Standard Certified, buys carbon offsets.
This US brand sells hemp + organic cotton tees for males and females. The t-shirts have obtained a certification (Certified Global Organic Textile Standard) that ensures the textiles receive very little to no chemical inputs – such as toxic dyes and bleaches – in their manufacturing process.18
The company additionally buys tree planting carbon offsets from trusted top carbon offset providers to mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions and further contribute to a healthier planet.18
Product Name: Women's All Seasons Hemp Canvas Bomber Hoody Jacket
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Pledged 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment.
You may already know Patagonia for its famous outdoor apparel. It turns out that the brand is also heavily investing in sustainable clothing, and offers an extensive range of hemp options for males and females. This year, hemp was added into 68 of their products.19
The brand's hemp portfolio includes shirts, pants, jackets, overalls, tees, shorts, hats, and coats. Most of these are made of hemp blended with sustainable materials like lyocell, organic cotton, and recycled polyester.19
Patagonia is a member of an organization – 1% for the Planet – that warrants 1 percent of their profit helps fund programs steering the protection and restoration of the planet's ecosystems.19
Product Name: Cristian Hemp Grandpa Top
Sizes: XS-XXL
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Uses sustainable fibers and is certified by sustainability bodies.
Thought was founded in 1995 in Australia. Back then, the name of the company was Braintree Clothing. Nowadays, Thought is based in the United Kingdom and offers a wide array of sustainable clothing options for women and men, including hemp.20
You can find high-quality pants, jackets, shorts, dresses, socks, and accessories made of a hemp and organic cotton mix.20
The company is a member of an alliance of businesses, NGOs, and trade unions – the Ethical Trading Initiative – that advocate for worker's rights across the world. Thought has also received certifications from well-known sustainability bodies such as Fair Trade, OEKO-TEX, ECO CERT, and the Global Organic Textile Standard.20
Product Name: Women's Taj Hemp Sleeveless Jumpsuit
Sizes: S-XL
Hemp Clothing Company's Sustainability Initiatives: Uses Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and 1% for the Planet.
This US-based brand offers various products – such as skirts, dresses, shirts, tees, face masks, and accessories – made of hemp + other sustainable materials (especially organic cotton).21
The company was founded in 1996 and employs different sustainability strategies in its operations. For instance, Toad&Co participates in composting programs and has installed energy-efficient light bulbs in all offices.21
Besides that, the company buys Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) to guarantee the energy consumed in their activities comes from renewable sources, such as the wind and sun. Just like Patagonia, Toad&Co is a member of 1% for the Planet.21
The Health and Environmental Benefits of Hemp Clothing
Sweatshirts, tank tops, pants, t-shirts, and other clothes made from hemp are extremely comfortable. Contrary to what most people think, hemp clothing becomes softer as time passes.
Also, because its fiber has a hollow structure, air can easily flow through hemp fabric. Since the air is an excellent thermal insulator, hemp-made clothes will keep you refreshed on hot days and warm when it's cold.3
Hemp also fights certain bacteria (including E. coli) and fungal species, which makes it a healthy and hypoallergenic alternative. Hemp clothing also offers protection from ultraviolet light, mold, salt water, mildew, and rotting. In addition, hemp fabric retains its shape much better than other materials and is eight times stronger than cotton.1
Unlike clothes made from synthetic fibers, hemp clothing does not contribute to plastic pollution. Synthetic fabrics – such as nylon, acrylic, and polyester – are made from petrochemicals. Because of that, these fabrics contain plastics and washing them is one of the main sources of microplastic pollution.4
Microplastics cycle through the atmosphere and enter the ocean, the soil, and unlikely places such as the guts of insects in Antarctica and human placentas.5 Because hemp fiber comes from the stem of the plant Cannabis sativa L., it is entirely biodegradable and compostable.6
Besides significantly contributing to the issue of microplastic pollution, synthetic materials are associated with copious greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, given the nature of their energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Hemp, on the other hand, absorbs CO2 emissions: one ton of hemp sequesters 1.63 tons of carbon from the atmosphere.7
Hemp moreover grows very quickly – it matures in 90 to 120 days and can be harvested three times each year.8 It can grow in many different environments and produces up to 2,650 pounds of fabric per acre,9 yielding twice as much fiber than cotton planted in the same area.10
Cultivating hemp does not require the use of chemical herbicides or pesticides, as Cannabis sativa L. is naturally impervious to pests.2 Because chemical pest repellents are noxious to both humans and the environment, expanding hemp cultivation is a safe and healthy choice for humans and non-humans. Few examples of health issues linked with chemical pesticides include cancer, Alzheimer, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).11
Besides being resistant to pests, hemp is a great ally when it comes to rehabilitating degraded soils. Because of its deep roots, it helps prevent soil erosion. Moreover, its nutrient-reach leaves and stem can be deposited in the soil, increasing its fertility and allowing for more abundant yields.
As if that wasn't enough, hemp cleans the soil, since the plant can eliminate toxic particles from the environment. Because of these qualities, hemp is ideal for crop rotation systems, a sustainable farming practice.2
Hemp cultivation also saves water. While the production of 1 pound of cotton requires roughly 2,273 gallons of water, producing the same amount of hemp consumes 288-408 gallons.9
Providing these many benefits, it is easy to understand why more and more companies are producing hemp garments. Keep scrolling for a comprehensive overview of the leaders in the market!
The following brands and companies are listed in alphabetical order, and not according to how well they rank in terms of sustainability or style. All of them offer fashionable, green, and comfy clothing.
It's Time to Go for a Greener Wardrobe
Even small changes in your clothing choices can contribute to radically improving our planet's ecosystems health and resilience.
For decreased carbon emissions, plastic pollution, chemical pesticides, and waste generation – and for improved conditions in soils, bodies of water, and the air – say yes to hemp textiles!
These 11 companies provide beautiful pieces that will keep you comfy, stylish, healthy, and reduce your carbon footprint.
To go even further, though, you can choose a hemp product that not only is made from organic, eco-friendly materials, but also helps to plant forests and save wildlife. Some products come with (simply use an ecological footprint calculator to measure your emissions) carbon offsets, meaning that not only are you helping the Earth by choosing hemp, you are directly contributing to its survival!
By making choices that incorporate as many positives for the planet as possible, you can become an eco-warrior by wearing hemp clothing brands.
Read More About Eco-Friendly Products:
2021 Zero Waste Essentials that Also Reverse Pollution and Erase Carbon Emissions
Zero Waste Laundry Detergent (and Calculator to Find Your Household Laundry Emissions!)
The Average Carbon Footprint Per Person Is Rising Fast: Is It Too Late? (10 Ways to Help Now)
Can Planting Trees Be Bad For The Environment? New Stanford Study Explains
Forestry Carbon Offsetting: Tree Planting to Offset Emissions for Companies Going Carbon Neutral
Carbon Offsets Don't Work? Learn About Verified Climate Solutions (and More Explained)
1Hemp Clothing Australia. (2021, August 22). Why Wear Hemp? The Benefits Of Wearing Hemp Clothing. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.hempclothingaustralia.com/why-wear-hemp
2McGill University. (n.d.). Environmental benefits of hemp. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://eap.mcgill.ca/CPH_3.htm
3In, S. (n.d.). Why Hemp Clothes. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.thehempshop.co.uk/why-hemp-clothes
4Boucher, J. & Friot, D. (2017). Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: a Global Evaluation of Sources. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2017.01.
5de Mello, N. (2021, July 9). Plastic Pollution Is Causing "Global Disturbances" By Intensifying Climate Change. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.peacefuldumpling.com/plastic-pollution-climate-change
6Parletta, N. (2019, June 28). Could Hemp Be The Next Big Thing In Sustainable Cotton, Fuel, Wood And Plastic? Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalieparletta/2019/06/28/could-hemp-be-the-next-big-thing-in-sustainable-cotton-fuel-wood-and-plastic/
7Swaminathan, A. (2016, October 11). Hemp, Inc. Announces One of Nevada's First Commercial Hemp Harvests. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from http://finance.yahoo.com/news/hemp-inc-announces-one-nevadas-141754461.html
8Reporters, A. (2019, December 11). New AutoCBD hemp seed cuts maturation time by weeks | AGDAILY. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.agdaily.com/crops/autocbd-hemp-seed-cuts-maturation-time/
9Cherrett, N., Barrett, J., Clemett, A., Chadwick, M., & Chadwick, M. J. (n.d.). Ecological Footprint and Water Analysis of Cotton, Hemp and Polyester. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-Report-EcologicalFootprintAndWaterAnalysisOfCottonHempAndPolyester-2005.pdf
10Burgess, R. (2014, April 15). Hemp Fiber Crop Research & Development. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://fibershed.org/2014/04/15/hemp-fiber-crop-research-development/
11Owens, K., Feldman, J., & Kepner, J. (n.d.). Wide Range of Diseases Linked to Pesticides. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/health/pid-database.pdf
12Bohempia USA. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://bohempiausa.com
13EILEEN FISHER. (n.d.). Free Standard Shipping and Free Returns on all US Orders – Casual & Elegant Clothes . (2021, August 24). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.eileenfisher.com/?country=US&currency=USD
14Groceries Apparel. (n.d.) Hemp. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://groceriesapparel.com/collections/hemp
15Hempys. (2021, August 22). Hemp T Shirt – Ask Your Doctor. Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://hempys.com/product/hemp-t-shirt-ask-your-doctor/
16Jungmaven | High Quality Hemp Clothing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://jungmaven.com
17Shop Outerknown | Free Shipping & Returns. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.outerknown.com
18ONNO T-Shirt Company | Bamboo, Hemp + Organic T-Shirts. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://onno.com
19Patagonia Outdoor Clothing Camp Gear (n.d.). (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.patagonia.com/home/
20Thought Clothing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.wearethought.com
21Toad&Co | Sustainable, Organic & Eco Friendly Clothing. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2021, from https://www.toadandco.com
22Image source: Bohempia, https://www.bohempia.eu/panske-konopne-tricko-hirzo-white-bhmp/
23Image source: Eileen Fisher, https://www.eileenfisher.com/organic-cotton-hemp-stand-collar-jacket-s1suz-j5499-olive#colorid=2255
24Image source: Groceries Apparel, https://groceriesapparel.com/products/paco-hemp-crew-pocket?_pos=5&_sid=352a563ff&_ss=r
25Image source: Hempy's, https://hempys.com/product/hemp-flatline-beanie/
26Image source: Jungmaven, https://jungmaven.com/collections/mens-bottoms/products/hemp-pants-campy
27Image source: Outerknown, https://www.outerknown.com/products/sur-sweatshirt-heather-grey?variant=31723186847767
28Image source: Onno, https://onno.com/store/hemp-t-shirt-women/
29Image source: Patagonia, https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-all-seasons-hemp-canvas-bomber-hoody-jacket/26685.html?dwvar_26685_color=RATN
30Image source: Thought, https://www.wearethought.com/cristian-hemp-grandpa-top-in-washed-black/
31Image source: Toad and Co., https://www.toadandco.com/products/womens-taj-hemp-sleeveless-jumpsuit-palomino-dogwood-print?variant=32689557864496


text:
White becomes 10th Soldier to receive Medal of Honor since 9/11
By J.D. LeipoldJune 3, 2014
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A woman in the audience captures the Medal of Honor ceremony of former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White, who received the nation's highest military award for his life-saving actions during an ambush in Afghanistan on Nov. 9, 2007. President Barack Obama prese... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor, the nation's high military award for valor, to former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White for his life-saving actions in Afghanistan on Nov. 9, 2007. White was awarded the medal at a White House ceremony May 1... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – President Barack Obama shares a moment with the family of former Army Sgt. Kyle J. White who had just moments earlier been awarded the Medal of Honor for his life-saving actions in Afghanistan on Nov. 9, 2007. The highest military award for valor was... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Former Army Sgt. Kyle Jerome White received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama for his life-saving actions during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan, Nov. 9, 2007. White was awarded the nation's highest military award at a White House ceremo... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 14, 2014) -- Former Sgt. Kyle Jerome White was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony yesterday, making him the sixth living Army recipient, and the 14th service member overall, to earn the medal in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
Obama opened his remarks in the East Room by paying tribute not just to White, but to what he referred to as the "9/11 generation," all those young citizens who came forth after Sept. 11, 2001, to volunteer their service knowing full well what the cost could be.
"For more than 12 years, with our nation at war, the men and women of our armed forces have known the measure of danger that comes with military service," he said. "But year after year, tour after tour, they have displayed a selfless willingness to incur it -- by stepping forward, by volunteering, by serving and sacrificing greatly to keep us all safe.
"Today, our troops are coming home," he added, saying that by year's end the war in Afghanistan will be over. "And, today, we pay tribute to a Soldier who embodies the courage of his generation -- a young man who was a freshman in high school when the Twin Towers fell, and who just five years later became an elite paratrooper with the legendary 173rd Airborne -- the Sky Soldiers."
The president recounted the Nov. 9, 2007, ambush outside the village of Aranas, in which five Soldiers and a Marine would perish, as White's unit of 13 Americans and a squad of Afghan soldiers descended into what was called "ambush alley." Suddenly, the chatter of AK-47s and the smoke trails of rocket-propelled grenades, known as RPGs, lit up the valley, sending shattered shards and chunks of red-hot metal and rock flying.
With nowhere to escape the three-pronged onslaught but down a steep decline, White, 1st Lt. Matthew Ferrara, Spc. Kain Schilling, Marine Sgt. Phillip Bocks and an interpreter were left stranded as the rest of the unit slid 160 feet down the mountain.
The 20-year-old then-specialist emptied one 30-round clip from his M-4, but as he went to slide another into place, an RPG screamed in nearby and, "it was just lights out," as White later described. That wouldn't be the last time that day he would be rocked by a nearby explosion.
White saw his buddy Schilling trying to stay in the shade of what Schilling later recalled "as the smallest tree on earth." Schilling had been wounded severely in his right upper arm, so White sprinted to Schilling, applied a tourniquet, then saw Bocks.
After four sprints and attempts to pull Bocks to cover, White was finally successful, and began administering first aid. He applied a tourniquet, but it was too late. Bocks wounds had been too severe, and he passed away. When White looked up, he saw Schilling take another round, this time, to his left leg. Again, he sprinted to Schilling, but out of tourniquets, he used his belt and was able to once again stop the bleeding.
While the one-way battle continued, White saw his lieutenant lying face down. He ran to Ferrara's aid, but he was already dead. As White recalled in an earlier interview, he had accepted that he and Schilling weren't going to make it through this firefight.
"It's just a matter of time before I'm dead," White had said. "I figured if that's going to happen, I might as well help while I can."
White next secured a radio, as both his and Schilling's had been destroyed by small-arms fire. He relayed a situational report and called for mortars, artillery, air strikes and helicopter guns runs. Suddenly and for the second time that day, an explosion that "scrambled my brains a little bit there," concussed White. A friendly 120-mm mortar round had fallen a bit short of its intended target.
Though struggling to keep Schilling and himself from falling asleep, White was eventually able to lay out a landing zone and assist the flight medic in hoisting all the wounded aboard. Only then did he allow himself to be medically evacuated.
Today, nearly seven years later, White and each of the surviving Soldiers of the Battle of Aranas, wears a stainless steel wristband made by one of the unit's Soldiers. Each is etched with the names of those who didn't come home: 1st Lt. Matthew C. Ferrara, Sgt. Jeffery S. Mersman, Spc. Sean K.A. Langevin, Spc. Lester G. Roque, Pfc. Joseph M. Lancour and Marine Sgt. Phillip A. Bocks.
"Kyle, members of Chosen Company, you did your duty, and now it's time for America to do ours," said Obama. "You make us proud, and you motivate all of us to be the best we can be as Americans, as a nation."
Following the ceremony, White offered his thoughts to the media:
"I wear this medal for my team. I also wear a piece of metal around my wrist. It was given to me by another survivor of the 9 November ambush; he wears an identical one," White said. "This has made it even more precious than the medal of symbol just placed around my neck. On it are the names of six fallen brothers; they are my heroes."
VIDEO: Former Army sergeant receives Medal of Honor
Center for the Army Profession and Ethic
173rd Airborne paratrooper to receive Medal of Honor
Former sergeant to receive Medal of Honor for Afghanistan actions
Medal of Honor to be accepted in memory of six who perished
Medal of Honor recipient's former commander recalls his heroism
Army News Service - ARNEWS
Army.mil: Medal of Honor: Sgt. Kyle J. White
Army.mil: Inside the Army News
STAND-TO!: Medal of Honor for Sgt. Kyle J. White
Army.mil: Stories of Valor
Learn what L.D.R.S.H.I.P. stands for
173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) on Facebook
2/503rd Airborne on Facebook
May 4, 2022MIA-Medal of Honor recipient and WWII Army pilot laid to rest
May 2, 2022Lt. Gen. Donna W. Martin receives Courage Award at White House Correspondents' Weekend Garden Brunch
January 26, 2017White invested as new Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army
March 23, 2016Signal regiment honors Hollywood director
August 26, 2015Army announces Oregon Guardsman to receive Soldiers Medal: Specialist subdued gunman on Paris-bound
April 17, 2015McHugh orders benefits be provided to Purple Heart recipients
Former sergeant receives Medal of Honor for Afghanistan actions


Ready for the madness? Well this episode of Legion surely brings it. Though it seems like some randomized chaos, this is rarely the case. The lengths the writers go through to captivate its every growing audience is profound, leaving you wanting more insanity. This series seems to deliver in every single way, it's so hard to find shows that can hook you at first glance.
Welcome to the living nightmare. As we explore the depths of the many lives of David things get weird, really fast. This is something we have all come to expect from this series. It makes it stand out from all the others out there, cementing their mark as an obscure and enthralling television show.
Don't let the calming pace of a life well lived fool you. This is only to lull the viewer into a false sense of security, especially when David (Dan Stevens) is beyond his breaking point. Reality is so obscured, you can't help but get yourself hooked in the story line, almost believing that normality is part of this turbulent world.
David seems to be doing everything possible to avoid the demons that haunt him, especially with what has recently come to light. The staggering loss of his own blood has consumed him, leaving him to his own devices. This is the great undoing, but it surely won't be the last. He has persevered thus far, and there's no turning back now.
A theme of overwhelming sadness consumes this episode. Reliving every moment of his former life, no stone unturned. The memories all bring him back to his sister. Perhaps the timelines he is so adamant about collide to make this hellish reality come to life. There is always truth within the madness, and this may be one of them. It's all and yet nothing at all.
If you don't leave this episode questioning your own sanity, then you are doing this Legion thing all wrong. That's the wonderful thing about this show, it takes you to places you never thought possible. Not only is it an entertaining block of television, it makes you question everything. There is something rather alluring about the unpredictable nature of this show that keeps viewers holding on for more.
What is apparent in all realities? You don't want to piss David off.
Farouk ( Navid Negahban) is always hiding out in the shadows, there is no escaping his grasp. It's something David must face head on. What is real? Well that is up to you to decide in the end, which is coming sooner than we think.
The next episode of Legion is on Tuesday, May 15 on FX at 10/9c.


Rubber Jellyfish, a documentary about the harmful effects helium balloons can have on the environment, is showing at Caves House Outdoor Cinema on Thursday, February 21. In the full-length feature, filmmaker Carly Wilson sets out on a personal journey to meet key players on all sides in the fight to ban balloons, and exposes the confronting truth behind the favourite party product. The screening is being hosted by the City of Busselton and is just one of several recycling and waste related events the city is holding. A Tip Free Day on Clean Up Australia Day will be held on March 2 and the Summer Sellathon, a reuse car boot sale, will be held at Signal Park on March 9. It comes as the City of Busselton was named as the top regional council in WA for e-waste recycling for the month of January by Total Green Recycling. Total Green Recycling, one of WA's leading e-waste recycling specialists, released the figures to encourage consumers to keep their e-waste out of landfill. Busselton recorded 13.61 tonne of e-waste, coming in second overall statewide to the City of Stirling, which unloaded 55.29 tonne. City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the city was thrilled by the result. "It's good to see that our efforts in educating and encouraging the community about the benefits of e-waste recycling are paying off," he said. "The recycling of e-waste and other materials is an important way to divert valuable resources from landfill and preserve our natural environment. "Importantly, there is no cost to dispose of e-waste at the city's waste management stations." The city employs a Recycling Education Officer to promote their initiatives. Recycling education visits are also made to schools and community groups on a regular basis. More information about the events and recycling in general can be found on the city's community engagement platform on waste – Watch Your Waste – at yoursay.busselton.wa.gov.au/watch-your-waste. The screening of Rubber Jellyfish will begin at 8pm. Tickets are $17 and available from tickets.demand.film/event/6917.
A green sea turtle in care after ingesting a balloon. Photo courtesy of Blair Witherington.
Rubber Jellyfish, a documentary about the harmful effects helium balloons can have on the environment, is showing at Caves House Outdoor Cinema on Thursday, February 21.
In the full-length feature, filmmaker Carly Wilson sets out on a personal journey to meet key players on all sides in the fight to ban balloons, and exposes the confronting truth behind the favourite party product.
The screening is being hosted by the City of Busselton and is just one of several recycling and waste related events the city is holding.
A Tip Free Day on Clean Up Australia Day will be held on March 2 and the Summer Sellathon, a reuse car boot sale, will be held at Signal Park on March 9.
It comes as the City of Busselton was named as the top regional council in WA for e-waste recycling for the month of January by Total Green Recycling.
Total Green Recycling, one of WA's leading e-waste recycling specialists, released the figures to encourage consumers to keep their e-waste out of landfill.
Busselton recorded 13.61 tonne of e-waste, coming in second overall statewide to the City of Stirling, which unloaded 55.29 tonne.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said the city was thrilled by the result.
"It's good to see that our efforts in educating and encouraging the community about the benefits of e-waste recycling are paying off," he said.
"The recycling of e-waste and other materials is an important way to divert valuable resources from landfill and preserve our natural environment.
The city employs a Recycling Education Officer to promote their initiatives. Recycling education visits are also made to schools and community groups on a regular basis.
More information about the events and recycling in general can be found on the city's community engagement platform on waste – Watch Your Waste – at yoursay.busselton.wa.gov.au/watch-your-waste.
The screening of Rubber Jellyfish will begin at 8pm.
Tickets are $17 and available from tickets.demand.film/event/6917.


How doctors want to die is different than most people. Stephanie O'Neill, Southern California Public Radio, August 2015.
NHPCO Facts and Figures: Hospice Care in America. Alexandria, VA: National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, October 2014.
Predictors of Six-Month Mortality among Nursing Home Residents: Diagnoses May Be More Predictive than Functional Disability. Cari Levy, MD, PhD, Raya Kheirbek, MD, Farrokh Alemi, PhD, Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD, Bryce Sutton, PhD, Arthur R. Williams, PhD, and Allison Williams, ND, PhD, RN. Journal of Palliative Medicine, Volume 18, Number 2, 2015.
How spirituality and religion impact patient outcomes. Ilene MacDonald, FierceHealthcare.com, August 2015.
Associations Between End-of-Life Discussion Characteristics and Care Received Near Death. Mack, Cronin, Taback, Weeks, Keating, Huskamp, Malin, and Earle. American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2012.
Hospice Care in the Nursing Home Setting: A Review of the Literature. David G. Stevenson, PhD, and Jeffrey S. Bramson, BA. Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Timing of Referral to Hospice and Quality of Care: Length of Stay and Bereaved Family Members' Perceptions of the Timing of Hospice Referral. Joan M. Teno, MD, MS, Janet E. Shu, BS, David Casarett, MD, Carol Spence, RN, MSN, Ramona Rhodes, MD, MPH, and Stephen Connor, PhD. The Warren Alpert Medical School of Medicine at Brown University (J.M.T., J.E.S., R.R.), Providence, Rhode Island; Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island (J.M.T., R.R.), Pawtucket, Rhode Island; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (D.C.), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (C.S., S.C.), Alexandria, Virginia; and Rhode Island Hospital (R.R.), Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
Comparing Hospice and Nonhospice Patient Survival Among Patients Who Die Within a Three-Year Window. Stephen R. Connor, PhD, Bruce Pyenson, FSA, MAAA, Kathryn Fitch, RN, MA, MEd, Carol Spence, RN, MS, and Kosuke Iwasaki, FIAJ, MAAA. National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (S.R.C., C.S.), Alexandria, Virginia; and Milliman, Inc. (B.P., K.F., K.I.), New York, New York, USA.
Health Care Costs and Choices in the Last Years of Life. Ian Morrison, H&HN – Hospitals and Health Networks, March 2015.
Hospice care is found to save money for Medicare. Don Taylor, assistant professor of public policy at Duke's Sanford Institute of Public Policy. November 2007.
Reinventing Hospice to reduce costs and improve quality of life. Susan Worley, Managed Care, March 2014.
Hospice improves care for dementia patients and their families. Dr. Joan Teno, Pedro Gozalo, Ian Lee, and Sylvia Kuo of Brown, Carol Spence of NHPCO, Stephen Connor of Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance, and David Casarett of the University of Pennsylvania. July 29, 2011.
Letting Go: What should medicine do when it can't save your life? Dr. Atul Gawande, Annals of Medicine, August 2010.
Hospice: What is it and when is it for you? Carina Storrs, Special to CNN. July 2015.
Our unrealistic views of death, through a doctor's eyes. Dr. Craig Bowron, The Washington Post, February 2012.
Seeking a 'Beautiful Death.' Jane Brody, The New York Times, February 2015.
Why Doctors Die Differently – Careers in medicine have taught them the limits of treatment and the need to plan for the end Ken Murray, The Wall Street Journal, February 2012.
The Importance of Understanding Advanced Dementia and Hospice. Moments of Life Series, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
African-Americans and Hospice – Against a history of medical mistreatment. StatNews, April 5, 2017.
How to Talk With Your Dying Loved One (The most important conversations we ever have). Elizabeth Bernstein, Wall Street Journal, April 2018.


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Why Service at Mercedes-Benz of Walnut Creek?


text:
Rio Rancho Cuts Most Substitutes
Budget Deficit Forces Move
Updated: 6:48 AM MST Dec 2, 2008
The Rio Rancho School District is cutting almost all substitute teachers.The move is part of an effort to save money as the district fights a massive budget deficit.Instead of hiring substitutes, people who already work for the district will be put in the classroom when a teacher calls in sick. Even the superintendent, Dr. Sue Cleavland, will be subbing.But some people will be pulled from critical jobs to do that and it is a situation the district admitted is less than ideal."It just becomes a question of priorities. When you're looking hard at the budget you have to make hard decisions," said Susan Passell, with Rio Rancho Public Schools.The latest hard decision for the district in a $4.5 million shortfall was to cut down drastically on substitute teachers."Some of the support staff from the school may be pulled to sub. Educational assistants may be used for that," Passell said.District leaders sent out a memo, obtained by Action 7 News, lists all the positions that will be forced to substitute when necessary. Dozens in all, everyone from educational assistants to librarians to councilors will have to pitch in."We would like to get back to normal as soon as possible," Passell said.As soon as possible though won't be before the end of the school year which means students will have to go without essential services."Well obviously the people that we are pulling were hired because they were needed," Passell said.The district said they stand by their choice."This is not something that we think is great. We would like to not have to do this. But we're in a situation right now that unless we get some kind of budget relief we're going to have to make some hard choices," Passell said.Some of the people affected by the policy, who did not want to go on camera, over the phone Monday said they feel like students are going to suffer and that they were told they have no choice in this matter.District leaders said everyone who will be filling in as substitutes has a teaching certificate and many have classroom experience.
RIO RANCHO, N.M. —
The Rio Rancho School District is cutting almost all substitute teachers.
The move is part of an effort to save money as the district fights a massive budget deficit.
Instead of hiring substitutes, people who already work for the district will be put in the classroom when a teacher calls in sick. Even the superintendent, Dr. Sue Cleavland, will be subbing.
But some people will be pulled from critical jobs to do that and it is a situation the district admitted is less than ideal.
"It just becomes a question of priorities. When you're looking hard at the budget you have to make hard decisions," said Susan Passell, with Rio Rancho Public Schools.
The latest hard decision for the district in a $4.5 million shortfall was to cut down drastically on substitute teachers.
"Some of the support staff from the school may be pulled to sub. Educational assistants may be used for that," Passell said.
District leaders sent out a memo, obtained by Action 7 News, lists all the positions that will be forced to substitute when necessary. Dozens in all, everyone from educational assistants to librarians to councilors will have to pitch in.
"We would like to get back to normal as soon as possible," Passell said.
As soon as possible though won't be before the end of the school year which means students will have to go without essential services.
"Well obviously the people that we are pulling were hired because they were needed," Passell said.
The district said they stand by their choice.
"This is not something that we think is great. We would like to not have to do this. But we're in a situation right now that unless we get some kind of budget relief we're going to have to make some hard choices," Passell said.
Some of the people affected by the policy, who did not want to go on camera, over the phone Monday said they feel like students are going to suffer and that they were told they have no choice in this matter.
District leaders said everyone who will be filling in as substitutes has a teaching certificate and many have classroom experience.


text:
Admissions Info & Procedures
Home Admissions Info & Procedures
Admissions Policy [Sep 2020]
Enrolment Policy [2018]
Enrolment Policy and procedures for classes other than Junior Infants [2017]
PEL - Junior Infants 2023/24 (LATE APPLICATION)
PEL - Senior Infants to Sixth Class 2023/24 (LATE APPLICATION)
General Application Information
METNS will be accepting applications for places from Junior Infants to Sixth Class for the 2023/24 academic year as follows:
Senior Infants to Sixth Class – a completed an application form must be submitted in the appropriate time-frame, from the first Monday in September to a Sunday in September 23:59, twenty-one days after the first Monday in September.
This application will be for the academic year 2023-24. Please see article 4.2 of the METNS Admission Policy for further details of criteria of how places will be offered.
Junior Infants – under our Enrolment Policy, METNS applied a 'first come, first served' system. METNS will continue to offer places according to the pre-enrolment lists that were compiled under this Enrolment Policy. Until applications for entry to 2025/26 school year, METNS will offer places to Junior Infant children according to the following criteria:
The children on the waiting lists (which have been established under our Enrolment Policy) in the order of criteria detailed in the Enrolment Policy (Article 4.6 of the Enrolment Policy)
Children who apply under the Admission Policy, in the time-frame set out by the policy (from the first Monday in October to a Sunday at 23:59, 21 days after the first Monday in October).
Please note that the chances of being successful in this application process are very slight, as the waiting lists previously established until the entry year 2024/25 are substantial.
From the entry year 2025/26 the school will adhere to the METNS Admission Policy and no longer adhere to the Enrolment Policy.


VIDEO: Why Do Bride's Take Their Husband's Name?
Before you get excited about becoming the next Mrs. John Smith, beware! There's a sordid history to this cultural practice and severe modern implications as to how women are contributing to their own marginalization.


Cash prizes for writing reviews this year!
With 79 games this year, it's much harder for reviewers to finish reviewing all the games, so the authors have gotten together to offer some small prizes for reviewing!
This is not sponsored or run by IFComp itself or the Interactive Fiction Technology Foundation, but it has been permitted by the IFComp organizer.
Everyone who reviews all 79 games is eligible to receive a prize.
At the end of the competition, the authors will vote for 'Best Reviewer' out of all eligible reviewers. The winners of the vote will select prizes in order until the prize pool is empty.
If there are more prizes than eligible reviewers (i.e. if not enough people have reviewed all 79 games), then the next reviewer that got the closest to 79 reviews will be added, and so on.
The reviewer doesn't have to complete every game, but has to write something meaningful about the main content of the game (so just giving out star ratings on ifdb or judging blurbs doesn't count).
-A handwritten letter of gratitude, donated by Mathbrush.
Those donating prizes do not get any special voting rights; the final awards will be determined by any and all authors who choose to participate in the final vote.
Thanks for all the reviewers, and good luck!
The requirement to review all 79 games is intense. I mean, it makes sense, but many of my favorite reviewers don't post reviews for games that they really didn't like.
I expect that hardly anyone will do all 79, which is why the few that do the most reviews will be eligible under rule 3, whether that's 76 or 70.
But the low-performing games are exactly the ones that need reviews the most; some games have 5 reviews now while most have 1 or 2.
Edit: In edge cases like the Haunted P review, the authors can decide together. I personally would allow it because the transcript adds a lot, and because the game was intended to have little content, and this shows that dhakajack played long enougj to see its main content.
One might suppose if a reviewer can point out where their reviews live, they would be counted.
All 79? Are you guys sure about this?
And would capsule reviews count? The kind I saw Hanon and Chandler do last year?
Looking over this spreadsheet, doing 30 reviews would probably qualify you for prize voting, although 40 or 50 or 60 would be better.
And paragraph-length reviews count for eligibility; however, voters may prefer longer reviews. Lynnea Glasser and Cheddarman's twitch feeds count as well.
So… you're serious. All of the 79ers will get prizes first, no matter how short or bad the reviews are?
So far, I haven't seen anyone whose been writing quick, cheap reviews of games as fast as possible. I doubt there will be 6 people in the 79 range. Anyone who cranks out poor reviews would be disqualified under the 'meaningful' rule, with that rule applied as a group by the authors.
Also, I assume I'll have to post the review publically, so I can put the feedback as a review on ifdb as well. Hopefully that works.
After consultation, it looks like the contest will be restricted to non-authors this year.
Ok, makes sense! I'll still try to leave feedback on everyone's games though. Thank you!
So if the comp ended right now, these 6 would be eligible for prizes; authors would vote on their reviews, and all 6 would get prizes. (Note that this is just an off the cuff estimate; I haven't checked these reviews for substance and I may have missed some forum posters [maybe dfabulich?]. So actual results may vary).
This means that there is plenty if room for a new reviewer to leap ahead at this point.
There's still plenty of time to get into the top 6, especially if you have a few under your belt!
Here's the leaderboard. There's still time to write a bunch of reviews!
Remember, being in the top 6 just makes you eligible for prizes; the authors will vote on the top six reviewers to determine the order they choose their prize.
Here's the leaderboard with one day remaining. Authors can start thinking about how they'll rate each of the top 6 (although there's time for someone to come in at sixth). We're at 730 reviews so far this year, a remarkable improvement over last year's 598. Thanks everyone! Don't forget there's still time to get your reviews in! Authors will be rating each of the final six on a 1-10 scale, and prizes will be selected in order of highest average score. Author's ratings will be due Saturday at midnight eastern time.
I'm not sure it's fair to include me since I didn't produce full written reviews, just 15-45 second recorded ones. If anything I would just want to be included as an edible item in Eat Me. I would like to be described as a bitter but entertaining amuse-bouche.
So I will take you off the list, which puts Sam Ashwell in 6th place tied with Fumiko666, I believe.
These reviews can be found at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OXBkz5kuXZoe4Ab6LKpNWzHX5tzinCTQqQ7rGLbridc/edit#gid=0. Authors can rate each of these review writers with a score from 1 to 10, using any judging criteria. Ratings can be sent to brushton84 at gmail dot com. Ratings are due midnight Eastern time this Saturday!


text:
Prayer for Climate Refugees
The Congregational Initiative on Laudato Si' has launched!
The Sermon of Creation
Let the Children Come to Me
Advocacy for All of God's Creation
The Passionist Story is a Ladauto Si' Story
A Prayer from St. Paul of the Cross
Adapted by Lissa Romell from "Prayer for Environmental Migrants" from the Catholic Health Association
Good and gracious God,
We, as Passionists, are committed to standing at the foot of the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Your great blessing to us is the privilege of standing with the suffering and crucified of today's world.
And so we ask that you provide special protection for all families and individuals
who flee their homes seeking safer and better lives, particularly those who must leave their ancestral homes because the land can no longer sustain the members of the community.
Be with them in their hardships as they move in search of a better life.
Show mercy to those who travel in danger, and lead them to places of safety and peace.
Comfort those who are alone and afraid because their families have been torn apart by changing weather patterns, altered landscapes and natural disasters.
Help us to remember the suffering of all migrant families and to open our hearts so that we may provide hospitality
to our sisters and brothers in search of refuge.
Give us the courage to welcome every stranger as Christ in our midst.
Give us the grace and strength to remain at the foot of the cross.
We ask this in your name.
"There has been a tragic rise in the number of migrants seeking to flee from the growing poverty
caused by environmental degradation. Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers
and sisters point to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men
and women upon which all civil society is founded."
~Laudato Si', 25
By Lissa Romell
After the recent Assembly, I heard someone comment "I had no idea that all that was part of the Vision Fulfillment Process!" They were speaking about the wonderful Retrospective video created by Fr. David Colhour, CP, and the unfolding events, experiences and Passionist life that it captured. (Refresh your spirit and watch—or rewatch—it here.) Tim O'Brien pointed out recently that we might say the same thing about Laudato Si': so much of who we are and what we are about as Passionists—our presence and our ministries—is Laudato Si' brought to life.
So in this newsletter, we thought we would celebrate the ways in which the Passionist Family is already living Laudato Si'. We hope this will provide inspiration, ideas and a few resources as we respond together to Passionist Superior General, Fr. Joachim Rego, CP's call to engage with Laudato Si' and build our Laudato Si' Action Platform.
To view a video introduction by Fr. Joe Mitchell, CP, to the Congregational Laudato Si' initiative, click here.
By Patty Gillis
"Let all creation help you to praise God.
When you are walking alone, listen to the sermon preached
to you by the flowers, the trees, the shrubs, the sky, the sun
and the whole world. Notice how they preach to you a sermon full of love…".
~St. Paul of the Cross
St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat & Conference Center in Detroit is among the many parishes and other Catholic ministries and retreat centers who are responding to the Laudato Si' summons to hear more deeply the Cry of Earth and the Cry of the Poor. Since 2018, the Passionist Family in Detroit has been busy attending to both, creating partnerships with community members and organizations in the process. First, a rain garden with water absorbing native plants was installed, and now, plans are in the works to plant indigenous trees this fall.
At first glance, these might seem like simply environmental projects--the Passionists being good stewards of the land they are blessed to inhabit. But you don't have to look very far to see the connection with the Cry of the Poor: the very polluted Rouge River runs through the retreat center property and down to the Detroit River and the Great Lakes. When it rains, sewers overflow, and everything ends up in the river. Three of the retreat center's downspouts feed directly into the rain garden, keeping rainwater in the ground. This is a great way to keep pollution out of the Rouge River watershed, which serves millions of people in the greater Detroit area. Unclean water can cause serious and costly health issues, and studies have found that poor and minority communities across the U.S. are disproportionately affected by polluted waters.
And when you listen closely to the sermon of creation, the seventh Action Platform goal, "Community Involvement and Participatory Action to care for creation at the local, regional, national and international levels," seems to follow. At St. Paul of the Cross Retreat, it was a natural and life-giving progression. Tom Scherf, staff person in maintenance and operations at the retreat center, really enjoyed the community involvement as he worked with many community groups and volunteers on the rain garden project, including the Friends of the Rouge and the local Sierra Club. They taught him and the volunteers about the construction and maintenance of the rain garden and where to find native plants. The National Wildlife Federation's Sacred Grounds Program provided technical assistance for the rain garden and has continued their support with a $1,500.00 grant for the tree planting project.
What are you dreaming of for
your community and the land you steward?
The Sacred Grounds Program is open to houses of worship, faith entities and sacred spaces across the country. For more info, contact Manja Holland or Tiffany Carey.
By David Horvath
Called "the coolest summer camp in Louisville," Camp Odyssey immerses children entering grades 1-6 in the three main aspects of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center mission: spiritual practice, compassion for others and connection to the Earth. As they explore the woodlands and meadows of our 27-acre campus and nature sanctuary, as they work and play with our artists, garden and environmental educators, chefs, yoga and meditation instructors, musicians and many others, kids come to understand how ecosystems work, where their food comes from, and how to be more mindful and compassionate toward themselves, their bodies, other people, and their surroundings. Truly ecological education.
This year the Earth & Spirit Center hosted over 131 campers and about 55 high school students doing their service hours. We were able to provide full scholarships to 25 campers, many from Backside Learning Center at Churchill Downs, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Family Scholar House. The goal at camp is to bring children together across cultures and teach them to take better care of themselves, the planet and each other—Laudato Si' in action.
To learn more about the Earth & Spirit Center and the programs they offer for children and adults, visit https://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/.
Advocacy for All of God's Creation
"Our life-style must stand out as a prophetic condemnation of the injustices among which we live."
~Passionist Rule and Constitution, 72
An important part of the Passionist Family is the Passionist Solidarity Network (PSN). The PSN represents both the Western and Eastern Provinces and helps us all to fulfill our commitment to be a prophetic witness, speaking out for justice. One important part of the work of the Passionist Solidarity Network is to use our platform, in partnership with other religious congregations and faith organizations, to change policy and recommend actions to respond to integral ecology. The following is an example of such an action that the PSN signed onto with other faith and religious leaders:
The Farm System Reform Act
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed serious weaknesses in our food system. In particular the hyper consolidation of our livestock and meat industry led to a near collapse of the supply chain in the early days of the pandemic. Consumers found empty shelves at their grocery stores, meat processing facilities became dangerous COVID-19 hot spots for workers, animals were cruelly killed, and farmers were left with no market for the livestock they produced. This broken system is not the result of inevitable market forces, but rather flows directly from the influence multinational meatpackers have over federal farm policy. The legislation also addresses other ecological and environmental problems with Large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) which have dominated our food system. Read more here.
The seventh goal of the Laudato Si' action platform, Community Engagement & Participatory Action, invites us to "encourage the development of cultures and policies that protect our common home and all who share it." For example, it goes on, "actions could include promoting advocacy and developing people's campaigns [and] engagement with decision-makers." What issues are important to you and the community in which you live? How might the Spirit be inviting you to speak prophetically, engage and take action?
To learn more about the PSN and/or advocacy resources, contact David Horvath at JPIC@passionist.org.
The Passionist Story is a Laudato Si' Story
"Impelled by the Spirit, we are brought together as a community of love
to carry out the mission mandated to us by the Church."
~Passionist Rule and Constitutions, 8
These are just a few of the many ways the Passionist Family is living out the principles and invitation of Laudato Si'. We could fill more than a few newsletters with all the initiatives and ministries across the Province, already in action or in the planning stages: recycling, solar panels, socially responsible investing, initiatives in diversity, inclusion and anti-racism, rainwater collection, advocacy and resources committed on behalf of immigrants and refugees, retreats inviting us deeply into the intertwining relationships with God, neighbor and the Earth itself (LS 66), courageous Passionist preaching for justice on behalf of the crucified in today's world…
This is our story. The Passionist story and a Laudato Si' story. From the days of St. Paul of the Cross, Passionists have been listening to the "sermon preached to [us] by the flowers, the trees, the shrubs, the sky, the sun and the whole world." A "sermon full of love, of praise of God," inviting us "to proclaim the greatness of the one who has given them being." We have been listening and proclaiming the Passion of Jesus, "the greatest and most overwhelming work of God's love." Laudato Si' invites us deeper into our own story. And we are all storytellers.
Do you have a Laudato Si' story you would like to share? Do you have ideas and are looking for resources? Would you like to brainstorm Laudato Si' possibilities at your location?
We invite you to contact the Laudato Si' Vision Fulfillment Team via lissa@passionist.org.
""When you have lights in prayer that some course of action you had been following is no longer the will of God, then discern carefully. If these lights when your spirit is calm, then follow them. I myself don't desire anything else than to do in all things the will of God. All my desires and prayers go in this direction."
"Lord, I want to see your will in everything. But as soon as I begin to face any trials or difficulties, my faith weakens. Give me the grace to see your will as all love, no matter where it leads me. Teach me to see the divine wisdom in your plan, even when the path is unclear. Grant me the peace to follow your lead with deep trust and faith."
Holy Cross Province Vision Statement
Guided by the Holy Spirit and the signs of the times,
we create and carry out ministry that reaches
the suffering of today and form community
that spiritually nourishes the
Passionist Family of Holy Cross Province.
If you would like to share your thoughts, ideas or reactions from anything in this newsletter, we would love to hear from you!
Send your thoughts to
visioning@passionist.org
Copyright © 2022 spirituality, All rights reserved.


HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang on November 23 congratulated the outgoing Uruguayan Ambassador to Việt Nam, Carlos Irigaray Santana, on a successful term in the Southeast Asian country.
The President praised efforts made by the ambassador and his colleagues in bolstering ties with Việt Nam. He said he was delighted at the comprehensive development of bilateral relations. This was reflected through visits of high-ranking leaders and officials from ministries and agencies of both nations.
He said the two countries had paid due attention to enhancing co-operation in economy and trade, culture, tourism as well as education and training.
The President said he expected both sides would deepen ties while affirming that Việt Nam attached much importance to developing relations with countries in South America, including Uruguay.
The Vietnamese leader also hoped that with considerable understanding of Việt Nam-Uruguay relations, the diplomat would continue his efforts to support and promote sound friendship and co-operation.
The Uruguayan diplomat thanked the Vietnamese Government, ministries and sectors for helping him fulfill his tasks over the past six years.
Santana said that over the past six years, the two sides had signed a number of co-operation agreements, creating a foundation for collaboration in various fields. He noted that Uruguay wanted to complete a deal with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to bring Uruguayan beef and other farm produce to the Vietnamese market.
Santana said that as part of efforts to increase links between ministries and sectors of Uruguay and Việt Nam, Uruguay opened a consulate in HCM City earlier this year.
The ambassador also convey an invitation from President Tarabe Vazquez to President Quang to visit Uruguay, saying that the Vietnamese President's first visit to the country would be a significant milestone in bilateral relations.


The price of your frePPLe deployment will consist of a yearly or monthly subscription, plus some optional (but recommended) implementation and training services.
Your subscription price varies with the selected modules and the number of planned item x locations combinations.
Only planned item x locations (i.e. which have inventory or material movements within the planning horizon) are counted.
The same price applies to both the Cloud Edition and the on-premise Enterprise Edition.
Getting up and running with a planning tool takes some time: learn the application, migrating your planning data, train all users, customize workflows, build data interfaces… Getting frePPLe experts to guide and assist you along this journey is a critical help for a quick and smooth implementation.
The hours in a service pack don't expire – allowing you to utilise them whenever you need support.


On December 14, 2016, the company revealed that another separate data breach had occurred in 2014, with hackers obtaining sensitive account information, including security questions, to at least one billion accounts. was the highest-read news and media website, with over 7 billion views per month, being the sixth most visited website globally in 2016. According to third-party web analytics providers, Alexa and Similar Web, Yahoo!In response to Google's Gmail, Yahoo began to offer unlimited email storage in 2007.The company struggled through 2008, with several large layoffs.
Men who are older tend to be more ready to take those steps toward commitment sooner." Karen admits, though, that age doesn't necessarily dictate whether or not a guy is ready to commit.


text:
Green living blog
Virgin Galactic: 'Getting into space has a very low environmental impact'
Virgin Galactic's assertion that space flight can be 'green' will never get off the ground, Leo Hickman said last week. Here Virgin Galactic's president, Will Whitehorn, responds
Mon 18 May 2009 07.43 EDT First published on Mon 18 May 2009 07.43 EDT
A model of the Whiteknighttwo carrier aircraft (L) and Spaceshiptwo. Photograph: Lisa Carpenter
Let's put science ahead of emotion in discussing Virgin Galactic. The company is developing a 21st-century space launch system based on the principles of an entirely carbon composite construction, a unique benign hybrid rocket motor, biofuels where permissible and very high-altitude air launch and firing of the benign rocket rather than launching it from the ground.
The air launch negates the need to use dirty carbon-intensive solid chemical fuelled rocket boosters. The result is a very low-energy and low environmental impact approach to getting humans, scientific payload and eventually even small satellites into space.
Experimental test flying is now under way and early experience indicates the system will live up to all Virgin's hopes for it. Many leading environmental scientists such as Professor James Lovelock believe it will be a genuine breakthrough in human and scientific access to space in the future.
We are not going to find better ways to get to space unless we can regularise space flight and this system will use space tourism as one means to lower the cost of space access.
Finally, we believe space matters, not just for the reasons that Professor Stephen Hawking so eloquently explained to the BBC two years ago; but for the compelling reasons of earth science – it is satellites that have given us the crucial evidence on climate change.
Space tourism is just the beginning in developing this. The highly efficient human and payload space launch systems will lead to an overdue industrial revolution in space. The alternative would be government funding of these new, less polluting systems – which is not an idea one can anticipate any public enthusiasm for.
• Will Whitehorn is the president of Virgin Galactic
Climate change (Environment)
Climate change (Science)


text:
Q: Frames issue in Watir2.0.1?  (with DevKit installed!) I posted a few threads the other day on the Watir General Google Group, one of which detailed my difficulty using set_no_wait on a validated text field (link below); and was asked by Jarmo Pertman whether it was in a frame.  It is, and this concerns me a little; as sadly the site I'm testing is heavily frame-centric, with no immediate plans to modernise.
I recently migrated from an ageing Ruby1.8.6/Watir1.6.2 test environment to Ruby1.8.7-334/Watir2.0.1, and am now noticing more methods that are no longer working for me in frames.  For instance, click_no_wait on a button that presents a new window works perfectly fine in my old environment, but not in my new one.
This is a question to the Watir developer group.  Are no_wait methods known to be failing in frames in Watuir 2.0.1?  If so, are they being addressed?  If they're not, then I'll be forced to revert back to an archiac version of Ruby and Watir.  For many reasons, I don't want to do this.
(Environment: Ruby 1.8.7-334.  Watir 2.0.1.  XP Pro.  IE8)
http://groups.google.com/group/watir-general/browse_thread/thread/85a1a872d1e054dc

A: from the comments:
Something occured to me last night; I had installed DevKit, which was required to get the FastDebugger working in Netbeans 7.0.1. After completely reinstalling Ruby1.8.7/Watir2.0.1 without DevKit, click_no_wait and set_no_wait now seems to be working for me. It means I'll have to use something else other than Netbeans to run my scripts, but at least my scripts work again. (github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/wiki/Development-Kit) I hope this info helps someone else. GJHmf – GJHmf Sep 1 at 10:19
(inserting this answer because:

*

*the OP was requested to but had not done so within a months time.

*it removes this from the list of 'un-answered' watir related
questions
)


Nitrate is an ion that has long dogged aquarists. The nitrogen that it is formed from comes in with foods, and in many aquaria it builds up and can be difficult to keep at natural levels. A decade or two ago, many aquarists performed water changes with nitrate reduction as one of the primary goals. Fortunately, we now have a large array of ways to keep nitrate in check, and modern aquaria suffer far less from elevated nitrate than they have in the past.
Nitrate is often associated with algae, and indeed the growth of algae is often spurred by excess nutrients, including nitrate. The same can be said for other potential pests in aquaria, such as dinoflagellates. Nitrate itself is not particularly toxic at the levels usually attained in aquaria, at least as it is so far known in the scientific literature. Nevertheless, elevated nitrate can excessively spur the growth of zooxanthellae, which in turn can actually decrease the growth rate of the host coral.
For these reasons, most reef aquarists strive to keep nitrate levels down. Some are very successful, and others are not. This article provides background on nitrate in the ocean and in aquaria, and describes a number of techniques that aquarists have successfully used to keep nitrate levels down to more natural levels in reef aquaria.
Nitrogen takes many forms in the ocean,1 one of which is nitrate. Other forms include dinitrogen (N2), ammonia (NH3/NH4+), nitrite (NO2–), and a myriad of nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Of the inorganic species, nitrate is often, but not always the highest in concentration. Concentrations in the ocean vary considerably from location to location, and also with depth.2 Surface waters are much lower in concentration due to scavenging by various organisms, and are often less than 0.1 ppm nitrate (not that all concentrations in this article are in ppm nitrate ion, and not in ppm nitrate nitrogen). Deeper waters typically range from 0.5 to 2.5 ppm nitrate. Surface regions where upwelling of deeper water takes place will also have these higher values.
Other sources of nitrogen to the ocean are volcanic emissions (mostly as ammonia), fixing of N2 by blue-green algae, and run off from land. All of these become part of the nitrogen cycle, and a portion will end up as nitrate.
A wide variety of organisms are capable of absorbing nitrate with which they synthesize a host of nitrogen-containing organic molecules, such as proteins and DNA.1 Nitrate is primarily used by microorganisms (such as bacteria) and those organisms that get much or all of their energy from photosynthesis, including algae, corals and sea anemones.
Marine bacteria,5 phytoplankton,6,7 and macroalgae,7,8 have also been shown to increase growth rates with elevated nitrate.
Still, many hobbyists report that their fish appear less healthy when they have allowed nitrate levels to get excessively high (over 50 ppm). Whether that is actually due to nitrate or something else about the water that is coincident with the nitrate rise is unknown.
Finally, the addition of excess nutrients to natural coral reefs has been blamed for a general transition from corals to turf and macroalgae,15 but what role nitrate plays relative to other nutrients (such as phosphate) is not always clear.
In addition to the concerns described above relating to the growth of potentially undesirable organisms that may be promoted by elevated nitrate (especially algae and dinoflagellates), corals can be impacted by nitrate. Many corals may not be bothered by elevated nitrate, or may even grow more rapidly with the readily available nitrogen. But in certain corals, especially those that calcify, there may be negative effects from elevated nitrate.
One very recent study 20 on Porites cylindrica has reported that elevated nitrate (0.9 ppm) did not increase the rate of photosynthesis or zooxanthellae density, but actually decreased it, contrary to the previous literature. They do not provide an explanation of why their results were different, though they indicated that the corals may have been expelling zooxanthellae, which would confound some of the results. Additionally, all of the corals in the study were stressed in that they lost significant biomass during the study compared to when first collected in the wild. Because of that effect, I do not put much faith in how this study may relate to aquaria where corals are growing rapidly.
Nitrate is fairly easily measured in marine aquaria at levels higher than about 0.5 ppm. I have found the nitrate kits from LaMotte and Salifert to be quite easy to use, and in my limited testing appear to be accurate enough for aquarium purposes. Below 0.5 ppm, quantitation is difficult with existing kits. Habib Sekha, the owner of Salifert, has indicated that it may not be difficult to make kits with lower detection limits if there is a demand for them. So if you want such a kit to be produced commercially, you might contact him.
Other brands of test kits may be suitable, or not. One group of aquarists carried out tests on a variety of different kits, and the results are shown at this web site (in German).
The primary source of nitrate in reef aquaria is food added to the system. All proteins contain nitrogen, as do a wide variety of other biomolecules. When metabolized, much of this nitrogen can end up as nitrate in a process similar to that shown for plankton above.
Other inputs can include the die off of organisms, which also degrade in a fashion similar to that shown above for plankton.
Finally, the use of unpurified water can lead to significant addition of nitrate to aquaria. In the United States, drinking water is permitted to contain up to 44 ppm nitrate. Daily addition of such water to replace evaporated water will provide a significant amount of nitrate. In many municipal water systems, however, the level of nitrate is much lower. In my water supply, the level is typically only 0.1 ppm nitrate.
The bottom line for many aquarists is that they have nitrate levels in their aquaria that are higher than they prefer. I strive to keep the nitrate levels in my aquaria below 1 ppm, and preferably undetectable with current hobby kits (less than about 0.5 ppm). If the ability of the kits to measure lower nitrate levels is enhanced, then I might move my target levels down. Obviously, the higher the nitrate is, the greater the concern.
This section outlines a variety of actions that can be taken to reduce nitrate levels in aquaria. Note that I don't include any discussion of water changes, though obviously they work to some extent. The problem is that it is very hard to reduce the nitrate concentration to natural levels in that fashion unless the system is constantly flushed with clean water.
The first activity is to measure nitrate with a quality test kit. Then follow one or more of the actions below and monitor the nitrate over time to see if it is helping.
If you are overfeeding, stop. I'm not, however, suggesting that folks starve any organisms in their aquaria for the sake of reducing nitrate levels. There are better options available. If you are using tap water, test it for nitrate to see if it is a source, and if so, purify it first. A reverse osmosis/deionizing system( RO/DI) is best for a variety of reasons, but a simple RO or DI system will likely be adequate for this purpose.
Such skimming alone does not usually permit aquaria to eliminate a nitrate problem, but it can be a significant help, and also has other benefits, such as aeration and phosphorus removal.
The more that you grow and harvest, the more nitrogen will be exported, cutting down on the amount that ends up as nitrate. The procedure is often effective at driving nitrate levels below those detectable by most aquarium nitrate kits (about 0.5 ppm). This process also has the advantage of exporting phosphorus.
In many aquaria, a deep sand bed by itself is adequate to keep nitrate at levels below 0.5 ppm. In others, it has not been adequate. Success may depend on the size of the bed, it's composition (sand type, particle size distribution, and life forms in it), and the demands put on it in terms of nitrate processing.
5. Remove Existing Filters Designed To Facilitate The Nitrogen Cycle.
Such filters do a fine job of processing ammonia to nitrite to nitrate, but do nothing with the nitrate. It is often non-intuitive to many aquarists, but removing such a filter altogether may actually help reduce nitrate. So slowly removing them and allowing more of the nitrogen processing to take place on and in the live rock and sand can be beneficial.
It is not that any less nitrate is produced when such a filter is removed, it is a question of what happens to the nitrate after it is produced.
When it is produced on the surface of media such as bioballs, it mixes into the entire water column, and then has to find its way, by diffusion, to the places where it may be reduced (inside of live rock and sand, for instance).
If it is produced on the surface of live rock or sand, then the local concentration of nitrate is higher there than in the first case above, and it is more likely to diffuse into the rock and sand to be reduced to N2.
There are a variety of different commercial systems available, none of which are especially popular in the United States at this time. However, they can do a good job of removing nitrate and some aquarists quite like them.
The end result is that nitrate is removed from the aquarium. The typical drawback to such a system is the need for careful control over the conditions, and the consequent complexity that often accompanies such a reactor.
7. Use A Sulfur Denitrator.
It has also been suggested to pass the effluent of such a reactor through a bed of aragonite to use the acid (H+) produced to dissolve the calcium carbonate, and thereby provide calcium and alkalinity to the aquarium.
While that is a fine idea, it doesn't add much calcium and alkalinity to most aquaria.
To estimate the magnitude of the effect, we start with a liberal estimate of how much nitrate might be removed. Say 10 ppm of nitrate per week.
How much calcium this could produce?
Clearly, this is a substantial overestimate because much of the acid will be used up driving the pH down to the point where CaCO3 can even begin to dissolve. Consequently, we have an upside limit of 0.107 mmoles of Ca2+ per week since calcium weighs 40 mg/mmol, that's 4.3 ppm Ca2+ per week.
For comparison, an aquarist adding 2% of the tank volume in saturated limewater daily is adding on the order of 16 ppm of calcium per day. Consequently, this method may not be especially useful for maintaining calcium and alkalinity levels. On the other hand, the acid produced will have a long term lowering effect on the alkalinity, so if you use it, watch the alkalinity.
As to its actual ability to reduce nitrate, I cannot say for sure. I expect that it can be made to work, but the only aquarist that I have spoken to that uses one has had considerable difficulty with it.
Nevertheless, a number of aquarists that I have talked to have used the product to reduce nitrate without apparent bad effects.
Various aluminum oxide and zeolite products have been sold to aquarists for many years for the purpose of binding nitrate out of the solution. Kent's nitrate sponge is one example. I've not tested any myself. Many aquarists report that it does work, but takes a long time and a lot of material.
These are similar to skimming in that they remove organics from the system, preventing them from degrading and contributing to the organic load. Examples are Purigen by Seachem and Poly-Filters by Poly-Bio-Marine. I've not used any of these for this purpose, and have not heard of others significantly reducing elevated nitrate levels with them.
In the past, elevated nitrate was something that many aquarists accepted as a fact of life in keeping marine aquaria. Now, with many ways of reducing nitrate readily available, most aquarists can (and probably should) strive to keep nitrate to more natural levels. I have chosen to keep them low by routinely harvesting macroalgae ( Chaetomorpha sp. and Caulerpa racemosa ) from refugia that also contain deep sand beds. Other aquarists have chosen other routes that better fit their needs. Regardless of what methods you prefer, nitrogen export ought to be one of the design considerations in any reefkeeping setup.
Comparative effects of water-column nitrate enrichment on eelgrass Zostera marina, shoalgrass Halodule wrightii, and widgeongrass Ruppia maritima. Burkholder, JoAnn M.; Glasgow, Howard B., Jr.; Cooke, Jacob E. Dep. Bot., North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC, USA. Marine Ecology: Progress Series (1994), 105(1-2), 121-38.
Touchette, Brant W.; Burkholder, JoAnn M. Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (2000), 250(1-2), 133-167.
Inorganic nitrogen utilization by assemblages of marine bacteria in seawater culture. Horrigan, S. G.; Hagstroem, A.; Koike, I.; Azam, F. Mar. Sci. Res. Cent., SUNY, Stony Brook, NY, USA. Marine Ecology: Progress Series (1988), 50(1-2), 147-50.
Some observations on marine phytoplankton kinetics. 2. The effect of nitrate and ammonium concentrations on the growth and uptake rates of the natural population of Ubatuba region, SP (23°S, 045°W). Schmidt, Gilda. Inst. Oceanogr., Univ. Sao Paulo, Brazil. Boletim do Instituto Oceanografico (Universidade de Sao Paulo) (1983), 32(1), 83-90.
Nutrient control of algal growth in estuarine waters. Nutrient limitation and the importance of nitrogen requirements and nitrogen storage among phytoplankton and species of macroalgae. Pedersen, Morten Foldager; Borum, Jens. Freshwater Biological Laboratory, University Copenhagen, Hillerod, Den. Marine Ecology: Progress Series (1996), 142(1 to 3), 261-272.
Nutrient-enhanced growth of Cladophora prolifera in Harrington Sound, Bermuda: eutrophication of a confined, phosphorus-limited marine ecosystem. Lapointe, Brian E.; O'Connell, Julie. Harbor Branch Oceanogr. Inst., Inc., Big Pine Key, FL, USA. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science (1989), 28(4), 347-60.
Seasonal variations in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) responses to nutrient enrichment and reduced light availability in experimental ecosystems.
Moore, Kenneth A.; Wetzel, Richard L. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science, School of Marine Science, College of William and Mary, Gloucester Point, VA, USA. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (2000), 244(1), 1-28.
Effects of nitrate and phosphate on growth and C2 toxin productivity of Alexandrium tamarense CI01 in culture. Wang, Da-Zhi; Hsieh, Dennis P. H. Department of Biology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, Peop. Rep. China. Marine Pollution Bulletin (2002), 45(1-12), 286-289.
Uptake and assimilation of dissolved inorganic nitrogen by a symbiotic sea anemone. Wilkerson, Frances P.; Muscatine, L. Dep. Biol., Univ. California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences (1984), 221(1222), 71-86.
Nitrate assimilation by zooxanthellae maintained in laboratory culture. Wilkerson, F. P.; Trench, R. K. Dep. Biol. Sci., Univ. California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. Marine Chemistry (1985), 16(4), 385-93.
Captive Seawater Fishes : Science and Technology. Spotte, Stephen. (1992), 976 pp. Publisher: Interscience.
Water quality requirements for first-feeding in marine fish larvae. I. Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Brownell, Charles L. Dep. Zool., Univ. Cape Town, Rondebosch, S. Afr. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology (1980), 44(2-3), 269-83.
Nutrification impacts on coral reefs from northern Bahia, Brazil.
Costa, O. S., Jr.; Leao, Z. M. A. N.; Nimmo, M.; Attrill, M. J. Plymouth Environmental Research Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. Hydrobiologia (2000), 440 307-315.
Effects of lowered pH and elevated nitrate on coral calcification.
Marubini, F.; Atkinson, M. J. Biosphere 2 Center, Columbia Univ., Oracle, AZ, USA. Marine Ecology: Progress Series (1999), 188 117-121.
Bicarbonate addition promotes coral growth. Marubini, Francesca; Thake, Brenda. School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary and Westfield College, London, UK. Limnology and Oceanography (1999), 44(3), 716-720.
Nitrate increases zooxanthellae population density and reduces skeletogenesis in corals. Marubini, F.; Davies, P. S. Bellairs Research Inst., McGill University, St. James, Barbados. Marine Biology (Berlin) (1996), 127(2), 319-328.
Nutrition of algal-invertebrate symbiosis. II. Effects of exogenous nitrogen sources on growth, photosynthesis and the rate of excretion by algal symbionts in vivo and in vitro. Taylor, D. L. Rosenstiel Sch. Mar. Atmos. Sci., Miami, FL, USA. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B: Biological Sciences (1978), 201(1145), 401-12.
Effects of elevated seawater temperature and nitrate enrichment on the branching coral Porites cylindrica in the absence of particulate food Nordemar,I.; M Nyström, M.; Dizon, R. Marine Biology (2003) 142:669-677.
An introduction to the chemistry of the sea. Pilson, Michael E. Q. (1998) 431 pp. Publisher: Pearson Education POD.