The four specialists supervising Germany's planned transition to renewable energy have said the government will fail to meet crucial targets for energy efficiency if the pace of improvements is not accelerated.
The government commission supervising Germany's energy transition criticised the cabinet in a report to be presented on Wednesday. "Without additional measures, the efficiency targets of the energy transition will not be reached," the four-person commission wrote in its report.
For instance, the aim to lower the primary energy consumption by 20 percent on 2008 values by 2020, energy efficiency must be raised by 2.6 percent every year - at the moment, that figure is just 1.6 percent.
The commission wants to see special efforts being made in improving energy efficiency in buildings, which use up 40 percent of the energy supply. Transport is another area of concern, the report said.
Researchers say that the cheapest option for increasing the capacity for renewable energy is building more wind parks on land - but they need to be better coordinated with the national grid.
"The individual German states have some very ambitious construction targets for wind energy, which taken together significantly beat the federal government targets," the report said.
The commission is chaired by Andreas L?schel of the Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) in Mannheim, and is occupied by Georg Erdmann of the Technical University Berlin, Frithjof Stai?, from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-W?rttemberg (ZSW), and Hans-Joachim Ziesing, of the Working Group on Energy Balances (AGEB).
The commission also said media reports of rising electricity costs were exaggerated, and called for a more reasoned debate on the energy issue.
The FMLA allows employers that don?t want to accept an employee?s medical certification to ask for (and pay for) a second opinion. If the two opinions contradict one another, the employer may pay for a third, tie-breaking assessment. But that can be expensive.
If you prefer to simply deny the employee?s leave request, that?s fine. If the employee sues, you can still challenge the underlying medical condition and whether it qualifies as a serious health condition under the FMLA.
Recent case: Rose is a doctor, as is her adult daughter. When the daughter underwent brain surgery and was discharged, Rose asked for FMLA leave so she could care for her. Under the FMLA, once a child is over age 18, a parent is eligible for leave only if the child?s condition means she?s incapable of self-care.
The employer said Rose wasn?t eligible for FMLA leave because it believed her daughter could take care of herself. Rose sued, alleging denial of her FMLA rights.
That?s when the employer subpoenaed the daughter?s medical records. The daughter objected. Rose argued that because her employer never asked for a second opinion back when her daughter was discharged, it lost the right to now demand records and contest her daughter?s condition.
The court agreed with the employer. It said employers don?t lose the right to challenge an employee?s eligibility just because it doesn?t want to pay for a second or third opinion. Employers are free to take their chances by denying leave; if sued, they can still try to prove the employee was ineligible for FMLA leave. (Mezu v. Morgan State University, No. 11-2396, 4th Cir., 2012)
Final note: Always check a child?s age before automatically approving FMLA leave. After age 18, the child must be so sick she can?t take care of herself.
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Dec. 17, 2012 ? Imagine a solid ball rolling down a slightly inclined ramp. What could be perceived as child's play is the focus of serious theoretical research by Manoj Chaudhury and Partho Goohpattader, two physicists from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
Their study, which is about to be published in EPJ E, has one thing in common with childhood behaviour. It introduces a mischievous idea, namely studying the effect of random noise, such as vibrations, on the ball. They found it could lower the energy barrier to set the ball in motion.
The authors used a ramp with a micro?textured surface. This surface is akin to that of a gecko's feet, made of so-called microfibrils capable of adhering to any surface by deforming elastically. They then studied the effect of vibration on a ball left on the top of such a textured ramp. They found that the sphere starts rolling when subjected to a computer-generated random vibration. To set the ball in motion requires activation energy, the model shows. It has been long known that the same applies to the adhesion of molecules, on a much smaller scale, as predicted theoretically by the so-called Arrhenius kinetics. This study pinpoints a finite threshold of intensity for the vibration noise above which the ball is set in motion.
This finding could have implications for the removal of water droplets from super-hydrophobic surfaces such as plant leaves. Other applications could also include gecko feet-mimetic adhesives, better adhesion of rubber tires on roads, and the use of fluids, instead of electronics, to perform a digital operation. In addition, new MicroElectroMechanical systems (MEMs), based on robotic fingers capable of displacing a small object, could be assisted by noise.
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Journal Reference:
M. K. Chaudhury, P. S. Goohpattader. Noise-activated dissociation of soft elastic contacts. The European Physical Journal E, 2012; 35 (12) DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2012-12131-9
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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
I have posted here in 2008 on the application of Connectivism in K-12 and Higher Education, based on an institutional approach. ?I have left with more questions than answers:
Surely with the CCK08, if 2 ?teachers? could serve 2000 plus learners, do you think there is a?need to employ?more teachers/moderators in mass open on-line courses?? Will open on-line courses be the future?? Will everyone become a teacher in those ?courses? or networks?? How about the accreditation?? Will?such courses be recognised nationally and internationally? ?Will networks such as community of practice be the education campfire? What will be the educational landscape of the future? What will be the role of the professors/teachers in higher education???Are?they still the way finders for learners?? Who will be holding the?authority/power in education and learning?? Is power an issue?? Where will these changes lead us to ? emergent knowledge, learning, education?? A bright future? And the questions go on?.
Chester asks if MOOC be adopted in k-12?education:
Which got me thinking: Why not MOOCs in K?12 education, too?for the kids, not just their teachers? Why is this not another form of on-line or blended learning with huge potential to foster equity, acceleration, individualization, choice, and much else that we prize in the elementary-secondary sector?
We already have virtual charter schools in many places and several state-provided counterparts such as the Florida Virtual School. We have online providers of specific courses (see?Apex Learning, for example). Home-schoolers can access multiple options. And we have more and more schools seeking to blend on-line offerings into their brick-and-mortar classrooms.
I posted on FB, and Mary Rearick and Ana Cristina Pratas also made their comments.
My comments here:
I think small scale of OOC structured with a ?duty of care? is important if it is to be designed for k-12, and must be exercised with more cautions, due to the huge risks involved. Educators and professors should take it seriously, as it is not about making money, but growing people, though a business approach ? with vision, mission, business strategies and action plans would be needed to adequately manage both the educational and administrative functions.
The challenges are just too much for individual educators to take up, and so strong leadership and sound support are required to ensure it would be run smoothly. Besides, if this involves accreditation of the course unit, close monitoring of the learning process based on facilitation, learning analytics and follow up/feedback mechanism would be mandatory to prevent problems of drop-out, trolling or bullying etc. This isn?t just about control, but a sort of governance with joint collaboration among stakeholders and organisations. Would this be based on traditional online or xMOOCs approach? I don?t see any institutions have got this far yet, but the community colleges may be partnering with edX or Coursera to get more experiences on this.
If I were to recommend to institutions, I would only suggest MOOCs for the senior and teaching staff first, and may be pilot program with a small network of schools to try that out, together with a few institutions (may be local HE institutions, though it may be possible to try the MIT/Harvard- edX or Coursera). Finally, these MUST be strongly supported by top management. Otherwise, it would not be sustainable, and may become what those typically ?quality circles? or ?quality improvement teams? have gone through, which won?t last for long.
What sort of design would be required for a particular MOOC?
The profile of participants could determine how and why you would need to adopt a particular approach ? prescriptive or emergent instructional design and delivery. Connectivist approach would surely work when participants appreciate its value and consider the applications. On the other hand, most educators have been trained under a cognitivist/constructivist/social constructivist paradigm and would prefer to an instructivist pedagogy. Take a look at xMOOCs and you will see how many students would value the ?great professors? teaching them, and that they would like to consume all the knowledge presented (based on a transfer of knowledge approach) (though some may like to interact with the professors, but the professors would only do so through those short videos response (selecting a few to respond to) or respond through the forum postings.
It would be interesting to survey or interview those xMOOCs students to find out what they are really thinking and learning, rather than us speculating, or deducting when reading their posts. I must admit that most people won?t comment about xMOOCs and cMOOCs in public, especially if it relates to the professors or instructors or pedagogy, as this is UNUSUAL in closed classroom face-to-face teaching. I still haven?t seen a lot of such open discourse, though there has been a few serious debates about the pedagogy best suited to MOOCs.
Again, as I have suggested, there are simply too many assumptions and presumptions before starting a MOOC. The best approach for me is to really try one out, and see what works and what doesn?t. I reckon xMOOCs would still have the huge ?incompletion? rates if they continue to run without recognising the credit towards a degree or qualification, and are free.
Are there free lunches in this world? May be you and I are offering some here, but we all know this won?t last long. ?I got my lunch (MOOC).
Finally, many students want to be the author of their education, whereas they could have complete control over their learning. ?MOOCs could be the catalyst for letting them to start learning as authors, to write their own learning journeys, and leave a legacy.
How could we help and support them, if we are not yet ready to let them try, and if we haven?t tried it ourselves?
My dear k-12 fellow learners: Are you ready for the MOOC ? cMOOCs or xMOOCs? ? What is your choice?
Online car Insurance Quotes Metairie Owning auto insurance is not only a law, but it can also help save you tons of money. There are many advantages to auto insurance. Car insurance will protect you in the case of an accident by paying for damages, financial loss, legal responsibilities, and medical expenses for you or those you are liable for. Despite it?s importance, it can be difficult to select the best auto insurance coverage. Why not let us shop around for you and give you all your options? We are your location to find a variety of auto insurance quotes, as well as quotes for homeowners insurance, life insurance, and health insurance. Buying car insurance doesn?t have to be a stressful experience; by using our website, it never is.
So...you're new? Hmm, your name is Lucy, and you obviously love Homestuck...obviously. ;) Oh...you love, love, love Homestuck? My that's a lot of loves.
Two years roleplaying on forums and with friends actually counts. It doesn't have to be the kind that's all D&D, involving the dice, or live-action roleplaying with costumes and swords/guns. Live-action to me is more like acting. You've been "officially" roleplaying for two years now, end of story.
Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes, The Walking Dead, not bad...not bad at all. A gazillion other things? Yeah, don't we all have that?
You're super awkward? Well...not to rain on your parade, or be mean...but...get in line. XD
So, on behalf of everyone here at RPG, RolePlayGateway, we're glad to have you here.
Posted by leathastav49 on December 15, 2012 in Articles with No Comments
Recent statistics show that vehicle auctions are just starting to gain more reputation with customers. The present state of the economy is making lots of people to look for vehicles being supplied at high, discount rates. Let?s take a look at two of the very most common advantages for purchasing an automobile from an auction sale for cars in contrast to a dealership.There is no sales stress in the event that you chose to browse at a car auction. Most of us know that car shops are known for applying revenue force to potential customers. I know some of you know this circumstance, when telemarketers have integrated your contact numbers and name on the ?prospective buyer? record and offers a call to you everyday. Personnel are introduced to any or all the smart selling methods that are proven to close a sale.You do not fully grasp this sort of irritating stress from vehicle deals. This is excellent for anybody who is not involved with some cunning sales associates and this can also save yourself you from all of the complications of answering telemarketer calls and sales letters going to your email box every now and then.And naturally people love the notion of buying from car auctions due to the extremely low costs that you can never get from any car dealer in your area. You may undoubtedly save a large amount of money when bidding for cars, particularly if you were able to place a great deal at the best time.For occasion, you may be able to save at least five thousand dollars for an automobile that?s worth perhaps five times that if you are eager to win. This is a game of approach and luck. You could be happy, or even too much people are bidding on the car that you like. On another hand, you should figure out your own personal bidding technique so that you will not wind up spending more than what you have allotted.Technically, the thought of purchasing your car from car auctions is the best means for those who are restricted on finances but are quite definitely willing to spend out of some of their cash to acquire a car. After all, cars aren?t considered as luxury these days, as it is among the most important needs we all should have. Not until you are purchasing a magnificent and extremely high priced high-end car.The cars that are being auctioned aren?t completely new. This is another factor why there is a sudden fall on their value, particularly if the car remains thought to be certainly one of the latest versions in the market today. However, the federal government normally repossess these cars as the original owner is not able to comply with the payment terms anymore. Often the first owner decided to voluntarily surrender it or the vehicle was just confiscated, these vehicles still have the smell of a fresh interior with little mileage.
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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ? Two pro athletes with Minnesota ties had teamed up to show their support for breast cancer awareness, and they?re showing off the results of their efforts.
They pledged 25 cents for every time someone shared or ?liked? their video on social media ? and ended up raising $86,000.
Love will present his half of the funds to ?Bright Pink,? an organization that focuses on breast and ovarian cancer prevention and detection.
If a proposed law in Montreal goes into effect, all dogs in the Canadian city will need to?understand commands in both English and French.
Montreal city councilor Benoit LaDouce, who made the proposal, told CBC Radio that it's necessary to counter the "chaos" resulting from dogs at public parks who understand commands in only one language.
"The current situation in Montreal Dog Park is untenable chaos," LaDouce told CBC Radio. "The various dog commands are incomprehensible to each other."
In an inadvertently hilarious interview with the station, LaDouce (who was deadly serious) says he was inspired to propose the law after a dog began licking his face and did not respond to French commands.
"Our alienation from each other was absolute," LaDouce said.
LaDouce wants all dogs in the city to learn at least 80 to 90 commands in both languages, calling the task "basic stuff." He said each canine should be subjected to a test by a city employee to confirm the animal's bilingual comprehension.
While few question that dogs are capable of intelligent acts?just recently, we learned about some dogs that are being taught to "drive" cars?LaDouce's solution may not even be possible. Trained dogs are only able to learn about 160 words, according to Animal Planet.
And what of the dog owners who are not bilingual? As CBC Radio host Pat Kelly points out, having to learn a second language only to impart a few dozen commands to your pet would be an expensive and time-consuming exercise. For example, only about 20 percent of people in the U.S. are able to hold a conversation in a second language, according to the U.S. Census.
"Expensive or opportunity, which way do you want to look at it?" LaDouce said in response. "Now, suddenly, just by having a dog, I'm opening up to different kinds of knowledge."
He said he hopes to get the law passed and put into effect by summer 2013.
All through the week we do our best to bring you all the biggest injury news from around the league.
Inevitably, a few injuries fall through the cracks and don?t wind up with a spotlight on them at any point. That?s why we?ve got the injury report roundup every week to make sure that nothing makes it entirely through the net before the weekend starts.
Giants at Falcons
Cornerback Prince Amukamara (hamstring), running back Ahmad Bradshaw (knee,?foot), safety Kenny Phillips (knee) and safety Tyler Sash (hamstring) are all out for the Giants. Linebacker Michael Boley (back) is questionable and wide receiver Hakeem Nicks (knee) is probable. Falcons wide receiver Roddy White (knee) is going to be a game-time decision, as will safety William Moore (hamstring), defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux (ribs) and wide receiver Harry Douglas (ribs).
Broncos at Ravens
The Broncos are relatively healthy. Guard Chris Kuper and linebacker Wesley Woodyard are both questionable with ankle injuries while wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas (shoulder) is probable to be in the lineup. Linebacker Jameel McClain (neck) is the only Raven ruled out and tight end Ed Dickson (knee) is doubtful, but they have several game-time decisions to make. Linebacker Terrell Suggs (biceps), safety Bernard Pollard (chest), linebacker Dannell Ellerbee (ankle), cornerback Jimmy Smith (abdomen), defensive end Pernell McPhee (thigh) and guard Marshal Yanda (ankle) are all questionable. Linebacker Ray Lewis (triceps) is practicing, but is not listed on the injury report since he is still on injured reserve.
Packers at Bears
The Packers will be without wide receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring), safety Charles Woodson (collarbone), defensive end C.J. Wilson (knee) and running back James Starks (knee). Guard Josh Sitton is questionable after injuring his hip in practice on Thursday and linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) is set to return after missing four games. Wide receiver Earl Bennett (concussion), cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder) and linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) are out again for the Bears. They could be thin on the defensive line as defensive tackle Henry Melton (chest) and defensive end Shea McClellin (knee) are doubtful for the game.
Redskins at Browns
If you?ve been here at any point this week, you know Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is going to be a game-time decision with a sprained knee. Linebacker London Fletcher (ankle) and tackle Trent Williams (thigh) are also questionable for Washington. The Browns have nine probable players, leaving them looking almost as fit as a fiddle for Sunday.
Colts at Texans
The Colts have ruled out running back Delone Carter (ankle), linebacker Kavell Conner (hamstring), tackle Winston Justice (biceps), center Samson Satele (ankle) and S Tom Zbikowski (knee) for their battle with the AFC South leaders. Texans linebacker Brooks Reed will miss another game with a groin injury and cornerback Alan Ball (foot) has also been ruled out.
Jaguars at Dolphins
It?s awfully lonely in the Jaguars backfield with running backs Rashad Jennings (concussion), Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) and Jordan Todman (calf) all ruled out. Jacksonville also ruled out cornerback?Aaron Ross (calf) and defensive end George Selvie (concussion) on Friday. Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess will miss a game for the first time in his career as a result of a back injury and linebacker Koa Misi (ankle) is out as well.
Buccaneers at Saints
Things are pretty healthy on the Tampa side of things with defensive end Da?Quan Bowers (hamstring) and cornerback LeQuan Lewis (knee) questionable and a few other probable players. The Saints are down right tackles Zach Strief (ankle) and Charles Brown (knee) this week. Running back Chris Ivory and safety Malcolm Jenkins will both miss the game with hamstring injuries.
Vikings at Rams
The Vikings have 10 probable players and just cornerback Antoine Winfield (knee) listed as questionable. That tops the Rams, who have nine probables and just defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo (foot).
Lions at Cardinals
Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley (shoulder) and tight end Brandon Pettigrew (ankle) are doubtful for the Lions. Safety Louis Delmas (knee) is questionable, as is Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (calf). Wide receiver Early Doucet has been ruled out because of a concussion.
Seahawks at Bills
Wide receiver Sidney Rice (foot) is probable for the Seahawks, but cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant are both out with hamstring injuries. Center Eric Wood (knee) remains out for the Bills, while defensive end Mark Anderson (knee) is questionable in his attempt to return after several weeks on the sideline. Safety Jairus Byrd (shin), linebacker Nick Barnett (knee), defensive end Marcell Dareus (shoulder) and guard Andy Levitre (knee) are also questionable for Buffalo.
Panthers at Chargers
The Panthers will be without running back Jonathan Stewart (ankle) and wide receiver Brandon LaFell is questionable thanks to a toe injury. Linebacker DeMorrio Williams (ankle) is out for San Diego while running back Ronnie Brown (hamstring), linebacker Donald Butler (groin), tackle Jeromey Clary (knee) and guard Tyronne Green (ankle) are all doubtful.
Steelers at Cowboys
Tackle Willie Colon?s been ruled out by the Steelers and it?s thought his knee injury will end his season. Cornerback Ike Taylor (ankle) and tackle Mike Adams (ankle) have also been ruled out for Pittsburgh. Defensive tackle Jay Ratliff won?t play after having sports hernia surgery and wide receiver Dez Bryant is questionable with the finger injury we?ve been following all week. Bryant says he?s playing, as does linebacker DeMarcus Ware (elbow) but the outlook is a bit less certain for guard Nate Livings and cornerback Morris Claiborne because of concussions.
Chiefs at Raiders
The Chiefs haven?t placed wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (ribs) on injured reserve, so he?s been ruled out. Three offensive linemen ? tackle Branden Albert (back), guard Jon Asamoah (thumb) and guard Ryan Lilja (knee) ? are questionable while guard Russ Hochstein (back) is doubtful. Defensive tackle Richard Seymour (hamstring, knee) could make his return for the Raiders after getting the questionable tag, a designation he shares with safety Tyvon Branch (neck, ankle).
49ers at Patriots
The 49ers travel across the country in good shape with just wide receiver Mario Manningham (shoulder) expected to miss the game after being listed as doubtful. The Patriots listed 19 players as questionable, including tight end Rob Gronkowski (forearm). Gronkowski isn?t expected to play and forecasting the status for the many questionable Patriots every week tends to be a waste of time.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian police shot dead three suspected militants on Thursday evening in the Dagestan province of Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, local media said.
Russia is struggling to contain a persistent Islamist insurgency in the patchwork of small, mostly Muslim regions along the country's southern border more than a decade after federal forces ousted a separatist government in Chechnya.
Interfax news agency quoted the Interior Affairs Ministry as saying militants opened fire on a police car in the provincial capital of Makhachkala, but that no law enforcement officials suffered injuries.
"The shooters were trying to flee the assault site. A chase was organized. As a result three attackers were cut off in a house and killed following brief fighting," Interfax quoted the ministry as saying.
Rebels, who say they are fighting for an Islamic state in the strip of North Caucasus provinces, target police and security forces as well as government officials and mainstream Muslim leaders in frequent attacks.
Rights activists say the insurgency is also driven by poverty and anger at the heavy-handed tactics of the security forces.
The popularity of online shopping has been seen by many as a threat to the existence of traditional shopping. Their argument is based on the recent widespread closure of established brands like Sears and Best Buy. But can we really say that traditional shopping is dying?
In 2011, even though the U.S economy was sluggish, shopping grew by 15% over the previous year. In addition, about 35% of Americans now have smartphones which enable them to purchase goods and services over the internet and this figure is expected to rise significantly in subsequent years. In actual fact, about half of smartphone users have used their phones for one purchase or the other. On Christmas day of 2011 alone, about 6.8 million iOs and Android smartphones were activated. Top internet retailer, Amazon, recorded a whooping net sale of $48.08 billion in 2011 which represents 40.6% increase over $32.20 billion recorded in 2010. This figure is expected to rise in 2012 and subsequent years. What then is the implication of all these to physical retailing?
Since many people now decide to shop over the internet due to the benefits derivable in doing so like convenience, easy access to market, price comparison, avoidance of crowd, better prices and so on, can we really say that that the traditional way of shopping is being threatened? In my own opinion, technology will enhance the traditional method and not kill it. The popularity of video cassette recorder (VCR) in the 80?s was seen by many as a threat to movie theaters then, but today, the film industry has been strengthened by the new technology and the demand for films has increased.
Moreover, when the email became very popular, a lot people thought that the traditional postal service would die, but today, it is waxing stronger. The point I?m driving at here is that, if traditional shop owners can embrace new technology, shopping on the internet would not be a threat to them but a blessing.
If physical retailers can monitor shopping behavior through the use of Wi-Fi signals from smartphones, they would be able to compete favorably in a fast-changing world. They can use technology to measure loyalty, make better staffing decisions, improve store layouts, reduce wait times in checkout lines and so on. Online shopping has come to stay but it is not a threat to traditional shopping because many consumers still value some of its features like quality of customer service, the experience of trying and buying products, how products are displayed and so on.
The scent of garlic simmering in olive oil beckons you from the doorway of this hidden Amalfi treasure. The aroma, one Chiara calls the "Chanel of the kitchen" leads you directly to the source of that most quintessential Italian aroma. Mamma Agata and Gennaro give a boisterous buon giorno from behind the stove, and Chiara gives you a hug with one arm and a turn with the other putting you face to face with a plate full of eggplant rolls and a glass of red wine.
Prompted to taste before I could even reply to my greeters, I savored one, or two, of Mamma Agata's involtini di melanzane. Fried and meaty melanzane rolled around provolone & arugula, and another, this time rolled around a soft creamy cheese and sun-dried tomotoes.? An appropriate start to a most fabulous day cooking, eating, drinking and lapping up all the flavors that this sensory playground had to offer. I was on the Amalfi Coast and cooking with Mamma Agata at her cooking school in Ravello.
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Our amazing view - looking down from the terrace
From the kitchen Chiara led me to the terrace, a lush garden and dining area where a long table dressed in white linen and Amalfi lemons led you out to the garden.? The garden is a thing of beauty in its own right, greenery & flowers crawl up trelisses that line one side and the other side has a mouth-dropping mezmerizing view of the blue Amalfi sea and its coastline. We spent the afternoon there dining on the terrace, perched high atop the hillside with the family's gardens and then the deep blue sea below us. And we ate, and ate, and ate, dish after dish of Mamma Agata's specialties.
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The Amalfi Coastline ~? View from our terrace dining table
Chiara Lima, Mamma Agata's daughter, had invited me as their guest for a day at their cooking school. The cooking school is entirely a family affair. Chiara was our hostess/translator/storyteller. Mamma Agata and Chiara's husband Gennaro, also a sommelier, handled the cooking demonstration part of the class. Chiara translated and added many family stories, anecdotes and Mamma's secret tips for each dish.? All the fruit and vegetables we used came from the family's garden, on the terraces right below the house. The garden is managed by Salvatore, Mamma Agata's husband and Chiara's father. Mamma Agata has been cooking for others since she was 8 years old! Many of her specialties are family recipes handed down to her from her mother and her aunts.?
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In the kitchen with Chiara and Gennaro
The class starts at 10:30am where guests are greeted with food, of course, upon arrival, Mamma Agata's treasured lemon cake. (I arrived a little later, thus the reason I had the just-made eggplant roll appetizers.) You cook, with Mamma Agata overseeing it all, and recreate a many-course meal of her famous dishes, some of them served and loved by the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Jacqueline Kennedy, and Pierce Brosnan to name a few. Mamma Agata has a secret for perfecting every one of her dishes, and she shares each of them with you.
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??Our meal was one flavorful and perfectly cooked dish after another. Mamma Agata's cooking philosophy is based on simplicity, quality ingredients and love. Each dish used only a few quality ingredients - all the fruits and vegetables came from their garden.
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Here's our meal, in photos:
***We also had one of the best eggplant parmigiano dishes I've ever eaten. I gobbled it up before remembering to take a photo.
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Mamma Agata's Coccoli {Herb Fritters}
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Spaghetti al Contadino {Farmer's Spaghetti} with tomatoes from their garden, olives, capers & arugula leaves
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Pappardelle with bell peppers and sausage
The extra sausage & bell peppers served as a secondo
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Mamma Agata's pollo al limone (chicken with lemon) - Lemon juice from the garden's lemons added just before serving
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Mamma Agata's Lemon Cake adored by Humphrey Bogart
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Mamma Agata's home-made limoncello ~ How any meal on the Amalfi Coast should end!
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Chiara
has created a cookbook of Mamma Agata's recipes - a great gift for
those who can't make it to the cooking class and a special souvenir for
those of us who were there. Each of the dishes we made and more are
included in Mamma Agata's cookbook. Along with each recipe, there are
step-by-step photo instructions and Mamma Agata's tips. For example,
when making her pollo al limone, she advises that you add the lemon
juice at the very end of cooking to get the best lemon flavor. Adding it
at the beginning causes the lemon juice to have a bitter taste. The
instructions and the tips are so clear it's extremely easy to create
dishes as delicious as if Mamma Agata had made them for you.?
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Chiara showing us the well-illustrated instructions in the cookbook
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The Cookbook is in English and full of all the recipes above, yes even the limoncello! There are so many others, Mamma Agata's take on the traditional dishes of the Campania region and some of her own creation. All look delicious, but some of my favorites include: the risotto al limone, stuffed and fried zucchini flowers, gnocchi alla sorrentina, the veal roast, stuffed squid (totani imbottiti), fried pizza, and the Mamma Agata's zeppole (doughnuts)! In addition to the easy-to-follow recipes, there are stories about each family member, family photos and stunning photos of their home, the hidden treasure, and the Amalfi Coast.
I definitely recommend both the class and the cookbook; both would make fabulous Christmas gifts for that food-loving Italophile in your life! The book is 29,50 euros plus shipping. You can order the book directly from Mamma Agata online here: Mamma Agata Simple and Genuine Cookbook. You can also book a class directly on Mamma Agat's website.
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Inside the cookbook - photo instructions for making Mamma's chicken cacciatore
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The Cookbook Giveaway:? For the holidays, Chiara and Mamma Agata have been so generous as to offer you an autographed copy of Mamma Agata's Simple and Genuine cookbook.? All you need to do to win is leave a comment below telling us what your favorite Italian dish (or dessert) is. The contest will end at Midnight P.S.T. on Wednesday, December 19, 2012. I'll randomnly draw a name from the comments using www.random.org and will announce the winner on Thursday, December 20, 2012.?
Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
The Amalfi Coastline
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Related Posts You Might Also Enjoy:
Cook with Me and Italian Mammas in Puglia in 2013
Orecchiette and Salentine Breads - Cooking with Mamma Giulia in Salento
A Drive along the Amalfi Coast (in photos)
Pasta alla Genovese and Other Classic Neapolitan Pasta Sauces at Citta del Gusto
Torta Caprese - Flourless Chocolate Cake from Capri
Premier Ted Baillieu and Health Minister David Davis have announced that commercial solaria will be banned in Victoria from 31 December 2014 in a move by the Victorian Coalition Government to protect people from skin cancer.
Mr Baillieu said the Coalition Government is committed to reducing the significant impact of skin cancer on the Victorian community.
"The days for solaria in Victoria are numbered," Mr Baillieu said.
"Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it is still the most common form of cancer in Victoria."
The commercial solaria ban is part of the Victorian Coalition Government's Skin Cancer Prevention Framework 2013-2017, launched today.
"This Framework is the first of its kind for Victoria," Mr Baillieu said.
"The Framework outlines how we will co-ordinate an effective and sustainable approach for skin cancer prevention over the next five years," Mr Davis said.
"It has a particularly strong focus on protecting young people and outlines strategies to shield them from harmful over-exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation where they live, learn, work and play.
"As part of our action to protect people, we will ban commercial sunbeds in Victoria - effective from 31 December 2014.
"The use of tanning devices such as sunbeds is continuing to put Victorians at risk of skin cancer.
"Research shows the risk of melanoma increases by 87 per cent when the use of tanning devices starts before the age of 35," Mr Davis said.
"Along with banning commercial solaria in Victoria, we will also seek to work with the Commonwealth and States on a national approach on solaria that could include a ban on the importation and manufacturing of sunbeds."
In 2010 in Victoria, there were more than 40,000 new cases of skin cancer, of which 2,256 were melanoma. During 2010, 297 people died from melanoma.
Mr Davis said the goal of the Skin Cancer Prevention Framework 2013-2017 is to reduce the incidence and mortality of skin cancer in Victoria.
"The plan outlines how the health sector, private sector, researchers and local communities can work together to achieve this goal," Mr Davis said.
"It targets at-risk groups such as children, adolescents and men over 50 with strategies to increase shady environments, improve sun protection knowledge, attitudes and behaviours and support early detection and research.
"It also recognises that a balance is required between the risks of skin cancer from too much sun exposure and the benefits of spending time outdoors keeping active and maintaining adequate vitamin D levels.
"Community consultation was central to the development of this framework," Mr Davis said.
The Skin Cancer Prevention Framework 2013-2017 can be found at www.health.vic.gov.au/prevention/skin-cancer.
Selecting a school is one of the biggest decisions any parent can make for their young child. Like any other crucial stage of development, entering school will expose a child to a wide range of experiences and opportunities for learning information and acquiring new skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Because different educational institutions make use of different approaches to teaching children, making the right choice in terms of schools contributes a lot towards influencing the direction that a young mind's development will take.
Many schools make it part of their teaching strategy to instruct students on certain ways of accomplishing tasks, processing information, and practicing their mental and physical capabilities. There are instances, however, when such a method of instruction can actually prevent a child from fully maximizing their potential for growth and learning. For parents seeking a different school experience for their children, a competent school may just be the solution they need.
Specialized education is characterized by its respect for a child's natural psychological development and its emphasis on facilitating learning processes in an environment that fosters independence and learning through experience. Children, the founder believes, are profoundly intelligent and have a natural ability to teach themselves; thus, by putting them in loving and encouraging environment, their growing minds can be effectively nurtured.
Specialized education encourages children to interact with a prepared environment and direct their own learning. This is done by inviting them to engage in hands-on activities of their choice rather than simply sitting down and receiving learning materials and direct instruction from their educators. Children taught in this specialized manner are found to develop concentration, discipline, and a love of life-long learning.
This approach does not simply cater to children of school age. Expectant mothers and their spouses can attend the antenatal classes competent schools offer to begin learning about the first few months of life of the precious baby that they will soon meet. These classes provide useful discussions and sessions for making toys such as mobiles and grasping tools that would help the baby's mind and body learn new things.
By providing specially developed learning activities for young children and comprehensive learning opportunities for parents in baby groups, specialized educational institutions help provide natural and coherent approaches to education for parents and children alike. By allowing children the freedom to explore the world, make their own choices, and get first-hand experiences through specially prepared classroom environments, they gain the ability to develop into well-rounded individuals-and eventually, intelligent, mature, and perceptive adults.
Learn the things you need to learn before your baby comes through antenatal classes Brighton and become the best parent you can be.
Harviestoun Brewery has announced plans to further increase its workforce to support ongoing expansion and rebranding plans.
Date:
Thu, 13 Dec 2012
Source:
Clydesdale Bank
The award-winning, Alva-based craft brewer, which currently employs 19 staff, intends to increase its workforce after recently opening the doors of its new 11,000 sq. ft. warehouse and office complex.? The funding to support the new expanded premises was provided by Clydesdale Bank?s Stirling Business & Private Banking Centre.
The company plans to recruit a further six staff in early 2013, ahead of the launch of its new range of beers early in the New Year. This follows on from a 30% increase in its staff numbers during 2012.
Harviestoun Brewery was established more than 30 years ago and has been under its current ownership since 2008. Since the change of ownership, the company has increased the percentage of its turnover derived from international markets from 2% to 20% and now exports to 21 countries in key markets such as Scandinavia, North America and Brazil.
Harviestoun Brewery prides itself on being entirely self-contained and the fact it does not brew for anybody else or have any of its renowned craft beers brewed off site.
Chris Miller, managing director of Harviestoun Brewery, said: ?This is further good news for us and the local community as it means we will be supporting yet more local jobs. 2013 promises to be an exciting year for us and we look forward to welcoming our new staff at this time.
?Our ethos has always been to be recognised as the best rather than one of the biggest mass producers, which is evidenced by the quality and popularity of our craft beers. Since moving to Clydesdale Bank last year, we have been impressed by the support and commitment which we?ve received to help deliver our business aims.?
Stuart McCallum, Clydesdale Bank?s Regional Lead for the Food and Drink Sector, said: ?Harviestoun Brewery is a strong Scottish company, producing a traditional Scottish product with a twist to an international customer base. It is extremely pleasing to see the company?s expansion continuing in to 2013 and beyond.
?The continued success of Scotland?s food and drink export market is a key element in the Scottish economy and we believe Harviestoun Brewery is a leader in modern craft brewing.
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Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women Public release date: 11-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: NCI Press Office ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov 301-496-6641 NIH/National Cancer Institute
An international group of scientists has identified three genetic regions that predispose Asian women who have never smoked to lung cancer. The finding provides further evidence that risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, especially Asian women, may be associated with certain unique inherited genetic characteristics that distinguishes it from lung cancer in smokers.
Lung cancer in never-smokers is the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and the majority of lung cancers diagnosed historically among women in Eastern Asia have been in women who never smoked. The specific genetic variations found in this study had not been associated with lung cancer risk in other populations.
Although environmental factors, such as secondhand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke) or exhaust from indoor cooking are likely account for some cases of lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked, they explain only a small proportion of the disease. To gain a better understanding of lung cancer in Asian female never-smokers, researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, partnered with researchers from several other countries to create the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia to conduct one of the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in female never-smokers to date. GWAS compares DNA markers across the genome between people with a disease or trait to people without the disease or trait.
"This study is the first large-scale genome-wide association study of lung cancer among never-smoking females anywhere in the world," said Qing Lan, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator in NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and the leader of the study.
The consortium, whose findings were reported Nov.11, 2012, online in Nature Genetics, conducted a GWAS that combined data from 14 studies that included a total of approximately 14,000 Asian women (6,600 with lung cancer and 7,500 without lung cancer). The studies included data on environmental factors, including exposure to secondhand smoke.
The consortium found that variations at three locations in the genometwo on chromosome 6 and one on chromosome 10were associated with lung cancer in Asian female never-smokers. The discovery on chromosome 10 was particularly significant because it has not been found in any other GWAS of lung cancer in white or Asian populations.
"Our study provides strong evidence that common inherited genetic variants contribute to an increased risk of lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked," said Nathaniel Rothman, M.D., a senior investigator in NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and coauthor of the study. "These variants may also increase lung cancer risk associated with environmental factors, such as environmental tobacco smoke."
The researchers did not detect an association with variations at a location on chromosome 15 that has been associated with lung cancer risk in many previous GWAS of lung cancer in smokers. The absence of this association provides further support for the suggestion that the genetic variation on chromosome 15 may be smoking-related.
The researchers found some evidence that Asian women with one of the newly identified genetic variants may be more susceptible to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke. However, the authors note that more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions from this observation.
"This study is an example of how genome-wide association susceptibility studies can evaluate inherited genetic risk in populations with unique characteristics or environmental exposures," said Stephen J. Chanock, M.D., acting co-director of NCI's Center for Cancer Genomics and a co-author of the study. "We will continue to develop better, smarter applications of this technique and apply them to populations where we have detailed information on environmental factors to further our understanding of how inherited genetic factors modify risk from environmental exposures."
###
This work was supported by NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics under intramural project number ZIACP010121.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
Reference: Lan Q, et al. Genome-wide association analysis identifies new lung cancer susceptibility loci in never-smoking women in Asia. Nature Genetics. November 11, 2012. doi: 10.1038/ng.2456.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Gene variations linked to lung cancer susceptibility in Asian women Public release date: 11-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: NCI Press Office ncipressofficers@mail.nih.gov 301-496-6641 NIH/National Cancer Institute
An international group of scientists has identified three genetic regions that predispose Asian women who have never smoked to lung cancer. The finding provides further evidence that risk of lung cancer among never-smokers, especially Asian women, may be associated with certain unique inherited genetic characteristics that distinguishes it from lung cancer in smokers.
Lung cancer in never-smokers is the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and the majority of lung cancers diagnosed historically among women in Eastern Asia have been in women who never smoked. The specific genetic variations found in this study had not been associated with lung cancer risk in other populations.
Although environmental factors, such as secondhand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke) or exhaust from indoor cooking are likely account for some cases of lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked, they explain only a small proportion of the disease. To gain a better understanding of lung cancer in Asian female never-smokers, researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, partnered with researchers from several other countries to create the Female Lung Cancer Consortium in Asia to conduct one of the largest genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in female never-smokers to date. GWAS compares DNA markers across the genome between people with a disease or trait to people without the disease or trait.
"This study is the first large-scale genome-wide association study of lung cancer among never-smoking females anywhere in the world," said Qing Lan, M.D., Ph.D., a senior investigator in NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, and the leader of the study.
The consortium, whose findings were reported Nov.11, 2012, online in Nature Genetics, conducted a GWAS that combined data from 14 studies that included a total of approximately 14,000 Asian women (6,600 with lung cancer and 7,500 without lung cancer). The studies included data on environmental factors, including exposure to secondhand smoke.
The consortium found that variations at three locations in the genometwo on chromosome 6 and one on chromosome 10were associated with lung cancer in Asian female never-smokers. The discovery on chromosome 10 was particularly significant because it has not been found in any other GWAS of lung cancer in white or Asian populations.
"Our study provides strong evidence that common inherited genetic variants contribute to an increased risk of lung cancer among Asian women who have never smoked," said Nathaniel Rothman, M.D., a senior investigator in NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics and coauthor of the study. "These variants may also increase lung cancer risk associated with environmental factors, such as environmental tobacco smoke."
The researchers did not detect an association with variations at a location on chromosome 15 that has been associated with lung cancer risk in many previous GWAS of lung cancer in smokers. The absence of this association provides further support for the suggestion that the genetic variation on chromosome 15 may be smoking-related.
The researchers found some evidence that Asian women with one of the newly identified genetic variants may be more susceptible to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke. However, the authors note that more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions from this observation.
"This study is an example of how genome-wide association susceptibility studies can evaluate inherited genetic risk in populations with unique characteristics or environmental exposures," said Stephen J. Chanock, M.D., acting co-director of NCI's Center for Cancer Genomics and a co-author of the study. "We will continue to develop better, smarter applications of this technique and apply them to populations where we have detailed information on environmental factors to further our understanding of how inherited genetic factors modify risk from environmental exposures."
###
This work was supported by NCI's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics under intramural project number ZIACP010121.
NCI leads the National Cancer Program and the NIH effort to dramatically reduce the burden of cancer and improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, through research into prevention and cancer biology, the development of new interventions, and the training and mentoring of new researchers. For more information about cancer, please visit the NCI Web site at www.cancer.gov or call NCI's Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
Reference: Lan Q, et al. Genome-wide association analysis identifies new lung cancer susceptibility loci in never-smoking women in Asia. Nature Genetics. November 11, 2012. doi: 10.1038/ng.2456.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
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Public release date: 11-Nov-2012
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