Liberal Reforms and its Impact on the Lives of the People

â€Å"To what extent did the liberal reforms in 1906-1914 improve the lives of people? † The Liberal government introduced a series of reforms aimed at moving away from the Laissez-faire ideology and toward a more self help scheme aiming to move people away from poverty and to make Britain a better country both in health and prosperity; Churchill said â€Å"If we see a drowning man we do not drag him to the shore, instead we provide help to allow him to swim ashore†. To do this the Liberals aimed at giving aid to the young, the old, the sick, the unemployed and the workers; these groups will be discussed throughout the essay.These reforms were later regarded as the foundations for the welfare state. Children were one of the most critical groups for the government to help because they were unable to help themselves. They were also the next generation of workers and soldiers and knowing that war was looming meant that the government were very eager to improve their health . In 1906 an act was passed called â€Å"Provisions of Meals Act† which meant local authorities were allowed to provide free school meals for destitute children; however this was not made compulsory until 1914 and so only a few councils took it on board right from the start.These free school meals were effective in two ways; they were found to have vastly improved children’s diet and growth and also improved the children’s concentration during school. Parliamentary papers quoted â€Å"Children are unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of their education† this proves the point that children were so hungry they could not concentrate and benefit from a proper education.In 1907 the â€Å"Administrative Provisions Act† was passed which introduced free medical inspections in schools checking the children’s weight, height, eye sight and general health but it was not until 1912 that free medical treatment was provided before any il lnesses were observed, but little could be done by poor families who could not afford treatment also some parents believed it what their duty to look after their children and keep them healthy a historian Pugh said â€Å"much of the states activity in connection with children – vaccination, medical inspection, school meals, arrangements for taking them into care was represented by parents as an infringement of their role. †. Both of these acts did not improve the overall lives of the young in Britain and showed that not enough was truly being done to effectively make change and that the illusion of change was not enough.Arguably the most important of reforms for children was the â€Å"Children’s Charter† which was introduced in 1908. The general idea of it was to protect children from cruelty and corruption: juvenile courts were set up, imprisonment would occur in borstals, identity was protected, neglecting parents could be fined and age restrictions wer e placed on products such as alcohol and tobacco. The minimum age restrictions to products had limited success to start off with but it did make a difference. Overall, these acts together were believed to guarantee better lives for children. The elderly were helped by being given an old age pension. In 1908 the government paid up to 5 shillings a week to people over 70.The pension received depended on income and was set on a sliding scale so those with the highest income received for the least (or none) in pension money. The idea of pensions was admirable but there were many unfair features of it when first introduced. Not all elderly British citizens could qualify for it; those who had avoided work, had a criminal record, or were habitually drunk were excluded. Also, the fact that it was provided for the over 70’s meant that not many people lived long enough to receive their pension and also those who did had not received it early enough as monetary aid since it would have b een required many years before it was provided.Finally, the pension given did not raise the elderly income above the poverty line; Seebohm Rowntree’s minimum income for comfortable survival was over 35 shillings a week, Taylor stated the government â€Å"provided a meagre pension for the needy over the age of 70† which shows many people believed that the amount paid for the pension was not nearly enough to live on. Therefore, despite the idea and intensions being good they did not go far enough to improve the lives and ensure security for the elderly. The sick were another group the government tried to help. A contributory scheme was introduced for workers in case of illness. At the time there was no free national health service and the poor usually could not afford medical help. The â€Å"National Insurance Act† of 1911 gave some medical benefits for the worker who, when working, had paid into the scheme which their employer and the government would then add to o.One of the main causes of poverty was the sickness and subsequent absence from work so any amount of income during absence from work would benefit the worker and their family greatly. However there were many problems with the scheme. For a start the workers did not like the idea that 4 pence of their money every week would be taken from them despite the possibility they may not claim on their insurance and they may have need the 4 pence for their own survival at the time. Also, it was only the workers themselves who were able to claim from the insurance despite the difficulties another illness in the family may put upon the other family members.Thus, to be of greater use and to have been viewed in greater favour by many this scheme would need to cover a broader spectrum of difficulties within the family unit and appear more obviously beneficial to the majority rather than just the worker. Unemployment was another important factor of society which the Liberal reforms attempted to t ackle. They did this by introducing â€Å"Labour Exchanges Act† in 1909 where workers could find out where work could be found. Part of the National Insurance Act dealt with unemployment; it was a contributory scheme like that from illness from both the worker and the government for which they would receive a payout when unable to find work. However, this payment only lasted for up to fifteen weeks so if they were unemployed any longer no help was given. The scheme also only applied to seven particular jobs.Churchill explained â€Å"there are trades in which seasonal unemployment is not only high, but chronic; marked by seasonal fluctuations†. It was not designed to deal with long term unemployment and the labour exchanges act was slow and inefficient. The workers were helped by the government by introducing a â€Å"Workman’s Compensation Act† in 1906 that covered 6 million workers who could claim compensation for disease or injury that was a result of po or working conditions. However, in many trades and industries the government failed to establish a minimum wage level or a limit to working hours therefore did little to improve the lives of people during this period of change.On the other hand there were many positive reforms passed to help this category. In 1908 miners secured an eight hour working day. In 1909 the â€Å"Trade Borders Act† tried to protect workers from the sweated industries by setting up trade boards to fix minimum wage in jobs where workers were liable to exploitation and where trade unions could not protect them. Finally, in 1911 a â€Å"Shop Act† limited working hours for shop assistants and guaranteed a half day when the shop is closed. The government did make changes to this group but did not solve all their problems. To conclude, it is certainly true to say that the Liberal reforms marked a change away from Laissez-faire† to a more interventionist approach which meant that the government took some responsibility for the welfare of everyone in the country. It is wrong to say the Liberals created a welfare state . They did however mark a transition point between the old attitudes and the new attitudes towards poverty. The reforms did help to improve the lives of many people living in Britain during this time but did not solve all problems faced by the government and by the citizens of Britain; poverty was not solved and many people still lived under the poverty line, housing was not improved and there was still no free health care and so until these issues were dealt with overcoming these major problems would be difficult to do.

Horse Colic

The term colic refers to pain in the abdomen of horses. It is not a single disease, but is the manifestation of a considerable number of diseases: all of which produce pain, and some of which are potentially deadly. Making a specific diagnosis to determine the actual cause of the colic can be extremely difficult for veterinarians at times. Because of the multitude of possible causes, it is of value to examine several excellent recent research reviews which looked closely at the classification of colics, and at the causative factors, incidence and mortality associated with these diseases. The majority of cases of colic occur due to unknown causes, but are primarily presumed to be associated with intestinal muscle spasm or the accumulation of abnormal amounts of gas in a portion of the intestine. In general, colic results due to the distension of the bowel by ingesta, fluid, gas, or due to a functional impairment of the normal intestinal motility. In more severe cases, abdominal pain may be the result of damage to the intestinal wall by reduced blood supply (ischaemia), inflammation, death of tissue (infarction) or oedema (swelling and increased fluid). The causes of colic can be classified by well recognised pathological categories, including obstruction, strangulation, enteritis/colitis, peritonitis, as well as by the site involved – stomach, small intestine, caecum, large colon, small colon, peritoneum, and other organs including liver, spleen and kidney Rather than simply listing the types of colic which can occur, it is now of value to look at what we do actually know about causes, prevalence and risk factors, as well as strategies to prevent colics. Nathaniel White, DVM, of the Marion Dupont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia, reviewed the risk factors in the USA in 2002, in his publication â€Å"Prevalence, demographics and Risk Factors for Colic, www. ivis. org, with the following comments and observations; Out of 100 horses in the general population, 4-10 cases of colic are expected in one year. About 10-15% of the colics are repeat cases, with some horses having 2-4 colic episodes yearly. Horses that have had a previous colic are three times as likely to have a second colic compared to a horse that has never had colic. Most colic signs were simple colic or ileus (no contractions of the gut) with no specific diagnosis entered in 80-85% of cases. In one study, 30% of horses with colic were identified by owners but never seen by vets because the colic was short lived or resolved by the owner. Studies of colic cases seen by vets reported a predominance of simple obstruction or spasmodic colic. Impaction colics made up about 10% of cases, and obstruction or strangulating diseases requiring surgery made up from 2-4% of cases. Universities report that simple colic and impaction colics are the most commonly reported. When a specific gut location can be identified by veterinarians, the large colon is the most commonly affected, followed by small intestine, caecum and small colon respectively. Diseases which cause strangulation (twisted bowel) have the highest fatality rate- with the large colon torsions being more common than small intestine torsions. Colic is responsible for more deaths in horses than any other disease except old age. In normal farm horse populations, horse mortality from all types of colic was 0. 7 deaths per 100 horse-years, with a colic case fatality rate of 6. 7%. Risk Factors For Colic In some colic cases the cause may be evident, such as in grain overload, but even in these cases, the exact mechanism which initiates the problem is often unknown. By looking at known risk factors we can begin to reduce the incidence by eliminating possible risk factors. There are internal and external risk factors for colic: Breed While no breed is immune to colic, several studies suggest that Arabian horses have more colic episodes, while some other studies suggest that Thoroughbreds have more. Standardbreds and Warmbloods tend to have more inguinal hernias due to the increased size of their inguinal ring. Age Young and older horses appear to be less at risk of simple colic, so middle aged horses are most at risk. Weanlings and yearlings are most likely to suffer ileocaecal intussusceptions. Diet Diet has long been blamed for colic. Course roughage with low digestibility or particularly coarse fibre is observed to cause impaction colic. Grain overload significantly increases the risk of colic and laminitis. Feeds such as lush clover and lush pasture have been implicated in causing bloat. Information on feeding here When investigated by controlled studies, increased amounts of grain, and changes in the type of hay and grain fed during the year both increased the odds of colic compared to horses without grain or changes in feed. One study also reported that daily feeding of concentrate from 2. to 5kg/day and >5kg/day to adult horses increased the risk of colic by 4. 8 and 6. 3 times respectively, compared to horses fed no concentrate. Interestingly, controlled studies confirm that pellet feeds and sweet feeds were associated with an increased risk of colic compared to no grain fed or single grain diets. Grain diets are also known to decrease the water content in the colon contents due to a decrease in fibre which binds to water in the colon. Grain diets are also known to travel through the stomach much more rapidly than fibrous diets. Grain in the diet increases gas production, and is much more likely to produce an environment needed for bloat and intestinal displacements. The horse stomach is relatively small, and is designed to take in small quantities of food often. Horses are herbivores, and naturally spend a large part of the day grazing, continually taking in small quantities of food. When more intensive management, including work and training programs, stabling, and feeding 2-3 times daily, occurs, the normal feeding habits of horses are disrupted to varying degrees. Intensive stabling and work often require higher energy levels in feedstuffs to allow the horse to cope with increased work requirements. The higher energy levels are provided by high grain and concentrate components in the ration, often at the risk of reducing roughage and fibre levels to inadequate volumes. The horse digestive system is designed to utilise roughage and fibre, and any deficiency of fibre will result in digestive disturbances, including colics. It is highly important to continue regular feeding habits of horses, maintaining regular feed volumes and feeding intervals. Do not work horses hard after a full feed. Never give large quantities of food to a horse not accustomed to it. Make feeding changes gradually. Do not allow an overheated horse to drink cold water until it has cooled off sufficiently, or the cold water will almost certainly predispose the horse to colic. Water horses before feeding. Allow access to water again immediately after feeding. Horses prefer clean, fresh water available at all times. A horse will drink anywhere from 22 to 68 litres of water daily, depending on weather conditions, diet and workload. Do not feed horses directly off the ground, especially in sandy or fine gravel regions, as the uptake of sand will predispose horses to sand colics and impactions. Avoid sudden feed changes. These will rapidly induce colic in most horses. Mouldy feeds, such as hay, are potentially deadly to horses, and regularly cause colic. Check hay thoroughly, especially any lush, moist hay which may have been baled while too wet. Never feed mouldy hay to horses. Environment & Management Housing and confinement on farms in the Virginia study were not risk factors for colic. It does however seem logical that changes in diet or feeding routine are associated with risk of colic. Certainly large horse properties report that the routine of feeding grain after being brought in from pasture to stables increases the colic risk – specifically for bloat and displacements. Altering this routine by keeping horses turned out after feeding grain decreases the rate of colic. Similarly, when hay is available to horses on lush pasture, the hay will be consumed as part of the diet and colic rate is decreased. Sand colic and impactions are seen where horses graze on pastures grown on sandy soils, or where horses are forced to eat off the ground with predominantly sand or fine gravel. Previous colic Horses with a history of colic are at higher risk for more colic episodes Parasites Internal parasites are related to increased colic risks in many studies. Gut obstructions due to ascarids in foals, tapeworm related colic and strongyle infections have all been reported as causing colics. Many reports confirm a decrease in colic after controlling small strongyle infections on properties with previously high colic incidences. Tapeworm infestations have been related to increased colic, specifically with colic associated with diseases of the ileum and caecum including increasing the rate of serious intussusception at the ileocaecal region. The general use of ivermectin over the last 20 years has seen a reduction in reports of colic associated with thrombosis of the cranial mesenteric artery due to Strongylus vulgaris larvae. Pregnancy Mares are reported to have a higher risk of colic by colon displacement during late pregnancy and lactation, particularly from 60 to 150 days after foaling. The actual reasons for this are not known, but calcium levels and alterations in diet including increases in energy due to the higher levels of concentrates in the diet to support lactation may be related to the increased risk. Exercise Racehorses, event horses and endurance horses all have an increased risk of gastric ulceration which can be linked to some colic episodes. These horses are often on high grain/low roughage diets which tend to produce gut acidosis and predispose to colics. Transport and Traveling Transport increases the risk of colic in several studies. Many vets commonly administer a laxative to horses prior to transport to prevent colic from impactions. These colics may be due to variations in feeding routine, fluid intake, dehydration, etc. Weather Many veterinarians frequently associate weather changes with increased frequency of colic, but many studies can find no confirmation of this. Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic In a second paper, â€Å"Prognosis and Strategies to Prevent Colic†, Nathaniel White discussed the survival issues with colic cases, stating that predicting survival in horses with colic is often challenging. Any horse which does not respond to initial therapy may be regarded as having a much more serious prognosis. In an effort to assist veterinary practitioners and owners, White attempted to apply previous knowledge of outcomes for specific diseases. Case fatality for specific colic diseases varies from a few deaths in cases of simple colic to as much as 75% in some forms of strangulated intestine. Simple obstructions of the large colon such as displacements and impactions have low fatality rates (

Aegis Case Analysis Essay

The main question posed in this case is whether Aegis management should continue the relationships with their partners ProPack and POMS, and if they decided to continue with the relationships, how to structure them more effectively. Operating in a slumping economy, Aegis was worried about their level of sales resulting from the partnerships they had entered into. The main goal for Aegis when entering into both partnerships was to bolster sales, and neither company had accomplished that. With the possibility of terminating either relationship, Aegis would have to find another strategy for improved sales. With the absence of this strategy, it will be more productive for the company to restructure their existing relationships. Looking at this case through the concept of strategic alliances will help to find a strategy that will pull Aegis out of its downhill slide. For both relationships, Aegis has entered into licensing and distribution agreements. POMS and ProPack have combined their name with Aegis for separate products, as well as working together to distribute each other’s products. Unfortunately, in this situation economies of scale will not work to lower costs because of the nature of the product and the industry Aegis is competing in. Aegis and its partners have developed a product that is the technological standard for its category, but can continue to add value to the product, making it desirable and useful in the future. In my opinion, the best way to increase the benefits of these relationships is to foster an environment of trust and communication to operate in. This may mean revisiting the contracts that are in place to redefine what each entity wants out of the agreement, and the best way to go about creating sales. If they can do this effectively I believe the companies will work better together, creating more value for potential customers. This will result in an increase in sales for their products.

Top 10 Best Non Marvel or DC Comics

Top 10 Best Non Marvel or DC Comics List of Top 10 Non-DC Comics You Should Not Miss Out At times, one may get an impression that Marvel and DC Comics have control over the whole comic book industry. Although it is far from being true, the comic book media is on the rise now with the most popular adaptations coming from the Big Two. Still, the world of comics is not limited only to the Big Two and there is a great number of other publishers with brilliant adaptations, which we will cover in this article. 10. SAGA This series, created by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples, has been much raved about. It tells a story about two refugees who face a bizarre, modernized fantasy world. Saga is a must-read for everyone, so if you have not done it yet, now is the perfect time to do it. Enthralling and intriguing, SAGA is well worth every minute you spend reading it. 9. CURSE WORDS The Image Comics book Curse Words is Soule-written magical drama, which tells the story of a modern-day evil wizard and challenges he has to tackle. If you are a keen admirer of Harry Potter or Rick and Morty, you surely should not miss out on this gripping comics book. The ironic portrayal of the arcane arts is absolutely unique. However, mind that wielding magic portrayed in the book is not always that magical. 8. BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER If you are not overly keen on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you should know that the comic book version of it has undergone some major alterations. Studios Buffy decided to create a complete remake of the story. A brand-new Buffy universe will surely keep even the most long-standing fans on the edge of their seats. However, if you do not belong to this category, just try to enjoy the folks behind the comic who are truly worth observing. 7. ARCHIE 1941 Although the TV show Riverdale has become a household name, you will be astounded by the fact that Archie Comics, on which the TV series is based, is in fact over 75 years old. The nowadays setting of Riverdale does not mirror the place in Archie 1941 where Archie Andrews is a young man enlisted into military service. If you admire Archie Comics, World War II history or just want to see familiar characters in the new light, put this book on your reading list. 6. B.P.R.D. The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense has not appeared on TV for 11 years. However, with a brand-new movie Hellboy releasing this year, it finally stages a comeback in the cinema. Interestingly enough,  B.P.R.D.  stories did not stall completely in the gap between films. Dark Horse has been incessantly bringing out splendid stories set in Mike Mignola-creates universe, which has not become any worse. With the movies debut in April, now it is high time to get back into the world of the  B.P.R.D.  At any rate, you should not let this engrossing fantastic detective series pass over your attention. 5. ANIMOSITY Aftershock Comics is a newcomer in the world of comics. Nevertheless, it managed to bring out some brilliant adaptations. One of them is Animosity,  which tells a story of a weird world where animals decided that the planet would do way better without humans. Animosity is a tough human story, which tells about survival and sacrifice and touches upon one of the biggest fears of the human race. It puts across a tricky question What would happen with the planet if humanity were no longer in the control of the whole universe? 4. BITTER ROOT If you are absolutely indifferent to the mentioned above magic trend, we have some pretty bad news to deliver. You still need to take a look at Bitter Root. In fact, Bitter Root is not nearly as brand-new as Saga  or  Curse Words. It takes place in the 1920s Harlem, where voodoo and the Jazz Age are combined to create a story, which strikes the right balance between noir and Occult drama. This book will certainly hit the spot if you are a fan of historical fiction, particularly of that which revolves around New York City. Additionally, if you are drawn to gruesome adventures in flapper costumes, Bitter Root is definitely up your street. 3. BLACK HAMMER Although this list was intended to be without the Big Two, it does not mean we have not included some unknown superheroes in this list. Basically, a lot of characters in Black Hammer were created under the influence of either Marvel or DC Characters. Still, the world, in which the story takes place, has nothing to do with both. Black Hammer’s surreal, David Lynch-esque universe is strongly reminiscent of superhero comics and scrambles them, transforming them into an unreal, existential mystery series. Although DC and Marvel are wholly in charge of an umpteen number of superhero stories, Black Hammer testifies to the fact that they clearly do not own all of them. 2. THE WICKED + THE DIVINE The following book is based on mythology, which means you will surely take to it. The Wicked + the Divine is a well-earned odd-on favorite in our top 10 comic books even without the mythological plot. Due to the tight storytelling, unique artwork, and the perfect cohesive combination of two classical myths, this book is a genuine masterpiece of its own. If  Black Hammer  proved that Marvel DC are not dominant in the superhero market,  The Wicked + the Divine  is a testament that they have not yet taken the control of mythology either. We do not imply that there is something wrong with the Wonder Woman  or  Thor  story. At the same time, there are some close similarities with WicDiv. It just that it resonates with some cultural memory that is deeply rooted in humans, a memory of the times when gods and monsters were not just fiction and the magic was anything but make-believe. 1. MONSTRESS This story is an example of a simple but truly masterful comic book. With the touching storyline and sensitive art, Monstress  is a rarity in the comic book market since it brings the medium up as a whole. Marjorie Liu obtained two Eisners just because of that, and if you have not had the opportunity to come to know why, now it is the perfect time to do it. Choose any of the above stated books to experience what the present-day comics world has to offer but do not miss out on Monstress  to find out how the comic book history is being made.

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives

Spanish Short-Form Possessive Determiners or Adjectives Possessive adjectives of Spanish, like those of English, are a way of indicating who owns or is in possession of something. Their use is straightforward, although they (like other adjectives) must match the nouns they modify in both number and gender. Basics About the Short-Form Possessives Unlike English, Spanish has two forms of possessive adjectives, a short form that is used before nouns, and a long-form possessive adjective that is used after nouns. They are often known as the possessive determiners. Here are the short-form possessive adjectives (sometimes known as possessive determiners): mi, mis - my - Compra mi piano. (She is buying my piano.)tu, tus - your (singular familiar) - Quiero comprar tu coche. (I want to buy your car.)su, sus - your (singular or plural formal), its, his, her, their - Voy a su oficina. (I am going to his/her/your/their office.)nuestro, nuestra, nuestros, nuestras - our - Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)vuestro, vuestra, vuestros, vuestras - your (plural familiar) -  ¿Dà ³nde estn vuestros hijos? (Where are your children?) Note that the possessive adjectives vary by number and gender. The change is with the nouns they modify, not with the person(s) who own or possess the object. Thus you would say his book and her book in the same way: su libro. Some examples: Es nuestro coche. (It is our car.)Es nuestra casa. (It is our house.)Son nuestros coches. (They are our cars.)Son nuestras casas. (They are our houses.) As you might imagine, su and sus can be ambiguous, since they can mean his, her, its, your, or their. If the use of su or sus doesnt make the sentence clear, you can use de followed by a prepositional pronoun instead: Quiero comprar su casa. (I want to buy his/her/your/their house.)Quiero comprar la casa de à ©l. (I want to buy his house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ella. (I want to buy her house.)Quiero comprar la casa de usted. (I want to buy your house.)Quiero comprar la casa de ellos. (I want to buy their house.) In some areas, de à ©l, de ella, and de ellos are preferred over su and sus for saying his, her, and their, even where no ambiguity is present. Different Forms of ‘Your’ One source of confusion for Spanish students is that there are eight words that can be translated as your, and they arent interchangeable. The come in only three groups, however, because of the distinctions Spanish makes for number and gender: tu/tus, su/sus, and vuestro/vuestra/vuestros/vuestras. The main rule here is that possessives can be classified as either familiar or formal in the same way the pronouns for you are. So tu and tus correspond in usage to tà º (not the written accent on the pronoun), vuestro and its numbered and gendered forms correspond with vosotros, and su corresponds with usted and ustedes. So if you were talking with someone about her car, you might use tu coche if she is a friend or relative but su coche if she is a stranger. Grammar Involving the Possessive Forms There are two common problems that English speakers often encounter with these adjectives: Overuse of the Possessive Adjectives The possessive adjectives are used in most cases in the same way as they are used in English. However, you should be aware that in many instances- especially when speaking of body parts, clothing and items intimately associated with an individual- Spanish uses the definite article (el, la, los or las), the equivalent of the, instead of possessive adjectives. Sam arregla el pelo. (Sam is combing his hair.)Ella juntà ³ las manos para orar. (She joined her hands to pray.)Ricardo rompià ³ los anteojos. (Ricardo broke his glasses.) Repetition of Possessive Adjectives: In English, it is common to use a single possessive adjective to refer to more than one noun. In Spanish, a single possessive adjective can refer to only one noun, unless the multiple nouns refer to the same persons or objects. For example, son mis amigos y hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (with the friends and the siblings being identical persons), while son mis amigos y mis hermanos would mean they are my friends and siblings (the friends not being the same people as the siblings). Similarly, my cats and dogs would be translated as mis gatos y mis perros. Key Takeaways The possessive adjectives (also known as possessive determiners) are used to indicate who owns or is in possession of something.The possessive adjectives are distinguished in number and sometimes gender of what is possessed.The possessive forms su and sus can mean his, hers, its, or your, so you must rely on context when translating.

The Feathered Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era

The Feathered Dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era Part of the reason so many ordinary people doubt the evolutionary link between feathered dinosaurs and birds is because when they think of the word dinosaur, they picture enormous beasts like Brachiosaurus and Tyrannosaurus Rex, and when they think of the word bird, they picture harmless, rodent-sized pigeons and hummingbirds, or perhaps the occasional eagle or penguin. (See a gallery of feathered dinosaur pictures and profiles and an article explaining why birds arent dinosaur-sized.) Closer to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, though, the visual referents are a lot different. For decades, paleontologists have been digging up small, birdlike theropods (the same family of two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs that includes tyrannosaurs and raptors) bearing unmistakable evidence of feathers, wishbones, and other bits of avian anatomy. Unlike larger dinosaurs, these smaller theropods tend to be unusually well-preserved, and many such fossils have been discovered completely intact (which is more than can be said for the average sauropod). Types of Feathered Dinosaurs So many dinosaurs of the later Mesozoic Era sported feathers that its virtually impossible to pin down the exact definition of a true dino-bird. These include: Raptors. Despite what you saw in Jurassic Park, Velociraptor was almost certainly covered with feathers, as was the dinosaur it was modeled on, Deinonychus. At this point, the discovery of a provably non-feathered raptor would be major news! Ornithomimids. Bird mimic dinosaurs like Ornithomimus and Struthiomimus probably looked like giant ostriches, complete with feathersif not all over their bodies, at least on certain regions. Therizinosaurs. All of the dozen or so genera of this small family of bizarre, long-clawed, plant-eating theropods likely had feathers, though this has yet to be conclusively proven. Troodonts and oviraptorosaurs. Typified by, you guessed it, the North American Troodon and the central Asian Oviraptor, virtually all of the members of this theropod family seem to have been covered with feathers. Tyrannosaurs. Believe it or not, we have conclusive evidence that least some tyrannosaurs (like the recently discovered Yutyrannus) were featheredand the same may hold for the juveniles of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Avialan dinosaurs. Heres where paleontologists classify the feathered dinosaurs that dont fit in the above categories; the most famous avialan is Archaeopteryx. Further complicating matters, we now have evidence that at least some genera of ornithopods, plant-eating dinosaurs unrelated to modern birds, had primitive feathers as well! (For more on this subject, see Why Did Dinosaurs Have Feathers?) Which Feathered Dinosaurs Evolved Into Birds? What do all of these genera tell us about the evolution of prehistoric birds from dinosaurs? Well, for starters, its impossible to pin down a single missing link between these two types of animals. For a while, scientists believed the 150-million-year-old Archaeopteryx was the indisputable transitional form, but its still not clear if this was a true bird (as some experts claim) or a very small, and not very aerodynamic, theropod dinosaur. (In fact, a new study claims that the feathers of Archaeopteryx werent strong enough to sustain extended bursts of flight.) For more, see Was Archaeopteryx a Bird or a Dinosaur? The problem is, the subsequent discovery of other small, feathered dinosaurs that lived around the same time as Archaeopteryxsuch as Epidendrosaurus, Pedopenna and Xiaotingiahas muddied the picture considerably, and theres no ruling out the possibility that future paleontologists will unearth dino-birds dating to as far back as the Triassic period. In addition, its far from clear that all of these feathered theropods were closely related: evolution has a way of repeating its jokes, and feathers (and wishbones) may well have evolved multiple times. (For more on this subject, see How Did Feathered Dinosaurs Learn to Fly?) The Feathered Dinosaurs of Liaoning Every now and then, a treasure trove of fossils forever changes the publics perception of dinosaurs. Such was the case in the early 1990s, when researchers uncovered the rich deposits in Liaoning, a northeastern province of China. All of the fossils discovered hereincluding exceptionally well-preserved feathered theropods, accounting for over a dozen separate generadate from about 130 million years ago, making Liaoning a spectacular window into the early Cretaceous period. (You can recognize a Liaoning dino-bird from its name; witness the sino, meaning Chinese, in Sinornithosaurus, Sinosauropteryx and Sinovenator.) Since Liaonings fossil deposits represent a mere snapshot in the 165-million-year-old rule of the dinosaurs, their discovery raises the possibility that more dinosaurs were feathered than scientists have ever dreamedand that the evolution of dinosaurs into birds was not a one-time, non-repeatable, linear process. In fact, its very possible that dinosaurs evolved into what we would recognize as birds numerous times over the course of the Mesozoic Erawith only one branch surviving into the modern age and producing those pigeons, sparrows, penguins and eagles we all know and love.

Biography of Nobel Prize Winner Chief Albert Luthuli

Biography of Nobel Prize Winner Chief Albert Luthuli Date of birth:  c.1898, near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)Date of death:  21 July 1967, railway track near home at Stanger, Natal, South Africa. Early Life Albert John Mvumbi Luthuli was born sometime around 1898 near Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, the son of a Seventh Day Adventist missionary. In 1908 he was sent to his ancestral home at Groutville, Natal where he went to the mission school. Having first trained as a teacher at Edendale, near Pietermaritzburg, Luthuli attended additional courses at Adams College (in 1920), and went on to become part of the college staff. He remained at the college until 1935. Life as a Preacher Albert Luthuli was deeply religious, and during his time at Adams College, he became a lay preacher. His Christian beliefs acted as a foundation for his approach to political life in South Africa at a time when many of his contemporaries were calling for a more militant response to Apartheid. Chieftancy In 1935 Luthuli accepted the chieftaincy of the Groutville reserve (this was not a hereditary position, but awarded as the result of an election) and was suddenly immersed in the realities of South Africas racial politics. The following year JBM Hertzogs United Party government introduced the Representation of Natives Act (Act No 16 of 1936) which removed Black Africans from the common voters role in the Cape (the only part of the Union to allow Black people the franchise). That year also saw the introduction of the Development Trust and Land Act (Act No 18 of 1936) which limited Black African land holding to an area of native reserves - increased under the act to 13.6%, although this percentage was not in fact achieved in practice. Chief Albert Luthuli joined the African National Congress (ANC) in 1945 and was elected Natal provincial president in 1951. In 1946 he joined the Natives Representative Council. (This had been set up in 1936 to act in an advisory basis to four white senators who provided parliamentary representation for the entire Black African population.) However, as a result of a mine workers strike on the Witwatersrand gold field and the police response to protesters, relations between the Natives Representative Council and the government became strained. The Council met for the last time in 1946 and was later abolished by the government. In 1952, Chief Luthuli was one of the leading lights behind the Defiance Campaign - a non-violent protest against the pass laws. The Apartheid government was, unsurprisingly, annoyed and he was summoned to Pretoria to answer for his actions. Luthuli was given the choice of renouncing his membership of the ANC or being removed from his position as tribal chief (the post was supported and paid for by the government). Albert Luthuli refused to resign from the ANC, issued a statement to the press (The Road to Freedom is via the Cross) which reaffirmed his support for passive resistance to Apartheid  and was subsequently dismissed from his chieftaincy in November. I have joined my people in the new spirit that moves them today, the spirit that revolts openly and broadly against injustice. At the end of 1952, Albert Luthuli was elected president-general of the ANC. The previous president, Dr. James Moroka, lost support when he pleaded not-guilty to criminal charges laid as a result of his involvement in the Defiance Campaign, rather than accepting the campaigns aim of imprisonment and the tying up of government resources. (Nelson Mandela, provincial president for the ANC in Transvaal, automatically became deputy-president of the ANC.) The government responded by  banning  Luthuli, Mandela, and nearly 100 others. Luthulis Ban Luthulis ban was renewed in 1954, and in 1956 he was arrested - one of 156 people accused of high treason. Luthuli was released shortly after for lack of evidence. Repeated banning caused difficulties for the leadership of the ANC, but Luthuli was re-elected as president-general in 1955 and again 1958. In 1960, following the  Sharpeville Massacre, Luthuli led the call for protest. Once again summoned to a governmental hearing (this time in Johannesburg) Luthuli was horrified when a supporting demonstration turned violent and 72 Black Africans were shot (and another 200 injured). Luthuli responded by publicly burning his pass book. He was detained on 30 March under the State of Emergency declared by the South African government - one of 18,000 arrested in a series of police raids. On release he was confined to his home in Stanger, Natal. Later Years In 1961 Chief Albert Luthuli was awarded the 1960 Nobel Prize for Peace (it had been held over that year) for his part in the anti-Apartheid struggle. In 1962, he was elected Rector of Glasgow University (an honorary position), and the following year published his autobiography, Let My People Go. Although suffering from ill health and failing eyesight, and still restricted to his home in Stanger, Albert Luthuli remained president-general of the ANC. On 21 July 1967, whilst out walking near his home, Luthuli was hit by a train and died. He was supposedly crossing the line at the time -   an explanation dismissed by many of his followers who believed more sinister forces were at work.